Chapter 16 - Getsumei

Chapter 16 - Getsumei

"If Asahi is the ruler of sunlight, then Getsumei is the ruler of the night sky. If Asahi is the pigeon, then Getsumei is the hideous raven." Two years ago, I created the persona of Getsumei. After enduring countless useless martial arts classes from the Yato family, I decided to embrace Getsumei as my alter ego. Little did I know that within just two days of donning this new identity, I would find myself in this peculiar situation. (Well, that was quite an edgy monologue from Asahi.)

Aya's face flushed with embarrassment as she mustered the courage to speak. "Isn't that clear?" she stammered. "I... I love you, Yuuki," she confessed, her words bursting forth with genuine emotion. Despite her earnestness, I couldn't help but see through her facade. Her blushing face and nervous demeanour betrayed her true intentions. 'Jeez, her face is as red as a tomato. She's definitely lying,' I thought to myself. 'Did she forget what she said on the road?' I silently pondered.

"Yes!!!" Aya exclaimed, still caught up in her flustered state. Her declaration was fervent, but something in her eyes hinted at a hidden truth. Doubts nagged at the back of my mind, urging me to dig deeper and uncover the real reason behind her confession.

As I stood there, a wave of confusion washed over me. Asahi, disguised as Getsumei, laid on the ground, having received a powerful blow to his groin from my fiancé. It was highly likely that he was now unconscious in the children's park. Yet, to my surprise, Asahi managed to give a thumbs-up from his prone position. 'Looks like you're still alive, my friend,' I chuckled inwardly.

Now, a more pressing issue demanded my attention: what should I do about Aya? She stood there, eagerly awaiting my response. "Sorry!" I muttered, the apology slipping out almost involuntarily. "So, it seems like you don't like me!" Aya replied, her voice softening. I struggled to find the right words, a mix of anger and embarrassment tainting my tone. "It's not that I dislike you, or that it bothers me. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I don't have to marry you at all," I stated, my true feelings slipping through.

Aya's expression hardened, and she began to walk away from me, her movements devoid of emotion. I quickly realized my mistake and tried to rectify it. "I meant to apologize for rejecting and embarrassing you in front of your parents," I hastily interjected, flustered by the whole situation. It was the first time I had ever apologized to a girl, and to make matters more peculiar, it happened to be my fiancé. 'Isn't that just bizarre?' I wondered, struggling to grasp the full extent of what had unfolded. "Well, I had planned a better way to apologize, but I guess even this will suffice," I added, my voice lowering as a faint smile graced my face.

"Really?" Aya said, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were flushed with anticipation. "So, what do you think about marrying me?" Aya asked, her voice filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement. I paused for a moment, searching for the right words to convey my true sentiments. "I honestly don't know," I replied in a low tone. "It's clear that I don't love you. You can be quite annoying, and I mean that in the strongest sense. You're an angry brat, sly, deceitful, and always rushing headlong into battle," I listed, my disinterest seeping into every word. Aya's disappointment was palpable as she asked, "So, is it a no?"

My mind raced as I considered the implications of my answer. On any regular day, I would unequivocally decline. But given the circumstances, if I were to say no, my mother would likely make my life a living hell. I had no choice but to play along. "Well, under normal circumstances, I would say no without hesitation. However, if I were to do so, my mother would probably kill me. So, I suppose I have to say 'Yes'," I explained, hoping to catch her attention and understanding.

"Really?" Aya's face reflected a mix of embarrassment and a subtle blush. "You heard it, didn't you?" I said, turning my back to avoid her gaze and hide my own flushed face. 'Jeez, why did I say that?' I scolded myself internally, regretting the words that had slipped out.

"Yuuki, what should we do about that person..." Aya started, her expression filled with disgust as she pointed towards the motionless body of Getsumei, alias Asahi. "Well, you've probably shattered his dreams of having children," I remarked, feigning nonchalance. "Couldn't you have found a better place to kick him? Why his groin?" I questioned Aya, still maintaining an air of disinterest. "Well, it was just a reflex," Aya dismissed the question, trying to downplay her actions.

"Just hope that you still have the possibility of having future kids, Asahi," I muttered quietly to myself.

"You really do like to mutter to yourself," Aya observed, giving me a keen glance. "And why did you have to fake your name when we first met at Café Okoro?" I retorted, refusing to let her get under my skin.

"For no particular reason," we both replied to each other simultaneously, without a second thought. "So, why do you love me?" I asked Aya, lacking genuine interest in her response. "I don't know," Aya replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. 'She really is a terrible liar,' I silently concluded, seeing through her facade once again.