93 - A Visit to the Tōjō Household

RAW

“Grandma, this is Ayaka’s house.”

“Oh my, what an impressive place…”

Standing before the towering mansion, Haruto’s grandmother, Kiyoko, stared in awe, her mouth slightly agape as she stood frozen in place.

It was the first weekend after the summer break had ended. Haruto and Kiyoko stood side by side in front of the Tōjō residence.

The purpose of their visit was to discuss the live-in housekeeper position proposed by the Tōjō family. Haruto and Kiyoko had come to settle the details, such as work responsibilities and schedule.

Haruto glanced at his stunned grandmother and pressed the intercom button with practiced ease.

“Yes, is that you, Otsuki-kun?”

“Yes, hello, Shūichi-san.”

The calm voice of Shūichi Tōjō came through the intercom.

“We’ve been expecting you. I’ll open the door now.”

Shortly after, the front door opened, and Shūichi appeared. Spotting Haruto and Kiyoko, he greeted them with a warm smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shūichi Tōjō. Thank you for coming today.”

“Thank you for having us. I’m Kiyoko Otsuki, Haruto’s grandmother.”

Kiyoko bowed deeply to Shūichi.

“Thank you for taking care of Haruto during the summer.”

“No, no! It’s us who are grateful! Haruto-kun’s skills, especially in cooking, are truly remarkable.”

As Kiyoko bowed again, Shūichi smiled and praised her grandson.

“Well then, let’s not stand here talking. Please, come inside.”

Shūichi opened the door wider, inviting them in. Once inside, Kiyoko’s eyes widened as she took in the grand interior.

“What a magnificent home…”

“Thank you very much. Here, please use these slippers.”

Shūichi prepared slippers for Kiyoko, bowing slightly in gratitude for her compliment. Haruto’s slippers, meanwhile, were the same pair he had used during his summer job, which had been kept at the Tōjō house for convenience.

As Haruto naturally slipped into his own slippers, Kiyoko’s gaze lingered on him.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Grandma?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“...?”

Haruto tilted his head slightly in confusion, while Kiyoko offered a gentle smile.

“It seems like you were treated very well by the Tōjō family during the summer.”

“Yeah. I’m really glad I worked here.”

“That’s nice to hear, Otsuki-kun. We’re equally glad you came to help us.”

Hearing Shūichi’s words, Haruto smiled shyly and said, “Thank you.”

“Well then, let me show you to the living room.”

Shūichi led them through the hallway, with Kiyoko following. She looked around, clearly impressed by the opulent design. Haruto couldn’t help but recall his own first visit to the Tōjō residence. It felt like such a long time ago, even though it was only a few months back. That summer, spent with the Tōjō family, had been filled with memorable moments.

Shūichi stopped at the end of the hallway and opened the door to the living room.

“This is the living room.”

Inside, the Tōjō family was already gathered. Shūichi introduced each family member to Kiyoko.

“This is my wife, Ikue.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ikue Tōjō. Thank you for coming today.”

“I’m Kiyoko Otsuki, Haruto’s grandmother. Thank you for having me.”

The two women exchanged polite bows. Shūichi then introduced Ayaka.

“You’ve already met my daughter, Ayaka, haven’t you?”

“It’s been a while.”

Ayaka smiled warmly at Kiyoko.

“It’s nice to see you again, Ayaka-san. Thank you for always taking care of Haruto.”

Kiyoko returned Ayaka’s smile with one of her own, bowing lightly. Finally, Shūichi introduced his son.

“This is my son, Ryōta. Ryōta, greet Kiyoko-san.”

“...I’m Ryōta Tōjō. Nice to meet you.”

Ryōta, showing signs of shyness, introduced himself nervously. Kiyoko responded with a kind smile and gentle tone.

“Hello, Ryōta-kun. I’m Haruto’s grandmother, Kiyoko. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Mm… So you’re Onii-chan’s grandma?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, if Onii-chan becomes my real big brother, would you be my grandma too?”

“Ah… I suppose so.”

“Yay! That means I’ll have three grandmas!”

Ryōta’s sparkling eyes and enthusiastic declaration brought smiles to everyone’s faces. Haruto had long given up on trying to counter Ryōta’s “real big brother” plans and now simply smiled along.

Once introductions were complete, everyone moved to the dining table to discuss Kiyoko’s role as the housekeeper.

“Now, about your work schedule and responsibilities, Kiyoko-san,” Shūichi began, “may we discuss them in detail?”

“Yes, please.”

The discussion proceeded smoothly, and within thirty minutes, they had reached an agreement. Kiyoko would work as a live-in housekeeper from Tuesday to Saturday each week, returning to the Otsuki home on Sundays and Mondays. In case of bad weather or health issues, the Tōjōs would provide transportation.

After finalizing the arrangements, Shūichi confirmed, “So, Kiyoko-san, we’ll see you next Tuesday?”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Kiyoko bowed deeply once more, and the Tōjō family responded in kind. Ikue then smiled warmly.

“We’re looking forward to your cooking, Kiyoko-san. Isn’t that right, Ayaka?”

“Mm-hmm. Haruto-kun’s cooking was amazing, so I can’t wait to try yours.”

“I want hamburg steak!” Ryōta exclaimed.

“Ryōta, you just had hamburg steak made by Haruto-kun, didn’t you?” Ikue gently reminded him, laughing softly.

Kiyoko, amused by their cheerful interaction, responded with a warm expression. “I’ll do my best to meet everyone’s expectations.”

After some lighthearted banter, the topic shifted to Haruto. Shūichi leaned forward slightly, clasping his hands.

“Now, about Haruto-kun’s living situation…”

He explained his concerns about Haruto being left alone at home and proposed that Haruto move in with Kiyoko.

Though grateful, Kiyoko hesitated, concerned about propriety and the dynamics between Haruto and Ayaka.

Sensing her unease, Shūichi suggested a break and invited Kiyoko to see the garden. Haruto, meanwhile, watched them leave, wondering what Shūichi might say.