𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐓, BONTEN.

04. CHANGE MY MIND

CHAPTER FOUR! I LET THE SEASONS CHANGE MY MIND.

FIRST-PERSON
point of view,

With a warm smile, I pressed a gentle kiss to the older woman's cheek, wrapping her in a familiar, comforting embrace before stepping back. "I'm so sorry I couldn't take a picture with the rest, Auntie. School's coming next week and I still need to prep my schedule."

"Oh, it's perfectly fine, darling. After all, we still have the mid-summer ball. Haruchiyo will probably ask you to be his date, you won't turn him down, right?" Her eyes sparkled with a teasing light, a bit of mischief beneath the gentle gaze. I couldn't help but chuckle, though a hint of hesitation lingered in my smile.

I had grown accustomed to these gentle nudges from the families, their unspoken hopes and requests that I'd always humored out of politeness. But this time, an uneasy doubt dawdled in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure anymore if he would truly ask for my hand to become his date knowing our current predicament right now. Who knows, Haruchiyo might have already made up his mind to ask that woman. I'd hate to make false promises to his mother.

Sensing my hesitation, Mrs. Haitani gave my shoulder a gentle pat, her touch both grounding and reassuring.

"Don't feel pressured, sweetheart," she said softly, her voice a balm to my frayed nerves. "I'm sure Tsugumi will understand if you choose not to accept her son's offer." Her lavender eyes met mine, calm and kind, offering a silent assurance that it was perfectly fine to say no. "And besides," she added with a playful wink, "my own sons are more than eager to step in as your escort if you'd like. They're reliable men, as you well know."

Mrs. Akashi arched an eyebrow, her gaze sharp.

"Lower your voice, Rika," she said coolly. "Don't pretend as though Ran Haitani is some paragon of virtue."

"He's still better than yours, Tsugumi," Mrs. Haitani replied with a glint in her eye. "At least my eldest isn't dabbling in chemicals and chain-smoking his life away."

Mrs. Akashi scoffed, her laughter brittle. Tension crackled between them, rising like steam from boiling water.

"Oh, and chasing skirts is somehow a mark of purity?" she shot back, voice dripping with venom.

The final words hung in the air as I walked away, my pointed heels tapping rhythmically against the plush carpet. I turned my back to the scene, marching toward the imposing mahogany doors, my shoulders heavy with unspoken words. I could feel the fatigue etched on my body, a sigh escaping my lips like a whisper of defeat.

As the night deepened, I stood at the edge of the staircase outside, my heart heavy with unspoken goodbyes to the other heads of the family since their sons were with them. The last thing I wanted was to draw their unnecessary attention.

"Dear," my biological mother, Keiko, greeted me with a warm kiss on my temple as I stepped down the stairs. The scent of her favorite lavender perfume enveloped me, instantly making me feel at home.

"Mom," I said, wrapping my arms around her in a tight embrace. "Thanks for letting Shuji come over again."

She smiled softly, rubbing my back in a soothing rhythm. "He's a good kid. Honestly, he deserves it more than some of your other so-called friends." She rolled her eyes playfully, and I couldn't help but laugh. "But seriously," she continued, her tone shifting to a more earnest one, "you should think about inviting Draken, Takemichi, and those other pretty boys in your class. Senior year is just around the corner, and you won't get many chances to see them before life gets crazy."