A few days after Yuzuru had successfully moved out—
“Thank you very much for inviting me today.”
Arisa bowed her head to Yuzuru’s grandfather—Sougen Takasegawa—as she arrived at the family home.
Sougen returned her greeting with a gentle smile.
“No, no. I should be the one thanking you for coming. …Truth be told, it was me who insisted I wanted to have a proper chat with Arisa-san—my future granddaughter-in-law.”
“I-is that so…?”
Arisa replied, her heart fluttering slightly at his words.
This wasn’t her first time meeting him, but they had hardly spoken before.
A boyfriend’s grandfather wasn’t exactly distant—but not particularly close either.
“Ahh, don’t be so tense. I’ve no intention of getting in the way of you two. Besides, we usually live in the annex anyway.”
Sougen may have been the true power behind the Takasegawa family—
But officially, he had already passed his position on to Yuzuru’s father and retired.
So he lived in a separate building rather than the main house.
Though in reality, he often dropped by the main house to see his children and grandchildren.
“Dear, you’re talking too much again. It’s a bad habit.”
“I’ve not been talking that long…”
His wife, Chiwako Takasegawa, cut him off, and Sougen withdrew with a slightly disgruntled expression.
“Sorry about that. …When he sees young people, he tends to get carried away.”
“It’s quite alright. I’m very happy to be able to speak with Yuzuru-san’s grandfather.”
Arisa answered with a polite smile to Yuzuru’s father, Kazuya Takasegawa.
She didn’t find Sougen’s story particularly long—
And even if she had, she wasn’t foolish enough to agree with that in front of him.
“If that’s the case, we should let her inside already.”
Standing beside her with a suitcase in hand, Yuzuru interjected.
He had been the one to pick Arisa up from the station and bring her here.
At the words of the future head of the family, both the former and current heads nodded and gestured for Arisa to enter.
“Excuse me.”
She gave a small bow before stepping inside.
“For now… let’s sort out your luggage. I’ll show you to the guest room.”
“Thank you. But before that… this is from my adoptive father.”
Arisa held up a paper bag.
It bore the logo of a well-known traditional sweets shop.
“Oh? Thank you. …Ayumu.”
“Yes. …Thank you very much, Arisa-san.”
At Kazuya’s call, Yuzuru’s younger sister, Ayumu Takasegawa, stepped forward and accepted the bag.
After that, Arisa followed Yuzuru down the hallway.
He led her to a neat, modest Japanese-style room.
It had all the necessary furnishings.
“There are nicer rooms, but… with things like vases and hanging scrolls, it might make you uneasy.”
“Yes… I appreciate this.”
Expensive decorations had a way of making people nervous, even if they didn’t intend to touch them.
Arisa felt grateful for his thoughtfulness.
“So, we’ve got some time before dinner. What do you want to do? My room’s got games. …Probably best to avoid the living room. You’ll get trapped listening to Grandpa’s stories.”
“…In that case, may I ask for one thing?”
“Anything.”
“May I… fluff the doggies?”
Arisa said, wiggling her hands eagerly.
“Ahh… so cute.”
Arisa’s face softened as she stroked Alexander—the Akita.
Perhaps because Yuzuru was nearby, or because he remembered her—
Alexander calmly allowed himself to be petted.
After a while, Hannibal—the Spanish Mastiff—nudged her, seemingly jealous.
“Oh—wait… I know, I know. I’ll pet you too.”
Arisa stopped petting Alexander and reached out to Hannibal, stroking his large head and under his neck.
“He’s so big and fluffy… it’s like being hugged. Cats are cute too, but dogs have their own charm…”
She hugged Hannibal, burying her face in his fur, her expression melting completely.
Her eyes were dreamy, her lips slack with bliss.
Even Yuzuru didn’t often get to see her like this.
“I wish I could be reborn as a dog…”
I’d want to be raised by her, Yuzuru thought, absentmindedly petting the other two dogs—Scipio (English Mastiff) and Pyrrhus (German Shepherd).
“If anything, you should be a cat. Then I could pamper you all I—kyaa!”
“A-Arisa!?”
Before he realised it, Alexander and Hannibal had both pounced on her.
Pinned beneath them, her face was being enthusiastically licked.
“Ahh… w-wait—”
“…Should I… help?”
It looked like she was under attack—
But at the same time, she didn’t seem entirely unhappy.
And Yuzuru knew full well his dogs would never bite.
“T-that’s… a bit of a dilemma… ah! On second thought, please help. That’s too much licking—”
“Alright, alright. Hey—off. Off, I said… off!”
Yuzuru raised his voice and physically pushed the two dogs off her.
Realising they’d been scolded, they drooped guiltily.
“You alright, Arisa?”
“Y-yes…”
He helped her up.
She didn’t seem injured—
But she was covered in dirt, fur, and dog slobber.
“…You should probably take a bath before dinner.”
“Ahaha… yes, I think so too.”
Arisa laughed awkwardly.
