Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 281: Proposal Ring.

Proposal Ring.

As the four of us chatted idly, the car slipped into a parking lot.

I glanced out the window, and what greeted my eyes was a chic building enveloped in a serene, refined atmosphere.

This had to be the shop we were aiming for, though it felt somewhat different from what I had envisioned.

I’d been expecting something flashier, larger… But then again, a place with this sort of distinctive aura might actually be one of those hidden gems frequented by the elite.

Well… it was no less intimidating to enter, that much hadn’t changed.

“Wow… this place looks pretty incredible.”

“Is this really somewhere guys like us are allowed to walk into?”

The two who had climbed out of the car with me let slip impressions much like my own.

Yeah, for high schoolers like us—no, even for regular people—this didn’t look like the kind of shop you could just casually step into.

“It’ll be fine. No matter how it appears, it’s still just a shop.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“I did say it was for future reference, but honestly… it feels like we’ll never have any connection to a place like this.”

“Still, it might at least serve as reference for gifts… maybe.”

Future reference, huh…

Indeed, being engaged as I was, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a few things. Someday, I wanted to properly give Sara a real engagement ring, and after that would come wedding bands… Though I was probably getting way too far ahead of myself.

“Come on, if we keep chatting here, the staff will tire of waiting. Shall we go inside?”

At Nishikawa-san’s words, I turned toward the interior. Through the glass windows, I noticed several figures who seemed to be employees watching us. And beyond the automatic doors at the entrance, another staff member appeared to be waiting for us to enter—every one of them standing perfectly straight, at rigid attention.

This was only heightening my nerves.

***

“Welcome. Thank you very much for visiting us today.”

“““Welcome.”””

With Nishikawa-san at the lead, we stepped inside. The staff member stationed near the entrance greeted us with a deep bow, and in flawless unison, the others followed with equally graceful bows.

A quick sweep of the shop revealed not only rings but necklaces, hair ornaments—tiaras, I think they were called?—all unmistakably opulent, lined up neatly along the walls and shelves. There were even pieces unlike anything I’d ever seen… Good grief, this shop was overwhelming.

Moreover, a sign out front read “Private Reservation,” and even with Nishikawa-san here, considering what I actually intended to buy, I couldn’t shake the anxiety.

Yuuji and Hayato seemed to share my thoughts; their faces remained stiff with tension.

“Nishikawa-san, thank you very much for your visit today.”

From deeper inside, an older staff member approached with a warm smile. He looked like the very embodiment of dapper sophistication—calm in demeanor, the picture of a gentleman.

He was clearly the manager or someone of similar standing.

“Oh? I’d heard Suzuhara-san was away on business.”

“Not at all. It would be unthinkable for the person in charge to be absent when you are here, Nishikawa-san. Furthermore, I wished to personally greet today’s guests.”

“Fufu, indeed, it may well be an important occasion in that sense.”

“Absolutely. That is why we have all come out to welcome you today.”

“But you understand, don’t you?”

“Of course. Please rest assured—I will not speak out of turn.”

Hmm… their conversation was on another level.

Even in this atmosphere, Nishikawa-san responded with such composure that it felt utterly reliable. This truly was the daughter of a massive corporation’s president. She was operating on an entirely different plane.

The rest of us didn’t even know how to carry ourselves, fidgeting awkwardly.

I’d secretly glanced at a nearby showcase earlier… Just how many zeros were lined up on those rings?

Could I really accomplish what I came for in a place like this?

If I mentioned my budget, they’d probably laugh behind my back…

“Takanashi-sama?”

“Y-Yes!?”

The sudden address made my voice crack involuntarily.

It couldn’t be helped, could it?

I was already overwhelmed by how out of place I felt, and I hadn’t expected to be spoken to directly at that moment.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Suzuhara, the owner of this jewelry shop. Thank you very much for coming today. It is truly an honor.”

He straightened his posture impeccably and greeted me with an extraordinarily polite bow. So he really was the one in charge—just as I’d pictured.

But did that mean I should return the same kind of greeting? No, I was the customer, so maybe that would be strange.

As I pondered this, Suzuhara extended something toward me. A business card, right?

“Th-Thank you for the courtesy. And, um, sorry—I mean, I don’t have a business card yet…”

“Not at all, please don’t concern yourself. I am simply delighted to have greeted you first. I look forward to our continued acquaintance.”

“Y-Yes. Likewise, please treat me well.”

Was that about the right response?

I think I managed something safe enough… If Sara were here, she’d probably pat my head and tell me I did well.

“I’ve heard from Nishikawa-san that you are searching for a gift for your fiancée today?”

“Ah, yes. Well… sorry. The truth is, I’m not planning to buy anything too extravagant this time… I can’t quite explain it well, but this is more of a promise before the real thing. I want to properly present something substantial once I’m working and can afford it…”

This was tough… I couldn’t get the words out right.

There was the budget, of course, but more importantly, I wanted the official engagement ring to be something proper, bought with money I’d earned myself after starting work.

So this time, it wasn’t the formal engagement ring—it was a preliminary step, something I could give her as I am now…

Frustrating.

“I see. From what you’ve told me, I believe I fully grasp the meaning behind the ring you seek. Please rest assured.”

“Eh? Really? That’s a relief.”

“Yes. Just to confirm—the fiancée to whom you wish to present the ring is Miss Satsukawa, correct?”

“Y-Yes. That’s right. Satsukawa Sara-san.”

“Oh! Wonderful… My heartfelt congratulations on this joyous occasion!!”

At the mention of Sara-san’s name, Suzuhara’s face broke into an especially radiant smile. The other staff seemed to let out faint gasps of surprise as well. Could it be…

“Thank you. By the way, do you know Sara-san?”

“Of course. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her several times. To think you are engaged to the young lady of the Satsukawa family… Truly a most felicitous event.”

So they were acquaintances. That explained the earlier reaction.

Well, Masaomi-san is an executive at that Sanami Electronics, and anyone connected to Nishikawa-san’s circle might naturally know of her.

Still, hearing such warm congratulations from someone outside the family—this level of blessing—made me happy, almost a little ticklish with embarrassment.

“Th-Thank you. Anyway…”

“Yes, Nishikawa-san has already briefed me on the general details. I have prepared materials accordingly, so please feel free to browse the items while I assist you wholeheartedly until you are satisfied.”

“Eh!? No, I really can’t afford anything that extravagant, so if anything, please prioritize Nishikawa-san—”

It was kind of him, of course, but the ring I intended to buy truly wasn’t on that level. My budget wouldn’t allow for a proper one, and receiving such lavish treatment despite that only made me feel more indebted.

They should absolutely prioritize Nishikawa-san.

“Please don’t worry about me. This time isn’t a consultation for myself, so it’s fine. Suzuhara-san, this is the first ring my dear friend will ever choose, so I leave it in your hands.”

“Leave it to me. Having been entrusted with such an honorable duty, I will stake my pride on recommending only the finest.”

Wait, what was going on?

Against my wishes, everything was escalating.

When he put it like that, it only made things harder for me… I wasn’t planning to buy something worth hundreds of thousands or millions, you know?

“And for your friends as well—we will assign staff to assist you, so please feel free to browse the shop at your leisure. If anything catches your interest, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Ehhh!?”

“N-No, we’re just here as escorts!”

“Not at all—simply looking is more than enough. We will not pressure you to purchase anything, so please relax.”

“U-Um… okay…”

“Well… if that’s the case…”

The two of them clearly hadn’t expected things to become this elaborate either. They’d only come to accompany me, and I felt bad for dragging them into this.

Having personal staff would make it impossible to browse comfortably… Though honestly, my own situation was far more over-the-top, so I wasn’t in a position to complain.

“Takanashi-san, I’ll take care of my own business, so please take your time deciding. Suzuhara-san is a true professional, so feel free to consult him freely.”

“G-Got it.”

“Yes—whatever the question, no matter how small, please ask. I will support you with everything I have.”

Suzuhara-san’s enthusiasm only amplified the pressure I felt.

Was this… really going to be okay?

***

“Um, there’s something I’d like to mention first…”

When it came time to consult, I decided to be upfront about today’s budget.

Even if they wouldn’t openly laugh, after all this buildup, I figured they’d be quite disappointed…

But according to Suzuhara-san,

“It is not merely a matter of spending more money to obtain something better. My duty is to listen closely to the customer’s wishes and provide the very best option possible.”

I wasn’t sure if that was his true feeling, but hearing it was genuinely reassuring.

“Based on your wishes, Takanashi-sama, I would recommend a proposal ring rather than an engagement ring this time.”

“A proposal ring?”

“Yes—also known as a promise ring. To put it simply, think of it as the step just before an engagement ring.”

“There’s something like that?”

It was completely new to me. But even that brief explanation seemed to fit exactly what I was looking for. The idea of it being one step before the official engagement ring matched perfectly.

“Depending on the couple, some use this ring temporarily as an engagement ring and later have a custom one made. Given your wishes and circumstances, Takanashi-sama, this is what I most strongly recommend.”

As he spoke, Suzuhara-san showed me the prepared materials. I asked about prices as well, and he assured me everything would fit comfortably within my budget.

“I see… Got it. I think this is definitely the right choice.”

“Thank you very much. Then we’ll proceed with selecting a proposal ring as the focus.”

Good—this at least gave me a solid foundation. Though narrowing it down from here would probably still be challenging…

***

Comparing the materials with the actual pieces in the showcases and listening to Suzuhara-san’s explanations, I gradually narrowed down the candidates. Truth be told, simply picturing Sara-san as I looked at the rings made the process surprisingly swift.

“To think you would choose so decisively… It must be a testament to the depth of your feelings, Takanashi-sama.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Normally this would be the moment for modesty, but when it came to my feelings for Sara-san, I wanted to declare them proudly. With family, I might get embarrassed and play it off as a joke, but with a third party, even more so.

“I see… So young, yet carrying such profound affection. As expected of the man chosen by the young lady of the Satsukawa family… Even an old man like me is moved.”

Throughout our conversation, Suzuhara-san kept finding ways to praise me. I knew it was part of the service, of course, but it never felt forced—always natural—so I couldn’t help feeling genuinely pleased.

“Fufu, of course. The Sara who once disliked men so intensely has fallen utterly and completely for him. And my father approves of him as well.”

“Nishikawa-san?”

As if affirming Suzuhara-san’s words, Nishikawa-san joined the conversation.

Please, Nishikawa-san, don’t exaggerate and hype me up like that.

“Oh? Even President Nishikawa approves? Truly… To have formed a connection with such a person fills me with boundless emotion.”

Ah, there it was.

Suzuhara-san’s praise was growing even more lavish.

Nishikawa-san must have known this would happen—why did she have to stir the pot?

“Takanashi-san, how is the ring selection coming along?”

“I’ve pretty much decided. Thanks to Suzuhara-san, narrowing it down was easier than expected. But are you sure about the price?”

I’d been given a quote, and sure enough, it came in right around my hopes—actually with a little room to spare below budget. That was helpful, but was this really something sold at that price?

“Of course. Above all, to offer anything less than the best in this situation would wound my professional pride. And since I received a personal introduction from Nishikawa-san, I intend to do everything in my power.”

So in other words, because of Nishikawa-san’s introduction and his own pride, he was giving me the absolute best service possible.

I knew it—this was clearly beyond what my budget should allow.

It made sense now…

“Fufu… You’re as smooth as ever.”

“Not at all—everything I say comes from the heart.”

“Then we’ll gladly accept your kindness. Takanashi-san, since Suzuhara-san has said as much, you don’t need to hold back.”

“G-Got it.”

There was something very… adult about their exchange, but it felt laden with hidden implications. A little intimidating.

Still, I was grateful… yet I couldn’t help wondering if it was really okay to just nod along.

“Now then, I suppose I’ll purchase that new brooch as well.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll assist you shortly.”

Wait a second.

Nishikawa-san had said earlier that she wasn’t planning to buy anything today. Yet suddenly a brooch… Could this be the result of our earlier conversation?

“Wait, Nishikawa-san. That’s—”

“Takanashi-san, this is something I had intended to buy anyway. It has nothing to do with what we discussed. If anything, buying it now gives the timing extra meaning—a happy coincidence.”

Even so, it was clearly repayment for the service I’d received.

But pointing that out would be rude—it would negate their kindness. And if I spoke up here, I might end up embarrassing Nishikawa-san.

Perhaps it was best to quietly accept their generosity…

“I understand… Thank you.”

“Fufu… There’s really no reason for thanks. But I’ll gladly accept the sentiment.”

Nishikawa-san was truly impressive today.

If I always saw her like this, I might genuinely come to view her as someone worthy of pure respect.

I’d only ever seen her clumsy side, but perhaps this was the real Nishikawa-san…