Forced Engagement
They returned to the cafeteria to find Yuto's food tray spilled across the floor.
The mess spread beneath the table, and rice and meat were wasted.
Ayla, Alice, Lilith, and Reika's expressions varied from amusement to irritation.
Alice crossed her arms as she glanced at a group of noble students lingering by the entrance.
One of them—a tall, arrogant-looking upperclassman- wore a smug expression.
"Tch," Yuto clicked his tongue, eyes darkening.
"Who did it?"
They stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Relax. It's just food. I thought a commoner like you wouldn't mind eating off the floor"
Yuto barely registered the words before he moved.
In a blink, he was in front of the noble, gripping him by the collar.
The cafeteria went silent.
"What was that?"
Their smirk faltered.
"I was just—"
Yuto drove his knee into the guy's stomach.
A sickening thud as air left their lungs in a wheeze as he crumpled.
Yuto didn't let go.
His grip tightened.
"Pick it up"
The noble coughed violently.
"Wh—what?"
Yuto shoved him toward the floor.
"I said, pick it up"
The guy hesitated.
Lilith snickered.
"Oh, I love this!"
Alice sighed.
"Yuto—"
Before she could finish, another voice cut in.
"She doesn't belong with you"
Another noble, a different one, who was more composed, stood behind Ayla, one hand on her shoulder.
Before they could say more, Yuto grabbed his wrist.
A loud pop echoed as he crushed the guy's grip.
He screamed, but Yuto wasn't done.
He yanked him forward and slammed him onto a nearby table, sending plates and trays flying.
"You touch her again," Yuto said lowly, "and I will break more than just your wrist"
The noble whimpered, barely able to nod.
Ayla stepped beside Yuto, ears twitching.
"I could've handled that"
Yuto exhaled sharply.
"Possibly, but I'm sure your method would have been brutal"
Alice rubbed her temples.
"This is why you keep making enemies"
Reika sighed, flipping a page in her book.
"At this rate, the entire noble class will want his head"
Ayla glanced at the floor.
"My food…"
Yuto sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"We can get more"
Before they could turn to leave, Yuto and Ayla heard a familiar voice.
"My my, it's nice to know that your in good health"
Standing at the entrance of the cafeteria, her posture as elegant as ever, was Evelynn.
Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes scanned the scene before settling on him with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Lilith smirked.
"Oh, look who decided to grace us with her presence. Lady Astoria herself"
Evelynn ignored the comment and approached, hands resting on her hips.
"I leave you alone for a day, and I hear you've started fights with half the noble students"
Yuto scoffed, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"It was self defense"
Evelynn's gaze shifted to the noble still groaning on the table.
She sighed.
"And what did this one do?"
"He put his hands on Ayla"
Evelynn's expression darkened slightly, her noble demeanor slipping just for a moment.
She turned to the noble, her voice cold as ice.
"You touched her?"
They barely managed a nod, eyes filled with regret.
Evelynn let out a slow breath, shaking her head.
"Idiots. All of you"
She then glanced at Ayla, who simply tilted her head.
"Are you alright?"
Ayla's ears twitched.
"I am fine. Yuto handled it"
Evelynn looked back at Yuto.
"And you handled it your way, I assume"
Yuto shrugged.
She sighed, rubbing her temples.
"You do realize the nobles won't let this go, right?"
Reika, flipping another page in her book, muttered, "At this rate, they might just form an official We Hate Yuto Club"
Alice crossed her arms.
"That'd be a large club"
Lilith grinned.
"I'd join just to mess with them"
Evelynn pinched the bridge of her nose, looking like she was reconsidering her entire life.
"Gods help me… Yuto, do you ever think ahead?"
Yuto exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Thinking ahead isn't really my style"
Evelynn crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"Clearly"
Alice, still watching the nobles scramble to regain their dignity, sighed.
"So what now? Are they going to run off and cry to their parents?"
Evelynn glanced at the fallen noble, who was struggling to sit up while holding his wrist.
"Most likely. And given how fragile noble pride is, this won't be the last time they try something"
Lilith grinned.
"Good. I was getting bored"
Yuto ignored them and crouched down to pick up what was left of his spilled tray, tossing it onto a nearby table.
Ayla, ears twitching, watched him closely.
"I still wanted that," she muttered.
"I'll buy you another one," Yuto said, already walking toward the food counter.
Ayla immediately perked up and followed, her tail swaying behind her.
Alice shook her head with a small smile before trailing after them.
Evelynn sighed, watching them go.
"I don't know if I should admire him or worry for his future"
Reika, not even looking up from her book, answered, "Both"
Evelynn huffed before turning toward the groaning nobles still on the floor.
"If you want to keep what's left of your dignity, I'd suggest staying down"
They flinched under her gaze but said nothing.
With that, Evelynn turned and walked after Yuto and the others, shaking her head.
Yuto had just set a fresh tray down at the table when Evelynn spoke again, her voice calm but firm.
"My father is waiting to speak with you"
The cafeteria noise seemed to dull, the air shifting as the words sank in.
Alice, mid-sip of her drink, nearly choked.
Reika, who had barely reacted to anything all day, paused mid-turn of a page.
Ayla tilted her head, oblivious to the tension.
Yuto himself barely lifted an eyebrow.
"Your father?"
Evelynn nodded.
"The Duke of House Astoria"
Now, the silence was complete.
Alice leaned in, her voice urgent but hushed.
"Yuto, listen. You can't just talk to a Duke the way you do to everyone else"
Reika, closing her book, looked at Evelynn.
"And why would a Duke want to speak to a commoner?"
Evelynn's expression remained unreadable.
"You'll find out soon enough"
Yuto sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
"Alright"
Alice grabbed his sleeve.
"No, not 'alright'! Yuto, please, just… be careful? This isn't some noble brat you can intimidate"
Lilith smirked.
"I think that depends on the noble"
Reika adjusted her glasses.
"She's right. This is dangerous"
"Even if you don't care about noble customs, you're stepping into a world where power isn't just measured by strength"
Yuto exhaled.
"I get it"
Alice didn't look convinced but let go of his sleeve, worry still written all over her face.
Evelynn motioned for him to follow.
"Come on. He doesn't like to be kept waiting"
Yuto pushed back his chair.
Ayla, still chewing on a piece of grilled meat, gave him a thumbs-up.
"Summon me if need be"
With that, he followed Evelynn out of the cafeteria, feeling the weight of every stare burning into his back.
He followed Evelynn out of the cafeteria and through the academy's grand halls.
Despite the growing tension, Evelynn walked with the same composed elegance she always carried.
Yuto, on the other hand, kept his hands in his pockets.
As they reached a set of ornate double doors, two guards flanking the entrance stiffened, exchanging glances before pushing them open.
Inside, the room was lined with bookshelves, a large fireplace crackling softly in the background.
Sitting in a high-backed chair was a man Yuto recognized instantly, Duke Alistair Astoria.
The Duke's presence was suffocating.
Even seated, his aura filled the room, a mixture of power and authority that made most people shrink away.
Yuto didn't, but he understood what Evelynn had meant during the escort mission.
How could she decide her future when this man had gripped it tight just by his presence alone?
Evelynn stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Father"
Alistair barely acknowledged her before his golden eyes settled on Yuto.
"So, you're the one," he mused, voice deep and measured.
Yuto held his gaze.
"Depends on what you mean by that"
Evelynn sighed quietly.
The Duke studied him for a moment before speaking again.
"You escorted my daughter. You assisted in the village incident. And now, you've made quite the name for yourself within the academy"
Yuto remained silent, letting the man get to his point.
Alistair leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, Yuto Akimitsu… Do you know why I called you here?"
Yuto shrugged.
"Figured it wasn't to congratulate me"
A ghost of a smirk played on the Duke's lips before vanishing.
"I'm offering you an engagement to my daughter"
The words landed like a hammer.
Yuto's expression didn't change, but he felt Evelynn stiffen beside him.
Behind him, the guards shifted ever so slightly, waiting for his response.
He sighed, tilting his head.
"And if I refuse?"
Alistair's gaze sharpened.
"Then we discuss why that would be an unwise decision"
Yuto exhaled sharply, crossing his arms as he met the Duke's piercing gaze.
"You think you can just decide my future like that?" he said coolly.
"I don't take orders from nobles, no matter their rank"
The guards tensed.
Evelynn shot him a warning glance, but Alistair remained unreadable.
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then—
Yuto dropped to his knees, bowing his head.
"Thank you for this incredible opportunity, Duke Astoria!" he said, his voice filled with exaggerated gratitude.
"I am truly honored! To think someone like me could be engaged to your daughter—I must be the luckiest man alive!"
Evelynn let out a strangled noise, covering her face with both hands.
"Oh my gods—"
The guards, caught between confusion and disbelief, glanced at each other.
Alistair raised an eyebrow.
"So, you understand the gravity of the situation?"
Yuto nodded furiously.
"Absolutely! A noble like Lady Evelynn? Smart, beautiful, and rich? How could I refuse?"
Evelynn groaned, still hiding her face.
Alistair let out a low chuckle.
"At least you know when to recognize a good deal"
Yuto straightened up, his expression settling back into its usual nonchalance.
"Of course. I'm not stupid"
The Duke studied him for a moment longer before nodding.
"Then it's settled. You and Evelynn will be engaged"
Evelynn peaked between her fingers, her face bright red.
'Oh Goddess Elise, what do I do with a moron like this?'
The Duke chuckled softly, his deep voice filling the room as he rose from his seat.
"I'll announce the engagement at a later time. For now, I have other matters to attend to"
He waved a dismissive hand, turning toward the door, and his guards immediately fell in line behind him.
As the doors closed behind them, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Evelynn stood motionless for a moment, her eyes lingering on the spot where her father had been.
The sound of the guards' footsteps faded away down the hallway, leaving only the echo of his presence behind.
Slowly, Evelynn turned toward Yuto, who had already faced her.
Yuto stood there, his expression intense, an unusual fire in his eyes.
Despite the lingering tension in the room, he was grinning, and his body wasn't shaking with fear like it had been moments ago.
His heart raced with excitement.
Evelynn raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.
"Well, that went well, didn't it?"
"..."
"Yuto?"
"He's on a whole other level"
Evelynn's lips twitched into a faint smile.
"You don't seem scared"
Yuto chuckled, his eyes gleaming.
"Scared? Nah. If anything, I'm curious. If he and I fought, I wonder who'd come out on top"
Evelynn stared at him for a moment, her face betraying a mix of concern and amusement.
"You're insane"
Yuto shrugged, still smiling.
"I don't know. I just like the idea of someone who can push me to the limit. Makes things interesting"
Evelynn sighed, though there was a hint of admiration in her voice.
"My father is a Duke, Yuto. He's not someone you mess with. Trust me, you don't want to go up against him"
Yuto's grin didn't fade.
"We'll see"
Evelynn shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her.
"You're impossible"
Yuto's expression softened slightly.
"But you wouldn't want me any other way, would you?"
Evelynn rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.
"Whatever, Yuto. Let's just get out of here before my father changes his mind about the engagement"
Yuto nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets, but his mind was still buzzing with the idea of going up against the Duke.
The thought of it was intoxicating.
He followed Evelynn out of the room, a small smirk still on his face.
An odd silence stretched between them as they walked through the academy's halls.
The tension from their meeting with the Duke had faded, replaced by something else, something neither of them had fully processed yet.
Yuto was the first to break the silence.
"Wait a second…"
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, blinking.
His gaze shifted to Evelynn, his usual smirk faltering slightly.
"We're engaged now, aren't we?"
Evelynn took a few more steps before stopping as well.
She turned to him, her expression unreadable, maybe a little too unreadable.
"You just realized?"
Yuto let out a short, breathy laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I mean, it was said, but it didn't really hit me until now"
He tilted his head, watching her carefully.
"Are you okay with this?"
Evelynn exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms.
"Does it matter? My father decided to do it. Once he's decided something, there's no going back"
"Yeah, but still…" Yuto studied her face.
"I figured you'd be more, I don't know, annoyed? Angry? Throwing a fit?"
Evelynn shot him a dry look.
"Do I look like the type to throw a fit?"
Yuto smirked.
"No, but it'd be funny"
Evelynn rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"You're an idiot"
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that before"
He shoved his hands into his pockets as they continued walking.
"So… what now? Do we have to start acting like some noble couple? Do I have to start calling you 'my lady' and stuff?"
Evelynn groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"If you ever call me that, I'll personally end you"
Yuto chuckled.
"Noted"
For a moment, they walked in silence again.
"..."
"..."
Then Evelynn spoke, her voice quieter.
"This changes things, you know"
Yuto glanced at her.
"Yeah, I know"
Neither of them elaborated on what that meant.
By the time they returned to the cafeteria, lunch had already ended.
Most students were still around, either chatting in small groups or finishing up their meals before heading to their afternoon classes.
The moment Yuto stepped inside, Alice, Lilith, Ayla, and Reika turned toward him.
Alice exhaled in relief, crossing her arms.
"Well, you're still in one piece, so I take it you didn't do anything too stupid?"
Lilith grinned.
"Or if you did, at least you survive"
Ayla's ears twitched.
"Is the Duke strong?"
Reika adjusted her glasses.
"That's not the question you should be asking. The question is, what did he want?"
Before Yuto could answer, a sudden chime rang throughout the cafeteria, silencing the room.
The large crystal display mounted on the wall flickered to life, its glow pulsing as a deep, commanding voice filled the hall.
"This is Duke Alistair Astoria"
A hushed wave of whispers spread instantly.
It wasn't every day that a noble of such high status made a direct announcement at the academy.
"I hereby declare the official engagement of my daughter, Lady Evelynn Astoria, to a rising star Yuto Akimitsu"
For a fraction of a second, there was nothing but stunned silence.
Then—
The entire cafeteria erupted into chaos.
"WHAT!"
"THIS BASTARD AGAIN?!?"
"WHY HIM!"
"DAMN THIS LIFE!"
"Man... I'm leaving this place"
Yuto barely had time to process the announcement before he felt the weight of multiple stares drilling into him.
Slowly, he turned his head, only to find Alice, Lilith, and Reika all staring at him with expressions that could only be described as murderous.
Even Ayla, who rarely reacted, had her ears pinned back, eyes narrowed in confusion.
Alice's eyes darkened as she stepped forward, cracking her knuckles.
"Yuto… explain. Now"
Lilith's usual playful smirk was gone, replaced by a look that was far too dangerous for his comfort.
"You were gone for one meeting. And now you're engaged?"
Reika adjusted her glasses, the light reflecting off them making her expression unreadable.
"We had a discussion. All of us. About how we would handle things. And yet, here we are"
Ayla tilted her head.
"Does this mean we have to fight the noble girl?"
Yuto frantically waved his hands in front of him.
"Wait, wait, wait! This isn't what it looks like! I didn't agree to anything!"
Alice's gaze only sharpened.
"So, what? The Duke just made you his future son-in-law out of nowhere?"
Lilith crossed her arms.
"You must have done something. Because the last I checked, engagements don't just happen like that"
"I swear, I didn't!" Yuto groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Look, the Duke cornered me with some crazy logic, and before I knew it, he just declared it! I never agreed!"
Reika arched an eyebrow.
"Did you disagree?"
Yuto opened his mouth.
Paused.
Realized that, no, he had not, in fact, outright said no.
"…It was complicated," he mumbled.
Lilith leaned in, resting her elbow on his shoulder.
"Oho? Sounds like someone didn't say no. Maybe you do want to marry the noble princess"
(A duke's daughter is usually called a princess btw)
Alice clenched her fists.
"Yuto"
"I didn't say yes either!" He quickly defended himself.
"Besides, do I look like the kind of guy who wants to be tied to noble politics? I barely survive dealing with you guys!"
The girls were unconvinced.
Alice exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You are so dead"
Lilith smirked, though there was no real amusement behind it.
"Yep. We're going to rip you apart"
Yuto took a cautious step back.
"Can we at least talk about this like rational people—?"
Alya blinked.
"Are we fighting now?"
"NO, WE ARE NOT FIGHTING"
Yuto practically begged, hands raised in surrender.
But it was too late.
The girls had already started closing in.
At that moment, Yuto wondered if facing the Duke would've been an easier battle.
Just as he was about to make a break for it, another voice joined the growing storm.
"Oh no, you don't"
The room went silent as Evelynn stepped forward, her usual composed demeanor gone.
Instead, she rolled her shoulders, cracked her knuckles, and fixed Yuto with a glare that sent a chill down his spine.
Yuto gulped.
"E-Evelynn…?"
She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.
"So. You didn't agree to this?"
"Of course not!" Yuto quickly shot back, glancing desperately at the others.
"I mean—okay, I didn't say no, but I wasn't exactly given a choice! It was all happening too fast, and—"
Evelynn raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Huh. That's funny. Because I distinctly remember you dropping to your knees, thanking my father, and saying—and I quote—'Thank you for the opportunity'"
Silence.
Yuto felt every pair of eyes snap at him at once.
Alice twitched.
"You what?"
Lilith let out a low whistle.
"Oof. That's rough, darling"
Reika adjusted her glasses, the glare through the lenses practically cutting through him.
"So, not only did you not refuse—you accepted?"
Yuto's brain short-circuited.
"Wait! That was—! That's not—! I mean—!"
Evelynn sighed, crossing her arms.
"Honestly, I thought you'd at least try to lie better"
Yuto felt his soul leave his body.
Alice's gaze darkened.
"You. Are. So. Dead."
Lilith tapped her chin, smirking.
"Should we take turns? Or just all jump him at once?"
Ayla nodded sagely.
"If we do it together, there's a better chance he won't escape"
Reika hummed in agreement.
"Strategically, that would be the most efficient course of action"
Yuto paled.
"Wait, wait! Let's just—!"
The girls moved as one.
And he realized, far too late, that there was no escaping his fate.
An Hour Later
Yuto lay sprawled on the cafeteria floor, groaning in pain.
He wasn't even sure who landed the final blow, but he knew for a fact that Alice's punches hurt, Lilith fought dirty, and Ayla had bit him at some point.
He wheezed.
"You guys… are ruthless…"
Alice, arms crossed, huffed.
"You deserved it"
Lilith crouched beside him, poking his cheek.
"Yep. You totally did"
Evelynn sighed, shaking her head.
"Alright, enough. He's suffered plenty"
Reika adjusted her glasses.
"We still need to discuss the engagement situation"
Yuto groaned.
"Can't we discuss it without me on the ground?"
"No," the girls replied in unison.
Ayla nodded sagely.
"You are in a position of submission. It is fitting"
Yuto sighed in defeat.
Alice turned to Evelynn, frowning.
"So… how did this even happen?"
Evelynn crossed her arms.
"It wasn't my choice, either. My father arranged it, and Yuto was too stunned to fight back"
Reika pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So, essentially, you both just… went along with it?"
Evelynn sighed.
"Pretty much"
Lilith smirked.
"Kinda hilarious, honestly"
Alice shot her a glare.
"Not the time, Lilith"
Lilith held up her hands.
"Hey, hey, I'm just saying—it's funny how we had a whole talk about our relationship, but then this happens out of nowhere"
Yuto groaned again.
"I didn't plan this!"
Alice narrowed her eyes at him.
"But you agreed"
Yuto threw his hands in the air.
"I panicked!"
Ayla tilted her head.
"So what happens now?"
Silence fell over the group.
That was the real question, wasn't it?
Yuto had no idea what to do.
This engagement wasn't just some joke, Duke Alistair was serious.
And now, so were the consequences.
Evelynn sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Look, I don't care what my father wants. If you don't want this, Yuto, we'll figure something out"
Alice frowned.
"And if he does want it?"
Yuto sat up slightly, looking between the girls.
His chest felt heavy.
He liked the girls.
He cared about them.
But this?
This was a mess.
He took a deep breath.
"I… don't know"
Reika crossed her arms.
"Then you'd better figure it out. Because whether you like it or not, the whole academy just found out you're engaged to Evelynn"
Yuto's eyes twitched.
Lilith grinned.
"Oh yeah. Every student here probably put a target on your back"
Yuto fell back onto the floor with a groan.
His head throbbed, not just from getting pummeled but from the sheer mess he had landed himself in.
Ayla, sitting beside him, suddenly spoke up.
"If Yuto has accepted this engagement, then I shall support him"
Alice whipped her head toward her.
"Ayla, seriously?"
She nodded, completely serious.
"Yuto is my master. His decisions are absolute"
Yuto groaned.
"Ayla, please don't make it sound like I actually chose this"
She tilted her head.
"But you did kneel and express gratitude, right?"
Evelynn smirked, cracking her knuckles again.
"Yeah, you did do that"
Yuto winced.
"Not helping"
Reika sighed, adjusting her glasses.
"Alright, let's break this down logically. The engagement has been announced. The entire academy knows"
"If Yuto suddenly rejects it now, it could cause problems. Not just with the Duke, but with the school itself"
Alice crossed her arms, glaring.
"So what, we just let it happen?"
Evelynn exhaled sharply.
"I don't want it either, but my father won't take no for an answer. If we reject it outright, there will be consequences"
Yuto sat up, rubbing his temples.
"So we're stuck"
Lilith smirked.
"Well, unless you want to marry her"
Evelynn shot her a glare.
"Shut up, Lilith"
Lilith just grinned.
Alice sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"So what do we do?"
Ayla raised her hand.
"I will eliminate any threats to Yuto's happiness"
Yuto's face paled.
"No. No eliminating anyone!"
Ayla frowned.
"Then I shall stand by your side and ensure no one forces you into something you do not wish for"
Her unwavering loyalty made Yuto feel guilty.
She really would do anything for him.
Evelynn crossed her arms.
"Well, like it or not, Yuto, you and I are engaged in the eyes of the academy now. If we don't handle this properly, things will get messy. Fast"
Yuto sighed, slumping forward.
"Why is my life like this?"
Lilith patted his shoulder.
"Because it's fun to watch," she said as she quickly knocked him out.
Alice, Reika, and Evelynn all collectively sighed.