Once we took our seats, Riran was already reaching for the sweets.
“Mmm, mm〜〜〜〜! This is delicious!”
“I’m glad they’re to your liking. All of these are handmade, you know.”
“Eh!? The cookies, the macarons, and the tiramisu too!?”
“Yes. Also, this pudding is something I’m quite proud of!”
“Amazing, you’re amazing, Class President!”
Riran grabbed Suwabe-san's hands with a beaming smile like the sun.
Come to think of it, Riran loves sweet things. From her perspective, Suwabe-san, who can make sweets like this, must be like a god.
I like sweets too. I don't eat them that often because I'm worried about gaining weight, though.
Even so, the sweets Suwabe-san made are delicious, even compared to store-bought ones. My hands kept moving to the next piece.
“Phew, I’m glad you liked them too, Sanada-kun.”
“Yeah. You’re like a professional pastry chef.”
“Ehehe. It’s just a hobby I’m not particularly good at.”
That’s way too humble. They’re so delicious.
While I ate, Riran and Suwabe-san were having a lively discussion about sweets.
Maybe she really just wanted to invite us over. I might have been overthinking things.
“I’m jealous. I want to try making sweets too, but I don’t have the space to put any equipment. Besides, I don't really cook much to begin with.”
Riran grumbled a bit.
Suwabe-san didn't miss that grumble. As if she had been waiting for that exact moment, she clapped her hands together with a 'pop'.
“In that case, wouldn't it be better if you two moved into a new home where you can cook, make sweets, and make babies?”
“Ah, I see... then... wait, what?”
Riran stopped mid-sentence.
My hand stopped as well.
Wait... what did she just say? Cooking, making sweets... and what else? Child-mak... huh?
Riran and I were left staring blankly.
However, Suwabe-san didn't stop, looking quite excited.
“You two are getting married, right!? I was surprised when I saw you were models for a wedding company, but it makes sense if it's you two! Since I was saved by such a wonderful couple, I thought about how I could repay you, and I figured a new home would be the best present for a newlywed couple! There, you can be all lovey-dovey all day long, and even make babies—”
“”Wait a minute!?!?!?!””
Thanks to (or because of?) Suwabe-san's rapid-fire talking, I was able to calm down.
Um, there are a lot of things I want to confirm.
“Models for a wedding company... you saw those photos?”
“Yes! They were being spread all over SNS. Look!”
Suwabe-san opened SNS.
There, the company's official account had uploaded those photos and was promoting them on a large scale.
Despite being posted during summer vacation, it had hit incredible numbers: 1.2 million likes and 900,000 shares. The replies were filled with comments like these:
‘What is this happy-looking couple!’
‘The girl is too cute!’
‘This guy is so cool!’
‘It makes me want to get married.’
‘Precious...!’
‘I could look at this forever.’
‘Does a couple this compatible really exist?’
‘I’m being purified.’
‘Aaaaaaaaaaaaah (losing my vocabulary).’
‘I wonder if these two are connected by the "Red Thread of Fate".’
‘It feels more natural to think they are connected.’
‘It would be weirder if they weren't connected when they match this well!’
‘Congratulations!’
‘Congrats!!’
‘Happy for you!’
‘Celebration!’
‘Congratulations!!!’
‘I’m going to use this company!’
‘I feel like I'll get some good luck just from looking at this!’
In addition to Japanese, there were endless replies from overseas in English, Russian, Thai, French, Chinese, Korean, and so on.
“Seeing this convinced me. You two are connected by the 'Red Thread of Fate'! These photos were a rehearsal for your wedding!”
“W-Wait. That’s not it. This was just a wedding experience for a memory because Riran asked for it...! Right, Riran?”
I asked Riran for agreement.
However.
“............”
“Hey, look at me.”
This girl, did she make up that reason just for a rehearsal? What a person. Well, I enjoyed it too, so I’ll forgive her.
“Then, it’s a fact that you’re tied together by a red thread, right!? Pretending to be on bad terms in the classroom was just a camouflage!?”
S-Sharp. No, with this much circumstantial evidence, it’s only natural to notice.
“Sigh... well, something like that.”
“I knew it! Fufufu, my deduction was correct! Maybe I should start calling myself a Great Detective from now on!”
Apologize to the great detectives of the world.
Wait, if there's this much of a fuss, I thought we'd be teased in class... but it's been a few days since summer vacation ended and no one has said anything.
“Ah, as for that, I did some groundwork on my end.”
What kind of groundwork do you have to do to make even rumors disappear...?
“Umm... okay, I get that. Well, I don't really get it. So, about that new home...”
“Literally, it’s a love nest for you two who are getting married!”
“Let’s stop using the term 'love nest'.”
“Love nest... a love nest for me and Akito...!?”
“Riran, don't keep repeating 'love nest'.”
Riran seemed to be immersed in a pleasant delusion, and her face, ears, neck, and even her cleavage turned bright red.
“N-No, Akito. I’m making dinner right now... oh, I can't, you're so lewd...”
This is bad, really bad. Riran is totally on board.
Also, her true thoughts are leaking out completely.
I’m the only one here capable of making a normal judgment.
I have to keep it together...!