49 - The Tojo Family's BBQ

RAW

When Haruto entered the living room, he found Ayaka, Saki, and Ikue chatting cheerfully.

"Long time no see, Saki-chan!"

"Yeah! Ikue-mama is as beautiful as ever!"

"Oh my! Is that so, Ayaka?"

"That’s great, mama!"

Haruto glanced at Ayaka, but she appeared to be her usual self without any noticeable change.

"Oh, Otsuki-kun, welcome! I hear you brought fireworks? Thank you!" Ikue smiled warmly at Haruto as he entered the living room.

"No problem."

"Shuichi-san is starting a fire in the courtyard right now, so please take your time to relax until then."

"Oh, in that case, I’ll help with the fire."

"Oh, you don’t have to! Today, Otsuki-kun is our guest, so please just relax."

"No, actually, I enjoy starting fires."

"Oh, is that so? Otsuki-kun is quite the boy, huh? Then I’ll leave it to you."

Ikue said with a chuckle, "Ryota is glued to the grill as well."

As they stepped from the living room into the courtyard, they found Shuichi fanning the coals with a hand fan and Ryota watching eagerly beside him.

"Hey! Welcome, Otsuki-kun!"

Shuichi, slightly red-faced from being so close to the coals, greeted Haruto while wiping the sweat from his brow with one hand.

"Thanks for inviting me today."

"I see Saki-chan is here too. The more, the merrier when it comes to things like this!"

Upon spotting Saki in the living room, Shuichi said happily.

"Dad, the red parts of the coals are getting small!"

"Oh, right!"

At Ryota’s remark, Shuichi started fanning again, prompting Haruto to offer to take over.

"Shuichi-san, let me take care of the fire."

Shuichi waved his hand, smiling. "You’re our guest today, so you can just relax until the BBQ starts."

"No, really, I like starting fires."

Shuichi replied with the same words as Ikue, so Haruto mirrored his earlier response.

"Oh? Is that so? Well then, I'll take you up on that offer and let you help."

Shuichi handed Haruto the fan and took a gulp from a drink that was on a folding table next to the grill.

For a moment, Haruto suspected it was beer and felt a twinge of caution, recalling how Shuichi had gotten incredibly cheerful when he drank alcohol the other day and started discussing wedding plans with Ayaka.

"Ah, nothing beats chilled barley tea when you’re thirsty!"

When Haruto realized it was just tea, he let out a relieved sigh.

Using the fan he received from Shuichi, Haruto gently directed air between the coals. Gradually, the flames spread.

"Oh! Big brother! The coals are getting redder!"

"Alright, Ryota-kun, could you step back from the grill a bit?"

At Haruto’s words, Ryota obediently nodded, taking a few steps back to distance himself from the grill.

Once Haruto ensured that Ryota was in a safe spot and that nothing around could catch fire, he suddenly intensified the movements of the fan, sending a strong gust toward the coals.

In an instant, flames shot up from the stacked coals, accompanied by a shower of sparks.

"Wow! It’s like fireworks!"

"Hmm, indeed, starting a fire is a boy's romance."

Next to a nodding Shuichi, Ryota’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he kept saying, "That’s amazing!"

"Ryota-kun, could you grab a few more pieces of new charcoal from that box?"

"Okay! Um, do you want the small ones or the big ones?"

"I’ll take the big ones."

As soon as Haruto communicated this, Ryota seriously examined the charcoal in the box.

It seemed like he was eager to help with the fire. Seeing Ryota’s earnest gaze made Haruto feel warm inside, and a smile naturally spread across his face.

"Here you go, big brother! Is this good?"

"Yep, thanks!"

Ryota beamed proudly at Haruto’s gratitude.

After confirming that the coals were well-lit, Haruto broke apart the arrangement, spreading the white-hot coals throughout the grill. Then he placed the new charcoal Ryota had brought on top.

"It’s looking good. Should we bring out the ingredients now?"

Peering into the grill, Shuichi said, and he headed back to the living room for a moment.

"Mom, the fire is ready, could you bring the ingredients?"

"Got it. Ayaka and Saki-chan, can you help too?"

"Yes! Are the ingredients in the fridge?"

Saki replied energetically to Ikue’s request.

"Yes, and there are some in the freezer too."

"Understood!"

Saki promptly headed to the fridge, opening the door and gasping in awe.

"Whoa! There’s so much meat!"

"Since Otsuki-kun and Saki-chan are coming, I prepared more than usual."

Saki’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out a tray filled with meat.

"Beef!! So much beef!!"

Given that both her parents work and run their own business, the ingredients prepared at the Tojo household gleamed like jewels in Saki's eyes.

"It seems like they really went all out for this BBQ."

While Saki held the tray of meat with both hands, Ayaka remarked, watching her friend drool with excitement.

"Since Saki and Haruto-kun are coming, Dad was all fired up to make it more extravagant than usual."

"Shuichi-san is the best!"

Ayaka and Saki, beaming with excitement, carried the BBQ ingredients to the courtyard.

The folding table filled with ingredients, caught Haruto's attention as he managed the fire alongside Ryota.

"Whoa… there’s so much beef…"

Haruto reacted with the same awe as Saki.

Seeing Haruto’s reaction, Ayaka chuckled softly.

"Haruto-kun, there’s plenty, so don’t hold back and eat as much as you like!"

"Y-yeah… but is it really okay to have such high-quality meat…?"

Haruto felt a bit overwhelmed in front of the beautifully marbled meat.

To this, Shuichi emphasized, "Just like Ayaka said, don’t hold back, okay? We splurged so everyone can enjoy!"

"Yes sir, Shuichi-san! I’ll dig in!"

Saki, who had known Shuichi longer than Haruto, seemed to understand his vibe well, returning a salute in response.

Following her lead, Haruto also bowed his head, saying, "Thank you so much."

"Don’t forget the vegetables, you should eat those too."

Ikue said, coming in with a tray full of vegetables, including pumpkin, onions, potatoes, and eggplants.

Once everyone gathered in the courtyard, Shuichi took the lead to start the BBQ.

"Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s get started! But first, Otsuki-kun, could you help me for a moment?"

"Yes, of course."

Shuichi worked with Haruto to move the grill to the center of the courtyard and set up tables around it.

"I want to sit next to big brother!"

Ryota said, pulling Haruto's hand to sit at the prepared table.

"Wow, Ryota really loves Otsuki-kun, doesn’t he?"

"Yeah!"

Saki watched the two with amusement as they took their seats at the table, Ayaka sitting beside them.

"Looks like Ayaka's cute little brother is being taken by Otsuki-kun!"

"Well, Haruto-kun is charming, so it can't be helped."

Ayaka returned her friend’s comment with a wry smile.

Saki then grinned mischievously and said in a tone only Ayaka could hear, playfully teasing, "To make the Tojo siblings fall for him, Otsuki-kun is quite the charming man."

"Fall for him...?"

"Oh? Is that not the case?"

"N-not that it’s not...!"

As Ayaka stammered, her face turned red, Saki seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.

Once everyone confirmed they were seated, Shuichi raised his voice.

"Okay, everyone, let’s get the drinks ready and make a toast!"

"Alright everyone, choose what you like!"

Ikue arranged several types of juice in plastic bottles on the table.

"What will you drink, Ryota-kun?"

"Orange juice!"

While Haruto poured orange juice into Ryota's cup, Saki took an apple juice bottle and filled her own cup.

"What will you drink, Ayaka?"

As Saki raised her bottle of apple juice and asked, Ayaka hesitated.

"Um, what will you drink, Haruto-kun?"

Ayaka glanced over at Haruto, who was just handing Ryota a cup of orange juice.

"I think I’ll have ginger ale."

"Oh, then I’ll have the same!"

Saying that, Ayaka poured ginger ale into her cup and then filled Haruto's cup with the same drink.

"Thanks!"

"Anytime!"

Watching the interaction between the two, Saki put her chin on her hand, saying, "Hmm, that exchange was just like a wife serving her husband’s evening drink."

"Come on, Saki, don’t say weird things!"

"Sorry, sorry, it just slipped out."

"Is everyone good on drinks?"

Once Shuichi confirmed everyone had their drinks, he raised his glass filled with beer.

"Alright then, let’s eat and enjoy tonight to the fullest! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" everyone replied in unison, raising their cups.