The Chosen Wife || Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun

Part 1 (4/5)

The day after that strange encounter, (Y/N) was carrying several dishes down the road, on her way to deliver them to the fancy restaurant her family often catered for. The sunlight peeked through the trees, and she hummed a little tune, focused on not spilling anything. However, a tall figure approaching from the opposite direction caught her attention.

'Wait... that kimono looks familiar...'

(Y/N) squinted slightly, trying to place the memory. Her mind wandered back to the previous day at her family's restaurant. It clicked.

'Oh! It's him!'

"Hey, you're the one from yesterday!" she called out before she could stop herself.

The man jerked his head up, seemingly startled by her voice. His amber eyes met hers, and there was a brief moment of confusion on his face before he grinned, showing off two small but sharp fangs.

"Ehhh? Who are you, little missy? Where have we met?" he asked, his tone playful, almost teasing.

'He doesn't remember me... well, I guess after all that sake, it's no surprise,' she thought, stifling a laugh.

"I'm from the little restaurant?" she replied, hoping to jog his memory by mentioning her family's establishment.

Recognition lit up his face instantly. His mouth formed a small 'O,' and it was as if a lightbulb had switched on in his mind. He beamed at her with a bright, mischievous smile.

"Ohhh, yeah! From yesterday!" he exclaimed loudly, suddenly clinging onto her arm without warning. (Y/N) felt her cheeks flush red as a wave of embarrassment washed over her.

"Yep, yep! My big brother, Amane, did mention something about 'one of the people from the shop taking care of you'..." He mimicked his brother's deep voice as he spoke, clearly referencing the man from the previous day, whom he had called his 'big brother.' Meanwhile, (Y/N) was still caught in the middle of her flustered state.

A few passersby slowed their pace, drawn to the scene by the man's loud and childlike behavior. Some people even began whispering.

"Kids these days..." one muttered.

"Broad daylight, and they're clinging like that?" another murmured with a disapproving glance.

(Y/N)'s face burned even hotter from the unwanted attention, but the cat-like man seemed completely oblivious, clinging to her arm as if they were lifelong friends.

"Little missy~♡ Sorry you had to see me in such a pitiful state~ Ahaha, I apologize... maybe? Oh! And I should thank you, too! But only because Amane asked me to!" he said, bouncing on his feet with childish enthusiasm.

"U-um, can we go somewhere else? People are staring..." (Y/N) asked, trying her best to ignore the growing audience and avoid further embarrassment.

"Hmm? So what? I don't care what they think. It's my life, not theirs," he declared, casting a casual glance at the crowd.

"Arghh, just come on!" (Y/N) huffed in frustration, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward a nearby riverbank, desperate for a more private spot where they could talk without prying eyes.

As soon as they were alone by the river, he looked around and smirked, crossing his arms in mock offense.

"Ohh~ so, little missy, why did you bring me here? Ohoho~ naughty, naughty girl~" he teased, wrapping his arms around himself as if he was shielding his modesty.

(Y/N)'s face flared red once again, and she began stammering. "Y-you!! I-it's not like that!"

He just laughed, his cat-like grin widening. But then, just as quickly as his playful demeanor had come, it vanished. His expression turned serious, his voice dropping to a much deeper tone, his posture straightening.

"Sorry if I annoyed you," he said quietly, his eyes sincere. "By the way, I'm really grateful for what you did yesterday. Thank you."

(Y/N)'s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden shift in his behavior. "Ah... n-not at all. Please don't trouble yourself over it. I didn't realize the man with you yesterday was your older brother."

"You didn't? But we look almost identical," he replied, sounding somewhat amused. "He's my twin. The eldest one. The name's Yugi—first name Tsukasa. My brother's Amane, though everyone loves to tease him by calling him Hanako. You should try it sometime."

"Yugi... from the Yugi clan? So, you're from a samurai family, I see." (Y/N) felt a little nervous after realizing she had been dealing with samurai nobles. "I heard yesterday that you traveled here from the north, but..."

"Yeah, we're here to meet a potential bride. Though I'll be honest, I prefer someone like Amane~♡" Tsukasa said, a mischievous gleam reappearing in his eyes.

(Y/N)'s eyes widened in surprise. 'An arranged marriage? Both brothers are up for grabs? That's... wow.'

"Really?! So it's an arranged marriage then?" she asked, still reeling from the unexpected revelation.

"Mhm, but she hasn't decided which of us she'll wed yet," Tsukasa said, sighing lightly.

'It must be tough being a samurai...' (Y/N) thought, feeling a sudden wave of empathy for him.

"The young lady's a bit wild, though. Despite being of noble birth, she works in town like a commoner. Quite the restless soul," Tsukasa added with a casual shrug.

(Y/N) nodded, processing all the shocking information he had shared. 'So it's true... there is a noblewoman working in town.'

"Nonetheless," Tsukasa began again...