Why does the Ruined King still fall in love?

Hayato Hayama lent me a set of clothes, dry-cleaned and wrapped in plastic. "It doesn't fit your style, but it has to," he said.

His attempts to offend me were weak, and he wrapped his face in small bandages, which didn't do much.

Of course, my face wasn't much better either.The bruise stung me, and whatever ointments Ebina put on had no effect.She did her best to play the attentive nurse, but Ebina eventually got tired of it, so she let me do it myself.I also often screamed when she applied ointment to my cuts and bruises.That might be a small reason why she took off her nurse hat and threw it out the window.

When I look in the mirror, I think of monkeys or penguins—neither of which are my spirit animals.I looked at the buttons, the black suit and tie was really weird.I haven't dressed much since Yuhihama Yukinoshita and I discovered black lace while working part-time at a bar a few months ago.

That...that was a great memory.

There was a knock on the door, which startled me.I coughed "Come in".

Hayama smiled at me.

"Looks sharp. Are you ready?"

"Yes." I nodded.I look at myself in the mirror.

"Then let's review the plan with everyone."

Hayama Villa is huge.It's big enough to have a living room, a viewing room, and a living room.Why do rich people need so many empty rooms with couches and TVs? How is it that rich people need so much space? Don’t they need to pay the maids extra to clean these vases?

“My parents have been living in the big house under the snow, getting ready for parties,” he explained as we walked down the hallway. "If you want to know why it's so empty."

"I really want to know why your house is so big," I admitted. "Does your house really need such a big place?"

Hayama chuckled. "My parents liked to show off their wealth. There's nothing like wasting space to show you're rich. Here we are," he said, opening a large oak door at the end of the corridor.

It was a conference room with a round table and some comfortable office chairs, the kind with wheels on the bottom and full armrests.Windows line the walls, offering views of the gardens surrounding the mansion and the afternoon sun.

Miura and Ebina had already sat down and waited.Miura looked away from me.Ebina waved his hand.

"You guys are finally here." Miura said with a smile, his eyes still scanning the wall. "We've been waiting a long time, you know?"

"It's only been a few minutes." Ebina reprimanded softly. "You look good, Hikigaya," she said, giving me a thumbs up and winking.

I'm both slowly coming back.It's embarrassing.I curl up in it.Miura gave me a disgusted look.Ebina laughed.Hayama smiled silently.

"It seems we are still waiting for someone."

Diiiiiiiing!

A bell rang on the intercom.

"It seems that the last person has arrived." Hayama didn't move.

"Aren't you going to ask the housekeeper to let her in?" I joked.

"They have a week off," Hayama replied.Guess he does have a butler. "The Yukinoshita staff have been taking care of the place and I'm here to look at the house."

The place? The house? You mean the mansion?

"Then shouldn't you open the door?"

Ebina looked at me like a cunning childhood friend (female) watching a childhood friend (male) suck up to him for a serious and expensive favor.Oh oh, just because we tasted each other's blood doesn't mean we're brothers now.

"Hikigaya-kun, can you open the door?"

"But this is your house—"

"Bichigu-kun." Hayama repeated. "Can you open the door?"

"......it is good."

I walked out of the room and down the stairs.Who knew Hayama would take getting a door so seriously? Maybe it's a feng shui thing, and it's rude for the owner to open the door himself? What's the point? If a door and a corridor lined up a certain way To appease wealth and ancestors? Again, Feng Shui doesn't really matter in any way.

As I approached the gate, I realized who it was.

Either way, the post she's hiding behind isn't doing her any favors.

"I can see you."

"Oh. Hmm. Wow!" Isshiki moved away from the pillar.She tried her best to look refreshed. "I didn't expect... I didn't expect to see you here... Senior."

I could see a little swelling around her nose.That must be me..., I see.Thoughts flooded my mind.It seems like guilt is a constant that my body will always remember how to feel.Then

"Are you also in this plan?"

Isshiki nodded slightly.

We both stood there silently, neither making any further effort to talk or interact.A cold wind blew between us.Autumn is almost here.

The spring of our youth has passed.

Then, the intercom by the door crackled. "Compared to Mr. Penguin." Hayama's dry voice came from the speaker. "We have a tight schedule."

Then you should call your butler to help me out of these cliché shojo manga scenes!

"Well, you heard that too." I held out my hand and waved to her. "bring it on."

Isshiki looked at my hand and jumped away, as if it was emitting a force field. "What are you doing? Are you trying to strike up a conversation with me? Sorry, I got rejected the other day. I'm still recovering," she said, taking a final deep bow.

this girl...

"Don't push yourself," I said, turning around. "follow me."

It was a while before I heard her footsteps.She moves very quietly, like a stray cat, or a fox taking care of its food.

"......sorry."

I don't know why I say that.That doesn't explain at all what I did that day.However, I guess it feels right to say that.

After a long, quiet time, I heard a slight crack.

"Senior... at least make this easier for me, you know?"

"As far as everyone knows, tonight's gathering is just a family gathering. But since Yukinoshita's father is a member of Congress, this involves political connections. The real purpose of tonight's party is to reveal the combination of Hayama and Yukinoshita. Our parents made it very clear that a marriage can only be successful if both of us agree."

"Then why don't you yourself agree?" I asked.

Hayama sighed, then smiled slightly. "Because if I don't agree with my father's point of view, and Yukinoshita still keeps his promise...then my father will not respect my wishes. I think Yukinoshita is in the same situation as me. She is afraid to say" No," but I said "yes." We were both worried that this would lead to a rift between our families."

"I still think it's stupid, Hayato." Miura folded his arms. "If you don't want to do it, then you shouldn't! Leave your father alone."

"It's not that simple."

"I--"

"Yumiko." Hayama's smile was bitter. "Sometimes it's hard to say no to parents. They want what's best for us and sometimes we disagree on that. I'm a weak person. I'm not as strong as you. I don't have enough strength Against my family."

"Hayato, Hayato..."

"The plan is to have Yukinoshita and Hikigu-kun together." Hayama continued. "If Hikiya-kun can talk her out of this sham marriage...then we can talk our families out of it and the party will end without an engagement being announced. It's great for both of us I saved face." Ye Shan smiled softly. "The rumor mill is running full steam."

"I still think this plan has a lot of confidence in my ability to persuade Yukinoshita to change her mind," I pointed out.

"I don't expect you to convince her. I hope you will propose to her."

"Marriage proposal...? Who still uses this outdated term these days?"

Hayama just smiled. "You know what to say when you see her."

oops, thanks.This is not a good plan.

He paused. "I hope so," he murmured afterward.He was grinning like he was making the funniest joke in the world.

"Ah, thanks," I said sarcastically, out loud this time.If Hayama was a blogger, his website should be themed about toilets.

"It's okay." Hayama assured. "Heroes don't need plans!"

Miura and Ebina applauded, while Isshiki looked as if he was listening to Hayama's Nobel Prize poem.

I feel a knot in my stomach.It's the kind of clumsy JRPG character line you'd expect.Gosh, I hope hundreds of people fall off the bridge and die in any stupid game with that cheesy line.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked.

"I'm going to sneak Hikigaya-kun into the party. Ebina, Miura. You two know my parents, so you're going to watch over them. If they're not happy to shake your hand or get upset, you're going to interfere with them. And They talk, delay them. I will do the same for Yukinoshita's parents." Hayama looked aside. "To be fair, my father-in-law likes to go on and on anyway..."

"Father-in-law...?" I asked.

Hayama replied somewhat helplessly. "Oh, I'm sorry. Helpless under the pressure of power, the force of habit. Yukinoshita's father."

There was silence in the room for a while.

I don't care, but Yumiko Miura's expression does seem a bit ugly.

Isshiki and Ebina didn't show much, they just looked at... me with playful eyes?

"Hmm... so what should I do?" Isshiki asked from the other side of the conference table.

"Find Yukinoshita." Hayama said. "She's probably waiting in the room. She hates this kind of party. But if you do find her, she's probably been inspected by her mother. Then you figure out a way to keep her alone, away from everyone."

Yi Caiyu nodded and left.

"You sure know how to organize a plan that falls by the wayside."

Hayama shrugged. "It's a terrible plan."

"That's right. There's no guarantee Yukinoshita will be alone, if she's willing to talk to me. Even after that, her parents know me, and maybe their security guards know to beat me up. I'm not their favorite people."

Hayama looked at me. "Only this?"

I look at the ground. "I have talked with Yukinoshita several times recently, and we did not leave amicably."

"Really? Is that all? Is that all you worry about?"

"Yes. Your whole plan depends on whether I can say—"

"You can."

"Convince her." Oh, never mind.You are not listening to me at all.

He put his hands on my shoulders.

"When you see her, you'll know what to say, Hikigu." Hayama nodded, with a smile that didn't deserve to be punched. "I hope so," he added quietly.

"You know, it's not good to keep a girl under suspicion."

"Isn't there a saying that 'time brings two hearts closer'?"

"I'm pretty sure that's 'distance,' not 'time.' But I guess time plays a role too. You know nostalgia?" Ebina turned, looking up at the afternoon sky, embracing the cold air. "But girls are not pawns in the game. We bite." She turned to me, gnashing her teeth.

"I've never spoken to Yukinoshita...but whatever you want to do, you'd better be nice to her, hear? Or I'll never forgive you!"

"Okay." I replied.

However, the distance between Ebina and me is not too close.

"If a prince saves the girl, he has to look stylish," she said, straightening my tie. "Every girl has this innocent thought from time to time." Her bony fingers brushed my jacket. "Everyone gets lost sometimes, just meeting the wrong person in the right place can make all the difference."

"Did you call the wrong person?" I asked.Ebina shook his head.

"In fact, you are the 'most wrong person'. But sometimes in order to achieve the purpose of treating headaches, the dose of medicine must be increased." Ebina patted my chest, stepped back, and admired her work. "Yeah! Perfect! You look amazing."

"Mostly because of the suit."

"In more role-playing games, you have to wear gear that works for the job, and then it works." Ebina leans into my ear. "If things don't go well tonight, remember, there's a bad girl waiting for the prince."

"Varied--?"

Ebina took a few steps back, her evening dress fluttering in the wind, and then, she ran up to Miura.

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Planning for a party is simple.Hayama went in his family's limousine.He'd push me into the trunk of that limo.Given the low chance of me suffocating inside, I can wait until Hayama comes to my rescue before coming out.It's simple.The simplest plan is the least likely to fail.

I got myself into the trunk, there was a small pillow to rest my head under and a few ice packs scattered around to keep from overheating.Hayama looked at me.I must have looked like I was lying in a coffin, walking towards my grave.

"Are you comfortable? Want a magazine? Want something to drink?" For a guy who lifted me into the trunk without the driver looking, he seemed to be making small talk with me.

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to tell Hayama to lift his perfect teeth.Even though he genuinely cared about my well-being without a hint of sarcasm, he still acted obnoxiously.

"I'm fine." I said with a forced smile, and I even gave it a thumbs up.

"great."

Chapter 130 Four Short Stories·Finding the Place of True Happiness

The box closed and the world went dark.

I suspect that Hayama sent his driver to take the bumpiest road to Yukinoshita's home, because my whole body was aching from the constant up and down.

This kind of excitement is less desirable than a family road trip.

Komachi would either be in the backseat all day taking pictures of wobbly landmarks with his phone, poking me, sleeping on my shoulder, or stealing my fried pork slices from the bento box I had to get out of the car to buy.

What kind of man can turn down such a cute girl, especially if that cute girl is his sister? Cute girls are the cause of death for men.This is usually true historically.Cuteness can kill.