[Scene: The Asakura Residence – Saturday Evening]
Ryo fidgeted on the couch, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. Across from him sat his parents, Takashi and Sayuri Asakura, both eyeing him like hawks. Aoi, sitting beside him, looked completely relaxed, her usual confident smirk in place.
The atmosphere was tense—at least for Ryo.
"Alright," Takashi finally spoke. "If you two are serious about this engagement, we'd like to hear your story."
Aoi perked up. "Story?"
"How did you two fall in love?" Sayuri asked with an excited smile.
Ryo stiffened. Crap. I knew this was coming.
Before he could panic, Aoi smoothly took control.
"Oh, it was gradual," she said with a dreamy sigh, leaning into Ryo's shoulder. "I mean, we've been best friends forever, but one day, I just looked at him and thought… Wow, this idiot is actually kind of cute."
Ryo nearly choked.
Sayuri gasped, clasping her hands together. "Oh my, how romantic!"
Aoi wasn't done. She turned to Ryo with a teasing grin. "And then one day, he confessed first. Right, Ryo?"
Ryo blinked. "I… huh?"
Aoi subtly squeezed his hand under the table. Play along.
Clearing his throat, he forced a smile. "Oh! Uh… yeah! That's totally what happened."
Takashi raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly did you confess?"
Ryo broke into a cold sweat. "Uh… well… I, uh…"
Aoi jumped in again, sighing dramatically. "It was so cute! He got all flustered and awkward, and then, under the cherry blossom tree near school, he just blurted out, 'Aoi, I think I've liked you for a long time!'"
Sayuri gasped. "That's just like a shoujo manga!"
Ryo's face burned. This girl is making things up so naturally! How does she do that?!
Takashi, however, was still suspicious. "Hmph. And what about the future? You're still in high school. What's your plan?"
Aoi smiled. "Well, we're not rushing things. We'll finish school first, of course, but we wanted to let our families know early so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings."
Sayuri looked convinced. "How thoughtful! I always knew Aoi-chan was reliable."
Takashi still didn't look fully convinced, but he sighed. "Fine. If this is what you both want, then I won't interfere."
Ryo exhaled in relief. We survived.
---
[Scene: Walking Home – Later That Night]
Ryo and Aoi walked side by side under the dim streetlights. The cool night breeze made Aoi's ponytail sway gently.
"I can't believe you just made all that up," Ryo muttered.
Aoi grinned. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
"You're way too good at lying."
She shrugged. "I prefer to call it improvising."
Ryo sighed. "Still, I can't believe my parents actually bought it."
"Well, now we just have to keep up the act."
Ryo groaned. "This is gonna be exhausting."
Aoi smirked, nudging him playfully. "What, you don't like pretending to be my loving fiancé?"
Ryo scoffed. "Pfft. More like my terrifying fiancée."
Aoi laughed. "Come on, idiot. What's the worst that could happen?"
Ryo stopped walking. "Every time you say that, something terrible happens."
Aoi rolled her eyes. "Relax. No one's gonna find out we're faking it."
---
[Scene: School – The Next Morning]
"YOU'RE ENGAGED?!"
Ryo and Aoi winced as their classmate Hina Tanaka, a gossip-loving girl with twin braids, shouted in the middle of the hallway. Every student within earshot turned to stare.
Ryo groaned. "Oh no."
Aoi blinked innocently. "Huh. Guess I forgot to tell you… I might have mentioned it to Hina last night."
Ryo gaped at her. "YOU WHAT?!"
Hina clapped her hands excitedly. "This is huge! The childhood friends-to-lovers trope is REAL! We have to celebrate!"
Before Ryo could protest, Hina grabbed his and Aoi's hands, dragging them toward the classroom.
"Come on, lovebirds! We need to hear ALL the details!"
Ryo shot a glare at Aoi, who only smiled smugly.
This fake engagement was about to become way more complicated.