85 - The Final Housekeeping Job

RAW

The bad weather that had postponed the recent fireworks festival now seemed like a distant memory. The sky stretched clear and blue, and the midsummer sun poured down relentlessly. Feeling the searing heat on the back of his neck, Haruto Otsuki walked through a tranquil residential area.

Eventually, he stopped in front of an imposing mansion.

“I remember how nervous I was the first time…”

His soft murmur was drowned out by the loud symphony of cicadas.

Haruto had started a short-term housekeeping job over the summer break. When he first saw this mansion, the thought of serving such a wealthy household had been daunting. Recalling those feelings, he pressed the intercom.

“Hello?”

Hearing the voice on the other end, Haruto’s face naturally broke into a smile.

“Hi, I’m here from the housekeeping service,” he replied in a slightly formal tone.

A small laugh came from the intercom.

“What’s with the formality?” the voice teased.

“Well, today’s my last day. I thought I’d go back to how I started,” he said.

“Should I have Ryota yell ‘thief’ at you again?” the voice joked.

“No, please spare me that,” Haruto replied with a wry smile.

He couldn’t help but remember how, on his first day at the Tōjō residence, Ryota, Ayaka’s younger brother, had mistaken him for a burglar and shouted at the top of his lungs. Back then, Haruto had been terrified, worried that his first day would end with a police visit.

Now, it felt like a distant memory, even though less than a month had passed. The front door creaked open.

“Welcome, Haruto-kun,” Ayaka greeted him with a dazzling smile, illuminated by the summer sunlight.

Ayaka Tōjō, known as the “idol of the school,” was widely considered the most beautiful girl in their school. At the start of the summer, she had simply been his “client” as part of the housekeeping service. But now, just seeing her filled Haruto with a mix of calmness and excitement. She had become an irreplaceable part of his life—a beloved “girlfriend.”

Pulling him by the arm, Ayaka smiled. “Come on in.”

“Thanks for having me,” Haruto said, stepping inside.

As they moved to the living room, a sudden voice rang out.

“Big brother!”

Before Haruto could react, Ryota charged at him like a small, unstoppable force.

“Hey, Ryota-kun. You’re full of energy today,” Haruto said, catching the boy who had latched onto him.

“Yup! Are you really gonna do the home festival again?” Ryota asked, eyes sparkling.

The young boy had been thrilled after hearing about the home festival Haruto and Ayaka had held. He had eagerly pleaded with his sister to do it again, which led Ayaka to ask Haruto for another round.

“What kind of stalls do you like, Ryota-kun?” Haruto asked.

“I love takoyaki!”

“Then we’ll definitely have a takoyaki stall,” Haruto promised.

“Yay!” Ryota shouted, raising his arms in excitement.

Haruto smiled, feeling motivated to plan a festival that would amaze Ryota.

Soon, Mrs. Ikue Tōjō entered the living room.

“Welcome, Otsuki-kun,” she said warmly.

“Thank you for having me,” Haruto replied politely.

“So, today’s your last day with us. Thank you for all your hard work,” she said with a kind smile.

Haruto responded with a grateful smile of his own. “It’s been a pleasure working here. Honestly, you’ve all been wonderful to serve.”

“My, what a sweet thing to say. We’re lucky to have had you as our helper, right, Ayaka?” Ikue said, turning to her daughter.

Ayaka nodded shyly, meeting Haruto’s gaze. “Yeah. I’m glad it was you, Haruto-kun.”

“Well, I suppose I should thank the ‘housekeeping gods’ for sending such a wonderful young man into my daughter’s life,” Ikue teased.

“Mom, don’t make up weird gods!” Ayaka protested, her cheeks reddening.

Haruto chuckled softly, feeling a warm sense of belonging in the lively Tōjō household.

Ikue then turned to Haruto and said, “From now on, don’t hesitate to visit us as Ayaka’s boyfriend.”

“Thank you. I will,” Haruto replied, bowing his head.

At that moment, Mr. Shūichi Tōjō entered.

“Otsuki-kun! Welcome!” Shūichi greeted him enthusiastically, spreading his arms wide.

“Thank you for having me, Shūichi-san,” Haruto replied, straightening his posture.

“I have something I wanted to discuss with you about Ayaka…” Haruto began.

Before he could finish, Shūichi interrupted with a booming laugh, placing a hand on Haruto’s shoulder.

“No need to say it—I already heard from my wife! Thank you for choosing my daughter!”

The father’s over-the-top joy left Haruto slightly overwhelmed. Amid Shūichi’s animated chatter about fishing trips and future plans, Ayaka stepped in to rescue Haruto, calming her father’s enthusiasm.

As the lively day unfolded, Haruto felt fully embraced by the warmth and vibrancy of the Tōjō family. Even though his role as a housekeeper was ending, it was clear that his connection to this home had only just begun.