After returning home, Haruto did a final check of the luggage he was bringing to the Tōjō residence. The incident earlier is probably going to cause all sorts of misunderstandings, but from now on, I’ll be living with her. I can just explain it properly then. With that in mind, Haruto checked his luggage, item by item. “Change of clothes, charger, study materials, and… okay, this should be everything.” Confirming there was nothing missing from his boston bag, Haruto shouldered his backpack, locked up his house, and headed for the Tōjō residence. His grandmother had already gone over around noon to start her work as their housekeeper. Haruto walked with a sense of gratitude toward the Tōjō family for giving his grandmother a new place to work. He stopped for a moment in front of the magnificent mansion. Before ringing the doorbell, he took out his smartphone to check for any messages. He let out a small sigh when he saw there were none. In Haruto’s mind, the image of Ayaka’s eyes widening in shock as she watched him being led away by Shizuku was vivid. He had fully expected her to ask him about it in a message, but contrary to his expectations, there was no reaction from Ayaka at all. “Well, we’re about to see each other in person, so I’ll just talk to her then.” Muttering to himself, Haruto rang the Tōjōs’ doorbell. “Yes, hello?” “It’s Ōtsuki.” “Oh, Ōtsuki-kun! I’ll open the door now.” A few seconds after Ikue’s cheerful voice came through, the front door opened, and she appeared. “Welcome home, Ōtsuki-kun.” “Ah, yes. Excuse me for intruding.” Ikue welcomed Haruto with a beaming smile. Feeling a little embarrassed by her “welcome home,” he gave a small bow and stepped inside.
“Ōtsuki-kun, you’re not supposed to say ‘excuse me for intruding.’ You’re supposed to say ‘I’m home’.” “Ah, right. Yes.” Haruto gave a sheepish, wry smile at Ikue, who was still beaming. “’I’m home’ isn’t just something you say to a place, you know? It’s what you say when you return to the people who are waiting for you.” “Yes… I’m home.” “Ufufu, welcome home.” Ikue’s gentle smile made Haruto feel an itchy sort of embarrassment. But at the same time, he could feel a warmth spreading through his heart. With these feelings, Haruto entered the living room to find Ayaka playing with Ryōta. Ayaka, who was facing off against Ryōta with a plastic sword, smiled when she saw him. “Oh, Haruto-kun. Welcome home.” “Ah, yeah. I’m home.” Being welcomed home by Ayaka’s radiant smile, Haruto felt a joy that was just a little different from when Ikue had said it moments before. “Ayaka, um… about what happened at school today…” Haruto tried to explain about Shizuku, but he was interrupted by Ryōta, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Onii-chan, welcome hoooome!!” Ryōta tossed aside the plastic sword in his hand and charged at Haruto. “Whoa there. I’m home, Ryōta-kun.” Haruto bent down to catch Ryōta. “You’re gonna live with us starting today, right, Onii-chan?” “That’s right. It’ll be nice living with you.” “Yeah!! It’ll be super nice!!” Ryōta’s eyes sparkled as he beamed at Haruto with the happiest expression imaginable, and Haruto’s own face softened in response. Just then, his grandmother, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen, saw the two of them and her eyes crinkled in a smile. “Welcome home, Haruto.” “I’m home, Grandma.”
It was the usual exchange Haruto and his grandmother had the moment he got home. Having this conversation not at his own house but at the Tōjōs’ felt a little strange to Haruto. His grandmother was preparing chicken thighs in a large bowl. It seemed dinner tonight was karaage. Seeing this, Haruto spoke to his grandmother as he always did. “Grandma, want me to help with anything?” “No, it’s alright today. More importantly, go put your things away and play with Ryōta-kun.” Normally, Haruto would cook alongside his grandmother, trying to steal her culinary skills. But since today was his first day at the Tōjō residence, his grandmother told him to go play with Ryōta. He nodded, then gently placed a hand on Ryōta’s head. “Ryōta-kun, once I put my stuff away, want to play until dinner?” “Yay!!” Haruto smiled at Ryōta’s explosion of joy. Just then, Ayaka spoke up. “Haruto-kun, I’ll help you carry your things.” As she spoke, she reached for the boston bag Haruto had brought. “Ah, this one’s heavy, so could you take the backpack instead?” “Got it. Okay, Ryōta, we’re going to put Haruto-kun’s things away, so can you wait just a little bit?” Ayaka asked her brother as she took the backpack from Haruto. Just then, Ikue, who had returned to the living room, spoke to Ryōta. “Let’s play with Mommy until your big brother and sister come back.” “Hmm… okay!” Ryōta glanced at Haruto and Ayaka before nodding at his mother’s words. Ayaka looked a little surprised at how easily her brother agreed, perhaps expecting him to whine a bit more. Seeing his sister’s expression, Ryōta looked proud. “Onii-chan and Onee-chan have to live together and nurture their love so they can become a real family. I want Onii-chan to become part of our real family soon, so I’m gonna help.” “O-Oh, is that so… thanks…” Ayaka’s face flushed with embarrassment at her brother’s declaration of help. “By the way, um… who told you about ‘nurturing love’?”
“Mommy and Daddy were talking about it! So, I’m going to help so Oniichan and Onee-chan can be alone together!” After saying that, Ryōta looked at her with dazzling eyes and said, “Do your best, Onee-chan!” In response to her brother, Ayaka managed a strained smile before turning a sharp glare on her mother. Receiving her daughter’s pointed look, Ikue simply smiled sweetly. “Oh my.” “Looks like you overheard us.” “It’s not ‘looks like you overheard us’! Gosh… Haruto-kun, let’s go.” Ayaka looked tired as she lightly tugged on Haruto’s arm and led him out of the living room. With a wry smile, Haruto let himself be led upstairs and into Ryōta’s room. Ayaka led him to Ryōta’s room—the one he would be using, right next to hers. As Haruto began to unpack, she spoke, her expression troubled and her face red. “I’m sorry, Haruto-kun. Mom and Dad are always saying weird things.” “No, I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m really happy that I get to live with you, Ayaka. And while the phrasing ‘nurture our love’ is a little… well, I do think it’s a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better.” “Y-Yeah. You’re right… I want to get to know you better too, Haruto-kun.” A blush of happiness appeared on Ayaka’s cheeks at Haruto’s words. Seeing her happy reaction made Haruto smile as well. “Right, about what happened at school today.” “Oh, yeah. Um, Dōjima-san… was it?” Now that they were alone, Haruto explained about Shizuku to Ayaka. “Yeah. Shizuku is the daughter of the master at the dojo I go to. We’ve done karate together since we were little, so… she’s kind of like a childhood friend.” “Oh, I see. You and Dōjima-san seemed really close, Haruto-kun, but if you’re childhood friends, it makes sense that you’d get along so well.” Ayaka nodded in understanding as she listened. Haruto looked her in the eyes and spoke with a serious expression. “It’s true that Shizuku and I are close, and she’s an important friend. But the one I love is you, Ayaka. Only you.” “Yeah… thank you. That makes me happy.” Hearing Haruto’s words, the corners of Ayaka’s mouth softened. She looked down, as if to hide her grinning face from him.
“Actually, I told Shizuku that I’m dating you, and when I told her about the situation at school, she said she’d help… that’s why she came to the classroom today, but…” Haruto paused, struggling with how to put it, before speaking again. “Shizuku is a really good person, and I think she’s just genuinely trying to help, but… I’m sorry.” With his apology, Haruto bowed his head. Ayaka, whose face had been red, frantically waved her hands in response. “W-Why are you apologizing, Haruto-kun? You haven’t done anything to apologize for.” “Well, I thought I might have made you anxious,” said Haruto, remembering the shocked look on her face as he was leaving the classroom. But Ayaka just shook her head and replied. “No, not at all. I was certainly surprised when a girl who seemed so close to you suddenly appeared, but…” Ayaka glanced at Haruto, then continued shyly, fidgeting. “I… um… I can feel that you truly care for me, Haruto-kun, so I wasn’t anxious.” “O-Oh, I see…” “Yeah…” A silence, thick with bashfulness, fell between them. As if to break the sweet quiet, Ayaka puffed out her chest with an exaggerated “ahem.” “So, Haruto-kun? What do you think? Aren’t I a good girlfriend, being so tolerant of my boyfriend’s female friends?” She made a cute, smug face, as if to distract from her blushing cheeks. Haruto felt a wave of affection rise in his chest and gently pulled Ayaka into a hug. “You’re right. To me, Ayaka, you’re the most amazing, perfect girlfriend I could ever ask for.” Haruto whispered softly into her ear. She squirmed in his arms as if ticklish. Later, after putting his things away in Ryōta’s room with Ayaka, Haruto went down to the living room to play with the boy until dinner. It seemed Ryōta was currently obsessed with playing samurai, so Haruto faced off against him, a toy sword in hand. “Alright, Ryōta-kun. Let’s have an honorable duel.” “Hehehe, Onii-chan. You see, I’m a master of the Niten Ichi-ryū.” With a cute, fearless smile, Ryōta held up the two toy swords in his hands.
Haruto couldn’t help but laugh at Ryōta, who was naming the school of a famous two-sword-wielding swordsman, though he had no idea where the boy had learned it. “Are you a fan of Miyamoto Musashi, Ryōta-kun?” “Miyamoto Musashi? Who’s that?” Ryōta tilted his head in confusion at Haruto’s words. Haruto was puzzled as to how Ryōta knew the name “Niten Ichi” without knowing who Miyamoto Musashi was. Getting a glimpse into the mysterious world of a kindergartener, Haruto could only tilt his own head at the unanswerable question. Seeing this, Ryōta brandished the swords in his hands and passionately declared to Haruto. “Onii-chan! The Niten Ichi-ryū is the strongest!” “I see. If you’re a master of the Niten Ichi-ryū, Ryōta-kun, then perhaps I shall become a master of the Ganryū.” As he spoke, Haruto struck an exaggerated pose with his toy sword. “Ganryū? What’s that?” “It’s the school of Sasaki Kojirō.” “Sasaki… I don’t know that person. But Ganryū sounds cool, so I wanna use it too!” Haruto gave a fearless smile to the boy, whose eyes were sparkling. “Then it’s the duel of Ganryūjima.” “Yeah! A duel!” Though he didn’t seem to understand the meaning, the words alone must have struck a chord. Ryōta swung his swords wildly, his fighting spirit ablaze. Ayaka, sitting on the living room sofa, gave a wry smile at her brother, who was completely absorbed in his sword fight with Haruto, and offered a word of caution. “Ryōta, if you’re too rough, you’ll get hurt.” “I’m fine! Because I’m a master of Niten Ichi-ryū!” “Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense.” Ayaka looked exasperated at Ryōta’s words. Haruto stepped in to support him. “Dual-wielding is a man’s romance.” “Oh? So you admire the swordsmen of old too, Haruto-kun?” “Yeah, you could say that.” “You’re open, Onii-chan!” While Haruto was talking to Ayaka, Ryōta attacked without mercy.
Haruto blocked it, then continued to effortlessly parry Ryōta’s wildly swinging swords. For Haruto, whose kinetic vision had been trained through karate, dodging Ryōta’s attacks was easy. However, that wouldn’t be any fun for Ryōta, so after a while, Haruto deliberately took a hit. “Gwah! I’m done for!” Taking a magnificent diagonal slash from shoulder to hip, Haruto let out a pained cry and collapsed to his knees. At his exaggerated reaction, Ryōta threw his hands in the air in triumph. “Yay! I defeated Onii-chan!” “You’re strong, Ryōta-kun.” “Heheheh.” At Haruto’s praise, Ryōta showed off his most triumphant smug face. He looked so adorable that Haruto couldn’t help but smile fondly. Just then, Shūichi came home and entered the living room. “Welcome home, Daddy!” “I’m home, Ryōta. Oh? Were you having a match with Haruto-kun?” Ryōta ran up to his father to greet him. Shūichi crouched down to meet his gaze and pointed at the toy sword in his hand. “Yeah! It’s the duel of Ganryūjima, Daddy!” “Is that so? And who won?” “Me!” “Then you must be Miyamoto Musashi.” Shūichi’s face broke into a wide grin at his son’s earnest explanation. “No, Daddy! I’m not Miyamoto Musashi, I’m a master of the Niten Ichiryū!” “Oh, is that so! Ryōta, you’re a swordsman of the Reiwa era.” “Yeah!! A swordsman of the Reiwa era!” Thrilled by his father’s words, Ryōta struck a pose, holding his two swords at the ready. After patting his son’s head, Shūichi stood and turned his gaze to Haruto. “Haruto-kun, thank you for playing with Ryōta.” “Not at all. I’m glad he had fun.” Shūichi nodded happily at Haruto’s reply and then headed for the kitchen. “Kiyoko-san. Thank you for preparing dinner,” said Shūichi, bowing politely to Haruto’s grandmother.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. From this day forward, I will do my utmost to serve as your housekeeper.” Kiyoko also returned a polite thanks to Shūichi. “Is that karaage for dinner today? It looks delicious, I’m already looking forward to it.” As Shūichi said this, looking at the karaage that was just starting to be fried, Kiyoko gave a gentle smile. “It will be ready very soon.” “Mmm, I can’t wait. By the way, Ayaka, where’s your mother?” “Mom’s in the study, working.” “I see. Then I’ll go tell her dinner will be ready soon.” Shūichi left the living room with a cheerful spring in his step. Ayaka, who had been following him with her eyes, called out to Ryōta. “Ryōta, it’s almost dinnertime, so put your toys away.” “Okay! Onii-chan, let’s have a duel again!” “You got it. I won’t lose next time.” “I’m a master of the Niten Ichi-ryū, so I’m the strongest.” Ryōta gave a smug grin, as if with the confidence of a true champion, and put all his toys away with Haruto. After that, Shūichi returned to the living room with Ikue, and once Haruto and the others were seated at the dining table, Kiyoko began placing the finished dinner on the table. “Thank you for waiting. Please, eat.” On the table, besides the karaage, there was a tofu and seaweed salad, a vinegared dish of octopus and cucumber, and miso soup. “Mm, it all looks delicious.” “Thank you, Kiyoko-san.” The Tōjō couple thanked Kiyoko in unison. “Not at all. Please eat before it gets cold.” “Well then, let’s eat.” Shūichi put his hands together, and everyone followed suit before reaching for their food. “Onii-chan, this karaage has a different color,” Ryōta said. “I bet it has a different flavor,” Haruto replied to Ryōta, who was staring curiously at the mountain of karaage. “Grandma, what are the flavors for the karaage today?”
“Today, this one is seasoned with soy sauce and garlic, and the one next to it is salt kōji. This slightly yellow one is curry-flavored, and the reddish one is plum and shiso leaf.” Kiyoko explained each of the four different seasonings. “So, Ryōta-kun, which flavor do you want to try first?” “Curry flavor!” Haruto smiled at Ryōta’s instant reply and placed a piece of curryflavored karaage on his small plate. Watching this exchange from the side, Shūichi also reached for the karaage with his chopsticks. “I think I’ll have the soy sauce garlic.” “The plum shiso looks delicious,” Ikue added, taking a piece of karaage after her husband. The Tōjō couple took a bite in unison, and their expressions relaxed. “Mmm! This is delicious! The fragrant soy sauce and the aroma of garlic are just perfect!” “The plum shiso is delicious too. It’s so juicy, but it has a refreshing taste.” Kiyoko’s cheeks softened with pleasure as the Tōjōs praised her karaage. “Mmm, this… I really need… a beer…” Shūichi groaned, glaring at the karaage in his hand as if resisting some great temptation. “But… today is my no-alcohol day… mmm…” “Honey, just one glass, okay?” “Really?!” At Ikue’s words, Shūichi’s face lit up with pure joy. Ayaka gave a wry smile at her parents’ antics, then took a bite of the salt kōji karaage. Her eyes immediately widened in surprise. “Wow… the meat is so tender.” Seeing her reaction, Haruto smiled as he gave Ryōta a piece of the soy sauce garlic karaage. “That’s because the chicken was soaked in a brine solution first. Right, Grandma?” “Yes, that’s right.” “Brine solution?” Ayaka tilted her head, looking back and forth between Haruto and his grandmother. “A brine solution is something that makes meat tender and juicy. You make it with water, salt, and sugar, and then you marinate the meat in it.”
“Huh, I had no idea something like that existed.” Ayaka nodded, impressed by Haruto’s explanation, and continued eating her chicken. Just then, Ikue, who had been happily eating the octopus and cucumber salad, called out to Haruto. “Oh, that’s right, Ōtsuki-kun. From now on, would it be okay if I called you Haruto-kun, too?” Ikue explained that she wanted to start using his first name, adding, “Since Kiyoko-san is here now, too.” For the record, Shūichi had already switched from calling him “Ōtsuki-kun” to “Haruto-kun.” “Yes, that’s fine.” “Alright. Then, once again, it’s nice to have you with us, Haruto-kun.” Ikue smiled brightly. She looked so much like Ayaka that Haruto couldn’t help but look away. “N-Nice to be here.” In his mind, he imagined that this is what Ayaka would be like when she grew up, and his heart rate spiked on its own. While he was thinking this, Ikue let out a cheerful laugh. “Oh my, Ayaka, your eyes are looking a little scary.” “N-No they’re not, they’re normal!” “Hmm? Well, don’t worry. I’m devoted to your father.” “Th-That’s not! That’s not what I meant!” Her daughter’s face turned red as she argued with her mother. Ignoring his mother’s teasing and his sister’s blush, Ryōta ate a piece of the plum shiso karaage and smiled at Haruto. “Onii-chan, this one is delicious! I like it!” “You do? Want another one?” “Yeah!!” Kiyoko quietly watched the dinner table scene with a happy smile. The Tōjō family dinner table, now including the Ōtsukis, was even more lively and bright than usual. After dinner, Haruto spent a relaxing time playing with Ryōta again and taking a bath. Late at night, everyone retired to their respective rooms to sleep. Haruto also went into Ryōta’s room and spread his study materials out on the desk. I have nothing but gratitude for the Tōjō family… Haruto muttered to himself as he faced the desk.
He had lived with his grandparents since losing his parents at a young age. And after his grandfather passed away when he started middle school, it had just been him and his grandmother. Looking back, life with just his grandmother had been very quiet. When there was no conversation, the house was either wrapped in silence or filled with the loud sound of the television. It wasn’t that he particularly disliked it, or that he was lonely. That was the environment Haruto had grown up in, and that was what was normal for the Ōtsuki family. However, experiencing a day like today made him realize that a lively family was also a wonderful thing. It felt like his heart was buoyant, his spirits light. Haruto opened a textbook, feeling a gentle warmth spread through his heart at the thought of the new life with the Tōjō family that was about to begin. After concentrating on his studies for a while, there was a sudden knock on the door. “Yes, come in,” Haruto looked up from his textbook and said toward the door. The door opened slowly and hesitantly, and Ayaka’s face peeked through the gap. “…Are you going to bed soon, Haruto-kun?” “No, not yet.” “…Then, can I… stay in your room for a little while?” “Yeah, of course.” When Haruto replied, Ayaka entered the room with a happy smile and closed the door behind her. Ayaka slowly entered the room, her gaze falling on the study materials spread across the desk. “You were studying.” “Yeah, well, it’s a daily routine.” “I see. That’s just like you, Haruto-kun. I need to follow your example, with the tests starting soon and all.” Ayaka looked a little gloomy, as if remembering that the post-summerbreak exams were just around the corner. Haruto looked at her with gentle eyes. “Come to think of it, I get a reward if I score over eighty on all subjects, right?” “Yeah, you remembered our promise.” “Of course.” Ayaka’s cheeks softened happily as Haruto nodded. “I’m looking forward to my reward from you, Haruto-kun.”
“Oh? So it’s already a done deal that you’ll get over eighty on every subject?” Haruto said, teasing her slightly, as she was already planning on receiving her reward. “Well, that’s what I’ve been working so hard for this time. But…” She paused, then looked up at him from under her eyelashes. “If I don’t make it, will you comfort me then?” “…Okay. I’ll comfort you.” “Hehe, yay.” Though it was a calculated, coquettish gesture, Haruto was completely charmed and gave a wry smile. Just then, he realized that Ayaka had been standing ever since she came into the room. “Sorry, Ayaka, you’ve been standing this whole time. Let’s sit—” Haruto stopped himself before he could say, “down.” The room was intended for Ryōta in the future, so for now it was practically empty and unfurnished. Shūichi had hastily prepared a desk for him, but there was no bed or even a cushion to sit on. The only thing on the floor at the moment was the futon Haruto had laid out to sleep on. “There’s nowhere to sit…” Haruto said, looking around the room. In response, Ayaka spoke up hesitantly, her cheeks flushing red. “Then… can I sit on you, Haruto-kun?” “Huh? I mean… you can… but how?” Haruto, sitting on the chair in front of the desk, replied in confusion. “Like this…” Ayaka, her face still red, slowly approached Haruto and sat down on his lap, facing him. “This is how,” she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and gently placing her hands on them.
The sudden closing of the distance, the sensation and warmth transmitted from his thighs—Haruto could clearly hear the pounding of his own heart in his ears. “A-Ayaka? Isn’t this a little too close?” “…You don’t like it?” “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just… my heart is pounding so hard it kind of hurts.” “It’s making your heart pound that much?” “Well, yeah… if a girl you like gets this close, anyone’s heart would start pounding.” “Fufu, I see. My heart is pounding too.” Ayaka’s gaze intertwined with his, her eyes glistening. Even as a blush crept up to her neck, she snuggled closer to him. Seeing her like this, a thought occurred to Haruto, and he lowered his gaze apologetically. “Sorry, Ayaka. I guess I really did make you anxious about Shizuku.” At his words, Ayaka’s body gave a slight jolt. “…” She looked down, silent. When they had talked about Shizuku earlier, Ayaka had said she didn’t mind. But perhaps, while saying that, she had still been anxious about his relationship with Shizuku. Haruto thought this, remembering the shocked look on her face at school. Just then, Ayaka, still looking down, began to speak in a small voice. “…No, it’s not that I was… anxious…” Ayaka said, then slowly lifted her head to meet Haruto’s eyes. “Hey, Haruto-kun…” “Hm?” “Just for a little… just for a little while, is it okay if I’m… selfish?” she whispered, her voice tinged with a slight guilt as she mustered the courage to be vulnerable with him. Haruto gave her a gentle smile. “Yeah. Don’t say just a little while. You can be as selfish as you want.” “…You’re too sweet, Haruto-kun. If you say things like that, I’ll just get greedier and greedier.” “I don’t mind.”
“Gosh…” Ayaka probably wanted to make an angry face, but she failed spectacularly, her expression melting into a completely besotted one. She reached up from his shoulders, clasping her hands behind his neck. “You know, like I said earlier, I’ve properly received your feelings, Haruto-kun, so I’m not anxious. It’s just… I got jealous.” “Of Shizuku?” “…Yeah.” Ayaka gave a small nod. She moved her face a little closer to Haruto as she explained. “At school, when I saw Dōjima-san talking so openly with you, I just… felt envious. I was thinking, I can’t even talk to Haruto-kun…” “I see…” “I’m your girlfriend, so why can she talk to you and I can’t?” After saying that, Ayaka showed a slightly self-deprecating, wry smile. “I’m being super selfish and irrational, aren’t I? I mean, I was the one who said we should keep our relationship a secret at school…” she said, her voice a little dejected. Haruto, still smiling gently, offered words of comfort. “But that’s because you have trauma from that trouble in middle school, right? So it can’t be helped.” “…Yeah. But you know, seeing Dōjima-san today made me realize I really do want to interact with you normally at school, Haruto-kun. But… I’m still a little scared…” “Ayaka…” Haruto reached out to Ayaka, who was sitting on his lap, and gently pulled her into a hug. “You don’t have to push yourself so hard. We can’t be together at school, but we can be like this at home. We can just take our time and figure out the school thing together.” “Haruto-kun… thank you.” Ayaka smiled happily, then pulled the arms wrapped around his neck closer, resting her cheek against his neck. “I love you…” “I love you too,” replied Haruto, gently stroking her soft hair. “Hey, Haruto-kun…” Ayaka lifted her face from his neck and called his name in a sweet, pleading voice. “What is it?”
“Can I use my girlfriend’s privilege?” She said this from so close their noses were almost touching. Haruto tilted his head slightly. “Privilege? Sure, but…” The moment she heard those words, Ayaka moved her face closer to Haruto’s. Fully expecting a kiss, Haruto tilted his face up slightly. But contrary to his expectations, Ayaka’s lips didn’t meet his. They passed by the side of his cheek. Haruto barely had time to think, Huh? before a wet, faintly painful sensation registered on his left ear. “!” A feeling Haruto had never experienced before. The strength in the arms holding Ayaka tightened reflexively. “Nn.” Instantly, her breath tickled his left ear, and Haruto’s heart felt like it was on the verge of exploding. His heart was racing so fast he thought Ayaka, pressed against him, would surely feel it. Whether she knew what was going on inside him or not, she once again nibbled gently on his left earlobe. Again and again, she nibbled softly. Haruto squeezed his eyes shut, as if to endure the sensation in his left ear. After savoring his earlobe for a while, Ayaka finally pulled her face away from his left ear and slowly returned to face him. “I bit your earlobe, Haruto-kun,” Ayaka said with a mischievous smile, and in Haruto’s eyes, she looked incredibly bewitching. “…I told you not to bite me before.” Haruto protested, as if resisting being swallowed up by the aura she was giving off. “Yeah, you did. But isn’t it normal for a girlfriend to bite her boyfriend’s ear?” The cuteness of Ayaka tilting her head as she said this was too much for Haruto to bear, and his expression crumbled. “I’ve been thinking this since we were ‘practicing’ being a couple, but I don’t think your standards for what a couple does are normal at all…” She was an avid reader of romance manga and novels. And those fictional elements had formed Ayaka’s standards for what couples do. “Did you not like me biting your ear?”
“It’s not that I didn’t like it, it’s just… it’s a strange feeling, I guess…” “So you did like it? Then can I bite your right earlobe too?” “Ayaka-san, were you listening to me at all?” “Yep. That you didn’t dislike me biting your ear.” Haruto surrendered at Ayaka’s radiant smile, raising his hands slightly. “Alright, fine. Do whatever you want.” “Yay.” Ayaka looked delighted at Haruto’s slightly resigned tone. At the same time, she hugged his neck tightly. “Is my earlobe really that nice to bite?” “Yeah, it’s the best,” Ayaka whispered softly into his ear, then promptly gave his right earlobe a gentle nibble. Still not used to the sensation, Haruto endured it silently. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling by any means, but it was an indescribable stimulation—itchy, ticklish—and Haruto struggled to maintain his composure. Just like his left ear, his right earlobe was nibbled for a while before Ayaka returned to face him, a satisfied look on her face. “Biting your earlobes could become a habit, Haruto-kun.” “Please don’t let it become a habit. My heart can’t take it.” Haruto gave a wry smile and bowed his head at Ayaka, who was saying terrifying things with a sweet smile. “If you tried biting an earlobe too, Haruto-kun, I think you’d understand the appeal.” As she said this, Ayaka casually removed her right hand from his neck and tucked her hair behind her ear. Seeing this heart-stoppingly attractive gesture up close, Haruto’s gaze was drawn to Ayaka’s right ear. “It’s okay, Haruto-kun. You can bite my right earlobe.” Ayaka tilted her head slightly to the left, as if offering her right ear to him. Haruto swallowed, trying not to let it show, then mustered all his selfcontrol to speak. “…No, I think I’ll pass.” “Really?” “Yeah. Because I feel like… things might get out of control.” “…?” Ayaka tilted her head with an innocent expression at Haruto’s words.
All he could do in response was give her another wry smile. ※ ※ ※ Lying in my bed, I recall my exchange with Haruto-kun and place a hand over my still-pounding heart. “Maybe I went a little too far…” I mutter to myself, feeling a pang of regret. Honestly, I only intended to go talk to him for a little while, but when I saw his face, I couldn’t control my emotions anymore. It all started at school today. Seeing that girl, Dōjima-san, appear in our classroom and act so familiar with Haruto-kun… that was the trigger. Haruto-kun said she was a childhood friend, and I don’t doubt his words. In fact, Haruto-kun is an incredibly charming person, so it’s only natural that he’d be liked by all sorts of people, and as his girlfriend, that makes me proud. But, while I feel that way, it’s also true that a feeling I’ve never really experienced before is swirling in a corner of my heart. “’The real romance starts after you begin dating,’ huh… Saki was right…” I remember my best friend’s words. When I told Saki that I’d become Haruto-kun’s girlfriend, she said, ‘Now you’ve finally reached the starting line of romance,’ and I’m really feeling that now. Most of the romance novels and manga I’ve read are stories where the characters’ feelings are reciprocated, they get together, and it’s a happy ending. But in reality, life continues even after you get together. Before I became Haruto-kun’s girlfriend, I thought about him a lot, worried, felt anxious, and on the flip side, felt happy and overjoyed. I experienced so many emotions because of him. But now that we’re a couple—especially now—I feel like even more are bubbling to the surface. There’s joy and happiness, but there are lots of other things too. The feeling that’s definitely inside my heart right now. I think it’s probably jealousy. I’ve never really felt jealousy before. I’ve seen affectionate couples and felt a sense of envy, thinking, “That’s nice,” but I’ve never truly felt jealous. But ever since I saw Haruto-kun talking with Dōjima-san at school today, a feeling of jealousy, so clear I could recognize it myself, has been overflowing within me.
I want to talk to him too. I want to hug his arm tightly. I want to touch him. I want to feel his warmth… Even at school… I want him to be by my side. I want him to look only at me. I want him to smile only for me, to talk only to me… Those feelings of jealousy, mixed with a heavy dose of possessiveness, spread through my heart in an instant. I tried to suppress this feeling. Because it’s my fault that I can’t talk to Haruto-kun at school. It’s because I’m the one who said we shouldn’t be together. So I’m well aware that this jealousy is ridiculously selfish. With that in mind, I tried desperately to control my desires. But the more I tried to control them, the more I tried to hold them back… The selfish jealousy inside me started to run wild. I found myself craving Haruto-kun, helplessly. There was nothing else I could do, so I went to his room to try and distract myself by talking to him for a bit. But the moment I was actually in front of him, my heart stopped listening to me. My heart took complete control of my body and moved to seek him out. And, as if to calm the jealousy that had been swirling inside me, to satisfy my possessiveness, I hugged him, pressed myself against him… and bit him. I wanted him to feel my presence, even just a little more strongly. I wanted to carve my existence into his heart… But now, back in my own room, with my heart calm and my thoughts a little clearer, I’m mortified by my own actions and also full of regret. I don’t just want to be on the receiving end from Haruto-kun. I want to be a girlfriend who can give back to him. I don’t want a relationship where I’m just dependent on him. Right now, I feel like I’m just being a clingy, troublesome girlfriend. Haruto-kun is kind, so I’m sure he’d accept even that and spoil me, but if I indulge in that, I’ll just become a lazy, useless person. If… if things continue to go well with Haruto-kun and we end up living together someday, I’ll have to do my share of the housework. As I am now, I’d just end up being completely supported by him… “Maybe I should ask Kiyoko-san to teach me how to cook…” With thoughts of becoming a partner who could stand as an equal with Haruto-kun, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
※ ※ ※ The next day, I walked the path to school alone. Haruto-kun had left the house earlier to stagger our arrival times. “I really wish we could walk together, holding hands…” I muttered, still dwelling a little on yesterday. As if my whisper had been carried on the wind to wrap around me, the desire that had subsided yesterday stirred and raised its head in my heart once more. I averted my eyes from that desire and thought back to the happy morning. “Kiyoko-san’s breakfast was so delicious.” Kiyoko-san’s cooking was so delicious it was like eating happiness itself. This morning, we had miso soup with onions and tofu, grilled salmon, rolled omelet, and simmered hijiki seaweed with soybeans. It wasn’t a strikingly luxurious menu, but Kiyoko-san’s simple breakfast was a gentle meal that was somehow comforting and calming. Eating it with everyone in the family, including Haruto-kun and Kiyokosan, made me feel like the Ōtsuki family had become a real part of our family, and I was so happy. “Someday, if Haruto-kun really becomes family… hehehe…” I accidentally said something Ryōta-like and couldn’t help but let out a laugh as I imagined that future. And just as I was becoming a slightly suspicious person, walking along grinning to myself, someone suddenly called out to me. “You’re Tōjō-senpai, right?” “Huh?” When I turned toward the voice, I saw a black-haired girl standing there with an expression that was hard to read. “Ah, um, Dōjima… san?” It was the girl who was Haruto-kun’s childhood friend, and also the cause of my jealousy yesterday. Dōjima-san looked straight at me, her expression unchanging, and opened her mouth to speak. “Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Dōjima Shizuku, from the first year.” “Um, I’m Tōjō Ayaka, from the second year.” Dōjima-san bowed politely as she greeted me, and I returned the greeting, a little flustered.
Is Dōjima-san the type of girl who doesn’t show her emotions much? She’s been staring at me with a straight face this whole time. But, she might be really cute… Her eyes are so big, and her black hair is beautiful… She’s a little short and has a petite build, but that just makes her look even more adorable. As I was observing Dōjima-san, she spoke to me, her expression still blank. “Did Haru-senpai tell you about me, Tōjō-senpai?” “Y-Yeah. He explained things yesterday.” “I see. Then you’ve heard that I’m going to help, right?” “Yeah, I heard that too.” When I replied, Dōjima-san gave a small “hmm, hmm” and a nod, then took a step closer to me. “In that case, please become my best friend, Tōjō-senpai.” “Best… huh? What… what do you mean?” I was startled by the sudden proposal. Seeing my reaction, Dōjima-san explained. “You want to be with Haru-senpai at school too, right, Tōjō-senpai?” “Well, yeah.” “Then we need to become best friends. Besties for life.” “Besties for life…” Dōjima-san stared intently into my eyes as my expression twitched slightly. “Well, if you really don’t want to, Tōjō-senpai, I won’t force you…” “Huh? Ah, no… I was just a little surprised, it’s not that I don’t want to…” “Then we can agree that we’re besties for life, right?” “Eh? Ah, w-well, that’s a little sudden… and I don’t know anything about you, Dōjima-san…” “That’s fine. I don’t know anything about you either, Tōjō-senpai, and I wasn’t interested until now,” declared Dōjima-san, giving me a thumbs-up. It kind of hurts to have it put so bluntly… And I have no idea what’s supposed to be “fine” about this. Becoming best friends with someone you’ve just met seems pretty impossible… Does she mean we should just act the part? Or does Dōjima-san really want to be my best friend…? And besides, I don’t think being best friends is something that just happens because someone says, “Let’s be best friends”…
As I was thinking this, Dōjima-san quickly moved to stand beside me. “And so, from now on we are the best of friends. Therefore, let’s walk to school together. Right, Aya-senpai?” “D-Dōjima-san, um…” “Please call me Shizuku.” I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at how sudden everything was, but Dōjima-san just kept closing the distance between us. “Come on, Aya-senpai, if we don’t hurry, we’ll be late.” “Ah, wait, Dōjima-san!” I called out to Dōjima-san as she started to walk off, and she turned to me with an expression that was hard to read. “Please call me Shizuku. We’re best friends now.” “Th-Then… Sh-Shizuku-chan.” “Yes, Aya-senpai?” “Um, is the reason we need to be best friends related to you helping out… maybe?” “Of course,” Dōjima-san answered my question with an immediate nod. “Why… are you going so far to help, Shizuku-chan?” As I asked, the image of her and Haruto-kun acting so familiar yesterday flickered in my mind. “Because I want Haru-senpai to be happy.” After saying this in a quiet, soft voice, she looked me straight in the eye and spoke again. “You know about Haru-senpai’s family situation, don’t you, Aya-senpai?” “Yeah… I’ve heard.” “Hmm… then you also know that his grandfather passed away when he was starting middle school, right?” “Y-Yeah. Haruto-kun told me that too.” When I replied, Dōjima-san muttered, “I see…” then, after a moment’s thought, she began to speak slowly. “I don’t want to see a sad Haru-senpai anymore. Back then… he looked like he would break if you so much as touched him. It was painful to watch. That’s why I’m going to help so that Haru-senpai can be with you and smile, Aya-senpai. I just don’t want him to be sad anymore.” After she finished, Dōjima-san looked at me with very serious eyes and said. “So, Aya-senpai, please don’t do anything that would make Haru-senpai sad, okay?”