17 - Ayaka Tojo's Feelings⑤

RAW

I went back to my room and dove straight into bed.

"Ahh... I'm so tired..."

As I lay there, exhausted, I sighed.

"Even though Otsuki made a beautiful sashimi platter for me, I couldn't taste it at all..."

My dad made a beautiful sashimi platter with the fish he caught, but Mom, Dad, and Ryota were so busy I didn't have time to enjoy the meal.

They even cooked some grilled mackerel for me using a gas burner we bought at the hardware store, but I couldn't taste it at all.

"Oh, that's right, I promised to go to the zoo with Otsuki... what should I do?"

The promise we made at the hardware store.

To be honest, I had planned to talk to him today while he was doing the housekeeping, but I didn't have time to do that.

I was so desperate to stop my family from acting out of control that I realized that Otsuki's contract time had passed, and he went home without having a proper conversation.

"But if I had said that we were going to the zoo together, my family would have gotten even more out of control..."

I think Mom would have teased me with a big grin.

But it's still okay. Well, it's not okay, but it's okay.

Ryota would be really happy, and that's no problem either.

The biggest problem is Dad.

Dad has totally taken a liking to Otsuki. Mom likes him too, but it seems like Dad is already seriously thinking about making Otsuki his stepson.

Just now, while we were eating dinner, he was enthusiastically inviting Otsuki to go fishing with him sometime.

"Ah! Come on! I'm still in high school!!"

I buried my face in my pillow and screamed.

It's still too early to think about marriage or having a son-in-law!

Sure, it would be ideal if my husband was someone as kind and perfect at housework and cooking as Otsuki, but...

"N-no, that's not me!"

I shook my head vigorously to reset my thoughts.

My family's opinion of Otsuki was getting higher and higher, and it felt like the moat around us was filling up.

But that's not the only problem.

In fact, the problem might be "this" that's more serious.

It was just before the summer vacation started.

I've forgotten his name, but somehow a senior called me over the school intercom and proposed to me.

At that time, I was just embarrassed. I wanted to get out of that situation as soon as possible.

I couldn't even imagine getting married, and I thought that senior was crazy to be engaged while still in high school.

But... if it was Otsuki...

When Dad called Otsuki his son-in-law and Ryota asked me if I was going to get married, I started to imagine it a little. An image formed in my mind.

A life living under the same roof with Otsuki.

Yes, the most serious thing isn't my family's reckless behavior, but my own feelings.

I don't mind when Mom teases me about Otsuki, when Ryota wants to make him his real big brother, and how Dad really likes him.

Somewhere in my heart, I'm happy to see that Otsuki is accepted by the family.

"Let's talk to Saki."

I take out my smartphone and open the chat screen with my best friend.

It's only a little after 10pm, so Saki is sure to be awake.

I press the answer button and look at the words Aizawa Saki displayed on the screen.

The call was connected after a few seconds.

"Meow? "

"Saki, you know... I have something to ask you for advice..."

"Oh? What is it? Are you worried about love?"

Saki asked me jokingly, and I felt my heart beat a little faster.

"I guess..."

"What?! Are you kidding me?! What?! Seriously?!"

Along with Saki's extremely agitated voice, a loud rattle-bang came from the other end of the phone.

"What? Hey Saki? Are you okay?"

"Of course not!! What do you mean! Ayaka asking for advice about love!"

"Calm down, okay? Let's calm down for once."

"I can't calm down! I can't calm down at all! Could it be, huh? About the thing about Minato-senpai? Actually, I was worried after that too?"

Even though it was night, Saki's voice was a little high-pitched with excitement.

Or rather, was it the one about Minato-senpai? Who was Minato-senpai? Hmm... Ah, maybe the one on the school's internal broadcast before summer vacation?

"No, that's completely unrelated."

"Really? Then who? Who on earth has captured Ayaka's heart!?"

"Well, I haven't been captured yet..."

Yeah, I'm not in love yet... Probably.

"You know... Saki, you said it before, didn't you?"

"Hmm? Me? Did I say something?"

"I said it, you know... Something about having good chemistry with me."

I was too embarrassed to say his name, so I fidgeted and blushed by myself.

"Hmm? Chemistry... Ah, Otsuki-kun?"

My heart skipped a beat when Saki said it on my smartphone.

"....... Yeah."

"Wow! Seriously?! ...Huh? Wait a second? ...But it's summer vacation now, right? How did that happen with Otsuki-kun?"

"Well, there were a lot of things going on..."

"Huh? I'm curious! I'm really curious about all of those things!!"

Saki was showing great interest, so I explained how I met Otsuki-kun.

Suddenly, Saki's excited voice echoed through my room, so loud it almost made my smartphone speaker crackle.

"What is that? It's the best!! A real romance manga! Is that a coincidence!? No, it's not!! It's already fate! Oh, Otsuki-kun's specs are too high! I'm so funny!"

"Otsuki-kun's cooking is really delicious."

"Oh, what is it? Are you just bragging? "

"N-No, it's not that! I want to ask Saki for advice!"

"Advice? How should you confess?"

My face was red all the way to my ears when my best friend said that.

The reason my body felt so hot was probably nothing to do with the fact that I'd just gotten out of the bath.

"No, before I confess or anything, I want to know how I feel... I mean, I don't know if I like Otsuki-kun or not... and I want to ask Saki for advice."

"......"

After I said that, Saki was quiet.

No response at all. Eh? Did she fall asleep?

After the silence continued for so long that I seriously thought that, Saki finally spoke.

Thank goodness she wasn't asleep.

"Well, that's true. Ayaka has always avoided guys. She couldn't fall in love even if she wanted to. I guess it's only natural that she doesn't understand those feelings."

Saki said, sounding convinced.

Is it just me or does she feel like she's really pitying me?

I ask impatiently.

"What do you mean? What do you mean?"

"Well, it's a waste to talk on the phone, so shall we meet tomorrow?"

"What? A waste? I can definitely see you tomorrow. What? You won't tell me now?"

I feel like Saki is making me wait.

"I'll take plenty of time tomorrow to listen to your concerns. How about we meet at the usual cafe tomorrow at 11?"

"Y-yes. Saki is okay, but... hey, tell me now? What don't I know?"

"Well, well, see you tomorrow then."

"Eh, hey, Saki?... it hung up."

I look at my phone, which has returned to the chat screen, wondering whether to connect the call to my best friend again.

But knowing Saki, I'm sure she'll just evade the question.

Thinking about the personality of my best friend, whom I've known for a long time, I gave up and put my smartphone on the charger next to my pillow.

"What do I... not understand?"

Looking at the ceiling of my room, I continued to think over and over about what my best friend had just said to me.

---...--...--...--...--...--...--

As the morning sun filtered in through the curtains, I couldn't help but frown and turn to the side.

"Ugh... I'm sleepy..."

I checked the current time on the smartphone next to my pillow.

"7 o'clock... I have to get up..."

Last night, after my phone call with Saki, I was thinking about a lot of things and couldn't sleep.

The sky was just starting to lighten before I fell asleep, so I hardly slept at all.

But I have an appointment to meet Saki today, so it's about time I got up and got ready to go out.

I forced myself to get up from the bed, and as if my body was protesting, I let out a huge yawn.

The bed pulled me in with such strength that I thought it was a magnet.

I pulled myself away with sheer willpower, left my room, and headed to the sink.

After washing my face with cold water, I felt a little less sleepy.

I dried my face with the towel hanging next to the sink and looked at myself in the mirror.

"My eyes are puffy from lack of sleep... I don't want Otsuki to see me like this..."

After muttering to myself with my head numb from lack of sleep, I realized belatedly what I had said and blushed.

I turned away from the mirror reflecting my red face and headed to the living room on the first floor.

"Oh? Good morning Ayaka. You're early today."

"Good morning Mom."

Mom was already in the living room, preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

"I have an appointment with Saki today, so I have to leave the house after 9 o'clock."

"Oh, Saki? Come to think of it, I haven't seen Saki lately."

"Her house is far away now."

Before Saki moved away, she used to come to our house a lot, so of course she knows Mom.

"Say hello to Saki."

"Okay, I get it."

I nod along to Mom and sit at the dining table.

"Is Mom going to work yet?"

Mom is already in work mode, dressed in a sharp suit.

By the way, it looks like Dad's already at work.

"Yes, I'm working early today. Can you take Ryota to kindergarten before you meet Saki?"

"Yeah, sure."

Ryota's kindergarten is currently on summer vacation, but when both parents go to work in the morning like this, they use the daycare service.

"Are you having breakfast yet?"

"Hmm, I think I'll start."

"Okay. I'll put it out right away, so please wait."

About 10 minutes after Mama said that, breakfast was on the table.

Looking at the breakfast laid out, I was a little surprised.

"Huh? This morning looks so fancy. It looks like breakfast at a traditional Japanese restaurant."

"Right? Otsuki-kun made this for me yesterday. I had to go to work early this morning, so this is really helpful."

Mama said in a good mood to my surprise.

Huh? Otsuki-kun, when did you prepare all this? I had no idea.

As I stared at the breakfast in a daze, Mama explained each item to me.

"This is sea bream rice. And this is grilled Spanish mackerel in saikyo style, and boiled yellowtail. Then there's spinach and carrots with Shiraae sauce, and this is sea bream clear soup."

"Amazing..."

What is this breakfast? Eh? Is this an inn? My sleepiness has disappeared.

Unable to hide my surprise, I say "Itadakimasu" and start eating my breakfast.

"... Delicious."

The sea bream rice has a good stock, the flavor of soy sauce and ginger fills my nose, and the sweetness of the sea bream spreads faintly on my tongue.

The Spanish mackerel in saikyo style also has a creamy texture, and the slightly sweet and salty seasoning and the delicious taste of the Spanish mackerel's fat are exquisitely combined, and a smile naturally spreads over my face. What should I do, I can't stop my chopsticks from bringing the rice to my mouth.

"Hehe, Ayaka, you look so happy."

"But it's delicious."

"Yeah. I'm grateful to Otsuki."

Hearing what Mama said, I instinctively braced myself.

But Mama didn't tease me like she did yesterday. She looked at me with such gentle eyes.

I don't know why, but I felt a little uncomfortable.

"Ayaka."

"...What?"

"Youth is something that ends in just a moment in a long life, but it's the most fun, painful, worrying, happy, and very important time in your life. So, live the "now" to the fullest. What you feel now will surely become your treasure someday."

"...Yeah."

Mama's sneaky.

She usually teases me with a grin, but sometimes she becomes a "mother" like this.

If he did that to me, as his "daughter," I'd be very happy.

"This clear soup... is delicious."

"Yeah, it's really good."

I enjoyed the mild-tasting food that Otsuki made with my mom.

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Ayaka's impression of Haruto: I don't know... but I want to know