192 - A New Beginning

RAW

The cool breeze of early morning drifted in through the open window, brushing against Haruto’s cheek. His gaze followed the flow of that breeze toward the outside world.

The quiet residential neighborhood was beginning to glow under the soft morning sunlight.

“Guess I should start making breakfast.”

Closing his study guide and putting his mechanical pencil into his case, Haruto stretched deeply and stood up.

“What should I make for breakfast today?”

He walked to the kitchen, thinking about a menu that would make everyone in the Tōjō family happy.

Inside the refrigerator, there were still some fillets of horse mackerel and sardines left from the fishing trip the other day.

“Hmm… maybe I’ll make sardine meatball soup. And the mackerel… yeah, let’s make mackerel hamburg steaks.”

Once the idea was set, he immediately began preparing.

He took the fish fillets out of the refrigerator, along with some vegetables—daikon radish, carrots, and green onions—and laid them out on the counter. Just as he pulled out the food processor to mince the sardines, Ayaka appeared.

“Good morning, Haruto.”

“Morning.”

“You’re up early today.”

Smiling softly with that faintly sleepy aura about her, Ayaka walked up beside him and wrapped her arms around his back in a gentle embrace.

“Thank you for making breakfast.”

“Yeah. I don’t know, it’s kind of become a morning routine for me to cook here now.”

Feeling her warmth against him, Haruto smiled. His heartbeat picked up slightly, recalling the sweet sound of her voice calling him ‘my dear’ the other day.

“I’ll help too. Let’s see… sardine meatball soup?”

As Ayaka put on her apron, Haruto nodded.

“Yeah, I’m thinking sardine soup and mackerel hamburg steaks.”

“Then, can I make the soup?”

Haruto nodded again as she glanced toward the food processor. Her cooking skills had been improving every day under Kiyoko’s guidance—he was sure her soup would turn out great.

Leaving the soup to her, Haruto started on the hamburg steaks, finely chopping the mackerel fillets into mince. Beside him, Ayaka sliced the vegetables for the soup.

The rhythm of their chopping blended into a pleasant beat filling the Tōjō kitchen—when Shuichi walked in.

“Good morning, you two.”

“Good morning, Dad.”

“Good morning… Father-in-law.”

Haruto’s slightly awkward and shy “Father-in-law” made Shuichi grin from ear to ear.

“Thanks for making breakfast, Haruto, Ayaka. So today’s menu is sardine soup and…?”

Haruto smiled as he sensed Shuichi’s curious eyes on his hands.

“Mackerel hamburg steaks.”

“Oh! That sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it.”

Cheerfully, Shuichi sat down at the dining table.

As Ayaka finished shaping the sardine balls, she asked, “It’ll be a little while before breakfast’s ready—would you like some coffee?”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

“Got it.”

She added the vegetables to the pot to simmer and started boiling water in the electric kettle.

Meanwhile, Haruto added minced onion and shiso leaves to the mackerel, followed by tofu, grated ginger, miso, and potato starch, then kneaded the mixture.

“Oh, you’re putting tofu in it?” Ayaka asked curiously while preparing Shuichi’s coffee.

“Yeah, it makes the patties turn out fluffier.”

He kneaded until the tofu blended in smoothly, divided the mixture into five portions, wrapped each with a shiso leaf, and placed them on a frying pan. A refreshing aroma filled the air.

Ayaka, who was dissolving miso into her soup, smiled. “It smells amazing.”

“Does this much miso look right? Haruto, could you taste it for me?”

She scooped a bit of the soup and brought the spoon to his lips.

“It’s a little hot, so I’ll cool it down first.”

As she gently blew on the spoon, Haruto found himself staring, unable to look away.

He remembered what Kiyoko had told Ayaka while teaching her to cook: “You’re going to win Haruto’s heart through his stomach.”

That future didn’t seem so far off now. As Ayaka handed him the cooled spoon, Haruto tasted it.

“Yeah, it’s delicious.”

“Hehe, I’m glad.”

Her shy smile was so adorable that Haruto looked away, feeling flustered.

Meanwhile, Shuichi took a sip of his coffee, nodded approvingly, and said, “Well, this feels exactly like newlywed life.”

“!?”

Haruto froze at the comment.

Though technically still engaged—they couldn’t register their marriage yet due to age—Shuichi wasn’t entirely wrong.

Ayaka, instead of her usual “Dad, don’t say that!” just blushed deeply and quietly ladled the soup.

Haruto laughed awkwardly, “Ahaha,” and finished grating daikon to top the hamburg steaks with. A drizzle of ponzu completed the dish.

Just then, Ikue entered the room with Ryota, who was rubbing his sleepy eyes.

“Mmm, it smells so good!”

“Today’s breakfast is sardine soup and mackerel hamburg steaks.”

“Hamburg steaks!? Yay!”

Ryota cheered excitedly while Ikue chuckled. “Alright, go wash your face first, then we’ll eat.”

“Okay!”

He dashed off toward the washroom, and Ikue called after him, “Make sure you wash properly!”

“Got it!” came the distant reply, making her laugh softly.

“Ryota’s always so energetic in the mornings,” Haruto said warmly, and Ikue smiled. “He really is.”

Looking at the meal set on the table, she added, “Thank you for cooking, Haruto, Ayaka. It really helps.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing… You’re all my family now. Cooking for family feels natural.”

Haruto’s shy tone made Ikue smile gently. “That’s right—we’re family now. So don’t hesitate to rely on us anytime, okay?”

“Then… when things get tough, I’ll lean on you.”

“Good. Don’t hold back,” she said playfully with a wink.

“Mom, don’t tease Haruto so early in the morning,” Ayaka protested.

“Oh, come now, it’s just family bonding.”

“Alright, alright, just help me bring the dishes.”

“Okay~” Ikue replied cheerfully, joining her daughter to set the table.

Once Ryota returned, everyone gathered for breakfast. He dove into the hamburg steak, eyes sparkling. “It’s so good!” he said between bites, cheeks puffed like a hamster.

Seeing him so happy made Haruto smile. Then Shuichi, sipping his soup, spoke.

“By the way, Haruto. This might relate a little to Kiyoko’s work.”

“Yes?”

Sensing a serious tone, Haruto put down his chopsticks.

“I really appreciate you making breakfast today—and it’s wonderful to start the day with such a meal—but if you’re doing this because you feel like you have to fill in for Kiyoko while she’s hospitalized, don’t worry about that, alright?”

His gentle tone made Haruto look up.

“We’re very happy to have you help out as part of the family, but don’t feel obligated. As Ikue said, you can rely on us anytime too.”

“I’d hate to lose my touch if I leave all the cooking to you two,” Ikue added with a grin.

“Exactly,” Shuichi continued. “So please just think of this as your home—relax and live comfortably.”

Haruto couldn’t stop smiling. “Thank you very much. Then I’ll take you up on that when I’m busy with studying and such.”

“Good. Don’t overdo it. You too, Ayaka.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Haruto once again felt deeply grateful for the kindness of the Tōjō family and the happiness of being one of them.

After breakfast, Haruto and Ayaka washed the dishes together. Shuichi, now in a suit, returned to the living room, ready to leave earlier than usual.

“Oh? Heading out already?” Ayaka asked.

“I’ve got an important meeting this morning—want to go over the details at the office.”

“Got it. Good luck at work.”

“Thanks. You two enjoy school, and Ryota—have fun at daycare.”

As he said his goodbyes, Haruto paused his washing. “Have a good day, Father-in-law.”

“Have a good day!” Ryota shouted, waving his arms.

Ikue handed Shuichi his bag. “Take care, dear.”

“Thanks. See you later.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, gave her a light kiss, and headed for the door.

Watching them, Haruto couldn’t help but think they were the perfect couple—and he glanced at his own fiancée beside him.

Ayaka, still holding a sponge, was staring at her parents. Amid the sound of running water, he could faintly hear her mumble, “So that’s what a normal married couple does…”

After finishing the dishes, Haruto changed into his uniform. Ayaka joined him soon after, also in uniform.

“Mom, we’re heading to school.”

“Alright, be careful.”

“Bye, big brother, big sis!” Ryota waved.

As they put on their shoes in the entryway, Ayaka called softly, “Hey, Haruto.”

“Yeah?”

When he looked up, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

“So… since we’re engaged, that means we’ll be husband and wife someday, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Then… doing things a married couple would do is normal, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

Her tone, shy but earnest, gave Haruto a strong sense of déjà vu—those same words she used to say back when they pretended to be a couple during summer vacation: ‘It’s what normal couples do.’

Only now, the phrase had evolved into ‘It’s what normal married couples do.’

He had a bad feeling about where this was going.

“Then before we go out, we should greet each other properly. That’s what normal married couples do, right?”

As expected.

Haruto sighed, but nodded. “…Right.”

“Just like Dad and Mom did.”

“Exactly!”

Beaming at his agreement, Ayaka took a breath. “Okay, then… here I go.”

“O-okay.”

Even knowing what was coming, his heart pounded. Ayaka stepped closer.

“Have a good day… my dear.”

“Ah… I-I’m off.”

It was the second time she’d called him that, and Haruto still wasn’t used to it. His heart raced wildly as he looked away from his impossibly adorable fiancée—but she didn’t move away.

When he turned back, she tilted her chin up slightly, eyes expectant.

He instantly understood, face turning bright red. But he knew she wouldn’t move until he did it.

He gently placed a hand around her waist and kissed her lightly.

Ayaka smiled blissfully.

Flustered, Haruto cleared his throat. “C’mon, Ayaka, put on your shoes. We’ll be late.”

“Okay.”

Holding his hand, she smiled happily.

And as Haruto looked at her, he couldn’t help but think—

Please let Ayaka’s idea of a “normal married couple” be the same as everyone else’s.

-

Shuichi and Ikue’s effortless, natural “Have a good day.”

Haruto and Ayaka’s awkward, clumsy “Have a good day.”

They still have a long way to go, don’t they?