Toru’s Decision

TL/ED: Bogdi

Toru was not sure how to respond to Aino’s words. She had asked him to marry her five times already.

He could have rejected Aino. If he denied Aino’s request with strong words, Aino would surely not repeat the same request again.

(Why can’t I do that? ……)

It was probably because he was about to nod his head at Aino’s proposal.

Toru realized that he was not disgusted by Aino’s repeated requests for him to marry her, but rather was happy about it.

Any man would be happy to hear such a thing from the most beautiful girl in school.

But is that all?

There was no advantage for Toru in getting engaged to Aino.

Although the engagement is at the will of the Konoe family, it is only half forced.

(But even if the Konoe family didn’t tell him to get engaged, ……)

Toru might listen to Aino’s request.

Aino is in trouble. She was about to be forced to marry a man she didn’t know, due to her inexplicable family situation.

Toru is able to save Aino from this. The small girl in front of him needs him.

And Toru couldn’t help but want to respond to it. Perhaps it was an act of compensation for not being able to save Chika, his childhood friend.

Aino nodded her head.

“What’s wrong with you, shutting up? Thinking?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Aino gave a mischievous smile. Not knowing the meaning of that expression, Toru was momentarily confused …….

Then, he realized.

The book that he had been reading earlier and that he had hidden was gone!

Before he knew it, Aino had picked up the book.

“Heh …….”

The book that Aino was looking at carefully was a book called “A book for learning about Finland”.

(Oh, shoot. ……)

Aino is from Finland. That’s whyshe picked up that book, but he was supposed to keep it hidden because it would be embarrassing if people knew.

He forgot that the book existed, and before he knew it, Aino had taken it from him.

Toru was worried about Aino’s reaction. He wondered if Aino would be creeped out by it.

But Aino’s cheeks reddened a little and she looked at Toru shyly.

“You’re reading this because I’m Finnish?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that I was …… genuinely interested in foreign countries?”

“I wouldn’t believe you.”

Aino chuckled.

“You wanted to know about me?”

“Well, yeah, I suppose so.”

“Oh, ……. It’s not that I’m not happy about it, but…”

Aino says, with a clearly happy grin on her face.

(You’re so easy to understand.)

Toru didn’t know that Aino was such an expressive girl.

Whenever she was in the classroom all alone, Aino seemed to have a cold expression on her face, but maybe that was because she was lonely.

“Do you know, Renjo-kun? The divorce rate in Finland is much higher than in Japan.”

(TLN: The more you know.)

“I didn’t know. I find it surprising.”

Finland or rather the Nordic countries in general, have a very good reputation. Unlike the cold and harsh Japanese society, Finland is a rich country with excellent welfare and education. That’s what you sometimes see in the news.

Aino smiled.

“Finland is also a normal country. My father and mother are divorced, too.”

Toru was surprised. Toru’s parents were divorced as well.

“But I have a feeling that Renjo-kun and I will get along well once we get married.”

“I don’t know.”

“I do.”

Toru did not know where Aino’s confidence came from.

Toru had no clue about that future.

In the first place, the order is reversed. There is nothing going on between Toru and Aino right now. It’s not like there are any romantic feelings, much less any kind of marital love.

There is no way to know whether or not he would be able to get along with Aino if he were to marry her.

Nevertheless, Aino seemed to have a strange trust in Toru. Aino closed the book quickly and looked at Toru.

“Aino is written as “Aino” in the English alphabet.”

(TLN: This doesn’t make any sense to translate, but it would break the flow if I didn’t so….)

“Oh, is there any origin behind it?”

“Aino is the name of a water maiden in Finnish mythology. She was the most beautiful girl of the land and her mother ordered her to be betrothed to an old god. Aino cried and hated it, but …… no one would help her.”

Toru stared back at Aino in surprise. This Aino is also about to be engaged by her mother.

They are identical.

“So, what happens to that Aino?”

“She threw herself into the lake and …… died. It’s a famous tragedy. But I’m not like that.”

Aino said quietly and stared straight back at Toru with her blue eyes.

Her eyes were pure and clear, and glowed with a strange color, like she was expecting something from Toru.

“I have Renjo-kun. I have a hero who didn’t exist in the legends.”

“I can’t be a …… hero. I’m not a hero. I’m a weak person who can’t save a girl I grew up with.”

Aino shook her head and smiled gently.

“You can help me, Renjo-kun. So don’t talk about yourself like that. I’m a weak person too, but I’ll try my best to help you.”
 

“Thank you, but …”

“I don’t think we’ll be weak if we’re together.”
 

Aino said with red cheeks, but in a clear voice.

It sounded almost like a confession to Toru.

Aino folded her hands in front of her chest and repeated her words.

“I want you to marry me!”

Aino’s eyes shone brightly as she approached Toru.

This is the sixth time that Aino has said these words to him.

And Toru’s answer has already been decided. That’s the way it should be.

But Toru was upset. According to Japanese law, one cannot get married at the age of 16. Such nonsense, Toru kept saying.

That’s postponing the conclusion.

Aino smiled wickedly.

“‘That’s why I want you to be my fiancée. Renjo-kun will only be a formal fiancée. I’m fine with that.”

Aino whispered. That’s right. The engagement is not because there are romantic feelings between Toru and Aino.

It’s just a realistic option for both of them.

A formal engagement. That’s what it should be. For Toru, this was an excuse to accept Aino’s proposal.

In order to comply with the Konoe family’s wishes and to save Aino, he could accept that it was unavoidable.

But, right in front of his eyes, the red-faced and embarrassed Aino …… really thinks that a formal fiancée is fine?

Even if that were the case, would Toru be able to separate himself from her like that? If he accepts the proposal, Toru will be with Aino for the rest of his life.

Toru will help Aino and Aino will support Toru. That’s what they promised each other they would do if they got engaged.

And if the engagement continues to live on, then Toru will marry Aino. At that time, Aino will no longer be a stranger to Toru.

What if Aino becomes an existence that Toru can’t lose, just like the old Chika?　 It was a scary thing for Toru. He didn’t want to be afraid of losing her.

But he couldn’t shake off the hand that Aino was holding out in front of him. He is not strong enough to abandon a girl in need of help.

(Don’t worry. It’s only a formal engagement. ……)

Toru said to himself. And then faced Aino.

“I’ll decide now.”

Aino shivered and her eyes wavered anxiously. She was probably thinking that she might be rejected.

But Toru’s answer had already been decided.

“I’m going to be your fiancée, Luthi-san.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Of course, if I can solve the problem by other means, I will do so and the engagement will be dissolved. It’s only a temporary fiancée.”
 

“But as long as that doesn’t happen, I’m your fiancée, aren’t I? I’m glad …… thank you.”

Aino had a really happy smile on her face. Toru was unintentionally attracted by that smile.

He had a premonition.

At this rate, Toru will surely become even more involved with Aino. And there would be no turning back.

Even though he knew it, he couldn’t refuse Aino.

He wanted to be needed by Aino, to be needed by someone else.

Aino giggled. The setting sun shone through the window, illuminating Aino’s beautiful golden hair. Then, Aino put her small lips close to Toru’s ear.

“Mina rakastan sinua”

Toru couldn’t make out the words. It was in Finnish ……?

Toru was curious about what Aino had said. But when Toru asked, Aino shook her head.

Aino took a step back and then put her index finger to her lips.

” I don’t want you to know what I said. I didn’t mean anything deep. But …… I’ll tell you someday.”

“When?”

“When you marry me.” Aino then smiled beautifully, like a goddess.