I have been told I was cute by the people around me since I can remember. When I was in kindergarten, other children’s parents would often call out to me, saying, “Oh, Ayaka-chan is cute, isn’t she?” After I started elementary school, boys often played tricks on me or bothered me. Thinking about it now, I think that was probably the flip side of the boys’ affection for me. Those tricks and annoyances from the boys gradually decreased as I got older, and by the time I became a junior high school student, they had mostly disappeared. And what increased instead were confessions. I was confessed to by boys several times a month without fail. There were even times when I was confessed to every day for a week when it was bad. The first time I received a confession from a boy, the first feeling that welled up in my heart was confusion. I think it’s only natural to be confused when boys who have been mean or annoying you all along suddenly say something like “I like you.” In addition, since that time, I had been avoiding boys, thinking they were people who would be mean, so there wasn’t a single boy I played with or had conversations with. I naturally turned down all the confessions I received from boys. Dating someone whose personality I barely know is unthinkable for me. Especially since my parents raised me from a young age telling me things like “It’s not about looks, it’s about what’s inside.” First, start exchanging greetings and other conversations, then become friends, understand each other, become attracted and fall in love, and then confess. If it followed this flow, I might accept it too. But the boys who confessed to me all said, “It was love at first sight with you!” It’s not that I deny love at first sight, but I just can’t understand it. So, I rejected every single boy who confessed to me one after another.
Amidst all that, an incident occurred. Suddenly, a friend I had been close with pleaded with me while crying, “Don’t take the person I like!!” For a moment, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. At that time, or rather, even now, all my friends were girls. Moreover, I was avoiding boys, so there were no boys I would talk to myself. In such a situation, there’s no way I could possibly take away my friend’s crush. That friend is misunderstanding something. Thinking so, I somehow managed to get her to talk, the one who was crying. According to her story, it seems that among the boys who confessed to me, there was someone my friend liked. …What am I supposed to do? Even though they confessed on their own. I had absolutely no connection with the boy my friend liked. In fact, it was someone I had never even exchanged a single conversation with. In the end, we remained distant until I graduated from junior high school. Triggered by that incident, I started to avoid interacting with boys even more. Also, there is one more reason why I started to keep boys at a distance from around the latter half of junior high school. That is their gaze. From around the second year of junior high school, my chest started getting bigger and bigger, and in proportion to that, I started feeling boys’ gazes more than before. Mostly it was a glancing look out of the corner of their eyes, but there were also boys who stared intently. I felt scared by such sticky, clinging gazes, and by the time I became a high school student, I had developed a slight distrust of men. Even after becoming a high school student, confessions continued relentlessly as before. But having learned from the incident that happened in junior high school, I thoroughly appealed my stance to my friends around me: ‘I have absolutely zero interest in boys or romance.’ Thanks to that effort, even now as a second-year high school student, my friendships are going well. Well, I’m in the prime of my youth, a glamorous high school girl, but whether the current situation, where all my friends are girls and there’s no
sign or trace of romance, to be considered “going well” is a bit questionable, though. But the existence of boys is nothing but a source of trouble for me now. The most prominent event happened right before this summer break began. After school on the day of the closing ceremony, while I was chatting with my friends about summer break and thinking of going home soon, I was suddenly called out over the school broadcast system. In contrast to me, who was momentarily stunned and couldn’t understand what was happening, the girls around me were squealing and getting excited. It seems the one who called me out was a third-year senpai. Their name was definitely… I feel like it was Gotō or something like that. No, maybe Saitō? Anyway, because that senpai used something like the school broadcast system, I ended up in a situation where I had to respond to the call. Well, I guess that was their aim. While enduring the shame, I went to the schoolyard after school, where many students still remained, and there was the culprit Saitō… or was it Andō-senpai? Well, that person was there. And, as if they had gone crazy, they suddenly took out a ring and proposed to me. A tremendous cheer went up from the students watching the confession scene from the surrounding school buildings. However, I was in a slight state of panic from the extreme embarrassment and Andō-senpai’s lack of common sense, so I just said “I’m not interested” and hurried away from the spot. My memory from there is vague. Before I knew it, I was back home and had dived onto the bed in my room. In my mind, the bizarre behavior of Itō-senpai just now wouldn’t leave my head. This event will definitely be a topic of conversation after summer break. Moreover, Itō-senpai, who confessed this time, seems to be quite famous and popular among girls. What makes him famous and why he’s popular among girls, I have no idea at all, but there is one thing that is certain. That is, after being confessed to by such a boy, I will be resented by a certain number of girls. Even before the summer break began, imagining what would happen after the break made me feel depressed, so I took out my smartphone while
still slumped face down on the bed. Then, I opened the messaging app, opened the chat with Aizawa Saki, and immediately pressed the call button. After a moment of ringing, the call connected with the other party. —“Hello~ I knew you’d call.” “Saki~ I can’t take this anymore~ I don’t want to go to school~” —“Summer break starts tomorrow.” “I wish it was summer break forever~” I burst into tears and leaned on my best friend from elementary school. “What is it with that Endō-senpai person! Calling someone out over the school broadcast system is crazy!” —“Ahahahaha, not the school broadcast system. I really sympathized with Ayaka about that.” “If I see Endō-senpai at school next time, I might glare at him with resentment…” —“Then won’t he be happy instead? Also, it’s not Endō, it’s Kaitō-senpai. The one who did the school broadcast confession.” “Was it? I don’t even remember the name anymore… I was too embarrassed, so I didn’t hear a single bit of what the senpai said.” At my words, Saki’s laughter echoed through the phone call. —“Ahaha! Kaitō-senpai is too pitiful. He went to the trouble of confessing, but it didn’t reach Ayaka at all. Hahaha.” “I’m the one who’s pitiful! That senpai is popular, right? I’m definitely going to earn resentment…” —“Everyone might forget during the summer break, you know?”
“Do you think so? Wasn’t this one super impactful? I mean, it was a proposal, right? With a ring.” —“Ah~ well, yeah.” Even though we’re still high school students? Skipping dating and going straight to engagement or something, I really don’t understand what that means. “Ah~ I guess I should have gone to an all-girls high school after all…” —“Then I would have been separated from you, though.” “I don’t want that~” Aizawa Saki, the person I’m talking to now, is my best friend since the first grade of elementary school. I’ve shared all the fun and difficult times with her until now. Now, she is my one and only irreplaceable person with whom I can talk freely about things like this. I can’t imagine going to a different school from her. “Hey Saki, why don’t you transfer to an all-girls high school with me?” —“Don’t say unreasonable things.” Having been answered instantly, I pouted my lips with a “Hmm.” Of course, I’m saying it as a joke, so I’d be troubled if she took it seriously. Still, I’ll protest anyway. “You’re stingy, Saki.” —“I said this before, but Ayaka should just get a boyfriend.” At my best friend’s words, I remembered what she had said before. That was right after I entered high school, when I was fed up with being confessed to by three boys in quick succession. Saki suggested to me, “Why don’t you just get a fake boyfriend to ward off guys?” But if I could easily get a boyfriend for something like that, I wouldn’t be worrying so much about being confessed to in the first place. At that time, I dismissed Saki’s suggestion. “That’s impossible. Besides, isn’t it too insincere to date someone you don’t even like just because you don’t want to be confessed to?” —“Is that so? But, you know, building a fake relationship with a boy you met by chance to avoid being confessed to, doesn’t it feel a bit like a good romance manga? You like that kind of thing too, right?” “Well, I do like it, but…” While giving an ambiguous reply to Saki’s words, I turned my gaze to the bookshelf in my room. It was packed tightly with romance manga.
The reaction to not being able to experience romance in reality is connected to the behavior of buying and reading a lot of romance manga. My stance of not being interested in guys or romance is just a defense mechanism to build good friendships. I’m a normal high school girl too, so I do have a desire to experience romance like everyone else. —“See? See? Isn’t it good? At first they were fake lovers, but then they realized they were conscious of each other, and eventually became real lovers… Kyaah! The best!!” “Hey, don’t get all excited by yourself.” —“So, in that case, I think Ayaka has no choice but to make a fake lover!” “No way~ First of all, there’s no one who would play the role of such a fake lover.” It’s not that I’m being overly self-conscious, but I do think I’m somewhat aware of what kind of impact my actions have on the school, especially on the boys. If I were to become lovers with a specific person, even if it was a fake relationship, I might cause them a lot of trouble. —“Hmm, personally, I think Ōtsuki-kun from our class would suit you.” “Ōtsuki-kun? You mean… Oh, the person who was first in the class rankings on the test?” I pulled out the person Saki was talking about from a corner of my memory. Although I avoid boys, I at least try to properly remember the names of my classmates. —“Yeah, yeah, that person. I think Ōtsuki-kun is compatible with Ayaka~” “Eh~ Why?” —“See, compared to other boys, Ōtsuki-kun has a calm atmosphere and isn’t pushy, right? And he also seems kind of gentlemanly.” “Is… that so?” Since I usually only interact with girls at school, I hardly know what the boys in my class are like. —“Besides, if you have a boyfriend, weird guys might not approach you, and if something happens, he’ll protect you, right? So, as a best friend, I feel a little relieved about that.” I have been a victim of mild stalking several times before. It seems Saki is worried about those things. “But isn’t that a bodyguard, not a lover?”
—“Exactly.” “Geez! Don’t tease me~” Even while saying that, I couldn’t help but smile. As expected, when I talk to Saki, even if something unpleasant happens, my heart naturally feels lighter. —“Hey, want to go to a cafe together tomorrow?” “Oh? Good idea. Which cafe should we go to? It’s summer break, should we try somewhere new?” —“Yeah, that might be an option.” While I was getting excited talking to Saki about tomorrow’s cafe plans, I heard my mother’s voice from the direction of the stairs. “Ayaka~ I need to talk to you for a bit, so come downstairs~” “Okay~ Sorry, Saki, Mom called me.” —“Alright, alright. Then I’ll contact you about tomorrow’s plans later.” “Okay, see you then.” —“See you later.” After ending the call, I left my room and went to the living room. When I went to the living room, Mom was bustling around. When I looked down at the floor, there was a large suitcase lying open. “Huh? Mom, are you going somewhere?” “That’s right. A sudden business trip came up.” Mom said as she packed clothes and other things into the suitcase. My Mom runs a company. She’s what you call a representative director. That’s why she sometimes leaves the house for business trips like this. It’s not unusual for her to go overseas, and when that happens, she doesn’t come home for about a week. “Is that so… Is it a long one this time?” I asked Mom with a slightly low tone. When Mom is gone, it’s just me and Ryōta in this house. My younger brother is only five years old and too young to stay home alone. So I have to take care of him. But if that happens, my plan to go to a cafe with Saki tomorrow will be cancelled. “It’s scheduled for three days. I think I’ll be able to come back on the same day as Papa.” “…Okay.” By the way, my Dad also runs a company and is currently on a business trip.
I have the utmost respect for my parents, who are both company owners doing very busy and responsible jobs. But sometimes, I also feel dissatisfied when they leave for work like this. Of course, I feel that both Dad and Mom pour all their love into me and Ryōta, and I understand that they usually try to make time for family. So, I don’t want to be too selfish, but my feelings of dissatisfaction still show on my face a little. Sensing my dissatisfaction, Mom’s expression turned apologetic. “I’m sorry, especially since summer break starts tomorrow.” “No, it’s work. It can’t be helped.” “I’ll buy you souvenirs. Please take care of Ryōta.” My younger brother Ryōta is probably taking a nap right now. If Ryōta, who is at the age where he wants to be spoiled by his parents, was awake, he surely would have whined and tried to stop Mom from going on a business trip. To be honest, I want to whine and be spoiled by Mom too. But my position as a high school student and an older sister with a young brother doesn’t allow that. “Okay, leave the house matters to me, and Mom, focus on your trip.” I said, trying to smile brightly so as not to show Mom the dissatisfaction welling up inside me. To me, Mom raised her voice as if she suddenly remembered something, saying, “Oh, that’s right,” and showed me a flyer that was on the table. “If you get tired of the house matters, you can use this.” “What is this?” While receiving the flyer from Mom, I looked through its contents. “…Housekeeping Service?” “That’s right. If you ask, they’ll clean and do laundry, and also cook meals. Convenient, isn’t it?” “Hmm~” Under the catchphrase “Make your time meaningful with housekeeping service,” the flyer had various things written about the service content and course information. “Wow~ They even go grocery shopping for you.” “That’s right. Here, if you call them, please use this money.” Saying that, Mom gave me some money. “Eh, it’s okay. If I call them, I’ll use my own allowance.” Since I usually try not to waste my allowance, it would be fine even if I called a housekeeping service once or twice.
But Mom shook her head and handed me the money. “This is my apology for asking you to take care of the house matters from the first day of summer break.” “…Okay. Then I’ll take it.” Well, if I don’t end up calling the housekeeping service, I can just return the money as it is. “Alright then, the taxi is already here, so I’m going now.” “Okay, have a safe trip. Be careful.” Mom closed her suitcase and got into the taxi waiting at the entrance and left for her business trip. After seeing her off at the entrance, I sent a message to Saki saying I wanted to cancel tomorrow’s plan. –Sorry. My parents left for a business trip, so I can’t go to the cafe tomorrow. Along with the message, I also sent a sticker of a rabbit crying uncontrollably and raising a fountain of tears. Every time the ‘send’ sound echoed, my mood got lower. –Oh no, seriously? How long will your parents be on the business trip? –Papa and Mom will come back together in three days. –I see… Shall I go to your house, Ayaka? I was about to reflexively send “Yes” to Saki’s suggestion, but I somehow managed to stop myself. Saki’s house is quite far from mine. Until junior high, she lived in an apartment very close to my house, but right before she entered high school, she moved to a newly built detached house. Even though it was a very happy occasion that my best friend was moving to a new house, I still remember crying at that time because I didn’t want Saki to go to a far place. –No, it’s okay. When my parents come back, let’s go hang out properly then, okay? –Are you okay with that, Ayaka? –Yeah! Totally okay. I sent a sticker of a rabbit giving a “Zubish!” thumbs-up. Then Saki also sent me a sticker of a bear making a circle above its head using its arms. “…Haa~” I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
The summer break of my second year of high school had started in a very depressing way. In addition to Kaitō-senpai’s confession, my plan to hang out with Saki was cancelled. These two things caused me considerable mental damage. In that situation, I had to make dinner for Ryōta, play with him, and take care of him. And in between, I had to do housework like laundry and cleaning. For the three days my parents were away on business trips, I had to be strong. Telling myself that, I spent the three days. But on the final day, I had accumulated too much mental fatigue and fell fast asleep on the sofa in the living room. To be honest, I just intended to lie down and rest for a bit because I was tired, but before I knew it, I had fallen into a deep sleep. Worried about me falling asleep like that, my younger brother Ryōta tried to make lunch by himself without waking me up. But for five-year-old Ryōta to cook by himself was a reckless challenge, and as expected, the kitchen area became a mess. Ryōta, who was feeling down after failing to cook, apologized repeatedly saying, “I’m sorry.” Since it was originally my fault for showing him that I was worried, which made my younger brother worry, I couldn’t scold him harshly. Seeing my brother hanging his head, I stroked his head and said, “It’s still dangerous for Ryōta to stand in the kitchen alone. From now on, please call out to me properly, okay?” “Yeah… I’m sorry.” As I gently stroked Ryōta’s head, who apologized again, the sound of the intercom “Ping-Pong” echoed from the door. “Ryōta, your friend is here. You said you were going to play together at the park today, didn’t you?” “Yeah, but…” Ryōta mumbled his words and looked towards the kitchen. Perhaps he felt guilty about going to play when he had made the mess. I squatted down and met Ryōta’s gaze. “I’ll clean the kitchen, so Ryōta, go ahead and play.” “…Is that okay?” “It’s okay. Go on, don’t keep your friend waiting.” Ryōta often plays with his neighborhood friends at the park. When that happens, his friends’ parents keep a close eye on Ryōta, so I feel safe.
I saw Ryōta off to the entrance, lightly greeted his friend and their parents, and then returned to the kitchen and couldn’t help but sigh. “Haa~ This is tough.” I fully understood that Ryōta didn’t mean any harm. Rather, it was my mistake for showing signs of tiredness and making my young brother worry. However, even though I understood that in my head, it was also true that the mental and physical fatigue were unavoidable. “Haa~” My body wouldn’t move, and all I could do was sigh. “Hang in there, me! Dad and Mom are coming back today! I just need to try a little longer!” That’s right, Dad and Mom are coming back tonight. Once they are back, I will be freed from housework. “Right, maybe I should go out and play somewhere with Saki tomorrow.” I said it out loud on purpose, trying to motivate myself. But my body just wouldn’t move easily. “Ugh… No good…” Slumping my shoulders, I retreated from the kitchen for a moment and sat down on the dining table. A flyer came into my sight. It was the flyer Mom showed me the day she left for her business trip. “…Housekeeping Service, huh?” I picked up the flyer that had been left on the table and looked through the service details again. “…Maybe I should call them?” Right now, the housekeeping service felt very appealing to me. “Mom said I could call them too…” While muttering words to affirm myself, I scanned the QR code written on the flyer. Then, I opened the housekeeping service’s website and, before I knew it, I had requested a housekeeping service. “I, I requested it…” As I looked at the confirmation email for the request, a sense of tension welled up inside me. I, I ended up calling them on impulse, but is it okay? Is it okay for a high school student to request it? While thinking such things, I restlessly waited for the housekeeping person to arrive. And then, when it was about to be three o’clock in the afternoon, the housekeeping service finally came to the house.
At the same time, I was astonished. Surprisingly, the person who came for the housekeeping service was Ōtsuki-kun, from my class. “Eh? …Why?” As I voiced the question, I couldn’t help but tense up and show my wariness. Because, I think it’s only natural to be wary after seeing someone like Kaitō-senpai. Perhaps sensing my wariness, Ōtsuki-kun suggested changing the person in charge. I felt a little relieved by his response. Ōtsuki-kun was treating me as a customer. There was no strange ulterior motive detectable in his attitude. When I thought that, Saki’s voice echoed in my head. “Hmm, personally, I think Ōtsuki-kun from the same class would suit Ayaka.” Slightly intrigued by Saki’s words, I decided to go ahead and ask him for the housekeeping service. Ōtsuki-kun seemed a little surprised though. It seems my judgment was correct. Ōtsuki-kun, as a housekeeping service staff member, handled things very sincerely. In the middle of it, there was a mishap where Ryōta, who had come back from the park, mistook Ōtsuki-kun for a burglar, but even then, he didn’t get upset and interacted with Ryōta politely. Ryōta also seemed to have opened up to such an Ōtsuki-kun a little, and when he was leaving, Ryōta approached him on his own and said “Bye-bye” as a farewell. Ryōta is rather shy, and he never approaches people he meets for the first time on his own, but he opened up to Ōtsuki-kun in a very short time, which made me feel a little touched. However, I somehow understood the reason why Ryōta opened up. Just as Saki had said, Ōtsuki-kun has a calm atmosphere and a gentle expression when he talks. Perhaps because it was his job, but his way of speaking was also very polite, and he felt so mature that I couldn’t believe he was the same age as me. Also, Ōtsuki-kun had very high housekeeping skills. It’s only natural since he works part-time for a housekeeping service, but he made the kitchen area, which was in a terrible state, sparkling clean, and he even cleaned the living room, which I hadn’t initially requested, making it completely dust-free.
When he was cooking, he looked like a professional chef, and I never got bored watching him cook. I had always avoided boys, but maybe I can become friends with Ōtsukikun… Although it was a very short time, as I interacted with him, I vaguely started to feel that way. It’s just a feeling, but I feel like Ōtsuki-kun will look at my inner self properly, not just my appearance. After all, he called me a “good older sister.” Having started to think such things, I felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction or perhaps disappointment that Ōtsuki-kun was treating me as a ‘customer’. Since I was finally about to make my first male friend, being treated as a customer made me feel a great distance. After Ōtsuki-kun left, Ryōta and I ate the hamburg steak he made, and it was the most delicious hamburg steak I had ever had in my life. I was worried that Ryōta might choke because he was stuffing it into his mouth with such incredible speed. My brother’s appearance, staring with wide-open eyes, forgetting to even blink as he devoured the hamburg steak, was slightly horrifying. Ōtsuki-kun’s cooking, which could captivate Ryōta to this extent, is truly formidable!! ※※※ Ōtsuki Haruto Haruto, who had successfully completed the housekeeping job at the Tōjō house, was visiting his best friend Akagi Tomoya’s house the next day. “Hey Haru. Weren’t you going to do nothing but study and work parttime during summer break? Is it okay for you to come hang out at my place?” Tomoya said teasingly. “That was the plan, but last night I happened to watch a TV show that featured hoarder houses.” Haruto continued speaking while organizing the messy manga on the bookshelf. “I suddenly got worried. What if the next hoarder house to be featured is my best friend’s room?” “My room is not that dirty!!”
Tomoya leaned forward from the back of the chair and retorted vigorously. It was in the middle of summer, with scorching heat continuing day after day. The strong sunlight was shining brightly into Tomoya’s room. However, his room, equipped with air conditioning, was enjoying only the brightness of the sun while maintaining a comfortable temperature. “Well, I just came here to escape because my room’s air conditioner isn’t working properly.” Tomoya gave Haruto a deadpan look as he said this casually. “Hey, I’m going to charge you for the electricity bill.” “Then I’ll charge you for cleaning the room. Going back for all the times before too.” “I’m sorry. Please feel free to use the room as you wish.” Tomoya admitted defeat early. He leaned back against the chair again and asked Haruto. “By the way, wasn’t yesterday your first day of part-time work? How was housekeeping?” “Oh, right…” At Tomoya’s question, Haruto paused his cleaning and thought for a moment. “Well, it’s rewarding, I guess?” Haruto replied while recalling Tōjō-san’s smiling face saying “thank you” in his mind. “Huh? What are you grinning about, Haru?” At Tomoya’s remark, Haruto hastily fixed his expression. “Huh? I’m not grinning at all.” “No, you were definitely grinning just now… Ah, I get it!” “Wh-what is it?” “The client for the housekeeping service was a beautiful onee-san!” Haruto slightly raised his eyebrows at his best friend’s assertive words, which seemed to come from conviction. “That’s wrong!” “No, that’s definitely it. Plus that onee-san is a tired office worker.” “Don’t make up weird fantasies.” “Even more, that onee-san is very sexy. Haru is the type who hides things like that because he’s repressed.”
Haruto looked exasperated at Tomoya, who folded his arms as if he understood and nodded in agreement, saying “Yep, yep.” “There’s no way! And who are you calling repressed?” “I’m wrong? But the client was a beautiful woman, right?” “Why are you so sure?” “Huh? Because I can feel it.” Tomoya said as if it were a matter of course. Was it just a coincidence, or was he really sharp? Haruto forced a slightly strained smile at his unpredictable best friend. “Hey Haru. What’s the real story? Did some kind of sexy event happen?” “There’s no way such an event would happen with Tōjō-san.” “…Huh? Tōjō-san?” “…Ah…” Haruto, who had accidentally let it slip, quickly shut his mouth. “Eh?! Tōjō-san? That Tōjō-san?! Tōjō Ayaka-san?!” “No… That’s not-” “It is! That reaction definitely means it’s Tōjō Ayaka-san!” Though astonished, Tomoya seemed to have become convinced that Haruto’s housekeeping client was Tōjō-san. Haruto decided that it was impossible to deceive him and confessed to Tomoya, while also asking him to keep quiet. “You absolutely must not tell anyone that Tōjō-san requested housekeeping, okay? If I don’t properly protect the personal information and privacy of customers, the company will get angry at me. I trust you, Tomoya. If you spread it around, I’ll cut ties with you.” “No, no, I won’t spread it around, but seriously… And? How was it?” “How was what?” Haruto tilted his head while resuming the cleaning of Tomoya’s room. “What do you mean ‘how’? You were invited, right? To that Tōjō-san’s house.” “Invited, huh…” Haruto looked at Tomoya with an exasperated expression. “I didn’t go to Tōjō-san’s house to hang out, I went to work.” “Right. So, what’s Tōjō-san’s house like? Did it smell good, as expected?” Haruto let out a big sigh, “Haa,” at his best friend who kept asking questions with great curiosity, completely ignoring what he was saying.
“Hey, you sound like a pervert. Also, that question is customer personal information, so I cannot tell you.” “Tch, what the heck, you’re stingy. I’m your best friend, aren’t I?” Haruto skillfully ignored Tomoya, who was pouting his lips exaggeratedly and looking sulky. If a cute girl made such a gesture, his heart might waver a little, but unfortunately, no matter how much a guy pouts his lips, Haruto’s heart wouldn’t budge. In fact, it would just make him more annoyed. “Stingy~ Stingy Haru~ Stingy stingy stingy~~” “Shut up!” Haruto threw the music magazine he was holding for tidying up. Tomoya casually dodged it and laughed joyfully. “But that’s good, Haru.” “Huh? What is?” “You’re likely to become friends with Tōjō-san this summer break, aren’t you? I’m so jealous~” Tomoya sat cross-legged on the chair, grinning. However, Haruto furrowed his brows, unable to understand what he was saying. “Why would we become friends just because I went to her house once?” “Huh? Won’t you be going to Tōjō-san’s house many times while you’re working part-time from now on?” Tomoya said with a puzzled look. Haruto denied his words, shaking his head. “No way, no way. This is the only time. I won’t be going to Tōjō-san’s house again.” “Huh? Why?” “Why? Normally, wouldn’t you hate it? If a classmate came to your house and did housework like cleaning. If I were Tōjō-san, even if I were to ask for housekeeping again, I would specify a different person. It would be too awkward to have a classmate do your housework.” “Hmm~? Is that so?” Tomoya tilted his head at Haruto’s words and looked at the classmate who was currently cleaning his room. “Nah, I don’t think it’s awkward?” “…………” Haruto’s mouth twitched at his best friend’s words, spoken casually. “Maybe I should charge you for the money after all.” Haruto muttered in a low voice.
“What?! Pl-please, anything but that! I just bought this and I’m broke!” Tomoya pleaded with Haruto with a desperate look, hugging the black case he had placed nearby. “Huh? Did you buy a new one?” The black case Tomoya was hugging was a guitar case. He started playing the guitar in elementary school and is now in a band with students from other schools. “That’s right. The other day when I went to the instrument store, I fell in love with this one at first sight,” Tomoya laughed with a “Dehehe~” and rubbed his cheek against the guitar. Haruto, slightly taken aback by his best friend’s perverted behavior, looked at the other guitar leaning against the wall. “Do you need two guitars?” “Yes! You can never have too many guitars!” “Hmm, is that so.” Haruto, who was unfamiliar with musical instruments and music, resumed cleaning Tomoya’s room with a nonchalant reply. “Hey! Show some more interest!” “But I don’t really understand instruments and I don’t plan on playing any.” “Don’t say that, Haru. Start playing the guitar too and let’s form a band!” Tomoya said, wiggling both hands like he would teach him everything from scratch, “I’ll teach you hand-in-hand and foot-in-foot!” “No, I’ll pass.” “Eh~ Then be the vocalist. Our band is planning to have a live performance at the school festival this year. Let’s enjoy our youth together!!” To Tomoya, who said this with a big smile and a thumbs-up, Haruto replied with disinterest, without stopping his cleaning, “No, I won’t.” “Don’t say that~ Let’s form a band~ Let’s enjoy music together~” Haruto continued cleaning, ignoring Tomoya who was whining like a young child. “Haru~ Let’s form a band~ Let’s enjoy music together~” “Ah, yeah, okay, I’ll think about it a little. Speaking of which, isn’t Haruka-chan here today?” To Tomoya, who was persistently recruiting him, Haruto replied vaguely. And to change the subject, he asked about his sister. “She’s gone to summer school since this morning again today.”
“I see, Haruka-chan is taking entrance exams next year, huh.” Tomoya, his best friend, has a sister two years younger than him. Tomoya is not only Haruto’s best friend but also his childhood friend. And his sister is like a real sister to Haruto as well. When they were little, they often played together as a trio, and Tomoya’s sister, Haruka, also looked up to Haruto, calling him “Haru-nii”. “She’s really putting in effort, saying she’s going to the same high school as Haru next year.” “I see, Haruka-chan will be a junior next year then.” “If she passes the entrance exam successfully.” “Haruka-chan will be fine, I’m sure.” Since she’s a smart kid in every way, she’s probably going to be attending his high school next year. As Haruto smiled imagining that time, Tomoya saw it and gave a smirk with a fearless expression. “Hey Haru. Are you cheating on Tōjō-san with Haruka?” “Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? Besides, I just said it, didn’t I? I won’t be called to Tōjō-san’s house again.” “Really?” Tomoya, who was grinning as if he found it amusing, threw a word of doubt at Haruto, who stated it definitively. ※※※ “There was a time when I thought I would definitely not be called again…” In front of a certain mansion, Haruto muttered to himself, not speaking to anyone in particular. Yesterday, Haruto had emphatically told Tomoya that he would not be called to the Tōjō house again. Indeed, he himself had thought that he would not go to the Tōjō house again. Precisely because he had thought so, now standing in front of the Tōjō house, various anxieties welled up. “Maybe… I was called because there was a complaint about the last time? Like the hamburg steak had gone bad and caused food poisoning? No, no, if something like that happened, they’d normally complain directly to the company…” Various thoughts raced through Haruto’s head.
None of them were realistic or likely to happen, but Haruto, trapped in negative thoughts, pressed the intercom with fingertips that felt unnaturally heavy. The ringing sound “Ping-Pong”. The moment of silence that followed felt endlessly long to Haruto. “Yes~ yes~. Who is it?” Contrary to Haruto’s tension, the voice coming from the intercom was unbelievably cheerful. “Ah, I am from the housekeeping service.” “Oh my! I was waiting for you! I’ll open the entrance now, so please wait.” Haruto tilted his head at the voice from the intercom. It sounded similar to Tōjō-san’s voice, but the tension was strangely high and didn’t seem to match her usual atmosphere. Perhaps it was Tōjō-san’s older sister or someone like that. In Haruto’s mind, the image of Tōjō Ayaka was more of a gentle person than an energetic one. When he visited the house last time, she seemed like a quiet, responsible older sister who took good care of her young brother. While thinking such things and waiting, the entrance door rattled open, and a woman appeared. She was probably in her late twenties. She had a very beautiful face and had a similar atmosphere to Tōjō-san, so she must be Tōjō-san’s older sister after all. “You’re Ōtsuki-kun! Come in, come in!” “Ah, yes. Um, excuse me for intruding.” Haruto, invited in with high tension, stepped into the house and put on the slippers he had brought. At that moment, he noticed Ryōta peering at them from the back of the hallway. “Ryōta-kun, hello.” “…Hello.” “Was the hamburg steak delicious?” Ryōta was still showing a little wariness. However, his expression softened at Haruto’s question. “Yeah. It was delicious.” “I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ryōta-kun.” When Haruto said this with a gentle smile, Ryōta smiled back slightly bashfully. “Hehehehe, I heard from Ayaka that Ryōta was eating the hamburg steak so intently.”
The woman, who seemed to be Tōjō-san’s older sister, watched the scene with a warm smile. “Mom ate that hamburg steak too, right?! It was delicious, right?!” Perhaps to hide his embarrassment, Ryōta earnestly explained how delicious the hamburg steak was. “That’s right, it was very delicious.” Hearing that conversation, Haruto froze in shock. To his surprise, the person he had thought was Tōjō-san’s older sister was actually her mother. The woman smiling at Ryōta looked so young that it was hard to believe she was a mother of two children. Unaware that Haruto was in such shock, Ryōta asked him with an expectant look. “What are you making today?” “Now, now, Ryōta. First, we need to show Ōtsuki-kun to the living room.” “Ah, okay.” Ryōta honestly nodded to his mother, who gently admonished him, and then said “This way” and guided Haruto. Haruto followed him with a smile and entered the living room. “Actually, Ryōta kept asking all morning, ‘Is the Onii-chan who made the delicious hamburg steak coming today too?’ He was persistent.” “Is that so?” Haruto, while internally shaken by the fact that the person he thought was Tōjō-san’s older sister was her mother, somehow managed to maintain a pleasant smile and replied. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. Thank you very much for using our housekeeping service this time. I am Ōtsuki, in charge. This time, we have received a request from Tōjō-sama for the three-hour course, which includes cleaning and dinner preparation. Is that correct?” “Yes~ yes, that’s correct.” To Haruto, who confirmed in a business-like tone, Tōjō-san’s mother nodded once, then looked a little dissatisfied. “Ayaka told me that Ōtsuki-kun is Ayaka’s classmate, isn’t that right?” “Ah, yes. That is correct.” “Then you don’t need to use such formal language! You don’t need to call me Tōjō-sama either, call me Ikue.” Haruto showed confusion at Tōjō-san’s mother’s request. “No, but even if you are a classmate’s mother, Tōjō-sama is a customer to me, so…”
“Don’t say such lonely things, please be more casual, okay?” “No… but…” “Please? Can’t you?” Haruto involuntarily averted his gaze from Tōjō-san’s mother, who put her hands together, tilted her head, and looked up at him pleadingly. Tōjō-san’s mother was a woman truly worthy of being called a “beauty witch,” as if the charm of an absolute beautiful high school girl, Tōjō Ayaka, had been enhanced with adult allure. At her “plea,” Haruto’s heart, being in the prime of his youth, wavered greatly. “…Understood. I-Ikue-san.” “I’m so happy! Thank you, Ōtsuki-kun!” “Y-yes.” Haruto bowed his head slightly, his cheeks faintly flushed. Just then, Tōjō-san came into the living room. “Oh, Ōtsuki-kun. You’re here. Welcome.” “Excuse me for intruding. Tōjō-sama… Tōjō-san.” The moment he said Tōjō-sama, Haruto felt Ikue’s gaze and quickly corrected himself. “Thank you for using our service again.” “Yeah. Last time, I told my parents that the cleaning and the hamburg steak were done by the housekeeping service, and when I told them the staff member was Ōtsuki-kun from the same class, both my parents really wanted to meet you. Also, Ryōta kept insisting he wanted to eat Ōtsukikun’s food again.” To Tōjō-san, who spoke a little shyly, Haruto bowed his head politely. “I’m very glad you were satisfied with the previous service. I will do my best to meet your expectations again this time.” “U-um. Thank you.” Tōjō-san bowed her head as if pulled along by Haruto. Ikue, who was watching the two, said “Oh my” while placing a hand on her cheek. “You two are classmates, aren’t you? Why don’t you interact in a more friendly way?” To her mother’s words, her daughter, Tōjō-san, showed a slightly troubled expression. “But I’ve never talked to Ōtsuki-kun at school before…” “Oh, then why don’t you take this opportunity to become friends? Right, Ōtsuki-kun?” “Huh?! Ah, yes. Um, that’s… right.”
Haruto, who was suddenly spoken to, hesitated for a moment on how to answer, but decided that opposing the current flow would be a terrible situation, so he agreed, albeit with hesitation. To Haruto’s reply, Ikue nodded with satisfaction and said to her daughter. “Ayaka, you don’t have any boy friends, do you? Ōtsuki-kun seems like a good kid, so this is a good opportunity.” “Wait, wait, Mom! I didn’t call Ōtsuki-kun for that reason!” “Oh? Ayaka, you don’t want to be friends with Ōtsuki-kun?” “That’s… it’s not that I don’t want to…” “Then you want to be friends! I’m sorry, Ōtsuki-kun, but this child has always been like this about such things; she’s not frank.” “H-Hold on, Mom… Ugh…” To Tōjō, who groaned in protest with a bright red face, Haruto said “Ahaha…” and managed to laugh it off for the moment, then steered the conversation towards work. “Um, well then, I’d like to start with the cleaning right away, but are there any specific requests beforehand?” “Requests… Hmm~” After thinking for a moment, Ikue turned her gaze towards the window. “Come to think of it, I’ve been bothered by the dirt on the windows lately. Could I ask you to clean those too?” “Yes, understood.” Haruto bowed once, then immediately headed towards the window and checked the glass up close. “Certainly, the dirt is a little noticeable.” “Right? It became like this because of the yellow sand and rain the other day.” “Understood. I will start cleaning right away then.” Haruto rolled up the sleeves of his shirt in order to clean. “Oh my, Ōtsuki-kun, your arms are quite thick, aren’t they?” Looking at Haruto’s upper arms that were revealed by rolling up his sleeves, Ikue said with admiration. “Are you doing any sports or anything?” “Actually, I have been going to a karate dojo since I was little.” “Oh my! Ōtsuki-kun is a karate boy! That’s amazing!” To Ikue, who praised him clapping her hands, Haruto bowed his head, slightly embarrassed, saying “Thank you very much.”
Feeling slightly better after being praised by Ikue, Haruto took out the necessary items for window cleaning from the luggage he had brought with him and began wiping the windows. For large items like vacuum cleaners, it’s common to use the ones placed in the house. However, for small items like rags used for wiping, he uses those he brought himself. Some of these were provided by the company, but Haruto also prepared some on his own. When he told his grandmother that he was doing a part-time job in housekeeping, his grandmother gave him various convenient items that she thought would be useful. Haruto moistened newspaper with water in order to wipe the window. Just then, Ryōta came over and asked with a curious face. “What are you doing with the newspaper?” “If you wipe the window with this, the ink from the newspaper removes the dirt, you see.” “Huh~ That’s amazing! I want to try wiping too!” Ryōta seemed to be gradually opening up to Haruto, sticking close to Haruto while he cleaned, and occasionally asking questions. “Would you like to try? Well then, how about we wipe there with this?” “Okay!” Haruto handed Ryōta the newspaper squeezed of water, and pointed to a place that he could reach, saying. “I’m sorry, Ōtsuki-kun. Ryōta is getting in the way.” Ikue, who was working on her laptop in the living room after asking Haruto to clean, called out. “No, it is helpful because Ryōta-kun is assisting me.” “That’s right, Mom! I’m helping out!” To his mother’s words “getting in the way,” Ryōta pouted and retorted. “Thanks to Ryōta-kun, it looks like the window cleaning will be finished quickly.” “Ehehehe” To Haruto gently stroking Ryōta’s head, Ryōta also smiled happily. “Oh dear, Ryōta seems to have completely taken to Ōtsuki-kun, they’re like real siblings, aren’t they? Right, Ayaka?” “Huh? …Oh, yeah. That’s right.” Tōjō, who had been staring blankly at Haruto cleaning while resting her chin on her hand next to her mother, snapped back to reality when suddenly spoken to. Seeing her reaction, Ikue smiled slyly.
“Ayaka, you were spacing out. Are you upset that Ryōta has been taken by Ōtsuki-kun? Or perhaps…” Her mother said to her daughter with a mischievous smile. “Were you captivated by Ōtsuki-kun?” “Kh!! W-What are you saying, Mom!!” Tōjō involuntarily stood up from her chair with a clatter and glared at her mother. “Getting so defensive~ How youthful~” “N-No, that’s not it! It’s not like that!!”
To that loud voice, Ryōta, who had been wiping the windows with Haruto, looked at his sister strangely. “Onee-chan, why is your face so red? Did you catch a cold?” “I-it’s not red! It’s not a cold! I don’t know anymore!” shouted Tōjō followed by her quickly exiting the living room. “Mom, what’s wrong with Onee-chan?” Ryōta, who couldn’t understand his sister’s state, looked at the living room door after his sister had left with a bewildered expression. Ikue said with a smile, “Ufufufu”. “Onee-chan, you see, is enjoying life right now.” “Onee-chan didn’t look like she was enjoying herself just now.” “Fufu, it’s still too early for Ryōta.” Without letting her cheerful smile fade, his mother turned her gaze towards Haruto, who was diligently wiping the windows beside Ryōta. “I’d be happy if spring came for my daughter too, you know…” That small murmur, full of a mother’s affection, yet slightly lonely, but also seemingly happy, felt like it faintly reached the ears of Haruto, who was devoted to cleaning. ※※※ Following the window cleaning, Haruto spent an hour cleaning the Tōjō house, including floor and toilet cleaning. “Ikue-san, the cleaning is finished, but are there any further requests?” “No! The cleaning is perfect! Thank you for your hard work.” Haruto reported to Ikue that the cleaning was finished. Ikue, who had her laptop open and was working in the living room, showed a look of satisfaction at Haruto’s report. “It’s the first time my work has progressed this much while at home! Usually, cleaning and laundry take up time and I can’t concentrate easily. You’re truly a lifesaver~” “I’m glad I could be of service. Now then, are there any preferences for the dinner menu?” At Haruto’s words, Ikue put her hand on her chin and pondered. “Hmm, well… Since it’s hot, I feel like eating something refreshing. But something with a little volume would be helpful.” Saying that, Ikue looked at Ryōta, who was sleeping on the sofa in the living room.
Perhaps he enjoyed cleaning with Haruto so much, he had been clinging to him until midway. However, perhaps he got too tired from playing around, he started dozing off in the latter half, so Haruto carried him to the sofa and put him to sleep. “Ryōta-kun is at the peak of his appetite, after all.” “That’s right. For me, sōmen or something similar would be fine, but Ryōta, you see…” Certainly, sōmen can be eaten smoothly even in hot summer, but that alone would probably be a little unsatisfying for a child at the peak of their appetite. Furthermore, it’s a little difficult to get a balanced intake of nutrients with just that. After thinking for a moment, Haruto suggested a menu. “Then, how about lemon-flavored cream pasta? I think it can be eaten refreshingly with the sourness of lemon.” “Oh my! That sounds good!” “Also, how about cold potage for soup, and Caprese for salad?” “It sounds like it will be a stylish and wonderful dinner! Oh, and about the ingredients for dinner, the refrigerator is completely empty right now. Could I ask you to do the shopping as well?” “Yes, there’s no problem.” Shopping for ingredients is also within the scope of housekeeping service duties. As Haruto nodded, Ikue immediately handed him the money. “Will this be enough?” Saying that, inside the envelope handed to Haruto, there were three 10,000-yen bills. Haruto felt a strange sense of understanding at the large amount of money casually handed to him, thinking, “I see, so this is what what it means to be wealthy.” “I believe the amount is sufficient. Regarding shopping, are there any specific supermarkets or ingredients you’d like?” It is not uncommon for some people to have strong preferences about the stores they shop at or the origin of ingredients. However, Ikue said while lightly waving her hand. “Not particularly, do you know the location of the supermarket?” “Yes, that’s fine. Then I’ll go shopping.” Just as Haruto said that and was about to leave the living room, Ryōta, who had been sleeping on the sofa, sat up with a start. “…Huh? Onii-chan, where are you going?”
Ryōta asked while rubbing his eyes. “I’m going to go shopping for dinner.” “…Shopping?” “Yeah, that’s right.” The moment Haruto replied, Ryōta’s drowsy eyes sharply woke up. “I’ll go too!!” Ryōta said, jumping off the sofa and running towards Haruto. Apparently, by cleaning together, he had completely opened his heart to Haruto and become attached to him. “No, Ryōta. Ōtsuki-kun isn’t going out to play, you know?” “Ehh~! I want to go shopping too!” Ikue made a slightly troubled face at Ryōta, who was whining. Feeling it would be too much to have Haruto do the shopping and also look after Ryōta, Ikue shook her head at Ryōta’s request. “No~. Ōtsuki-kun is working, you know? Let’s stay home and wait for Ōtsuki-kun, Ryōta?” At his mother’s persuasion, Ryōta tightly clenched his fists and looked down. “Even though I was helping Onii-chan with cleaning just now…” Perhaps Ryōta really wanted to go shopping with Haruto, for slight tears were welling up at the corners of his eyes. “Oh dear, he’s usually such an obedient child… He must really like Ōtsuki-kun.” “Um, I don’t mind?” Haruto said he didn’t mind taking Ryōta with him for shopping. However, perhaps still feeling apologetic, Ikue showed a slightly troubled look, then suddenly had a look as if something occurred to her. “In that case, maybe I should ask Ayaka to go shopping with you too.” Saying that, Ikue left the living room and headed towards the stairs in the hallway. “Ayakaa~ come here for a moment~” Ikue raised her voice a little loudly. Tōjō had been holed up in her room ever since she left the living room earlier after being teased by her mother. “Ayakaa~!” At her mother’s call echoing again, Tōjō appeared with the sound of a door opening with a rattle. “…What?”
Saying that, she looked slightly displeased. Seeing her daughter’s state, Ikue said with a beaming smile. “Ryōta says he wants to go with Ōtsuki-kun for shopping and won’t listen. So, I was wondering if you could go shopping with him too to look after Ryōta?” “Ehh…” Ayaka cast a suspicious look at her mother’s words. “There’s nothing suspicious about it, you know? See, having Ōtsuki-kun do the shopping and also look after Ryōta would be too much, wouldn’t it?” “That’s… true, but…” “Right? So please, go with him and look after Ryōta?” “…Okay.” Tōjō nodded, and Ikue broke into a wide smile. “Ryōta, Onee-chan will go with you, so you can go shopping.” “Yayyyy!!” Ryōta, exploding with joy while waving his hands in the air, ran up to his sister who had come down the stairs. “Thank you, Onee-chan!! I love you, Onee-chan!!” “Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re going shopping, aren’t you? Hurry up and get ready to go out.” Ayaka gave a curt reply to her brother’s words, but the corners of her mouth were slightly twitching into a grin. “I’m sorry, Ōtsuki-kun, I need some time to get ready, could you wait just a little longer?” “Yes, I don’t mind at all.” Saying that, Ayaka returned to her room for a moment, changed into clothes suitable for going out, and came out. Ryōta had also finished changing and was already waiting restlessly by the entrance, having changed into outdoor shoes. “Onee-chan, you’re slow! Hurry, hurry!!” “Okay, okay, calm down a little, Ryōta.” A younger brother rushing his older sister. An older sister admonishing her younger brother. Haruto watched the exchange between the Tōjō siblings with a fond smile, and he himself changed into outdoor shoes and reached for the entrance door. “Then, I’ll be going.” “I’ll be going.” “We’re going~!!”
To the three different versions of “I’ll be going,” Ikue, who had come to see them off at the entrance, waved with a smile. “Okay~, have a good trip. Be careful of cars.” Haruto and the others passed through the gate of Tōjō house and headed towards the supermarket. Perhaps Ryōta was extremely happy to be able to come shopping with them, he had been restless ever since they stepped outside. Thinking it would be dangerous if a car or something suddenly appeared at this rate, Haruto called out to Ryōta. “Ryōta-kun, shall we hold hands on the way to the supermarket?” “Yeah!!” Ryōta nodded honestly, came over, and happily held hands with Haruto. “Sorry, Ōtsuki-kun, for making you put up with Ryōta’s selfishness.” “No, no, I’m perfectly fine.” Haruto replied with a gentle smile. He sometimes lifted his arm and let Ryōta hang from it, and they headed towards the supermarket while playing on the way. “Ōtsuki-kun is kind, isn’t he?” “Huh? Is that so?” Haruto, who was carrying Ryōta on his shoulders this time, gave an ambiguous reply to Ayaka’s words. “Yeah, that’s right. You takes really good care of Ryōta.” “Ah, maybe that’s because I’m an only child.” Haruto also replied with a smile to Ayaka, who was looking up at Ryōta, who was happily giggling on his shoulders, with gentle eyes. “When I interact with Ryōta-kun, it makes me genuinely happy. I wonder if this is what it would be like if I had a younger brother.” “Sometimes he’s selfish and not cute, though.” “Even so, I’m jealous, you know. If you’re an only child, you can’t even fight.” “That’s true too.” “Onee-chan and Onii-chan, what are you talking about?” Ryōta, who was on his shoulders, looked down at them with a bewildered expression. “We’re talking about how Ryōta and Ōtsuki-kun look like brothers. Look, we’re almost at the supermarket, so get down from Ōtsuki-kun.” “Okay~” Prompted by his sister, Ryōta obediently got down from Haruto.
“Hey, hey, Onii-chan. Will you carry me on your shoulders again?” “Yeah, if we come shopping again, I’ll do it.” “Yay!” Ryōta smiled at Haruto’s words. Led by his reaction, Haruto and Ayaka also smiled. Shortly after, Haruto and the others arrived at the supermarket and began gathering the necessary ingredients for dinner. “Speaking of which, Ōtsuki-kun. What’s on the menu for dinner today?” Ayaka asked Haruto while hooking her arm through a shopping basket placed at the entrance. “I’m thinking of making lemon-flavored cream pasta, cold potage, and Caprese for salad.” “Hmm, for cream pasta, you’ll need milk and fresh cream, right?” “That’s right, and I’d like bacon too. Also, if there are any green vegetables on sale, I’d like to include them. For color.” As they exchanged such conversation and headed towards the vegetable section, Ryōta, who had been listening to their talk, ran towards the asparagus display. “Onii-chan! This bunch is ninety-eight yen! Hey, is it cheap?” “Oh, this is certainly cheap. Good job, Ryōta-kun.” The asparagus Ryōta held in his hand was a decent amount bundled together. Although they were all thin, since it was for pasta this time, thin ones were convenient as they would mix well with the noodles. Haruto took the bunch of asparagus, ruffled his hair saying “Thank you,” and Ryōta showed a very happy expression. “Tōjō-san, I’ll carry the basket.” “Oh, okay. Thanks.” Haruto took the shopping basket from Ayaka while putting the asparagus in it. Ayaka stared intently at Haruto’s casual action. “Hmm? Is something wrong?” “…Ōtsuki-kun, do you have a girlfriend?” Unable to grasp the intention of Ayaka’s sudden question, Haruto tilted his head and replied with a bewildered look. “Huh? No, I don’t…?” “Is that so… You just naturally carried the bag for me, so I thought you might be used to that sort of thing.”
“I’m in the middle of a housekeeping job right now. I can’t possibly have Tōjō-san, who is a customer, carry the luggage.” “I see… A customer…” “Yes, right. Ah, pumpkins are also a good deal. Let’s make pumpkin cold potage.” Haruto moved to the pumpkin display. And while carefully examining which pumpkin to buy, he asked Ryōta, who was next to him, “Do you like pumpkins?” Ayaka silently stared at Haruto’s back. Haruto talked gently to Ryōta, sometimes showing a soft smile. For some reason, Ayaka’s gaze was drawn to him. Then, Haruto initiated a conversation with her. “Pumpkins last longer if you remove the seeds and freeze them, so is it okay if I buy a whole one?” “…Huh? Oh, yeah. I think it’s fine.” Ayaka, for a moment, had a blank expression as she couldn’t understand the question, but she quickly came back to herself and nodded to Haruto. “Understood. Well then, next is tomatoes. Ryōta-kun, let’s go look at the tomatoes.” “Yeah! Tomatoes!” Haruto put the pumpkin in the shopping basket, held hands with Ryōta, and headed towards the tomato display. And, a moment later, Ayaka followed after Haruto in a hurry. After that, Haruto and the others continued to gather the necessary ingredients for dinner. In the process, Haruto was reminded again that Tōjō Ayaka was called the school’s idol. This was because while they were shopping, he felt a lot of stares from passing customers and those around them. The people around them who were glancing were looking at Ayaka, so Haruto wasn’t receiving direct stares. However, it still bothered him quite a bit, so Ayaka, who was receiving direct stares, must feel quite depressed. Worried, Haruto peeked at her state, but she seemed used to such stares and didn’t appear to be bothered much. After finishing shopping for necessary ingredients such as vegetables, bacon, cheese, and milk, they left the supermarket, and Haruto let out a sigh of relief, “Hoo,” as if he was a little relieved. He seemed a little tired from the stares directed at them. Most of the stares were directed at Ayaka, but there were also some people who directed hateful, jealous looks at Haruto.
“Tōjō-san, it must be tough in crowded places.” Haruto couldn’t help but sympathize with Ayaka. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Well, that’s right. I’ve gotten a little used to it recently, but I don’t feel very good about it, I guess?” She showed a little hesitation at first, but Ayaka, who understood what Haruto was saying, replied with a wry smile. “Sometimes, though, how should I put it… There are times when I feel a sticky stare, and at those times, it can get quite scary.” “I see, being too cute is also difficult.” “Cu…?” At Haruto’s words, which he muttered as if to himself, Ayaka abruptly stopped walking. “Hmm? Is something wrong?” Haruto asked Ayaka, who had suddenly stopped moving, with a puzzled look. “U-um! It’s nothing.” She showed an ambiguous smile and started walking quickly with steady steps. Looking up at his sister’s expression, Ryōta asked her a question with pure curiosity. “Onee-chan? Your face is red?” “I-it’s because it’s hot! Let’s hurry home!” Ayaka quickly turned her face away from her brother, who was trying to peek at her face, and hurried along, accelerating her pace like she was rushing to get ahead, and rushed home. ※※※ Haruto and the others finished their shopping at the supermarket and returned home. Holding an eco-bag in one hand, Haruto entered the dining room to find an unfamiliar man sitting at the dining table. “Welcome back, you must be Ōtsuki-kun from the housekeeping service, right?” “Ah, yes. Um…” Haruto showed a slightly flustered reaction to the man he had just met. Passing by his side, Ryōta ran up to the man. “Welcome home, Papa!”
“I’m home, Ryōta! Did you have fun shopping?” The man lifted Ryōta up and asked with a smile. It seemed that the man holding Ryōta was his father. Haruto straightened his posture and bowed politely. “Nice to meet you. I am Ōtsuki from the housekeeping service.” “It’s very polite of you. I am Ryōta and Ayaka’s father.” While holding Ryōta, Tōjō’s father slightly lowered his head. “Dad, you came home early today,” said Ayaka, who entered the dining room after Haruto and Ryōta. “Well, since Ōtsuki-kun was coming today, I finished work early and came home.” Tōjō’s father said that, and then turned his eyes towards Haruto with expectation. “It seems you’re making cream pasta this time. The hamburg steak last time was exquisite, so I have high expectations for this dish as well.” “Thank you very much. I will do my best to meet your expectations.” Saying that, Haruto immediately went into the kitchen and started preparing dinner. First, he finely chopped the pumpkin for the potage and put it in the microwave, and in the meantime, he rubbed salt into the asparagus for the pasta. After preparing the asparagus, he proceeded with the cooking, such as slicing the tomatoes for the Caprese and putting them in the freezer. Haruto’s movements in the kitchen were without hesitation, and he proceeded with the cooking in a skilled manner. Seeing him, Ikue said admiringly. “You’re very efficient! Cooking men are wonderful!” Tōjō’s father next to Ikue also nodded, praising Haruto’s cooking appearance. “Ōtsuki-kun’s cooking appearance is like that of a seasoned chef, you just can’t help but watch.” “Thank you very much. I’m very happy to hear you say that. I’ll do my best to make the taste satisfactory as well.” Haruto, while quickly mashing the microwaved pumpkin, bowed his head to Mr. and Mrs. Tōjō with a slightly embarrassed smile. “Hmm, I never thought there would be such a wonderful child as you among Ayaka’s classmates.” Tōjō’s father seemed to have taken a liking to Haruto’s polite demeanor and his work as a housekeeping service. He asked his daughter, who was
sitting across the dining table. “Ayaka, are you close with Ōtsuki-kun?” “…Huh? Um, not really, I guess…” To his daughter’s reply, Tōjō’s father looked between Haruto and Ayaka with a serious expression. “It’s true, you know? Until he came to the house for housekeeping service, I’d hardly ever talked to Ōtsuki-kun.” “Hmm. Is that so.” Saying that, he looked at Haruto. Receiving Tōjō’s father’s gaze, Haruto replied similarly. “Yes, I haven’t had many chances to talk to Tōjō-san at school.” “I see, no, but Ōtsuki-kun seems serious and sincere. Taking this opportunity, I would be happy if you could become friends with my daughter.” “Wait a minute!? Dad!” Ayaka panicked at her father’s remark. She looked at Haruto apologetically. “I’m sorry, Ōtsuki-kun. Dad said something weird.” “No, no, I don’t mind at all. Well, being called here for housekeeping for Tōjō-san’s house is also a kind of fate, and as Dad said, I hope we can become friends as classmates from now on.” “Huh? Ah, yes! Y-yes, that’s right.” Ayaka looked a little surprised at Haruto’s words, yet smiled with an expression that wasn’t entirely displeased. Seeing their interaction, Tōjō’s father cleared his throat softly. “Ōtsuki-kun, I’m happy you’re getting along with my daughter… but you have no right to call me ‘Dad’!!” Tōjō’s father said that firmly, as if it were his ultimate line. “Ah, no! Um, I’m terribly sorry!!” Haruto apologized, bowing his head in a hurry with a flustered look. “Ahahahaha! No, no, it was a joke, Ōtsuki-kun.” In response, Tōjō’s father laughed very cheerfully and said, “I’ve always wanted to say that once in my life.” “…Ah, I was surprised.” “Dad… terrible…” Told it was a joke, Haruto sighed in relief, while his daughter Ayaka glared at her father with a menacing look and muttered words of accusation.
Haruto forced a smile at Tōjō’s father’s joke, but didn’t stop his hands from preparing dinner. Just then, Ryōta, who had been playing with his mother, ran up to him. “Hey, Onii-chan.” “Hmm? What is it, Ryōta-kun?” “Aren’t you eating with us?” Haruto was troubled by Ryōta looking up at him with pure eyes. Haruto’s contract time for housekeeping service is from 3 PM to 6 PM. Therefore, if he were to eat dinner with the Tōjō family, it would exceed his contract time. It wouldn’t be a problem for Haruto in particular, but from the Tōjō family’s side, they might feel inconvenienced if he stayed longer than the contracted time. With such thoughts, Haruto was about to tell Ryōta, “I can’t eat with you.” However, before he could say it, Tōjō’s father opened his mouth. “That’s a good idea! How about it, Ōtsuki-kun? If it’s not too much trouble, why don’t you join us for dinner?” Haruto was flustered by Tōjō’s father, who was completely enthusiastic. “It’s not a bother for me at all, but I’m here for work, so…” To Haruto’s hesitant words, Ikue also said with a smile. “Oh, don’t be silly, Ōtsuki-kun, I told you earlier, didn’t I? You’re Ayaka’s classmate, so please relax more.” “But, um… Tōjō-san, won’t it be awkward for you?” “It’s totally fine!” “I’m okay!” To Haruto’s words, both father and daughter responded at the same time. It was natural since they were both ‘Tōjō’. After their voices overlapped, the father looked at his daughter’s face and chuckled, “Hahaha.” “Ōtsuki-kun, with that way of calling us, you won’t know who’s who. After all, everyone here is Tōjō-san.” Tōjō’s father said that with a slightly mischievous expression. “By the way, my name is Shūichi. Since ‘Tōjō-san’ is confusing, I’d be happy if you’d call me by my name from now on.” Despite being bewildered by those words, Haruto complied with Shūichi’s request. “Um, understood, Shūichi-san.” Shūichi nodded with satisfaction at Haruto’s reply. “Then… Shūichi-san, is it alright if I join you for dinner?”
“Of course it is.” Haruto gave a wry smile at Shūichi’s immediate reply. “Tōjō-sa— Ah… Ayaka-san, is it okay too?” Haruto was about to say ‘Tōjō-san’ to Ayaka, but seeing Shūichi raise his eyebrow playfully, he switched to calling her by her name. “U-um. It’s fine with me too.” Perhaps not used to being called by her first name by a man, she replied with slightly flushed cheeks. Indeed, at school, she was always surrounded by girls, and Haruto had hardly ever seen her talking with boys. Even if she did, it was only to convey messages about classes, and in such a situation, there would probably not be a single male student at the school Haruto attended who would call Ayaka by her first name. And now, Haruto had ended up calling her by her first name in a way that was practically endorsed by her parents. Haruto felt a complex mix of emotions in his chest—happy, embarrassed, and awkward. To him, Ryōta directed a smile of pure, innocent joy. “Are you eating with us today, Onii-chan?” From the flow of the conversation so far, Ryōta somehow sensed that Haruto would be able to eat dinner with them. He lightly tugged at the sleeve of Haruto’s shirt, who was standing in the kitchen, and said with a beaming smile. Haruto, resigned to Ryōta’s full smile, squatted down and stroked his head, saying. “That’s right. Today, I’ll have dinner with Ryōta-kun.” “Yayyy!!” Ryōta, who nodded greatly at Haruto’s words, returned to his mother in the living room again. Haruto, whose heart was soothed by Ryōta’s smile, put his heart into providing the best dinner for the Tōjō family. Today’s menu was lemon-flavored cream pasta, pumpkin cold potage, and Caprese. These were dishes that could be eaten refreshingly even on a hot midsummer night. Haruto pureed the pumpkin to make it smooth, added milk and fresh cream, blended it, and then put it back in the refrigerator to chill. Next, he put the pasta in a pot of boiling water, and while it was cooking, he stir-fried bacon and asparagus in olive oil. The savory aroma of bacon and the elegant scent of olive oil wafting from the kitchen softened Shūichi’s expression.
“Who taught you how to cook, Ōtsuki-kun?” “My grandmother taught me. Not only cooking but also housework like cleaning and laundry, everything is based on my grandmother’s teachings.” “Hoho, your grandmother seems to be a very wonderful person.” “Thank you very much.” Haruto bowed his head to Shūichi. To Haruto, his grandmother was his mentor in all matters of housework, and when his mentor was praised, Haruto, as her disciple, naturally couldn’t help but smile. After a while, Haruto finished all the cooking and arranged dinner for five people on the dining table. “Oh my! It feels like we’ve come to an Italian restaurant!” Seeing the dishes lined up on the table, Ikue’s face lit up. “Thank you, Ōtsuki-kun. Now, let’s eat everyone.” At Shūichi’s words, everyone in the Tōjō family sat down at the table. Haruto also joined them, a little reservedly. “Then, let’s eat.” Everyone followed Shūichi’s lead in saying “Itadakimasu” with their hands together. After that, Ryōta grabbed his fork at incredible speed and immediately started winding up the cream pasta and eating. “Delicious!! Onii-chan! This is super delicious!!” “Oh dear, Ryōta. Eat more slowly. You’ll choke.” Ikue warned Ryōta, who was stuffing cream pasta into his mouth at a speed as if he was swallowing a drink. However, his mother’s words couldn’t possibly reach Ryōta, who was engrossed in the pasta, and the contents of his plate were already running low. Haruto, who made the dish, smiled at Ryōta, who looked like he would finish eating in just three minutes after starting. “Ryōta-kun, I’ve prepared seconds properly, so you can eat slowly.” “Really!? I want seconds!!” Ryōta’s eyes lit up brightly at Haruto’s words. Then, Ayaka, seeing her brother’s plate, admonished him. “No, Ryōta. If you’re going to have seconds, make sure you eat everything neatly first.” “Ah, okay!” At his sister’s warning, Ryōta desperately scooped up the remaining pasta with his fork and ate it. As Haruto watched him with a fond smile, a hesitant
voice called out from beside him. “Ōtsuki-kun, um… are there plenty of seconds?” When Haruto looked at Shūichi, the owner of the voice, there was a neatly empty plate. It seemed that the father had finished eating before Ryōta. “Yes, it’s alright.” “Is that so! Then, I’ll have seconds.” “Ah! Papa, that’s not fair! Seconds for me too!!” Ryōta, who had listened to his sister’s instructions and eaten everything neatly without leftovers, held out his plate to Haruto, not wanting to lose to his father. To the begging of the Tōjō father and son, Haruto smiled wryly, took the plates, and went to the kitchen. Thinking that it was good he had made a lot, considering Ryōta’s growing appetite, Haruto served seconds onto two plates. When he carried the seconds to Ryōta and Shūichi, their faces lit up brightly. They really were father and son, with exactly the same reaction, and while admiring them, Haruto couldn’t help but see them as dogs. Shūichi was like a Golden Retriever, and Ryōta was like a Shiba Inu puppy, perhaps. Imagining them vigorously wagging their tails with delicious food in front of them, Haruto bit his lip to stop himself from grinning. Seeing the men’s reactions, Ikue said with an amused smile. “Ufufu, you’re both devouring it like that, you can’t help yourselves, can you?” “This taste is just like a high-class restaurant. Don’t you think so too, Mom?” “Yes, indeed, this potage is also very smooth, and the seasoning is perfect and delicious.” “Thank you very much. I’m glad it suits your taste.” To Haruto, who expressed his gratitude politely, Ikue asked with interest. “Hey, hey, Ōtsuki-kun. What’s your specialty dish?” At Ikue’s question, Shūichi and Ayaka also showed interest and looked at him. Only Ryōta seemed unable to hear the voices around him, engrossed in the food in front of him. “Well… The hamburg steak the other day is also my specialty dish, but…” Regarding cooking, Haruto can generally make Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, but since his mentor, his grandmother, was skilled in
Japanese cuisine, it’s inevitable that many of Haruto’s specialty dishes are Japanese. “I think I’m quite good at Japanese dishes like Nikujaga and Chikuzenni.” TL/N: “Nikujaga” is a Japanese comfort food consisting of simmered meat, potatoes, and onions in a slightly sweet soy-based sauce. “Chikuzenni” is a traditional braised dish made with chicken and various root vegetables, often served during celebrations. Both are dishes that his grandmother often made for him since he was little, and they are familiar dishes for Haruto. “Ōtsuki-kun’s Nikujaga, I might want to try it…” “Oh dear, Ayaka, did Ōtsuki-kun capture your stomach?” “What!? Mom, don’t say strange things!” “Ufufu, I’m sorry.” “Geez…” To her mother’s teasing words, her daughter pouted. “However, I would like to try various other dishes Ōtsuki-kun makes from now on.” “Yes, I agree with you.” Ikue agreed with Shūichi’s words. “Therefore, Ōtsuki-kun.” Shūichi straightened up and turned towards Haruto, then took out a piece of paper from the shelf behind the dining table and placed it on the table so Haruto could see it. “This is… a flyer for a regular contract…” “Yes, we are very satisfied with your housekeeping. Therefore, from now on, we would like to sign a regular contract with Ōtsuki-kun specifically designated for our household’s housekeeping service.” Haruto showed a surprised expression at Shūichi’s words. “Um… well, thank you very much. I’m very happy.” “No, no! It’s us who should be thanking you.” “That’s right. We look forward to working with you from now on.” Shūichi and Ikue said with smiles. Haruto looked at Ayaka as if to gauge the situation, and she also said while looking down slightly at Haruto. “I look forward to working with you, Ōtsuki-kun.” “Y-yes, I look forward to working with you.” Haruto bowed somewhat bewilderedly. He had never imagined getting a regular contract nomination for a part-time job he had taken up on a shortterm basis.
He had started the housekeeping service part-time job with a light heart, hoping it would help with funds for university, but he never expected to be favored by the family of the school’s idol and end up commuting there during the summer vacation. It was too unexpected for Haruto, so he temporarily gave up thinking and wiped the potage mustache from Ryōta’s mouth.