Takemoto Anna knew Shiraishi Yoshijo had a prejudice against her family.
It had taken root over time; no amount of flirtation could make it go away.
"You've always been like this. You never say what you mean, and you never let anyone see what's in your heart. Isn't it exhausting, living that way?"
Shiraishi Yoshijo sighed, reached out, and grabbed Takemoto Anna's arms around his waist, forcing them apart.
Takemoto Anna resisted, but she was clearly no match for Shiraishi Yoshijo's strength.
Once he had pried her hands apart, her eyes brimmed with tears.
Shiraishi Yoshijo turned and saw the tears in her eyes. His heart softened. After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Then he lifted her up and sat down on the reclining chair.
Takemoto Anna was stunned by his sudden move. She only began to struggle when he picked her up, but Shiraishi Yoshijo tightened his arms, and she stopped.
By the time he had settled onto the reclining chair with her in his arms, her face was as red as an apple.
When they were children, Shiraishi Yoshijo had been shorter than her. Now, he was a head taller.
Back then, she could pin him down and beat him up. Now, she could only be pinned down and beaten by him.
Time had changed so much.
She remembered the first time they met, when Shiraishi Yoshijo had refused to change his answer, even under her grandfather's pressure.
Perhaps that was when she had fallen for the man three years younger than her.
She hadn't had the courage to fight back, nor had she wanted to, because her grandfather had always told her that this was fate.
For the sake of so-called fate, she had given up so much.
Then she met