Honey Magazine/My Sweet Proposal: Todo Masaya

Chapter 1.5

To meet someone who is constantly betraying my expectations was not part of my life plan.

Priest "In sickness and in health..."

My first bride ran away...

Right now, next to me, my substitute bride has safely taken her position.

Glancing around with a precarious gaze is the softhearted wedding planner.

Priest "Do you vow to love each other for the rest of your lives?"

Kana "..."

I had been confident that this woman, Kana Miura, would fulfill even my most preposterous wishes.

Was it since she stormed into my company to lecture me a month ago?

No...

Most likely, I've thought so since our disastrous first meeting.

Perhaps I had felt her kindness then.

Masaya "Hurry up and swear."

Kana "Yes...I swear."

The result is as I expected.

And yet, somehow I do not feel in control.

Almost as if I'm being swept along by her emotions...

If that is the case, I will resist.

I am using her only to accomplish my own ends.

Hearing the priest allow the kiss to seal the vows, playing our false roles as husband and wife, we turn to face each other.

Most likely, she thinks she can get away with a feigned kiss, but unfortunately for her, she is dead wrong.

Kana "...?!"

Feeling the bride's body stiffen, I feel a touch of accomplishment.

Turning around to face the smiles of the guests, we walk down the aisle.

Kana "You actually dared to do it...!"

Masaya "What did you expect? The kiss seals our oath."

Kana "I have no recollection of swearing an oath with you."

Masaya "Enough, it was just a kiss."

Kana "It isn't 'just'...!"

Making sure to flash a smile, speaking quietly so as not to move her lips, she fires one complaint after another.

I find my loud-mouthed bride adorable.

And somewhere deep within, I am enjoying this wedding.

I am confused by this part of me.

Masaya "(Adorable...? This loud-mouthed, simpleton?)"

Even as my head spins with questions, my actions give me my answer.

A moment before we leave the church and bow, I find myself kissing her cheek.

I knew it.

Thinking that things were moving as planned was just pretense I had told myself.

There is no way that, out of my own free will, I would do something out of third-rate romance flick.

I have surprised even myself.

Kissing her on the cheek, from an outside perspective, may seem like a romantic gesture,

However, such sugary actions, should not be necessary.

Kana "What are you playing at?"

Masaya "I tend to be thorough. Are you going to strike your selfish groom?"

Kana "First of all, I need to organize my thoughts... Striking you will come after that."

She viciously removes her hand from my arm.

Discarding her role as the bride, Kana Miura turns her back to me.

Lifting up the hem of her dress and walking away, her adorableness from earlier is replaced with something like strength.

Masaya "Heh...! She really is a strange woman."

At this point, I could not imagine that this woman, who was constantly betraying my expectations, would teach me how to love...

It was never part of my life plan that she would be the only woman I desired.