Chapter 1 | ”The Future Dreams of a Beautiful Foreign Student”
“—I… as a guy, am I not way too pathetic…?”
Alone in my room on the night of the sports festival, I clutched my head, my thoughts spiraling.
Charlotte-san had taken the lead in everything—a kiss on the cheek, a confession, even a kiss on the lips. Thinking back, she was the one who suggested walking to school together too. As a guy, shouldn’t I be the one taking charge? If this keeps up, won’t she grow tired of me?
At the very least, maybe I should initiate something intimate.
But… saying something like that so soon after we started dating might make her think I’m only after her body. Yet, while I’m agonizing over this, Charlotte-san might seize the initiative again. Honestly, I had no clue what the right move was.
I was trapped in indecision.
“…For now, I’ll deal with the other important thing.”
Realizing endless worrying wouldn’t help, I shifted focus. This was crucial too.
“Will they even pick up…?”
With a flicker of nervous tension, I dialed a number—someone I’d avoided involving until now. Naturally, this was my first time calling them.
《—What’s this about?》
After three rings, the voice of my adoptive father, President Himeragi, came through.
“It’s been a while,” I said, steadying myself. “I called because I have something important to discuss.”
《Hmph, something important? Sounds trivial to me.》
His tone dripped with provocation, as always. He likely enjoyed riling people up, hoping they’d slip and reveal something careless. He was looking down on me, but letting it get to me would be foolish.
“That may be true,” I replied calmly. “However, this is important to me, and I believe it will concern the Himeragi family in the future.”
《Heh, already thinking you’re part of the Himeragi, huh? Fine, speak.》
“I apologize for the delayed report, but about a month ago, I got a girlfriend. So, I—”
《Hah, ridiculous. Your sole purpose is to serve the prosperity of the Himeragi conglomerate. I’ve already selected several fiancée candidates for that purpose. Break up with this girlfriend of yours immediately.》
As expected, he had no intention of giving me a choice. But to think he’d already picked candidates… He was moving faster than I’d anticipated.
“I have no intention of breaking up with her.”
《You dare defy me? Who do you think has been providing you with a comfortable life? Who has been funding an orphan like you, with no blood ties, since you were a child? You may not be a Himeragi yet, but don’t forget the debt you owe the Himeragi family.》
His voice held no anger, just a cold, matter-of-fact edge that made it clear he saw me as a tool.
“Of course, I haven’t forgotten my debt,” I said evenly. “I intend to repay it through my work.”
《That’s exactly why I’m telling you to devote yourself to the Himeragi. Fine, our agreement was to let you do as you please during high school. I’ll overlook you having a girlfriend for now. But mark my words—it’ll only bring pain to you and that girl later.》
With that, President Himeragi hung up, clearly deeming the conversation worthless.
My freedom during high school was only because I wasn’t yet considered a Himeragi. It was surprising he wasn’t forcing a breakup, but perhaps he thought I’d back off out of concern for her. Unfortunately, I was no longer sensible enough to choose that path.
What was clear now was that time was running out. If the fiancée matter solidified, it could turn other conglomerates against me, and President Himeragi would likely force me into a marriage regardless. If that happened, Charlotte-san could be in danger.
I needed a plan—fast—but hesitation gnawed at me. I owed a debt to the Himeragi conglomerate, especially to Kanon-san, the Himeragi family’s young lady, who had cared for me since childhood. She’d made it possible for me to play soccer and ensured I had a supportive environment to study in. I’d even heard from her personal maid that those expenses came from Kanon-san’s own allowance.
Despite the conglomerate’s harsh treatment, they were still supporting me, and Kanon-san had treated me like a little brother. Could I really turn against them? That would be repaying kindness with betrayal.
“Damn it… Why does it always have to be such a complicated mess…?”
I couldn’t help but grumble. If the situation were clearer, I wouldn’t be agonizing like this.
But one thing was certain: above all else, Charlotte-san’s happiness came first. No matter what happened to me, I’d protect her happiness. That was my duty as her boyfriend.
“—Akihito-kun, sorry to keep you waiting.”
A few minutes later, Charlotte-san and Emma-chan, fresh from their bath, returned to my room. As always, they looked adorable in their pajamas.
“Onii-chan, watch soccer…!”
Emma-chan clambered onto my lap, holding out her hands with a pleading look. Lately, she’d grown fond of not just cat videos but soccer videos too, likely from playing with me. Thanks to that, she’d been spending more time outside, which was probably good for her.
“Here you go.”
“Mmm, thanks…!”
Emma-chan took my smartphone and began searching on her own. Until recently, I’d pick random cat videos for her, but now I had her search herself as part of her learning. She could only input in English for now, but she’d learned words like “cat” and “soccer” in Japanese, and I planned to have her search in Japanese eventually.
“Emma’s in a better mood now, huh?”
As I watched Emma-chan, Charlotte-san rested her head on my shoulder, speaking in Japanese—likely signaling she wanted to talk just between us. Emma-chan, engrossed in her videos, wouldn’t pay attention.
“Yeah,” I replied softly. “When I picked her up from preschool, I was worried about how it’d go.”
“We did go a bit overboard until it got dark…”
Charlotte-san’s cheeks flushed, and she shyly averted her gaze. Emma-chan had been upset because we were late picking her up—because we’d been caught up kissing uncontrollably. Charlotte-san was probably thinking about those kisses now.
…They were so soft.
“Sh-should we turn on the TV?”
Recalling the kisses, Charlotte-san gave an embarrassed smile and switched on the TV, likely wanting to shift the mood. A male voice, sounding about my age, came through.
“…”
The voice felt familiar, and I instinctively turned toward the screen.
“Ah, Kannagi-kun…”
It wasn’t me who spoke—it was Charlotte-san, her eyes fixed on the TV. Sure enough, the person on the variety show was Kannagi Riku, my age, not a celebrity but a soccer player shining in the youth league.
“You knew about him?”
I couldn’t help asking as she stared at the screen with interest.
“Uh, well…”
She looked awkward, her eyes darting as if she’d said something wrong. I didn’t think I’d asked anything odd…
“I mean, I’ve been seeing him on TV a lot lately…”
It was true—Riku had been appearing on TV frequently. He was probably on shows as much as actual celebrities. It wasn’t surprising Charlotte-san knew his name.
“He’s good-looking, a smooth talker, and a talented youth soccer player,” I said. “That’s probably why he’s getting called to shows. Seems like he’s active on video streaming sites too.”
Riku was an unusual case. Though he’d been called up to the national youth team since high school, he wasn’t a pro yet, but his fame rivaled top professionals. Even non-soccer fans knew his name and face. His streaming activities likely played a big part—viewership on those sites now rivaled TV, especially among students. With his idol-level looks, branching out beyond soccer, and making fun videos like other streamers, his fame was almost inevitable. Plus, his soccer skills were undeniable, which made me a bit jealous.
“He’s our age, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
Charlotte-san, you’re totally interested, aren’t you…? Could it be his tall, handsome looks and gentle vibe…?
“Akihito-kun…?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She looked up at me curiously, so I brushed it off with a smile. I wasn’t so pathetic as to let it show.
But still—damn you, Riku…! You used to hate the media and avoid interviews, so why, of all people, are you charming Charlotte-san…?
I grumbled mentally, knowing it was unfair.
“Shimizu-san must be into guys like him…”
As I felt a twinge of irritation toward Riku, Charlotte-san muttered something, her expression deadly serious.
…Yeah.
“Charlotte-san.”
“Eek!? Oh, Akihito-kun!?”
Acting on impulse, I gently pulled her head toward my face. She turned bright red, panicking. Maybe I’d gone too far.
Emma-chan, watching videos on my lap, looked up with dissatisfaction—Charlotte-san’s voice was probably too loud for her. Then, noticing I was holding Charlotte-san close—
“Lottie’s not fair! Emma too!!”
For some reason, she started competing, pressing her face against my left cheek. Somehow, I ended up sandwiched between two adorable girls.
“Akihito-kun, you’re too bold…”
Charlotte-san seemed to misunderstand why I’d pulled her close. Her face was flushed, eyes closed, lips slightly raised as she turned toward me. No matter how you looked at it, she was waiting for a kiss—but had she forgotten Emma-chan was right here? Doing that in front of someone, especially for Emma-chan’s sake, felt embarrassing.
“Emma-chan’s right here…”
“Oh…”
When I pointed it out, Charlotte-san looked down, embarrassed. She was the type to get so caught up in the moment she lost sight of her surroundings. Emma-chan had been making quite a fuss, though.
“Onii-chan, Emma too…!”
“Uh, like this?”
“Mmm!”
When Emma-chan tugged at my clothes, I gently pulled her head closer, just as I had with Charlotte-san. She smiled, satisfied—probably wouldn’t be content unless I treated her the same. She was so cute that I patted her head with a “there, there.”
“Ehehe…”
Emma-chan loved being petted and gave her usual adorable smile.
But—
“Muu…”
Charlotte-san looked dissatisfied. Her jealousy seemed to be growing, but that was cute too, so I didn’t mind. To ensure Emma-chan didn’t notice and feel anxious, I adjusted her so her face rested against my chest and kept petting her. She happily nuzzled closer.
Meanwhile, Charlotte-san watched Emma-chan with envy. This girl was such a clingy one too.
After confirming Emma-chan was back to her soccer videos, I reached for Charlotte-san’s head.
“Sorry for the wait,” I said in Japanese, just in case Emma-chan could hear.
“Yes…!”
Her eyes sparkled with joy, like a puppy finally getting attention. I could almost see her wagging an imaginary tail.
After that, I kept petting her until she was satisfied.
—Come to think of it, why had I pulled her close again?
◆◆◆
…
By midnight, Emma-chan was fast asleep, and Charlotte-san and I sat side by side, studying. Cuddling with Charlotte-san was blissful, but studying was important too, so we always set aside time for it.
Lately, we hadn’t read manga together—those moments had been entirely replaced with pampering Charlotte-san, followed by about two hours of study. Since she wanted it that way, I respected her wishes.
Of course, we sometimes read manga or watched anime together, but she definitely preferred being spoiled.
—I’d love to study more, but since we started sleeping together, if I study late, Charlotte-san stays up too, leaving her sleep-deprived. So, we wrap up by half-past midnight. Instead, I study while Emma-chan practices Japanese or watches videos, which helps me keep up.
…
Hm?
I felt Charlotte-san glancing at me. I couldn’t tell for sure with my peripheral vision, but she was probably checking on me. Should I say something?
As I debated, she slowly, cautiously moved. Then—touch—her arm pressed against mine.
“Charlotte-san?”
“Oh, uh…”
When I called out, she looked troubled, her eyes wandering. Could she still want more affection? Lately, giving in to this had been cutting into my study time…
…
Should I go with the flow and stop studying for the night? As I hesitated, Charlotte-san stared at me with a longing expression. No way I could ignore that face.
“—Come here.”
I set my mechanical pencil on the desk and opened my arms. Her face lit up instantly.
“I-is that okay?”
“Of course it is. Let’s call it a day for studying.”
If Charlotte-san wanted it, I wanted to make it happen as her boyfriend. I’d rather deal with the consequences later than let her feel lonely. Besides, being close to her made me happier too.
“Then… I’ll take you up on that…”
Despite her calm words, she fidgeted with excitement as she climbed onto my lap. So cute.
“Not sleepy?”
“My heart feels warm and happy… not at all.”
Why did this girl always say such adorable things? It made me want to spoil her even more.
“Ah… mm.”
When I gently petted her head, Charlotte-san twitched slightly, perhaps tickled. But soon, she gave an “ehehe…” and smiled. Seeing her so happy, how could I not feel the same?
I continued petting her gently. After a bit, seemingly satisfied, she looked up at me.
“Akihito-kun.”
“Hm?”
“Do you have any dreams, Akihito-kun?”
“Why the sudden question?”
“Well… I’ve always wanted to talk about this kind of thing…”
So, it just felt like the right moment.
“Dreams, huh… Back then, it was becoming a pro with Akira… but now, I haven’t really thought about what I want to be in the future.”
The path to becoming a pro soccer player was closed, and I hadn’t had the luxury of thinking about the future since. Honestly, I probably didn’t even have the option to choose my future.
“Akihito-kun…”
“Don’t look so sad. I’ve made peace with it, so you don’t need to worry.”
“But…”
“What about you, Charlotte-san? Do you have any dreams?”
I didn’t want her to stay down, so I turned the question back to her.
“I…”
She glanced at my face, then quickly looked away. Her face grew redder by the second, and she brought her hand to her mouth, embarrassed.
…What was she thinking?
“Charlotte-san?”
“Uh, well… there’s one thing I’ve always wanted to be.”
“What’s that?”
“A bride…”
After answering, she hid her face with both hands, embarrassed, but peeked at me through her fingers, curious about my reaction.
I mean, come on…!
That was way too cute!
How could I possibly stay calm after hearing that…!
“That’s a wonderful dream,” she said softly.
My heart screamed to propose right then and there. But a proposal is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and even if I poured my feelings out now, we couldn’t legally marry yet. So, I wanted to wait, to save that perfect moment for when we could.
“…”
As I smiled back, Charlotte-san’s gaze met mine, her eyes shimmering with a feverish intensity. Her hands, which had been covering her face, now only shielded her mouth, leaving her emotions bare.
This—
“Charlotte-san, close your eyes,” I murmured, feeling the weight of her unspoken plea. My hands gently cupped her cheeks.
“Ah… yes,” she replied, her voice trembling with joy. She let her hands fall from her mouth, her lips curving into a radiant smile as she closed her eyes.
Slowly, I leaned in, pressing my lips to Charlotte-san’s soft ones.
“—chu”
It wasn’t a deep, passionate kiss, but a gentle one, a fleeting touch. Yet, for those few seconds we stayed connected, my heart thundered in my chest. Above all, it felt like pure happiness.
“Mm…”
But for Charlotte-san, that single kiss wasn’t enough. When I drew back, her eyes fluttered open, brimming with longing once more. This time, her lips pursed slightly, silently beckoning me closer. It was as if a switch had flipped inside her, her restraint melting away.
From then on, I answered her wordless requests, again and again, each kiss a quiet promise. As a result—well, it’s no surprise that both of us were utterly sleep-deprived the next day.
