Awakening: My Yandere sister is obsessed with me
Chapter 36: Proposal

Chapter 36: Proposal

Haruto stared at her, completely dumbfounded. "Your... what now?"

Azame’s expression became more earnest, a touch of desperation in her eyes. "My boyfriend. My fake boyfriend, to be precise. You see, Haruto, the reason I’m here, the reason I even know about your... encounter with Ryouta, is because my family has arranged a marriage for me. With him."

"Arranged marriage?" Miki gasped, finally putting all the crazy pieces together.

Azame nodded grimly. "Precisely. He’s also from a highly influential family that my elders wish to ally with. But I absolutely, unequivocally, do not want to marry Ryouta. He’s... unsuitable. And frankly, a bit of a brute." She looked back at Haruto, her amber eyes pleading. "So, I need a convincing reason to break off this engagement. Someone who is undeniably... superior. Someone who could make my family, and more importantly, Ryouta’s family, agree that I’ve found a better match."

Jun, who had been listening with wide eyes, finally piped up, a mix of awe and disappointment on his face. "So... you want Haruto to be your *pretend* boyfriend to avoid marrying some psycho? That’s... that’s an anime plot right there!"

Haruto blinked once, then twice, trying to make sense of the last minute of his life. "Wait, wait, hold on a second," he finally managed, pushing himself up slightly against the wall. "You want me to be your fake boyfriend? But I’m just average, my biggest ambition is usually finding a good sale on limited edition gaming figures."

Azame chuckled, a soft, melodious sound that seemed to draw the attention of even more distant students. "Oh, Haruto, that’s precisely why you’re perfect." She leaned in a little, her amber eyes sparkling with amusement. "Your ’averageness,’ as you call it, makes you unpredictable. No one would suspect I’d choose someone like you, which makes it all the more convincing. Besides," she winked playfully, "you have a certain... raw charm. And you clearly possess a unique talent for making undesirables like Ryouta... disappear."

"So." Azame continued, her voice laced with mock seriousness. "My family, they need a distraction, a powerful statement. And you, Haruto, are a statement. A very loud, unexpected statement." She tilted her head, a playful smirk touching her lips. "Unless, of course, you’re not up to the challenge?"

Haruto frowned, feeling a familiar stubbornness prickle. "It’s not about being ’up to the challenge.’ It’s about... this being completely insane. What do I even *do* as a fake boyfriend? Hold your hand? Buy you bubble tea?" He shuddered at the thought.

Azame laughed again, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Details, details. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, just exist. And look suitably devoted when necessary." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper, just loud enough for him to hear. "Think of it as an exclusive, high-stakes role-playing game, Haruto. And your prize for winning is... my freedom. And perhaps, a real princess on your arm, if you truly are as exceptional as I suspect." She pulled back, her smile radiant. "Don’t tell me a ’Game Center Grandmaster’ like yourself would shy away from a challenge this grand?"

"My sources are extensive," Azame simply said, waving a hand dismissively. "So, Haruto. What do you say? Will you be the hero of my very own, very inconvenient, fairy tale?" She extended a graceful hand towards him, her amber eyes sparkling, clearly amused by his internal struggle. "Or will you let me be stuck with Ryouta and his... truck-magnets?"

Jun’s eyes widened. "Don’t fall for that, Haruto! That’s a classic motivation technique! She’s baiting you!"

"Quiet, Jun," Miki, who had been listening intently, was utterly lost. Ryouta? Trucks? Flying a mile? None of this made any sense. But the name Azame... it was so familiar. It nagged at the back of her mind, a half-remembered melody. She knew that name. It made her think of a famous, incredibly powerful noble family... the Tokugawa. But it couldn’t be, could it? The Tokugawa family was legendary, practically royalty in the modern age, with vast wealth and influence. Their heiress, the fabled "Princess Azame," was a name whispered in hushed tones in elite circles. Could this casual, giggling girl, sitting on the school ground like any other student, actually be that Azame? It seemed impossible. Yet, the way she carried herself, her expensive clothes, the immediate hush that fell over the schoolyard when she approached... Miki’s mind raced, trying to put the pieces together, but it just wasn’t computing.

Jun, meanwhile, was beaming. He didn’t care about Ryouta or trucks. He just saw a beautiful girl laughing at Haruto’s joke, and he was taking it as a sign of something wonderful. "See, Haruto? Even a princess falls for your charms!" he whispered excitedly, then winced as Haruto delivered another precise, albeit softer, head-chop.

Haruto stared at her outstretched hand, then at Jun, who was practically vibrating with excitement, and Miki, who looked like she was witnessing the most illogical chess game of her life. He let out a long, weary sigh. This was going to be a disaster. But for some reason, looking at Azame’s expectant, playful face, he also knew he wasn’t going to say no.

Before Haruto could even formulate a coherent response, Miki, usually reserved, stepped forward. Her normally calm demeanor was replaced by a look of intense seriousness.

"Haruto," she said, her voice firm, "I need a moment to speak with you. Alone."

Azame’s amber eyes flickered between Miki and Haruto, a subtle, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Oh? Are you his current boyfriend?" she asked Miki, her tone light and teasing. "Don’t worry, I assure you, my request is purely strategic. Unless you’re unwilling to share?"

Miki’s face flushed slightly, but she didn’t back down. "No, I’m not his boyfriend! I’m his friend. And this is serious. Please, just a moment."

Azame merely chuckled, a graceful nod of her head indicating consent. "Very well. But do try to be quick. Time, as they say, is of the essence." She then turned her attention to Jun, still grinning, "Perhaps you can enlighten me further on these ’Game Center Grandmaster’ techniques, Jun-kun, while I wait?"

Jun puffed out his chest, utterly thrilled to be acknowledged. "You bet, Azame-hime! It all starts with the joystick grip..."

Miki grabbed Haruto’s arm, pulling him a few steps away from Azame and Jun, towards a slightly more secluded spot near a cluster of cherry trees. Her voice dropped to an urgent whisper, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

"Haruto," she hissed, barely keeping her voice down. "You can’t even think about agreeing to this! Do you have any idea who that is?"

"Her name. Azame. I knew it sounded familiar, but I just couldn’t place it. But when Jun called her ’Azame-hime’ and she didn’t even correct him... Haruto, that’s Azame Tokugawa."

Haruto stared at her blankly. "Azame... Tokugawa? So what? Is that a famous band or something?"

Miki practically slapped her forehead. "Haruto! The Tokugawa! The great Tokugawa family! They’re not just rich; they’re a clan of awakening ones. Their power stemmed from their control over Awakened beings. They didn’t merely enlist them—they cultivated their abilities, honed their skills, and assimilated them into a rigid, cult-like structure. Expertise in intelligence collection, mental coercion, and silent neutralization of targets set them apart. Some of the most formidable and elusive Awakened, those who could warp reality or manipulate thoughts, swore allegiance to the Tokugawa. This unique influence rendered them irreplaceable to the authorities, especially in dealing with threats beyond the reach of ordinary forces.

"It means," Miki continued, her voice low and desperate, "that if you get involved with her, you’re not just getting involved with some ’crazy rich girl.’ You’re getting tangled up with centuries of power, politics, and who knows what else! This isn’t just about a fake boyfriend, Haruto! If she’s asking you of all people, it means she’s desperate, and desperate people from families like hers drag everyone down with them!" She gripped his arm tighter. "You *have* to say no, Haruto. Seriously. Just turn her down. Walk away. This is way, way out of our league."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the schoolyard, rustling the leaves on the trees and scattering a few forgotten papers. It felt like a subtle, ominous sign. The usual, mundane school day had officially taken a sharp, fantastical turn. And Haruto, much to his exasperation, found himself right at the center of it, with Miki’s dire warning echoing in his ears.

Haruto stared at her outstretched hand, then at Jun, who was practically vibrating with excitement, and Miki, who looked like she was witnessing the most illogical chess game of her life. He let out a long, weary sigh. This was going to be a disaster. But for some reason, looking at Azame’s expectant, playful face, he also knew he wasn’t going to say no.

Azame sitting casually beside them, the one who looked like she’d stepped out of a fashion magazine.

Miki felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

"It is," Azame confirmed, her gaze unwavering on Haruto. "And Haruto, your reputation, however... unusual... it may be, and your apparent lack of fear when dealing with someone like Ryouta, makes you surprisingly ideal. If my family sees that I’ve chosen someone like *you* – someone independent, perhaps a bit unconventional, but clearly not intimidated by... unpleasant situations – it might just give them pause. It might make them reconsider the entire arrangement."

Haruto just stared. This was insane. He was being asked to be a fake boyfriend to a princess of a big clan to escape an arranged marriage with a guy who flew a kilometer after trying to attack him. His life had officially jumped the shark.

"And if it works?" Haruto asked.

Azame’s smile returned, softer this time, and a hint of something genuine, perhaps even hopeful, flickered in her eyes. "If you prove yourself... if you are truly as outstanding as I believe you to be, and if you manage to convince my family, then... perhaps. Perhaps it wouldn’t have to be fake, Haruto." She met his gaze directly. "If you are truly exceptional, then I would be entirely open to considering a real relationship."

Got it. I’ll rewrite the ending part of the story, incorporating Miki’s immediate desire to discuss with Haruto, Azame’s misunderstanding, and Miki’s warning about Azame’s true identity.