After dinner, following a brief family chat, the Aragaki couple and Ayase prepared to return to Chiba.
When the driver pulled up to the apartment and her parents and sister were about to leave, Miyahito bent down, resting his forearm on the rear door frame, and asked his mother inside.
"Mom, why not just stay here tonight? We have spare rooms and bedding."
"You'll have to come to the school tomorrow anyway."
Hearing this, Satomi glanced at her husband and her daughter, who seemed emotionally unsettled for some reason, then shook her head gently.
"No, we'll head back to Chiba."
"Your sister has cram school tomorrow."
Hearing that Ayase, just starting her first year of middle school, would be attending summer cram school, Miyahito instinctively frowned.
Noticing his subtle reaction, and knowing full well how doting he was toward his sister, Satomi raised her hand and lightly flicked his forehead.
Miyahito yelped in pain.
"Ayase asked for it herself. Your father and I were actually planning to take her to Okinawa for the whole summer break."
"Eh? Why, Ayase?"
Sensing his question, Ayase—who had been distracted and lost in thought since learning about his fight earlier that day—slowly lifted her head.
Staring at him for a few seconds, she suddenly said with forced realization, "Ah, mhm. I wanted to go myself."
"Ayase?" Sensing her subdued mood, Miyahito felt a flicker of worry. Thinking fast, he ventured cautiously, "Oh, right—I've got a few days until my retake exam. Once I pass, I'll have plenty of free time."
"How about this? After my retake, why don't you come stay in Tokyo for a while, Ayase?"
Wanting to agree instantly, Ayase stopped herself, her words turning into:
"Um... no, Big Brother."
"I need to study hard." Forcing a smile, she put on a "studying makes me happy" expression and continued, "Onii-chan, one day, I'll come to Toyogasaki for high school just like you!"
"And besides, don't worry about me. Utaha-nee is your girlfriend now."
"You can't neglect her, okay?"
Seeing his sister's mature "don't make me worry, Big Brother" expression, a wave of warmth filled Miyahito's heart. He smiled and reached into the car.
Playfully ruffling her smooth hair until it was a mess and making her wobble side to side, he completely ignored her annoyed glare, smiling and nodding.
"Got it. Thank you for the reminder, Lady Ayase."
Seeing his unapologetic grin, little Ayase angrily turned her head away, puffing her cheeks in a huff, saying nothing.
Her daughter's silent protest prompted her mother to shoot a look at her son outside the window, who wore an innocent expression.
"When are you bringing Utaha over to meet your father and me?" Satomi asked, her gaze carrying a knowing depth as she watched him freeze. Her tone grew slightly playful as she continued, "Striking while the iron is hot. Since your father and I are coming to your school tomorrow to meet your teacher, why don't we all have lunch together afterward?"
Saying this, Satomi looked away from her sweating son and turned to her husband. "Seiichiro, could you please reserve a table at Rakuyo-tei? For a first meeting with our son's girlfriend, we parents shouldn't be discourteous."
Seeing the teasing glint in his wife's eyes, and feeling a pang of sympathy for his son, Seiichiro nodded solemnly. "Mhm, that's only proper."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Seiichiro."
Watching his parents effortlessly finalize the plan, Miyahito suddenly felt backed into a corner. He quickly shot a pleading look at his sister.
Unfortunately, the sister he'd just provoked completely ignored his SOS gaze.
What should I do? Should I really have Utaha meet my parents tomorrow?
We've only been dating for one day... Though I'm completely on board, what about Utaha...?
After intense internal struggle, Miyahito finally made up his mind.
Eh! Whatever! We're definitely getting married anyway, might as well just rip the bandage off and let them meet now!
However, the moment he steeled himself to agree,
unsurprisingly,
his eyes met his mother's amused smile and his father's barely suppressed twitching mouth.
"Mou, Mom." Realizing he'd been teased again, Miyahito looked helplessly at Satomi. "Can you please stop messing with me?"
"And you know how important this is for me and Utaha. Can you not joke about it?"
"Sorry, sorry, my bad, Miyahito." Saying sorry while showing zero remorse, Satomi covered her mouth, eyes curved in a smile, and whispered, "But seeing how set you are on her, from now on..."
"You should start planning for your future together. Of course, you should also think about when Utaha will take you to meet her parents."
Without giving him a chance to retort, Satomi turned to the driver. "Fukuyama, let's go."
"Yes, Madam."
Hearing his mother's command, Miyahito quickly called out, "Eh? Mom!"
"We're off. Rest well, Miyahito."
"Ah! Wait!" But before he could finish, the car had already pulled away.
"I didn't even get to say drive safely... Hey..."
Watching the taillights fade into the quiet street, Miyahito lowered his outstretched arm, his unfinished words trailing off.
Recalling his mother's final words, he suddenly smiled.
Leaving a quiet sentence in the night air, he turned back inside.
"I've been ready for a long time, Mom."
....
"Mmm... A hot bath really does wonders." Dressed in a loose nightgown, towel-drying her hair, Utaha stepped out of the bathroom and walked lightly back to her room.
"Heave-ho."
Plopping onto the carpet, thoroughly relaxed, she smiled softly. Continuing to hum the melody of Yuki no Hana, she reached for her phone.
Good work today, Miyahito.
Looking at the still-black screen, she chuckled internally, addressing her boyfriend.
Then, unconsciously imagining him with his family, she laughed out loud.
He must be exhausted. Knowing how skilled he is at cooking, his parents and Ayase definitely made him prepare a huge feast.
Wondering what he might have made, Utaha gradually felt a pang of hunger.
Reluctantly pulling herself up from the carpet, she went to the kitchen, grabbed the thawed bread, and returned to her room.
Sitting down, she struggled to tear open the package and took a bland bite.
"I wish I could eat the dinner you made too, Miyahito."
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