90 - A Proposal from the Tōjō Family

RAW

After receiving a phone call from Shuichi, Haruto nervously waited in the Tōjō family's living room, glancing at the clock every so often.

Next to him, Ayaka watched him with a mixture of concern and excitement, her gaze fixed on his restless demeanor.

The two said little as they sat on the living room sofa, waiting for Shuichi to arrive.

About 40 minutes after the phone call, the faint sound of a car engine reached their ears.

“Oh, it looks like Dad’s home.”

Shortly after Ayaka’s words, the front door clicked open, and Shuichi appeared in the living room.

Haruto quickly rose from the sofa and bowed.

“Hello, Shuichi-san. Thank you for having me.”

“Hello, Otsuki-kun. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Shuichi spoke warmly. Dressed sharply in a suit, he exuded the air of a seasoned businessman.

Haruto couldn’t help but admire Shuichi’s composed and professional aura. At the same time, he found himself reflecting that Ayaka, who had inherited her parents’ looks, was naturally regarded as the most beautiful girl at school.

Shuichi sat down on the sofa across from Haruto and gestured for him to take a seat as well.

“Apologies for getting straight to the point, but can we discuss something? I have an important company meeting later, so I can’t stay long.”

Looking at Shuichi, who seemed apologetic, Haruto felt the weight of whatever conversation was about to take place.

“Um... I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re so busy—”

“No, no, it’s fine. The company meeting is important, but what I’m about to discuss is just as important for the Tōjō family.”

“What...what is it that you’d like to discuss?”

At Haruto’s inquiry, Shuichi’s expression shifted, becoming more serious. Gone was his usual friendly demeanor; he now radiated the gravitas of a business executive.

“Before I explain, I want to make something clear, Otsuki-kun.”

Shuichi leaned forward slightly, clasping his hands lightly as he began to speak with the poise of someone entering a negotiation.

“What I’m about to propose is not out of pity for you or your grandmother. Nor is it because you’re Ayaka’s boyfriend and we want to make things easier for you. This is something that I believe will be beneficial for our family—for the Tōjō family. I want you to understand that before we proceed.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Then let me get to the point. It’s not a complicated matter. Quite simply, I’d like to hire your grandmother as our housekeeper.”

“What!?”

Haruto’s voice involuntarily rose in surprise.

“My grandmother?”

“That’s right. You mentioned before that your grandmother was the one who taught you how to cook.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Your skills in cooking have already been proven during your work for us. And since it was your grandmother who taught you, we’re confident she’ll be more than capable of meeting our expectations.”

“Well, it’s true that my grandmother’s cooking is exceptional, but…”

Haruto was overwhelmed by this unexpected turn of events, struggling to find the right words. At that moment, Ayaka, sitting beside him, chimed in with a cheerful smile.

“And your grandmother taught you how to clean too, right? So basically, your skills as a housekeeper are all thanks to her, aren’t they?”

“Yes, and we were very pleased with your work over the summer. Ideally, we’d have liked you to continue, but as a student, we couldn’t ask you to prioritize a part-time job over your studies. When we heard about your grandmother, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Hearing Shuichi and Ayaka’s words, a glimmer of hope sparked within Haruto.

Indeed, his housekeeping skills were all thanks to his grandmother’s teachings. Her cooking abilities were also far superior to his, and she would undoubtedly impress the Tōjō family.

The heavy burden of worry in Haruto’s heart began to lift. But amidst the relief, one concern lingered.

“Thank you so much! This would truly be a lifesaver. But...there’s just one problem.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“My grandmother’s back hasn’t been in the best condition recently, and she has difficulty walking long distances.”

The Tōjō residence was about a 30-minute walk from Haruto’s home. While it was manageable for Haruto, the distance would be a significant challenge for his elderly grandmother.

Shuichi nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, then smiled warmly.

“I was informed about her condition by Ayaka. That’s why I’d like to ask you something, Otsuki-kun.”

“Y-yes?”

“Would it be possible for your grandmother to live with us as a live-in housekeeper?”

“What!?”

Haruto was stunned for the second time that day. Shuichi, undeterred, continued with a pleasant tone.

“Of course, it doesn’t have to be a full-time arrangement. For instance, she could stay with us during the weekdays and return home on weekends. What do you think?”

“Um... I... I’m not sure…”

Overwhelmed by this unexpected proposal, Haruto struggled to process his thoughts. Shuichi pressed on.

“And if your grandmother lives here, you’d be left alone at home, wouldn’t you?”

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“I’d hate to see you feeling lonely.”

“Oh, no, really, it’s already more than generous that you’re offering to hire her…”

“Family is about being together when you can be,” Shuichi said with a gentle smile. “That’s why I’d like to propose another idea: how about you join your grandmother and live here as well?”

“What!?”

This third surprise left Haruto completely dumbfounded.

Ayaka, observing his reaction, leaned closer with an eager expression.

“What do you think, Haruto-kun? I think it’d be so much fun if we could all eat dinner together every night!”

“Well...it does sound nice, but…”

Flustered, Haruto glanced at Ayaka, who was beaming with excitement. It was clear this idea had already been discussed between her and Shuichi.

Shuichi, now grinning mischievously, added, “You’ve already seen our guest rooms, haven’t you? Your grandmother could use one of them.”

“Th-thank you, but wouldn’t there be a shortage of rooms if I also stayed here?”

“Not at all. You can use the room next to Ayaka’s,” Shuichi replied nonchalantly.

“But isn’t that Ryota-kun’s room?”

“Ryota still sleeps in our room and spends most of his time in the living room, so that room is practically unused. It’ll be fine.”

Hearing this, Haruto found himself nodding in agreement.

“Thank you so much. I’d like to accept, but I’d need to discuss this with my grandmother first. Could I take some time to decide?”

“Of course! Take all the time you need to talk it over.”

With that, Shuichi glanced at his watch and rose from the sofa.

“Well then, I need to head back to the office.”

“Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

Haruto and Ayaka accompanied Shuichi to the door, where he turned back to face Haruto.

“Otsuki-kun, please consider this carefully.”

“Yes, I will.”

After Shuichi left, Haruto turned to Ayaka.

“...Ayaka, about what Shuichi-san said earlier—me staying here too—was that your idea?”

“Well… since we don’t get much time together at school, I thought it’d be nice if we could spend more time together at home. Was that…bad?”

Blushing, Ayaka avoided his gaze. Haruto chuckled softly.

“Not at all. I’d love to spend more time with you. It just feels like a dream, you know?”

“Really? Hehe, I think so too. It feels like a dream to be able to live with you…”

Ayaka burst with joy and hugged Haruto with a beaming smile.