Chapter 13: Press Conference

"No, I'm never coming back to Japan."

"What?!" Akiko let out a shocked gasp. "Are you insane?" Her hands shot up to cover her mouth as her eyes enlarged to nearly ridiculous proportions.

"It's the right choice," stated Daiki. He crossed his arms and looked up towards the sky while attempting to hide any expression of emotion.

"Why did you make that decision now?" She was virtually yelling at him, and her tone was tinged with shock and wrath. Her knuckles were white from how tightly she was clutching her hands together; they were balled by her sides.

"After a year and two months, your sister and I will be finished with this. The best course of action is for me to leave because the media will still demand answers."

Daiki ignored her outburst entirely and went on. Even though he was making an effort to hide it, his voice had an edge of frigid calm. She was only made more furious by it.

"How is this possible?" She pushed back. "Because of some obnoxious reporters, you want to leave this country, which is your own. What if my sister develops feelings for you, too?"

"That is not possible." Daiki answered briefly. "Okay, I'll admit it: I like your sister, but she can't share my feelings."

He was met with a dagger-like glare from her narrowed, dark green eyes. "And what does that actually imply, huh?"

"Your sister's reputation is being saved by this marriage only. Nothing more is available." Daiki refused to meet her eyes and continued to look straight ahead.

'I won't hold out much hope. he had an inside thought. This union is by contract. Not much more.'

The words were repeatedly played back in his head until they lost all meaning and were just a meaningless string of sounds and syllables. Then he felt void, like a piece of paper that had been ripped from its envelope.

"It's almost time for the press conference, Akiko." Daiki said before consulting his phone to confirm the time. It was still 9:30 am, the conference was scheduled to start until 10:00 am.

After some time of silence, Akiko turned to face him. "I'll make sure Narumi falls in love with you so that this marriage actually happens," she said.

"Avoid making commitments you can't maintain." Daiki gave a small headshake.

"I'll honor my commitment. You two will no longer be bound by a contract; rather, you two will become a true couple."

Her voice carried resolution, which he could hear. She sounded determined rather than angry.

Deeply sighing, Daiki combed his black hair with one hand. "Do what you want to do, fine."

Akiko was left standing outdoors alone after he walked inside. She remained motionless for some time before moving inside as well.

Narumi awaited the reporters with patience so that she could begin the press conference. She sat down in her chair and began playing carelessly with her hair. When her mother appeared and looked worn out, she grinned.

"Mother, where is Akiko?" She softly inquired while casting a big gaze up at her mother.

"She is on the way." Answered Yuki.

"10 more minutes!" Akiko screamed. "Daki is missing,"

"I've arrived." Daiki announced as he entered the room with an elegant outfit unlike the turtle neck sweater he wore before.

"Have they shown up?" Narumi enquired. She was becoming very concerned.

"9:56 sis. Settle down." Akiko grinned.

"It's not enjoyable,"

"Miss Narumi, they've come." They were interrupted by one of the maids.

"Oh, thank God." Narumi grumbled. She inhaled deeply. "Send them in."

"Yes ma." the maid nodded before letting many reporters from the local television stations and national newspapers into the building, .

Shingo Shinsuke, the reporter leading the press contingent, was presented. He was serious-looking, with short brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and blue eyes. He appeared to have a lot of journalism experience.

It is nice to meet you, Miss Narumi." Shinsuke greeted her with a smile. "Can we start now?"

"Why not," Narumi answered, developing a tiny grin. "Everyone sit down."

In various chairs that had been placed up for them, the reporters took a seat.

"Sir, the cameras are ready, and the conference can now begin." said a journalist.

"Dear ladies and gentlemen, good morning. We'd like to welcome you to the National Newspaper Association of Tokyo." Shinsuke said. "Miss Narumi and her family are present with us."

There were a few flashes, and then there was a cacophony of loud talking.

"The questions will now be asked. Are you in a relationship with your personal assistant or is it just a sexual relationship because this is the question that has been plaguing everyone since last night's incident." Shinsuke enquired.

"In a legal sense, since we are married, we are indeed in a relationship. As she spread her hands wide and displayed her wedding ring." Narumi spoke. "Four months have passed since we have been married."

"Holy cow! This is a tremendously huge announcement, but ma'am you never mentioned your marriage." Another journalist enquired.

"We were unaware that you were married." Shinsuke promptly intervened, "There are no reports that you were ever engaged. However, there is a chance that the union is fictitious.

"It's real!" Narumi cried out. "But as you can see, we weren't married in Tokyo, and the ceremony was just attended by my family and me."

"So you didn't want the public to know about this marriage?" A second journalist inquired.

"That's right." Narumi said. In order to properly face the camera, she spun around a little. "So that the media would be quiet and leave us alone, we decided to keep our marriage a secret. Daiki felt nervous because he wasn't as wealthy or well-known as I was, so we chose to keep things quiet."

"That's good, but given it he is your personal assistant, does that suggest that he was hired due to his relationship with you?" The third journalist chimed in.

Narumi seemed perplexed; since she hadn't anticipated such a question, she lacked an answer. Daiki, though, was able to come up with a response.

"That is untrue. My dear wife was unaware that I had applied for the position. It's quite difficult to be apart from the person you love, but I couldn't take it anymore, so I applied for the position." Daiki replied, staring into the lens of the camera.

'What a lovely couple.' Shinsuke said quietly to himself. He maintained the same expressionless, unreadable demeanor.

"Therefore, you two are now known as Mr. and Mrs. Tsukumo." A person said.

"Exactly." Narumi smiled and agreed.

We hope to see you at the Valentine's Day dance today, and we wish you a happy marriage. Shinsuke smiled.

Before asking a maid to take the reporters out, Narumi gave the reporter an embarrassed smile in return and thanked him for the interview. She then sagged in her seat after they left, completely worn out.

"What color are you guys wearing tonight, sis?" Akiko asked.

"We won't be going to the Valentine's Day dance." Without missing a beat, Narumi responded.

"WHAT?! And why not?" Akiko yelled.

"I don't want to go." Narumi gave a shrug. "I believe Daiki feels the same way."

"It's not a question of whether you want to go or not, though. You must go so that rumors about you won't be disseminated by the media. said Yuki. "You had a contract marriage with Daiki because you want to keep your reputation intact, but you also have to act like a couple in public thus going to the dance is vital."

Narumi grumbled. "Okay, we'll go to it. Our color will be emerald green."