Arisu took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation she was about to have. Her father, Mr. Sakayanagi, looked at her expectantly from across his grandiose desk. His eyes held a mix of affection and curiosity, likely intrigued by the serious tone she had taken.
"Papa," she began, her voice steady. "I want to get married."
The words hung in the air for a moment, Mr. Sakayanagi's surprise clearly reflected in his widened eyes.
"Marry?" he echoed, his surprise soon replaced by a stern, assessing gaze. "You're young, Arisu. You have so many opportunities ahead of you."
Arisu nodded, meeting his gaze with a determined one of her own. "I understand, Papa. But this is something I feel strongly about. I've met someone who I believe can make me truly happy."
A heavy silence settled in the room, Mr. Sakayanagi clearly caught off-guard. But as he studied his daughter's earnest expression, his stern demeanor softened.
"Arisu...You're my precious girl. I only want what's best for you," he said, his voice thick with concern. "If this is truly what you want, then... we will discuss this. But you must promise to consider your decision carefully."
Arisu's eyes sparkled with relief and appreciation. She knew her father had only her best interests at heart. "Thank you, Papa. I promise," she said, an elated smile on her face as the weight lifted off her chest. Her future seemed brighter than ever before.
Arisu's eyes sparkled as she gazed out the window, lost in her thoughts. "He's very intelligent, Papa," she started, her voice filled with admiration. "He's brave, and he's strong. He always stands up for what he believes in and doesn't back down, no matter what."
Mr. Sakayanagi listened quietly as his daughter continued. "He's also really kind, you know? He cares about his friends and would do anything for them. And... he makes me laugh," she added, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. "He has this sense of humor that's... it's really unique. It's like he can always find a way to make things better, no matter how bad they seem."
Throughout her description, Mr. Sakayanagi remained silent, studying his daughter's glowing face. He had never seen her this... girlish before. The change was astonishing, to say the least. His little girl, the always calm, collected and ruthless strategist, was sitting before him, her cheeks pink, her eyes bright, talking about a boy. And the worst part was, he had no idea who this boy was.
"Who is this boy, Arisu?" he asked finally, curiosity getting the better of him. Arisu only giggled, a secretive smile on her face. "That's a secret, Papa," she said, winking at him. Then, rising from her seat, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Don't worry. You'll meet him soon enough."
As she exited the room, Mr. Sakayanagi was left alone with his thoughts. Whoever this boy was, he had clearly won his daughter's heart. And for now, that was all that mattered.
For the following days, Arisu seemed to be walking on air. Every so often, she would catch herself daydreaming, a dreamy smile on her face as she thought about Akira. She would doodle little hearts on her notebooks, giggling to herself whenever she imagined Akira's reactions to her antics. She spent more time than usual in front of the mirror, trying out new hairstyles, new dresses, always asking herself the same question - would Akira like this?
Her friends couldn't help but notice the change in her behavior. They'd known Arisu as the strong-willed, intelligent strategist who always had a plan in mind. This love-struck, starry-eyed version of Arisu was something new, and they found it both endearing and amusing.
One day, as she was passing by a jewelry store, a certain ring caught her eye. It was a simple band, nothing too flashy, but there was a certain elegance to it that made it stand out. Without even thinking, Arisu found herself walking into the store, her heart pounding in her chest.
Could this be the ring she'd give to Akira one day, she wondered, a warm feeling spreading in her chest. A future with Akira... now that was a dream she'd love to turn into a reality.
Arisu's behavior was becoming increasingly noticeable and quite out of character for the typically strategic and strong-willed girl that the Class-A students knew her to be. She was found frequently daydreaming, a starry-eyed smile playing on her lips, completely lost in her thoughts.
Yahiko Totsuka, the athletic and ever-observant member of Class-A, was the first to comment, "Has anyone else noticed how dreamy Arisu's been acting recently?" His comment prompted a series of murmurs and nods from his classmates.
Kōhei Katsuragi, who was sitting across from her, adjusted his glasses as he studied her with a curious expression. "Sakayanagi, you seem different today," he said, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
"Actually, now that you mention it..." Hideo Sotomura, their resident tech genius, adjusted his glasses, considering Yahiko's observation. "I've noticed her spacing out more often. It's unlike her."
Kōtarō Hondō, another classmate known for his brash personality, scoffed. "Maybe she's just losing her touch. About time, if you ask me."
Masayoshi Hashimoto, the muscular student of Class A, let out a low whistle. "She looks like she's in love," he commented, a teasing grin on his face.
At this, the room went silent. Arisu... in love? It was a surprising thought. But observing her recent behavior, it was a theory that held water. Their unflappable leader, acting like a love-struck maiden? This was something they didn't expect to see. It was a new side of Arisu that both perplexed and amused them. And at the same time, they couldn't help but feel excited. After all, who could've captured their leader's heart?
A subtle change had come over Arisu Sakayanagi. She, who was always calm and composed, had become somewhat dreamy. Her gaze would often drift away, and a soft smile played on her lips. It was as if she were lost in a world of her own. Her unusual behavior didn't go unnoticed by her classmates.
Yahiko Totsuka, the athletic and observant member, raised an eyebrow. "Love? Our Sakayanagi? Now, that's a plot twist," he remarked, earning a round of chuckles from his classmates.
Hideo Sotomura, the tech genius, glanced at Arisu from behind his glasses. "Well, it would be a refreshing change to see Sakayanagi's softer side," he stated, his tone thoughtful.
Kōtarō Hondō scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Sakayanagi? In love? I'll believe it when I see it."
The comments varied, reflecting the unique personalities of Class A. Through it all, Arisu remained silent, a dreamy look in her eyes and a soft smile on her lips. For once, she seemed unbothered by their comments, lost in her world of blooming love.
Upon noticing the change in Arisu's demeanor, Kamuro couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy. Arisu was usually so composed, so in control. It was unlike her to be so... distracted.
Kamuro found herself knocking on Akira's door, her expression serious. When he opened the door, she wasted no time in addressing her concerns. "Akira, something is going on with Arisu," she said, her voice filled with worry.
Akira raised an eyebrow at Kamuro's sudden visit and concern. He leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms. "What makes you say that?"
Kamuro began listing out all the small changes she noticed in Arisu. "She's been acting... odd. She's daydreaming, which she never does. She's smiling to herself, and not in the usual plotting-something kind of way. She's even been neglecting some of her duties, which is completely unlike her."
Akira listened, his expression thoughtful. He knew Arisu perhaps better than anyone, and Kamuro's observations made him wonder what could be the cause behind Arisu's unusual behavior.
Kamuro took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. "Firstly, she's constantly staring off into space, a dreamy look on her face. She's usually so focused, so it's... weird. Then there are her giggles – soft, under her breath. She's not laughing at any external thing, it's as if she's got some private joke that she's constantly amused by."
"More than that, she's been neglecting her work. The meticulous, perfectionist Arisu leaving tasks incomplete, or worse, undone. It's unsettling. And..." Kamuro hesitated, blushing a little, "She's been doodling. In her notebook. Small little hearts and flowers, nothing like her usual precise diagrams and charts."
Akira listened, a smirk slowly forming on his lips. The description Kamuro was giving – it didn't just sound like Arisu was distracted. It sounded like she was in love. The realization made him chuckle. It was unexpected, yet it explained a lot about her recent behavior.
Arisu approached them with an unusual skip in her step. Her eyes, usually so focused and sharp, had a soft glimmer to them. Her voice, when she spoke, held a tender note that was entirely uncharacteristic of her. It was almost as if they were witnessing a completely different side of Arisu - an Arisu who was in love.
"Akira," she began, her voice as soft as a whisper, "I, um, I wanted to show you something."
She opened her notebook to him, the pages filled with neat, carefully written notes. But what caught Akira's attention were the tiny doodles drawn in the margins - delicate flowers, abstract patterns, and tiny hearts. Each doodle was drawn with a softness and gentleness that were entirely out of character for the usually stern and focused Arisu.
Arisu blushed, a charming shade of pink spreading across her cheeks. She ducked her head, a few stray locks falling over her eyes. "I... um... I don't usually doodle. But I, um... I felt like it today..."
Kamuro and Akira exchanged glances, both equally surprised at this newfound girlish side of Arisu. Kamuro couldn't help the small smirk that curled at the corners of her lips - it was exactly as she'd described. And judging by the bemused look on Akira's face, he found it just as surprising and endearing as she did.