Kiyoharu gradually let down his guard, waiting for the dishes, eating, and occasionally sneaking a look at his phone under the table to read forum users shooting the breeze.
While doing all this, Kiyoharu could spare part of his attention to keep track of the general content of Airi's conversation with her best friend.
If Airi suddenly called on him and he could not answer, letting her catch him spacing out, she would get angry and pick a fight with him.
It was like an office drone listening to a superior's meeting at work. Maybe the meeting was utterly pointless garbage, but it was still best not to let the boss catch you slacking off.
"...It's so great that Ayano can come back home and build her career here. While you were away, I could never find a suitable companion to go shopping with."
"Unfortunately, I probably won't have much time to play around anymore."
As she spoke of this, a layer of sorrow fell over Kitahara Ayano's delicate face. "My father hopes I'll study management and do everything I can to prepare to inherit and take over the gallery."
"Ah, your family's gallery. That really is an important business."
"Perhaps I won't even have time to paint anymore, let alone go shopping." Ayano sighed wistfully, then suddenly turned to Kiyoharu. "What do you think, Mr. Chihaya? Inheriting the family business or pursuing one's dreams—which is the right path?"
You're asking me?
Kiyoharu supported Airi inheriting the family business, but his own dream was to coast through life doing nothing.
Naturally, there was no way he could say something so emotionally inept aloud.
"Provided the objective conditions allow it, pursuing one's dreams is naturally the right path. However, because of the responsibilities each person bears, they sometimes have to do things they do not wish to do, don't they?"
Kitahara Ayano nodded in strong agreement. "You're right, Mr. Chihaya. Family responsibilities are something that must be fulfilled..."
"Ayano, don't listen to his nonsense." Airi rolled her eyes at her husband, then encouraged her best friend. "If you ask me, your old man is still in perfectly good health. Why is he in such a hurry to make you take over? You have so much youth left to enjoy. There's no need to start doing boring things this early. Just keep the family placated and focus on painting for now. At least wait until the situation truly requires you to step in before considering a career change into management. By then, Ayano-chan will surely have created a work famous across the world!"
"Famous across the world...?" Ayano gave a bitter smile. "Airi really does have a lot of faith in me."
"Of course! In my eyes, Ayano-chan is the greatest painter in the whole world!" After saying that, Airi glanced at Kiyoharu, seemingly seeking his opinion.
Kiyoharu immediately stated his position. "I trust Airi's taste. Since Airi says so, there definitely won't be a problem. Keep it up, Miss Kitahara!"
His words were encouraging and positive while also implying that he was merely following his fiancée's judgment, making it clear that he held no particular favoritism toward Kitahara Ayano.
This was the emotional intelligence of a Chihaya Family Son-in-Law. Let me ask you, did you have a son-in-law with such high emotional intelligence? Truly a son-in-law through and through!
Seemingly encouraged by the couple, Kitahara Ayano became much more spirited. When the next dish arrived, she announced that before formally taking over the gallery's operations, she wanted to use the remaining time to create a work she was satisfied with—a perfect conclusion to her many years of painting.
"That's wonderful! In that case, let's wish Ayano-chan success with her creation!" Airi raised her red wine and clinked glasses with her.
A touch of excited redness colored Kitahara Ayano's face. "Thank you... Um, if I need help with anything during the creative process, I may have to trouble you both."
Airi immediately promised, "No problem. We've been best friends since childhood, so what does such a small matter amount to? Anything I can get my hands on, no matter how precious it is, Ayano can take and use as she pleases."
"Then... what if I wanted to borrow Mr. Chihaya?"
The moment she said that, the atmosphere at the dining table dropped several degrees.
The chopsticks in Kiyoharu's hand froze, and even the steak in his mouth no longer tasted good.
No, seriously, girl.
Why were you stepping right into the Red-Eyed Devil's minefield?
Weren't you supposed to be childhood best friends? So you were plastic besties, huh?
Fortunately, Kitahara Ayano quickly revealed a sweet smile and tilted her head in explanation. "I was only joking. I was thinking that such a strikingly handsome young man as Kiyoharu would surely make an excellent sketch model for an art academy."
"I have no experience being a sketch model."
"Of course not. I heard that Mr. Chihaya began pursuing Airi during his second year of high school. Unfortunately, I was already studying abroad then. Otherwise, I could have witnessed this enviable, heavenly love story with my own eyes."
Airi immediately curled her lips in disdain. "What heavenly love story? He was just shamelessly persistent and kept acting like a simp. Besides, he was barely qualified in other respects."
"Hmm~" Kitahara Ayano blinked her bright eyes, her gaze sweeping over the two of them. Who knew what she was thinking.
Kiyoharu cut off the slightly awkward topic and raised his wineglass. "I also wish Miss Kitahara success with her Ultimate Painting."
"Thank you, Mr. Chihaya."
After finishing that glass of wine, Ayano said she needed to use the restroom and temporarily left the table.
"Your performance was barely passable. Keep it up. Don't let Ayano discover our true relationship."
"Although I can do that, I still want to ask—is it necessary?" Kiyoharu slowly swallowed the pastry crust of the Wellington Steak and said calmly, "Ayano is your best friend, isn't she?"
"One of them."
"Fine, one of them. But I don't think she's the type to gossip everywhere."
"You've only just met her, yet you already understand her personality so thoroughly. Hmm... Kiyoharu-kun, do you really want to be Ayano's painting model? I hear certain underground avant-garde art exhibitions need to portray men in special states, so artists do some... interesting things to their models~" Airi loosely curled her fingers and made a suggestive gesture.
"I think your best friend respects our 'relationship' and wouldn't do something as lowly as destroying a marriage. Besides..."
As Kiyoharu spoke, he suddenly stopped against his will. He realized he could no longer make a sound. Even his entire body had been fixed in place, unable to move at all.
No, it was not just him.
The clock on the wall, the leaves outside the window, and Young Lady Airi before him.
Everything seemed to have solidified, entering a state of absolute stillness.
What the hell?
Time had stopped?
But why was only Kiyoharu's consciousness still functioning?
He tried calling out to the system in his mind, but received no response.
Creak~
At that moment, the private room's door opened, and Kitahara Ayano appeared in Kiyoharu's field of vision.
She could still move normally. Moreover, the gentle smile that had always hung on her face had vanished, replaced by a childlike mischief and intense curiosity.
Kitahara Ayano walked straight to Kiyoharu's side, slowly circling him before bending down to inspect him.
"Sure enough, no matter which angle I look from, he's an impeccable beautiful boy."
Kiyoharu began to break out in a cold sweat.
Clearly, his fiancée's best friend was the culprit behind the Time Stop.
Setting aside why a supernatural ability had appeared in this everyday world based on reality.
Kitahara Ayano's current demeanor made her seem like a completely different person, utterly unlike the quiet little painter from before.
Suddenly, Ayano lowered her head and brought her face close to Kiyoharu's. Her soft fingers gently stroked his lips.
"Hmm, what a unique feeling. Such sharply defined, upright features, yet they feel so soft to the touch..."
Miss Kitahara, what were you doing?!
I'm your best friend's fiancé, not Okubo's male escort. How could you just touch me so casually? Where was your sense of propriety?!
But immediately afterward, Kitahara Ayano did something even more outrageous.
Those slender, elegant fingers—the hand that held a paintbrush—reached toward the buttons of Kiyoharu's shirt...
Before you continue