"An excuse?" Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly seemed thoughtful. "So the Shiina Family letting Mashiro go, and the Natsukawa Family having Natsukawa meet you for an arranged date—and it succeeding—were all just excuses they came up with..."
Sogo Doma: "..."
What did she mean, it succeeding? This really was a case of rumors spreading with a single mouth, while refuting them wore out your legs! Sure, rumors stopped at the wise—but how many wise people were there?
Wait!
Looking at the thoughtful second daughter, Sogo Doma suddenly realized—wasn't she the perfect wise person to dispel the rumors? She listened to reason and was good at filling in the blanks. Just like now, she had already figured out that Natsukawa and Mashiro were merely an excuse. So:
"That's right..." He had to admit it quickly. "It was just an excuse."
"Is that so?" For some reason, Yukino Yukinoshita actually breathed a sigh of relief after hearing him. "If that's the case, what makes you think you suffered more harm than I did?"
"Huh?" Sogo Doma, who had been planning to have her clear up the rumors for him, instantly made a confused face. ???
"What makes you think this happened because of me?" Yukino Yukinoshita continued. "Since our arranged meeting was only an excuse for cooperation, then even if I hadn't been here today..."
Sogo Doma: -_-
So she was still hung up on that? Did she have to hold grudges so seriously?
"Um..." Though he grumbled inwardly, he could only laugh awkwardly. "Anyway, we're both victims, right...?"
"Mm!" Yukino Yukinoshita did not deny that point. "Let's just say that's the case..."
Sogo Doma: -_-
What did she mean, "let's just say"? She made it sound as if he were not a victim...
But before he could argue, Yukino Yukinoshita continued, "In any