Under a piercingly clear blue sky, an endless chorus of cicadas buzzed. During the summer vacation, which grew hotter by the day, Haruto stood before a certain mansion under the scorching sun that seemed to burn his skin. With hands that were becoming a little more accustomed, he pressed the intercom. “Ootsuki-kun?” Hearing the voice, Haruto smiled slightly. “Yes, I’m here for the housekeeping work today.” “I was waiting! I’ll open the door now.” Immediately after the slightly happy voice came from the intercom, the front door of the Tojo residence opened, and a girl appeared from within. Beautiful flaxen hair shimmering in the summer sun. Slender, long limbs and a charming figure that one couldn’t help but stare at. The girl, perhaps shielding her eyes from the dazzling sun, slightly narrowed her large, beautiful double-lidded eyes as she welcomed Haruto. This was Ayaka Tojo, rumored to be the cutest girl at Haruto’s school and known as the “school idol.” She was also a client of the houskeeeping part-time job he had started this summer. “Welcome, Ootsuki-kun. It’s hot outside, please come in.” “Thank you. I look forward to working today as well.” As Ayaka invited him in with a beaming smile, Haruto, too, couldn’t help but smile back as he stepped into the Tojo residence. Entering the spacious entrance hall befitting a mansion, a door at the end of the corridor burst open, and a boy rushed out. “Onii-chan!!” Ryota, Ayaka’s younger brother, a cheerful kindergartener, flashed a radiant smile all over his face and charged towards Haruto with a pattering sound. “Hello, Ryota-kun. You’re full of energy today too!” “Hello! What are you going to do today, Onii-chan?” Haruto knelt down to receive the charging Ryota. Ryota, with sparkling eyes, asked him. “Hmm, let’s see… today…”

Haruto turned his gaze towards Ayaka. Receiving his look, she told him the requests for today’s housekeeping work. “Today, there’s the living room cleaning, and Papa also asked for the garage to be cleaned.” “Living room and garage cleaning, understood.” “Yes, and as usual, please prepare dinner.” “Understood.” Haruto nodded slightly and accepted Ayaka’s requests for the housekeeping help. There, Ryota, with an expectant look, pulled Haruto’s arm. “Onii-chan, what’s for dinner tonight? Hamburgers!?” Ryota seemed to have completely fallen for the hamburgers Haruto made. Haruto smiled and answered Ryota, who was looking at him excitedly. “Haha, today I’m thinking of making gyoza instead of hamburgers. Do you like gyoza, Ryota-kun?” “Gyoza?! I love gyoza!!” Answering that way, the excited Ryota grabbed Haruto’s arm and swung it vigorously up and down. “Ryota, stop that. Don’t pull Ootsuki-kun like that! You’ll pull his arm off!” Ayaka immediately warned her brother about his actions. Ryota stopped swinging Haruto’s arm at his sister’s warning, but didn’t let go of his arm, looking cheerful and happy. “Hey Onii-chan, can I help you clean too?” “Of course, it would help finish the cleaning faster if Ryota-kun helps.” Haruto smiled gently and patted Ryota’s head. Ayaka gave a wry smile at her brother, who looked happy, saying “Ehehe~”. “Thank you, Ootsuki-kun, for always keeping Ryota company too.” “Not at all. By the way, are Shuichi-san and Ikue-san working today?” “Yes, they both went to the company today. I think they’ll probably be back by dinner time.” Both of her parents were company executives. Because of that, while they had flexibility in their work style with things like remote work, they were also quite busy, sometimes going to work early in the morning, coming home late, or having sudden business trips. “It reminds me of when I first came here for housekeeping help.” “That’s right. Papa and Mama were on a business trip back then too, weren’t they?” At the start of summer vacation, Ayaka had been looking after the house and Ryota by herself while her parents were away on a business trip. However, due to a public confession she received from an upperclassman on the last day of school, she was emotionally exhausted and decided to rely on a housekeeping help service. That’s how she met Haruto, with whom she’d had almost no interaction at school before.

Remembering his first time coming to the Tojo house for housekeeping help, Haruto said reflectively. “It feels a little nostalgic, even though it wasn’t that long ago.” “Yeah. I wish I could go back in time and praise myself for deciding to ask for housekeeping help then.” To Ayaka, who said that, Haruto smiled cheerfully. “Are you praising yourself?” “Yes, because…” Ayaka gave a small nod, then her cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a tiny, shy voice. “If I hadn’t asked for housekeeping help back then, I wouldn’t have met Ootsuki-kun…” “!” After casting a quick upward glance, Ayaka immediately looked away. At her gesture, Haruto’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster. “Um… I also think it was good that my first job was at the Tojo house…” “Really? Fufu… I’m happy.” Seeing her genuinely beaming with joy from the bottom of her heart, Haruto couldn’t help but avert his gaze, desperately trying to suppress the corners of his mouth that were automatically turning up. The scene from their recent movie date flashed into his mind. Recalling the movie they watched while holding hands, just like real lovers, Haruto’s face gradually turned red. Similarly, Ayaka’s face was also red as she wore a happy expression. “…” “…” Haruto’s mind raced, trying to think of something clever to say, but the more he thought, the blanker his mind became, and words escaped his thoughts. An awkward silence fell between Haruto and Ayaka. However, that silence didn’t last long. For the two who were standing and talking at the entrance, little Ryota, having lost patience, pulled Haruto’s arm. “Onii-chan! Let’s start cleaning the living room quickly!” “Ah, sorry, Ryota-kun. Well then, I will begin the service now.” “U-uh, thank you for your work.” Haruto felt a little relieved to be freed from the awkwardness by Ryota’s energy. However, in a corner of his heart, he also felt a sense of reluctance at the same time. But, deliberately not dwelling on that feeling, Haruto carried out the Tojo family’s housekeeping tasks today as well. ※※※

As requested by Ayaka, after finishing the living room cleaning, Haruto moved on to cleaning the garage. Since both parents were at the company, there were no cars in the garage, making it easy to clean. “Ryota-kun, could you spray water over here?” “Okay! Got it!” Ryota held the hose and sprayed water where Haruto indicated. “Thank you, Ryota-kun.” While saying thank you, Haruto scrubbed the concrete floor with a deck brush. “Onii-chan! Where should I spray water next?” Ryota was holding the garden hose happily, partly feeling like he was playing with water. Haruto smiled gently at his appearance. “Okay, please spray water over there next.” “Got it!” With Ryota’s lively reply, Haruto was also drawn into a cheerful mood and proceeded with cleaning the garage. And as the cleaning was about to finish, Ayaka, who had returned to her room, came to check on Haruto and Ryota. “Thank you, Ootsuki-kun. The garage is really clean. Papa will be happy, I think.” “That’s good to hear.” “Oh, about the gyoza for dinner, we’re going shopping, right?” “Yes, the cleaning is almost finished, so I was thinking of going shopping now.” Ryota reacted to Haruto’s word “shopping” and turned his sparkling eyes towards him. “Shopping?! I’m going too!” “Okay, then let’s go shopping together, Ryota-kun.” “Oh, in that case, I’ll come along too.” To Haruto, who smiled at Ryota, Ayaka said she would also come shopping. At his sister’s words, Ryota became even more excitedly cheerful. “We’re all going shopping!” “That’s right. Well, the garage cleaning is almost finished, so let’s finish it quickly.” “Okay!!” After that, they tidied up the garage cleaning, and the three of them – Haruto, Ayaka, and Ryota – headed to the supermarket. Haruto, immediately with a shopping basket in hand, began examining the ground pork in the meat section. “Hmm, domestic ground pork economy pack 100 grams for 118 yen, that’s cheap… but I don’t need this much… or rather, the regular size is 128 yen per 100 grams…” Haruto, with his hand on his chin, stared intently at the large economy pack and the regular size ground pork. Ayaka glanced at his profile, pondering with a serious expression, before asking a question. “Ground pork has various uses besides gyoza, right?”

“Yes. You can stir-fry it with green onions and eggs to make sweet and savory soboro, or you can make keema curry with it.” “Both sound delicious.” “Shall we make them sometime?” “Yes! I want to try them.” “Understood. Then let’s buy the economy pack this time.” Haruto said that and took the larger pack, putting it in the shopping basket. After that, they continued putting the necessary ingredients for gyoza into the shopping basket, and finally, he came to the baking ingredients section. Seeing the bags of sugar, pancake mix, cocoa, etc., lined up on the shelves, Ryota looked up at Haruto with an excited expression. “Onii-chan, are you making sweets?” “No, rather than sweets, I was thinking of making something like a dessert to go with the gyoza after dinner.” Haruto smiled and replied to Ryota, whose eyes were sparkling with anticipation, then picked up two bags of anko1 displayed on a lower shelf. “By the way, Tojo-san, are you a koshi-an2 person or a tsubu-an3 person?” “Eh? Um, I think I’m a koshi-an person?” “I see.” At Ayaka’s reply, Haruto nodded with a “hmm” and looked down at the bag of koshi-an he held in his left hand. “What are you making with anko? Oshiruko?” “No, I was thinking of mixing anko with cream cheese and wrapping it in gyoza skins.” “What?! That sounds really delicious!” “It’s anko pie with gyoza skins.” Seeing Ayaka’s reaction, her eyes sparkling at the mention of something sweet, Haruto’s expression also softened. “By the way, Ootsuki-kun, are you a koshi-an person?” “No, I’m a tsubu-an person.” “Eh? Really? Koshi-an is more delicious though.” “You can’t say that for sure, can you? Isn’t tsubu-an better because you can feel the texture of the beans?” To Haruto, who asserted the merits of tsubu-an, Ayaka also argued for the merits of koshi-an, not to be outdone. “Isn’t the smooth texture of koshi-an also good? It feels elegant.” “Tsubu-an has more polyphenols, so it has higher beauty benefits!” 3 Tsubu-an: chunky bean paste 2 Koshi-an: Smooth bean paste​

1 Anko: sweet bean paste​

“Really?” At Haruto’s words, which targeted a woman’s weakness, beauty benefits, Ayaka’s love for koshi-an wavered slightly. “Yes, and polyphenols are said to suppress sugar absorption, so there’s the advantage that even if you eat sweet anko, tsubu-an is less likely to make you gain weight than koshi-an.” “B-but, but!! I think I saw something online before that said koshi-an has fewer calories!” “Koshi-an has the skin removed, after all. But if a lot of sugar is added to compensate for that, then koshi-an will have higher calories.” “Th-that’s… that’s true, but.” “Tsubu-an is delicious, you know?” “Ugh… indeed. It might be appealing.” To Ayaka, who acknowledged the appeal of tsubu-an despite looking frustrated, Haruto smiled broadly. “Welcome to the world of tsubu-an.” Haruto, having increased the number of fellow tsubu-an enthusiasts by one, nodded with great satisfaction, put the koshi-an back on the shelf, and placed the tsubu-an in the shopping basket. “Is tsubu-an okay with you too, Ryota-kun?” “Yeah! I love anko!!” With Ryota’s beaming smile in response, Haruto felt greatly healed as he headed for the register. ※※※ Upon returning to the Tojo residence, Haruto immediately began making gyoza. After coarsely mincing the napa cabbage and sprinkling it with salt, he measured the all-purpose flour, bread flour, and salt with a scale and transferred them to a large bowl. As usual, the Tojo siblings sat on the counter seats in front of the kitchen and watched Haruto cook. Ayaka said admiringly to Haruto, who poured hot water into the bowl and kneaded the gyoza dough. “As expected of Ootsuki-kun, you even make the gyoza skins yourself.” “Store-bought skins are convenient, but you can make them chewier when you make them yourself.” Haruto replied while kneading the dough that was coming together, putting more weight into it. After kneading the dough for about five minutes, Haruto shaped it into a ball, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and then started making the gyoza filling. He added granulated chicken stock dissolved in hot water and sesame oil to the ground meat and mixed them. Then, he squeezed the water well out of the salted and wilted napa cabbage, added it, and mixed again. “Ootsuki-kun’s family gyoza uses napa cabbage, huh?”

Ayaka said to Haruto, who was adding garlic and ginger after the napa cabbage. “That’s right. Does the Tojo family’s gyoza use cabbage?” “Yeah. I think our family’s gyoza uses cabbage.” “Cabbage is also good because you can feel the texture and sweet flavor, right?” While having such a conversation, Haruto finished making the gyoza filling. While letting the bowl of filling rest in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap, he resumed making the gyoza skins. He divided the rested gyoza dough into several portions and rolled them into logs. Then, he divided the logs into small equal pieces and used his palms and a rolling pin to roll them into circles. “Ootsuki-kun is skillful, isn’t he?” “Is that so?” Haruto smiled modestly at Ayaka’s praise. Just then, Ryota, who had been quietly watching the gyoza making until now, suddenly got down from the counter seat and rushed over to Haruto. “Onii-chan, I want to help make gyoza too! I want to wrap gyoza!” “Oh, you’ll help? Thank you. Well then, maybe I can ask you to.” Haruto smiled at the highly motivated Ryota while taking the rested filling out of the refrigerator. “Oh, in that case, I’ll help too.” Following her brother, Ayaka also got up from her chair and came over to Haruto’s side. “Thank you. Well then, I’ll roll out the skins, so would you mind wrapping the filling with Ryota-kun?” “Understood.” After that, Haruto made the gyoza skins, and the Tojo siblings wrapped them. “The skins Ootsuki-kun made stretch really well, so they’re easy to wrap,” Ayaka said, sounding a little impressed as she wrapped a gyoza by wetting the edge of the skin and making pleats. “I made them a little thicker than store-bought skins, so I think you’ll enjoy the chewy texture when you eat them.” “I’m looking forward to it. Hey Ryota, you’re putting in too much filling!” Ayaka hurriedly stopped her brother, who was busily putting filling onto the skins next to her. “If you put in that much filling, you won’t be able to wrap it, right?” “But Onii-chan’s skins stretch a lot, so it’s okay!” Saying that, Ryota pulled the skin and forcibly wrapped the filling. “Look, Onee-chan! I wrapped it!” Ayaka gave a wry smile at Ryota, who said that with a full-on smug face. “You did wrap it, but… that doesn’t look like gyoza anymore, it’s a meat bun.”

What was in Ryota’s palm was indeed far from a typical gyoza, just as she said. “Well, as long as they’re cooked through, it’s fine. Having various shapes makes them look homemade, so isn’t that good?” “That’s true too, I guess.” Haruto said while rolling out a skin with a rolling pin. In response, Ayaka also nodded with a wry smile at her brother, who was mass-producing gyoza that looked like meat buns. After that, as they continued making gyoza lively together, Shuichi and Ikue returned home at the same time. “We’re home. Ootsuki-kun, thank you for the housekeeping help today too.” Shuichi came into the living room and greeted Haruto, who was standing in the kitchen. Ikue, who entered the living room after him, her face lit up at the sight of the three of them cooking together. “Oh my! Tonight’s dinner is gyoza, isn’t it? They look so delicious.” “Mom, I helped a lot too!” “Really? You’re amazing.” After smiling warmly at Ryota, Ikue looked at Haruto. “Thank you, Ootsuki-kun.” “Not at all, Ryota-kun and Ayaka-san helped a lot, so it was a great help.” “Oh, really. Fufu, that’s good, Ayaka.” Saying that, Ikue smiled towards her daughter, who was standing next to Haruto. “U-uh… Papa and Mama, hurry up and change. The gyoza are ready to be cooked.” Ayaka’s cheeks flushed slightly at her mother’s gaze, and as if to hide it, she hurried her parents. “Let’s do that. I’m looking forward to Ootsuki-kun’s handmade gyoza!” Shuichi, who nodded in good spirits, suddenly asked Haruto. “How about it, Ootsuki-kun? Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us today too?” “Eh? Is that alright?” “Of course! You are always welcome in our home, Ootsuki-kun.” “Thank you. Then, I will join you.” “Hmm. Tonight’s dinner seems like it’s going to be fun. Well then, Mother, shall we go change?” “Yes.” Shuichi and Ikue left the living room looking cheerful at Haruto’s reply. “Seriously, Papa likes Ootsuki-kun too much,” Ayaka said, giving a wry smile after seeing Shuichi’s earlier demeanor. In response, Haruto replied while placing the hot plate in the center of the dining table. “Being liked is something I truly appreciate.” “Really? If you ever feel annoyed or anything, tell me right away, okay?” “Annoyed? I don’t feel that way in the slightest.”

While stroking the head of Ryota, who had carried over the wrapped gyoza on a tray, Haruto replied with a smile. While Shuichi and Ikue were changing, Haruto arranged the wrapped gyoza on the hot plate and started cooking them. “Oh, right. I’m thinking of telling Papa and Mama today that we’re going to Animal Crossing Park with Ootsuki-kun.” At Ayaka’s words, Haruto, who was mixing soy sauce and chili oil to make dipping sauce for the gyoza, looked up. “Okay.” At their movie date the other day, they had promised to go to “Animal Crossing Park” the following week when Haruto had a day off from his part-time job, including Ryota. That park, with a vast site based on the theme of nature, had animal interaction areas, water play areas, and lawn areas, and they planned to bring bentos and play there all day. “Is it okay if I tell them during dinner?” “Yes, it’s fine?” To Ayaka, who asked somewhat tentatively, Haruto tilted his head slightly. “Mama will probably tease me, and Papa might go overboard…” “Ah… well, it’s alright. I don’t dislike lively atmospheres.” Haruto, sensing what she was concerned about, nodded with a wry smile. Eventually, Shuichi and Ikue, having finished changing, returned to the living room, and the five of them, including Haruto, gathered around the dining table at the Tojo residence. “I think they’re looking good, so I’ll take the lid off.” Saying that, Haruto removed the lid from the hot plate, and a large puff of steam rose, spreading the aroma of gyoza. At the crackling, popping sound that suggested crispiness, Shuichi smiled. “Oh! Don’t they look delicious?” “You made meat buns along with the gyoza?” Ikue said with a smile, noticing the occasional gigantic, meat bun-like shapes mixed in with the neatly arranged gyoza. “Those are the gyoza I made!!” To Ryota, who made a triumphant face towards his mother, Ikue let out a laugh, “Fufu.” “Oh, is that so? They’re magnificent gyoza that look very satisfying to eat.” At the conversation between the Tojo parents and child, Haruto’s mouth corners lifted, and holding a spatula in hand, he flipped the cooked gyoza. Seeing the gyoza that were perfectly golden brown, Shuichi put his hands together as if he couldn’t wait. “Well then, let’s eat!”

Starting with his words, everyone put their hands together in unison, saying “Itadakimasu,” and reached for the gyoza with their chopsticks. Ayaka, taking a bite of the hot gyoza, widened her eyes slightly and covered her mouth with her left hand. “It’s true. It’s chewier and more delicious than store-bought gyoza skins.” “Oh? Did Ootsuki-kun make the skins himself too?” Ikue, following Ayaka, also looked slightly surprised after taking a bite and asked Haruto. “Yes, I added a little more bread flour to make the skins more substantial.” “Delicious! These are exquisite, Ootsuki-kun! No, they’re truly delicious!” Shuichi took a bite of a freshly cooked gyoza, then praised Haruto’s gyoza while huffing and puffing. “Dad, the gyoza I made are delicious too! Eat one!” “Okay, okay. The one Ryota made is this one, right? …Mm! This is delicious too! You made it well.” “Hehe~” Praised by Shuichi, Ryota’s face broke into a beaming smile, and he diligently blew on the gyoza to cool it before eating it with relish. After that, they continued to enjoy dinner while happily savoring the gyoza. “Um, I have something to tell you, Papa and Mama.” Ayaka, who had been glancing at her parents every now and then, broached the topic abruptly. “Hmm? What is it?” Shuichi, who was very satisfied with Haruto’s cooking again today, turned towards his daughter in high spirits. “Well, next week, um… I’m going to Animal Crossing Park with Ootsuki-kun, taking Ryota with us.” The moment Ayaka said that, Shuichi’s face instantly lit up. “So you’re going on a date!” “D-d-, Ry-Ryota is with us too!” “Oh my, oh my! Ayaka, oh my, goodness gracious!” “S-since it’s summer vacation, Ryota wants to go out and play too, right?” As if to escape from Shuichi, who was already starting to go overboard, and Ikue, who was giving her a smug look that seemed to say “I told you so,” she turned the conversation to her brother. Ryota, being addressed, exploded with joy and looked at Haruto. “Really?! Onii-chan is taking me out to play!?” “Yes, it’s true.” “Yayyyyy!!”

Ryota raised both hands in the air and shouted with joy. Seeing their son like that, Shuichi turned his gaze towards Haruto. “Ootsuki-kun, thank you. Actually, since summer vacation started, we haven’t been able to take him anywhere yet. I was feeling guilty about that. So it’s really a great help that you’re going out to play with Ryota.” Shuichi bowed his head along with his thanks. Following him, Ikue also thanked Haruto. “Thank you, Ootsuki-kun. You’re helping us with housekeeping chores, and now this too.” “Not at all. I plan to enjoy myself on the day too.” “It helps to hear you say that.” Shuichi and Ikue, who had felt a sense of obligation because they hadn’t been able to take Ryota anywhere due to their busy work, thanked Haruto from the bottom of their hearts. There, Ayaka spoke to her parents again. “And then, on the day we go to Animal Crossing Park, we’re planning to bring bentos. So, is it okay if Ootsuki-kun and I make the bentos in our kitchen that morning?” “Of course! Feel free to use it!” Ikue immediately replied to Ayaka’s words. There, Shuichi, who was in an even better mood than before, said as he took a bite of a gyoza. “Today’s dinner is delicious, and it’s very cheerful!” After that, dinner at the Tojo household, including Haruto, continued happily and lively.