Chapter 82: What’s the result?

“Hahaha!!! So that’s how it is, my sister is amazing. She’s popular even over here!!”

“Brother, please don’t speak so loudly, it’s embarrassing.”

Currently, Ishud and the others were eating in a private room at the restaurant, thanks to Shido’s treat.

“I never thought he’d confess all of a sudden, just as Philip had bet…It might be considered reckless bravery, but that younger son seemed to have an incredible amount of courage.”

Ishud and the others had made a bet on why he approached Ibuki.

Ishud bet he would invite Ibuki on a date.

Philip bet he would suddenly confess to Ibuki.

Mishera bet he would suggest starting as friends first.

Gulf didn’t participate in the bet, but he seemed to be thinking he would propose to train together.

In the end, Philip won the bet single-handedly, and Ishud and Michela each handed over a gold coin as promised.

“Those who aim for a high-maintenance flower like Ibuki are basically banking on a comeback, summoning every ounce of courage they have to create a miracle.”

“Well, I guess there’s that perspective too, but…”

It wasn’t a time like after graduation or just before it, where confessing to a high-maintenance flower and having the information spread wouldn’t be too embarrassing… There were still at least two more years of school life remaining.

Considering such information, Ishud didn’t expect him to suddenly confess, assuming he wouldn’t be that bold.

“Normally, you’d need a bit more substance to attempt that miracle or aim for a comeback.”

“…It’s frustrating to agree with Ishud, but I share the same sentiment.”

“I thought he was going to ask to train together… It’s quite surprising, to say the least.”

“As your brother, I had some expectations, but I’m quite surprised. By the way, Ibuki, how did you turn him down?”

“Regardless of how you put it… I simply conveyed that I currently have no intention of pursuing a specific partner.”

“I see, I see…”

Certainly, she did reject him, albeit in a polite manner.

(“I currently have no intention of pursuing a specific partner…” Upon reflecting on it again, it’s a way of turning someone down while leaving a glimmer of hope for the other party. Although Ibuki doesn’t seem to consider that possibility at all.)

Not only Ishud but also his brother Shido had similar thoughts.

“…Hey, Ishudo. You don’t have a girlfriend or fiancée, right?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“In that case, how about making my sister your fiancée?”

“Wha…???”

“”Wha…???””

(Uhh, wow~~~. This is getting unexpectedly interesting all of a sudden.)

Ibuki was confused by her brother’s outrageous remark.

Gulf and Michela were equally confused, both turning away in a direction where they wouldn’t accidentally hit anyone, and bursting into laughter.

And then, only Philip seemed to have anticipated to some extent… He grinned knowingly as he turned his gaze towards his friends.

“…Are you seriously saying that?”

“Yeah, totally serious. We’re really happy that you are interested in our country and culture, and your strength is undeniable. I was surprised by your skill with the katana, but the true essence of Ishud isn’t just that combat style, right?”

“I don’t want to make excuses for losing, but yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Exactly. Thinking about that, I can entrust my little sister to you in terms of strength.”

“… “

It seems like he’s seriously saying it.

Ishud, unlike his expression just a moment ago, now wore a very serious expression… He glanced briefly at Ibuki.

“…”

Ibuki, who was being looked at… truly didn’t know how to react.

However, if one were to look at the expression she had when that guy confessed during lunch break today, there was no doubt that her heart was in turmoil for various reasons.

“Umm… Well, it’s a happy offer, isn’t it? But I don’t understand Ibuki’s feelings, and besides, I still want to play around, so I can’t irresponsibly accept.”

“Hoho~~~… I see. Well, I guess that’s true too. It’s obvious, but Ishud is still just fifteen, right?”

“Yeah. I’m still just fifteen.”

“In that case, you can’t decide yet… Hmm, yeah, that’s obvious. By the way, Michela, is your face okay?”

Her anger was at its peak, but it was slightly different from her usual angry expression.

“I-Ishud!!!! Do you understand what you just rejected and what you said?!?!”

“I declined because I still want to play around at my age. That’s all, isn’t it?”

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! … *inhales deeply* … *exhales*”

Michela, feeling like her blood vessels were about to burst, remembered the advice she had received from the homeroom teacher Byron before, which was to take a deep breath when her anger was about to reach its limit. As a result, she managed to regain some composure.

“First of all, even though you’re the heir of a frontier count, what do you mean by ‘play around’?”

“… You understand what I mean by ‘playing around,’ right? So, take it in that sense. I’m still a teenage boy, so it’s only natural, right? Isn’t that right, Philip?”

“Yeah. Michela, have you ever had girl talk with the maids at home? Haven’t you heard guys talking about that kind of stuff? Telling a teenage guy to endure it is like torture.”

Ishud sought agreement only from Philip, not from Gulf.

Although Ishud and Philip had somewhat forcibly taken Gulf to such places before, they still had enough delicacy to preserve their friend’s image.

“!!! Even if… there were parts beyond my understanding as a woman, what does it mean to reject a proposal from Shido-sensei like this?!”

It had been two weeks since they started hanging out together and became friends.

To Michela, Ibuki was someone to be respected in all aspects despite their different countries.

While her respect for Ibuki was slightly different from her respect for Christille, she could confidently assert that Ibuki was a wonderful woman and a lady, even in her presence.

“…Hey, Philip. Did we drink alcohol today?”

“We had some wine.”

“I see. But the alcohol content wasn’t that high, and she doesn’t seem flushed or anything… Well, calm down, you big idiot. Think back calmly about what I just declined.”

Being told to calm down by a berserker was irritating, but there was no choice but to calm down for a moment.

And… from Michela’s face, which had truly become calm, all traces of anger disappeared, and instead, she turned a bit pale.

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