A Couple of Cuckoos (カッコウの許嫁)

It all began with a twist of fate.

Two babies delivered on the same date,

at the same hospital,

were inexplicably swapped at birth.

Now the son of a poor restaurant owner, Nagi Umino,

and daughter of a rich hotel tycoon, Erika Amano .

We met on our shared 17th birthday,

and soon learned the truth,

as well as the fact that we were to be engaged.

Despite initial reluctance,

our new life together proceeded at a break-neck pace.

Soon to join us was my crush, Segawa,

the school's academic all-star.

And with Sachi, my adoptive sister already there ,

complicated turn into chaos.

But at least we're done with surprises.

WHO'S UMINO-KUN'S FIRST LOVE?

And so, I've decided I'll be moving in.

I won't spend my life with someone I don't care about!

My parents have no right to choose for me.

I mean, marrying someone solely because I was told to?

I would sooner drop dead!

Who would say yes to that?

Uh...

- Ma'am? - You, down in front.

So, to clarify, you ran away from home

because you didn't want to meet your fiancé?

Is that why you came here?

This isn't just running away from home!

This is war!

What a womana!

Wasn't Hiro supposed to be the laid-back,

soft-spoken honor student of our brigade.

So unhinged. So bloodthirsty.

This beast is going to be tutoring me?

Really?

My fiancé's coming to town tomorrow for a visit.

They're trying to tighten the noose,

pushing me into an awkward enough situation

that I can't say no.

Well, you've got the experts in outside coercion

sitting right here.

As much as I hate to say it...

she's right.

My parents' path to happiness

is entirely out of step with my own.

So if I'm making the choice, then I choose myself!

That's the spirit!

Seriously, bro?

Quick follow-up question.

This is your last one.

I'm all for parental emancipation,

believe me.

But are you prepared to jeopardize

the relationship you have with them?

Oh, should I not, then?

Would you rather I go back home

and marry my fiancé instead?

No! Forget that. Move in!

- You're welcome to stay. - Nagi.

This is Erika's place, in case you forgot.

You can't just invite people to live here.

Understandable.

Now, about the fee for those lessons of yours.

So do you need any help

unpacking your suitcases or what?

Come on, Erika, it's all down to you now.

I can't believe that I get to live in the same house as Hiro!

Thanks, Erika! You’re the best!

A rich girl would glamorize the idea

of more frigging roommates .

Okay, before we lock anything in,

answer me this.

How do you propose we split the rooms up?

There's the conundrum.

We already have Amano and Sachi in one,

and yours truly in the other.

And of course, it wouldn't be right for me and Segawa

to sleep in the same room, now, would it?

I have no objections to that.

We shared a room that time at the inn, remember?

Yeah, that's true.

What's more, Nagi's room has that separated loft.

What? Huh?

I get to go to bed every night

with a front-row mezzanine seat view of Segawa ?

Oh, hell yeah!

- Get that idea out of your head! -

All three of you are engaged!

You have a better suggestion in mind?

I'll share the loft bedroom with Nagi instead.

After all, I am his sister.

You'd be okay with that, Sachi?

And why wouldn't she be, exactly?

It's fine.

Nagi will be contained in the loft space, anyway.

What? Board me in?

All right.

I guess, as his fiancé,

it falls to me to share a room with him.

Seriously?

It was originally supposed to be the two of us

cohabitating under one roof.

In a way, this is, like, back to square one.

Interesting.

Amano wasn't entirely against the two of us living alone.

Then again,

he does have the degenerate tendency

to peek while I wash,

and he often tries to sneak into bed with me.

And that panty obsession just goes too far.

Everything you just described was your fault!

Okay, okay.

Why don't we play it safe,

and have you three girls sharing one room together,

I'll just take the other one.

You nailed it, me.

That was the perfect solution.

- -

Huh?

Huh?

The storage room.

Amano and Sachi'll be sticking to their current bedroom,

while Segawa will be completely usurping mine.

Though, truth be told, the idea of

Segawa sleeping in my bed is exciting.

In a completely non-creepy way, of course.

Yes.

I won't spend my life with someone I don't care about!

Wait. Could it be?

The reason she's so opposed to it

is because she's thinking about dating me?

- Opportunity! - What is?

Haven't you ever heard of knocking?

Why would I knock? It's a storage room.

Talk about a crazy turn of events.

I never thought Hiro would wind up living with us as well.

True. Though, I don't have much of a problem with it.

You're such a dolt.

Can't see the forest for the trees.

Living with someone means being exposed to them.

Good sides and bad.

There's no guarantee

that she'll like the unfiltered you, you know?

And that works both ways.

Her mundane domestic side

may end up turning you off of her entirely.

I'm willing to take that risk.

You're that certain?

You know what?

I've cometo realize something.

Ah...

The reason I've been rebelling is because I was tired

of having my whole life micromanaged.

But now I have the freedom to choose, don't I?

- Hmm. Doubtful. - I do so!

What I'm getting at here is that listening to Hiro today

really made me stop and think.

Mmm?

My real mom and dad told me

that I don't need to get married if I don't want to.

But if living up to the wishes and expectations

of our parents is what we want,

then it would only make sense

for us to just get married, wouldn't it?

Huh?

I mean, you're not exactly wrong, no.

But where'd this come from?

I've just never actually thought about it before, okay?

About how agreeing with them could still be my choice.

Yeah, I can understand that.

Really?

That said, I won't sacrifice myself for it.

It's not like I want that either, you idiot!

Goodnight!

Okay. She's got a point, though.

Plus, I've never thought about

what kind of match would make my parents happy.

Would they approve if I told them

I was going to marry someone like Segawa or not?

What does it take to make

a supposed "happy marriage," anyway?

Mm...

Mm...

Oh! Morning. Did you sleep well?

Uh... yeah.

What's going on here?

I'm making us breakfast. What does it look like?

No, no. Let me do that.

You won't be touching a whisk while I'm around.

I'm freeloading as it is.

Well, if you insist. I won't argue.

Does that mean what I think it does?

I get to enjoy Segawa's home-cooking every day.

Good thing I had the foresight to bring this along with me.

What's that for, anyway?

For fish flakes.

Dried bonito, to be exact.

What?

Morning, guys. What's with all the hubbub?