Kitagawa Ryo snapped his fingers. Resting his head on one hand, he gazed out at the dark street and asked,
"Want me to take you home?"
"Let's get everything straight first."
Horikita Suzune sighed and looked Kitagawa Ryo in the eye.
"Your objective, your method, and the outcome."
"To end the marriage contract. We pretend to date for a while, then mutually agree that we're not right for each other and call off the engagement."
"Tell me the truth."
"...I want to stay in Tokyo a little longer. Or rather, I need to stay here."
For some reason, Kitagawa Ryo's words stirred up an inexplicable flame of irritation deep inside Horikita Suzune. Even the sundae in her mouth couldn't quell it.
"So I'm just someone you're using."
"Isn't ending the marriage contract your ultimate goal, too? We're helping each other."
"But I don't think there's any rush."
A glimmer of delight at finding a weak spot flashed through Horikita Suzune's reddish-purple eyes.
"Right now, staying here is the only reason you have, isn't it, Kitagawa?"
"Maybe there are others."
Kitagawa Ryo was evasive.
"Then use one of those. It's still a long time before we actually get married, so I think I can afford to wait."
Horikita Suzune leaned forward a little and gritted her teeth.
"And the worst that could happen is that I end up marrying you."
"Your face is red."
Kitagawa Ryo looked at Horikita Suzune, who was stubbornly trying to put him in his place despite being flushed bright red. He found the sight rather novel.
"All you're thinking is that you're in control of the plan, so you can make whatever demands you want. But it works both ways."
Kitagawa Ryo reached out without hesitation and pinched Horikita Suzune's cheek as she leaned toward him.