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Arata had just arrived at Shiranami Society when he saw Chihaya comforting Sumire, a friend of hers that he never really talked with, he just knew that she recently started university, under the course of marketing. Sumire was sitting in one of of the steps of the ladder in front of the entrance, covering her face as she cried. He knew it was probably something personal and that it could be rude for him to get involved, but he couldn't just walk past her, so he got closer to them and tried to help.
"What happened? Is she hurt?", he asked.
"She was invited to a marriage, but she says she can't go... I said I can go with her but she called me stupid. I don't really understand it", Chihaya answered with a confused face, as if recalling the events made her even more troubled.
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T!", Sumire looked up, which made it look like she was crying even more, "You have a boyfriend..."
"I don't understand it too... you were invited, weren't you? Why can't you go without a boyfriend?"
"It's my ex's marriage. It would be sad to go alone...", Sumire replied, trying to hold back her sobbing, as she had noticed the presence of Arata. It felt weird to cry like that in front of him. She felt that he was probably imagining that she was a stupid girl.
"That's why I said I could go with you", Chihaya said in a low tone, as if she was still trying to connect the dots about why would she be stupid of suggesting that they could go together.
"I know you say it with the best intentions, but the problem is: the person would have to be my "partner". You have a boyfriend. Tsukuba said he could go with me, but if it's him, I am better off with my single ass.", she clarified, wiping some tears, which just smudged more her destroyed mascara.
"I can go with you", Arata blurted out, blushing heavily after realizing what he just said. Yes, he was single, so he could go with her, but... that would make him her fake boyfriend.
Sumire blinked. She wasn't expecting it and so was Chihaya, who just didn't look more shocked than as she was when Taichi appeared with a short haircut in the Meijin qualifier.
"YOU MEAN IT?", she smiled brightly. "You know, you would have to pretend to be my boyfriend."
Arata shook his head positively, unable to take his words back when she was so happy. What exactly have him put himself into?