The morning after the hallway confession...
The sun peeked through the curtains of Izumi's room, casting a soft light over the tangled blanket where he lay half-awake, staring at the ceiling with a face redder than a tomato.
"She said we're dating…"
The words echoed in his mind like a looping anime ending song. Every time he blinked, he saw Marina's face—her gentle smile, her soft voice, and that moment when she took his hand in front of the whole school.
Izumi rolled over and buried his face in his pillow.
"I can't do this… I'm gonna die from embarrassment…"
BUZZ BUZZ!
His phone vibrated aggressively on his desk. He peeked with one eye.
20 unread messages.
From: Hana
> HANA: EXPLAIN. NOW.
HANA: YOU CONFESSED TO A BILLIONAIRE??!?!?
HANA: I AM NEVER LETTING YOU LIVE THIS DOWN
HANA: MAAAAARINA-CHAAAN!!!
HANA: When's the wedding?
HANA: Tell her she's officially my big sis now.
Izumi threw the blanket over his head again.
"Nope. I'm not leaving this bed."
---
Three minutes later...
BANG!
The door slammed open like a dramatic anime cut. Hana stood in the doorway with her phone in one hand, a rolled-up magazine in the other.
"I-ZU-MI!!!"
She marched up to his bed and pointed the phone at his face.
"EXPLAIN THIS VIRAL VIDEO!! OF THIS IS SCHOOL!"
On-screen was a slowed-down, over-filtered video of Izumi grabbing Marina's hand and confessing.
Someone had added sparkles and a subtitle:
"True love blooms in the ballroom!!"
"You've gone full romance anime protagonist! Why didn't you TELL me?! I could've been your sidekick!"
"Hana, get out!!"
"No, I AM NOT!"
"Hey hana, did you spy in my school?"
"U-umm... well..."
Sigh -"I knew it, NOW get out from my bed!"
She grinned. "Not until you tell me EVERYTHING!"
---
Later that day – Family Meeting
Mom and Dad sat on the couch. Izumi stood before them like he was on trial.
"So…" his mom began carefully, "Marina-chan is your girlfriend now, officially?"
"And this whole 'engagement event' wasn't real?" Dad added.
Izumi rubbed the back of his neck. "It was a misunderstanding. Her dad set it up to test me…"
"So you confessed in front of a room full of billionaires?" his mom asked again, slower this time.
Hana: "AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL."
Izumi: "I panicked, okay!?"
They all sighed in sync.
---
That night…
Hana sat on the edge of Izumi's bed with her phone.
"So... when's she coming over?"
"She's not—"
"Invite her."
"No."
"I'll go to her mansion."
"WHAT?! NO!!"
Hana stood, eyes sparkling like she just pulled a gacha SSR. "Then you better text her or I will."
Izumi groaned but grabbed his phone.
> [Izumi]: Marina… sorry about this, but Hana wants to meet you officially.
A moment later…
> [Marina]: That sounds adorable. I'll come over this weekend. I'd love to meet your family properly.
Izumi read it. Blinked. Blushed.
"…She's really coming over…"
From the hallway, Hana's shout echoed:
"YESSS!! I'M GONNA INTERVIEW HER!!"
She appeared moments later holding a mic made of taped chopsticks and a paper towel roll.
"BREAKING NEWS! WORLD'S CUTEST COUPLE—IN THIS HOUSE!!"
Izumi sighed.
"…I'm doomed."