Chapter 7: Tojo Family BBQ “So, how are things going with Otsuki-kun?” To Saki’s voice coming through the smartphone, I replied with a slightly cheerful tone.

“Yeah, I think it’s probably going well? We gave each other lap pillows today.” “Oh! You’re going all out with the strategy, Ayaka-san.” “Yeah, the ‘boyfriend/girlfriend practice strategy’ is going smoothly so far!” It’s a strategy to dispel Haruto-kun’s guilt about the lie and make him genuinely fall for me. I call it the ‘Boyfriend/Girlfriend Practice Strategy’. With this strategy, I’m going to make a strong appeal to Haruto-kun and have him confess to me. I sat on my bed in my room and continued talking to Saki. “Anyway, we started calling each other by our first names, and Haruto-kun’s dropping a lot of his polite speech. And for the first boyfriend/girlfriend practice, we said ‘I love you’ to each other.” “And? What was Otsuki-kun’s reaction?” “Well, when Haruto-kun told me he ‘liked’ me, he said it with such a serious look in his eyes, and his expression at that moment was so incredibly cool that I kind of lost my memory.” “…Is that so? Sorry, Ayaka, I’m just going to get some coffee.” “Won’t you be unable to sleep if you drink it at this hour?” Looking out the window, it was completely dark outside. If she drank coffee at that hour, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night and her day-night cycle would get reversed. Even though it was summer vacation, I didn’t think it was good to mess up her lifestyle rhythm too much. “Lack of sleep isn’t good for your skin, you know?” “Thanks for the concern, but right now I just want to make my mouth taste bitter as soon as possible.” “Hmm? Is that so?” “Yeah, so just wait a moment.” When Saki said that, I heard rattling sounds coming from the smartphone as she moved around. While she made coffee, I thought back on the time I spent with Haruto-kun today. It was my first lap pillow ever. Haruto-kun’s lap pillow was a little firm, but warm. It made my heart pound and I was so embarrassed, but at the same time, it was somehow calming, like my heart was being filled. It was a truly happy time. When he stroked my head, I thought my heart would stop from the embarrassment… but, despite that, it felt really good. That might be dangerous. If I could become Haruto-kun’s real girlfriend, I might beg him for lap pillows every day. It was that comfortable.

Also, when I gave Haruto-kun a lap pillow, that was also dangerous. When he was on my lap, he seemed so cute, and as I stroked his head on my thighs, I felt like I was mistaken him for being mine. And, it was a new discovery that Haruto-kun’s earlobe was very nice to touch. His earlobe was very soft and slightly cool. Touching it for a long time made me think of chewy, fluffy bread dough, and I just wanted to nibble on it. Well, Haruto-kun did tell me, “Don’t nibble on me, okay?” But, someday… when I’m his real girlfriend, then maybe I can nibble on it just a little, right? He won’t get mad if it’s just a little playful bite, right? As I secretly held such ambitions, I heard the sound of Saki returning to her room with coffee from the smartphone. “Thanks for waiting~, So, back to what we were talking about, what’s the next plan for boyfriend/girlfriend practice? You said ‘I love you’ to each other, you did lap pillows, have you thought of anything else?” “Oh, um. About that. Actually, today, Haruto-kun asked me out on a date.” When I said that, I heard Saki cough as if she had choked a little. Is she okay? Did the coffee go down the wrong pipe? “Cough, cough… Huh? What, what? Otsuki-kun asked you out on a date?” “Yeah.” “Hmm? And, what’s the plan for the date he asked you on?” I could hear Saki’s excited and happy voice through the smartphone. I remembered the moment Haruto-kun asked me out on a date and reported it to Saki with a slight smile. “Next time, I’m going on an ice cream finding date with Haruto-kun.” “…Hmm? That sounds like a pretty unique date?” To Saki’s voice filled with doubt, I explained the circumstances of how I ended up going on an ice cream finding date with Haruto-kun. Before, when I went shopping at the supermarket with Haruto-kun, I lamented that Ryota had eaten the limited edition ice cream, and he told me we should look for it together next time. Haruto-kun remembered that, and next week, we’re going to search for the limited edition ice cream together. “Ah, that ice cream, huh? It was certainly very delicious.” “Huh? You’ve eaten it too, Saki?” “Yeah. I finally bought it after going to about three supermarkets nearby. I was lucky to get the last one.” “See? It really is hard to find. I wonder if we’ll find it next week.” “But wouldn’t it be better if it’s not easy to find so the date lasts longer?” “Well, that’s true, but… I also really want to eat that ice cream…”

“Greedy Ayaka, huh?” “Ugh…” I pouted my lips at Saki’s teasing words. But everyone who ate that ice cream said it was delicious! Of course I’d want to eat it! “Well, anyway, at least you get to go on a date, right?” “Well, yeah. Oh, hey, I wanted to get your opinion on something…” “Hm? What is it?” “Since Haruto-kun asked me out on a date, does that mean my appeal is working quite well?” I asked Saki feeling a little nervous. Since Haruto-kun is taking initiative, it means he’s starting to be conscious of me, right? However, Saki expressed a more cautious opinion than me. “Hmm, I wonder. That’s a possibility, or maybe he’s finding it a bit hard to bear being alone with Ayaka in your room.” “Huh?! Why?! I haven’t done anything that would make Haruto-kun dislike me?!” I might have been a little aggressive, but he didn’t seem to dislike it. He was just blushing a little with embarrassment… To me, who was suddenly about to be crushed by anxiety, Saki said, “I don’t think he dislikes you.” “Look, Otsuki-kun is in his puberty, right? And you, like a girl in puberty, are approaching him in a closed room, so he might just be having trouble bearing various things.” “Having trouble bearing various things? What do you mean?” I tilted my head, not quite understanding what Saki was saying. Saki also seemed a little troubled as she spoke to me. “Hmm, how should I put it… Well, I think you should just keep appealing to Otsuki-kun as you are.” “Really? Is that okay?” Saki’s way of speaking left me feeling a little uneasy, though? “More importantly, that ice cream finding date? You’re going to visit various stores, right?” “Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m hoping we can go to shopping malls with food sections.” “That’s good, that’s good! That means you can casually do a window shopping date too, right?” “Exactly! That’s it!” Searching for the limited edition ice cream is just an excuse for the date. The real goal is to enjoy shopping together with Haruto-kun! “Are you going to look at clothes and ask which one looks better on you?”

“Hmm, but I don’t want Haruto-kun to think I’m troublesome… but, I also want Haruto-kun to choose clothes for me…” “You can use the boyfriend/girlfriend practice for that, can’t you? You can ask him cutely, ‘What kind of clothes do you want your girlfriend to wear?’” “That works! Saki, you’re a genius!!” I couldn’t help but applaud. From the smartphone, I heard Saki’s triumphant “Hehehe, how’s that?” voice. After that, I continued to discuss the ice cream finding date with Saki. I happened to look up at the clock on the wall of my room and realized it was getting quite late. I had been so absorbed in talking with Saki that I lost track of time. “Should we go to bed soon?” “Hm? Oh, is it that late already? Yeah, I guess so.” “Oh, right. By the way, do you have any plans the day after tomorrow, Saki?” I remembered there was something I needed to tell Saki. “The day after tomorrow? Saturday, huh? Wait a minute… No, I don’t have any specific plans, why? Is something happening?” “Um, on that day, we’re having a barbecue in our garden, and I was wondering if you’d like to come, Saki?” “Huh? Can I? I want to! I want to!” “Yeah, actually, Mom said recently she hasn’t seen Saki and asked if I should invite you.” Before Saki moved to her current house, she lived very close to mine. So she often came over to our house and was acquainted with Mom, Dad, and Ryota. Especially Mom was very fond of Saki, and they often went shopping together as a trio before. “Really?! I want to see Ikue Mama again too, it’s been a while~!” “Okay, then I’ll tell them Saki is coming the day after tomorrow.” “Okay! Thanks~” “Oh, and about that. Haruto-kun will also be there that day, is that okay?” When I said that, Saki let out a slightly surprised sound. Incidentally, I had already told Haruto-kun that Saki might be coming. “Is that so? I’m the one being invited, so it’s no problem for me, but conversely, are you okay with it, Ayaka? Won’t I be in the way?” To Saki’s slightly worried words, I couldn’t help but shake my head, even though she couldn’t see me, and replied. “You won’t be in the way at all! In fact, I’ll feel stronger with you there.” “Really? Then I’ll look forward to the day after tomorrow.” “Okay!”

“I’ll be sure to take a good look at you and Otsuki-kun getting cozy.” At Saki’s teasing words, my face got a little warm. “I-I wouldn’t do that! There’s no way I’d make a move on Haruto-kun in front of Mom and Dad!” “So you mean you want to get cozy with Otsuki-kun if Ikue Mama and Shuichi-san aren’t around?” “T-That is… if Haruto-kun wants to do that, I…” Imagining what it would be like if that happened, I became embarrassed, and my words gradually became smaller. “Haa~ This coffee tastes incredibly delicious today.” I could hear Saki saying “Phew~” from the smartphone. “Be careful not to have too much caffeine, okay?” “Yeah, yeah, thanks for the concern. Well then, I’ll hang up. See you the day after tomorrow.” “Okay, good night.” After hearing Saki say “Good night~”, I ended the call. The day after tomorrow is a barbecue with my family, and also with Haruto-kun and Saki. And next week is a date with Haruto-kun. This summer is busier and more fun than ever before, and my heart is fluttering. I’m having that kind of summer vacation. ※※※ Haruto held his eco-bag and walked down the alley of the residential area, where the sun was starting to set and shadows were getting long, towards the Tojo house. Today was his day off from housekeeping. Therefore, there would be no boyfriend/girlfriend practice with Ayaka today, so he would be visiting the Tojo house a little later than usual. “Will Ryota-kun be happy?” Saying that, Haruto looked inside his eco-bag. Inside, there was a fireworks set packed with various types. He had bought it thinking he could play with Ryota and the others after the barbecue. Imagining Ryota’s happy face when he saw the fireworks, Haruto’s expression naturally softened. As he walked through the residential area with a slight grin, he unexpectedly ran into a certain person at a crossroads. “Huh? Aizawa-san?” “Nnn? Oh, Otsuki-kun. Yahho~”

Saki, whose name was called by Haruto, waved her hand and greeted him cheerfully. The two are classmates and have a certain degree of acquaintance with each other. Ayaka avoids interacting with boys at school as much as possible. However, Saki doesn’t particularly do that, and she has built a friendly relationship with Haruto, exchanging greetings when they meet at school. “It’s nice to see you today.” “Same here.” Haruto, who had heard from Ayaka beforehand that Saki would also be participating in the barbecue, returned a smile to her smiling face. After greeting each other, they walked side by side towards the Tojo house. “Ayaka told me. Otsuki-kun, you’re doing housekeeping for Ayaka’s family, right?” “Yeah, that’s right. I was surprised myself at first.” Haruto laughed and said in a cheerful tone, “I never thought I’d be doing housekeeping for a classmate’s family.” “I was surprised too when Ayaka told me. By the way, Otsuki-kun, you’re supposed to be good at cooking, aren’t you?” “Well, I guess I’m reasonably good?” To Haruto, who said this with a little humility, Saki grinned. “Oh? Is that something someone confident would say?” At Saki’s words, Haruto gave a wry smile and said, “If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t have chosen a part-time job in housekeeping.” “Well, that’s true. By the way, what’s in that eco-bag?” When Saki looked at the eco-bag, Haruto opened it slightly so she could see inside and replied, “Fireworks. I thought Ryota-kun would be happy.” “Ooh! Nice! Ryota is definitely going to be thrilled!” Saki gave Haruto a thumbs-up and said, “Good job!” “Aizawa-san, you have a lot of luggage, don’t you?” Saki was carrying a slightly larger backpack. “I’m staying over at Ayaka’s house tonight, so I have a change of clothes and various other things.” “I see, that’s what it was. What’s in that bag?” Like Haruto, Saki was also carrying a bag in her hand. Curious about what was inside, Haruto asked, and Saki smiled fearlessly. “Hehehe, you asked the right question. What I brought is… this!” Saying “Ta-da~,” Saki took out what was in the bag and showed it to Haruto. “Is that… a banana?” “Yes! Bananas!” Saki held up the bananas with a beaming smile.

“If you grill these bananas and eat them with chocolate syrup and stuff, they’re exquisite, you see.” “Certainly, that sounds delicious. I see, a dessert thing… I never thought of that for a barbecue.” For Haruto, a barbecue only brought to mind meat or seafood. After that, the two walked along, exchanging trivial conversation, and arrived at the Tojo residence. Upon reaching the gate of the Tojo residence, Saki pushed the intercom button with practiced ease, without hesitation. “Yes?” “Ayaka~ I’m here~” “Saki~ I’ll open it now.” Ayaka’s voice coming from the intercom was slightly cheerful at her best friend’s arrival. The front door immediately opened, and Ayaka’s face appeared from it. “Huh? Haruto-kun is with you?” “I just happened to run into Aizawa-san there.” Haruto explained to Ayaka, who was showing a slightly surprised expression. “Oh, is that so? What did you two bring?” Ayaka looked at the bags Haruto and Saki were holding in their hands. “Me? Well, look, it’s bananas. We can grill them later, put chocolate on them, and eat them together.” “Wow! That sounds delicious! How about you, Haruto-kun?” “I have fireworks—” “Onii-chan!” In the middle of Haruto’s sentence, Ryota rushed towards the entrance from the living room with incredible speed. Halfway down the corridor, he also noticed Saki standing next to Haruto, and his expression brightened even further. “Wow!! Saki Onee-chan!!” “Ryota~! Long time no see~!” Saki squatted down to greet the charging Ryota and ruffled his hair. “Didn’t you get taller since I last saw you?” “Really?! Did I get taller?” To Ryota, whose eyes were sparkling, Saki nodded repeatedly, saying, “Yeah, yeah, you grew, you grew.” Ryota, in a good mood from Saki’s words, looked at the bag Haruto was holding. “Onii-chan, what’s that?” “These are fireworks. Here.” When Haruto showed him inside the eco-bag, Ryota’s joy exploded.

“Yay!! Fireworks!! Onee-chan, it’s fireworks!! We can all play with fireworks!!” “That’s nice, Ryota. Now, go thank Haruto-kun properly.” “Okay!! Thank you, Onii-chan!” “You’re welcome. We’ll play together later.” “Okay! I’m going to tell Dad and Mom that Onii-chan brought fireworks!” Saying that, Ryota ran back into the living room with incredible speed again. Saki laughed amusingly at Ryota’s storm-like welcome. “Ryota is still full of energy with people he’s used to, isn’t he?” “Right? But when there’s someone he’s not used to nearby, he becomes completely quiet, like a different person.” “Huh? Is Ryota-kun perhaps shy?” Haruto looked a little surprised at Ayaka’s words. In Haruto’s mind, Ryota always seemed full of energy, and the idea of him being shy didn’t quite fit. When Haruto first met Ryota, there was an incident where he was mistaken for a burglar, and although there was naturally some caution, they quickly hit it off and became friends during the second housekeeping session. So Haruto had assumed that he was like that with everyone, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Ayaka let out an amused smile at Haruto’s surprise. “It’s not that bad, but if anything, Ryota is the shy type.” “Oh, I see. That was the case.” “That’s why I was a little surprised when Ryota took to Haruto-kun so quickly.” “Otsuki-kun, are you the type who is mysteriously liked by children?” Saki said, looking at Haruto with a bit of interest. In response, he tilted his head slightly and replied. “No… I don’t think that’s particularly the case.” “Like, have you ever been surrounded by preschoolers without realizing it when you go to a cheap sweets shop?” “I’ve never encountered an event like that.” “Or, when you go to a large shopping mall, you always encounter a lost child and take them to the lost and found?” “Doesn’t that have nothing to do with being liked by children?” “Hm? Oh, right. Well, I guess Otsuki-kun just happened to be a Ryota-killer.” Saki tilted her head for a moment, thinking, but quickly gave up and concluded on her own. “Standing around talking at the entrance isn’t great, can we come in?” “Oh, yeah. Please.” After getting Ayaka’s permission, Saki took off her outdoor shoes and went inside, heading towards the living room.

Perhaps because she had been to this house many times, her steps showed no hesitation. “Haruto-kun, please come in too.” “Yeah, excuse me for intruding.” Haruto also took off his shoes and was about to pass by Ayaka to head to the living room. However, as he tried to pass by Ayaka, she lightly pinched the sleeve of his arm. “Hm?” Haruto, whose sleeve was caught, turned his gaze towards Ayaka. “With Saki… you used friendly speech from the start, didn’t you?” Ayaka said, pouting her lips slightly and looking a little sulky. Seeing that expression, which he didn’t see very often, Haruto’s heart skipped a beat. “…Huh?” Haruto was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond to Ayaka’s unexpected remark. Seeing Haruto look troubled, Ayaka looked startled, then hurriedly let go of his sleeve. “S-Sorry! Forget it! Forget it!” “Huh? But…” “Sorry for saying something weird! You don’t have to worry about it at all! Yeah, really, don’t worry. Please, forget it…” Having spoken quickly, Ayaka ran off towards the living room with quick steps, her face cast down. Haruto stood still in the corridor, staring blankly at Ayaka’s retreating back. “…Huh? Was that… maybe jealousy?” The moment he muttered that, Haruto felt his heart pound in his chest. In Ayaka’s case, there was almost no contact at school, and the first time they talked properly was through the housekeeping job. That’s why he used polite speech at first. In contrast, he had a certain level of interaction with Saki as a classmate from the beginning, so he had used friendly speech from the start. However, it seemed Ayaka wasn’t pleased with that. Why was that…? Thinking about the reason, Haruto desperately tried to suppress the natural urge for the corners of his mouth to lift. “Am I interpreting this too conveniently?” Haruto asked himself. However, there was no answer to be found, and he slowly walked towards the living room. If that was truly jealousy…

Thinking such things, Haruto entered the living room, where Ayaka, Saki, and Ikue were chatting happily. “It’s been a while, Saki-chan~” “It has! Ikue Mama, you’re still so beautiful!” “Oh! She said that, Ayaka.” “That’s good, Mom.” Haruto glanced at Ayaka’s expression, but it seemed unchanged, as usual. “Oh, Otsuki-kun, welcome. You brought fireworks, didn’t you? Thank you.” “Not at all.” Ikue, noticing Haruto entering the living room, smiled at him. “Shuichi is setting up the fire in the garden right now, so please make yourself comfortable until then.” “Oh, in that case, I’ll help with the fire.” “Oh, no, it’s alright. Otsuki-kun is our guest today, so please relax.” “No, actually, I like starting fires.” “Oh, is that so? Otsuki-kun, you’re quite a boy, aren’t you? Well then, I’ll ask you to help.” Ikue laughed and said, “Ryota is also glued to the grill.” Stepping out from the living room to the garden, they saw Shuichi fanning air into the barbecue grill with a fan, and Ryota watching him excitedly from the side. “Oh! Welcome, Otsuki-kun!” Perhaps because he had been fanning the charcoal for a while, Shuichi, whose face was slightly red, wiped sweat from his forehead with one hand and greeted him. “Thank you for inviting me today.” “Saki-chan came too, huh? It’s more fun with more people.” Shuichi said happily, having seen Saki in the living room. “Dad, the red part of the charcoal got smaller?” “Oops.” To Shuichi, who started fanning again after Ryota’s remark, Haruto offered to take over. “Shuichi-san, I can take over the fire starting.” To Haruto, who offered with a smile, Shuichi waved his hand. “Otsuki-kun is a guest today, so you can relax until the barbecue starts.” “No, I like starting fires myself.” To Shuichi, who said exactly the same thing as Ikue, Haruto replied with the same words as before. “Oh? Is that so? Then I’ll take you up on your offer and let you take over for a bit?” Saying that, Shuichi handed the fan he was holding to Haruto and took a big gulp from the drink placed on the folding table next to the grill. Haruto was momentarily wary, thinking the brown liquid he drank was beer.

He remembered the other day when Shuichi drank alcohol, became incredibly cheerful, and talked about wedding plans with Ayaka. “Phew~, Ice-cold barley tea when you’re thirsty is something else.” However, realizing it was just tea, Haruto breathed a sigh of relief. With the fan he received from Shuichi, Haruto gently sent air into the gaps between the charcoal. Gradually, the fire spread through the charcoal. “Ah! Onii-chan! The charcoal is getting redder!” “Alright, Ryota-kun, could you step away from the grill for a bit?” At Haruto’s words, Ryota honestly nodded “Okay” and stepped back a few steps, creating distance from the grill. Confirming that Ryota was safely away and there was nothing nearby that could catch fire, Haruto suddenly made the gentle fanning motion much more vigorous, sending a strong gust of wind. Instantly, flames shot up from the piled charcoal with a BOOM!, and sparks flew with a crackling sound. “Wow!! It’s like fireworks!” “Hmm hmm, fire starting is indeed a man’s romance.” Ryota’s eyes sparkled beside Shuichi, who stood with his arms crossed, nodding repeatedly and excitedly saying “Amazing!” “Ryota-kun, could you get a few new pieces of charcoal from that box over there?” “Okay! Um, small ones? Big ones?” “I want big ones.” When Haruto told him that, Ryota carefully examined the charcoal in the box with serious eyes. He must be eager to help with starting the fire himself. Seeing Ryota’s serious gaze, Haruto felt a warm feeling somewhere inside and a smile naturally appeared on his face. “Here, Onii-chan! Is this okay?” “Yeah, thank you.” Ryota looked proud at Haruto’s thanks. After confirming that the charcoal was sufficiently lit, Haruto broke apart the piled charcoal and spread the white, hot embers across the entire grill. Then, he placed the new charcoal Ryota had brought on top. “It looks good. Let’s bring the ingredients now.” Shuichi, who had peeked into the grill, said that and headed back towards the living room for a moment. “Mom, the fire is ready, could you bring the ingredients?” “Okay. Ayaka and Saki-chan, could you help too?” “Yes! Are the ingredients in the refrigerator?”

Saki, asked by Ikue, replied spiritedly. “Yes. There are also some in the freezer.” “Understood~” Immediately, Saki headed to the refrigerator, opened the door, and let out a gasp of admiration. “Ooh! So much meat!!” “We prepared more than usual because Otsuki-kun and Saki-chan are coming.” Saki’s eyes sparkled as she took out trays full of meat. “Beef!! So much beef!!” As expected of a household where both parents work and are both company managers, the ingredients prepared at the Tojo house shone like jewels in the eyes of Saki, who was a commoner. “It seems they really put effort and splurged on the ingredients this time.” Ayaka said to her best friend, who looked like she was about to drool. “Dad got excited because Saki and Haruto-kun are coming, saying he’d make it more luxurious than usual.” “Shuichi-san is seriously awesome!” Ayaka, together with Saki who looked thrilled, carried the barbecue ingredients to the courtyard. Trays of ingredients were lined up one after another on the folding table. Seeing that, Haruto, who was tending the fire with Ryota, widened his eyes. “Amazing… So much beef…” Haruto showed the same commoner’s reaction as Saki. Seeing his reaction, Ayaka chuckled softly. “Haruto-kun, there’s plenty, so don’t hold back and eat a lot.” “U-Um… but is it okay… this 고급…?” Haruto felt a little overwhelmed by the expensive meat with beautiful marbling in front of him. To him, Shuichi emphasized. “As Ayaka said, don’t hold back, okay? We splurged so everyone can have fun.” “Yes, sir, Shuichi-san! I’ll dig in!” Saki, who had known Shuichi longer than Haruto, seemed to be familiar with his demeanor and replied with a salute pose. Following her lead, Haruto also bowed his head and said, “Thank you very much.” “We have vegetables too, so eat these as well.” Saying that, Ikue came into the garden holding a tray of vegetables like pumpkin, onion, potato, and eggplant. When everyone had gathered in the garden, Shuichi took the lead for the start of the barbecue.

“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s begin then. But before that, Otsuki-kun, could you give me a hand?” “Yes, of course.” Shuichi and Haruto worked together to set up tables and chairs around the barbecue grill. “I’ll sit next to Onii-chan!” Ryota pulled Haruto’s hand and sat down at the set-up table. “Heh~, Ryota, you really like Otsuki-kun.” “Yeah!” Saki looked at the two with amusement and took her seat at the table. Ayaka also sat down next to her. “Ayaka, your cute little brother is being stolen by Otsuki-kun?” “Well, it’s Haruto-kun, so it can’t be helped.” Ayaka replied to her best friend’s words with a wry smile. Then Saki grinned and said to Haruto with a slight tease, “Otsuki-kun, you’re a sinful man for charming the Tojo siblings like this.” “Huh?” Haruto, who had been engrossed in the expensive ingredients in front of him, turned to Saki with a bewildered face. To him, Saki was about to say something with a smirk, but Ayaka stopped her before she could. “Hey, Saki…” “Oh? Ayaka, your face is red?” “T-That’s because Saki…” To Ayaka, who was blushing and muttering something in response, Saki had a very amused expression. At that moment, Shuichi, who had confirmed everyone was seated, spoke up. “Everyone, let’s get our drinks ready and have a toast.” “Okay everyone, pick what you like.” Ikue lined up several kinds of juice bottles on the table. “What will you drink, Ryota-kun?” “Orange juice!” While Haruto poured orange juice into Ryota’s cup, Saki picked up apple juice and poured it into her own cup. “What are you drinking, Ayaka?” Saki held up the apple juice she was holding a little and asked, “This one?” “Um, what will Haruto-kun drink?” Ayaka hesitated for a moment, then looked at Haruto, who was just handing Ryota the cup of orange juice. “I think I’ll have ginger ale.”

“Okay, then I’ll have the same.” Saying that, Ayaka poured ginger ale into her own cup, then poured the same into Haruto’s cup. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Seeing the two interacting like that, Saki put her hand on her chin and said, “Ho ho.” “That exchange just now, it’s like a wife pouring a drink for her husband during his evening drink.” “Hey Saki, don’t say weird things.” “Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” “Everyone got their drinks?” Shuichi, who had confirmed everyone had a drink in hand, raised the glass containing his beer. “Alright, let’s eat and have fun to our heart’s content tonight! Cheers!!” When Shuichi said that, everyone also raised their glasses and said “Cheers!”, and the Tojo family’s barbecue began. The ingredients lined up in front of them were all first-class and luxurious. For Haruto, a commoner, it felt truly extravagant. “This isn’t the thickness of tongue I know… And it’s beef tongue…” How much would a single slice of this cost? Haruto, who felt his body tremble just imagining it, carefully gripped the extra-thick beef tongue with tongs and gently placed it on the grill. Instantly, a wonderfully appealing sizzle reached his ears. “Otsuki-kun, there’s lemon juice here, so feel free to use it.” “Ah, yes. Thank you very much.” Ikue placed the lemon juice in front of Haruto. “Ayaka-san and Aizawa-san, do you want some too?” Haruto, who had put lemon juice on his and Ryota’s small plates, said. “Yeah, I’ll take some.” Ayaka nodded, and Haruto handed her the lemon juice, then immediately returned his gaze to the extra-thick beef tongue on the grill. Ayaka couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him staring intently at the extra-thick beef tongue with a serious look in his eyes. “Haruto-kun, you’re really serious.” “I don’t want to burn such good meat.” “I know~, being able to have such a luxurious barbecue, I guess it pays to have bourgeois friends.” Saki agreed with Haruto, her eyes shining brightly at the meat being grilled on the grill. “Huh~, so Saki, you wouldn’t have been my friend if I was poor?”

“Of course!” To Saki, who answered immediately with a thumbs-up, Ayaka said “Geez!” and lightly hit her best friend’s shoulder. Ayaka, who fully understood that Saki’s words were a joke, puffed out her cheeks. “I’m not talking to Saki anymore.” “Waaah~ Don’t say such lonely things, Ayaka~ We’re best friends forever, right?” Saki, also knowing that Ayaka wasn’t genuinely sulking, said this while clinging to Ayaka with a nonchalant look. In response, Ayaka said “I don’t care anymore” and turned her face away with puffed-out cheeks. “Otsuki-kun, Ayaka is sulking. Can you cheer her up?” “Huh? Me?” Haruto, who had been concentrating intently on the doneness of the extra-thick beef tongue until now, showed a bewildered expression at being suddenly brought into the conversation. “Yeah, yeah, if Otsuki-kun gently strokes her head, Ayaka will instantly be in a good mood. Please.” “Uh, well… not here…” It would be one thing if it were their boyfriend/girlfriend practice in Ayaka’s room, but now Ryota, Ikue, and Shuichi were present. If he were to stroke her head in that situation, he didn’t know what might be said. Haruto glanced at the contents of the glass in Shuichi’s hand. A golden liquid topped with creamy foam. That was definitely beer. If Shuichi, who was in a good mood from alcohol, witnessed Haruto stroking Ayaka’s head, there was even a possibility that Shuichi might go and get a marriage registration form from the city hall right there. Moreover, Haruto peeked at Ayaka’s reaction, wondering if she didn’t want something as embarrassing as having her head stroked. “…I might cheer up…” Ayaka, whose eyes met Haruto’s, muttered quietly. No no no! What are you saying, Ayaka-san!? Haruto inwardly cried out in confusion. However, as if unaware of his inner turmoil, Ayaka stared intently at Haruto with hopeful eyes. Perhaps to make it easier for him to stroke her head, she seemed to be tilting her head ever so slightly towards Haruto. Behind Ayaka, Saki, the instigator of this situation, watched the two with a beaming smile. “…………” Haruto glanced at Shuichi and Ikue.

Shuichi was happily downing beer, and Ikue was grilling onions, telling Ryota, “Make sure you eat your vegetables too.” After thinking for a few seconds about Ayaka, who was still giving him a hopeful look, Haruto slowly reached out towards her head. “You have ash on your head.” Saying that, Haruto quickly stroked her head as if brushing ash off Ayaka’s hair. “…Ah, thank you.” Ayaka blushed when her head was stroked, and seeing that, Saki grinned. “Ayaka is in a good mood instantly, huh? As expected of Otsuki-kun. A capable man is different.” “I don’t quite understand what Aizawa-san means…” Haruto, probably quite embarrassed, said this while quickly averting his gaze. “Onii-chan, isn’t this meat already cooked?” “Hm? Ah! The expensive tongue!” At Ryota’s words, Haruto snapped his gaze back to the grill and quickly removed the extra-thick beef tongue from the heat. “That was close, I almost overcooked it… Thanks for telling me, Ryota-kun.” Saying that, Haruto stroked Ryota’s head, and he made a really happy face, saying “Ehehe.” Haruto dipped the grilled tongue into the lemon juice and slowly brought it to his mouth. Instantly, Haruto’s eyes widened. The pleasant chewiness typical of tongue, the flavor spreading over his tongue and the umami he felt with every bite. However, there was absolutely no persistent greasiness, and the acidity of the lemon juice served as a good accent, allowing him to eat it refreshingly. “This is… too delicious…” Haruto was speechless from the sheer deliciousness. To him, Shuichi cheerfully recommended other meats. “Eat up, Otsuki-kun! Look, I bought kalbi too, and there’s loin as well.” Saying that, Shuichi placed meat onto the grill one after another. Haruto, determined not to burn such good meat, quickly moved the grilled meat onto serving plates. “Ryota-kun, do you want some kalbi?” “Yeah! I’ll eat it!” Haruto took a portion for himself and also for Ryota, placing it on his plate. “It’s delicious, Onii-chan.” “It really is, absolutely delicious.” Haruto and Ryota chewed on the meat, both smiling.

The beef kalbi grilled over charcoal, the moment it entered his mouth, the fragrant charcoal smell wafted through his nose, and as he chewed, a flood of umami from the overflowing meat juices flowed over his tongue. Haruto immediately shoveled white rice into his mouth. The fat and sauce from the kalbi mixed with the rice, and with every bite, a feeling of happiness spread through Haruto’s mouth. “Otsuki-kun, there’s more rice if you want.” “Ah, yes. Thank you.” The beef kalbi was so delicious that Haruto ended up eating rice more heartily than he expected. He bowed his head slightly, feeling a little embarrassed that Ikue had seen him. “Shuichi-san, is it okay if I grill these scallops?” Next to him, Saki was holding a tray with large scallops and asking Shuichi. “Of course, Saki-chan. Grill as many as you like.” “Yessir.” Immediately, she excitedly lined up the scallops on the grill. Next to her, Ayaka looked towards Haruto. “Haruto-kun, do you want some shiitake mushrooms if I grill them?” “Oh, what thick shiitake mushrooms. Please let me have some.” “Onee-chan, I want some too!!” “Okay, okay. Then I’ll grill a lot.” Ayaka lined up the shiitake mushrooms next to the scallops Saki had placed. After a while, the scallops began to open, and juice started bubbling out. And the shiitake mushrooms also got moist on the cap part, and that distinct, wonderful shiitake aroma began to rise. “The scallops look good~, I guess it’s time to put this in.” Saki opened a scallop and placed butter on top of it. “Whoa~, what a wonderful sight~” Seeing the scallops grilling with the broth and melted butter, Saki’s excitement level soared. “A little soy sauce here.” With a sizzle, the fragrant aroma of burnt soy sauce and the rich scent of butter gently tickled Haruto’s nostrils. “Saki, can you put some soy sauce on these too?” “Okay~” Nodding at Ayaka’s words, Saki also put soy sauce on the shiitake mushrooms. Haruto couldn’t help but swallow at the shiitake mushrooms, which had a different but equally appealing aroma from the scallops mixed with the scent of the sea. To him, Ayaka made an even more tempting suggestion. “Haruto-kun, want some cheese on it?”

Saying that, Ayaka slightly held up some melting cheese so Haruto could see it well. “What a terrifying combination… Please, yes.” “Onee-chan, cheese for me too!!” Haruto bowed his head politely and carefully, while Ryota appealed by raising his hand excitedly. Ayaka let out a small laugh and placed the cheese on top of the shiitake mushrooms. Just then, Saki next to her announced the scallops were ready with a beaming smile. “Finished! Who wants scallops?” When Saki said that, everyone raised their hands at once. Haruto received a scallop on his plate, brought it slightly closer to his nose to enjoy the aroma, then put the thick scallop into his mouth. “Hof! Hot! Ho-ho, delicious!” The moment he chewed, the rich sweetness overflowed from the scallop’s flesh, which had a slight elasticity but crumbled easily. Haruto immediately drank the juice left in the scallop shell. Although it was hot enough to burn him, the rich flavor of the soy sauce and butter, mixed with the seafood broth, flowed into his mouth where the lingering sweetness of the scallop remained strong, and it felt like the more he chewed, the more delicious it became. “Amazing…” Haruto said in a whisper. Across from him, Shuichi similarly held the scallop shell, drank the juice, then downed his beer with a gulping sound. “Phew! This is irresistible.” Shuichi said in a good mood, his face slightly red. Everyone else was also smiling and enjoying the scallops. “Oh, that’s right! Ayaka, let’s take a picture together.” As if remembering, Saki took out her smartphone and started taking selfies with Ayaka. “Ayaka, lift the plate a little more so the grilled stuff shows, yeah, just like that! Taking the picture~” Saki happily took photos with Ayaka. After taking a few shots, she turned the camera towards Haruto. “Okay Ryota, get closer to Otsuki-kun.” “Nnn? Like this?” At Saki’s instruction, Ryota smoothly moved his body closer to Haruto. “Perfect! Say cheese!” Since it was taken somewhat by surprise, Haruto was completely focused on the scallop. “Ahahaha! Look at Otsuki-kun’s face! He’s too mesmerized by the scallop!”

“Hey Aizawa-san, taking a surprise photo is unfair.” To Saki, who was laughing at the photo, Haruto protested with a wry smile. “Then Otsuki-kun, you can take a picture of us too, okay?” Saying that, Saki hugged Ayaka and looked towards Haruto. “Come on, Otsuki-san, it’s your chance for a JK two-shot.” “Ah, hey, hold on, my hair…” Ayaka, hugged by the enthusiastic Saki, frantically tried to fix her appearance by combing her hair with her fingers. “Um, you can take it.” “See? Ayaka says so too.” Saki prompted him, making a peace sign towards Haruto. “Okay, just one.” Saying that, Haruto took a two-shot of Ayaka and Saki with his smartphone. “Did you get it? Let me see, let me see.” At Saki’s words, Haruto said “Like this,” showing her the smartphone screen. Saki was beaming, hugging Ayaka, and Ayaka was looking slightly embarrassed and upwards. “Oh, it turned out well, didn’t it? You can even set it as your wallpaper, Otsuki-kun?” “No, I don’t think I can do that…” “But this Ayaka is super cute, right? Right, Otsuki-kun?” “Well… I admit that.” “See~ Ayaka,” Saying that, Ayaka, whose shoulder was patted by Saki, blushed. “Alright! Then, next is a two-shot photo of Otsuki-kun and Ayaka! Come on Ayaka, move next to Otsuki-kun.” Saying that, Saki forcefully pushed Ayaka’s waist, making her stick to Haruto. “Hey, hold on, Saki!?” “Come on, get closer! You won’t fit in the frame like that. Otsuki-kun, put your arm around Ayaka’s shoulder and hug her.” “No no no, Aizawa-san!? That’s too sudden!” “Oh! Photo opportunity!!” Pushed by Saki, Haruto and Ayaka were forced into a somewhat clinging state. Caught off guard by the sudden event, they both reacted in a flustered panic. Saki didn’t miss that moment and captured it on her smartphone. “Oh-ho~, their flustered state, good, good.” Looking at the photo she just took, Saki nodded repeatedly with a grin. “S-Saki, honestly… give me that picture later…” Ayaka returned to her seat from beside Haruto, pouting in protest but also demanding the two-shot photo with Haruto. Saki smiled at her.

“Of course! Oh, and I’ll make sure to send it to Otsuki-kun too. You can print it out later and hang it on the wall of Otsuki-kun’s room.” “No… I won’t do that… but thank you.” To Saki’s words, Haruto also thanked Saki, though he was embarrassed. Haruto and Ayaka looked embarrassed with each other. To diffuse the atmosphere, Ayaka looked at the shiitake mushrooms she was grilling. “Oh, the shiitake mushrooms are ready. Here, Haruto-kun. Ryota, give me your plate too.” Saki grinned at Ayaka, who was serving the grilled shiitake mushrooms. Just then, Shuichi, holding a beer, spoke to Haruto as if he just remembered something. “Speaking of which, Otsuki-kun. You said you liked starting fires earlier, do you like camping?” “Yes, that’s right. I haven’t done much overnight camping, but I do like that kind of thing.” Haruto, who had been enjoying the freshly grilled shiitake mushrooms, paused his hands at Shuichi’s question. “Oh! Is that so! Actually, we’re planning to go camping as a family next week, how about you join us, Otsuki-kun?” “Huh? Can I really join you?” “Of course! Saki-chan, how about you too if you’d like?” Shuichi also turned the conversation to Saki. “Can I really join you too!?” To Saki, who showed a slightly surprised reaction, Ayaka said, “Let’s go camping together.” At Ayaka’s words, Saki raised her hand quickly. “Yes, yes! I would love to participate!” “Good. Then it’s settled that both of you will join!” “Thank you very much. Um, I look forward to it.” Haruto bowed his head as he said that. Ryota, who was sitting next to him, looked radiant. “Onii-chan and Saki Onee-chan are going camping too?” “Yeah, I look forward to it, Ryota-kun.” To Haruto, who said this with a smile, Ryota raised both hands and cheered “Yay!”.