CH 36

New Year’s Eve arrived.

Hiyori and I were on the bullet train.

“Hidetsugu-san, would you like an onigiri?”

“Oo, your handmade?”

“Hehehe.”

“It looks delicious. I’ll have some right away.”

“Go ahead.”

I peeled off the aluminum foil and took a bite of the onigiri, as recommended by the smiling Hiyori.

“Delicious!”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Hiyori.”

“Fufufu.”

While having a casual conversation like this, the train window gradually shifted to the countryside. As we got off the bullet train, we walked through the station’s ticket gates and headed for the roundabout.

“Hidetsugu~!”

I turned around at the sound of that voice.

“Ah, Mom.”

I headed down that way, waving.

“You must be tired~?”

“No, it was a bullet train. Ah, Mom, this is my ….”

“Ara ara”

Hiyori, catching Mom’s gaze, said

“N-nice to meet you. My name is Hiyori Ando.”

“Well, well, you are a very pretty young lady. Are you really Hidetsugu’s girlfriend?

“Yes, I am.”

“This will make everyone in our family happy~. Ah, Hidetsugu. Please load Hiyori-chan’s luggage as well.”

“Alright.”

And then we got in the car driven by my mom and arrived at our house in about 20 minutes.

“Hey, guys! Hidetsugu is back with his girlfriend!”

Mom’s voice echoed.

“Oh, he’s back!”

The one who came with a loud voice,

“Dad, I’m home.”

“Oh, Hidetsugu and …”

“Hiyori-chan.”

“H-Hello, I’m Hiyori Ando.”

“Wow~ This is amazing~! Where the h**l did you find this cute little girl~!?”

“College.”

“Hahahaha! I see, I see!”

My dad laughed merrily and patted me on the back.

“Damn, you grew up bigger than me~!”

“Why don’t you work out, too?”

“How impertinent~! What are you doing to Hiyori-chan with that body~?”

“Dad, I can’t believe you’re suddenly making dirty jokes~”

I heard another voice. There was a girl with pigtails who was folding her arms behind my dad.

“Ah, Suzu. I’m home.”

“Yo, Tsugu-nii”

She raises her hand and said,

“Hiyori, this girl is my sister Suzuna . She’s a high school student. Everyone calls her ‘Suzu’.”

“N-Nice to meet you. I’m Hiyori Ando.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. I am Suzuna Matsuo.”

They bowed politely together.

“Oh, Hidetsugu. Show your face to grandpa and grandma. Take your cute girlfriend with you.”

“Alright, Hiyori, will you come with me?”

“Yes.”

Then I finished greeting my grandparents, and now the entire Matsuo family was assembled.

“So, how long have Tsugu-nii and Hiyori been dating?”

Suzu asked,

“Since summer vacation,”

“Eh~, that’s good~! I couldn’t have a boyfriend during the summer vacation~!”

“You idiot, Suzu. You’re a hundred years too early to have a boyfriend.”

“Dad, shut up.”

“I’m sorry. ….”

Being coldly told by Suzu, Dad became silent

“Oh, yes. Hiyori, can I talk about that?”

I turned to face her and she gave a small nod.

“I wanted to tell you all ….”

I told them about Hiyori’s situation.

“…That’s why me and Hiyori are living together. I should have informed you guys earlier, I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head and looked at everyone’s faces.

Uniformly, they were all in tears.

“S-Such pain….but you’re a brave girl to be able to live through that.”

“I’m really impressed. You did your best.”

“Hiyori-san,.., you are great.”

Hearing such warm words, Hiyori was also in tears.

“Hey, Hidetsugu. You absolutely have to make Hiyori happy, okay?”

“Yeah. So, I just wanted to say one more thing.”

I took a small breath.

“I’m going to marry Hiyori after I graduate from college.”

Everyone in the family widened their eyes at those words.

“Hiyori also said that she wants… to be my wife.”

When everyone turned to look at her, Hiyori nodded, her face turning bright red. Then Dad started to shiver as he pulled away.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

Then, Dad looked up at the ceiling and said,

“UOOOOOOOOOOH!!!””

He began to cry.

“Ara ara, Dear.”

“Seriously crying, Dad… well, it’s okay.”

Mother placed her hand on her cheek, and Suzu said in exasperation.

“Suzu, Are these two getting married?”

Grandpa asked,

“Yes, it seems so.”

Suzu said with a smile, and Grandma and Grandpa both smiled.

“Dear! Replace all the rice you have with red rice!”

(T/N:-Sekihan (赤飯) translates to “red rice” in Japanese as the glutinous rice is tinted with an attractive shade of red hue from cooking with Azuki beans. The red color of the rice symbolizes happiness and prosperity)

“That’s impossible!”

“Then, bring me some sake……Uoooooooooooooooooo!”

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry, Hiyori-chan. It’s noisy.”

“No, no… this… I’m really happy. Such a warm home atmosphere… Ah.”

As tears welled up in Hiyori’s eyes, Dad’s tear gland completely collapsed.

“Suzu, get him a basin.”

“Alright.”

“Crying… and then throwing up after drinking too much alcohol.”

“I’m impressed, Tsugu-nii. Your reading instincts as a catcher haven’t dulled.”

Suzu grinned.

“Ah, yes. Hiyori-san, should I show you the album later?”

“What?”

“You want to see Tsugu-nii’s old pictures, don’t you?”

“Ara, that’s a nice idea.~”

“Hey, give me a break.”

I said

“I-I want to see it!”

Hiyori said excitedly.

“Okay, I’ll show you later~”

Suzu said with a wink.

“Tsugu-nii, let’s watch together, shall we?”

“Seriously~”

“Fufufufu. It’s a public execution~”

“Hey.”

“Fufufu”

“Ah, Hiyo-nee laughed.”

“Eh, Hiyo-nee?”

“That’s right. After all, if you’re going to marry Onii-chan, you’re already my sister, aren’t you? Ah, is that okay?”

“No, that’s not true. I’m very happy.”

“Ahaha. Hiyo-nee is really too cute.”

“Hiyori-chan! Pour your father a drink~!”

“Y-yes.”

“Hey, Dad! Stop it!”

I was more than happy to see Hiyori being so friendly with my family in such a way.