Autumn had deepened, and the morning and evening chill had begun to herald the true arrival of winter.
The rain that had persisted through the previous two days finally let up. Under a refreshing, clear autumn sky, the day I had been waiting for finally arrived.
Specifically, it was the day Sara-san had been eagerly anticipating—the formal introduction between the Satsukawa and Takanashi families. We were scheduled to share a meal and discuss the many things that had piled up between us.
While Mom and Mayumi-san had already met and seemingly hit it off quite well, the real concern was my Dad. Since this was a first meeting in such a prestigious setting, I didn’t think he would do anything truly outrageous, but he was hardly a "reliable father figure" like Masaomi-san. To be honest, I was a nervous wreck.
"Well... it’s about time I head out."
The plan was for me to go to the Station Front and rendezvous with my parents first. Sara-san had returned to her family home earlier that afternoon, as she was busy with her kimono fitting and other preparations.
Even so, Sara-san had been incredibly fired up since this morning. Her enthusiasm was so intense that I wondered if she really wanted to meet my parents that much.
If her expectations rose too high, there was a good chance she would be disappointed by the actual man. I felt like I needed to hammer a thousand... no, ten thousand warnings into my Dad to make sure he behaved.
Since it was Sunday, the area in front of the station was bustling with more frantic energy than usual. It was a world of difference compared to the crowds at the autumn festival, but it was still far more lively than my hometown.
Thinking back, I remembered the day I first stepped off the train at this station.
I had been filled with anxiety about living in a land where I didn’t know left from right, but also a sense of relief at being liberated from my past, and a tiny spark of hope in my heart.
Yet, even though a year hadn’t passed since then, I had met and fallen for the most wonderful woman in the world. Who could have imagined that I would end up engaged to Sara-san after a series of events that felt like they were ripped from a manga or anime?
Actually...
I bet even God couldn't have imagined a miracle like this!
"Let's see... Ah, there they are."
Emerging slightly behind the wave of people pouring through the ticket gate, two familiar faces walked straight toward me.
Setting Mom aside, it had been a while since I’d seen my Dad’s face... but he didn't seem to have changed a bit.
"Kazunari, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Hey, Mom. Glad you made it."
Mom was the first to speak. Unlike her usual haphazard attire, she was dressed up in a way that actually qualified as "formal." She was even wearing showdown (?) accessories that were flashier than what she wore for parental observation day. She looked more glamorous than usual... I think. Probably.
"Wait... where did you get those clothes?"
"Oh, these? Mayumi-san helped me..."
I was currently wearing a chic brown jacket and slacks—a coordination that was closer to a suit than casual wear. It wasn't something I had specifically prepared for today; rather, I had accompanied Mayumi-san on a shopping trip recently, and she had essentially forced me into buying them.
Because it had been a surprise purchase, Sara-san had been in a bit of a mood afterward, but that was a story for another time. And the fact that she barged into the bath to "apologize" was also another story entirely.
"Sigh... Honestly, why didn't you tell me? Having the other family buy the clothes you're wearing to meet them is just too embarrassing!"
"I-It wasn't like that..."
Mom could only say that because she wasn't there. If I had tried to refuse while Mayumi-san was picking them out...
"Sob... To think Kazunari-kun would be so formal with me... Mother-in-law is so sad she can't go on, sniffle."
I knew for a fact she would have pulled something like that! In fact, I felt like I could hear Mayumi-san's tragic voice echoing in my head right now!
"Ugh... I'm already drowning in anxiety."
"I’m sorry I didn't mention it! But I couldn't exactly say no, could I?"
"Well, no use crying over it now... By the way, that blazer looks like it's made of really high-quality fabric. Let me see."
"Hey, don't pull on it!"
Mom, who didn't have a shred of reserve when it came to me, suddenly yanked my arm and forcefully peered at the collar. Sara-san had gone to great lengths to make me look neat; I couldn't have her wrinkling the fabric!
"Let's see... what’s this? Arma... Al... Arma... Huh?"
"Hey, I said stop it!"
I forcefully pulled away from Mom, who had suddenly frozen in place, and took a step back as a precaution. I had an important meeting to get to; I wasn't going to let her keep pawing at me!
"You... don't tell me... the shirt, the pants... e-everything...?"
"Mayumi-san picked out the whole outfit together."
"Whaaaat!? W-Wait a minute!! How can you be so nonchalant about this!?"
"I’m not exactly nonchalant."
Even as someone indifferent to fashion, I understood why Mom was so shocked. The shop where we bought these wasn't a department store or a world-famous chain; it was a boutique that reminded me of the place where I’d bought Sara-san's ring.
If I had seen the price tags at the time, I probably wouldn't have been able to just nod along, no matter how much Mayumi-san pouted.
"N-No way... does that family live like that every day?"
"Of course not. They're normal most of the time."
"R-Really? Well, I suppose... but you did say the husband was an executive at a major corporation..."
"Mom?"
"I-It's nothing!! Anyway, that’s just one more thing I’ll have to thank them for..."
"Since we have a mountain of things to thank them for already, one or two more isn't going to change much, is it?" Dad finally spoke up, soothing Mom in his usual easygoing tone. It was a typical, everyday interaction for our family, and yet... it felt strangely nostalgic.
"Still, to drop cash on luxury clothes like that... that story about him being a big shot at a major company must be true, huh?"
"Don't talk like that, it's vulgar."
"Oh? Did you get soft while I wasn't looking?"
"Listen..."
I knew my Dad’s behavior wasn't meant to be sarcastic or demeaning; it was just his personality. But to Masaomi-san and the others, it would come across as nothing but rude. This was Anxiety Factor Number One.
"Well, putting that aside..."
Dad muttered to himself and wiped the grin off his face—only a little, though. He looked me straight in the eyes, but his gaze was still full of amusement.
"It's been a while, stupid son. I never expected you to actually make it on your own out here. I thought for sure you'd come crawling back after a month."
"It's been a while, stupid father. It's a shame you haven't changed a bit."
"Why, you little—!"
It had been about eight months since I’d faced him. To be honest, since I had left home in such a complicated mess, I’d been worried about how to act when we met again. However, I felt strangely helped by my Dad's carefree attitude.
"I’ve got a ton of things I want to ask you, you know? But for now... it looks like you've 'overcome' it, at least?"
"Yeah. Thanks to Sara-san and everyone else."
In response to his meaningful comment and searching gaze, I answered clearly and without flinching. I didn't know how much he had figured out, but that was the one thing I could say with absolute confidence.
"...I see. I guess I’ll have to perform a dogeza and thank the young lady then."
"Hey, don't you dare. If you trouble Sara-san, I will never forgive you."
"Ooh, scary!! You’re certainly head over heels, aren't you?"
Knowing him, he might actually do it even if it sounded like a joke. I had to be firm to make sure he understood. If he actually did something like that, Sara-san would be mortified.
"So? A perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, a master of housework, top grades, and the Student Council President? Does this perfect superhuman, who sounds like she only exists in manga, really exist?"
"I told you, stop talking like that."
"No, no, I've heard the story from your mother so many times I've got calluses on my ears. I already know she's a great girl who's too good for my stupid son. And looking at you now, I can see how much she's been supporting you."
"Then—"
"But still... a flawless, elite young lady like that dating an average guy like you? And getting engaged? It’s a bit hard to swallow, isn't it?"
"Well..."
It was frustrating—really frustrating—but I understood his point. From his perspective, knowing me as well as he did, he couldn't help but wonder why a woman like Sara-san would choose me. If the me from last year had heard this story, I wouldn't have believed it either.
"And hey, this is the important part... is she really as beautiful as they say?"
"I won't deny that."
"Hooo, then I'm looking forward to it!! Mom wouldn't show me a single photo."
"Of course I wouldn't!! If I showed a photo to a Sucharaka Alien like you, my Sara-chan would be defiled!!"
"Defiled? Come on... is she really that amazing? Usually, when women call other women beautiful, they're exaggerating—"
"Hey, stop right there. You're about to make enemies of every woman on the planet."
"Whoops! I’m talking about general statistics, okay? Not my personal bias!"
"Who are you even explaining that to?"
For some reason, my Dad was making excuses to thin air, as if appealing to God or some invisible witness. And Mom... Sara-san is my precious person, okay?
"Anyway, are you listening? Don't you dare say anything rude to Sara-chan!"
"I know, I know!! How many times are you going to say that? Seriously... you're both obsessed with her."
"Of course we are!! An angel like her becoming my daughter-in-law is a miracle that will never happen again!!"
"You're really going that far, huh..."
For the record, Sara-san isn't an angel; she's a goddess. But putting that aside... I could see why my Dad was skeptical. The praise was so high it sounded like a tall tale. But Mom and I were telling the absolute truth. My biggest fear was what would happen when my Dad—who was overtly weak to beautiful women—actually saw Sara-san (and Mayumi-san).
Dad was definitely the biggest anxiety factor today.
As we walked toward our destination, the tension wasn't as bad as I’d feared. Before I knew it, I was chatting naturally with my Dad. To be honest, I’d been bracing myself for this encounter, and Dad's flippant cheerfulness actually helped break the ice.
But even with him being his usual self, I could tell he was holding back questions. He clearly wanted to know what had really happened to me...
I had resolved to tell them, but it still took a lot of courage to start that story.
"Whoa, whoa, is it really here? This is incredible..."
"It’s certainly got a lot of atmosphere."
We had walked about ten minutes from the Station Front, away from my house. The three of us stood in front of a shop with a grand gate, surrounded by walls and woods, radiating a unique aura.
It made sense. This was a super high-end ryotei, famous throughout the region. It was a place that had absolutely nothing to do with our family's lifestyle.
"H-Hey, Kazunari. Are you sure this is the right place?"
"It's the right one."
This place was rumored to be the haunt of politicians and international celebrities. Even at school, there were always rumors about who had been spotted here. It was my first time visiting, and the "exactly as expected" atmosphere made me feel like a total interloper.
Still, we couldn't just stand there forever. We’d look like suspicious loiterers.
"Welcome. We have been expecting you."
Steeling myself, I passed through the gate. A male shop clerk waiting by the entrance guided us inside, where we were greeted by a middle-aged woman in Japanese Clothing—the quintessential image of a proprietress. She gave us an incredibly polite greeting while kneeling on the floor, which immediately sent Mom into a state of bewildered panic. Dad, meanwhile, was looking around the shop with wide-eyed curiosity. He was as undaunted as ever.
"U-Um, we have a reservation. The name is Takanashi."
"Yes, Takanashi-sama. We have been waiting for you. The Satsukawa party has already arrived."
When I timidly gave our name, the woman gave us a bright smile and bowed deeply. Caught up in the moment, Mom also started bowing repeatedly. Dad burst out laughing at the sight and promptly got elbowed by Mom.
A nostalgic scene that was quintessential for my family.
"Hehe... This way, please."
The clerk waited for us to remove our shoes and then began to lead the way. I worried for a second about what to do with our shoes, but the male clerk at the entrance immediately said, "Please, leave them to me." The level of service was so different from a standard hotel that it made me nervous in an entirely new way.
"Whoa... look at that."
"Yeah, that’s something else."
As we followed the hallway toward the veranda, a magnificent sight suddenly opened up before us. It was a vast Japanese-style garden that looked like it belonged in a famous temple.
"Hehe, thank you. We take great pride in our garden..."
"I can see why..."
"Man... this makes the places my company uses for entertainment look like snack bars," Dad muttered.
Pure white sand was raked into patterns around rocks of varying sizes. A water feature with a shishi-odoshi made a rhythmic clack sound. Beyond that, there was a large pond with a small island connected by a red bridge. In the back, there was even a tiny torii gate and a shrine.
There were also narrow walkways leading from the main building to small outbuildings. I wondered if those were guest rooms too.
"Hehe... That building is our special room. We do not use it under normal circumstances. However, today..."
"Oh, really?"
If they were using a special room that was usually off-limits, it meant the people inside were "special" enough to warrant it. I wondered what kind of people usually used it. Famous politicians, like the rumors said?
"Now then, allow me to guide you to the room."
"Wait, what!?"
"W-We're in that room!?"
"Ooh, now I’m really looking forward to this!"
Watching our reactions with a satisfied smile, the clerk led the way. To think the Satsukawas had secured the special room in a place like this... I was reminded once again of the scale of their family. Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san really were on another level.
"Satsukawa-sama, the Takanashi party has arrived."
"Yeees, come on in~!"
When the clerk spoke through the sliding door, a soft, healing voice responded from inside. Just hearing that voice made me feel more relieved than usual.
"Pardon us."
The clerk quietly slid the door open. Inside, Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san were waiting for us with smiles. Wait... only the two of them?
Where was Sara-san?
"Kazunari-kun, welcome! Hehe, is that look on your face because our surprise worked?"
"I mean, if you were going to reserve a place like this, you could have warned me. I needed to prepare myself mentally..."
"But I went to all the trouble of getting our best room, so I wanted you to be at least a little surprised."
"Really, Mayumi-san..."
Seeing Mayumi-san’s mischievous smile finally made me start to relax. Wait... did that mean I had been even more nervous than I realized?
"Mayumi, that’s enough. Come, Kazunari-kun, introduce your father and mother."
"Right!"
Urged by Masaomi-san, I pulled my parents into the room. Mom was hesitating at the threshold, her footsteps heavy with intimidation.
"U-Um..."
"Thank you so much for coming all this way. Please, have a seat."
"N-No, not at all! Thank you for having us..."
Faced with Masaomi-san’s effortless dignity and composed aura, my Dad suddenly looked like he was shrinking. But I noticed his eyes were fixed on Mayumi-san. From the moment we’d entered the room, he’d been completely mesmerized by her.
"Hehe... is something wrong?"
"N-N-No!? I mean, you’re the wife, right!? Not an older sister!?"
Whether he was just panicking or his brain had short-circuited, Dad's honorifics were a mess. But I couldn't blame him for seeing her that way. Her youthfulness was seriously a cheat code.
"Thank you. But I am indeed the mother, believe it or not."
"Really!? Wow, I thought for sure she had an older sister here!"
"Hehe... you're a silver-tongued one. Look, Kazunari-kun! Mother-in-law was mistaken for Sara-chan's sister!"
"Uh, Mayumi-san?"
"Oh, Kazunari-kun, you meanie! It’s not Mayumi-san. It’s M-o-t-h-e-r-i-n-l-a-w, right?"
She pouted, making a cute face that didn't seem possible for someone in the same age bracket as my Mom. Then she actually winked at me. The pressure coming from my Dad right next to me was becoming suffocating.
I really, really had nothing but anxiety about how this was going to go...