202 - Proof of Marriage
Forcing open his heavy eyelids that refused to cooperate due to lack of sleep, Haruto wakes up.
He reaches for the smartphone by his pillow and checks the time.
“…I have to get up.”
Swallowing a massive yawn, Haruto sluggishly climbs out of bed.
What happened yesterday.
Ayaka approaching him with flushed cheeks.
The moment that image surfaces in his mind, her warmth and touch return vividly as well.
“…I should wash my face.”
After parting with Ayaka, Haruto returned to his room and tried to sleep. However, whenever he closed his eyes under the covers, her charm overwhelmed him, making it impossible to fall asleep.
Moving slowly, he walks to the sink and splashes cold water on his face.
Feeling slightly refreshed, he looks at himself in the mirror.
Eyes slightly red from lack of sleep.
Staring at them, Haruto murmurs,
“I need to build our relationship so I don’t have any regrets…”
They had promised to walk through their long future together. Within that, he didn’t want to leave behind any regrets.
He wanted to make it as happy and fulfilling as possible.
Haruto places a hand on his chest and takes a deep breath.
The desire he feels toward her is so strong—strong enough that he fears he might not be able to control it.
He worries that he might hurt her.
That he might frighten her.
Even so, if he wants to keep seeing Ayaka’s radiant smile, he has to restrain himself.
Haruto makes a vow in his heart.
Just then, the bathroom door slowly opens, and Ayaka appears.
“Ah…”
Their eyes meet through the mirror.
“G-good morning.”
Her flushed expression from yesterday and the feeling of their closeness flash back instantly.
Pushing it desperately to the back of his mind, Haruto greets her while trying to stay calm.
“Y-yeah… good morning.”
Perhaps she’s also thinking about yesterday—Ayaka’s cheeks turn red as her gaze wanders.
Her speech is awkward too.
“…………”
“…………”
Silence flows between them.
Since becoming lovers, they often spend time together in comfortable silence. It never felt awkward before. Rather, it felt pleasant.
But now, it felt unbearably awkward.
As if to shake it off, Haruto speaks.
“Ah, I’m done washing up.”
“Oh… right… yeah.”
“Well then.”
“…Yeah.”
Repeating short replies, Ayaka watches as Haruto quietly leaves the bathroom, as if he’s forgotten how they usually talk.
“…This is awkward.”
Desperately trying to erase the lingering images in his mind, Haruto heads to the kitchen.
Ikue was already preparing breakfast.
“Good morning, Haruto-kun.”
“Good morning, Mother-in-law.”
When he returns the greeting, Ikue lets out a soft laugh. Not understanding why she’s smiling, Haruto tilts his head.
“When you call me ‘Mother,’ it makes me really happy.”
Her words make Haruto both happy and slightly embarrassed.
“Um… I’ll help with breakfast.”
“Thank you. I was thinking of making bread today for the first time in a while.”
Ikue smiles and points at the hot sandwich maker.
“Hot sandwiches? Sounds great. I’ll make a salad then.”
“Please do.”
Humming cheerfully, Ikue prepares breakfast while Haruto makes the salad beside her.
“Hey Haruto-kun, I found a hot sandwich recipe with avocado and tuna. Do you think it’ll taste good?”
“I think so. The richness of avocado should go well with the saltiness of tuna.”
“Then it’s decided. And maybe a classic BLT too.”
“I like that. I’ll make potato salad then.”
“Okaay.”
Still humming, Ikue trims the bread crusts and starts layering the ingredients.
She’s very efficient in the kitchen.
Recently, Haruto and Kiyoko often cook, but Ikue—despite being a busy company president—is a veteran homemaker who has long managed the Tojo household.
Watching her from the side, Haruto thinks:
She resembles Ayaka.
Their aura feels the same—truly mother and daughter.
Then, his gaze is suddenly drawn to something.
On her left ring finger was a wedding ring.
Without realizing it, he stares at it.
“Hmm?” Ikue tilts her head.
“What’s wrong, Haruto-kun?”
“Ah, nothing… I was just thinking what a beautiful wedding ring it is.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Stopping her cooking, Ikue gently strokes the ring with her right hand.
“This is my precious treasure.”
“Shuichi-san always wears his too, right?”
“That’s right. We rarely take them off. Both of us.”
With a happy expression, she holds out her hand for Haruto to see.
“It’s a lovely design. But it’s a bit surprising. I imagined something with a larger gemstone.”
He’s often seen big diamonds in dramas.
Ikue laughs softly.
“You might be confusing an engagement ring with a wedding ring.”
“Huh? Doesn’t the engagement ring become the wedding ring?”
Amused by his surprise, she explains,
“No. An engagement ring is proof of engagement and is usually given by the man to the woman—just one. Engagement rings and wedding rings are prepared separately.”
“Then… do you stop wearing the engagement ring after marriage?”
Having heard that engagement rings cost about three months’ salary, Haruto is shocked at how short their use seems.
Ikue laughs again.
“You can still wear it after marriage. I wear mine on our anniversary dates, or at friends’ weddings—though less often these days. And at parties. I wear it for formal occasions.”
“I see… Do you take off the wedding ring then?”
“My engagement ring was made as a set with my wedding ring, so I can wear them together.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that.”
Ikue smiles at his fascination.
“Even you have some gaps in common knowledge, Haruto-kun.”
“Oh… this was common knowledge? Sorry.”
He bows reflexively, and she waves her hand with a smile.
“No need to apologize. Men usually aren’t interested in these things.”
“No… with Ayaka and everything, I should’ve looked into it more properly.”
Ikue nods gently.
“Yes. Someday, you two will wear them too.”
As she says this wistfully, Haruto nods.
Seeing how happily Ikue wears her wedding ring, Haruto can’t help but admire it.
But before that comes the engagement ring.
Haruto already proposed to Ayaka with words.
And she said yes.
But he hasn’t given her anything tangible yet.
“Three months’ salary…”
A heavy problem for a student.
Frowning and groaning “Hmm…”, Haruto continues making potato salad, while Ikue watches him warmly.
Comments (4)
A second comment by me, since I am rereading this chapter... The line "Engagement rings and wedding rings are prepared separately.” sticks with me. Specifically, the word "prepared" It is something that crops up every now and again in many places, and I wonder if it is a Japanese thing or a translation thing? In English, it doesn't make much sense. You don't prepare rings, as such, you buy them, you could source them, you could produce, or make them yourself, even. But "prepare" doesn't really fit in any context. I can't really say why, since words like produce, make and prepare are all the same in English. But the word "Prepare" does stand out, and I do see it quite often in Japanese translations. Prepare indicates multiple steps in the process, or that it is a longer, more complex process, like preparing a meal. The jeweller can claim to have prepared them, but a third person, like the customer, would not usually convey that effort when they describe the process of taking ownership. We say "I had them made" or "I procured them" It would be interesting to understand the original Japanese sentence structure and why "prepared" seems to be the default translation for it. (sorry to ramble on) ;-)
Thanks for the translation, SLT! Quite a short chapter this week. I'm wondering what is going on with his grandmother? I assume she is still in the hospital, but is Haruto visiting her? Author-san is not very good at multitasking ;-)
Could ya do this novel, "A Very Popular Idol Classmate Has Taken a Liking to Me, A Person Who Doesn’t Want to Work for Whole Life" Please?
I remember this one I wasn't a big fan, mainly because I don't really like the harem genre so I don't think I'll continue it. But if you have other suggestions I can see about continuing it if I get hooked