A Fake Couple Should Aim to Become Real

Facing Yanami Anna’s unexpected counter-question, Imaizumi Keita wasn’t surprised at all.

Instead, he felt slightly satisfied.

The panic, shame, or hysterical refusal he had anticipated did not appear.

What replaced them was a rational confusion.

This proved that after experiencing complete defeat and humiliation, Yanami Anna’s mind had finally begun processing problems using a more realistic logic.

Good.

Only communication built on rationality could lead to a mutually satisfying deal.

Imaizumi Keita looked at her and calmly acknowledged her doubt.

“From your perspective, it really doesn’t seem like something I would do.”

He paused, patiently waiting for her to digest the implication.

“Because that day at the family restaurant, the good mood I finally managed to build up was completely ruined by your sudden self-absorbed outpouring.”

“In that situation, very few people would treat you nicely… I was just a little extreme.”

Yanami Anna pressed her lips tightly, not refuting him.

Thinking back, she also felt she had been unreasonable—

but she still couldn’t tell him the reason she approached him.

The moment she saw Imaizumi, she felt a sense of warmth she had never felt before, so she instinctively sat beside him.

“But now…”

Imaizumi shifted the topic, his gaze landing on her confused expression as he praised her.

“I think your current state is pretty good.”

“Eh?! Pretty good?!”

Yanami blinked, clearly not expecting praise, and she subconsciously touched her tear-stained cheek.

“Mm.”

Imaizumi nodded, speaking his thoughts.

“Compared to before—being unreasonable and self-important—now you’re trying to find solutions instead of complaining. You even remembered my logic and attempted to make an equal trade.”

After saying that, Imaizumi added with a small smile.

“You still look pathetic, but combined with your pretty face, it’s much easier to tolerate.”

“So in the end, Imaizumi, you just like pretty girls who don’t cause trouble for you!”

Yanami puffed her cheeks, trying to mock him for being shallow and looks-obsessed.

“So, Yanami, you don’t like girls like that?”

Imaizumi countered calmly.

Yanami wanted to instinctively deny it, but remembering his earlier evaluation,

she sighed, cooling down.

“Everyone likes girls like that…”

After saying it, she quickly dragged the topic back to the pretending-to-date proposal.

“Imaizumi, your idea really would solve my problem. As long as I have a ‘boyfriend’, Kusuke and Karen probably won’t drag me along anymore.”

She explained it clearly and logically.

“But Imaizumi-kun, what benefit does this have for you? I don’t believe you’d help me for no reason.”

She was already thinking using his logic.

Imaizumi didn’t hesitate and gave a blunt, almost overly straightforward answer.

“Because you’re pretty, Yanami.”

The answer was so direct that Yanami froze completely.

Imaizumi ignored her reaction and shrugged.

“Feeling happy when spending time around an attractive person is perfectly normal.”

“Otherwise, why would I help you?”

He blinked teasingly.

“It’s not like I saw through your shallow appearance and realized your heart is pure, gentle, kind, and strong.”

“T-that’s not… impossible…”

Yanami muttered, her pride rising again as she tried to act tough.

“Don’t make me laugh, Yanami… hahaha…”

Imaizumi nearly slapped the bench laughing at her delusional confidence.

“Ah! Stop laughing!”

Yanami smacked his arm helplessly, frustrated.

Even though he wasn’t being as cruel as before,

this blunt attitude of his—

paired with his cool, handsome face—

didn’t feel as unpleasant as she expected.

Yanami suddenly understood Imaizumi’s intention.

To preserve her last bit of dignity, she turned away and spoke in a conflicted tone.

“Since Imaizumi-kun thinks I look decent… I guess I’ll reluctantly accept your proposal…”

But Imaizumi’s reply surprised her.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

He shook his head.

“What I’m proposing isn’t some half-baked, full-of-holes fake dating setup like in light novels.”

“If we’re going to pretend, we treat each other like real lovers. You need to get used to my presence, and I need to understand your reactions. Otherwise we’ll be exposed instantly. We need at least some level of chemistry.”

Yanami looked confused again.

“Treat… as real lovers?”

“Yes,” Imaizumi answered firmly.

“Like this.”

Before she could react, he shifted closer and sat directly beside her.

The physical distance between them shrank to under ten centimeters.

A distinctly male scent—mixed with the clean fragrance of soap—invaded her personal space.

Her whole body froze.

Her mind went blank.

She couldn’t move at all.

She could feel the warmth radiating from him,

hear his breath just centimeters away.

And again, that strange warmth she felt at the family restaurant wrapped around her, making her senses blur.

Imaizumi ignored her daze and slowly reached toward the wrist resting on her lap.

The moment his fingers touched her skin, Yanami reacted instantly.

“What are you doing!”

A short, shame-filled shout burst out of her.

Her other hand shoved at his chest—

but it didn’t move him at all.

Imaizumi reacted even faster.

His left hand caught her right wrist.

His right hand seized her left wrist.

Yanami was completely restrained.

She stared wide-eyed as both her wrists were effortlessly locked by him.

She struggled instinctively—

but her strength meant nothing against his.

She had been physically subdued.

At that moment of contact, Imaizumi felt a mix of “anger” and “fear” pulse through her wrists.

The energy reduced some of the sharp pain in his temples,

but its rough texture brought no comfort and did not further awaken his ability.

As her resistance weakened,

“shame” and “helplessness” replaced it.

The energy’s quality changed instantly.

A faint, pure warmth seeped in, soothing his unstable power and stabilizing it slightly.

Imaizumi understood.

Hostile negative emotions had some effect—

but shame mixed with intimacy was far more effective.

“You see,”

Imaizumi looked down at the restrained Yanami and sighed as if disappointed.

“This is what I mean.”

“If even this level of contact makes you react this strongly, pretending to be lovers is impossible.”

He released her wrists and leaned back, putting distance between them.

“So, Yanami-san,”

Imaizumi looked at her with expectation.

“Have you thought it through now?”