TOSHIRO'S POV
Toshiro and Yuchi sat on the couch, facing Kei's parents—Suzuka and Raiden. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. Toshiro could feel the weight of their gazes, especially Kei's sharp stare, as if he were ready to tear him apart at the slightest misstep.
"So, you love her?" Suzuka asked, her voice calm but firm. "You came all the way from Kyoto for her?"
Toshiro swallowed hard. His palms were sweating. He had practiced what to say, but now, under the scrutiny of Harumi's family, his mind felt blank.
"A-Actually… yes, ma'am," he managed, his voice slightly shaking. "I love her. I… I will request you to believe in me and let me marry her. I will—"
"Why do you think we would believe in you?"
Kei's voice cut through the air like a blade, making Toshiro freeze mid-sentence. His confidence wavered, his throat went dry. He searched for words but found none.
"I-I… th-that…"
His breathing grew uneven. Just when he felt completely cornered, a warm touch grounded him.
Yuchi placed his hand over Toshiro's, a silent reassurance that he wasn't alone. The simple gesture filled him with a quiet strength. He inhaled deeply, ready to gather his courage—
But before he could say another word—
"I believe in him."
A familiar voice rang through the room.
All eyes turned to Harumi.
"I love him," she said, her voice steady, her gaze locking onto Kei's and then her father's. "I've always felt safe around him. I want to spend my life with him."
Raiden, a father who had always supported his children's choices, sighed. He had never been one to deny his daughter's happiness. When he looked into Harumi's eyes, filled with undeniable love and devotion, he knew he couldn't refuse her.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"There's nothing left to say."
Kei clenched his jaw, fists tightening. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Seriously? Do whatever you want."
With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Harumi looking hurt.
Raiden turned back to Toshiro. "But on one condition. I want to meet your family tomorrow. Call them for lunch."
Toshiro straightened up. "I… I will come with my brothers." His voice was firm. "As for my parents… they passed away when I was ten years old. I met my brothers in the orphanage. I have a twin brother."
The room fell silent.
Suzuka felt a pang of guilt for having doubted him earlier.
Toshiro then turned to Yuchi with a soft smile. "This is one of my brothers, Yuchi."
He stood up and bowed deeply to Harumi's parents.
"Konnichiwa, kon'nichiwa, māmu. Kitekurete arigatō."
Harumi's parents exchanged looks, surprised by his discipline and respect.
Suzuka smiled, warmth replacing the hesitation she previously had.
"No need for that, dear. You are always welcome here. And don't call me 'ma'am.' Call me 'Mom' from now on. Both of you."
Toshiro's eyes widened, momentarily stunned. Yuchi blinked, equally surprised.
Meanwhile, from across the room, Rina—who had been watching everything—was blushing furiously.
As time passed, Suzuka arranged for Toshiro and Yuchi to stay at Yoshi's house for the night. Ayume and the others were also informed and planned to visit Shimochi the next day.
---
NEXT DAY - 10:49 AM
"So, that's how things ended up?"
Kerin's father, Raichi Kenji, sat at the kitchen counter, peeling green peas alongside Kerin's mother, Minato Kenji, and Yoshi's mother, Himari Morikawa. The kitchen was warm, the aroma of freshly brewed tea blending with the scent of morning breakfast.
"Are you guys sure about this marriage thing?" Minato asked skeptically.
Himari shrugged. "It's their choice. We can't decide for them. Besides, I met the boy. He seems decent enough."
"By the way, where is Wazuki? He hasn't returned from the market yet," Minato asked.
"Yeah… he hasn't—"
"MOM! SEE THIS GUY!"
Wazuki burst through the door, dramatically pointing at someone behind him.
"Minato Aunty! He's always following me! I'm not a kid!" he whined, throwing his arms around her.
From behind him, Tojo Kenji casually walked in, looking utterly unfazed. He handed Suzuka a grocery bag.
"Aunty, it's a good thing I was behind him. This 'baby' wanted to buy ice cream."
Suzuka sighed, taking the bag. "Wazu, didn't I tell you no ice cream?" she said in a warning tone.
Wazuki shrank a little. "No… I wasn't…" he whispered softly.
Then, as his gaze landed on Tojo, his face twisted in betrayal.
"I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!"
With that, he dramatically stormed off to his room.
Minato turned to Tojo with a sigh. "Why do you always tease him?"
Tojo smirked. "Mom, he can't stay away from me. He'll come back. He's mine."
He leaned down, kissed his mom's cheek, and stretched lazily. "I'm going to my room."
Minato chuckled. "Suzuka, I swear, one day, our son is going to come to us with a proposal saying he wants to marry Wazuki."
Suzuka laughed, about to respond when Raiden suddenly walked in.
"I'm completely against it," he said sternly, making the room fall silent.
"I don't want them to end up like Kei and Kerin."
His statement left an eerie stillness in the air.
---
YUCHI'S POV
I was heading back to the room where Toshiro and I had stayed last night when something caught my attention.
A soft voice.
"Oh, come on, Sparkle, come out," someone cooed from the garden.
I turned my head and saw her.
She was crouched near a bush, completely engrossed in something. She hadn't even noticed me watching.
"Sparkle, come on! Mumma will be angry, see—"
That's when a tiny rabbit hopped out from the shrubs.
Her entire face lit up. "My baby~!"
She was about to kiss the little creature when, for some reason, I blurted out—
"NO—!!"
She jumped so hard that she fell backward onto her butt.
I froze.
Oh no.
I rushed toward her, extending a hand. "Sorry, I—"
She looked up at me, completely surprised. Her big, beautiful eyes blinked in shock. For a moment, we just stared at each other.
I couldn't look away.
There was something about her… something mesmerizing.
But before either of us could say anything, a familiar voice interrupted—
"What's going on here?"