Ōtsuki Haruto The morning sun poured down brilliantly. The cloudless blue sky, a perfect start to a wonderful day, was a clear, endless blue. It was the kind of perfect weather that let you start the day with a cheerful heart. And yet, the high school student walking under that pleasant blue sky, Akagi Tomoya, wore an air of utter listlessness. He let out a huge yawn and turned his gaze to Haruto walking beside him. “Hey there, Haru-san.” “What is it, Tomoya-san?” “Why are you walking to school with me?” At Tomoya’s question, Haruto’s brow twitched slightly. “…Does that mean you’re unhappy walking to school with me? I thought you were my best friend, Tomoya. This is sad… And after I helped you so much with your homework yesterday.” “That’s not it. What I’m trying to say is, shouldn’t you be walking with Tōjō-san?” After watching a male student who had been passing by move away, Tomoya turned a deadpan stare on Haruto. At the word ‘Tōjō’, he thought he saw the back of the passing student twitch ever so slightly. Seeing that, Haruto lowered his voice and gave a lackluster reply. “Ah… well.” “What’s with that vague answer? And after you finally got a super cute girlfriend over the summer break, too.” At his best friend’s ambiguous response, a look of exasperation crept onto Tomoya’s face. Haruto waited until the male student walking ahead of them was completely out of earshot, then pursed his lips slightly. “I’d much rather be walking to school with my girlfriend than some grubby guy, you know.” “Hey, ‘grubby’ is uncalled for, you know? My heart’s as delicate as glass, so you’d better handle it with more care.”
“I hear modern bulletproof glass can even stop rifle rounds.” “Haru-san, words can sometimes be rifle rounds, too, you know?” The two exchanged their usual playful banter on the way to school. Tomoya pressed his best friend on why he was walking next to him and not his girlfriend. “If you had the chance to walk to school with the Tōjō-san, the average guy would think it’s fine even if the world ended tomorrow, right?” “What part of that is average?” This time, it was Haruto’s turn to look exasperated at Tomoya’s over-thetop phrasing, though he did mutter, “Well, I guess I can’t say I don’t know how you feel…” “Due to various circumstances, we decided to keep the fact that we’re dating a secret at school.” “Huh? What’s that about? Don’t tell me you chickened out because you’re scared of all the other guys getting jealous?” At Haruto’s words, Tomoya shot him a look of condemnation, saying things like, “You wimping out again?” “That’s not it. I mean, I’ll admit I’m scared of the other guys’ jealousy, but that’s not the reason.” “Then what is the reason?” The two stopped at a crosswalk with a red light. Haruto averted his gaze from Tomoya and answered while staring at the red signal. “It’s about Ayaka’s friendships. Apparently, back in middle school, a guy confessed to her, and it caused some trouble with a friend, and they ended up growing distant.” “Hoh.” “And that’s become a bit of a trauma for her. The ‘I have absolutely no interest in romance’ stance Ayaka puts on at school is to prevent a repeat of what happened in middle school.” Finishing his explanation, Haruto glanced at the now-green signal and crossed the street. Walking beside him, Tomoya nodded slightly, as if he sort of understood. “I see. So, in other words, if there were another girl who liked you, Haru, Tōjō-san would be resented by that girl, and she’s scared of that. That’s the gist of it, right?” “Yeah, that’s right.”
At Haruto’s affirmation, Tomoya said, “Hmm,” and stroked his chin, looking down slightly in thought. Then, having organized his thoughts, he abruptly turned to his best friend and opened his mouth. “Isn’t Tōjō-san just overthinking it?” “I think so too, but it pisses me off when you say it.” Haruto gave his best friend, who was wordlessly telling him ‘you’re not that popular with the ladies’, a light punch on the shoulder. “Ow! I’m against violence!” Tomoya reacted dramatically. Haruto ignored him and let out a small sigh. Seeing this, Tomoya linked his hands behind his head and asked. “Are you okay with that, Haru? Are you just going to keep your relationship with Tōjō-san a secret forever?” “I’m not okay with it. Not at all, but I have no idea what to do about it.” With a troubled expression, Haruto sighed quietly again. “Well, girls’ relationships do seem complicated and troublesome…” Tomoya glanced at a group of girls walking a little ways ahead. He couldn’t hear what the group was talking about, but they seemed to be having a very enjoyable conversation on their way to school with their friends. Haruto also looked toward the group of girls. “If it were just my problem, I’d only have to make up my mind, but when it comes to affecting Ayaka’s friendships…” “True. I don’t care if you get beaten to a pulp behind the gym or whatever, Haru, but it would break my heart to see Tōjō-san get bullied.” “Hey, best friend. You’re supposed to worry about me there.” Haruto launched a second shoulder punch at Tomoya for his casual, dismissive remark. His best friend just laughed loudly before making a suggestion. “If every student in school accepts you as Tōjō-san’s boyfriend, wouldn’t that solve everything?” “Easier said than done. Besides, how am I supposed to get them to accept it?” If, as Tomoya said, the entire student body accepted Haruto and Ayaka’s relationship, there would be no need to keep it a secret. If the male students judged Haruto to be a worthy boyfriend for Ayaka, and the female students also thought that Haruto and Ayaka were a good match.
If he could make them think that, then even if their relationship was revealed, Ayaka’s friendships wouldn’t suffer. In fact, some people might even congratulate and support them. But his partner was a person admired by every student. She was a girl who was even called ‘the school’s idol’. What on earth could he do to be considered her equal? Haruto had absolutely no idea. It seemed Tomoya was in the same boat, as he made a random suggestion. “For starters, if you became president or something, nobody would complain, right?” “You should stop saying things like that, it makes you sound like a total idiot.” At Haruto’s harsh comeback, Tomoya made a show of thinking again, then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, he flashed a brilliant smile at his best friend. “Be the vocalist for my band at the school festival!!” “…How did you get to that?” Haruto gave Tomoya a skeptical look as his friend beamed at him with an expression that just screamed, ‘I’ve got a brilliant idea!’. “Bands are popular, right? They’re cool, right? If you make the whole student body swoon with your beautiful voice, Haru, it’ll be our win, right?” “No, I doubt it’ll go that well.” “No way, it will! C’mon, join the band with me! C’mon? Please?” As Tomoya gazed at him with shining, expectant eyes, Haruto looked slightly taken aback. However, his best friend’s words, “It’s for Tōjō-san’s sake, too!”, made his resolve waver significantly. “…Well, I’ll think about it.” “Alright! I’ll be waiting for a positive answer!” Having known him for years, Tomoya could tell from Haruto’s reaction that things were looking good, and he gave a huge grin along with a thumbs-up. As they walked while having this conversation, they found themselves in front of the school gate before they knew it. Gazing at the school building for the first time in about a month, Haruto recalled the message Ayaka had sent him that morning. The message was a simple “Good morning” greeting and “I’m heading to school now!” Since that message had arrived just before Haruto left the house, Ayaka was probably already at school.
As he was vaguely thinking about that and passed through the school gate, Tomoya, beside him, let out a “Hm?” “Is there some kind of crowd in front of the entrance?” At those words, Haruto also looked toward the student entrance, and sure enough, just as Tomoya said, there was a crowd. “What’s that? A dress code check after the break?” “Nah. If it were that, they’d do it in front of the school gate like always, not the student entrance, right?” “True.” The two approached the crowd, feeling puzzled. Then, they heard a male student’s voice coming from the center of it. “Tōjō Ayaka-san! I really am in love with you!” The moment he heard those words, Haruto squeezed through the students swarming the entrance and hurried to the center of the crowd. Tomoya followed close behind. Eventually, after weaving his way through the crowd, Haruto caught sight of two students. One was Ayaka, his beloved girlfriend from this past summer break. And standing across from her was a male student with a serious expression. “That’s…” Staring at the person standing in front of Ayaka, Haruto searched his memory to figure out who the male student was. He felt like he’d seen him somewhere before, but he couldn’t quite recall. Just then, Tomoya, who had followed him from behind, looked at the male student and muttered. “That’s… Kaitō-senpai from the third year, isn’t it?” “Kaitō…” At that name, something clicked in Haruto’s memory. “Is that the guy who proposed to Ayaka before the summer break…” “Yeah, yeah. That’s him.” Kaitō-senpai. He was the brave yet crazy upperclassman who, before summer break, had called Ayaka over the school’s PA system and proposed to her, engagement ring and all. That same Kaitō-senpai was staring at Ayaka with an incredibly serious gaze and said in a loud voice. “This summer break, not a day went by when I didn’t think of you!” “Ah, um… I…”
“But before the break, I was only thinking of myself, and I didn’t consider your feelings one bit! I’m so sorry for embarrassing you in front of the whole school!” “Y-Yes. Um…” “Since then, I’ve reflected on my actions, and I’ve been thinking constantly about how I could get closer to you! And I’ve finally found the answer!” Kaitō-senpai stated his thoughts in a clear, brisk tone. Overwhelmed by his pressure, Ayaka was struggling to get a word in, a troubled look on her face. However, Kaitō-senpai didn’t notice her expression and continued speaking with a confident look. “Tōjō Ayaka-san! On the premise that we’ll become a couple, I want you to be my friend first! Please!!” After his loud declaration, Kaitō-senpai bowed his head deeply and at the same time, sharply thrust his right hand toward Ayaka. At Kaitō-senpai’s energetic action, a murmur of ‘Ooooh’ rippled through the surrounding crowd. Then, the crowd turned their curious gazes to Ayaka all at once, waiting to see how she would react. Sensing this, perhaps, Ayaka’s face turned beet red as she stared intently at the offered right hand. His girlfriend being courted by another guy. Seeing this sight, a feeling he had never experienced before welled up in Haruto’s heart, and he felt his pulse quicken unpleasantly. Ayaka stared silently at Kaitō-senpai’s hand for a moment before bowing her head slightly. “I’m sorry!” The moment that single phrase was uttered, Kaitō-senpai’s hand trembled violently. “Um, I… I’m very happy about your feelings, senpai, but I can’t accept them.” Ayaka’s words were clear. Kaitō-senpai slowly raised his head. His expression seemed a little downcast, but a light of hope still lingered in his eyes. “May I ask… the reason why not?” “Yes. Well… it’s fine to be friends, but on the premise of being a couple… I can’t do that.” “Why… is that?” “That’s because… um… because there’s someone I like.”
“Wh-!?” Those words, uttered by Ayaka, resounded like a clap of thunder not just to Kaitō-senpai, but to every student gathered around them. Tomoya, one of the only two people unaffected by the lightning strike, grinned and nudged his best friend’s side with his elbow. Haruto brushed it off dramatically, as if to hide his embarrassment. The shocking truth Ayaka had revealed. Although Kaitō-senpai took some damage from those words, he still asked her as if there was still hope left. “Th-th-th-that person you like? Who is it?” The hope that remained for Kaitō-senpai was the possibility that Ayaka was lying. She might have invented a fictional crush to turn down his proposal. From his perspective, that was still a desperate situation, but it was slightly better than there being someone she truly liked. In response to the question born from such speculation, Ayaka’s cheeks flushed, and she looked down slightly, answering shyly. “That’s… a secret.” “Ghh!!” It was like a lovely lily swaying in the summer breeze. The sight of her, blushing shyly yet with the corners of her mouth turned up happily. Her appearance was truly that of a maiden in love. Kaitō-senpai, hit head-on by Ayaka’s overwhelming cuteness, froze with his mouth agape, as if his very soul had left his body. Just who was the man who could make the school’s idol wear such an expression?
The male students who had gathered all had the same question in their minds. The first day back after summer break. The school’s idol, Tōjō Ayaka, had someone she liked! This major news spread throughout the school faster than the wind. ※※※ So early on the first day back from summer break, the classroom was abuzz with a clamor like a stirred-up beehive. From his seat in the very back by the window, Haruto glanced toward the center of the classroom, the epicenter of the commotion. There, he saw Ayaka, surrounded by a large group of girls. She was surrounded by numerous female students and was being bombarded with questions. “Hey, hey, Tōjō-san! Who’s the person you like!?” “Could it be someone in this class?” “When did you start liking someone? Was it during summer break, by any chance?” The expressions of the girls asking questions varied. Some looked on happily, their eyes sparkling at the celebrity’s love life gossip. Others asked questions with a smile on the surface, yet with a wary look in their eyes as if probing for information. And some leaned forward, asking out of simple curiosity. From outside this circle of girls, the male students pretended not to be interested, but kept stealing glances. They were probably straining their ears, desperately trying to catch Ayaka’s answers to the questions. Perhaps aware of this, Ayaka kept giving vague replies with a smile. “I can’t say who it is, but he’s a wonderful person.” “Aww~! Who!? Who is it!?” “It’s a secret.” “Tell us~” This kind of exchange had been repeating endlessly for some time now. Haruto watched this commotion with his cheek resting on his hand. He wondered if there was anything he could do for his girlfriend, who was surely at her wit’s end despite her smile. As he harbored this frustrating feeling, Tomoya approached from the front with a wry smile.
“That’s something else, isn’t it?” “Well, considering her popularity, it might be expected.” Haruto replied to Tomoya’s words with a twisted mouth. Since today was the opening ceremony, there were no regular classes, just a school-wide assembly and homeroom. “It’s only for the morning today, so it’s fine, but it’s going to be tough starting tomorrow.” “Being like that all day would be depressing.” Being surrounded and bombarded with questions every break time seemed like it would drive anyone crazy. While Haruto worried about Ayaka, there was nothing he could do for now. In his place, a wonderfully reliable person came to her rescue. “Ayaka~ Let’s go to the bathroom together before the teacher comes.” The one who called out cheerfully was her best friend, Aizawa Saki. Saki lightly tapped Ayaka’s shoulder with a bright expression. In response, Ayaka’s expression also relaxed into a smile, and she accepted her best friend’s invitation. “Yeah. Let’s go.” With that, Ayaka stood up and walked out of the classroom alongside Saki. Seeing this, Tomoya praised Saki’s actions in a small voice. “Aizawa-san’s got moves. To rescue Tōjō-san so naturally like that.” With Ayaka and Saki having gone to the bathroom so smoothly, the girls who had lost their target to question were left with nothing to do and reluctantly returned to their own seats. After glancing at the dispersing girls, Tomoya asked Haruto. “Does Aizawa-san know about you two?” “Yeah, she said she was going to tell her, so she should know.” “So, the only ones who hold this secret information are me and Aizawasan, huh?” Tomoya grinned, and Haruto, still resting his cheek on his hand, said. “Shizuku knows too.” “Oh, Shizuku-chan knows too, huh?” Since Tomoya was Haruto’s best friend and childhood friend, he was fairly well-acquainted with Shizuku. He asked about Shizuku with a somewhat interested expression.
“What was her reaction when you told Shizuku-chan you had a girlfriend?” “She said ‘congratulations’ and ‘I hope all you happy couples explode’ with pouted lips.” “The ever-impassive, iron-walled Shizuku-chan pouted her lips?” Tomoya’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Is it that surprising? Shizuku makes weird faces pretty often, you know?” “Huh, is that so…” “What’s with that meaningful nod?” “Oh, it’s nothing.” Just as Haruto was about to press further about the curious reaction, the smartphone in his pocket buzzed softly. He took it out and checked it to see a message from Ayaka. Haruto quickly glanced around just in case, then checked the message. ── I’m sorry, Haruto-kun. Even though I was the one who said we should keep it a secret, I went and said I have someone I like. At her apology, a faint smile played on Haruto’s lips. Ayaka was the one having a tough time, yet she was worried about him. With that thought in mind, Haruto replied to her. ── It’s not your fault, Ayaka. So you don’t need to apologize. ── Thank you. You know, when I was talking to Kaitō-senpai I thinking about you, Haruto-kun, the words just came out naturally… “Ugh.” The message was so adorable that Haruto almost broke into a grin. He tensed his face to hold it back, but a strange groan escaped him instead. “Hey Haru. What’s with the creepy face?” “This is my normal face. Don’t call it creepy.” “No, no. If a smirking face like that is your normal face, you’re a pretty weird dude, you know?” From Tomoya’s words, Haruto realized he hadn’t been able to hide his grin at all. He ducked his head to hide his expression from his best friend and glanced at the phone in his hand. Another message from Ayaka had arrived. ── Are you free to meet after school today? Along with that message, a sticker of a rabbit peeking out from behind a wall was sent. ── Then, I’ll come to your house this afternoon, Ayaka. ── Yayyyーー!!
Seeing Ayaka’s reply, Haruto’s expression naturally formed into a smile. “So, Haru-san. What have you been grinning about this whole time?” “It’s a secret.” Haruto dodged Tomoya’s question and put his phone back in his pocket. ※※※ When the opening ceremony finished, Haruto rushed home. “I’m home~” Haruto murmured somewhat listlessly as he stepped into the entryway. His grandmother was at work, so the house should have been empty. He planned to make a quick lunch and head to Ayaka’s house right away, so he entered the living room. But there, unexpectedly, was his grandmother. “Huh? Grandma?” Haruto called out, slightly surprised. It was only then that his grandmother seemed to notice his return, and she slowly lifted her downcast face to look at him. “Oh, Haruto… welcome home.” “Yeah, I’m home. Are you off work today?” “Yes…” His grandmother worked at a diner very close to their house. The diner, run by an old friend of hers, was a private business, so it wasn’t unusual for these sudden days off to occur. Years ago, when she took in Haruto after he lost his parents in a car accident, his grandmother, who had been a housewife, decided to start working, knowing that money would be needed in the future. It seemed that friend had offered her a job then. From that day to this, his grandmother had continued to work at that diner. Since it was a diner by day and an izakaya by night, she often worked late, but her current workplace was quite flexible and offered good conditions. Haruto spoke to his grandmother as he headed to the kitchen. “I was thinking of making yakisoba for lunch, is that okay?” “…Yes. That’s fine.” “Also, after lunch, I was thinking of going to Ayaka’s house.” “…Yes. That’s fine.” “I’ll be back by dinner.”
“…Yes. That’s fine.” “Grandma… are you okay?” His grandmother’s replies to Haruto’s words were somewhat absentminded. Finding it strange, he returned from the kitchen to the living room and looked at his grandmother. Then, as if snapping back to reality, she looked at her grandson’s face. And her expression returned to its usual gentle one. “It’s nothing. You’re going to Ayaka-san’s house, right? You need to eat lunch quickly and get ready.” At first glance, she seemed to have returned to her usual self. However, to Haruto, who had lived with her for a long time, it was impossible not to see that she was hiding something and trying to cover it up. “Grandma. If something’s wrong, please tell me.” “…It’s nothing. I’m fine.” “Grandma.” “……” Haruto continued to stare at his grandmother in silence. His grandmother deflected his gaze with a gentle smile for a while, but eventually gave in to Haruto’s persistent stare and dropped the mask of a gentle smile. “Haa… Haruto, I’m sorry.” After a big sigh, his grandmother spoke as if at a loss. “Actually, Kikuchi-san is… closing the shop.” “What!? I-Is that so?” Kikuchi-san was the friend who ran the diner where his grandmother worked. “Th-Then…” “I’ll have to find a new job…” His grandmother muttered, sounding a little tired. The person named Kikuchi-san, who had employed her for a long time, was already quite old and had recently fallen ill. Apparently, it wasn’t life-threatening, but it seemed he no longer had the physical strength to continue the diner. When his grandmother went to work today, Kikuchi-san had apparently begged her on his knees to let him close the shop. Kikuchi-san, who understood his grandmother’s situation, had also tried to find a way to keep the shop going, but it seemed no good ideas came up. “I see… What should we do?”
Hearing the explanation, Haruto looked down and his thoughts began to race. Considering his grandmother’s age, finding a new job would be extremely difficult. On top of that, her back was getting worse. A workplace that required a long commute was something to be avoided. “…Grandma. I think I’ll get a job after I graduate high school.” If his grandmother were to live alone, she could somehow manage on her pension. However, with Haruto’s living expenses and tuition added on, going to university was no longer a realistic option. That was the thought behind his statement, but in response, his grandmother shook her head firmly and emphatically. “No, you can’t. Haruto, you’re going to university. That’s why you’ve been studying so hard until now, right?” “That’s true. But…” “Don’t you worry, Haruto. I’ll manage somehow.” His grandmother said with a resolute attitude. Her appearance made Haruto worry that she might overdo it. His grandmother was no longer at an age where she could push herself. “Grandma…” “Come on, you’re going to Ayaka-san’s place, right? You’ve finally got such a wonderful girlfriend. You have to cherish her.” Pressed by his grandmother’s ‘don’t argue with me’ pressure, Haruto couldn’t say anything more and obediently made and ate lunch, then was hurried off to Ayaka’s house. Haruto, who had been practically kicked out of the house, pondered his grandmother’s earlier conversation. Considering his grandmother’s age, it was probably best to assume that finding a new job through normal means was impossible. If there was a possibility, it would be to have her high-level cooking skills evaluated and get hired that way, but Haruto didn’t have the connections to do that. “I guess… I have no choice but to work…” His grandmother would surely be dead set against it, but there was no other choice. As he walked while thinking about this, he found himself in front of a familiar mansion before he knew it. It seemed his body had automatically remembered the way to the Tōjō residence, thanks to commuting there all through the summer break. Haruto pressed the intercom with a practiced hand.
“I’m here.” “I was waiting for you, Haruto-kun. I’m opening the door now.” When Haruto said that briefly, he heard Ayaka’s cheerful, bouncy voice through the intercom. Her voice seemed to ease Haruto’s anxiety, even if only slightly. “Welcome, Haruto-kun!” The front door opened immediately, and Ayaka appeared with a huge smile. She gently pinched the sleeve of Haruto’s clothes, invited him inside, and the two headed straight to the living room. “Are Shūichi-san and Ikue-san at work today?” Haruto asked, looking around the empty living room. “Yeah. They both said they’ll be home late today. So I have to go pick up Ryōta later.” “I see. Well then, shall I go with you?” “Really? I think Ryōta would be really happy if you came to pick him up with me, Haruto-kun!” Exchanging such conversation, the two sat down side by side on the living room sofa. As soon as she sat on the sofa, Ayaka pressed her body snugly against Haruto and hugged his arm happily. “I can finally get my Haruto-kun refill.” “A refill? I’m not a nutrient.” “To me right now, Haruto-kun is one of the five major nutrients.” Ayaka said, snuggling against Haruto’s arm and nuzzling his shoulder. Haruto glanced at his own arm, which was buried in her chest, and then gave a wry smile. “Given how things were at school today, it seemed hard to even get close, huh?” “I know. It’s so hard not being able to talk to you even when you’re right there, Haruto-kun…” Ayaka said dejectedly, her beautifully shaped eyebrows drooping. Haruto gently stroked her hair. At that, Ayaka smiled, as if melting in pleasure, and leaned her weight against him. Her expression, filled with happiness, also filled Haruto’s own heart. However, his worries about home didn’t completely disappear, and deep down, a murky anxiety swirled, making him restless. Should he force his grandmother to overexert herself, or should he give up on university and start working as soon as he graduated high school?
His grandmother was Haruto’s only precious family. Forcing such a precious person to push herself was painful for him too. But even if Haruto were to work, he would be burdening his grandmother with the guilt of not being able to send her grandson to university. What should he do… “Haa…” Lost in unanswerable anxiety, Haruto had unconsciously let out a small sigh. At that, Ayaka, who had been resting her head on Haruto’s shoulder, lifted her face and looked at him with worried eyes. “…Haruto-kun?” “Ah, no. Sorry, it’s nothing.” Haruto hurriedly tried to cover it up, forcing a smile onto his face. However, Ayaka’s gaze remained worried. “I’m sorry. It’s because I said something unnecessary at school…” She said weakly, with a downcast expression. Haruto, realizing she had misunderstood the reason for his sigh, gently pulled her shoulder closer and spoke in a soft tone, trying his best not to make her feel anxious. “That’s not it, Ayaka. That sigh wasn’t about that.” “Is that so? Is there something else you’re worried about?” Ayaka asked, concerned for Haruto. But Haruto was at a loss for a reply. This was the Ōtsuki family’s problem. If he told Ayaka, wouldn’t he just be worrying her for no reason? That thought crossed Haruto’s mind. “Um… well, there’s a little problem, but it’s not a big deal.” “Really?” Ayaka tilted her head slightly at Haruto’s attempt to brush it off, and stared intently into his eyes as if peering into them. Being stared at from such a close distance by a girl so perfectly beautiful made Haruto feel restless, and he couldn’t help but look away. “…Haruto-kun. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you. But, if you’re okay with telling me, I’d like to hear about your troubles.” After showing a moment of hesitation, Ayaka spoke, choosing her words carefully. Her words, showing her concern for him, brought a feeling of happiness to Haruto’s heart. But even so, his hesitation about whether he should tell Ayaka still lingered. Then, as if to push him over the edge, Ayaka added.
“Right now, Haruto-kun, your eyes look so full of anxiety. I don’t know if I can be of any help. But, if talking about it might ease your anxiety even a little, please tell me.” Ayaka continued with endearing words, “I’m your girlfriend, Haruto-kun. I want to be of some help, even if it’s just a little.” Ayaka’s caring words made Haruto’s heart waver greatly. Whether he went to university in the future or started working. Whichever he chose, if he continued to date Ayaka, the time would come when he would have to talk about this problem. The only difference was whether he talked about it sooner or later. As his thoughts leaned in that direction, Haruto let out a breath and confided his worries to her. After listening to Haruto’s story, Ayaka’s worried expression deepened. “So that’s what happened…” “Yeah… University costs a lot of money, and there’s a limit to what you can manage with just a scholarship.” “Even though you have the top grades in our year, Haruto-kun…” “My grandma keeps telling me I absolutely have to go to university. But she’s not at an age where she can push herself anymore…” An image of his grandmother, who had once collapsed from heatstroke, flashed through Haruto’s mind. In that moment, he felt a fear that chilled his body to the bone, and he shivered slightly. Seeing his state, Ayaka moved closer to him. “You want your grandmother to stay healthy for a long time, don’t you, Haruto-kun?” “Yeah. She’s my only family, after all…” Haruto said in a small voice, tinged with a hint of weakness. At his words, Ayaka’s expression turned sad for a moment, then she hugged Haruto’s arm even tighter than before. Seeing her trying so hard to encourage him, Haruto’s expression brightened a little. “Thank you, Ayaka.” “Not at all. If there’s anything I can do… ah!” Suddenly, Ayaka’s eyes widened as if something had just occurred to her. “Hey, is it okay if I talk to my mom and dad about your family situation, Haruto-kun?” “Huh? To Shūichi-san and Ikue-san? I’m not exactly hiding it, so I don’t have a problem with it, but…” Haruto showed his confusion at her sudden suggestion.
Ayaka replied to his answer with a “Thank you!” then took out her smartphone and began operating it at high speed. What on earth had Ayaka thought of? With no idea, Haruto continued to gaze at the profile of her serious face as she operated her phone. Before long, Ayaka’s phone began to vibrate. It seemed a call was coming in, and she immediately tapped the screen to answer. “Hello, Dad? Yeah, that’s right… uh-huh, uh-huh.” It seemed the person on the other end was Shūichi, and Ayaka nodded slightly as she hummed in agreement. “So, I wanted to ask you, Dad… huh? Oh, yeah. Haruto-kun? He’s right next to me. Yeah, I got it.” Ayaka took the phone from her ear for a moment and looked at Haruto sitting next to her. “Dad wants to talk to you, is that okay?” “Huh? Uh, yeah.” Haruto, though still bewildered, took the phone from Ayaka. “Hello, this is Ōtsuki speaking.” “Hey, Ōtsuki-kun. I heard the story from Ayaka. It sounds like you’re going through a lot.” “Yes… um, thank you for your concern.” “Indeed. I’m sure your family has gone through hardships I can’t even imagine. I think I understand a little better now why you’re more mature than other kids your age. I’m sure your parents would be proud of the fine young man you’ve become.” “I’m sorry. I appreciate your kindness.” Haruto said, bowing his head to Shūichi over the phone. “So. Ōtsuki-kun, do you have any plans for today?” “No, nothing in particular.” “Good. Well then, I was thinking of heading home for a bit. Could you wait at the house with Ayaka until I get there?” “What!? But, Shūichi-san, don’t you have work today…? Ayaka just said you’d be home late…” Haruto’s confusion, which had been growing, intensified at Shūichi’s unexpected words. “Yeah, I’ll go back to the office after I talk with you, Ōtsuki-kun.” “Huh? W-What is this talk about?” “Hehehe. It’s about business, you see.”
Shūichi replied in a meaningful tone. “Well then, I’m leaving the office now, so… let’s see… I think I can be home in thirty or forty minutes. Sorry, but could you wait a little?” “Y-Yes… I understand.” When Haruto replied, Shūichi ended the call with a “See you then.” With a stunned expression, he handed the phone back to Ayaka. “What did Dad say?” “He said he’s coming home now, so to wait for thirty or forty minutes.” “I see. Got it.” “…What did you say to Shūichi-san?” What on earth had she sent in her message to Shūichi? Curious, Haruto met Ayaka’s eyes and asked. She answered his question with a slightly shy smile. “I don’t know what will happen yet. But, I think it will be a good thing for both your grandmother and for you, Haruto-kun.” After saying that, Ayaka’s cheeks tinged with a faint blush, and she added one more thing with a smile tinged with shyness. “And it’s a good thing for me, too…” “For you too, Ayaka?” “Yeah…” “What does that…?” “I think Dad will probably explain it.” “…I see.” After that conversation, the two waited for Shūichi’s arrival on the living room sofa, exchanging few words. Then, about forty minutes after the phone call, the faint sound of a car could be heard from outside the house. “Ah, it looks like Dad’s home.” After Ayaka’s words, the sound of the front door opening was heard, and soon Shūichi appeared in the living room. Haruto stood up from the sofa where he was sitting and bowed his head to Shūichi. “Hello, Shūichi-san. Sorry for the intrusion.” “Hello, Ōtsuki-kun. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Shūichi said cheerfully, dressed smartly in a suit and exuding the aura of a business executive. Haruto thought he looked cool, and at the same time, a stray thought crossed his mind that it was inevitable for Ayaka, who had clearly inherited Shūichi and Ikue’s genes, to be called the most beautiful girl in school.
As soon as he entered the living room, Shūichi sat down on the sofa and gestured for Haruto to sit across from him. “I’m sorry to get right to it, but may I have a word? I actually have another important meeting at the office after this. I can’t stay long.” Looking at Haruto sitting in front of him, Shūichi said apologetically. What on earth was so important that he would return home to discuss it, despite having an important company meeting waiting? Haruto looked at Shūichi sitting across from him with a tense expression. “Um… I’m sorry. Even though you have such an important meeting…” “No, no. It’s true that the company meeting is important, but what I’m about to discuss with you is also very important for the Tōjō family.” “Um… and what is this important matter?” At Haruto’s question, Shūichi looked at him with serious eyes. His appearance, a complete change from his usual bright and friendly, boyish atmosphere, was now filled with the dignity of a company executive, exuding the air of an authoritative adult. “Before I begin this discussion, there’s something I want to tell you first, Ōtsuki-kun.” He leaned forward slightly from the back of the sofa, loosely clasping his hands. He looked as if he were about to start a business negotiation. “The offer I’m about to make is not out of sympathy for you or your grandmother. It’s not about bending the rules to help you because you’re Ayaka’s boyfriend. It’s a proposal I’m making purely because I believe it will benefit our family, the Tōjō family. I want you to listen to my proposal with that understanding.” “Yes, I understand.” “Good. Then let’s get down to business. It’s not a very complicated matter, though. To put it bluntly, I’d like to hire your grandmother as our family’s housekeeper.” “W-What!?” At Shūichi’s words, Haruto couldn’t help but let out a cry of surprise. “My grandmother… you mean?” “You mentioned before, didn’t you, Ōtsuki-kun? That it was your grandmother who taught you how to cook.” “Y-Yes.” “Your cooking skills, Ōtsuki-kun, have already been proven through your housekeeping work. And if it’s the grandmother who taught you, then we
have no complaints whatsoever.” “I-It’s true that my grandmother’s cooking skills are solid, but…” His mind unable to keep up with the unexpected turn of events, Haruto was at a loss for words. At that moment, Ayaka, sitting next to him, opened her mouth with a bright smile. “And it was your grandma who taught you how to clean and everything, right, Haruto-kun? In other words, the quality of your housekeeping work is based on your grandma’s standards, right?” “We were very satisfied with your work during the summer break, Ōtsukikun. If we could, we would have liked you to continue after the break, but we couldn’t ask a student like you to prioritize a part-time job. And just then, the story about your grandmother came up.” Hearing this from both Shūichi and Ayaka, a great ray of hope shone into Haruto. Haruto could feel the heavy anxiety that had been sitting in his heart rapidly lightening. Amidst all this, one problem snagged in his mind. “Thank you so much! This is a really, really big help.” “You don’t have to thank me so much. As I said before, this offer isn’t out of sympathy or pity. In fact, if you accept this offer, I’m the one who should be bowing my head.” At Shūichi’s kind words, Haruto bowed his head deeply. Then, as he raised his head, he told Shūichi about the problem his grandmother was facing. “I’m very happy. I’d love to accept the offer. But, um… there’s a bit of a problem. Actually, my grandmother has been having some back problems recently, and it’s a little difficult for her to walk long distances.” The Ōtsuki and Tōjō houses were about a thirty-minute walk apart. For the still-young Haruto, it was a distance that was no trouble at all. However, for his elderly grandmother with a bad back, making that trip frequently would be quite tough. When he told Shūichi this, he nodded deeply, then looked at Haruto with a smile on his lips. His demeanor had lost some of its earlier executive air. “I’ve heard about that from Ayaka, too. So, I have a proposal for you, Ōtsuki-kun.” Shūichi paused for a beat before continuing. “Would it be possible to have your grandmother work as a live-in housekeeper?” “W-What!? A-A live-in, you say!?”
Haruto let out his second cry of surprise for the day. Shūichi continued, sounding very pleased. “Of course, I understand that it would be difficult for her to be at this house all week. We’ll have to discuss the details later, but as one idea, how about she lives in on weekdays and returns home on weekends?” “Ah, um… y-yes, that’s right. Uh…” At Shūichi’s unexpected proposal, various thoughts surfaced and disappeared in Haruto’s mind, and he couldn’t organize them properly. At that point, Shūichi threw another suggestion at him. “And, if your grandmother lives in at our house, you’ll be alone at home, won’t you, Ōtsuki-kun?” “Y-Yes.” “That would make you feel lonely, and I’d feel bad about that.” “N-No. For us, just having you hire my grandmother is a huge help…” When Haruto replied so, Shūichi shook his head slightly. “Ōtsuki-kun. A family, you know. I believe that when you can be together, you’re happier being together.” “Y-Yes, sir…” “So, this is also a proposal, but…” Here, Shūichi gave Haruto a very nice, bright smile. “How about it? How about you also stay at this house with your grandmother?” “W-What!?” Haruto’s third cry of surprise for the day. It’s true what they say, what happens twice, will happen a third time. The third surprise was the biggest, and Haruto froze with his mouth agape. At that, Ayaka asked, as if gauging Haruto’s reaction. “What do you think, Haruto-kun? Personally, I think it would be lively and fun if we could all eat dinner together, including you and your grandma…” “W-Well, that might be true, but…” He said, bewildered, looking at her beside him. Ayaka showed no surprise at Shūichi’s proposal, her eyes shining with anticipation. It was likely that this idea of welcoming the Ōtsuki family into their home had already been discussed during their earlier phone conversation. Shūichi, sitting across from them, smiled cheerfully.
It was strikingly similar to the smile he had when he had hinted at Haruto marrying Ayaka when they were in the hot spring together during the camping trip. “You probably already know this, Ōtsuki-kun, but this house has a guest room that we don’t normally use, so we were thinking of letting your grandmother use that room.” “Ah, thank you. But, um… if I were to live here too, wouldn’t there not be enough rooms…?” The Tōjō house, being a mansion, had a splendid guest room. Since it wasn’t normally used, it would be no problem for his grandmother to use that room. However, if Haruto were to also stay at the Tōjō residence, they would run out of rooms. The Tōjō residence did have a Japanese-style room in addition to the living room, so if he used that as his room, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to live there. When Haruto posed this question to Shūichi, he replied instantly with the same bright smile. “No problem. We’ll have you use the room next to Ayaka’s, Ōtsuki-kun.” “Huh? But, that room is Ryōta-kun’s…” The room next to Ayaka’s was Ryōta’s room. If Haruto were to use that room, Ryōta would lose his room. However, Shūichi replied nonchalantly, “It’s no problem.” “Ryōta still sleeps in our room, and he usually plays in the living room, so that room is practically an empty room. We plan to make it Ryōta’s room in the future, but that’s a little further down the line. So for now, it’s completely fine for you to use it, Ōtsuki-kun.” “I-I see…” Haruto couldn’t help but be convinced by Shūichi’s explanation. “Um, does Ikue-san know about this?” “Of course I’ve told her. Ikue also said she would welcome you both with open arms.” Hearing this much, the Tōjō family’s strong intention to welcome the Ōtsuki family was palpable. “Thank you so much. Um… as for me, I would love to accept this offer, but I’d like to talk to my grandmother first, and then, um, give you a formal reply, so… could I have a little time?” “Of course! I want you to discuss it thoroughly with your grandmother and decide.” Shūichi nodded emphatically, then glanced at his wristwatch and stood up from the sofa. “Well then, I’ll be heading back to the office.”
“Um, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.” Haruto also stood up from the sofa and bowed his head deeply in thanks. After that, Haruto and Ayaka headed to the entryway to see Shūichi off. Shūichi put on his leather shoes, turned around, and looked at Haruto. “Ōtsuki-kun, I sincerely hope you’ll consider this positively.” At Shūichi’s words, Haruto bowed his head deeply once more. Seeing this, he opened the front door with a satisfied expression and returned to his company. Haruto stared silently at the door he had left through for a few seconds, then abruptly turned his gaze to Ayaka standing next to him. “Ayaka. That thing Shūichi-san said just now, about me staying here too, could it be…” “…I can’t be with you at all at school, so I thought it would be nice if we could be together a lot at home. Was that… bad?” With an expression mixed with shyness and awkwardness, Ayaka answered in a small voice, avoiding Haruto’s gaze. In response, Haruto chuckled and replied. “How could it be bad? If I can be with the girl I love, I’d be the one asking. It’s just that, it all happened so suddenly, I was just surprised, or maybe it doesn’t feel real… I thought it was like a dream.” “Really!? Hehe, being at home with you, Haruto-kun, feels like a dream to me too!” With a smile that was about to burst, Ayaka exploded with joy and threw her arms around Haruto.