[Me: So, we’re dating now, huh?]

[Natsume: Yeah, guess so.]

I put my phone aside and let out a smile. Those messages were almost a year ago, huh? How time flies. It’s as if it was yesterday when that crazy confession happened to both of us; me to Natsume with the horrid fireworks night, and then her replying on national television. Since then, our relationship has been mostly smooth sailing like anyone else would expect - dates, spending time together… No final step though, both of us agreed to only consider it after marriage.

Marriage, huh…

I open my phone again and swipe to another chat window.

[Yaga: Young Master, it’s almost your eighteenth birthday. Have you considered a suitable spouse candidate yet?]

That message was three days ago, and my birthday is in a week. The old man’s will is still there, waiting to be claimed by me… so long as I fulfill its condition of divorcing someone, that is. And now, I have the perfect partner - Natsume, so following the will isn’t impossible anymore. If I told her everything… no, she knew everything already. She’ll understand if I propose to her. But… now that I’m here, everything just feels wrong.

[Me: Can we meet somewhere tomorrow?]

I text Natsume, and it doesn’t take long for an answer. Or rather, another question.

[Natsume: As in, a date?]

[Me: Something like that.]

[Natsume: Sure. What are you suggesting?]

[Me: I guess… the library?]

I can already imagine her giggling on the other side of the screen.

[Natsume: We go to that place way too often now. How about Wonderland?]

[Me: Isn’t that place abandoned for like a year now?]

[Natsume: Not really. Remember what he said when he left school?]

As the words appear on my phone, my mind drifts back to the times of the recent past. Around the start of the year, when Yoichi decided to drop out early to pursue his career as a magician full-time. Honestly, it still makes me wonder why he transferred to our school in the first place, but it’s not like I’m one to judge - after all, he’s a worldwide phenomenon now.

[Natsume: Oh, speaking of which. Have you seen his latest show?]

[You received a link]

Still doing as well as ever, I see.

[Me: Anyway, what’s that about Wonderland again?]

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

[Natsume: Oh, right. Yoichi said that he was going to build a new theme park on that old land. Construction is already taking place, I think.]

[Me: So… your idea is to have our date at a construction site?]

[Natsume:... Hey! I’d like to see you think of a better idea!]

I let out a light chuckle. Not every day that I get to be the teaser in our relationship.

[Me: I can’t believe that even after a year, we both still suck at this.]

[Natsume: Tell me about it. But back to the main point.]

[Me: How about school, then? Seeing that neither of us has good ideas.]

[Natsume: Okay. At least it’s not too weird. School it is.]

***

“Hey,” I wave towards the girl approaching me, my back leaning against the school gate.

“Rare to see you in a good getup for once,” Natsume pulls off her muffler and lets out a teasing grin.

It’s true. Ever since I lived the no-money life, my wardrobe has been… let’s say average at best. I’m almost always seen in my uniform - on casual dates, I’d just remove the outer jacket or vest and tie. So, seeing me in a proper hoodie, even if it’s just a plain gray one, is a novel experience.

“Hey, I’m almost an adult now. Gotta at least dress the part,” I lightly smile in return.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Let’s head to a classroom first,” I gesture. “Not a good idea to stay in this snow anyway.”

After both of us head into the closest classroom in the building - mine, 3-B, and take our seats, Natsume once again asks:

“Okay, so what do you want to talk about?”

“... It’s my birthday soon. My eighteenth.”

“What, you’re asking for a gift?” Natsume chuckles at the question, but even I can tell through her lightly twitching lashes that she’s just trying to avoid the situation.

“You know what I’m talking about,” I continue, keeping the same serious face.

Seeing that there’s no way around it, Natsume retracts her smile.

“It’s finally time, huh? To decide about our future… and your inheritance.”

“Yeah… about whether or not I should follow it.”

“There’s one thing that I don’t understand, though,” asks Natsume. “Your father’s will doesn’t state anything about remarrying the same person after divorcing them, so why aren’t we doing that? I’m fine with it.”

Of course, it’s a simple loophole that anyone could have thought of, me included. But precisely because it is the case that I’m not okay with it.

“It just doesn’t sit right with me,” I let out a sigh. “If we get married, then divorce, then get married again, how would our relationship be? Marriage is something sacred and should be cherished, not some kind of transaction that can be done in a flip of a switch like that.”

“Bold words from someone who was planning to do just that a little under a year ago,” Natsume’s eyes widen in surprise for a moment, but she soon lets out a grin and pokes at my cheek. “But that’s good; it means you’re earnest now. And that makes it all the easier for me to place my trust in you, too.”

“It doesn’t help me choose, though.”

“... Then what about just leaving the inheritance be? The will doesn’t say when you have to do it. We could just… live our lives as if it doesn’t exist.”

I’ve thought about that too, of course. But just like the other solution, I have my reasons to not be happy with this one, either.

“If that’s the case, then all we’ll be doing is running away from our problem,” I let out a sigh. “I don’t want to live a life of constantly running away like that; not anymore.”

As if waiting for that answer of mine, Natsume then lets out a satisfied smile:

“Well, if you’re not fulfilling the will, nor are you ignoring it, then it only leaves us with one option, right?”

It’s as if I’ve been wanting to hear those words. However, those exact words also mean another possibility - the danger of an unknown future.

“But…”

“You’re worried that we won’t have anything to our name?” Smiles Natsume. “We have each other. Isn’t that enough already?”

“... And besides, it’s not like we’re completely broke. Have you already forgotten about my prize last year?”

Somehow, the final confirmation hurts me more than it helps me. But I can’t help but agree - it’s not the end of the world for us. As long as we’re still alive and well, we can pull through anything.

“... You’re right,” I let out a smile and nod in agreement. “Then let’s come to my house - my real house, next week, and settle everything.”