The Most Beautiful Girl in School Who Got Engaged is Devoted to Her Marriage Even Though it was a Political Marriage - Chapter 12

After school, I was studying in the library. What if I was distracted by Renge, such as being sent a bold message during recess or being called out during lunch, and couldn’t concentrate in class?

I studied in the quiet space and managed to make up for what I had missed during class. Afterward, I stretched myself out with a deep sigh.

“Okay. I guess it’s time to go home.”

I left the library with my bag in hand. As I walked down the hallway, I could see the overcast sky through the window. The sunlight was being blocked by thick clouds, making it quite dark outside.

“The weather forecast said it would be sunny, but it looks like it was false.”

While I was muttering these words, raindrops began to fall, and the force gradually increased, and in no time it was pouring down.

“I’m glad I brought a folding umbrella.”

I patted the bottom of my bag and breathed a sigh of relief.

I descended the stairs and changed from indoor shoes to sneakers at the landing. As I passed through the entrance, I noticed the back of a female student ahead of me. Her glossy, golden long hair was unmistakable—it was Renge.

Renge just stood there, watching the rain fall heavily. Did she forget her umbrella?

If that’s the case, I can’t bear to leave her alone.

After making sure there was no one around, I called out to Renge.

“Renge.”

“Hidetsugu-kun?”

Renge turns around, sees me, and blinks her eyes.

“I thought you haven’t gone home…”

“I had the duty of being the class representative, so I was delayed.”

When I asked, Renge answered with a wry smile.

“You don’t have an umbrella?”

“I don’t. I’ll have to complain to the weather lady.”

It seems that Renge was caught off guard by the rain because she had checked the weather forecast, and judging from her standing there, she probably doesn’t even have a folding umbrella with her.

“Well, I’ll patiently wait until it stops then.”

“You never know when it will stop. What will you do if you can’t go home?”

While saying this bluntly, I took out a folding umbrella from my bag and handed it to Renge.

“Please use it.”

“Huh? But…”

“You don’t need to be shy. I can’t leave you behind; it would be rude..”

“No! Hidetsugu-kun will get wet if he does that!”

“It’s better than you getting caught in the rain. Women shouldn’t get their bodies cold. Don’t worry about me.”

Taking a step forward, I raised my bag to cover my head from the rain.

I’m sure I’ll be soaking wet by the time I get to the apartment.

Smiling wryly, I steeled myself, exerted strength into my legs, and began to run.

“Please wait!”

Just as I was about to start running, Renge pulled the sleeve of my blazer and stopped me. When I turned around, I saw that for some reason, Renge’s cheeks were turning red.

“Hidetsugu-kun should not be hit by the rain.”

“In the end, one of us will be like that. Then it’s better for me, right?”

“There’s no need for that. If we both go under the umbrella, everything will be fine, right?”

Renge looks up at me. I can’t help but be shaken by the heated gaze and the unexpected suggestion.

“Are you saying we’re going to use the same umbrella?”

“That’s for the best.”

“N-no…then it would be bad if someone saw us. There’s a risk that our engagement will be found out.”

Feeling the warmth in my cheeks and confusion, I refuse, but Renge remains stubborn and doesn’t let go of the blazer sleeve.

“It’s okay. If I explain that ‘I helped you because you seemed to have forgotten your umbrella,’ they’ll understand.”

“But……”

“Besides…that day, you helped me one-sidedly.”

“That day?”

I frown at Renge’s meaningful remark. Immediately after that statement, the lid on my memory was lifted.

That was about a year ago. It was raining that day, and just like now, Renge had forgotten her umbrella and was standing at the entrance. Unable to overlook it, I lent Renge my umbrella and headed home in the rain.

That’s it. I thought we had no contact until now, but that day, Renge and I did indeed come into contact.

If so…

…Don’t you remember?

During the matchmaking meeting, when Renge made a dissatisfied face and spoke, was she asking about that day?

“Hey, Renge? I lent you my umbrella on a rainy day about a year ago, right?”

“Do you remember?!”

“Ah…”

When I asked, Renge leaned forward with a sense of urgency. Her astonishing beauty approached so closely that it seemed like I could inadvertently touch her, and my body temperature rose sharply. To conceal my agitation, I averted my gaze and continued. “But,” I said.

“No way, you didn’t get engaged to me just because I lent you my umbrella, right? I don’t think that’s a reason to devote yourself to me, though…”

“…Is that the only thing you remember?”

Renge’s eyes narrowed. As if trying to see through my inner thoughts, as if trying to find out. I was taken aback by the seriousness in her eyes.

“Yes, but…have we ever met other than that time?”

“…is that so”

Renge shrugged her shoulders and let out a sigh.

I frowned.

Judging from Renge’s appearance, we must have met other than that day a year ago. It is probably because of those two contacts that Renge decided to become engaged to me.

So when was the first contact?

It bothers me, but I feel like I shouldn’t directly ask Renge. The fact that she has not disclosed any previous contact with me is because she hasn’t revealed the details of our first encounter.

Rengr probably wants me to remember on my own. Maybe she wants me to figure it out by myself.

If that’s the case, it’s my duty to fulfill Renge’s wish. After all, she’s been taking care of me. I should do at least that much, or I might face her wrath.