ᴇɪɢʜᴛᴇᴇɴᴛʜ.

She has been sitting in the Student Council office for almost an hour now. Somehow, she felt uncomfortable that she had two bodyguards tailing her all the time but she couldn't complain because it was her grandfather's order. She explained to them what she needed to do and they quickly understood and walked out the office to stay at the doors. They stopped discussing for a while when someone knocked. The door opened and she stood up when it was him.

"Grandpa, what are you doing here?" She asked, walking to his side. Her twin brother was also there and he gave her a look.

"I would like to ask the son of the Sugiyama family if he is willing to be a candidate for your upcoming engagement." The elder said and the Student Council President smiled and bowed his head.

"I'm accepting it, Ojii-sama." Her eyes widened at his response. She didn't know that they knew each other. She tried to protest but her twin brother shook his head. She kept her mouth shut, thinking that she will be the one to choose who will be her husband in the future.

"When the time is right, you will choose between him, Hokuto and your suitor." The elder added and she bit her lips, feeling her heart jumping in glee when he acknowledged the Third Prince.

They were walking in the hallways when she stopped from her tracks. They saw the two pillars of the Third Prince along with him and then, the three men under the Seventh Prince's wing. The Student Council members were also there and the Third and Seventh Princes bowed their heads at the twins' grandfather. Students around them started gossiping and the three candidates offered their hands to her. She couldn't choose, so she clung on her twin brother instead.

"Mako-nii will bring me home today." She forced a smile. Her heart is going crazy, so she chose the safe side. She urged her grandfather to go home after that.

She took a deep breath and when they finally arrived home, she quickly changed her clothes to help her mother prepare dinner. She almost stumbled upon when a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. The Student Council President chuckled while holding her arms gently. Her grandfather smiled at them and she fixed her composure. She proceeded to the kitchen and tried to ignore his presence.

"Ryoji already arrived? Your grandfather invited him for dinner. Don't you remember him? You met him when you and Makoto were in third grade. We went to the seaside and he is the son of the owner of the beach resort where we stayed at." Her mother said and she started wondering. She honestly couldn't remember what happened that time.

"I don't remember, Mommy. I also didn't expect that Grandpa knew him." She pouted while carefully chopping the vegetables.

She didn't notice that her mother left her alone in the kitchen for a while. She didn't feel that someone was coming, so when she felt a hug from behind, she almost dropped the knife. Ryoji gently held her wrist and took the knife away from her to place it down. Her body stiffened when his hug tightened. She couldn't even ask why he was hugging her.

"Don't you have a girlfriend?" She asked as she turned her body around to look at him. He shook his head and released her from the hug.

"I don't have one. Don't worry. No one will attack you at school for stealing someone's boyfriend." He said and she rolled her eyes. She continued what she was doing and instead of leaving her, he took the spare apron at the side to help her.

"Do you remember the fireflies?" He suddenly asked and she pursed her lips, shaking her head. He smiled faintly and washed the remaining vegetables at the side.

"It was summer. We were both in third grade. You were wearing a pale blue summer dress and a pair of white slippers with seashell designs. I met Ojii-sama because my parents introduced me to your family. You were not around because Auntie said you were taking a nap. Makoto was the only one whom I met that time." He started and her memories of that summer started to get clear in her mind.

"It was already dark when I asked Ojii-sama if I can bring you to my secret place where the fireflies will appear. He said yes but he was outside the cave that night to keep us around him." He continued and she stared at him.

"I'm sorry, I really can't remember anything about it." She mumbled as she looked away. She bit her lips, feeling guilty for lying. They heard a commotion in the living room, so they peeked from there.

The Third Prince waved his hand and her eyes glimmered. She quickly cleaned and dried her hands before approaching him. It seemed like the families of the three men would have dinner together with her family. She smiled softly and her face heated up when he gave her a kiss on her forehead. Then, the Seventh Prince arrived as well and he gave her a hug. The physical intimacy she is receiving from them is making her more confused. Are they only doing those to make her choose them?

"Let's go. You need to prepare." Her twin brother locked his arm around her neck and dragged her to the bedroom. She started struggling with him, punching his arm lightly.