Haruto stared at her, completely dumbfounded. "Your… what now?"
Azame's expression became more earnest, a touch of desperation in her eyes. "My boyfriend. My fake boyfriend, to be precise. You see, Haruto, the reason I'm here, the reason I even know about your… encounter with Ryouta, is because my family has arranged a marriage for me. With him."
"Arranged marriage?" Miki gasped, finally putting all the crazy pieces together.
Azame nodded grimly. "Precisely. He's also from a highly influential family that my elders wish to ally with. But I absolutely, unequivocally, do not want to marry Ryouta. He's… unsuitable. And frankly, a bit of a brute." She looked back at Haruto, her amber eyes pleading. "So, I need a convincing reason to break off this engagement. Someone who is undeniably… superior. Someone who could make my family, and more importantly, Ryouta's family, agree that I've found a better match."
