Chapter 3: Married Life Isn’t All Fun and Games

“Hinosaka-kun, are you already living with your wife?”

“I haven’t moved yet, so… we’re semi-cohabiting.”

“I see. So you’re savoring the last moments of your bachelor life.” A senior colleague in his forties—a dad whose daughter is taking middle school entrance exams this year—nodded sagely.

“Enjoy your freedom while it lasts, Hinosaka-kun.”

“Actually, we’re totally in love, so I don’t really miss being single at all~.” This was a junior colleague, younger than me, but already married to a girlfriend he’d dated since university. During our lunch break, the three of us were chatting.

“I was like that when I was a newlywed, too. But after three years… my wife took over the wallet, my hobbies were restricted, and once we had a kid, my allowance got slashed… My weekends are swallowed by ‘family service’… I have no time for myself anymore…”

“But working for your family and spending time together is the ultimate happiness, isn’t it?”

“You’re… young, but you get it! Yes, despite everything, marriage is great! I just want to give Hinosaka-kun some advice so he doesn’t have any regrets.”

“I’m also your senior when it comes to marriage, Hinosaka-san~. Ask me anything~.”

“I’m a fifteen-year veteran! I’m a pro at handling a wife and daughter!”

“Didn’t your daughter tell you that you smell lately?”

“She did~! She won’t even talk to me until I’ve taken a bath after getting home~!” The veteran dad started tearing up.

“…But if you stay on good terms with your wife, you can avoid the worst-case scenario of being ignored by your kid.” The dad, who had momentarily slumped over the table, snapped back up.

“Hinosaka-kun, never forget to show gratitude to your wife.”

“That’s key. I always thank my wife for everything, and it really pays off.”

“True, whenever I say ‘thank you,’ she looks so happy.”

“It’s vital not to take even the smallest things for granted! Hinosaka-kun, you were eating that amazing bento earlier, right? Make sure to thank her when you get home.”

“Do that, and maybe the heart-shaped marks on your rice won’t disappear!”

“I actually want the hearts to disappear, so maybe I should tone down the gratitude?” We all shared a laugh as the lunch break came to an end.

…

“What? Why are you staring at my face?” Back at my desk, my junior Ayako Senga looked dissatisfied.

“‘I want the hearts to disappear, so maybe I should tone down the gratitude? Ahahaha’—what’s so funny about that? Isn’t it just lame? Is that the level of your humor now?”

“I’m not looking for ‘hot’ humor.”

“After all those ‘hot and intense’ nights we’ve spent together, that’s what you have to say!?”

“You mean the nights we spent talking at the izakaya! Don’t phrase it like that.”

“Ugh… they say people get soft after they get married, but surely not you, Senpai… right?”

“I’ll probably end up like that.”

“No way…! The Senpai whose only saving grace was his passion for the industry and high work standards… is going soft? Then you’ll just be a useless man…”

“You’re totally insulting me…!”

“No way~! I’d never insult the Senpai I love and respect. So, want to go for drinks today? You wouldn’t be the type of person who refuses a drink invitation just because he’s married, right? You wouldn’t, right? You’ll stay the Senpai I love, won’t you?” I started wondering if she had some yandere tendencies… “Sorry. I already told my wife I’d eat at home tonight.”

“Whaaat!? The #4 thing men want to say after getting married (according to Senga’s research)!? Senpai isn’t going to hang out with me anymore!?” I brushed off my increasingly erratic junior and got back to work. Alright, let’s aim for zero overtime. In the eyes of the office, I am now a man in a common-law marriage.

---

“Welcome ho〜me! ♡” Arisa came pitter-pattering down the long hallway.

“How was work today?”

“Everyone kept telling me not to work overtime and to get home early.”

“Ahaha. What a nice company. Um, um…” Wearing a white blouse and a gray skirt, Arisa looked elegant yet fidgety.

“What’s up?” “Would you like dinner? A bath? O-Or… me?” Arisa’s cheeks flushed. This was it—the legendary cliché of a newlywed couple I thought only existed in fiction. The #2 thing men want to hear after getting married (according to my research)— “Y-You don’t have to say the rest.”

“No, let me say it! It’s… the duty of a new wife!”

“Your definition of ‘wife’ is definitely a bit skewed.” Arisa was fighting hard in her role as a ‘bride,’ even if she was occasionally spinning her wheels.

“Let’s just start with dinner. I’m starving.”

“Got it. I’ll get it ready. Go ahead and change; put anything for the laundry in the basket.” Ever since I made that marriage declaration, Arisa had been taking care of me with devoted attention. The original goal was just to make Arisa’s grandfather, President Kimisaka, believe we were getting married. Now that he’d accepted it, she didn’t really need to go this far, but… “No, no! This won’t do at all! This doesn’t scream ‘perfect compatibility’!” For some reason, there was a third party here denying our bond.

“How is it not!? We’re a perfectly ideal couple!”

“A newlywed couple with zero physical contact after the husband returns from work? Even for shy Japanese people, that’s impossible! It should be kiss, kiss, kiss!”

“Ugh… I see.”

“Don’t ‘I see’ him, Arisa. It’s perfectly normal not to.”

“It can’t be helped. Allow me, James, to show you an example! Come, Arisa!”

“Don’t try to use this as an excuse for sexual harassment!” The reason this comedy routine was unfolding in the foyer was that James Big Mountain, Executive Officer at A&G, was also staying at the mansion as a guest. I thought we’d settled things during the talk with President Kimisaka, but James’s persistence was legendary.

“Compared to me, it’s obvious his compatibility with Arisa is inferior! I shall prove it!” he had protested vehemently. Eventually, President Kimisaka sighed and said, “Fine, we’ll have a trial period to see who fits better” (he seemed to have given up out of sheer annoyance).

“I can do it… without an example! Right, Kenichi-san?”

“Arisa, you don’t have to force yourself just because he’s baiting you…”

“Do you… not want to? A… kiss?” Arisa looked up at me with teary eyes. “Am I… not attractive enough?”

“What? You’re married but you can’t even kiss? I shall report this ‘herbivore’ man’s failure to Grandfather!” (Kenichi-san…! Just to shut him up…! Okay…?) Arisa closed her eyes. Her expression was more relaxed than before, looking as if she truly accepted me. So, I approached her without hesitation. And then— I pulled her into a firm hug. Her petite frame fit perfectly in my arms. I could feel the rhythmic thumping of our hearts blending together.

“I’m back. I’m home.”

“…Ah… u-um… Welcome home…” I quickly released her.

“Sorry. Was that bad?” Arisa’s face was beet red as she shook her head frantically. “Not at all. I’m fine. Totally fine.” Her shyness made me feel embarrassed, too.

“…Did you see that, James!? A kiss isn’t the only form of skinship. In fact, relying solely on kissing is a sign of immature affection!”

“So… that is the Japanese Style… I shall award you technical points!” If it’s a hug instead of a kiss, ethically… it’s safe, right?

“Are you tired?” Arisa asked while I was relaxing after dinner and a bath.

“No, I’m okay.”

“I’ll give you a massage!”

“My opinions really don’t carry much weight here, do they?” (It’s to show off our lovey-dovey level and make James give up.)

“Arisa! As an Executive Officer, I’ve had a day of hard work as well, so I’m always welcome to a massage! I’ll take one right now!”

“I’m obviously not giving you one!?”

And so. I lay face down on the large sofa in the Kimisaka living room. “Excuse me. …Up we go.” Arisa straddled my waist. Her small hands pushed firmly against my back. “How is it〜? Does it hurt〜?”

“No… actually, you could go a bit harder.”

“Understood. Heave-ho, heave-ho.”

“Oh, that feels good.”

“Really? Yay! ♪” Encouraged, Arisa’s voice sounded cheerful. Since she was being so enthusiastic, her thighs were firmly gripping my body, and I could feel her slender frame through her movements… no, no. She’s fifteen. This is just like getting a massage from a niece. “Wait, not my sides… that’s… ticklish…!”

“Don’t run away, Kenichi-sa〜n.”

“You’re doing this on purpose… wait… ahaha… seriously… I’m at my limit!?” I twisted my body around to escape Arisa’s fingers.

“Whoa!”

“Kyaa!” I was now lying on my back, and Arisa’s face was mere inches from mine. Her silky hair brushed against my face. Fresh out of the bath, she smelled faintly of an inviting soap.

“…………”

“…………”

Whirrrrrrr— Whirrrrrrr—

“You two really aren’t doing it right! If you’re talking about a massage, you need the hard yet delicate vibrations of an A&G original electric massager!”

“…………Could you… get off?”

“…………Y-Yes.” Thanks to James, the strange tension between us evaporated instantly. For once: Good job, James. “Phew… I’ve got work tomorrow, so I think I’ll head to bed.”

“Okay. Then our time is over…” Arisa clapped her hands twice. The sliding doors flew open, and two men in black suits entered. “Yes, our company’s massager really is the best… Hm? W-Wait! You two are still together, aren’t you!?”

“Kenichi-san and I are going to sleep, so we’ll be separate now.” The two men in black grabbed James from both sides.

“What…! Even if it’s a contract… this is tyranny!”

“Goodbye~”

“Nwaaaaaa!? G-Goodnight, Arisa…!” James was dragged away into the depths of the hallway. The rule was that James could only be in the same room as us while Arisa and I were together. To ensure the promise was kept, sturdy men in black were stationed at the mansion. Man, this place is chaotic.

“Well, goodnight.”

“Kenichi-san… thank you.”

“What’s with the sudden gratitude?”

“I’m just really grateful… for you putting up with my situation…”

“I’m getting free meals and a ride to work every day. It’s like staying at a 5-star inn.”

“If you say so… that helps.” She’s usually quite pushy, but when she acts this sincerely, I can’t find anything to complain about. And now that I knew her position and feelings, I truly wanted to help her of my own accord. “Arisa, you have school tomorrow too, right?”

“…Yeah…”

“You’re working hard on breakfast and bentos, but don’t overdo it.”

“I’m not overdoing it. But if it gets too much, I’ll take a break.” Arisa smiled gently. “I’m glad that I have you, of all people, in this role, Kenichi-san.” Even if it’s just flattery… that makes me happy.

Despite the fundamental absurdity of the situation, stable days went by. I started thinking that maybe all the problems would eventually work themselves out. But of course, that wasn’t the case. I had underestimated the reality of having war declared on me by such a formidable man—

---

There was no warning; the incident happened out of the blue. In the morning, I was checking the sales trends at my desk as usual. When I checked the numbers for the book I was in charge of, compared to the forecast… It was down 20%. It felt like I’d been struck in the head.

“Hey, Hinosaka. Can you get me the sales data for the last two days for your PB (Private Brand) book, The Scrawny Guy’s Daily Hardcore Recipes: 365 Days to Lean Muscle? Asap.”

“I’m looking at it right now. And like I always say, it’s embarrassing when you say the full title! Even if I’m the one who came up with it!” Under Manager Mizuno’s orders, I extracted the data once more. My department, the Planning & Strategy Promotion Division, was pushing the sales of PB books co-planned with publishers. It was an initiative where the distributor got involved from the planning stage to create books that readers would love. This book had just been reprinted. Surely it was some kind of mistake…

“…The recent sales are indeed… 20% below forecast.” Something was wrong. Sales had been strong lately; a sudden 20% drop was unheard of.

“Break it down by channel.”

Following instructions, I looked at the sales results by bookstore route, online route, and convenience store route. “Did something happen~?” Senga joined the conversation.

“…The online route sales have dropped significantly… and A&G’s sales are at zero…?” I immediately jumped to the A&G e-commerce site.

“…Out of stock? Even though we have inventory?” It was rare for the e-commerce giant A&G to let a book go out of stock when the distributor had inventory. They usually have automated restocking orders for their warehouses; they shouldn’t make a blunder like this…

“This one too…!”

“Um… what’s going on?”

“Look at our other PB titles.” I searched for the other PB books our department was responsible for on the A&G site. Absurd Storage: The Surprising Power of Organizing Will Change Your Life—Out of Stock on A&G. Become the World’s Strongest Traveler! The Ultimate Travel Guidebook: All-Color Edition—Out of Stock on A&G. The Ultra-Ultra-Ultra Beginner’s Guide to Destiny Divination: Know Your Fate from Three Lives Ago—Out of Stock on A&G. Out of stock. Out of stock. Out of stock. Out of stock.

“What is this…? Are they all out of stock…?”

“Is it a shipping trouble~?” It certainly felt like the kind of trouble Senga mentioned. “No, nothing happened. A&G just hasn’t sent any orders.”

“No orders? But these aren’t books that aren’t selling…”

“A&G is intentionally not stocking them.”

“Why would they intentionally not stock books that sell? That makes no sense.”

“It makes no sense, and that’s why I’m troubled! When I asked them, they wouldn’t give a straight answer!”

“But wait, it’s not just that~. Even if they’re out of stock on A&G, a sudden 20% drop overall is weird. There are other online bookstores. So, I did some digging.”

“Did you find something?” Manager Mizuno asked as Senga tapped away at her keyboard. “When you search on the net, the official product pages and intro pages don’t show up right away—the search ranking has dropped. Instead, blogs with low ratings and critical opinions are at the top, making them highly visible.”

Senga showed us her screen. ▼ A Waste of Money! The Scrawny Guy’s Daily Hardcore Recipes… ▼ I tried making them and they didn’t taste good… The Scrawny Guy’s… ▼ Shallow content. The Scrawny Guy’s… “To anyone searching for this book right now, it looks like a ‘trash book’~.”

“That’s impossible… the reader surveys weren’t bad at all…” I muttered. “This might actually be something quite interesting… excuse me, I mean a dire situation. This isn’t happening to other books; only our PBs are being targeted. In other words… someone has intentionally tampered with the search engine results provided by A&G to disparage our PB books.”

“Isn’t that a crime?” “As long as there’s no illegal act in the process, probably not~. A search engine is just a service provided by a private company. Though it makes a big difference if it’s an inside job or an outside one.”

“…Senga. Summarize the search results in a report immediately. I’m going to report this to the higher-ups.”

“Understood~.”

“Critical reviews are becoming more visible on the net… and it’s having this much of an impact.”

“We live in an era where people find books on the net, you know? Even if they see a book in a bookstore, they’ll search for reviews on their phone before buying. If the reviews are trash, I wouldn’t buy it either~. Senpai, are you keeping up with those values?”

“I…” Just then, an email notification popped up on my PC. The subject line said 【URGENT】. It was from the contact at the publisher we’d made the PB book with. It was a long, desperate plea, asking why sales had plummeted despite the reprint, why A&G was out of stock, and if there was a reason the search results were so weird—saying that if the books didn’t sell and turned into a mountain of returns, their business would be in jeopardy. I don’t know. We are currently investigating— “Dammit… I can’t send such an irresponsible reply…” My hands stopped mid-type.

“Yes, this is Senga. …Eh, Hinosaka? Senpai is right here.” Senga, who had answered the phone next to me, said my name. Then, the area near the office entrance became strangely noisy. “Hello! Henosaka… no wait, Honosaka… that’s not right either. Hino… Yes, is this where Kenichi Hinosaka works!?” A high-energy voice echoed through the floor. Walking among a group of people was a remarkably tall man with conspicuous blonde hair. It was him… “James Big Mountain, Executive Officer of the Book Division at A&G Japan, has arrived! Come out, Kenichi Hinosaka!” Why was he here now…? No, he’s an executive of a hyper-important client. It’s not surprising for him to visit our company. Regardless, given his title, I couldn’t ignore him. I stepped out in front of James, who was clad in an expensive-looking suit. Facing him here, away from the Kimisaka mansion, he looked like a completely different person.

“Kenichi Hinosaka! Are you working hard? Well, I’m sure you’re doing great since you’re eating Arisa’s home cooking, getting massages, and being taken care of so devotedly!”

“Let’s keep that talk for later…”

“However, as long as I am at the mansion, I shall obstruct any romantic acts—”

“Don’t say unnecessary things, James!”

“Hinosaka! Show some respect…!” Oops. My usual habits had slipped out. “S-Sorry. …Wait, President?” The one who scolded me was the President of my own company, Shin-Nihon Publishing Distribution. “I had a talk with the President! And I came to see how you were working!” I had been half-doubting it, but it seemed James really was in a position to have meetings with our President. “Is work going smoothly?” “It’s… all right, I guess.”

“By the way, your department puts out PB books, don’t they? Are those going smoothly, too?” Why was he bringing up the PB books so pointedly now? Was this man…? “Regarding that… we’re actually having a bit of a problem… Do you know something?” James was smiling. But he wasn’t really laughing. “No.” Being denied, I couldn’t exactly shout “Don’t lie!” at an executive of a client company. “However, I can say this much.” For just a fleeting moment before his next words, James wore a grin of pure amusement. “The solution to the problem is something only Kenichi Hinosaka here knows.”

---

『Do you know the solution, Hinosakaaaa!?』

『I told you I don’t!』

『Then why did Executive James say that!?』

『I have no ideaaaa!』

After repeating that back-and-forth with Manager Mizuno, I finally headed home. “I’m exhausted…” Since the PB books are co-produced with publishers, a drop in sales hits both sides hard. If the decline continues, we won’t be able to release the books we have planned for the future. Even the MARIA book—the one I’m working on with my precious friends, the one carrying all our dreams—would be affected…

『If it gets too bad, A&G will lose trust too, so I think they’ll step in eventually~. But from the perspective of A&G as a whole, it’s just a trifle, so they might just leave it alone. Executive James also said “I hope the solution is found soon,” but he didn’t seem worried at all.』

I wasn’t sure if Senga was trying to be helpful or not.

『If you have any idea about the solution, let me know. I’m counting on you.』

Manager Mizuno had left me with that. I didn’t know if I could call it a solution. But I did have an inkling—

“Welcome home, Kenichi-san.” Arisa greeted me at the foyer. And behind Arisa was…

“Hello. Welcome back, Hinosaka-kun.” James Ohyama, with his chillingly calm eyes. “Um, um…” Arisa was likely planning to show off our lovey-dovey relationship to James again today, but… “Sorry, Arisa. I’m all sweaty, could you go ahead and wash my jacket?”

“Sure, got it! I’ll wash it right away!” Arisa disappeared toward the laundry room with my jacket. “…Bringing company problems into this is a foul. It’s unrelated.”

“Unrelated? Is it really? ‘Hinosaka from Shin-Nihon’ is getting in the way of ‘James from A&G’ and ‘Arisa from KIMISAKAYA’ getting together. As a distributor, you’d want to prevent the birth of a hyper-giant retailer, wouldn’t you?” When he put it like that, it sounded as if political motives were involved. “You’re completely mistaken. My being here has nothing to do with the company.”

“Hmm, is that so? Then you should stop talking about the company here, too.”

“You’re the one who brought a personal grudge into the company! Making a target of our PB books…”

“Hmm~, I might have stopped ordering books I thought ‘wouldn’t sell,’ and I might have sympathized with the opinions of people who shared my view~. Is there a problem with that?”

“…Because the correct information isn’t being conveyed and products can’t be bought, the customers are suffering too, you know?” “But the masses support us, A&G. Without noticing a little bit of intent, they will continue to use what’s convenient. Always have, always will.” Was this man really insisting that this was a ‘correct’ world?

“Well, if you were to never see Arisa again, I have a feeling the situation might change~?” I couldn’t believe this man was allowed to be at the top of the nation’s largest bookstore. “What a scary look~. Like you’re going to expose my wicked deeds to the world.”

“My expression isn’t that specific. But it means it would be bad if it was exposed, right?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea,” James sneered, leaning his face close to mine. “I could do anything if I really wanted to break the rules. The fact that I don’t is my mercy.” It wasn’t a threat; it was a fact. “However, it would be classless to simply eliminate you with childish means to make you surrender completely. So, I shall break your spirit within the bounds of my rules.” An overwhelming powerhouse was toying with me with his own fangs. “If you want to surrender, please do so in a way that’s easy to understand. Think for yourself how you should wag your tail.” Being forced to think of how to beg for forgiveness and then execute it. It was indeed a humiliation that would make it impossible to ever stand up again. “Oh, are you guys still talking here?” Arisa came pitter-pattering back. “But I can at least admit that you’ve noticed my Arisa’s charm~!”

“Who’s ‘your Arisa’!?”

I decided of my own free will to pretend to be married to Arisa. But I never thought it would cause this much trouble for so many people…

“…Kenichi-san. Is the food not good?”

“Eh… no, it’s great. It’s delicious today, too.”

“Good. You were just so quiet.” Arisa, sitting across from me, looked relieved.

“Sorry. I was just thinking… by the way, where’s James?”

“He said, ‘I have a business trip to Hong Kong now! Being an Executive Officer is so busy, it’s exhausting~! Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon! Adios!’ Spain has nothing to do with this, though.” So he came here despite having no time just to give me a surrender demand. “Kenichi-san? You’re spacey again… wait, could it be…” Oops. Did she notice a problem had occurred? “Could it be… an affair?”

“…………Hm?”

“Even though you have a wife like me!”

“I’m not, I’m not. If anything, my marriage declaration has killed any romantic prospects for me.”

“But there should be loves that burn brighter because of obstacles…!”

“I’ve been thinking this for a while… Arisa, do you get most of your info from manga?”

“N-N-No way! I-I-I’m popular, you know!?”

“You’re totally flustered.” Her eyes were darting around. “Besides, an ‘affair’… we aren’t even actually dating, remember?” I’m just pretending to be married to Arisa. No more, no less.

“Just for now!” Arisa stood up and leaned over the table. “Be my husband for real. Absolutely, promise. …I know it’s only for a limited time… okay?” I want to protect this girl who’s fighting, but—

---

“Oh, I’m out of toner, better buy some~.”

“That’s not something you should say in a bookstore.”

“You should shop when you think of it. Click!”

“You buy that kind of stuff on your phone, too?”

“The app is so convenient~. Do you not use it, Hinosaka-san?”

“…I use a flip phone.”

“Right~, I forgot you were an outdated ‘Galapagos’ old man who can’t even install apps~.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been insulted that much…!” Today was the interview day for the charismatic middle school model, MARIA. Maria was doing great; she’d just landed another magazine cover deal. She gets many TV offers too, but apparently, she’s turning them down, saying she’ll appear “when the time is right.” Her name recognition among the general public is rising; she’s on the verge of a major breakthrough. There couldn’t be a better time to release a MARIA book.

“Hey, have you been doing the interview~?”

“O-Of course.” I turned around to see Manager Wakiya in an overly casual aloha shirt, arms crossed. The bookstore we were visiting today was another one I’d been visiting since I joined the company.

“This is a lovely store~.” MARIA, with her flashy makeup and gold-gradient twin-tails, put on her business smile. “Oh? In what way?”

“For example, this shelf. It starts with A Study of Internet Flaming, then A Complete History of IT, making you think it’s a web-related area, but then it follows that up with A History of Modern French Thought and An Intro to the History of Modern Thought. Grouping them like that… a normal bookstore couldn’t do it~.”

“Ho… little lady. You’ve got a good eye.” Manager Wakiya was surprised by Maria’s response. “It’s fun because there are discoveries to be made~. I respect someone who can make a ‘context shelf’ like this~.” A context shelf is a shelf where books are arranged not by author or genre, but by some meaningful context. Lately, you see them often in stylish bookstores that handle both books and miscellaneous goods, but this place had been working on that arrangement as a pioneer. “I thought you just used fashion to act like you liked books, but you’re actually…” Despite her looks, Maria was a book lover, and she often introduced books on her SNS. “…Maria-chan, you’re putting out a book soon, right?”

“Yes~, I’m putting out a photo & essay book as a Shin-Nihon Publishing Distribution PB~.”

“Before that, why don’t you try picking some books for a selection shelf in our store?”

“Eh, is that okay~? I’ll pick some really geeky books, you know~?”

“I’m looking forward to it~. Anything that isn’t out of print… no, Hinosaka-san will manage somehow regardless of the book, won’t you?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“It’s settled then! I’ll contact you through Hinosaka-san, so I’m counting on you!” With that, Manager Wakiya went back to work. Then, Maria peered into my face.

“Hinosaka-san, you aren’t focused today, are you?”

“I-Is that so?”

“A plan to make a bookshelf is definitely something you can use. But your reaction was weak~.”

It was pathetic to have a fifteen-year-old girl point out that my heart wasn’t in the interview. I had been ordered to recover the sales of the PB products that A&G was strangling. Promotion on other sites. Promotion on our own media. Increasing the volume of “look inside” samples. Posting reviews. Creating store POP signs. Point-up campaigns… and so on. I did everything I could think of with all my might. Thanks to that, there was a few percent improvement in sales. But— 『Actually, Hinosaka is doing well. But it’s far from covering a 20% drop.』 As Manager Mizuno said, I couldn’t overturn the devastating damage caused by A&G. Only 20%. And yet, it was 20%. The difference between whether a book can cross the break-even point or not is immense. The result determines if a sequel can be released or if the next project can happen. The MARIA book project, which was realized with the help of so many people, would also be affected without exception. To think we might not be able to put out the book… no, I had to avoid that at all costs… 『I wonder what Executive James meant by “The solution is something only Kenichi Hinosaka knows.” Was he saying to use KIMISAKAYA?』 I know the real solution to recover the sales— “Hinosaka-san, are you tired? From all the overtime?”

“…I might be a little tired.” Lately, I’d been staying late at the office. “But I’m fine. I’ll make sure the serialization and the MARIA book happen.”

“Hmm, I don’t trust you~ ♪”

“Don’t say sad things in such a poppy tone.”

“So, I’ll give you a suggestion to cheer you up~.” Maria, in her school-uniform-style outfit, held out her right hand. “Want to go on a date with me?”

And so, I ended up heading to a stylish spot popular with students with a middle school girl. “…This isn’t a place where a salaryman should be with a school-uniform-clad JC on a weekday afternoon.” “Why? It’s for an interview. Besides, this looks like a uniform but it isn’t one.”

“There aren’t many JCs around at this time, so we stand out…” I said, giving way to a girl with flashy hair walking toward us.

“I have permission because I’ve been doing a photo shoot since morning~. And this is my work for the afternoon.”

“I’m doing it on a weekday because you specified it, but we could do it on a weekend.”

“Oh, look, look! I want to eat that! Even if there’s a huge line~!” Is it really okay to be on a mock date with a celebrity who has a million followers…? Just as I thought that, Maria was immediately noticed by girls on the street.

“Eh… you’re Maria-chan, right!? Can I take a photo!?”

“Oh, I just bought the cosmetics you produced the other day!”

“Sure, of course~. Thanks for the support~. Okay, let’s take a photo~.” She doesn’t get noticed much in bookstores, but in spots with many middle and high school girls, her name recognition is truly impressive.

“Don’t you need a disguise? If a photo with me gets posted and you get flamed…”

“…It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t have that much name value among the general public. Besides, you just look like my manager, Hinosaka-san~.” While waiting in line, Maria was looking at her phone the whole time. And fifteen minutes later. “It’s here! Soft-serve with plenty of whipped cream + mini-mini puff topping + mini-mini waffle + pretzel + cotton candy! It’s the cutting edge of ‘Deco-Soft’!”

“I honestly have no idea what you just said.”

“These mini-mini sweets are so cute~. I have to post this on SNS…”

I ate a plain soft-serve. “Mmm… it’s good.”

“Don’t just eat it on your own!? I wanted to post a ‘tried lining them up’ photo with a normal one!”

“Don’t just post photos of everything.”

“You booked me to get youth with that kind of culture to read books, didn’t you~? You won’t be able to make a viral article or book without understanding and getting close to them~.”

“I’ll try my best… But, yeah. For example, while waiting in line, instead of playing with your phone, wouldn’t it be cool if people thought it was stylish to read a paperback?”

“If I or other influential kids post cute, stylish photos and make them go viral, the possibility might not be zero~. Want to take an image photo later?”

“I’ll have to think about where to order the book covers. Something as stylish as possible…”

“But first, eat~… so sweet, so good!” Maria started devouring the heavily decorated soft-serve. “I could still eat more… but it’s a bit much~. Here, Hinosaka-san.”

“Hm?”

“Eat some of mine too~. You can have the toppings~.” The soft-serve she handed over had a faint pink stain of lipstick on it. “You’re staring… are you conscious of it? Our indirect kiss.”

“I thought you’d be the one who’d hate it. I don’t feel anything because you’re just a kid.” I boldly took a bite of Maria’s soft-serve.

“D-Don’t just dig in so suddenly! Be more gentle!”

“What are you getting shy for?” After finishing the ice cream, she insisted on taking the photo I mentioned. When I handed her a paperback from my bag, Maria instantly struck a pose. As expected of a model. She looked completely in her element. She was a gal with flashy makeup, but she also had an intellectual aura, and the book suited her. “A photo of Maria with her favorite book cover might be a good idea for a corner in the MARIA book.”

“That just means more homework for me to do, doesn’t it~?”

“The photos will be from the same shoot day, and for the text, if you just talk to me, I can… wait, what’s with that look?”

MARIA, who had been staring intently at my face, broke into a grin.

Our “date” with a fifteen-year-old had gone on long enough that I’d stopped worrying about the judgmental glares from people passing by.

“I was just thinking you look much better now than when we first met today~.”

“To be honest… it was a good distraction. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”

“Do you want a girlfriend now?”

“I think having someone like that would definitely change things.”

“So… is there someone you like right now? Or someone you’re interested in?”

“I don’t really have the mental energy for that with work and everything.”

Plus, you know, the whole “fake marriage” thing…

“Isn’t having zero prospects a bit pathetic for a man? You’re gonna wither away~.”

“Mind your own business. …But for now,” I said, a image of a certain girl waiting for me no matter how late I returned flashed through my mind. “I suppose there’s someone I want to protect.”

“…Not a girlfriend, not a crush… oh, is it a family member? That’s the twist?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then it’s a mystery.”

“I think it’s a mystery to me, too.”

MARIA stared at her phone and whispered, “I hope you can protect them.”

Because MARIA was from a world completely separate from my daily grind, I found it easier to be honest with her.

“But… I’m a little conflicted.”

“…Conflicted?”

“By trying to protect them, I’ve ended up being targeted by a massive enemy, and now other people are getting dragged into the mess. I wonder if it’s worth it. The enemy is just too big… I can’t do anything on my own.”

“Dragged into the mess?” MARIA looked up from her screen.

“Yeah… it’s complicated.”

“I’m curious! Tell me!”

“…If I try to protect this person, an executive from a client company targets me and starts sabotaging book sales… wait, I shouldn’t be talking about this with an outsider.”

For the rest of the interview, MARIA was uncharacteristically quiet.

---

Being surrounded by three beautiful women in an izakaya is a situation most men would die for.

…Unless those three women were currently glaring at you with eyes cold enough to freeze hell over.

“You said the other day, and I quote, ‘I’m going to tell her I can’t do the fake marriage thing anymore’! So why are you still doing it!?”

Lemon Tsuta, the Gothic Lolita superstar author, slammed her hand on the table, her blonde twin-tails shaking with rage.

“Kenichi-kun, at this point, it seems like you want to keep hanging out with a middle schooler. Should we call the cops? Or should we find a different way to punish you?”

Sumire Suhara, the “Angelic Bookstore Clerk,” spoke with a sadistic edge that completely betrayed her gentle, brown-haired appearance.

“Let’s hear your excuse, Ken.”

Finally, Kaede Furuoka, the cool beauty editor with intellectual glasses, leaned in.

“You don’t seriously think you can talk your way out of this with us, do you?”

There was no escaping this izakaya-turned-interrogation-room.

“So, Kenichi… you’re pretending to be her fiancé to protect the KIMISAKAYA President’s granddaughter from being forced into a marriage she doesn’t want?” Lemon summarized.

“Exactly, Lemon. It’s strictly an act.”

“And the original fiancé candidate is an A&G executive?” Sumire asked.

“Just like you said. Apparently, there was talk of a merger between KIMISAKAYA and A&G.”

“I can’t believe such outdated political marriages still exist,” Kaede remarked.

“I couldn’t just abandon a girl caught up in adult drama like that, right?”

“““…”””

My desperate self-defense was over. Now, I just had to wait for the verdict.

“So you didn’t turn out to be the kind of trash who abandons a girl in need, Kenichi!” Lemon shouted.

“It’s very ‘you,’ Kenichi-kun.”

“Looks like you get to keep your life for another day, Ken,” Kaede added.

“Thank you! …Wait, why am I thanking you guys?”

It felt off, but whatever.

“Still, I never thought I’d hear the word ‘marriage’ come from Ken… even if it is an act.”

“Right!? He never had any luck with women!” Lemon laughed.

“Honestly, I thought you were traumatized by girls or something,” Sumire teased.

“…Before you talk about me, none of you three had boyfriends in university either.”

“That’s…” “Because…” “Well…”

Lemon stole a glance at me from under her lashes. Sumire sent a melancholic gaze my way. Kaede stared at me with her sharp, almond-shaped eyes.

Could it be that, even though we were supposed to be just friends, there was actually…

“I was busy writing like a demon and getting my debut settled!” Lemon yelled. “I was working full-time at my father’s bookstore,” Sumire added. “I spent too much time working part-time at an editorial house trying to become an editor,” Kaede finished.

“You guys were all working so hard! I have nothing but respect for you!”

“Back to the serious stuff,” Kaede said, turning the conversation. “The plan to merge KIMISAKAYA and A&G is a massive deal…”

“Does it really matter that much? I use both, so I’d be happy if they merged~,” Lemon said, her perspective reflecting that of the general public.

“They would become the undisputed #1 in the industry. No other bookstore, including mine, would stand a chance. It might seem convenient for customers, but a monopoly destroys the market balance,” Sumire explained.

“It would become a world where books don’t sell unless A&G sells them. That means editors like me would only be able to make books that A&G likes. I can’t believe A&G is sabotaging Shin-Nihon’s PB products just because of a personal grudge against Ken…” Kaede shook her head in disbelief.

“That means fewer interesting books! I hate that! Kenichi, can’t you sue them? Or leak it to a weekly magazine? Right, Kaede!?”

“Don’t be reckless. There’s no proof, and on its own, it’s a weak story. If we include the merger it might have a chance, but it’s the kind of thing that gets crushed by political pressure unless you time it perfectly.”

“Why would it get crushed!?”

“Just realize that’s how much influence those two companies have over the industry.”

“The future of the publishing industry seems to rest on your shoulders, Kenichi-kun.”

“…My stomach is starting to hurt.”

“And yet, all he’s doing is flirting with a middle schooler!” Lemon teased.

“Stop making it sound so light! It’s annoying!”

“Industry politics aside, I understand the girl needs protecting. However…” Kaede adjusted her glasses and looked at me seriously. “I don’t think continuing this fake marriage is going to solve the problem.”

“…I know.”

“And we need a counter-strategy for the PB sabotage. Our MARIA book is a Shin-Nihon PB, so it’s going to be targeted by A&G too, right?”

“I won’t allow a book I wrote to fail just because of them!” Lemon declared.

“On the other hand, if this is a test for neighborhood bookstores, I’m feeling pretty fired up,” Sumire said.

“I have no intention of losing to this kind of sabotage…!”

There was too much on the line. I couldn’t just let them walk all over us.

“By the way,” Kaede whispered, “have you seen MARIA for work lately?”

“Yeah, I saw her just the other day.”

“Was she doing okay?”

“Seemed like her usual self.”

“Hmm… But lately, on the net… well, I guess you aren’t interested.”

---

“Arisa. I actually have something important to—” “I forgot to hang the laundry!”

“Arisa. Listen. I—” “I forgot to buy the dried shrimp for tomorrow’s dinner! I have to go to the store!”

“Arisa! This time for real—” “I left my homemade dried fish out in the rain!”

“You sure have a lot of fish-related chores.”

I was trying to find a gap to talk to Arisa, but she was dodging me. And during breakfast or dinner…

“Hahahaha! Are you still clinging to the prehistoric culture of home-cooked meals? The era of delivery is here! Let’s order paella from my favorite Spanish bar! Hello? Delivery? What? Too far? Goddammit!”

James Big Mountain was always there, so I couldn’t get a word in. But I couldn’t delay it any longer.

“I’m not letting you escape, Arisa!”

“Eh…?”

I stood in front of Arisa as she came out of a room. It was a dead end in the hallway; she had nowhere to go. She was dressed very lightly—just a pair of thin pink pajamas. She couldn’t claim she was busy.

“Let’s have a talk, just the two of us…”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her skin, completely free of makeup, was as smooth as silk. A faint wisp of steam rose from her, carrying the scent of soap. I had caught Arisa right after her bath—

“Y-YOU PERVERT!?”

Thwack! A bath towel was hurled at my face, turning my world black.

“What were you planning to do to me when I was naked just minutes ago!?”

“I’m—I’m choking! The towel is too tight!”

“Have you finally lost control because of my charm!?”

“Phew! …No! I just want to talk!”

“Talk…?”

“You keep running away whenever I try to speak to you.”

“W-Well…”

“I have something important to say.”

As I stepped closer, Arisa looked a little frightened. Her damp, light chestnut hair was stuck to her cheeks.

“Fine… but only if it’s on the bed.”

“Okay, got it.”

…Wait, the bed?

---

Since there was nothing but futons, I laid out an extra one in the guest room where I was staying and lay down with Arisa.

“Um, Arisa-san? Why are we on the futons?”

“Important talks have to happen after everyone else is asleep. …Okay, lights out.”

The white light vanished, replaced by the orange glow of the nightlight. In the darkness, my hearing became more acute. I could clearly hear Arisa’s breathing. In the quiet room, I felt like I could even hear our heartbeats. It was just a setup so she’d listen to me; nothing was going to happen—

Rustle.

Arisa slid into my futon.

“…Hey. What are you doing?”

Arisa pressed her body against mine, clinging to my right arm. Through her thin pajamas, I could feel the softness of her skin. Something even softer brushed against my arm.

“We’re alone here. We don’t need to pretend to be married, do we?” I said, trying to stay calm while staring at the ceiling.

“Please… just please…” Arisa squeezed my arm tighter. “Don’t ‘divorce’ me yet. It’s almost over…”

“I’m not… besides, we aren’t even married.”

“But you want to stop the fake marriage, don’t you?”

“I mean, I want to end it as soon as possible, but…”

Then, I realized something.

“Wait, do you think I’m going to abandon you?”

“Eh… isn’t that… what you wanted?”

“Don’t look down on me.” My tone became sharp, and Arisa flinched. “I know you aren’t just playing around. I know you’re fighting for the bookstores. And… I promised I’d help you.”

“Then what was the important talk…?”

“I just don’t think continuing the fake marriage is the best way. Your goal is to protect KIMISAKAYA and avoid marrying James, right?”

“I don’t care about marrying James. As long as KIMISAKAYA is safe.”

Her resolve was impressive, but it felt almost obsessive.

“There must be another way, so let’s think about it together. …That’s what I wanted to say.”

“…Oh. I thought you were going to ruin the plan right when it’s getting started.”

Arisa’s tone suddenly lightened, and she slid back into her own futon.

“I guess I didn’t need to use my ‘feminine wiles’ after all.”

“Did you really think I’d be swayed by that?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey.”

“But… I see. You were… thinking about me, Kenichi-san.” Arisa whispered, her back to me.

“…Are you crying?”

“Of course not.”

Her voice wasn’t wet with tears. But looking at her back, I couldn’t help but reach out and place my hand on her light chestnut hair. I gave her head a gentle pat.

“Don’t treat me like a kid.”

Despite her words, she didn’t pull away.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this… and for causing so much trouble for you, Kenichi-san.”

“Let’s just settle this problem and get it over with.”

“…I’m going to end it. Thanks to you, I think I can even get some concessions… There’s just one final negotiation left… With the ‘me’ I am now… I’m sure I can do it.”

“If you have a plan, let me help you, okay? Lean on me.”

There was no answer. Soon, I heard the sound of peaceful breathing. Maybe she was exhausted from the worry that I’d refuse to help.

It started as a fluke. But I was deep in it now. I was going to… help… protect Arisa.

…I suddenly woke up. It was dark outside; must still be the middle of the night. I left the room to go to the bathroom. Walking down the long hallway, I noticed a light on in a room further down.

“『…from Arisa… it said… so from tomorrow…』” “『…make sure the media doesn’t find out… the movement…』”

It was President Kimisaka and James talking. I couldn’t catch everything. What were they doing at this hour…? Sensing them about to move, I hurried back to the guest room.

“…Hm? Arisa? Are you awake?”

I thought I saw her phone screen glow for a second.

“…”

There was no response from Arisa, so I got back into my futon and fell back asleep.

If I had noticed something then… Would the incident that followed have been avoided? I’ll never know.