“Okay… I’ll do it. I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend. I’ll be your girlfriend in front of your grandmother.” At the shocking words from Ayaka, Haruto froze, mouth agape. After freezing for a few seconds, Haruto came back to his senses and shook his head. “N-No! I couldn’t ask you to do such a thing! I’m completely to blame for this lie, so you don’t need to worry about it at all, Tojo-san!” Haruto tried to frantically refuse Ayaka’s suggestion. Ayaka took a step closer to him and said, “Hey, Otsuki-kun. Do you remember what I said before?” “Huh? Before…?” Haruto, slightly flinching at Ayaka who was now within arm’s reach, let his gaze wander as he searched his memory. However, when he couldn’t answer right away, Ayaka smiled. “When we went shopping together at the supermarket, I said I’d do anything for you, didn’t I?” “Ah, ah… But, asking you to pretend to be my girlfriend is a bit…” As Haruto showed his hesitation, Ayaka closed the distance even further. She also gently placed her hand on his, just a little shyly, and said, “Or… do you dislike it, Otsuki-kun? With me…” At Ayaya’s upward glance, Haruto’s face, already red from his cold, instantly turned another shade redder. “No, it’s not that… It’s more that I’m not really in a position to refuse… Rather, is it really okay? For you to pretend to be… well, my girlfriend, for someone who told such a lie…” “Yeah, it’s okay. You’ve taken care of me, so I want to repay you.” “No, well, mine was… a part-time job, so I was properly paid, and repaying that feels a bit excessive…” Haruto said, occasionally glancing at his hand overlapping with Ayaka’s. She, in contrast, looked directly at Haruto and spoke clearly. “Besides, after seeing your grandmother’s face light up with so much joy and happiness, I can’t bring myself to tell her it was a lie and make her sad. You don’t want to make your grandmother sad either, right?” At Ayaka’s words, Haruto softly muttered, “Well, yes, that’s true…” “Then, in front of your grandmother, is it okay for me to be your girlfriend?” Ayaka asked, confirming. Haruto looked down and thought for a while, then eventually looked up as if gauging her reaction.

“It’s… not a bother?” “Nope, it’s not a bother.” “You… don’t dislike it?” “Nope, I don’t dislike it.” Haruto closed his mouth again, shut his eyes, and looked down. Ayaka spoke to him persuasively. “If the lie is revealed, I think your grandmother will be very sad. After she was so happy and smiling.” “U-Uh… But, it would be a bother to Tojo-san…” “Don’t worry about me, worry about your grandmother. After all, she’s your only precious family, right?” At her words about his only family, Haruto’s shoulders twitched. Then, he slowly lifted his eyelids and bowed his head to Ayaka. “T-Then… could I please ask? Could you go along with my lie…?” “Yes, you’ve asked.” Ayaka smiled brightly and gently placed her hands on his shoulders (where he was in a bowed position). “Now then, you’re sick, Otsuki-kun, so you should get back into bed quickly.” “Ah, yes.” Though still a little unsteady from the fever, Haruto was supported by Ayaka as he returned to bed. Ayaka covered him with a futon once he lay down. Just then, his grandmother returned to the room carrying a plate of peeled fruit. “Here, I peeled them for you.” “Thank you very much.” Ayaka bowed her head to express her thanks, and his grandmother also smiled warmly. “See, Haruto, Ayaka-san bought you lots of apples, pears, peaches, and even kiwi.” His grandmother placed the plate on the table beside the bed. Seeing the plate piled high with fruit, Haruto thanked Ayaka. “Thank you so much. So many expensive things.” “No, don’t worry about it. It’s for my important… b-boyfriend.” At Ayaka’s words, spoken with slightly flushed cheeks, his grandmother’s expression instantly brightened. “Oh my! That’s wonderful, Haruto!” “Ah, yeah…” Haruto wore a complicated expression, a mix of happiness and distress, at his grandmother’s delight. Ayaka then put into action what they had just discussed. “Um, would it be alright if I took care of Otsuki-kun for a little while?”

To Ayaka’s question, his grandmother replied with a slightly apologetic tone. “I’d feel bad if I transferred the cold to Ayaka-san…” “No, it’s alright. As Otsuki-kun’s girlfriend, I want to be by his side, even just for a little while.” At Ayaka’s words, spoken with a touch of shyness but also such devotion, his grandmother looked at Haruto with admiration. “My goodness, Haruto! What a wonderful girlfriend you have! You absolutely must cherish her!!” “U-Um. Yes, of course.” Haruto replied, stumbling slightly over his words. As for him, he was filled with the feeling of guilt for having her go along with his lie. However, his grandmother, who had no way of knowing her grandson’s feelings, bowed very happily to Ayaka. “Well then, I’ll leave Haruto to you for a little bit.” “Yes! You can count on me!” To her reply, his grandmother left the room, bowing repeatedly. In the room, now just the two of them. Haruto opened his mouth apologetically. “I’m truly sorry.” “Don’t apologize. You really don’t need to worry at all.” Ayaka, wearing a very cheerful expression, picked up the plate of fruit and moved to Haruto’s bedside. Then, she speared an apple slice with a fork and brought it to Haruto’s mouth. “Okay, Haruto-kun, open up.” “…Um, Tojo-san?” Staring at the apple slice at his mouth, Haruto wore a troubled expression. “Hmm? What’s wrong?” Ayaka tilted her head, looking puzzled. “That is… I can eat the fruit myself, so…” Saying that, Haruto reached for the fork in her hand. But Ayaka quickly pulled the apple back before his hand could reach the fork. “…Um, Tojo-san?” “No, you can’t. Otsuki-kun is sick, so you shouldn’t push yourself.” “Huh, no… I can eat fruit without any problem…” “Otsuki-kun.” “Y-Yes.” “Right now, I’m your girlfriend, right?” “Yes, that is… that is correct.” Overwhelmed by the intensity of Ayaka’s earnest gaze, Haruto replied in an overly polite manner.

Ayaka smiled with satisfaction at his reply and brought the apple back to Haruto’s mouth. “Say ‘ah~n’.” “…” “Ah~n.” For a while, Haruto stared intently at the apple at his mouth. Haruto likely realized that the only way to get rid of this apple was to take it from Ayaka’s hand. “O-Okay, I’ll have some…” Haruto made up his mind and took a bite of the apple in front of him. Seeing him do that, Ayaka smiled very happily. “Is it good?” “…It tastes very sweet, and it’s delicious.” “Really? Good.” Ayaka looked at Haruto with a beaming smile.

Feeling her gaze, Haruto chewed and swallowed the apple, and immediately, the next slice was brought to his mouth. “…………” “Okay, open wide.” “…Chomp.” “Hehehe.” Haruto was sure the heat he felt in his face wasn’t just from the cold, but there was no way he could refuse Ayaka now, so he continued to docilely accept her “ahn”. Haruto kept being fed fruit by Ayaka. “Okay, this is the last one.” Ayaka brought the final piece of peach to Haruto’s mouth. Haruto, whose senses were already becoming numb, readily took a bite of the peach. “Okay, finished.” “Thank you very much. That was delicious.” Haruto finished all the apple, pear, kiwi, and peach. Various senses had been numbed by Ayaka’s “ahn”, but eating four fruits while having a cold left him quite full. At the same time, Haruto was overcome with a strong drowsiness. “Otsuki-kun, are you okay with your medicine?” “I’ll take it. Ah, before that, can I take my temperature?” “Yeah, do you still feel feverish?” Ayaka asked worriedly. Haruto smiled and replied, trying to ease her concern. “It’s much better compared to yesterday.” “…Is that so?” Ayaka replied after thinking for a moment about Haruto’s words. Haruto felt a little puzzled by her reaction but started looking for the thermometer to take his temperature. “Um, I think I left it somewhere by the pillow…” Saying that, Haruto reached towards the pillow while lying down, rustling around to find the thermometer. Suddenly, Ayaka leaned over him, placing her hand on the pillow beside his head. “Otsuki-kun…” “…?! W-W-What, Tojo-san?!” Haruto’s eyes widened in surprise at Ayaka, who was leaning over him, her weight sinking the pillow, looking down at him. “I’ll… take your temperature…” Along with those words, Ayaka slowly brought her face closer to Haruto’s. Like curtains, Ayaka’s glossy hair hung down around Haruto’s face.

At Ayaka’s face approaching closer than ever before, Haruto was frozen as if paralyzed, unable to even move his eyes. Eventually, their foreheads touched with a soft bump. Her slightly ragged, warm breath fell upon Haruto’s mouth. Haruto’s thoughts scattered. He couldn’t think of anything. Centered on their touching foreheads, a heat he had never felt before spread throughout his body. A time like an eternity, like an instant, passed. Then, Ayaka pulled her face away from Haruto’s. “Hehe… I was trying to do something like a couple… but I guess this way doesn’t really tell if you have a fever.” Ayaka’s face, as she said that and laughed, was definitely redder than the peach she had just eaten. “Ah, uh, yeah, I… see. Maybe practice is needed.” Haruto said, his thought circuits burnt out, his mind blank. Then, Ayaka let out a small “Hehe” and smiled. “Well then, shall we… practice?” Ayaka’s expression as she said that looked incredibly alluring to Haruto. Had Ayaka cast a spell on him? He seemed to have lost his ability to speak, words not coming out even when he opened his mouth. Instead of speaking, Haruto shook his head from side to side. That was the most resistance he could muster in his current state. Seeing Haruto like that, Ayaka let out another laugh, and Haruto was simply captivated by her smile. ​ ※※※

A coffee shop nestled in a quiet residential area. Jazz music flowed softly through the sunlit interior, creating a calm atmosphere, as if disconnected from the stifling summer heat. I slowly stirred the straw in the glass in front of me. Listening to the cool clinking sound of the ice, I took a sip of the chai I had just ordered. The aroma of tea and spices spreading in my mouth made me relax my expression. Hmm, this chai is delicious too, but the one Otsuki-kun made is still a little bit better, I think? As I was killing time with such thoughts, my best friend, Saki, entered the shop. “Ah, over here.”

When I raised my hand to show her where I was, Saki came over to me, fanning her face with her hand. “Phew, it’s hot today too.” Saki said as she sat down. She looked at what I was drinking with a curious expression. “Huh? Not iced cafe au lait?” “Yeah. It’s chai today.” “Huh~ Why?” Saki tilted her head as she sat down across from me. “Otsuki-kun made it for me before, and it was really delicious.” “Ho ho, so that’s a lovey-dovey boast, is it?” “N-No! That’s not what I meant at all!” “Ah~ right, right. Thanks for the treat.” “Mph.” I puffed out my cheeks and glared at Saki, but she didn’t seem to mind at all, leisurely opening the menu and contemplating what to drink. “Is it good?” “Yeah, but…” When Saki asked me, I almost said, “The one Otsuki-kun made might be better,” and quickly shut my mouth. If I said that, she’d just say I was boasting about my love life again. “But?” “No, no, it’s good. Do you want a sip, Saki?” I managed to gloss it over with a smile and offered Saki a sip, lightly stirring the chai with the straw. “Hmm. No… I think I’ll go with almond au lait.” Saki closed the menu she had open, raised her hand, and called the master. “You’re ordering something unusual too, Saki.” “Just the mood I’m in. When your friend is drinking something different, you want to order something different yourself, right?” Saki said that as she ordered from the master. After taking a sip of cold water, she said, “Alright now,” and looked at me again. “So? What’s this serious consultation you wanted to have with me?” Saki asked me with a look of anticipation. Actually, after I returned from visiting Otsuki-kun yesterday, I had messaged Saki saying, “I have something serious to talk about, so I want to meet.” “U-Um. Well… um…” I remembered my exchange with Otsuki-kun yesterday and felt my face turn red. “Well, you see. Actually, I… ended up pretending to be Otsuki-kun’s… girlfriend.” “………Huh? What?”

Saki looked bewildered and asked me to repeat myself. “So, I’m pretending to be Otsuki-kun’s girlfriend.” “Hmm… Sorry, say that again?” “T-T-Therefore. I’m going to play the role of Otsuki-kun’s fake girlfriend!” I said clearly, breaking up the words. Saki, on the other hand, seemed confused by my words, resting one hand on her forehead and looking down, or looking up and thinking hard, or twisting her neck and furrowing her brow, looking rather busy. “Sorry, Ayaka, I have absolutely no idea what you mean? Huh? What does that mean?” No matter how hard she thought, she didn’t seem to understand what I had said, and Saki looked at me with a suspicious expression. “Well, you see. Otsuki-kun has various circumstances, and he currently lives with just his grandmother. And… well, Otsuki-kun told his grandmother that I was his girlfriend, and then…” “H-Hoh~” Saki’s reaction to my explanation was unclear, whether she understood or not. “Okay, I don’t really get it, but anyway, Otsuki-kun told his grandmother a lie that Ayaka is his girlfriend, is that it?” “Yeah, that’s… kind of it.” When I nodded, Saki crossed her arms and made a thinking gesture. “I see… That’s surprising. I didn’t think Otsuki-kun was the type to tell such a lie.” Saki’s words contained a slight hint of contempt, and I quickly defended him. “Otsuki-kun didn’t tell a lie with bad intentions! His grandmother is very important to him, and he just blurted out the lie thinking of his precious grandmother. But after that, he apologized to me so much, and he was going to tell his grandmother the truth properly, but then I… well…” “You stopped him from telling his grandmother?” “Yeah…” I nodded my head slightly. “It seems… there are various circumstances.” Thanks to my desperate explanation, it seemed Saki’s evaluation of Otsuki-kun hadn’t dropped. If I could explain about Otsuki-kun’s parents or the fact that his grandmother is his only family now, Saki would surely sympathize with him. But I couldn’t just talk about that without Otsuki-kun present. “That’s right. Otsuki-kun has various circumstances, so his lie was… well, a lie thinking of his grandmother, and it’s not like he forcefully wanted me to be his girlfriend or anything.”

“I see… Well, I don’t really understand those circumstances, but anyway, you don’t feel uncomfortable about the lie, Ayaka?” “Yeah.” As I nodded, Saki looked relieved for a moment, then looked at me with a curious gaze. “But you know, for Otsuki-kun to say Ayaka is his girlfriend as a lie? Doesn’t that mean he likes you?” “Y-Yeah, do you think so too, Saki?” My heart beat faster at the thought that my best friend had the same idea. “Logically speaking, isn’t that the case? Well, I don’t know the detailed circumstances, so I can’t say for sure. But you wouldn’t introduce someone you don’t feel anything for as your girlfriend, even if it’s a lie, right?” “R-Right?” I nodded in agreement with Saki’s words. Saki said to me, tilting her head. “Ayaka, when Otsuki-kun told that lie, if you had confessed and said ‘Actually, I like you, Otsuki-kun’, you could have started dating, couldn’t you?” “…I thought so too.” “Eh?! Then why didn’t you confess?? You could have had your first love come true!” At Saki’s words, I looked down. What I wanted to consult her about was exactly that. “Because, if I had confessed at that moment, I felt like my true feelings wouldn’t have been conveyed…” “Hmm? True feelings? What do you mean by that?” To Saki’s question, I explained how Otsuki-kun had looked when he apologized for the lie yesterday. “Otsuki-kun felt a lot of guilt towards me for telling the lie, and if I confessed in that state, wouldn’t Otsuki-kun probably feel like ‘she’s confessing to go along with my lie’? Even though I was confessing because I genuinely like Otsuki-kun.” At that moment, if I had confessed, Otsuki-kun surely would have made me his girlfriend. But I felt like that wouldn’t be purely based on the feeling of ‘liking’ him. Otsuki-kun would enter the relationship feeling guilty, thinking ‘I told a lie, so she’s going along with it’. And because he’s kind, he might try to act like the perfect boyfriend to me as a form of atonement. But… that’s not what I want. Purely, I want Otsuki-kun to like me. I want him to make me his girlfriend based only on the reason of ‘liking’ me, without feeling guilt or lies. That’s why I didn’t reveal my feelings to him at that moment. I didn’t want to reveal them.

Because I wanted Otsuki-kun’s pure feelings, I became greedy. Saki, who listened to my explanation, nodded with her arms crossed, saying, “Hmm hmm, I see…” “Well, it’s your first love, Ayaka. I can understand the feeling of wanting to pursue an ideal.” “Really?” “Yeah. But honestly, I also think it was a bit of a missed opportunity.” Saki leaned forward slightly and said to me. “Ayaka, you avoid guys at school, so you might not know, but surprisingly, Otsuki-kun is getting some attention from some girls! So, if you’re too greedy, there’s a chance he might be taken by someone else in the meantime!” “R-Really? But, I see… Otsuki-kun is smart and kind…” “To prevent that, there was also the option of just starting to date quickly, securing the official girlfriend position, and then slowly conquering Otsuki-kun.” Hearing Saki say that, I suddenly felt very anxious. “Besides, Ayaka, you want to start dating officially after dispelling Otsuki-kun’s guilt or feeling of debt about the lie, right?” “U-Um.” “But as long as you’re the fake girlfriend, Otsuki-kun won’t forget that lie, will he? Or rather, won’t his guilt increase every time you pretend to be his girlfriend?” Saki’s words pierced my chest. She was right. The more I acted as Otsuki-kun’s girlfriend, the more indebted he would feel towards me. If that happened, I would never be able to confess to Otsuki-kun. I realized this when I got home yesterday and thought calmly, and I quickly contacted Saki. “Saki~ Help me~ What should I do~” To my pleading, Saki sighed “Good grief” and shrugged her shoulders. “Honestly, you just fell in love the other day, and before you know it, you’re pretending to be lovers… Are you the heroine of a romantic comedy or something?” To Saki, who retorted in an exasperated tone, I kept looking at her with teary eyes. Saki sighed again, “Hah~,” and after thinking for a moment, opened her mouth. “Let me just clarify. First, there’s a high possibility that Otsuki-kun likes you, or has feelings for you.” “…I think so.” “But, he feels guilty about the lie. So right now, even if Ayaka shows affection, he might misunderstand it as you going along with the lie.” “Yeah.” “But Ayaka wants to purely convey her love to Otsuki-kun.” At Saki’s words, I felt my face flush hot.

“…U-Um.” “Stop that! Don’t be shy!” “B-But…” “No ‘buts’!” Saki was still a strict love guru… The love guru crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and pondered for a while. During that time, I waited with an anxious heart. Maybe I should have confessed at that moment after all? But, but, Otsuki-kun was so down at that time, and I also felt like I was taking advantage of his weakness, so I was still hesitant. Ugh… Saki-sama, please help me! As I was praying to my best friend sitting across from me, Saki eventually opened her eyes. “Hmm, I’ve thought of one method, but…” “There’s a method?” My lips involuntarily curved up with hope. “Well, I don’t know if this is the correct answer though.” Saki said, sounding unsure. It doesn’t have to be the correct answer! I had thought about it all day yesterday and couldn’t come up with any good ideas. But Saki would definitely give me better advice than me, who has zero romantic experience. “The method I thought of is…” “U-Um.” I focused all my senses on my ears and listened to Saki’s explanation. “We’ll set things up so that Otsuki-kun confesses to Ayaka.” “Eh? Get Otsuki-kun to confess?” Not me confessing to Otsuki-kun? Get Otsuki-kun to confess? “Ayaka, you want to start dating Otsuki-kun purely based on the feeling of ‘liking’, right?” “Yeah, but… getting Otsuki-kun to confess seems difficult…” He already had the guilt of having lied to me. Given that, I didn’t think it would be easy for him to take action like confessing. “That’s right. Otsuki-kun probably won’t confess easily. But, that’s why, a confession from Otsuki-kun has meaning!” Saki said to me with a grin. “Right now, Otsuki-kun feels guilty towards Ayaka. So he’ll probably think ‘I can’t possibly confess, it would be too rude for someone like me’ and won’t confess.” “Yeah, I think so too.”

To my agreement, Saki continued her explanation with a sly smile. “But, for him to confess to Ayaka despite that… that means he likes Ayaka so much that it surpasses even that guilt!” “He likes me so much it surpasses his guilt… B-But, how… how can I make him like me that much?” I have zero romantic experience, and I’ve avoided guys until now. Can someone like me really charm Otsuki-kun that much? I’m full of anxiety… “You’re currently Otsuki-kun’s fake girlfriend, right?” “Yeah, but…” “You have to act like his girlfriend in front of Otsuki-kun’s grandmother, right?” “U-Um.” “That’s it! Use that!” Saki pointed at me sharply and said. “Ayaka has never dated a guy before. So, you need practice to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of Otsuki-kun’s grandmother. You explain that to Otsuki-kun.” “Practice being a couple?” “Exactly! And using that practice as an excuse, you should fawn over Otsuki-kun, or let him fawn over you, and anyway, flirt with him a lot to blur his perception! The boundary between the fake girlfriend and the real girlfriend!” Saki’s smile as she said that looked a little like she was plotting something mischievous. “So, Ayaka, from now on, you’ll relentlessly push hard on Otsuki-kun during your couple practice and keep showing him how much you like him!” “Relentlessly push hard on Otsuki-kun… C-Can I do that?” To my weak stance, Saki said forcefully. “It’s not a matter of ‘can you’ or ‘can’t you’, you have to do it! If you keep pretending to be his girlfriend halfway, your relationship with Otsuki-kun will get complicated in a strange way!” “I don’t want that…” “Then! You have to go for it with enough momentum to knock Otsuki-kun over!” “K-Knock him over…” The moment Saki said that, the incident at the Animal Crossing park flashed back in my mind. Suddenly, my face became so hot it felt like steam was rising from my head. “Well, that was a joke, of course. But you might need to be a bit more proactive in how you approach him.” After saying that, Saki added, “Also, this is important too.” “To win over Otsuki-kun, it’s not just about flirting, I think it’s also important to become his ideal girlfriend. Being considerate, graceful, and so on. Well, I don’t know Otsuki-kun’s preferences at all, so I can’t say anything about that.”

Indeed, Otsuki-kun seemed a bit too serious, or had a strong tendency to try to be sincere. To overcome the guilt he carried and get him to confess to me, a considerable amount of effort would be needed. “Okay, I’ll… I’ll do my best to become Otsuki-kun’s ideal girlfriend! And… I’ll work hard to get him to confess!!” When I said it with determination, Saki also nodded and smiled at me. “It’ll be tough in many ways, but good luck achieving your ideal first love. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll lend a hand anytime.” “Okay, thank you, Saki.” I smiled at my best friend’s reassuring words. After that, we discussed our strategy to get Otsuki-kun to confess, titled the ‘Couple Practice Strategy’. It wouldn’t be easy. But… Otsuki-kun must be somewhat aware of me. So, if I keep trying hard to appeal to him, if I can get closer to Otsuki-kun’s ideal girlfriend, then… I clenched my fists tightly and braced myself. I never would have thought before summer vacation started that things would turn out like this. Having someone I cared about for the first time in my life, and falling for them. Having my first love. And then, pretending to be their lover. This is my precious first love. I want to fulfill my ideal. So, I’ll become a charming girlfriend for Otsuki-kun, not a fake one, but a real one. Someday, surely… absolutely… ※※※ Having recovered from his cold and feeling better, Haruto returned to his housekeeping help job at the Tojo household. Standing in front of the familiar mansion, Haruto showed a moment of hesitation before ringing the intercom, pulling back his finger. Ayaka’s image appeared in his mind. “…Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend. I’ll be your girlfriend in front of your grandmother.” Her words echoed in his head over and over again. “What kind of face should I make when I see her…” Haruto sighed softly, “Haa.” While feeling guilty for involving Ayaka in his lie, Haruto couldn’t help but feel a certain degree of happiness at the fact that Ayaka would be his girlfriend, even if only pretend. “Can’t just stand here forever…”

Haruto braced himself and lifted the finger he had pulled back, intending to press the intercom of the Tojo residence. Just then, he was suddenly spoken to from behind. “Oh, Otsuki-kun.” “T-Tojo-san?!” Startled by being suddenly spoken to, Haruto flinched his shoulders and turned around to see Ayaka there. “Sorry for surprising you. I was just taking Ryota to the nearby park.” “Ah, I see… Was Ryota-kun alone?” “No, he was playing with some kids from the neighborhood. Their parents always look after Ryota too, so it’s a huge help.” “I see… It’s reassuring if there are adults watching.” “Yeah. Otsuki-kun, are you okay now with your cold?” As Ayaka came closer, casting a concerned gaze at him, Haruto felt his face getting hot. “Yes, I’m completely better now. Thank you for coming to visit me. And thank you for all the fruit too.” “Don’t worry about it at all. I’m just glad you got better, Otsuki-kun.” “Thank you… Ah, also, I’m here for the housekeeping help today as well.” “Hehe, yeah. It’s hot, so let’s go inside quickly?” Haruto was slightly flustered, conscious of their previous exchange. To him, Ayaka smiled and opened the front door, inviting him inside. As they entered the living room side by side, Haruto asked Ayaka. “…Are Shuichi-san and Ikue-san home today?” “Both Papa and Mama went to work today.” “I see…” Shuichi and Ikue were both at work, and Ryota was playing with neighborhood kids at the nearby park, so he wasn’t home. In other words, it was just Haruto and Ayaka in the house right now. For some reason, Haruto felt inexplicably awkward in this situation. In the awkward silence that fell between him and Ayaka, Haruto was about to open his mouth to keep the conversation going. However, Ayaka spoke to Haruto first. “Um, Otsuki-kun… about the… the other day…” “Y-Yes. I’m truly, truly sorry about… about the other day. About pretending to be your girlfriend, you can stop immediately if you feel even slightly uncomfortable.” “Oh, no, no, I’m perfectly fine with it. Rather, well… I’ve never… well… been in a relationship before, you see? So, I don’t really have an image of how to pretend to be a girlfriend…” Ayaka, speaking a bit shyly, looked up at Haruto with slightly flushed cheeks.

“So, well? Um… I think some practice might be needed on how to act like a girlfriend… What do you… think?” “Eh? P-Practice?” “Yeah.” Ayaka nodded, her face still red. Haruto was momentarily speechless at her unexpected suggestion. “Well, no, you don’t need to practice… you’re already quite charming as a girlfriend, or rather… well, more than the real thing…” “Ah, yeah… thank you… B-But, you know. Still, if your grandmother finds out that I’m a fake girlfriend, she’ll be sad… So, I want to practice…” Ayaka looked up at Haruto again and asked, “Is that okay?” After being asked that, Haruto was in no position to refuse. “…I’m truly sorry. To have you go through so much… I don’t know how I can thank you.” “You really don’t need to worry about thanking me or anything at all.” Ayaka waved her hands at Haruto, who was bowing deeply. “Um… about that practice, well… what kind of practice…?” It was nothing to boast about, but Haruto, like Ayaka, had zero romantic experience. Therefore, he had no idea what kind of ‘practice’ she was talking about. “Yeah, well… I want to practice so that you and I look like we’re really a couple, and if it’s okay with your schedule, would it be possible for you to come to the house from around the early afternoon?” “Early afternoon, you mean around 1 PM?” “Yeah. Of course, don’t feel obligated if you have other plans.” Haruto’s contract for housekeeping help with the Tojo family was from 3 PM. This meant that the time between 1 PM and 3 PM would be what Ayaka referred to as ‘couple practice’. “No, I don’t have a problem with that, but… well, if I come early every time before housekeeping help and… practice being a couple… with Tojo-san, what should I say to Shuichi-san and Ikue-san? I mean, they might misunderstand…” “About that, I was thinking of telling Papa and Mama that we’re studying together. See, you’re good at studying, right? So, if I say we’re doing summer homework together and you’re helping me study, it should be okay?” “Ah, ah, I see…” Haruto nodded, seemingly convinced by Ayaka’s explanation. “Besides, we can actually study during that time. I actually want you to teach me some things.” Ayaka made a slightly gloomy face, saying, “My last test results were a bit…” “If I’m alright, I can teach you anytime.”

Haruto, whose air conditioner in his room was not working well, had been worried about finding a place to study during the hot part of the day. Until now, he had been moving around to places like his best friend Tomoya’s room or the library to find cool places. If he could study in Ayaka’s room every time, it would be a helpful arrangement for Haruto as well. And since he could then continue with his housekeeping help job immediately, he could also increase his study time. “Okay, then, from next time, could you come to the house in the early afternoon? Is that alright?” “Yes, um… please take care of me.” Haruto bowed his head to Ayaka. In response, Ayaka also bowed her head to Haruto. “No, please take care of me too.” They both bowed to each other. Ayaka, who raised her head first, opened her mouth again, a little hesitant. “Ah, also, I have one more request…” “What is it?” “Well. About how we call each other… Right now, we’re calling each other by our family names, right?” Ayaka called Haruto ‘Otsuki-kun’, and Haruto also called Ayaka ‘Tojo-san’. In Haruto’s case, when he was doing housekeeping help and other members of the Tojo family were present besides Ayaka, he made sure to call her by her first name, ‘Ayaka-san’, but in other situations, he generally used her family name. “I think, you know, couples usually call each other by their first names.” “Is… that so?” Haruto tilted his head slightly. Indeed, many couples might call each other by their first names, but even so, it might not be necessary to do so in all cases. There should be many couples in the world who call each other by their family names. His doubts were blown away by Ayaka’s passionate assertion. “Yeah. Couples who are close usually call each other by their first names! So, well, I’d like you to call me… by my first name, even normally.” “O-Okay… Then, should I call you ‘Ayaka-san’ from now on?” “…Just ‘Ayaka’.” “Eh?” “Without ‘san’, just ‘Ayaka’… I’d like you to call me.” Ayaka said, heavily tinged with shyness, letting her gaze drift slightly. Seeing her like that, Haruto felt his heart involuntarily pound. “…A… Ayaka.” Haruto said quietly, as if to himself. Then, Ayaka’s smile bloomed brightly. “Yeah! What is it, Haruto-kun?”

Ayaka, beaming with a full smile, took a step closer to Haruto and tilted her head slightly. It felt a little calculated, but her cuteness won out, and Haruto forgot to point out that she was still using ‘-kun’ for him. “Um… is it okay if I just call you by your first name without ‘-san’ only in front of my grandmother?” He had only called her by her first name without a title. However, Haruto felt the distance between them shrink significantly with just that. And it greatly stimulated the feelings swirling inside him for Ayaka. To Haruto’s request, Ayaka thought for a moment, saying “Hmm~,” then deliberately lifted the corners of her mouth. “Okay. Then, in front of Otsuki-kun’s grandmother and…” Ayaka looked directly into Haruto’s eyes and said with a gentle smile, “When we’re alone, please use the way you just called me.” “…Okay.” Haruto could only nod. Ayaka, on the other hand, wore a very satisfied smile. “Ah, sorry for talking for so long before work.” “No, it’s alright. Well then… I’ll start the service now, do you have any requests?” “Ah, Mama said she wanted me to clean the garden today.” The Tojo residence, being a mansion, had a spacious garden next to the living room. In the garden, there was a wooden deck, a barbecue grill, and other things. Haruto nodded at Ayaka’s request. “Understood. And regarding dinner tonight, I was planning to make chicken breast Nanbanzuke and somen noodles with tomatoes, tuna, and perilla leaves, is that alright?” “Yeah, that sounds really delicious!” “Understood. Then I’ll go and clean the garden right away.” Haruto was about to leave the living room for the garden. Ayaka called out to his back. “Oh yeah. Papa and Mama said they’d be coming home a little early today, but would you like to have dinner with us again today, Haruto-kun?” “Would that be alright?” Haruto replied, feeling a mix of ticklishness and embarrassment at being called by his first name by Ayaka. “Papa and Mama will be happier if Haruto-kun is with us. And Ryota too, of course.” Haruto couldn’t help but wryly smile at the situation where having meals with the Tojo family had become the norm recently. “In that case, I would be glad to join you.” “Yay!” Ayaka smiled happily at Haruto’s words.

Haruto, who had come to find Ayaka’s smile more appealing than before, subtly averted his gaze from her smile out of shyness. He escaped the awkward silence and went out to the garden, focusing on cleaning as if to shake off any distracting thoughts. He swept the wooden deck with a broom and washed it with a brush. Then, he mowed the overgrown lawn and removed weeds. He had been cleaning and tending the garden for about an hour. Since he focused on the cleaning, the work finished faster than he expected, and Haruto returned to the living room to prepare dinner. There, Ayaka was waiting with a glass of tea in her hand. “Haruto-kun, you must be tired. Aren’t you thirsty?” To her words of consideration, Haruto thanked her and accepted the tea. “Thank you. I was just getting thirsty, so this is a big help.” Haruto, who had been working under the blazing sun, quickly drank the tea he received. Ayaka watched him drink, looking very pleased. “Want another?” “Oh, no, I’m fine. Thank you… Um, then I’ll start preparing dinner now.” “Okay.” Haruto, feeling ticklish under Ayaka’s gaze, started preparing dinner to distract himself. Ayaka watched him cook from the dining table. Haruto tried his best to focus on cooking, but he couldn’t help but be aware of her presence. While pan-frying the chicken breast for the Nanbanzuke, he suddenly looked up and glanced towards Ayaka. Just then, she seemed to be looking at Haruto too, and their eyes met perfectly. The moment their gazes crossed, Ayaka smiled, her cheeks slightly flushed. At her gesture, Haruto’s heart pounded so hard he felt it might stop for a moment. “…Ah… That’s right, about the… couple practice.” “Yeah.” While flipping the chicken breast with his cooking chopsticks, Haruto spoke casually. “What kind of practice are we planning to do?” “Well… practice gestures and words that couples use, and also… s-skinship practice, I guess?” Ayaka’s explanation sped up in the latter half out of embarrassment. “Skinship… practice?” Haruto stopped the action of taking the pan-fried chicken breast out of the oil for a moment and looked at Ayaka with a bewildered expression. She then started explaining in a slightly louder, flustered voice. “B-Because, you know! If we’re awkward about things like that, your grandmother might suspect we’re not a real couple!”

“She’ll suspect…?” Being shy and not even holding hands… Wouldn’t that be seen as sweet and innocent for a young couple? “Well, since I told my grandmother I recently got a girlfriend, it might be unnatural if there’s… too much skinship.” “Ah… yeah, that’s… right…” Hearing Haruto’s words, Ayaka somehow lost her energy and looked down dejectedly. Witnessing her appearance, guilt slowly welled up within Haruto’s chest. In the first place, Haruto was in a situation where he had dragged Ayaka into his lie, and he reminded himself that he had no right to say this or that to her. “But indeed, a certain amount of practice might be necessary. It would be difficult to ask you to suddenly act like a couple. If Ayaka-san… Ayaka is okay with it, we can do… skinship practice too.” “…Really?” As Ayaka looked up and said that, her expression seemed to be mixed with no small amount of joy, and Haruto felt his heart stir. “Really. If you’re okay with it, though.” “Since I’m the one suggesting it, there’s no way I’m not okay with it.” Ayaka was smiling brightly and cheerfully, a complete change from her earlier dejected expression. Haruto averted his gaze from her and quickly took out the chicken breast, which he had slightly overcooked, from the frying pan. Haruto then transferred the chicken breast to a tray with onions, green peppers, and carrots he had chopped beforehand, and poured his grandmother’s secret Nanbanzuke sauce over them to marinate. After the Nanbanzuke was mostly finished, Haruto started to make the soup base for the somen noodles. Just then, Ayaka opened her mouth quietly. “Hey, Haruto-kun.” “Yes, what is it?” To Ayaka’s question, Haruto turned his face towards her. “Right now, Papa, Mama, and Ryota aren’t here…” Ayaka’s expression as she said this was slightly flushed and moist, possessing an indescribable charm. “Shall we… practice being a couple… just a little?” Standing up smoothly, Ayaka slowly circled around to the kitchen where Haruto was and said. “Ah, uh…” Haruto, holding the tomato he was going to use for the somen soup base, just stared silently at Ayaka approaching him. Ayaka stopped a few steps away from Haruto.

She paused there for a few seconds, looking down. Then, as if making up her mind, she lifted her face sharply, looked directly at Haruto, and took a step forward. “T-Tojo…-san?” “When we’re alone, it’s Ayaka, right?” Ayaka said, pouting slightly with a look of dissatisfaction, and took another step closer to Haruto. “Haruto-kun…” Ayaka was now within a distance where Haruto could reach out and touch her. Various thoughts surged in Haruto’s head. He felt that if he acted on any one of them, their relationship would change. Classmates at the same school. housekeeping help staff and client. And… fake lovers… Haruto was drawn into Ayaka’s gaze, which seemed to carry heat. Large, beautiful eyes. Looking at her eyes, which made him think so, Haruto’s thoughts gradually stopped working, and the desires deep within his heart began to surface. The rational part of Haruto warned him that this was not right, but his desires became stronger and stronger. And just as Haruto’s hand tentatively reached out towards Ayaka, a cheerful voice echoed from the entrance. “I’m hoooome!!” It was Ryota’s voice announcing his return. Haruto and Ayaka both flinched their bodies and hurriedly put distance between them. Immediately after hearing the lively thudding sound from the hallway, Gacha! the living room door was swung open, and Ryota, who had returned from the park, burst in. “Ah! Onii-chan!!” As soon as Ryota saw Haruto standing in the kitchen, he ran towards him, looking absolutely delighted. “Onii-chan, I’m home!” “Welcome back, Ryota-kun.” “Onii-chan, are you okay from your cold now? Are you all better?” To Ryota, who was looking at him worriedly, Haruto smiled brightly. “Thank you for worrying. My cold is all better now, and I’m fine.” When Haruto patted Ryota’s head, Ryota squinted his eyes as if it was ticklish. “Hey, Onii-chan, when you had a cold, an unknown lady came to help out at home instead of you.” “Oh, I see. Was her food delicious?”

“Yeah. But, I like Onii-chan’s food better! And also, it’s more fun when Onii-chan is at home!” Ryota said with an innocent smile. Haruto’s expression softened at his words. “I’ll make delicious food for you today too, Ryota-kun, so wait just a little longer. In the meantime, why don’t you go wash your hands and gargle?” “Okay!” Haruto watched Ryota’s back as he obediently nodded and ran to the sink, with a gentle gaze. Back in the living room, now just the two of them, Haruto quietly glanced towards Ayaka. “We can practice… some other time, then.” “Yes… I suppose…” To Ayaka, who smiled a little shyly, Haruto nodded awkwardly. Haruto resumed cooking dinner, reflecting on the desires that had just surged within him. When Ayaka came close, he had thought… He wanted to make her his. He wanted to hold her in his arms. However, he wasn’t allowed to do such a thing right now. Ayaka was pretending to be his girlfriend because she trusted him. It was because of that trust that Ayaka was willing to behave like a real girlfriend through things like skinship. Therefore, he couldn’t betray that trust. But, Haruto paused while cutting the tomatoes and wondered. He had felt a strong sense of apology towards Ayaka due to the guilt of involving her in his lie. Because of that, he hadn’t properly thought about Ayaka’s own feelings. Regarding the fake relationship, what did she think of him…? Haruto looked back on everything that had happened since he started working as housekeeping help at the Tojo house and met Ayaka. And he considered a certain possibility. The possibility that Ayaka had feelings for him. He wasn’t certain, but he couldn’t dismiss it entirely either. They went to see a movie together and held hands there. They frequently went grocery shopping together at the supermarket. And at the Animal Crossing park, although not intended, it resulted in something like an embrace. Looking back on those moments and her reactions, he felt like she had never shown an expression of dislike. It had only been a short time since he met Ayaka. There was still a strong possibility that it was just Haruto’s misunderstanding. However… At that moment, a scene flashed back in Haruto’s mind.

It was just the other day. The scene where Ayaka, who had come to nurse him, pressed her forehead against his to check his temperature. Would someone do something like that for someone they didn’t like? If Ayaka liked Haruto, there would be no need for her to be a fake girlfriend. Haruto was aware of the feelings at the bottom of his heart, his feelings for Ayaka. So, if her feelings were the same as his… Thinking up to that point, Haruto vigorously shook his head. “Something that convenient… couldn’t possibly be true, could it?” Through his housekeeping help job, Haruto had learned that Ayaka’s image as the ‘school idol’ at school was not her true self. However, the image of Ayaka as the ‘school idol’ still hadn’t completely disappeared from his mind. She wasn’t interested in romance and kept all boys at bay. She only had female friends around her, and she rejected every confession. Because that image remained, Haruto couldn’t feel that the possibility of Ayaka having feelings for him was realistic. He transferred the tomatoes he had finished cutting to a bowl and began to finely chop the perilla leaves. As he did so, he subtly looked up and glanced briefly at Ayaka, who was sitting at the living/dining room table again. Just like before, their eyes met perfectly. “…! It’ll be ready soon.” “U-Um.” Feeling awkward, they both averted their eyes. Haruto finely chopped the perilla leaves, trying to calm his pounding heart. From now on, before his housekeeping help job, he would be in Ayaka’s room for ‘couple practice’. Of course, he planned to study properly too. He was aware of the presence of his own feelings – whether the current pounding in his chest was from anxiety or joy – and while he could sort of tell, he also didn’t clearly want to know yet. For now, he just continued silently cooking dinner. ※※※ “Wow, Haruto-kun’s home cooking is exquisite as always!” Shuichi praised while eating the Nanbanzuke Haruto had made. “It’s not just the seasoning, the texture of the vegetables is also wonderful.” Ikue also savored Haruto’s cooking. Haruto, having finished his housekeeping help work, sat at the dining table with Shuichi, Ikue, Ayaka, and Ryota, who had returned from work. “Thank you very much. This time I might have cooked the chicken a little too long and it might be a bit tough.” “No, no! It doesn’t bother me at all. But this slightly spicy kick makes me want a drink. This calls for beer… or maybe chilled sake would be a good match?”

Saying that, Shuichi glanced towards Ikue. “Hehe, don’t drink too much.” “Of course not! I just happen to have a good bottle I received from someone at work.” Shuichi walked off with a spring in his step to get the sake. Meanwhile, Ryota looked at Ayaka’s Nanbanzuke with a curious expression. “Onee-chan, is this spicy?” To Ryota, who tilted his head in confusion, Haruto smiled. “I made a different seasoning for your portion so it wouldn’t be spicy, Ryota-kun.” “I want to eat spicy food too!” Perhaps unhappy that his portion was different, Ryota looked at the Nanbanzuke on Ayaka’s plate sitting next to him. “This is still too early for Ryota.” Ayaka said, trying to reason with her brother. But Ryota shook his head at his sister’s words. “I’m fine with spicy things!” “Really? Then want to try a little?” “Yeah!!” Ayaka shared a little of her Nanbanzuke onto Ryota’s plate as he nodded enthusiastically. Ryota’s eyes sparkled as he put it in his mouth, but his expression quickly clouded over. It seemed it was still too spicy for Ryota, but he was desperately enduring it, chewing the Nanbanzuke in his mouth. Ayaka found his reaction amusing and couldn’t help but let out a little laugh, “Hehe.” “How is it, Ryota? Is it good?” “…Yeah, it’s… good…” “Want some more?” At Ayaka’s words, Ryota shook his head vigorously from side to side. As they were watching the amusing exchange between the Tojo siblings, Shuichi returned, beaming, carrying a large bottle of sake. “Apparently, this is something you can’t easily find in stores.” In a good mood, Shuichi placed a small sake cup on the table and was about to pour himself a drink. “Ah, Shuichi-san. I’ll pour it for you.” “No, no! Don’t bother!” “Please at least let me pour the first cup.” Saying that, Haruto gently reached for the large bottle in Shuichi’s hand. “Is that so? Well then, just one cup, please.” Shuichi handed the bottle to Haruto and held out his cup. “Here you go.”

“Thank you, thank you… Whoa, thank you, thank you!” Shuichi, poured for by Haruto, quickly tilted the cup and drank. “Mmm! Delicious!” “Hehe, you look happy, dear. Having Otsuki-kun pour for you.” Ikue said to Shuichi, who was beaming. “Of course! When Otsuki-kun becomes an adult, I’d definitely like to share a drink with him!” “I look forward to that time.” Haruto bowed his head at Shuichi’s words. Then, Ikue looked at Ayaka. “If Otsuki-kun can drink alcohol, then Ayaka can drink too.” “Yeah, that’s right. Haruto-kun and I are the same age.” When Ayaka replied, Ikue made a surprised expression, saying “Oh?”. “What’s wrong, Mama?” “No, it’s nothing. But I see…” Her mother looked at her daughter with a happy expression. “Ayaka, things seem to be going well with Haruto-kun.” “U-Um… Yeah, I guess so.” Ayaka nodded slightly, blushing, but not denying Ikue’s words. Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Ikue smiled, “Hehe.” “It would be nice if you two could be together until you become adults.” “Yeah… It would be nice to be together…” Ayaka said clearly to Ikue, although she was embarrassed. Just then, Shuichi, who was getting slightly drunk and whose voice had become a little louder, looked at Haruto and Ayaka alternately. “Oh, I see! If Otsuki-kun can drink alcohol, then Ayaka can drink too!” Shuichi repeated exactly what Ikue had just said. “This is cause for celebration!” Saying that, Shuichi quickly finished the sake left in his cup. “Shuichi-san, please.” “Well, well, Otsuki-kun, sorry about that. Whoa, whoa, thank you, thank you!” As Haruto poured for him again, Shuichi happily offered his cup, immediately bringing his lips to the sake filled to the brim. “But Otsuki-kun and Ayaka, you’ll both be able to drink alcohol at the same time… Hmm? Drinking at the same time means…? Does that mean San-san-ku-do?” Perhaps getting a little drunk, Shuichi said something silly with a slightly red face. Ayaka immediately protested her father’s nonsensical remark. “Hey! Why is the first time we drink alcohol at a wedding ceremony?!” “That’s right, dear. Young people nowadays prefer holding ceremonies at chapels rather than Shinto shrines, you know?” “No, not that!! Before the wedding ceremony, there’s the coming-of-age ceremony!!”

Ayaka also retorted against Ikue’s off-topic point. However, Ikue gracefully ignored her retort and called out to Haruto. “Otsuki-kun, which do you think would suit Ayaka more, a dress or a white kimono?” “Mama?! Don’t ask Haruto-kun weird things!” “It’s not weird! It might be helpful advice for the future, you know?” At Ikue’s words, spoken with a beaming smile, Ayaka’s face turned bright red, and she fell silent. “So, what do you think, Otsuki-kun?”

Haruto, realizing there was no escape from Ikue’s question repeated again, scratched his cheek shyly and answered hesitantly. “Well, Ayaka-san is… very beautiful and lovely, so I think both a dress and a white kimono would suit her…” “Is that so? Then, what colors of colored dresses or embroidered kimonos would you like Ayaka to wear?” To Ikue, who was pressing him with great amusement, Haruto replied with a wry smile. “W-Well… I think classic pink or red would be nice… but since Ayaka-san has beautiful fair skin, I think a refreshing blue or a noble and graceful image with wisteria purple or purple would also suit her well.” To Haruto, who said this while looking a little shy, Ikue smiled with satisfaction and looked at Ayaka. “That’s what he says. Was that helpful?” “…Yes.” Ayaka nodded slightly with a voice that was about to fade away. Her ears were completely red, and she glanced at Haruto with an upward gaze. Their eyes met, and they quickly looked away from each other. Seeing their reaction, Ikue grinned, saying “That’s nice~”. “Wedding dress and colored dress. White kimono and embroidered kimono. Wearing everything would mean having both a church ceremony and a Shinto ceremony? And changing outfits at the reception… Hmm, maybe it’s better to start saving for the wedding expenses now.” Shuichi, his face flushed with drink, muttered to himself. Hearing that, Ayaka quickly tried to stop him. “Papa! It’s too early!” “No, but listen. A wedding ceremony, you see, costs a considerable amount of money! Since it’s Otsuki-kun’s and Ayaka’s wedding, I don’t want it to be a shabby ceremony! Hahahaha!” Shuichi laughed in a cheerful mood and quickly gulped down some sake. Ayaka snatched the empty sake cup from Shuichi’s hand. “Papa, you’re drinking too much! You’re drunk!” “No, no, I’m sober. More importantly, Otsuki-kun!” “Y-Yes.” Pulled along by Shuichi, who suddenly straightened his posture and faced Haruto, Haruto also straightened his back and faced him. “She is an unrefined daughter, but please take care of her for a long time.” “Ah, yes… Yes? Huh? No, well…” “Papa! Don’t bother Otsuki-kun when you’re drunk!” Despite his daughter’s attempt to stop him, Shuichi laughed happily, “Wahahahaha!”

“Um… is Shuichi-san not good with alcohol?” Haruto asked Ikue quietly. “Well, he gets cheerful like that right away after just one sip. He’s had three cups from that sake cup today, so he’s pretty much there.” Ikue added with a smile, “He can drink a lot and doesn’t get a hangover, so it’s not that he’s not good with it, but…” “I see…” Haruto looked at Shuichi with a wry smile. He was currently arguing about marriage with Ayaka. Haruto felt a complicated emotion at the fact that he was the subject of their argument, but he kept his mouth shut to avoid getting further involved. Just then, Ryota looked at the large sake bottle on the table with great curiosity. “Hey, hey, Onii-chan? Is this… delicious?” “No, Ryota-kun, you can’t drink this yet. And you probably wouldn’t think it’s delicious even if you drank it?” “Really? Dad is drinking it and he looks like he’s enjoying it a lot?” “This is a strange drink, you see, that adults find delicious.” Ryota tilted his head at Haruto’s explanation. “Hmm~? That’s weird.” “When Ryota-kun becomes an adult, let’s drink it together.” “Okay!” Ryota nodded happily at Haruto’s words, then took his eyes off the sake bottle and slurped his somen noodles. “By the way, Otsuki-kun. I have a suggestion.” “Yes, what is it?” Shuichi stopped arguing with Ayaka and called out to Haruto. From his earlier remarks, Haruto braced himself slightly for Shuichi’s words. “This weekend, we’re having a barbecue in our garden. Would you like to join us, Otsuki-kun?” “A barbecue? Oh, is that why you cleaned the garden?” “How about it? You can eat a lot of good meat?” “Um…” Haruto looked at Ikue, asking for permission with his eyes. Ikue smiled and nodded as usual, seeing Haruto hesitate, unsure whether to take Shuichi’s invitation at face value since he was in a good mood from drinking. “If it’s convenient for Otsuki-kun, let’s have a barbecue together.” At Ikue’s positive words, Haruto bowed his head. “Then, I look forward to it.” “Excellent! This weekend is going to be fun!”

The Tojo family’s dining table, with Haruto added to it, was filled with cheerful laughter. After finishing dinner, just as Haruto was about to leave, Ayaka said to Ikue. “From now on, I’ll study with Haruto-kun. On the days he’s here for housekeeping help, we’ll study together in my room in the early afternoon.” “Oh, is that so? That’s nice, isn’t it? Otsuki-kun is an excellent student, right?” “He’s number one in the grade. Right? Haruto-kun.” “Ah, yes.” Haruto nodded slightly shyly. “That’s amazing. I have high expectations for your test results after summer vacation.” “Eh? Ah~… How about that?” At Ikue’s words, Ayaka averted her gaze with an ambiguous smile. To their parent-child conversation, Haruto said with a wry smile. “I will do my best to help Ayaka-san improve her grades.” “Oh my! Otsuki-kun isn’t just doing housekeeping help, he’s tutoring as well. Ayaka, make sure you listen to what Teacher Otsuki says, okay?” When Ikue said this playfully, Ayaka also blushed a little and went along with it. “Teacher Haruto, please take care of me.” It was a somewhat deliberate, calculated upward glance, but it had enough impact on Haruto. “I’ll… I’ll do my utmost.” Haruto felt both excitement and anxiety at the thought of studying alone with Ayaka.