Chapter 23: Finally making a move! The Demon Duo!

Oh no… this is really, truly terrible!

Things have come to a point where it is impossible to insist that I didn’t accept Nogami Hiroki’s invitation.

The other members knew in their hearts that I hadn’t agreed at the time, but since Kurohara Masahira announced publicly that I said “okay,” everyone has already assumed I accepted.

This is nothing short of wordplay, deliberate distortion, and malicious interpretation…

It’s like how in some languages, a phrase can mean both “fine” as in “good” and “fine” as in “no more needed.”

In Japan, there used to be scammers who exploited this ambiguity; when a person said “I’m fine” to mean “no thank you,” the scammer would insist it meant “yes, it’s fine,” and force a sale upon them, knowing that many people in Japan find it difficult to refuse with a firm attitude. (A common example is the aggressive door-to-door sales and fee collection tactics once associated with NHK.)

Ambiguous words are easily exploited.

The other party will say, “Since you said it was fine, I’ve delivered it, and now you must pay,” even threatening legal action.

To avoid trouble, many people, including international students, simply resign themselves to paying.

There are similar scams involving people posing as firefighters to sell extinguishers.

They say, “I’ve come from the direction of the fire station,” leading people to assume it’s an official promotion when it actually has nothing to do with the fire department.

By the time the buyer realizes they’ve been duped, it’s too late.

These word games, which seem like jokes, riddles, or rakugo stories, are based on actual deceptive tactics.

The current situation is the same; Masahira deliberately twisted my words and spread them around, and once everyone agreed, it became “the fact.”

Furthermore… while a fact is unique and absolute, the “truth” varies from person to person.

Literally, it might seem like “truth” refers to what actually happened, but it is actually the opposite.

A “fact” refers to an event as it actually occurred.

For example, if Car A is rear-ended by Car B, that is the fact—it is the singular, unchanging event that took place.

However, to the driver of Car A, the “truth” is “I was rear-ended by Car B.”

To the driver of Car B, the “truth” is “Car A cut me off and slammed on the brakes suddenly, making it impossible to avoid the collision.”

Facts are unique, objective existences, while “truths” are views based on what people have seen and heard, mixed with subjective judgment.

In other words, there can be as many “truths” as there are people; there is never just one.

People often shout that “there is only one truth,” causing misunderstandings to spread, but in reality, truth is not unique.

Courts in Japan do not exist to uncover the “fact,” but rather to determine the “truth.”

Judges simply compare the statements of both sides and decide which one “seems” more correct.

A trial does not reveal the fact; it delivers a verdict based on the judge’s subjective “truth” after they have felt and pondered the evidence.

Therefore, a verdict is merely a judgment like, “This side looks more like the vulnerable party, so they must be the victim,” or “This side’s story sounds more specific, so it’s more credible.”

I’m saying all this to express that… in this moment, in this place… the members of the Ōka Association didn’t initially think my “okay” meant consent.

But because Masahira spread the claim that I had agreed, the members gradually formed a collective perception that “she probably did agree.”

As a result, that “okay” became a “yes” in everyone’s minds.

If I were to stubbornly deny it now, it would be a direct slap in the face to Masahira and would trigger a conflict.

Moreover, it would make Nogami Hiroki look bad, making me seem like someone who goes back on her word, which would only offend people more.

If I alone insisted “that’s not what I meant,” I would simultaneously make enemies of both Nogami Hiroki and Kurohara Masahira, and most members of the Ōka Association would likely support them.

In! Short! I have no choice but to attend Nogami Hiroki’s party!

Did I really need that much rambling just to say this?

Yes! My mind is already a tangled mess, and I can’t think straight!

“Isn’t this great, Yuka?”

“Brother!”

Ishikawa Yota placed a hand on my shoulder from behind, speaking with a smile.

It’s not great at all!

I don’t want to have any contact with Nogami Hiroki!

And I’ll have to deal with Masahira at the same time; it’s just awful.

Masahira will definitely be at that party too.

“It’s not great at all! Besides, I don’t even know the specific date…”

“Ah? Come to think of it, you’re right. I haven’t received an invitation yet, so I don’t know the time either.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“I haven’t received a formal invitation from Nogami-kun either…”

Hearing Yuka and Yota’s words, a commotion began to stir in the surroundings.

Normally, for a party invitation, a formal card specifying the date is sent in advance.

You can’t go if you aren’t told when to show up.

It was very strange that the other members of the Ōka Association hadn’t heard a time or received invitations…

…Ah! I see! This party is fake! It’s a trap to lure me out!

If it were a legitimate Noyama family party, they would have sent invitations to other influential families as well.

But right now, no one has received an invitation or a card except for me, who was invited verbally.

In other words, this “party” is a lie designed to trick me!

If I go like a fool, I’ll surely be set up by Nogami Hiroki!

Last time he used a gift to cover his murderous intent… this time he’s using a fake party to call me out alone… has he finally decided to make his move!

How unfortunate for him! I’m not that easy to fool!

Their conspiracy has been exposed! Now I have plenty of ways to avoid it!

“Ahaha! The cat’s out of the bag, Hiroki!”

“!!!”

Masahira burst out laughing.

‘Is that a self-exposure?!’

As I thought, he wanted to use a fake party to lure me out!

And just as expected, Masahira was in on it too.

It’s just like in the game.

Nogami Hiroki and Kurohara Masahira teamed up to frame “Lady Yuka.”

No matter which route you take, one of these two—or both together—will lead “Lady Yuka” toward her destruction.

They are her enemies!

“Sorry, Ishikawa-san. You see, Hiroki…”

“Shut up, Masahira!”

Just as Masahira was about to say something, Nogami Hiroki tried to cover his mouth.

They looked just like children playing around.

They didn’t look like vicious villains trying to plot against me at all.

Their bickering was entirely at the level of first-grade elementary students.

…No, don’t be fooled.

These two are the ultimate evil duo who ruined “Lady Yuka’s” reputation in Love 100%.

Even on other characters’ routes, they would specifically jump in to meddle and ensure “Lady Yuka’s” downfall.

They are a demonic pair so obsessed that you’d want to ask, “Do you want her ruined that badly?”

“You see, Hiroki… he insisted on being the first to personally invite Ishikawa-san, so he spoke to you in person before the invitations were sent out.”

“Eh… so this is actually…”

“Nogami-kun…”

“The relationship between those two really is…”

Masahira finally finished his sentence, and everyone began to whisper.

‘What’s going on?’

If it were a fake party intended to trick only me, I should have been the first and last guest “invited,” right?

“W-Waaah! No! It’s not like that! I didn’t… Waaaaahhhh—!”

“Ah…”

For some reason, Nogami Hiroki let out a strange cry and ran out of the Salon.

Was it because his plot was exposed and he couldn’t stand to be there?

Fine, the villain is gone. My crisis is averted.

Because Nogami Hiroki’s plot was exposed early, I managed to survive.

As expected of “Lady Yuka,” this talent for being haunted by misfortune is truly something else.

“Ah~ well… whatever. Here, um… this is the invitation for Ishikawa-san.”

“…Huh?”

After Nogami Hiroki ran off, Masahira handed me an envelope.

One look at the exterior told me it was a formal invitation.

“And this is for Yota-senpai.”

“Oh, thank you, Masahira.”

Next, Yota received the same thing.

After that, Masahira began distributing envelopes to the other members of the Ōka Association one by one.

“……Huh?”

Ah! What do I do! Oh no, oh no, oh no!

****

Afterward… what was inside the envelope was indeed a formal invitation.

It seemed Nogami Hiroki really was hosting a party, and the members of the Ōka Association had all received formal invitations.

“W-W-W-What should I do, Brother…”

“Ah, this is Yuka’s first time attending a party, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll be going with you this time.”

That’s not the issue! He doesn’t understand at all!

This is an invitation from the evil duo, Nogami Hiroki and Kurohara Masahira! It’s definitely a trap!

Do they want to ruin me… or do they want to bring down the Ishikawa family…

If I just go there defenseless and foolish, something terrible will surely happen.

But at this point, saying I won’t go is impossible.

In front of all the members of the Ōka Association, the Ishikawa siblings have already indicated they will attend.

I can’t possibly say “I’ve decided not to go after all” now.

…Sickness! That’s it! I’ll just say I suddenly got sick that day and can’t go! How about that? At least it’s an excuse…?

Faking an illness might be seen through.

People might gossip behind my back.

But as long as I insist I am sick, they can’t directly criticize me to my face.

Everyone might know the truth, but they can’t scold me for it.

My reputation might suffer, but it’s the only way.

I was thinking that, and yet…

“Isn’t it great that you were invited by Hiroki-kun, Yuka? Why don’t you take this chance to get along with him properly?”

“Father! How many times must I tell you to please not say such things, even as a joke!”

Upon returning home and hearing from Yota about being invited to Nogami Hiroki’s party, Father became completely excited and took it seriously.

This is extremely bad.

If Father takes it seriously and tries to push for an engagement between me and Nogami Hiroki, it will spark resentment from the Noyama family, and the flag for the Ishikawa family’s downfall will be firmly planted!

“I hope you at least haven’t made such jokes where outsiders might hear. That would be an act that causes trouble not just for the Ishikawa family, but for the Noyama family as well! Doing that won’t bring us closer to the Noyamas; it will only make us hated and resented!”

“I know, I know… Daddy was wrong.”

This guy definitely doesn’t understand!

He’s not going around telling people “I’m pushing for an engagement between my daughter and the Noyama family’s Hiroki,” is he?

If he tells such lies for the sake of vanity and turns the Noyama family into an enemy, the Ishikawa family is finished!

“But is it really alright for Yuka to attend Mr. Noyama’s party…”

And then there is Mother… the phrasing of “Yuka actually being invited” has become the norm, hasn’t it…

It wouldn’t be surprising for a normal first-grade elementary student to turn out poorly if treated like this.

“However, you’ve already agreed to go in front of everyone at the Ōka Association, haven’t you? It’s too late to act like it never happened.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

Oh no… Father seems determined to have me attend the party no matter what.

Mother isn’t very enthusiastic.

My only remaining ally is this sharp-tongued mother.

But Mother is also outnumbered.

It seems the fact that I “already declared my attendance in front of everyone” carries a lot of weight.

“We’ll have to prepare a dress for Yuka.”

“Yes…”

Ahhh! Mother! Don’t give up! If you give up, it’s truly over!

“I don’t even know proper etiquette, so it would probably be better if I didn’t attend…”

Afterward, Yuka tried to persuade her father, mother, and brother, but not a single one of them listened to her opinion.