Chapter 61 The Pair Who Became a Legend
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We decided on March 21st as the day to register our marriage. This was the day I first spotted Manami at the convenience store, and the day she came to my house for the first time. For Manami, it was also the day she was told about her parents’ divorce—a day filled with sad memories—but because it was the day our relationship began, she insisted she wanted it to be March 21st.
There was one thing on my mind regarding the marriage. When her mother divorced, it was agreed that Manami’s father would pay the full cost of her university tuition. However, if her mother remarried, he wouldn’t have to pay. The question was, what would happen if Manami herself got married?
I had no objection to paying for Manami’s tuition myself, but her mother stated firmly that it was a promise and she would absolutely make him pay. We had Watanabe-sensei look at the settlement agreement, and the response was that since there was no mention of Manami’s marriage, there should be no problem with him continuing to pay. It was a blind spot because no one had anticipated her getting married immediately after graduating high school. Watanabe-sensei mentioned they would use this as a reference for future divorce mediations.
As a way of showing proper respect, I wanted to meet Manami’s father. However, Manami and her mother were strongly opposed, saying they hadn’t seen him once since the divorce, so I had to give up on the idea.
On the day the exam results were posted, I went to the university with Manami. We could have checked the results on the internet, but Manami said she wanted to see the campus, so we decided to go together.
We arrived before the announcement, but there was already a large crowd in front of the bulletin board. At the scheduled time, the examinee numbers of those who passed were posted. I searched for my number while looking at my examination slip. I found it immediately and gave a small fist pump, gripping Manami’s hand. Manami found hers too.
”Kyahhh~! Hirokazu-san, we passed!” Manami cried out.
Manami hugged me, rejoicing as if it were her own achievement, and kissed me on the cheek despite being in public. Then, she took a photo of the examinee numbers and posted it to our group chat.
A stamp was sent back from Yuzuki immediately.
I reported the passing results over the phone to Manami’s mother, my mother’s cousin, Tanaka Yoshimi-san, and the head of Takakura Cram School¹. As for Watanabe-sensei, Manami and I visited him on our way back.
When I went to call Manami’s mother, I wondered if she might be at work, but I heard from Manami that she had taken paid leave and was waiting for the news. That feeling made me happy. When I called, she told me, ‘I’m going out for a meal to celebrate, so wait for me at the station.’ I was filled with nothing but gratitude.
After getting on the train, I remembered I hadn’t reported to my homeroom teacher, Omori-sensei (sweat).
I had Manami’s mother stop by the school. When I went to the staff room, I explained I had simply forgotten to contact him, but Omori-sensei was deeply moved, thinking I had come specifically to report in person.
Aizawa-sensei also approached and gave a wink. “Congratulations,” she said. I wondered if this teacher still hadn’t given up.
As I left the staff room, a video arrived from Emilia. In the video, she was on screen with Saki-chan and Asami-chan. “Hirokazu-senpai, congratulations on passing!” they shouted, cheering with a ‘Banzai.’
I sent a thank-you mail to Emilia along with the message, ‘I’m at school right now.’ She came to see me at the shoe lockers.
As soon as Emilia spotted me, she came running over.
”Hiro-san, congratulations!” she said, throwing her arms around me. Students nearby were stealing glances at us, and I felt embarrassed, but Emilia didn’t seem to care.
”I’m going to ask Manami-san because I want to celebrate with just the two of us,” Emilia whispered in my ear. Then, with a bright red face, she said, “See you later!” and ran off.
Once I got into Manami’s mother’s car, an email arrived from Mitsuhiko asking, ‘Did you pass?’ I had forgotten one more person (sweat).
On the first Saturday after the results were announced, a celebration party for mine and Manami’s marriage and my passing was held, hosted by Yuzuki and Emilia. The location was a karaoke box in front of the station. I said we could do it at my place, but Manami told me no because she would end up having to prepare all the food.
At the karaoke box, Yuzuki, Emilia, Saki-chan, and Asami-chan were there. Since it was exactly White Day², I had brought cookies as a return gift for Valentine’s Day and handed them out to everyone.
I thought we would start since everyone was gathered, but they told me one more person hadn’t arrived yet. While I was wondering if it might be Kotoha-chan, to my surprise, Mitsuhiko walked in. I heard Emilia had invited him.
Since I was the only male among five girls, Mitsuhiko froze up just like he did at the Christmas party.
”Hirokazu, haven’t they increased in number again?” Mitsuhiko asked. I think it was because Saki-chan and Asami-chan were there instead of Kotoha-chan. Both of them fall into the ‘cute’ category.
”What were you doing at school?” Mitsuhiko muttered.
Emilia introduced Saki-chan and Asami-chan to Mitsuhiko, explaining that they were her friends who used to eat lunch together and said they wanted to come.
”Is that really how it is? Even I don’t have any luck with girls, so I can’t understand why there are so many cute girls around Hirokazu,” Mitsuhiko said.
”Because Hirokazu-senpai is cool,” Saki-chan said.
”I think so too, but since I’m no match for Manami-san, I gave up with tears in my eyes,” Asami-chan added.
”Saki feels the same way,” Saki-chan chimed in. Both Saki-chan and Asami-chan made sad faces.
”I think he’s a good guy, but is Hirokazu really cool? I think I’m cooler though,” Mitsuhiko said.
”Micchan, neither of them have boyfriends, so this is your chance. Why don’t you show them your cool side?” Emilia teased, making Mitsuhiko sit between the two of them.
”Mitsuhiko, surrounded by girls… this turned out to be a good day for you, didn’t it?” I said.
”I don’t want to hear that from you,” Mitsuhiko replied, though he looked quite happy. This guy was supposed to have had his heart broken by Yuzuki, but he’s quick to move on.
The party began with speeches from Mitsuhiko and Yuzuki. Saki-chan and Asami-chan knew that I had said ‘Let’s get married’ during Operation Proposal³ at the School Festival, but it seemed they hadn’t taken it seriously and only just learned that Manami and I were truly getting married.
””A legend has been born,”” the two of them said, looking at each other.
Operation Proposal was an event started because they wanted to create a legend that couples who got together there would get married in the future, so perhaps it really was becoming that. However, that was only because Manami wanted to go public with our relationship; we had already decided to marry by then, so it was something of a fixed race.
If Saki-chan and Asami-chan believe a legend has been born, it’s probably better not to destroy their dream.
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Summary:
Hirokazu and Manami choose March 21st as their marriage registration date, marking the anniversary of their first meeting. After confirming they both passed their university entrance exams, they share the news with family and teachers. A celebratory party is held with friends, including Mitsuhiko and Emilia. During the party, it is revealed that their marriage has cemented the ‘Operation Proposal’ legend at their school.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights Hirokazu’s ‘accidental’ charisma. Despite his focus on Manami, he has clearly left a trail of broken hearts (Saki, Asami) and lingering interest (Aizawa-sensei, Emilia). Manami’s public display of affection at the university board shows her growing confidence and desire to claim her territory. Mitsuhiko’s quick recovery from his rejection by Yuzuki suggests he provides a comedic foil to Hirokazu’s serious romantic commitment.
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Behind the Scene:
The author uses the university acceptance as a final hurdle to clear before the marriage, providing a transition from high school life to adulthood. The ‘legend’ concept is a common trope in school-based web novels to elevate a couple’s status among their peers.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Watanabe – The protagonist’s guardian. He is a lawyer who is skilled at dealing with difficult people and has a history with Yabuta’s father.
• Takakura – The tutor recommended by the lawyer, Watanabe-sensei. Runs a prep school.
• Yoshimi – Inn proprietress, wearing a kimono, demure woman. Hiro’s childhood friend’s mother.
• Emilia – A second-year student, biracial (French father, Japanese mother), with white skin, dark brown semi-long hair, modest chest, and hazel eyes. A talented hurdler known as the Snow Princess. Looks like bisque doll.
• Asami – A friend of Emilia who also admires Hirokazu.
• Saki – A friend of Emilia who finds Hirokazu attractive.
• Mitsuhiko – The protagonist’s childhood friend. Hirokazu’s childhood best friend who attends a different high school known for baseball. He’s a good-natured jock and one of the few people who truly understands Hirokazu.
• Kotoha – Junior high school student, middle school 3rd year (short height). Daughter of Watanabe-sensei. Energetic, playful, short hair in a ponytail.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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