Chapter 4: Ch-4 Complicated Circumstances
"Hmm, where should I start..."
My sister began to speak softly.
"After high school, Ayaka-senpai went to university in Tokyo. While there, she met a boyfriend. They fell deeply in love and eventually got married. At the time, Ayaka-senpai described it as a fateful meeting..."
"...But it wasn't a blessed marriage. It was strongly opposed by everyone around them. They were both still university students, and after Ayaka-senpai graduated, the Kisaragi family had plans for her to marry someone from a related company..."
"...It was an order from the Kisaragi family, of course. But she rebelled. Her parents were furious. And to make matters worse, her boyfriend was from a poor family, making him an unsuitable match for the proud Kisaragi family..."
"...Despite the opposition, they got married. They both dropped out of university and practically eloped. If it had worked out, it would have been a happy ending, but... it didn't."
Before I realized it, I had forgotten all about the fried chicken dinner in front of me. I was completely absorbed in listening to my sister's story.
"Ayaka-senpai was a rather plain girl in high school. I don't think she had much experience with romance. But when she got to university and found a boyfriend, I think she got carried away..."
"She believed that two people who loved each other could overcome any hardship. But the reality was harsh. It wasn't working. Her husband kept changing jobs and couldn't find steady work, so they barely had enough money to live on..."
"Ayaka-senpai worked part-time to help out, but it wasn't enough. Then she had a daughter, which added more expenses..."
"Since neither of them had support from their families, their struggles only grew. In the end, they couldn't even pay the rent or utilities for their cheap apartment."
"So what happened?" I asked.
"In the end, they divorced. Ayaka-senpai returned to her parents' house. After she apologized and asked for forgiveness, her family finally took her back..."
"So that's how it went."
"But when her family forgave her, they put some conditions on it..."
"Conditions?"
"She was allowed to keep custody of her daughter, but only if she agreed to marry someone of the Kisaragi family's choice..."
"Did Ayaka-san agree to that?"
"Yes. Her current husband is an executive at a real estate company that does business with the Kisaragi family. He's about 20 years her senior."
"Twenty years? That would make him almost fifty now..."
"I hear their relationship is very cold."
That made sense. An age difference of 20 years would make him more of a father than a husband. Could that be what was behind Ayaka-san's cheerful smile at the crosswalk?
Still, I couldn't help but wonder why my sister knew so much about Ayaka-san.
I was a little skeptical, but considering that they were close in high school, it wasn't surprising that Ayaka would confide in her.
Meanwhile, my thoughts began to wander in a completely different direction. I couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like for Ayaka when she remarried a man 20 years her senior...
...to be embraced by someone old enough to be her father...
In my mind, I imagined Ayaka standing naked and embarrassed in front of a bald, overweight, middle-aged man.
The thought of Ayaka-san being sacrificed to such a man was both sad and strangely fascinating.
What could that man have done to her curvaceous, tight pants-wearing figure? I could only imagine...
"Kei-chan, Kei-chan!"
I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts. My sister looked at me, obviously irritated.
"What were you thinking about?"
"N-Nothing."
"If that's the case, how about I introduce you to Ayaka-senpai next time?"
"Huh?"