"Could it be that you're serious about this, and not just acting?"
Byakuya voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"It's both acting and being serious."
Kiyoko answered without expression. "After all, I'll eventually be pressured into marriage anyway. If the person I end up marrying is you, I feel like I could accept that. It would also satisfy my family."
"..."
Byakuya suddenly felt a cold sweat forming.
Marrying him just to appease her family...
Wasn't that a bit too casual...?
"Of course, if you're not willing, just pretend I never said anything."
Kiyoko said flatly.
"How could I not be willing?"
Byakuya answered directly.
"So that's a yes, then."
"Mm."
Byakuya nodded with a smile.
"Then let's get married before the year-end trip to my hometown."
Kiyoko said straightforwardly.
"That's... fast."
Byakuya couldn't help but express his surprise.
"Is it? I think it's fine. We already know each other well enough, don't we?"
Kiyoko seemed unconcerned.
"That's true... I suppose it is fine."
Byakuya thought about it—there were still several months until year's end.
Just then, he heard Natsumi getting out of bed.
"Sounds like Natsumi's awake. I'll go get her breakfast from the kitchen."
Byakuya got up.
"Good morning, Amaha-niichan, Kiyoko-nee."
Natsumi emerged from the bedroom, one hand rubbing her eyes while the other pushed open the door.
"Good morning, Natsumi. There are disposable toiletries in the bathroom—I've already set them out for you."
Byakuya reminded her.
"Okay—"
Natsumi headed off to wash up.
...
By the time Natsumi finished breakfast, her mother Kana had arrived.
"I'm so sorry about last night. I hope Natsumi didn't cause any trouble?"
Kana smiled apologetically.
"Not at all. Natsumi was very well-behaved."
Byakuya said.
"Yes, very clever and obedient."
Kiyoko smiled.
"That's good to hear. Come on, Natsumi, let's head home."
Kana took Natsumi's hand.
"Mommy, I want to come play at Kiyoko-nee's place again."
Natsumi tugged at her mother's hand.
"Sure, but it'll have to wait a while. Mommy's been busy lately."
Kana said.
"Okay..."
Natsumi then said her goodbyes to Kiyoko and Byakuya. "Bye-bye, Kiyoko-nee, Amaha-niichan."
"Goodbye, Natsumi."
...
After they left,
Kana asked Natsumi, "So, what do you think? Are Kiyoko-nee and Amaha-niichan really a couple? Or were they faking it?"
Before coming, Kana had given Natsumi specific instructions.
Leaving Natsumi behind, having her stay overnight at Kiyoko's place—it had all been part of her plan.
The purpose was to verify whether Kiyoko and Byakuya's relationship was genuine.
Of course, Natsumi was clever enough, and she found this kind of thing interesting, which was why she'd executed it so perfectly.
"It felt a little weird, but they're probably a real couple. After all, they did all those embarrassing things together. Even if they weren't a couple before, they definitely are now."
Natsumi answered.
"Is that so? Well, that's good. No matter how it happened, at least Kiyoko-nee finally has someone special."
Kana said with a smile.