44 - Practice Being a Couple (Beginner Edition)

RAW

Ayaka and Haruto sit next to each other on cushions spread on the floor.

“So, next…”

“Okay…”

On days when Haruto has his housework assistant shift, they study at Ayaka’s place in the afternoon. Under the guise of studying, they’ve decided to practice “being a couple.”

After Ayaka’s bold request for Haruto to speak to her in a domineering tone, he’s slightly wary of what she might say next.

“We originally met as classmates, but we haven’t really been talking for long, have we?”

“That’s true.”

“So, I thought maybe we should get to know each other better first.”

To Haruto’s relief, this suggestion seemed fairly normal. It’s only natural that a couple should know each other well.

“Yeah, Ayaka’s right.”

“Right? So, Haruto-kun, what kind of girls do you like?”

With a curious look, Ayaka leans forward slightly, causing Haruto to lean back a little.

“Wh-What kind of girls?”

“Yep. Even if it’s just an act, it’s easier for you to play the part if I’m close to your ideal, right?”

“No, there’s no need for that. Like I said before, Ayaka is already plenty charming.”

When Haruto says this, Ayaka leans in closer, whispering softly.

“So, does that mean I’m your ideal girl, Haruto-kun?”

“Ah, no… that’s… um…”

Ayaka’s gaze is intense, her eyes moist with emotion, and Haruto fumbles his words, his eyes darting nervously.

“A charming smile is… I think that’s attractive.”

Trying to escape her gaze, Haruto blurts out a vague answer, and Ayaka chuckles softly.

“Come to think of it, I heard from your grandma that you like my smile, right?”

“W-What?! Well… Ayaka’s smile is something any guy would find attractive, not just me…”

“Hehe, thanks.”

Ayaka grins, clearly pleased, while Haruto blushes and tries to compose himself.

“S-So, what kind of guys do you like, Ayaka?”

“Me? Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, Ayaka gazes at Haruto and responds.

“A guy who can do housework perfectly and cook well would score a lot of points with me.”

“I-I see. Noted…”

“Yep. By the way, Haruto-kun, you still haven’t changed your tone at all.”

Ayaka pouts, puffing her cheeks in mild displeasure.

“Sorry… I mean, my bad. It’s just hard to switch all of a sudden.”

“If you don’t fix it, your grandma’s going to find out we’re faking it.”

“Sorry… I’ll work on it as soon as I can.”

“Oh, you’re still using polite speech.”

At her remark, Haruto closes his mouth, exhales lightly, and then speaks again.

“Alright. From now on, I’ll make an effort to speak more casually.”

After saying this, Haruto raises his index finger and adds, “But during the housework shifts, I’ll talk like I always do since it’s work. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Work is work.”

Ayaka nods and then beams with a joyful smile. Haruto, puzzled by her reaction, asks frankly.

“Why do you seem so happy?”

“Huh? Well, it’s just kind of refreshing hearing you talk casually.”

Realizing she had been unconsciously smiling, Ayaka touches her cheeks in slight surprise. Seeing her cute reaction, Haruto feels his own cheeks warming.

“If you keep grinning every time I talk, grandma’s going to get suspicious.”

“Am I grinning that much?”

Ayaka pats her cheeks lightly with both hands, then suddenly looks at Haruto as if remembering something.

“Isn’t it normal for couples to casually say they love each other?”

“Huh? Uh, I’m not sure… I don’t think that’s exactly normal…”

Ayaka, once again introducing her unusual standard of normal, is met with Haruto’s gentle objection. However, she continues as if she hadn’t heard him.

“If we blush or get embarrassed when we say ‘I love you,’ it would be weird, right?”

“No, I don’t think that’s weird at all…”

“But, but! We don’t know what situations might come up, so we should practice, right?”

Publicly confessing their love—a scenario that feels more like an embarrassing performance than anything else—was something Haruto desperately wanted to avoid, but Ayaka seemed fully ready to practice.

“Well, then… I’ll say, ‘I love you,’ and you reply, ‘I love you too,’ okay? You can’t get embarrassed or anything; just say it like it’s normal, everyday conversation.”

Haruto agrees that expressing one’s feelings in words is important. He doesn’t disagree with that. However, saying it as if it were just casual conversation—that sounded more like something a lovey-dovey couple would do, not normal lovers.

Though Haruto’s mind is flooded with these thoughts, Ayaka starts the practice before he can say anything.

“Okay… I’m going to say it…”

Ayaka’s eyes glisten as she looks at Haruto, her face slightly flushed from embarrassment. After biting her lip gently, she softly speaks.

“Haruto-kun… I love you.”

“Ah… uh…”

Her flushed cheeks, moist eyes, the short distance between them—so close that if he reached out, he could touch her. Her pure and beautiful expression, like something crafted by a divine hand, paired with the words that seemed almost like a confession, made Haruto feel as though his heart had stopped for a moment.

“Hey, Haruto-kun, you can’t get embarrassed!”

“N-No way! That’s impossible!”

Haruto desperately rejects Ayaka’s complaint.

Anyone who wouldn’t be embarrassed by that must be strange. Her words had such power that Haruto’s mouth couldn’t help but form a grin.

“And besides, you’re blushing too, Ayaka.”

“Well, that’s because… it’s the first time I’ve said ‘I love you’ to a guy…”

“Ugh…”

Seeing Ayaka shyly looking down, Haruto couldn’t help but let out an awkward chuckle.

“Now it’s your turn, Haruto-kun!”

Ayaka urges Haruto, who is struggling to suppress his smile and return to his usual expression.

“Do I really have to?”

“Of course! If we don’t practice, your grandma will find out we’re faking it!”

Desperately, Haruto tries to argue, but Ayaka quickly shuts down his attempt. Even though skipping this practice probably wouldn’t blow their cover, Haruto felt like continuing this would push them dangerously close to becoming an overly affectionate couple.

Haruto, still trying to suppress his smile, glances at Ayaka. She’s blushing more than he’s ever seen her before, clearly embarrassed by what she had said earlier.

Well, if she’s willing to go that far, I guess I can’t back out now.

Steeling himself, Haruto takes a few deep breaths, unnoticed by Ayaka, then forces his facial muscles into a neutral expression. Though he’s trying to keep from smiling, his eyes involuntarily narrow.

“…Ayaka.”

At the sound of her name, Ayaka snaps out of her daze and looks directly into Haruto’s eyes.

“I love you too, Ayaka.”

The moment the words leave his mouth, Haruto feels his body temperature skyrocket. His face must be on fire by now, and he thinks he could probably fry an egg on his forehead.

As he reels from the embarrassment, Haruto notices Ayaka’s lack of reaction. She’s completely frozen, her eyes wide open in shock.

“Ayaka? Hey, Ayaka? Earth to Ayaka?”

Haruto calls her name a few times.

“—Huh? What is it, Haruto-kun?”

At his voice, Ayaka snaps back to reality, blinking rapidly.

“So… did that sound like how a normal couple would talk?”

“Oh… um… sorry, I think I kind of spaced out.”

“What?! Seriously?!”

Haruto is dumbfounded that his most embarrassing moment ever had gone unnoticed.

“S-Sorry… can you say it one more time?”

“No way! If I do that again, I’ll die from embarrassment!”

As Haruto frantically waves his hands in protest, Ayaka clasps her hands together, pleading.

“Please! Just one more time! Okay?”

She tilts her head, peeking out from behind her hands with an upward glance that makes Haruto falter.

“…Fine, but only once more. And make sure you listen this time!”

“I will, I will!”

After taking another deep breath, Haruto steels himself and speaks.

“Ayaka, I love you.”

“Haa…”

The moment the words leave his lips, Ayaka lets out a soft sigh, her face flushing as she looks down. After a moment, she raises her head and, with a bashful smile, responds.

“I love you too, Haruto-kun!”

Ayaka’s shy confession wipes Haruto’s thoughts clean in an instant. In the back of his mind, he can’t help but think:

Maybe being a lovey-dovey couple wouldn’t be so bad after all.