Episode 281: Propose Ring

While the four of us were making idle talk, the car pulled into a parking lot.

Checking outside through the window, a chic building with a calm atmosphere jumped into my field of vision.

This must be the shop we’re looking for, but it feels a bit different from what I imagined.

I was expecting something flashier and larger.

But maybe a place with this kind of unique aura is more like a hidden gem for celebrities.

Well, it still looks just as intimidating to enter.

「Whoa. This looks pretty intense.」

「Is this… actually a shop we’re allowed to go into?」

The two who got out of the car voiced the same thoughts I was having.

It certainly doesn’t look like a place where high schoolers like us… or rather, regular people, can just wander in casually.

「It is fine. Regardless of how it looks, it is just a shop.」

「Well, I mean, I guess that’s true, but…」

「Even if I said it was for my future reference, to be honest, it doesn’t feel like a world I’ll ever belong in…」

「But it might serve as a reference for presents. At least.」

Future reference, huh.

Personally, since I’m engaged, I think this will be quite a learning experience. I want to give Sara-san a proper engagement ring in the future, and after that comes the wedding rings. But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.

「Now then, if we keep chatting here, the shop staff will grow tired of waiting, so shall we head inside?」

At Nishikawa-san’s words, I looked toward the shop and noticed several figures that looked like staff members watching us through the glass. Additionally, behind the automatic doors at the entrance, there were already employees who seemed to be waiting for us to enter. They were all standing perfectly upright. This is making me even more nervous.

「Welcome. We are honored by your visit.」

「「「Welcome.」」」

As we entered with Nishikawa-san in the lead, the staff member waiting near the entrance gave a deep bow along with a greeting. The other employees followed suit with a perfectly synchronized bow.

Glancing around the shop, there weren’t just rings, but necklaces, hair ornaments… tiaras, I think?

Things that looked incredibly luxurious were lined up on the wall shelves, including items I’d never even seen before. Wait, hang on. This shop is way too much.

There was even a sign out front that said「Private Reservation.」Even with Nishikawa-san here, I felt nothing but anxiety considering what I was there to buy.

Yuji and Yokogawa seemed to be thinking the same thing, as their faces remained stiff from tension.

「Nishikawa-sama, thank you very much for visiting us today.」

An older staff member approached from the back of the store with a smile. He looked like the picture of a dandy gentleman, with a calm and refined manner.

He was clearly someone of manager class or higher.

「Oh, I heard you were away on a business trip, Suzuhara-san?」

「No, no. It would be unthinkable for me, the one in charge, to be absent when Nishikawa-sama is visiting. Furthermore, I wished to personally greet today’s guest.」

「Fufu, certainly. In that sense, it might be an important matter, indeed?」

「Most certainly. That is why the entire staff is here to welcome you today.」

「But you understand, don’t you?」

「Yes. Please rest assured. I shall never say anything unnecessary.」

Um… the level of this conversation is intense.

Even in this atmosphere, Nishikawa-san’s handling of things feels effortless and truly reliable. This really is the daughter of a mega-corporation’s president, not just the clumsy… no, she’s literally on a different level.

Meanwhile, we’re just standing here flustered, not knowing how to act.

I actually stole a glance at a nearby showcase. Just how many zeros are on that ring?

Can I really achieve my goal in a shop this incredible?

If I say my budget, they’ll probably laugh in my face.

「Takanashi-sama?」

「Y-Yes!?」

Being called out to suddenly made my voice go up an octave.

I mean, what else was I supposed to do?

I was already nervous from feeling completely out of place, and I never expected to be spoken to at this timing.

「It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Suzuhara, and I serve as the owner of this jewelry shop. Welcome to our establishment today. It is truly an honor to meet you.」

Suzuhara-san greeted me with a perfectly straight back and an incredibly polite bow. So he was the person in charge after all. He fits the image.

But should I return the greeting in the same way? No, I’m technically a customer, so would it be weird to go that far?

While I was thinking about that, Suzuhara-san held something out. This is a business card, isn’t it?

「Th-Thank you for your politeness. And, sorry, I… I don’t have a business card yet.」

「No, no, please do not let it concern you. Just being able to greet you myself first is a great pleasure. I look forward to our future relationship.」

「Y-Yes. I look forward to it as well.」

Was that okay for a response?

I think I managed to handle it passably for now. I couldn’t help but think that if Sara-san were here, she’d give me lots of pets and praise me.

「I have heard from Nishikawa-sama that you are looking for a gift for your fiancée today?」

「Ah, yes. And… well, sorry. To be honest, I’m not planning on buying something that grand this time. I can’t explain it well, but it’s like a promise before the real thing. I’m thinking of giving her something truly proper and official once I’m working in the future.」

This is bad. I can’t explain it well.

I have a budget to consider, and in the first place, I want to give her a formal engagement ring after I’ve found a job and earned my own money properly.

So this isn’t an official engagement ring, but a step before that, something I can give as my current self.

Ugh, it’s frustrating.

「I see. Based on your words, I have firmly grasped the meaning of the ring you seek, Takanashi-sama. Please rest assured.」

「Eh, r-really? That’s a relief.」

「Yes. Just to confirm, the fiancée you are presenting this ring to is Satsukawa-sama, is that correct?」

「Y-Yes. That’s right. It’s Sara-san.」

「Oh my, well now… my sincerest congratulations on this occasion!!」

Hearing Sara-san’s name, Suzuhara-san wore a particularly radiant smile. I felt like the other staff members let out small sounds of surprise too, so could it be…

「Th-Thank you. By the way, do you know Sara-san?」

「Of course. I have had the pleasure of meeting her several times. Still, to be engaged to the daughter of Satsukawa-sama… what a truly wonderful piece of news.」

I see, they’re acquaintances. That explains the reaction just now. It makes sense.

Masaomi-san is the Senior Managing Director of「the」Saba, after all. It wouldn’t be strange for someone in this industry with connections to Nishikawa-san to know her.

But I’ve never been congratulated like this by someone who isn’t family. Being celebrated this much is… well, it’s a bit ticklish.

「Th-Thanks. So, about that…」

「Yes, I have heard the general details from Nishikawa-sama. I have already prepared the materials, so while you view the items in the store, I shall serve you with all my heart until you are satisfied.」

「Eh!? No, I’m not in a position to buy something that expensive, so if you’d like, you should help Nishikawa-san instead.」

I’m grateful for the offer, of course, but the ring I’m buying this time really isn’t anything that grand. In the first place, my budget doesn’t allow for an official one, and being treated this well when I know that just makes me feel awkward.

I really think he should prioritize Nishikawa-san.

「Do not worry about me. I am not here for a consultation this time, so it is quite alright. Suzuhara-san, this is the first ring my precious best friend is choosing. I am counting on you.」

「Please leave it to me. Since I have been given such an honorable task, I shall stake my pride on proposing the perfect item.」

Wait, what is happening?

Contrary to my feelings, isn’t this conversation blowing way out of proportion?

Being told that just puts me in a bind. I’m not buying something that costs hundreds of thousands or millions of yen, you know?

「I shall assign staff members to your friends as well, so please feel free to look around the store. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask.」

「WHAAAAAT!?」

「N-No, we’re just here as moral support!?」

「No, no. Just having you look around is more than enough. I shall never dream of pressuring you to make a purchase, so please rest assured.」

「H-Haa…」

「Well, if that’s the case…」

Those two probably didn’t expect things to become this exaggerated either. They only came along to support me, so I feel like I’ve done them a disservice.

Being assigned their own staff members, they won’t be able to look around calmly. Wait, things are even more exaggerated for me, so I’m not one to talk.

「Takanashi-san, I shall go handle my own business, so please take your time and consider carefully. Suzuhara-san is a pro among pros, so feel free to consult him as much as you need.」

「U-Understood.」

「Yes, please consult me on any matter, no matter how trivial. I shall support you with all my strength.」

Suzuhara-san’s level of enthusiasm is only amplifying the pressure on me.

Is this… is this really going to be okay?

「Um, I wanted to talk about this first.」

Before consulting him, I first shared today’s budget straight out.

Even if he wouldn’t laugh openly, I thought he might be disappointed since things had become so exaggerated.

But according to Suzuhara-san:

「It is not that money buys good things, but rather my mission is to provide the best possible item while standing by the customer’s wishes.」

That’s what he said.

I don’t know if those are his true feelings, but I’m honestly saved by him saying that.

「Judging from your requests, Takanashi-sama, I would recommend a Propose Ring for this occasion rather than an engagement ring.」

「A propose ring?」

「Yes. It is also referred to as a promise ring. To explain it simply, please think of it as one step before an engagement ring.」

「There’s such a thing?」

That was news to me. But even with just that explanation, it felt like it fit the conditions I was looking for. In the sense of saving the official engagement ring for later, the idea of a step before it was perfect.

「It depends on the customer, but some use this ring as a temporary engagement ring and later have a custom one made. Considering your wishes and conditions, Takanashi-sama, I would recommend this above all else.」

While saying that, Suzuhara-san showed me the materials he had prepared. I asked about the price as well, and he assured me everything would fall within my budget.

「I see… I understand. I think this is good, too.」

「Thank you. Then, we shall proceed with the Propose Ring as the central focus of your selection.」

Good, it looks like I’ve found a way to manage this for now. Though I imagine narrowing it down from here will be another ordeal.

While comparing the materials and the actual items in the showcases, I narrowed down the candidates while listening to Suzuhara-san’s explanations. That said, as I looked at the rings while thinking of Sara-san, the selection process was actually surprisingly fast.

「To select so decisively… this too must be due to the strength of your feelings, Takanashi-sama.」

「Yes, I think so too.」

Normally this would be a scene where I’d act humble, but when it comes to my feelings for Sara-san, I want to speak with pride. I might get embarrassed and turn it into a joke with family, but it’s different with a third party.

「I see… to possess such depth of feeling at such a young age. You are truly the gentleman chosen by the daughter of Satsukawa-sama. I too am moved, despite my age.」

Suzuhara-san had been doing this the whole time, trying to talk me up at every opportunity. I know it’s lip service, of course, but it doesn’t feel forced, and since he praises me in a natural way, I’m actually kind of happy.

「Fufu, of course. He is the gentleman that Sara, who used to hate men, fell head over heels for, after all. Besides, he has even been recognized by my father.」

「Nishikawa-san?」

Nishikawa-san joined the conversation as if to confirm Suzuhara-san’s words.

I mean, I really wish Nishikawa-san wouldn’t join in on the exaggerations to talk me up too.

「Oh, even President Nishikawa has recognized him? My, my… to have a connection with such a person, I too am filled with emotion.」

Ah, of course it ends up like this.

I feel like Suzuhara-san’s flattery just became even more exaggerated.

Nishikawa-san must have known this would happen, so why did she have to say something that riles him up?

「How are the rings, Takanashi-san?」

「I’ve mostly decided. Suzuhara-san made it easy to narrow them down. But, is this price really okay?」

I’d had him give me a sort of estimate, and it really was according to my wishes. To be precise, it was an amount that left a bit of breathing room in my budget. I was grateful for that, but I wondered if they actually sold things at this price.

「Of course. Above all, it would affect my reputation to propose something half-hearted for this specific occasion. Besides, since I have received a direct introduction from Nishikawa-sama, I intend to put forth my utmost effort.」

In other words, because of Nishikawa-san’s introduction and Suzuhara-san’s pride, they’re giving me the maximum possible service?

I thought so. No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t seem like it would fit in my budget.

It makes sense now.

「Fufu… as smooth as ever.」

「No, no. This is entirely my true heart.」

「Then let us take you up on that offer. Takanashi-san, Suzuhara-san is saying this, so you don’t need to hold back.」

「U-Understood.」

What is this. It feels like an adult conversation, but it’s so meaningful that I feel like there are all sorts of motives behind the words. It’s a bit scary.

I’m grateful for the help, but… I’m struggling to decide if I should just nod and accept it.

「Now then, I shall purchase a new brooch for myself as well.」

「Thank you. I shall guide you shortly.」

Wait a second?

I’m pretty sure Nishikawa-san said earlier that she didn’t have anything to buy this time. And yet, suddenly a brooch. Could it be that she decided on that just now because of the flow of the conversation?

「Wait a minute, Nishikawa-san. That’s…」

「Takanashi-san, this is something I had originally intended to purchase. It has nothing to do with the previous matter. In fact, by buying it at this timing, it gains meaning and kills two birds with one stone.」

Even so, I’m sure this is an exchange for the service they’re giving me.

But pointing that out here would actually be rude. It would be wasting her kindness. Plus, if I spoke up here, I might end up making Nishikawa-san lose face. Maybe it’s better if I just stay quiet and accept it.

「I understand… thank you very much.」

「Fufu… there is no reason for you to thank me. However, I shall accept the sentiment for now.」

Nishikawa-san is really something today.

If I always saw her like this, I could easily recognize her as someone to be respected.

I’ve only been seeing her clumsy side, but maybe this is the real Nishikawa-san.