“Y-You guys...”
Koutarou had been told in a roundabout way that he wasn't good looking. He himself was aware of that, but they were words that still pierced his heart.
“Isn't it okay, Koutarou? You're winning when it comes to the inside.”
“...That's quite convincing from someone who only has an inside.”
Those words was the only counter attack Koutarou could make.
“Ufufufufu~, I'm currently an adorable ghost, but who knows, I might have been ugly when I was alive.”
“That doesn't matter.”
“Ahaha, so you do get it, Koutarou.”
Sanae smiled happily and looked towards Ruth.
“...So Ruth, what's that fiancé actually like?”
And so the derailed topic returned to Ruth.
“That's true, in the end it comes down to that.”
“That's what I want to hear too. There's nothing sadder than being forced to marry someone you don't love after all.”
Shizuka and Kiriha agreed to what Sanae had said. The interest of the girls of room 106 gathered on whether or not the fiance was Ruth's type or not.
“I hear he's a very wonderful person, but since I have never met him, I can't tell you anything else.”
As Ruth said that, she shook her head.
Ruth knew that the other party was the top of a famous corporation, and she also knew that he was a well-known philanthropist. However, that was all she really knew about him, as she hadn't directly met him.
“Apparently, he will be paying a visit here, so until then, I can't say for sure...”
“Hmm. So unless you have a reason not to, you'll at least have to meet him.”
A reason not to.
The moment she heard those words, Ruth's heart skipped a beat and she instinctively looked at Koutarou. That Koutarou had his chin resting on his palm, thinking of something, while looking at Ruth with a serious expression.
“So, uhm... what do you think, Satomi-sama?”
Ruth asked for Koutarou's opinion as if asking for help. The truth was, Ruth was most interested in his opinion. That's because the man that had taken residence in her heart was Koutarou. In other words, Koutarou was the reason not to that Sanae mentioned.
To Ruth, Theia was her master whom she held in high esteem, and at the same time she was a precious childhood friend she thought of like her own sister. She was fine with troubles in her own love life, but even the slightest hitch in Theia's would be a disaster.
And Koutarou was the first person that Ruth felt like she could entrust Theia too. That meant that he met all the requirements as a love interest. She could leave Theia to him since he was her ideal man.
Ruth had never revealed this to Koutarou, as she didn't want to become an obstacle between Koutarou and Theia's relationship. But in this situation, she wanted to hear Koutarou's opinion, no matter what. Those were her feelings as a woman that had leaked through.
“I...”
Koutarou was hesitant. All kinds of topics ran through his head. With so many experiences, he had a lot to take into account.
Satomi-sama...
And Ruth watched over Koutarou, as if praying.
One word was enough. One word was all Ruth needed.
She didn't care for the reason, she just wanted Koutarou to tell her to stop the arranged marriage. That alone was reason for Ruth to stop it.
If Satomi-sama says to stop it, than that is all I need...
Ruth knew that her own feelings would never reach him. That's because she needed Koutarou to protect Theia. If all went as Ruth hoped for, Koutarou would become Theia's partner. So either way, she and he would never be together. But even that didn't bother her. She was satisfied if the two of them could watch over Theia together. She was fine with that kind of love.
However.
Ruth prayed that Koutarou would at least value her a little. That was enough for her. That they would always be able to stay together. That was Ruth's ego, but it was far too small to call egoism. It was more of a small wish.
“...I have nothing to say.”
However, Ruth's wish didn't reach him.
In the end, Koutarou didn't tell Ruth to stop her arranged marriage.
Part 5[edit]
The moment she heard Koutarou's answer, tears flooded through Ruth's eyes.
“Satomi-sama...”
What was overflowing wasn't just her tears, but also a horribly sadness from the bottom of her heart. She felt that the sadness would crush her if she remained still.
“...I-I'm sorry, let me think on my own for a moment.”
So Ruth ran from the room. She didn't want to show him her crying appearance. Those feelings moved her legs. Her pride told her not to become a burden to Koutarou.
“Ruth!”
Theia stood up as Ruth had burst out from the front door.
“Ruth, wait! Where are you going!?”
Just like how Ruth treasured Theia, Theia also treasured Ruth. Theia had never seen Ruth run away like this before. That’s why she knew just how big of a shock this had been to Ruth. And so she didn't hesitate to chase after her childhood friend whom she thought of as an older sister through the darkness of the night.
After Ruth and Theia had run out, silence filled room 106. That had been because of their surprise, but as time passed, that surprise began to change into understanding.
“Satomi-kun! Why'd you have to put it like that!?”
Shizuka was the one to break the silence. Shizuka's face was contorted with anger. Her anger this time around was the same type of anger as when the invading girls had fought in room 106. And she threw her intense anger straight at Koutarou.
“...Landlord-san.”
“Don't give me that!! You understood that Ruth-san wanted you to stop her, isn't that right, Satomi-kun!?”
“Yes.”
Despite Shizuka's burning rage, Koutarou remained calm. He nodded with the serious expression he had shown before.
I'm sorry, Ruth-san...
He looked towards the front door that had Ruth had run through and apologized in his mind. Regardless of his reasons, he had made her cry.
I know that there's also the matter with Theia, but...
Like Shizuka said, Koutarou understood Ruth's intentions. If that hadn't been the case, she wouldn't have asked him. And that she wanted him to object.
Koutarou believed that Ruth didn't ask him because he was a trusted friend, but because it had something to do with her asking him to serve Theia. If Ruth were to get married, the meaning and necessity of Koutarou serving Theia would greatly change. So Koutarou not speaking his mind here might have made Ruth feel like he was rejecting to serve Theia as well. That Ruth's trust and wishes hadn't reached him.
It's not like Koutarou understood all of Ruth's feelings. However, he had understood them, but despite that he couldn't respond to her.
“Then why!? If you knew, then why did you say something that sounded like you were pushing her away!?”
Shizuka was really angry. She had felt like every day was really fun ever since she started visiting room 106 daily. And she believed that Ruth felt the same way. That's why she couldn't forgive Koutarou's cold words. That's why she was just as angry now as she was when the invading girls had damaged her parents’ heritage. Shizuka now loved the invading girls as much as she did Corona House.
“...”
Koutarou couldn't say anything back to Shizuka.
Although it may just have been a part, Koutarou had understood Ruth's feelings, but despite that he hadn't said anything. As a result, he had hurt Ruth more than he had thought, but he didn't regret speaking those words.
And so he decided to accept Shizuka's criticism. Although he might not have had any other way to answer, the truth of the matter was that he had hurt Ruth.
“Don't be so harsh on Koutarou, Shizuka.”
Kiriha was the one to reach out to Koutarou. Despite her calm gaze, she had a sad expression. Since Kiriha was sensitive to other’s feelings, she understood Ruth, Shizuka and Koutarou's feelings.
“But I feel so bad for Ruth-san!! Even if you're not lovers, there are times when you want close friends to stop you Satomi-kun!!”
Ruth had asked Koutarou because she was hesitant and anxious. But in response she had gotten something amounting to not showing any interest from a close friend. Ruth had formed bonds with the people in this room, and if Koutarou had stopped her, she wouldn't have jumped out of the room, nor would she have a reason to be sad. Knowing that, Shizuka just couldn't forgive Koutarou for letting that happen.
“...”
Despite that, Koutarou couldn't answer. Since he believed Shizuka's criticism was justifiable.
“Shizuka, Koutarou is well aware of that. He couldn't say anything because he was.”
Kiriha reached out once more to Koutarou, who wouldn't say anything himself.
You really are an awkward man, Satomi Koutarou... Why would you choose the walk down the thorny path on your own?
Considering what Koutarou had done when he had learned of Kiriha's circumstances, it was obvious how he felt about Ruth. That's why she couldn't stand by and watch him get criticized. And she felt like it was her responsibility to clear his path of thorns.
“Why!?”
“That's―”
“That's enough, Kiriha-san. I'll say the rest myself.”
However, before Kiriha could represent his feelings, Koutarou cut her off. He was planning on keeping the reason for why he couldn't fulfill her wish a secret, but he would rather say it himself than have Kiriha do so for him.
“Koutarou... I understand. I was too presumptuous.”
Kiriha apologized to Koutarou. She realized that she had gotten a bit heated up herself and reflected on that. Kiriha understood everyone's feelings more than anyone else, that's why she couldn't keep silent and watch this misunderstanding.
“No, I don't mind. Thank you, Kiriha-san.”
That was Kiriha's kindness. That's why Koutarou had no intention of blaming her.