61 - Ayaka Tojo's Love④

RAW

In front of the full-length mirror in my room, I check my appearance for what feels like the hundredth time today.

"Okay, no problems, right?"

I turn around to check my back, reassuring myself as I mutter. I’ve chosen a white blouse and a pastel-colored skirt, aiming for a neat and refined look.

Today is the day I meet Haruto's grandmother. It’s the first time I’ll be seeing her since I agreed to be Haruto's fake girlfriend.

Phew, this is nerve-wracking.  

I’ve met his grandmother once before, during the time I helped care for Haruto when he was sick. She was incredibly kind and left a wonderful impression. But what if she figures out this whole fake relationship is a lie? Would she get angry?

Imagining the worst-case scenario makes me shudder slightly.

On the flip side, if I can get Haruto’s grandmother to like me today, she might become a powerful ally. That would increase the chances of Haruto confessing to me!

"Alright, let’s do this!"

I psych myself up and step out of my room. When I head to the living room to let my dad know I’m going out, I find him playing with Ryota.

Mom’s at work today, while Dad is working remotely from home.

"Dad, I’m heading out for a bit."

"Ah, okay."

Dad glances up from his pretend sword fight with Ryota.

"Will you be back late?"

"No, I should be home by evening."

"Make sure to let me know if you’re going to be late, alright?"

"Got it! See you later!"

I wave and leave the living room. As I step out, I hear Ryota yell, "Gotcha!" followed by Dad's dramatic, "Gah! I’ve been defeated!" It seems Ryota managed to take Dad down.

Hearing my family’s lively voices behind me lightens my nervousness as I head out the door.

---

After walking through the residential area and reaching a main street, I spot the coffee shop where Haruto and I are meeting.

I wonder if Haruto’s already there.  

Initially, I thought about heading straight to his house, but Haruto insisted it would be better to meet at the nearby coffee shop first.

Sure enough, I see him right away, sitting on a bike rack outside, looking at his phone.

The moment I spot him, I can’t help but smile. I find myself walking faster, almost instinctively, to get to him.

"Haruto, sorry for making you wait!"

"Not at all. I just got here myself."

Haruto looks up from his phone and greets me with a kind smile.

Since Haruto started coming over for housework, I’ve seen many sides of him, but this gentle smile is my favorite. No matter how down I might feel, that smile brightens my day in an instant.

It makes me wish I could take a photo of him sometime. But if I had a picture of him on my phone, I’d probably spend all day staring at it and get nothing else done.

"Is that for my grandmother?" Haruto asks, glancing at the paper bag I’m holding.

"Oh, this? Yeah, I thought it’d be rude to show up empty-handed," I explain, holding up the bag. It contains a selection of baked goods. Originally, I wanted to bring a cake or other sweet treats, but considering the summer heat, I figured something that wouldn’t spoil quickly was a safer choice.

"Thanks for being so thoughtful," Haruto says.

"Not at all! Don’t worry about it," I reply cheerfully. After all, I need to leave a good impression on his grandmother.

---

As we approach Haruto’s house, I can't help but feel my heart racing. This isn’t the first time I’ve been here—I visited when I helped care for him. But now, the context is different.

Haruto opens the door for me, and I step inside, thanking him softly.

The faint scent of Haruto fills the air, and without thinking, I take a deep breath.

"Grandma, I’m home. Ayaka came to visit," Haruto calls out.

Soon, his grandmother appears, her warm smile lighting up the room.

"Welcome, Ayaka. Come on in," she says, graciously accepting the baked goods I hand over.

"Thank you for having me," I reply with a polite bow.

As I sit in the living room beside Haruto, I can’t help but lean a little closer to him, hoping to look like a convincing couple.

"Well, you two look so close," his grandmother remarks warmly.

Haruto’s ears turn slightly red as he fumbles to respond. "Ayaka’s… the best girlfriend in the world," he says, his voice a little shy.

Hearing those words, my heart feels like it’s about to burst with joy. Even if it’s just pretend, being called "the best" by him is enough to make me float on cloud nine.

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Ayaka's enthusiasm for Haruto: Haruto is the best in the world!