After Being Dumped With the Insult, “You’re So Clingy!” and Finding Her in Despair, I Kept Encouraging My Beautiful Classmate and as a Result, That Beautiful Girl Started Directing Her Heavy Emotions Toward Me Instead, but Since I Like Emotionally Heavy Girls, It’s No Problem - 41

Chapter 41: Invited to the Jujoji Residence

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It was the Saturday of the week when the exams had ended. I had been invited to the Jujoji residence. Apparently Futaba was going to cook a feast as a post-exam celebration. With happiness at being able to spend a day off with her, anticipation for the delicious food she would make, and a bit of nervousness, I headed toward the Jujoji residence.

Even though I had invited Futaba to my apartment many times, being invited to her house myself somehow made me feel hesitant. It was probably the difference between whether there were family members in the house or not.

…Especially because her father, Shiro-san, had a very intimidating face, which made him look scary. I had to make sure not to be rude. With slightly trembling fingers, I pressed the intercom of the Jujoji residence.

“Yeees♪”

“Ah, Futaba. It’s me, Ichika!”

Fortunately, the voice that came through the intercom was Futaba’s. She quickly opened the door and welcomed me in with a smile. Seeing her greet me in an apron made her look like a newlywed wife welcoming her husband home from work, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Welcome♪ Come on, come in!”

“W-wait…”

She pulled my arm and led me into the dining room of the Jujoji residence. Shiro-san was already sitting at the table that stood in the center of the room. His overwhelming presence made my body shrink reflexively. Shiro-san’s face was just as scary as ever. If Futaba were not here, I might have suspected this place was an office for some kind of criminal organization.

I immediately bowed my head and greeted Shiro-san. Greetings were the basics of good manners, after all.

“E-excuse me for intruding. Thank you very much for inviting me today.”

“Ah, welcome. Standing there is awkward, so have a seat.”

“Th-thank you.”

Perhaps reacting to our voices, Futaba’s mother, Mikoto-san, also showed her face from the kitchen. Naturally, I bowed my head and greeted her as well. After receiving permission from Shiro-san, I cautiously entered the room and modestly sat down in the nearest chair. The dining room in the Jujoji residence was connected directly to the kitchen, so from the table you could clearly see the cooking being done.

“Hehe♪ I’ll go back to cooking then. Wait just a little longer, I’ll make something delicious soon.”

With that, she returned to the kitchen. That left just Shiro-san and me at the table. Futaba and Mikoto-san were close by, but it still felt awkward. Thinking it would be rude to remain silent like this, I gathered my courage and spoke to Shiro-san.

“Um.. Is it really alright for me… for me to intrude on your family time on a holiday like this?”

“Hm? This was originally planned because Futaba said she wanted to invite you today. So you’re not intruding at all.”

“Th-thank you very much.”

“…”

“…”

What should I do? The conversation ended. Talking with someone from a different generation was difficult. Even if I wanted to bring up a topic, nothing came to mind right away. Troubled, I looked toward the kitchen to ask Futaba for help. Our eyes met. Futaba smiled brightly and showed me a package of beef labeled “Matsusaka Beef.” Seeing that made a strange sweat run down my back. Matsusaka beef was a famously luxurious ingredient. And she was using that for today’s meal.

…For a simple celebration party, it felt a little too extravagant.

“U-um, should I also pay for the ingredients…?”

While taking out my wallet from my pocket, I said that to Shiro-san. Even if I had been invited, using such expensive ingredients and eating for free felt uncomfortable.

“Hm? No, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“B-but…”

“It seems my daughter has been receiving a lot of help from you. Today is also meant as a way to thank you. I heard you carried her home when she injured her leg the other day.”

What Shiro-san was referring to was probably when Futaba sprained her ankle during P.E. class and I carried her home in a princess carry.

“Ah, yes. I heard that you and Mikoto-san would be working late, so I thought it would be better if I brought her home.”

“Normally we should have gone to pick up our daughter ourselves, but you went through the trouble for us.”

“No, no. I only did what was natural as Futaba’s boyfriend.”

“She was heavy, wasn’t she? When she was little, even I could carry her easily, but I’ve gotten old now so I can’t anymore. Especially lately, since she’s so happy about dating you, she seems to have gained a little weight from happiness…”

At that moment, a loud “clatter” echoed from the kitchen. I turned my eyes toward the kitchen. Futaba was staring this way while releasing a dark aura. In Futaba’s hand was a knife and a carrot that had been cleanly cut in half. Apparently the loud noise came from when she chopped the carrot.

A chill ran down my spine. Ah, there was no doubt about it. She was very angry right now. Talking about a girl’s weight was a big no. 

…Shiro-san, even if you’re her father, that was very inconsiderate of you.

“Daaad?”

“Y-yes. I’m sorry. That just slipped out.”

Shiro-san, with that intimidating face of his, apologized to Futaba in a flustered manner.

…My girlfriend was scary when she got angry. I should make sure not to anger her. After clearing his throat, Shiro-san continued speaking.

“Ahem. Now then… where was I? Ah, right. Anyway, don’t worry about the money and just enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you very much. Then I’ll accept your kindness…”

“Both of you. The food will take a little longer, so have this to snack on first.”

While we were talking, Futaba came over carrying a large plate of french fries. Of course they were not store-bought. They were handmade by Futaba and Mikoto-san. Steam rose thickly from the potatoes, showing they had just been fried.

“Thank you, Futaba. This is great. Ichika-kun, would you mind if I have a little beer? I really love the combination of freshly fried french fries and beer.”

“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”

“Dad, keep it reasonable.”

“I know.”

Shiro-san stood up once, took a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, and sat back down. He poured it into a glass and tossed it into his mouth together with the fries.

“Ahh! This is great after all. Come on, Ichika-kun, have some too.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Shiro-san enjoyed his beer and fries with an expression that clearly said “This is the best.” It was the first time I had seen him smile. I was still underage, so I did not know, but was alcohol really that good?

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“Oh? I’m already out of beer. Is it alright if I have another?”

“Of course. Ah, let me pour it for you.”

“Sorry about that. Whoa there…”

Shiro-san had been happily snacking on fries, but quickly finished his beer and his glass became empty. I offered to pour him another. Apparently it was proper manners to pour drinks for someone older. He happily poured the beer down his throat.

“Ahh! This is nice. If things continue like this and you marry Futaba, Ichika-kun, that would make you my son-in-law.”

“Huh? Ah, yes. I suppose so.”

For a moment I wondered what he meant, but then I remembered that when I had visited the Jujoji residence before, it had been said that Futaba and I were dating with marriage in mind. Back then Futaba and I had not actually been dating yet, but now we truly were. So I did not feel any guilt about that.

I liked Futaba. I loved her. And I wanted to stay with her forever. But we were still high school students. So when someone mentioned “marriage,” it felt too far in the future and I could not quite picture it clearly. Shiro-san picked up a fry and continued talking.

“You know, drinking together like this while pouring each other’s drinks with a son… It was a small dream of mine.”

“Really?”

“I wanted a son, so her mother and I tried our best, but…”

“…Dear?”

Once again, a loud “clatter” came from the kitchen. I turned to look. Mikoto-san was smiling while releasing a strong pressure toward us. In her hand, a large cabbage had been cut cleanly in half. Ah, she was angry in the same way Futaba was. I instinctively understood that these two were definitely mother and daughter.

“Eek.”

Seeing the angry Mikoto-san, Shiro-san’s expression filled with fear. And this was the same Shiro-san who looked like a member of a criminal organization.

“Dad, you’ve had too much to drink. You always say unnecessary things when you’re drunk.”

“Ahh, my beer…”

Without missing a beat, Futaba collected the beer bottle and glass from Shiro-san with an exasperated expression. Until now I thought Shiro-san was the most important person in this house. But it seemed the hierarchy in the Jujoji family went to Mikoto-san, Futaba, then Shiro-san.

“W-well. It seems my dream will come true in the not too distant future. Ichika-kun, please take care of my daughter.”

“Yes. Of course!”

…Things like the future or marriage still did not feel real to me, but one feeling remained strong. I wanted to make Futaba happy.Because of that, I accepted Shiro-san’s words sincerely.

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