After Time Stop, My Fiancée's Best Friend Unexpectedly

Kiyoharu gradually relaxed his guard, waiting for the food, devouring it, and occasionally sneaking a look at his phone under the table to browse the banter of the netizens on the forums.

While doing all this, Kiyoharu was able to divert a thread of his attention to grasp the general content of the conversation between Young Lady Airi and her best friend.

If Young Lady Airi were to suddenly cue him and Kiyoharu couldn't answer, getting caught zoning out, she would get angry and start looking for trouble.

It was just like a corporate slave listening to a leader's meeting at work; the content might be completely devoid of substance—a total load of crap—but it was best not to let the leader catch you slacking off.

"...It's so good that Ayano-chan can return to the country to develop your career. In the time you were away, I couldn't even find a suitable companion to go shopping with."

"It's a pity, I probably won't have much time left for playing around."

Speaking of this, the beautiful face of Miss Kitahara was tinged with a layer of sorrow. "My father hopes I will study management and prepare myself to inherit and take over the gallery with all my might."

"Ah, your family's gallery is indeed a very important business."

"Perhaps I won't even have time to paint anymore, let alone go shopping." Miss Kitahara sighed melancholically and suddenly turned to Kiyoharu. "What does Chihaya Family Son-in-Law think? Inheriting the family business or pursuing one's ideals—which is the correct path?"

Are you asking me?

Kiyoharu supported Young Lady Airi inheriting the family business, but he himself pursued the ideal of just drifting through life.

Of course, such low-EQ words could naturally never be spoken aloud.

"Under the condition that objective circumstances permit, pursuing one's ideals is certainly the correct path. However, everyone has to do things they don't want to do because of the responsibilities they bear, don't they?"

Miss Kitahara nodded in agreement. "You're right, Chihaya Family Son-in-Law. Family responsibilities are something that must be fulfilled..."

"Ayano-chan, don't listen to his nonsense." Young Lady Airi rolled her eyes at her husband and immediately encouraged her best friend: "If you ask me, your old man is still in good health, so why is he in such a rush to have you take over? You still have plenty of youth to enjoy; there's no need to do boring things so early. Just stall the family and focus on painting. At the very least, wait until the situation forces you to step up before considering switching to management. By then, I'm sure Ayano-chan will have already created world-renowned works!"

"World-renowned... is it?" Miss Kitahara gave a bitter smile. "Young Lady Airi really has confidence in me."

"Of course! In my eyes, Ayano-chan is the greatest painter in the world!" Having said that, Young Lady Airi looked at Kiyoharu, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Kiyoharu immediately stated his position: "I trust Young Lady Airi's aesthetic. Since Young Lady Airi says so, there's definitely no problem. Keep it up, Miss Kitahara!"

This statement not only conformed to positive encouragement but also hinted that his judgment followed his fiancée's, declaring that he had no bias toward Miss Kitahara.

This is the EQ of a Chihaya Family Son-in-Law. I ask you, do you have a son-in-law with such high EQ? He really is the son-in-law of all sons-in-law!

Seemingly encouraged by the couple, Miss Kitahara's spirits lifted significantly. When the next dish arrived, she announced that she wanted to use the time before officially taking over the gallery to create a satisfying work as a perfect conclusion to her many years of painting.

"That's wonderful! In that case, let's toast to Ayano-chan's smooth creative process!" Young Lady Airi raised her red wine to clink glasses with her.

A flush of excitement stained Miss Kitahara's face. "Thank you... um, if there's anything I need help with during the creative process, I might trouble the two of you."

Young Lady Airi immediately guaranteed: "No problem! We've been best friends since we were little; what's a little thing like that? Anything I can get my hands on, no matter how precious or rare, Ayano-chan can just take and use as she pleases."

"Then... if I want to use Chihaya Family Son-in-Law?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere at the dining table dropped by several degrees.

The chopsticks in Kiyoharu's hand paused, and the Wellington Steak in his mouth no longer tasted good.

No, sister.

Why are you stepping into the minefield of the Red-Eyed Devil?

What happened to being best friends who grew up together? Plastic friendship, is that it?

Fortunately, Miss Kitahara quickly revealed a sweet smile, tilted her head, and explained: "Just a joke. I was thinking that a handsome man as striking as Kiyoharu would surely be perfect as a sketch model for the art academy."

"I don't have any experience as a sketch model."

"That goes without saying. I heard that Chihaya Family Son-in-Law started pursuing Young Lady Airi back in his second year of high school. It's a pity I was already studying abroad then, otherwise, I could have witnessed this enviable, divine romance with my own eyes."

Young Lady Airi immediately curled her lip in disdain: "What divine romance? It was nothing more than this guy being thick-skinned and acting like a sycophant, and he's only barely qualified in every aspect."

"Hmm~" Miss Kitahara blinked her bright eyes, her gaze sweeping over the two of them, wondering what she was thinking.

Kiyoharu interrupted this somewhat awkward topic and raised his red wine glass: "I also wish Miss Kitahara a smooth creation of her ultimate masterpiece."

"Many thanks, Chihaya Family Son-in-Law."

After finishing the wine, Miss Kitahara said she needed to go to the restroom and left the table temporarily.

"Your performance is barely qualified. Continue, keep it up. Don't let Ayano-chan detect our true relationship."

"Although I can do that, I still want to ask, is it necessary?" Kiyoharu slowly swallowed the crust of the Wellington Steak and said calmly, "Ayano-chan is your best friend, right?"

"One of them."

"Fine, one of them, but I don't think she's the type to go around blabbing."

"We've only just met, and you've already figured out her personality? Hmm... Kiyoharu-kun, you must really want to be a painting model for Ayano-chan, right? I heard that some underground avant-garde art requires showing a man's special state, so the artist will help the model do some... interesting things~" Young Lady Airi curled her fingers in a suggestive gesture.

"I think your best friend respects our 'relationship' and wouldn't do such base things to destroy a marriage. Besides..."

As Kiyoharu was speaking, he suddenly stopped involuntarily. He found that he was suddenly unable to make a sound, and his entire body was fixed in place, unable to perform any movement.

No, it wasn't just him.

The wall clock, the leaves outside the window, and Young Lady Airi sitting before him.

Everything, absolutely everything, seemed to have solidified, entering a state of absolute stillness.

What the hell?

Time Stop?

But why was it that only Kiyoharu remained conscious, his mind still running?

He tried to call out to the system within his consciousness, but received no response at all.

Creeeak~

Just then, the door to the private room pushed open, and Kitahara Ayano appeared in Kiyoharu's field of vision.

She was still able to move normally, and the gentle smile that had always hung on her face had retreated, replaced by a childlike playfulness and intense curiosity.

Kitahara Ayano walked straight to Kiyoharu's side, pacing slowly around him, then leaned over to inspect him.

"As expected, no matter which angle I look from, you are a flawless, beautiful boy."

Kiyoharu broke into a cold sweat.

Clearly, his fiancée's best friend was the culprit behind the Time Stop.

Setting aside the question of why a superpower would appear in this mundane world based on reality, Kitahara Ayano looked like a completely different person right now, a far cry from the quiet little painter he knew before.

Suddenly, Ayano lowered her head, bringing her face close to Kiyoharu's, and her soft fingers gently stroked his lips.

"Hmm, such a unique feeling. With such sharp, defined features, you feel so soft to the touch..."

Miss Kitahara, what are you doing?!

I am your best friend's fiancé, not some host from Okubo; touching me so casually, have you no sense of propriety!

However, Kitahara Ayano proceeded to do something even more outrageous.

Those elegant, slender fingers that usually held a paintbrush reached toward the buttons of Kiyoharu's shirt...