Could this guy have been arranged by my family?
Yukino Yukinoshita frowned deeply.
It wasn't just paranoia.
She had good reason to be suspicious.
Not long ago, the Yukinoshita family had hosted a formal banquet, inviting several influential businessmen from abroad—including a few from America. During those awkward, thinly veiled conversations, the idea of a "marriage alliance" had been floated.
No, calling it a "marriage alliance" was giving it too much credit.
It was more like the family desperately trying to climb the social ladder.
As prestigious as the Yukinoshita name was in Japan, it wasn't nearly enough when measured on an international scale. Her parents had long dreamed of expanding beyond Japan—perhaps securing foreign residency through an arranged marriage.
The embarrassing part?
The more powerful families from overseas didn't take the bait. They saw through the Yukinoshitas' motives and declined politely.
Meanwhile, some less reputable families had the nerve to ask for massive dowries. One even demanded that both Yukino sisters marry into the same family—as if they were characters in some absurd otome game.
Ridiculous.
And the worst part?
Her mother hadn't said no.
She'd just said, "I'll consider it."
Thankfully, Haruno, her older sister—normally elegant, obedient, and loyal to their mother—had been furiously opposed.
Yukino, exhausted by all the arguing and pressure, had requested to move out on her own.
At first, their mother was against it… but after Haruno spoke privately with her, she suddenly agreed.
The whole situation reeked of a hidden agenda.
So when a transfer student from America suddenly appeared at Soubu High and just so happened to move into the apartment right next door?
It was only natural that Yukino would be suspicious.
---
The next morning, at the apartment complex.
Pure coincidence or not, both Ethan Kane and Yukino Yukinoshita opened their doors at the same time.
Their eyes met.
Ethan greeted casually. "Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
"..."
Yukino hesitated.
"…Morning, Ethan-san," she said at last, her tone polite but distant.
They entered the elevator together.
"The weather's nice today," Ethan said.
"..."
Silence.
Trying again. "Have you eaten?"
"..."
No response.
Then—one more shot.
"Do you like cats?"
"…I do."
The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
Yukino blinked. Realizing her mistake, she reached up to brush a strand of black hair behind her ear, as if trying to hide her momentary lapse.
"That has nothing to do with you," she snapped.
She shot him a glare so cold it could freeze time.
She's still convinced I'm part of some matchmaking setup, Ethan guessed.
"I just want to be friends," he said honestly. "No tricks. Just that."
He extended a hand toward her. Simple. Open.
Yesterday she had used the "my hands are dirty" excuse.
Today? No excuse.
Woman, hand over the treasure chest.
"…I refuse."
Yukino's expression chilled instantly.
Of course. As expected.
"Hmph! As I thought. You're finally showing your true intentions."
"True intentions?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I think you're misunderstanding."
"Oh, I'm not." Yukino crossed her arms. "Because—"
"I was very cute since childhood."
Ethan nearly choked.
He had heard that iconic line in the anime years ago, but hearing it in person, in her real voice, with her serious expression—
He couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"What's so funny?" she asked sharply.
"Nothing. Please continue," he said, struggling to maintain composure.
They exited the elevator together and started walking toward the bus stop.
---
"Ever since I was young, any boy who got too close to me would end up falling for me," Yukino said matter-of-factly.
It wasn't bragging. Just truth.
Pretty girls had it tough too.
"In elementary school, my indoor shoes were stolen or hidden—sixty times."
She said it calmly, as if it were someone else's story.
"Sixty?" Ethan blinked.
"What's so great about hiding shoes?" he muttered, then made the mistake of glancing down.
Slender legs. Black stockings. Delicate feet.
Graceful proportions. Smooth, almost glowing skin. A quiet allure.
A work of art…
His thoughts wandered in dangerous directions.
"What are you looking at?"
Yukino's icy tone snapped him back to reality.
"Nothing! Just… continue."
She gave him a warning glare before continuing.
"Out of the sixty times:
Fifty were done by jealous girls.
Three were boys.
Two were teachers…
And five… were dogs."
"…Dogs?!" Ethan blinked.
"There's still no logical explanation," she said with a sigh. "But ever since then, I've hated dogs."
A frown flickered across her normally emotionless face.
---
"Doesn't it feel better to let it out?" Ethan smiled.
"…What?"
Yukino froze. She hadn't even noticed how easily the words had flowed out of her.
She had confided in someone—without even thinking.
"Bottling everything up too long can really eat away at you," Ethan said.
He remembered someone from his past life. A net friend who had been crushed under the weight of expectations—no friends, no outlet, and eventually, no escape. The chat stopped one day and never resumed.
"Student Yukinoshita… you don't have any real friends, do you?"
"…Tch." Her eyes shifted.
After a pause, she answered.
"First, we need to define what constitutes a 'friend.'"
"Yeah, people who say that usually don't have any."
"…!"
Yukino clenched her teeth.
She wanted to argue. She really did.
But her straightforward nature wouldn't let her lie.
In the end, she stayed silent.
---
"Heh."
Ethan smiled as she deflated beside him.
Yukino turned the tables.
"What about you?"
"A grumpy transfer student like you can't have many real friends either, right?"
"True," Ethan admitted easily.
"I've had enough of fake friendships that were hollow inside."
---
End of Chapter 8
Excited for what's coming next?
This fanfic is just getting started—and there's so much more to come!
If you want to read 20+ chapters in advance, support me on Patreon:
patreon.com/Earth_19998
Also, don't forget to vote with Power Stones to help this fanfic reach more readers and grow stronger! Your support motivates me to keep writing faster and better! Is