A Life After This (Senku Ishigami X OC)

Prologue

CHAPTER 0 (Prologue)

'Like a Dream'

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「夢のような話でいい

もう一度聴かせて。」

「It's okay if it's a dream-like story,

Let me hear it once again.」

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"Ayaka, darling, don't forget that we have dinner with the Nanami family."

Ayaka, the girl in question, was sat in her seat at the Shirogane family's dining room table, listening to her mother's words. Yet, even though the girl was listening, her mind was still elsewhere, as her light blue eyes watched the ripples in her teacup each time she swirled the spoon around it. Her eyes were somewhat covered by her peach-colored hair, meaning her mother had a hard time knowing if her daughter was listening.

"Darling? You understand why you must attend, correct?" Her mother's words were sharp, causing Ayaka to show a slight frown. The younger girl held the fabric of her white dress; scrunching it up, "If we are not lucky, the family fortune will dissolve. Your father didn't leave us much."

"I know, mother." Ayaka's gentle, pure-sounding voice echoed in the dining room. She faked a smile at her mother, nodding her head to agree.

'I wish for the opposite though. Why must I be the victim of an arranged marriage at my age? It's the 21st century, I shouldn't need to do this.'

"Good." Her mother finished sipping her tea, placing the fragile teacup on the table before rising from her seat, "Now then, if you will excuse me."

"Yes, mother." The younger girl, setting down her teacup, stood up from her seat, bowing slightly to her mother to show respect, "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon."

Receiving only a nod in response to her words, Ayaka watched her mother leave the room. Once the coast was clear, she let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding.

'Lunch with her is always uncomfortable... yet it's part of her rules.'

"Yuna, I am also finished with my lunch and tea," Ayaka moved her cutlery onto the half-eaten meal in front of her, "Forgive me, but I'm not feeling too well."

"Oh, no worries Lady Ayaka!" A young woman with brown, shoulder-length hair then appeared at Ayaka's side, smiling at the heiress, "I'm just glad that you ate something."

"Thank you," Ayaka smiled gently in return, "Rest assured, it was delicious."

Yuna's eyes held an extreme amount of excitement, almost as if she was ready to jump and hug Ayaka at any moment. She refrained.

"Thank you, Lady Ayaka. Please enjoy the rest of your day!" The young girl bowed to show her respect.

"Same to you." Ayaka showed her respect, despite not needing to; bowing down to the chef in front of her, before walking to leave the room.

Watching the heiress leave, Yuna broke character and squealed loudly; her voice echoing in the dining room. Her fists were clenched to her chest, and she couldn't contain herself any longer.