──── 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙋𝙋𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙉𝙏 of the entrance to the zenin family estate, naoko took a deep breathe to prepare herself for probably another horrible night with her family. however, this time around it wasn't just a dumb meeting, in fact it was almost like a family dinner party with the two clans.
"y'know you're gonna have to go in at some point" bluntly said by the white-haired teen who stood behind the girl who stood in front of the gate for five minutes.
"i know that. i'm just dreading this already and we haven't even walked in yet." the petite girl sighed as her boyfriend placed his hands on her shoulders from behind. "i'm sure you'll be fine just ignore them as you usually do. and if anything, just stick with your amazing boyfriend here!" he flaunted off pointing to himself.
she laughed at his self-centered remark kissing him on the cheek for his thoughtful words "thank you, satoru, but actually i think it's best if our families don't know how close we've gotten, especially that we're dating. i'm afraid that once they find out feelings are involved, they won't accept it, especially my father."
"roger that! let's just go in already, naoko!" he held her hand, dragging her through the gates. she swiftly pulled away after entering in case anyone saw them at the entrance. walking through the garden in front of the estate she was greeted by none other than her quite rude younger brother.
"oh did little naoya miss his onee-san? why are you waiting out here in the cold, dumbass?" naoko spoke to her brother in a cold sarcastic tone as she passed him. naoya turned as his sister passed him. "now that isn't proper to speak to the next clan head now is it, onee-san." he smirked knowing exactly how to mess with his dear sister's mind.
closing her fists naoko held in her anger. she didn't mind that she was marrying into the gojo clan, but she was still frustrated and furious that the position that had been hers since the beginning was stolen from under her.
gojo noticed her expression change, placing his hand on her wrist to continue walking past his future brother-in-law. "let's just go, naoko." he said in a calm tone. naoya quickly caught onto the sudden first name basis. "oh, seems you both have gotten close. say onee-san don't tell me you actually fooled around and actually have feelings for this fool?" naoya continued to mock his sister.
naoko kept her composure, taking a deep breathe before responding. "you're mistaken naoya, what me and gojo have is strictly arranged, nothing more." keeping a cold face she continued to walk forward passing the white-haired boy who had a slightly hurt face at her response.
he knew she didn't actually mean that, that it was all to cover their actual relationship, but it still hurt to hear such words.
gojo soon followed after the girl who reached the corridor of the main zenin household where her family resided. naoya watched the couple, seeing gojo who towered over his sister tug at her hand stopping her in her tracks. holding naoko's hand tenderly in his, naoya's eyes widened at the sight. he was right and he now he just found another option to give his older sister a hard time.
entering the main dining room, filled with members of both the zenin and gojo clan, the couple greeted the members of the clan taking their respective seats next to each other at the dining table. naoya soon followed after taking his seat at the table as well.
"now that our children have arrived, i say it's time we start our celebration as we inch closer to their marriage and start of a new addition to the gojo clan." satoru's father raised his glass for a toast on the couple.
"satoru, what do you have to say? you are getting married in only three months. have you and naoko gotten close in the year you've been engaged?" his father added anticipating on his son's answer.
"sure, you could say that old man." satoru answered vaguely. his mother was next to ask "naoko, how about you? has our satoru given you a hard time?"
"it's hard to say since we hardly interact at outside of school." naoko answered dryly as she continued to pick at her food. naoya could be heard murmuring under his breathe. "what is that naoya?" their mother asked.
"i said they're lying! there is some feelings between them. i don't know why you are hiding this, onee-san? i've seen how you both interact with one another. there is obviously more than just arranged relationship there." naoya pleaded his case to his father who was soaking all this information.
"is this true, naoko? have you let your feelings get involved?" her father asked in a stern tone. placing down her silverware onto her plate she sighed. "no father, i don't know what nonsense naoya is spewing. he clearly doesn't know the relationship between me and gojo-san. this is an arranged marriage..." naoko paused before continuing.
"you really don't expect me to develop feelings so easily and with him of all people, do you father?" she looked satoru right at his eyes covered by his sunglasses bluntly hurting his feelings even if it was an act. she could see the pained expression on the face of the boy before her. she hurt him. she didn't want to. she didn't mean to.
gojo stood up from his seat "if you'll excuse me." leaving the dining room he left to get some air outside of the zenin household. the other members of the gojo clan didn't think too much of this. "you aren't going to support your husband and comfort him, naoko?" her mother scolded her in a light tone.
"i don't see anything wrong with gojo-san stepping out. why should i have to comfort him?" she didn't mean it. she hated this. she wanted to see him right now. tell him how she didn't mean a single word of what she said. keeping this act was breaking her inside as she saw the look on her boyfriend's face as she spews out harsh words towards him.
"very well then. if you feel that way then i guess there's nothing to be said then." her mother didn't oppose to her daughter's wishes. the party continued without satoru who was currently just taking his time to collect his thoughts outside in the cold crisp air.
