The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 39.2

Interlude – The Proposal Is by Reservation

…Bzzz… Bzzz…

“…Hm.”

It was one night.

I had finished housework and studying and was relaxing in the living room.

I reached for the smartphone buzzing on the table and looked at the screen.

The sender was…

“An email?”

At that moment, a voice came from above my head.

I looked up and saw a face so beautiful it felt familiar.

Yukimura Mizuki.

My childhood friend with an incredibly good-looking face was giving me a lap pillow while slowly stroking my head.

Somehow, lately, whenever we were home, we always ended up in this position.

Feeling a bit puzzled by the situation, I put the smartphone back on the table.

“Who is it?”

“My mom. She says she’s coming back tomorrow.”

“Auntie? She could make it back this year?”

“Yeah.”

My parents work overseas.

My dad got assigned abroad, and my mom went with him.

That’s why I’m living alone now. The last time I saw their faces was already half a year ago.

We keep in touch regularly, but meeting in person has been a while.

“Then, should I not come over tomorrow?”

“No. You’ll probably get called anyway. Mom really loves you.”

Since I was little, my mom doted on Mizuki more than her own son.

“I always wanted a daughter like this.” That was her favorite saying.

That’s why, to me, who hesitated because of her beauty,

she even declared, “If you let Mizuki-chan get away, I’ll disown you.”

“…I wonder what kind of reaction she’ll have if I tell her we’re dating.”

“?”

Imagining my mom screaming while hugging Mizuki, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

The next day.

“Mizuki-chaaan!!!”

As soon as my mom got home, she ignored her son who came to greet her and rushed straight to hug Mizuki.

“Fuguh…”

“Oh my! You’ve become even more beautiful! Are you okay? You haven’t gotten involved with any weird guys, right!?”

“I-I’m… fine…”

Why did she glance at me for a second.

As if saying I’m the weird guy. How rude. It’s sad that I can’t completely deny it.

“I was so worried! Iori’s unreliable, and Shizuka-san is probably not around anyway! And Mizuki-chan hardly contacts me at all!”

“S-Sorry…”

“Oh, it’s fine. I hear most things from Iori anyway. Hey, Iori, what are you just standing there for! Hurry up and make some tea!”

“Yeah, yeah…”

Is this really how you treat your son after not seeing him for about half a year?

It hasn’t changed, which is somehow reassuring.

The unwavering Mizuki >>> Iori (son) makes me want to cry.

While I boiled water in the kitchen, Mizuki was at the living room table getting bombarded with questions from my mom.

“How’s school, Mizuki-chan? Anything troubling you?”

“Y-Yes… I’m fine. I’m managing well… and Iori’s there too.”

“I see. That’s good then. But Iori’s not reliable at all. He’s probably just drifting through life carelessly.”

“Hey.”

Well, I can’t deny that. But my grades are pretty good, you know.

I glared at her. Mom snorted. Seeing that, Mizuki giggled softly.

“…As long as Iori’s there, that’s enough for me.”

“…~! Hey, Iori! Did you hear that!? If you let this girl go, you’ll regret it for life!”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you, I know.”

I calmly soothed my mom as she pressed in aggressively.

I know. Even without being told.

How lucky I am to have met this girl.

I poured tea for my excited mom into the cups.

And just as I was about to carry them to the table.

“So, Mizuki-chan.”

Suddenly, my mom changed the atmosphere.

Sensing it, Mizuki straightened her posture.

“…Yes.”

“Your mom… have you been able to talk properly with Shizuka-san?”

Yukimura Shizuka. Mizuki’s mother.

She’s in management at a major foreign company. A so-called career woman.

I’ve known her since I was little, but honestly, I find her hard to deal with.

Especially how she’s distant even with her own daughter.

“We eat together sometimes, but we don’t really talk…”

“…Sigh. That woman, really…”

My mom put a hand to her forehead in irritation.

…But I felt the same way.

My parents are hands-off too, but they never miss regular contact, and I know for sure they’ll come back if needed.

But Yukimura mom’s attitude toward her daughter can’t just be called “hands-off.”

Neglect. You could flatly call it that.

…Since she doesn’t seem to mind much herself, I don’t say anything.

“Okay? If anything troubles you, tell Iori first. Then me next? Iori’s carefree and unreliable, but for Mizuki-chan’s sake, he’ll do most anything.”

Hey, wait.

I had a lot I wanted to say, but since it’s mostly true, I couldn’t say anything.

But hearing that, Mizuki smiled gently.

“…Yes. I know that well.”

At that smile, my mom looked stunned for a moment.

Then, she smiled as if she couldn’t help it.

“…Right. That’s right. Since way back, Iori’s only ever had eyes for Mizuki-chan.”

“W-Wait, Mom!?”

Stop it!? I tried to stop her, but Mom gave a cool look.

“Why are you getting embarrassed now? You’ve been head over heels for Mizuki-chan since you were little, and yet too chicken to confess—everyone knows that by now.”

“Alright. This means war.”

I readied the ladle.

Watching us, Mizuki chuckled softly.

Seeing her face, Mom relaxed her shoulders as if the fight had gone out of her.

“…So, it’s been over a year since I left you two alone. Has there been any progress?”

Mom stared intently, mainly at me.

Mizuki also looked at me.

…Yeah. I should at least tell my mom.

“…We’re dating. Properly.”

When I said that, Mom’s eyes widened.

Mizuki looked down shyly.

A few seconds of silence. Then.

“…I see. Got it. Finally, huh. It feels kind of emotional.”

She let out a deep breath, leaned back in the chair, and muttered.

Seeing that touched expression, I thought, huh?

With Mom, I expected a much more over-the-top reaction.

“Good for you, Mizuki-chan.”

“…Yes.”

With a kind face, Mom stroked Mizuki’s head.

Mizuki smiled shyly at that.

But I tilted my head in confusion again.

“Wait, um… shouldn’t the ‘good for you’ be for me?”

“…Jeez. That’s why you’re an idiot. How faithfully Mizuki-chan’s felt for you all this time. You probably didn’t even notice until she confessed.”

“Ugh…”

She had me there; I couldn’t say a word.

In fact, I didn’t know her feelings until Mizuki confessed to me.

My shoulders slumped, and Mizuki let out a small wry smile.

“It’s okay. Because we’re properly dating now.”

“…Thanks.”

I made her follow up for me.

Mom looked at me slumping again with exasperated eyes.

“…Well, whatever. Anyway, congratulations. I wouldn’t oppose it, so do what you want.”

“…Yeah.”

“Oh, but make sure you use protection properly? You as the guy have to take responsibility…”

“What are you even worrying about!”

It’s awful having a parent worry about your sex life.

Of course we do… except that first time.

I glanced sideways, and Mizuki was also shrinking in embarrassment.

“Well, at least now I can relax.”

She gulped down her green tea and smiled broadly.

“Now Mizuki-chan officially becomes part of our family, so from now on, consult your mother-in-law about anything.”

“…M-Mother-in-law.”

“You’re jumping the gun too much.”

“But you’ll do it someday, right? Marriage.”

“…!”

“Well… someday.”

Ah, don’t make that happy face, Mizuki.

It makes it really hard to hold back in various ways.

“Then no problem. I got to see your faces too, so I’ll head back tomorrow.”

“Eh, already? Stay a bit longer…”

“Work’s piled up. I can’t say anything about Shizuka-san, but coming back today was pretty forced.”

…Yeah, that makes sense.

Dad isn’t coming back either. Their workload isn’t normal.

But they seem to enjoy work, so I’m not particularly worried.

“I’m going to take a shower.” Mom stood up.

And before leaving the seat.

“Mizuki-chan.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Take care of my idiot son, okay?”

“…Yes.”

She said that and gave Mizuki a gentle smile.

…Hey, I haven’t even proposed yet.

Watching the two of them smile at each other, I decided in my heart to at least buy a really amazing ring.