Target Acquired

Once they managed to walk far away from the cafeteria and from the prying eyes of the students present in that school facility, Tanaka Ryo finally let go of Yuna's hand and faced her with a disappointed look upon his face.

Yuna stopped walking as well and realized that Ryo actually brought her to the empty school soccer field where no players from the sports club are currently practicing.

"Are you out of your mind? Would you seriously let yourself fall for that douchebag who is obviously toying with you even during our high school years?"

In an instant, Tanaka Ryo switched to being the elderly brother type to Yuna with that authoritative tone of his.

Nakano Yuna raised an eyebrow at him and countered, "So what if I have had a long-term crush on him since our freshman years? It's not like it's your business whoever I end up falling with, right?"

"It is my business! I am your freaking fiance' after all!"

After lashing out like that, Tanaka Ryo went completely cold to his place only after realizing what he had said just now.

Uh-oh… it seems like I can't take it back now…

"Hey…" Yuna narrowed her eyes at him and pointed at his chest with her right index finger.

"Did you already forget why I had agreed on having this kind of arranged relationship in the first place?"

Tanaka Ryo only kept his silence, afraid that if he'd say something right now, he would completely lose her any minute from this moment.

Even if two years have already passed, Ryo will always remember why he and Yuna ended up in this arranged marriage relationship in the first place…

***

Two Years Ago…

"What did you do that for?" Yuna asked out of curiosity, still pertaining to that incident in the cafeteria that happened a while ago.

They already managed to move as far away from that school facility and ended up at the student lounge where the scholarly kids and social outcasts like to hang out.

"I already made up my mind!" Tanaka Ryo suddenly announced, both startling Nakano Yuna and the other students who were there. Later on he made an apologetic face for shouting like that.

"Geez, no need to shout, weirdo."

Ryo ignored that and continued, "I don't care what will you call me, but from this day onwards… I made up my mind of helping you and your family with your financial needs. Let's just say, it's my way of giving back after you saved from those bullies back then."

"But how?" Yuna can't help but raise one eyebrow at this guy whom she barely knows at all.

"Well…" Ryo scratched the back of his head before proceeding with what he had to say. "Be my fiancee'... and we will help you out with your financial case."

As expected, Yuna declined the offer on the spot.

"Are you nuts? I barely know you dude! Why would I even agree to be your fiancee' if I don't like you at all?"

"I-I didn't say that I like you either…" Ryo immediately avoided Yuna's gaze awkwardly. "I said I wanted to be your friend, remember?"

"Well, whatever, I still won't--"

"We can just call the engagement off as soon as you don't need me anymore. Fair game, right?"

Yuna returned her gaze back at this guy like he is some kind of nuts or something. But the moment she looked a bit closer at him, this guy looked like he already made up his mind and won't let her decline his offer no matter what she says.

What is he thinking? This guy won't even benefit from this kind of setup, why make the offer in the first place?

Is he that really kind hearted towards people who are already nearing their bankruptcy?

"One question before I accept this ridiculous offer..." Yuna raises a finger and asks. "Are you sure you are in your perfect state of mind?""

Ryo immediately chuckled with her stupid question and answered, "I'm not sure though. But I'm hardly this nice to anyone else either."

"Then you've got yourself a deal."

***

Looking back at it now, Ryo faces Yuna once again and answers her question earlier, "I do remember that. So does this mean that you don't need me anymore now?"

From the time the Tanaka clan started helping out Yuna's family by investing millions of yen in their company and making them as their business partners ever since their engagement party, Nakano Corporation was able to make a great comeback in the business industry and their sales were off the charts in less than a year.

Now that their company has grown bigger by venturing into other fields namely, hotel management, food industry, and even the mall industry, truly Nakano Corporation is now included in the top rising companies in the country.

The aching look in Ryo's eyes was hard to miss as he patiently waited for Yuna's reply. In the first place, he didn't really expect this girl to fall for him that easily. But he hoped just a little bit that after showing her how much he cared about her even just as a friend, and even changing his appearance and style just for her, Yuna would develop feelings for him.

But that's just his wishful thinking, isn't it?

"No! It's not that I don't need you anymore. I still want you on my side! But…"

Yuna can't help but purse her lips as she thoroughly thought of the words that she is about to say to this guy.

"But?"

"But I…"

"Hmm?"

"Oh, nevermind!"

Ryo's shoulders instantly fell as Nakano Yuna started storming off past him and walked away. Just like that, their awkward conversation had finally ended.

***

Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, Alan and Sakura already moved on from the daze that they felt with the sudden turn out of events earlier and after their friends had stormed away from here.

Tanaka Akio, on the other hand, was still standing after everything that's happened, making Alan noticed him and turned his head to face this guy.

Just as he was about to ask the guy to leave, Mori Ken chose to appear in that exact moment with his own tray of food he bought from the counter.

Alan's attention was suddenly shifted towards him. "Mori-san! It's a shame you didn't get to witness what just happened here. It was intense, bro!"

By the mention of Ken's surname, it was as if Akio's senses were instantly awakened and his gaze fell on the guy who entered the scene just now.

Laughing inside his head, he murmurs, "Target acquired."