176 - A Fulfilling Morning

RAW

Haruto sat up in bed and checked the time on his phone beside his pillow.

"Looks like I overslept a bit."

Apparently, he was more exhausted from yesterday’s trip to the amusement park than he’d realized, and woke up slightly later than usual.

After completing his regular early-morning study routine, he headed to the kitchen.

There, Kiyoko was already preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Grandma."

"Good morning, Haruto."

They exchanged greetings, and Haruto stood beside Kiyoko to help with breakfast.

"You’re already using that apron, huh?"

"It’s a precious souvenir Ryota-kun picked out for me, after all."

Haruto looked at his grandmother's apron, which had the amusement park’s mascot embroidered on it as a small accent.

Kiyoko glanced down at her apron with a delighted smile, her wrinkles deepening happily.

As Haruto peeled the potatoes, he couldn’t help but smile at his grandmother's expression.

"Ryota-kun really put a lot of thought into picking that out for you. Please take good care of it."

"Of course I will. This apron is a treasure to me."

While Haruto and Kiyoko were preparing breakfast with gentle smiles, Ayaka walked into the kitchen, looking a bit sleepy.

"Good morning, Haruto. Good morning, Kiyoko-san."

"Good morning, Ayaka-san."

"Good morning, Ayaka. You look sleepy."

Haruto returned the greeting while eyeing her heavy eyelids.

"Why don’t you sleep in a bit longer?"

"No, I want to help with breakfast."

She shook her head and came to stand beside Kiyoko.

"I need to learn Kiyoko-san’s cooking quickly so I can win Haruto’s heart through his stomach."

Moved by her determination, Kiyoko gave her a warm smile and began gently teaching her how to cook.

"Ayaka-san, if you soak eggplant in salted water, it cooks with a better color."

"Oh, I see. Um, how much salt should I use?"

"Just a pinch—enough not to overpower the flavor."

"Like this?"

"Yes, just about that much."

Kiyoko looked genuinely happy to share her knowledge with Ayaka, who earnestly listened and followed her instructions, trying her best to recreate Kiyoko’s cooking.

Haruto felt his heart warm seeing the two of them standing side by side.

Kiyoko, now working as a housekeeper, had blended smoothly into the Tojo household. Shuichi and Ikue were pleased with her meticulous cleaning and delicious meals, and Ryota had grown quite attached to her. Recently, Ayaka had even started doing knitting with Kiyoko’s guidance.

As Haruto observed this, he felt deep gratitude and joy that his only remaining family—his dear grandmother—was being so warmly accepted into the Tojo household.

Feeling that small happiness, he continued preparing breakfast.

Just as he finished making the potato and wakame miso soup, Kiyoko, who had been cooking with Ayaka, let out a slightly tired sigh.

"Are you alright?"

Ayaka looked at her with concern. Kiyoko smiled and nodded.

"I’m fine. I just don’t move as easily as I used to, now that I’m older."

"The simmered dishes are done, and we just need to plate everything. Please, take a break."

Ayaka looked after her with genuine care, as if Kiyoko were her own grandmother. Kiyoko softly shook her head and straightened her back with a small grunt.

"I’m grateful to have such fulfilling work—I can still do my best."

"Just don’t overdo it, okay?"

"Yes, thank you."

The way they interacted really did resemble a real grandmother and granddaughter, and Haruto felt a deep sense of comfort watching them.

"You’re not young anymore, Grandma. Don’t push yourself so hard you end up collapsing."

"I’m still full of energy. I want Ayaka-san and Ryota-kun to eat lots of tasty food and smile every day."

"I really love your cooking, Kiyoko-san. I feel so lucky to eat it every day."

"Hehe, thank you, dear."

Ayaka's heartfelt words made Kiyoko beam with pure happiness, and that sight in turn filled Haruto with joy.

As they all continued preparing breakfast and lunch in the warm, relaxed atmosphere, Shuichi entered the living room.

"Good morning, Kiyoko-san, Haruto-kun! Thanks for everything this morning as always."

Smiling cheerfully, Shuichi turned to Ayaka, who was helping out in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Ayaka. You’re really starting to look at home standing in the kitchen with Haruto-kun."

"D-Dad, you don’t have to say it so plainly…"

Blushing slightly, Ayaka carried the simmered eggplant dish over to the dining table.

"Hey, putting things into words is important, you know?"

"Sure, but when you say it like that, it’s just embarrassing."

"Haha, alright, alright. Oh wow, that simmered dish looks delicious. Did you make that, Ayaka?"

Shuichi’s eyes lit up at the dish as he laughed enthusiastically from the morning.

"Yeah, with Kiyoko-san teaching me."

"Ayaka-san really puts in effort to learn, so I love teaching her."

Kiyoko said this as she brought pickles and green beans with sesame dressing over on a tray.

"I see! With you as her teacher, there’s no doubt Ayaka will become a great cook!"

Nodding with full confidence, Shuichi turned to Haruto and spoke happily.

"Haruto-kun, I’m sure Ayaka will make a wonderful wife someday!"

"Hey!! Dad! I just told you to stop saying stuff like that!!"

Flustered again by her father’s directness, Ayaka puffed her cheeks and glared at him.

"She’s already the best girlfriend I could ever ask for. So Shuichi-san, you’re absolutely right."

Haruto responded with a gentle smile as he drizzled katsuobushi and ponzu over a salad of lettuce, cucumber, and soft-boiled eggs.

During summer break, he used to get flustered by Shuichi’s pushy attitude, but now that he was living under the same roof, Haruto had grown used to it.

"I’m grateful every day that I met Ayaka and that we became a couple."

"Aahh! I’m so proud to have a wonderful young man like you dating my daughter! I’d be thrilled if you became our son-in-law someday!"

"Seriously! Dad!!"

Despite trying to look upset, Ayaka couldn’t help but smile blissfully at Haruto’s words.

Just then, Ikue and Ryota joined the lively morning scene.

Ryota was rubbing his eyes sleepily as Ikue led him into the living room. But the moment he saw Kiyoko standing in the kitchen, his sleepy expression lit up instantly.

"Oh! Grandma’s using the apron!!"

Seeing her wearing the souvenir he had chosen and bought with Haruto made Ryota beam with delight.

"Thank you, Ryota-kun. This apron gives me the strength to do my work every day."

"Ehehe."

Embarrassed yet happy, Ryota grinned at Kiyoko’s kind smile. Ikue gently patted his head.

"That’s wonderful. Now let’s sit down—everyone made a delicious breakfast for us."

"Okay!"

Ryota climbed into his seat energetically. Ikue also sat down, smiling and thanking Haruto and the others for preparing the meal.

"Oh? Ayaka, your face is red. Is something wrong?"

"N-no, it’s nothing at all."

"Hmm~?"

Avoiding her mother’s gaze, Ayaka began scooping rice into bowls from the rice cooker.

Now that everyone was awake, Haruto poured miso soup into bowls and arranged them on the dining table.

Once all the dishes were laid out and everyone was seated, Shuichi clasped his hands together.

"Alright, let’s give thanks for this wonderful breakfast. Itadakimasu."

Following his lead, everyone else also clasped their hands and echoed, "Itadakimasu."

And so, another ordinary—but heartwarming—morning began in the Tojo household.