Author's Notes

- Hey! I'm back with chapter 3! Hope you all didn't mind the long wait. I was a tad bit busy with life and I lost out on motivation to continue, but with the release of the second season – I've gained some inspiration and we're going to press on with this story! Let's get started!

Engagement

Chapter 3 – Vividly Real

"Oi, Raku! Wake up!" I heard the voice belonging to Shū call out to me.

"E-eh?" I opened my eyes to find the decoration of interior dining room of Mickey D's, and a horizontal close-up of Shū facing me, batting his yellow eyes at me. "Wh-where…"

"Can't believe you fell asleep while we were studying!" he grinned. "How do you expect on passing by doing that?"

I brought myself upright in the cushioned seat of the booth we sat in and I shook my head, letting out a soft groan.

"I…I fell asleep?" I asked.

"Yep! And right next to Kosaki-chan too!" he let out a chuckle. "Good thing she didn't hear you call out her name softly while you slept! Just what were you dreaming about, you dastardly fellow?"

Wh-what was I doing...he's right, good thing Onodera didn't hear me…

"Shū…" I rubbed my head. "Can I ask you…what happened while we were walking here? Did I say anything…weird?"

"You don't remember what happened on the way here to Mickey D's?" he blinked. "Well, we just…walked, that was about it. I don't know what else to tell you, Raku, other than that we came here from school, we sat down, and immediately you fell asleep. What's up with that? You do know it's bad for your health if you have a bad sleeping schedule, right?"

"Never mind that…and where's everyone else at? What happened to Miyamoto-san, Onodera, and Tsugumi?"

"Oh, they actually just left," he grinned once more. "I told them I'd just stay here until you woke up, but Kosaki-chan insisted on staying with you, so did Miyamoto-san! And Seishirō-chan suggested slapping you in the face as hard as she could to wake you up. You should thank me! I prevented that from happening!"

Eh? Slap me?

I thought back to the supposedly vivid dream that I had – the realistic banter from Tsugumi to find out who I liked, the mystifying revelation of the fraud relationship between Chitoge and I, and how I blatantly spurted out my feelings for Onodera.

I glanced over towards Ruri and Onodera and felt my mouth open. I gulped and beads of sweat rolled down my face. My heart pounded within me and for a second, time froze in place. I was brought back to reality by the sound of my beating heart and shook my head, clenching my hands into fists.

"I like…"

The desperation on the faces of everyone else increased as they continued eyeing me. I let out a deep sigh before the words just slipped out of my mouth.

"Onodera."

I let out a sigh of relief.

Good thing none of that happened…

But…but how could I just do that? I never stopped once to think how Chitoge might feel if I were to have actually done that, but…I don't think she cares at all. I bet that when these three years are over, she'll be glad to finally be rid of me. I know I'd be, since these next three years will be nothing but a pain in the ass.

I stopped and stared off into the distance, picturing the same blonde girl smiling that same wide grin that's filled with nothing but tender happiness and playful joy.

Although on another hand, I can't help but to think that maybe these next few years won't be as bad as I think they will. Maybe, given the time, Chitoge and I could actually become…

I shook my head as hard as I could and gritted my teeth.

AH! STOP, STOP, RAKU! YOU LIKE ONODERA!

Picturing Chitoge's smile once more in my mind, my eyes widened and I could feel my breathing grow rapidly. I brought my open palm to my forehead and let out a small growl.

HOW…HOW COULD ANYONE EVEN LIKE THAT GORILLA OF A GIRL IN THE FIRST PLACE!?

"Oi, Raku! You're spacing out! Come back to us!" Shū's face appeared into my field of view, his smile drawing me back from my thoughts and into reality.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Ri-right…well…we should head on home, Shū," I said.

"Sure thing, Raku! Let me just order something to go and we'll be headed on our way!" he gave me a thumbs up.

"Fine, fine…" I rolled my eyes at him. "And where's Tarō?" I lazily asked.

"Oh, he's right there," Shū said, pointing up to the ceiling.

I raised an eyebrow at him before I looked up to where he pointed his finger. I let out a gasp as I found the Shūei Clan member hanging down from the chandelier, his golden-yellow eyes staring at me.

"Yo, Bocchan," he said with a small wave from his gloved hand.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE!?" I shouted. "GET DOWN!"

"Right away, Bocchan," he nodded before dropping down from the chandelier and landing perfectly on his feet next to me, fixing his tie while keeping his everlasting gaze upon me.

"Oh, uh, Shū," I scratched the back of my head. "I almost forgot to ask. Where's Chitoge?"

"Ah…so now you're looking for Kirisaki-san, I see," he said in a playful tone as he rubbed his chin. "Well, she was sent home earlier, as you should know, Raku. I think Seishirō-chan said that Kirisaki-san caught a cold and isn't feeling well."

She's not feeling well? If only she listened to me when I told her to wear a jacket when we walked home together

I thought back to that night we both played as Romeo and Juliet.

"Ahchoo~!" Chitoge lightly sneezed as she walked next to me, wiping her nose with the white sleeve of the uniform she wore. "Yuck…"

"Cold?" I asked her.

"Ye-yeah…" she nodded.

"Here."

I took off the black blazer from our school uniform attire. I held out the blazer towards her and she tilted her head to the side, a small blush forming on her face.

"Do you expect me to wear that?"

"Listen, just wear it. Otherwise, you might catch a cold if you continue on like this," I frowned. "And I don't want you getting sick because of that."

"You…you don't want me getting sick?"

I nodded towards her.

"Why would I want you to get sick? I care after all. Just because our relationship as a couple is fake doesn't mean I don't care about you."

"You care…you care about me?" she batted her sapphire-blue eyes at me.

"Of-of course I do!"

I felt my face heat up and Chitoge stared at me, the light blush on her face turning into a deep, heavy one. We continued eyeing one another, with my own face heating up to an even greater point of nervousness.

"Ah, so you do care, huh?" she smiled, leaning in towards me. "That's nice of you, bean sprout! Then, I'll gladly take your blazer, thank you!"

"Ha-hah?" I grinned. "Oh, uh, yeah…no problem."

She took it from my hands and swiftly slipped into the

I let out a gasp as I felt Chitoge wrap her arms around my own. I looked down and found her staring back up at me, a small smile on her light-red face.

"Huh?"

"I may be your fake girlfriend, but I'm still your girlfriend. It's better escorting me home like this, don't you think?"

"Ah, that's right," I scratched the back of my head with my free hand. "Okay, we'll walk the rest of the way like this."

"Good!" she exclaimed. "I wouldn't want to have it any other way…darling…"

"Yeah…honey…" I felt my lips curve into a smile as we began walking.

I smiled at the memory as I lightly tapped my cheek.

"Man…that dummy…" I muttered to myself, letting out a sigh.

If only there was something I could do to make her feel better. Oh, wait. We're at a fast-food restaurant. What better else than some fattening, but tasty junk food to lighten the cold she got? You're a genius, Raku!

Snapping my fingers, I stood up from my seat and saw Shū receive his to go order in a bag from the counter. I walked up to the cashier and as she smiled at me, I lifted my finger and opened my mouth to speak.

"I'd like two cheeseburgers to go, please."

Hopefully this will help her feel better.

"Coming right up, sir," she smiled once more. "Would that be all?"

"Oh, Bocchan!" I heard Tarō's voice call out to me from the table. I turned around and found him waving towards me. "Could you also order one hamburger for me?"

"Do you have your own money to pay for it?" I narrowed my eyes down at him.

"Aaaah…no, I don't…" he scratched the back of his masked head. "But, I was hoping if you could–"

"No."

"Please, Bocchan?" he pleaded, interlocking his fingers together and his golden-yellow eyes lit up.

I sighed and shook my head in disappointment.

ニセコイ

"Yum! They really know how to cook a mean burger!" Tarō said as we walked down the street. "Thanks again for the food, Bocchan! I'll be sure to pay you back."

"You're already done with it? I didn't even see you eat it," I glared at him.

"It was so good that I finished it within two whole bites!"

"That's…that isn't something to be proud of…" I sighed.

"Oh, Bocchan! I never asked. Where are we going?" Tarō asked. "I noticed that this doesn't seem to be on the way back home.

The light from the moon shined down upon us and lit our way towards our one destination for the night – the mansion that belonged to the Bee Hive Gang, where Chitoge lives with the leader of said gang and her father, the man who along with my father is equally responsible for setting up our relationship, Adelt Wogner Kirisaki.

"We're going to the Bee Hive mansion!" I said to him. "You're coming with me to deliver this to Chitoge!"

I held the bag containing the two cheeseburgers I ordered from Mickey D's before our departure from the fast food restaurant.

"Is that why you told Shū to go home, Bocchan?"

"That's exactly why – we're going to pay her a visit."

ニセコイ

"Okay, now move to the left a little bit!" I yelled.

I found my body shifting to the left a couple centimeters as Tarō took small steps towards that direction. Looking back down, I witnessed as Tarō struggled to carry my weight on top of his shoulders. I glanced back up and found the edge of the balcony that would be the entrance to Chitoge's room.

"You-you're killing me, Bocchan…" he muttered.

"Okay, now one step forward!"

"Bo-Bocchan! Wh-why do we have to do this!?" Tarō called out from underneath me. I could feel the two of us wobble as his shoulders continued to fight the pressure of my entire body on top of him.

"If you found Bee Hive Gang members at the front gate with no justified reason as to why they're there, what would you think?"

"I would be suspicious about it, Bocchan!"

"Then that's the reason why we're doing it like this! No-now…just a little bit more! I can almost reach the edge!"

I felt myself move forward and heard Tarō let out a small groan.

I gripped onto the edge of the balcony and with all my might, pulled myself up to the railing. I landed on the other side of the rails and found the door that would lead me into Chitoge's bedroom. I looked over the edge and found Tarō looking up at me.

"Now, how do I get up there?" Tarō asked.

"Just stay hidden somewhere! I'm just going to give Chitoge these cheeseburgers, so it won't take long."

"Roger that, Bocchan! I'll do my best not to get spotted by the Bee Hi–"

"Who goes there!?" a voice yelled, cutting Tarō off.

"Uh-oh…" I muttered to myself, lowering my head.

"You damn bastard!" I heard a familiar voice shout. "How dare you trespass on Bee Hive Gang territory! I'll have your head for this!"

Within a flash, I looked back down and found Tarō beginning to run away from where he once stood, with a recognizable blue-haired girl following after him, the same girl who pressured the question of who I liked to my face in my earlier dream – Seishirō.

Seishirō jumped into the air, lifting her leg up as if she was going to kick something, and the two of them disappeared behind a tree. I heard a loud squeal erupt in the distance.

"A brave sacrifice…" I whispered.

Turning back towards the door, I found Chitoge on the other side of the window, sitting on her bed and staring at the laptop screen before her.

I clenched my fists and knocked on the window, gaining the attention of the blonde-haired girl that sat inside. She looked towards me and I found her sapphire-blue eyes widen, a small smile forming on her face as she saw me.

She got up from her bed and ran towards the door, unlocking it.

The two of us stood there, keeping our gaze onto one another.

"Ra-Raku…?" she batted her eyes at me.

"Hey," I waved and held up the bag towards her. "I heard you were sent home. Sorry I couldn't come here as soon as I could, but here I am now."

"What are you…what are you–?

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" I heard Seishirō scream.

Engagement

Author's Notes

- Thank you all so much for reading! As always, I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to leave a review of what you think!

- Truth be told, I was rooting for Team Onodera – but with second season focusing more on how Chitoge is starting to feel for Raku, I don't know who I should go with anymore. (omg it's so difficult now lmao) So, this came to mind as a way to reset what I did with Raku 'confessing' his feelings, but also progresses the story simultaneously.

- Tarō's such a helpful fellow, being kicked in the back by Seishirō, and all for Raku to be able to give Chitoge a cheeseburger. How sweet! Anyways, I'll see you all next time in chapter 4!