“Yuzuru-san. Yuzuru-san… please wake up.”
“Mm…?”
Roused by a voice as sweet and gentle as an angel’s, Yuzuru finally opened his eyes.
And there she was—just as angelic as the voice.
Yuzuru’s fiancée, Yukishiro Arisa.
“…Arisa? Is this one of the nights you’re staying over?”
“What are you mumbling about half-asleep?”
Arisa looked at him with exasperation and let out a small sigh.
“You have classes today, don’t you? Try not to fail your credits.”
“Classes… credits…—Wah!? Arisa, what time is it!?”
At her words, Yuzuru jolted upright, frantically scanning the room for a clock.
“It’s eleven-thirty. Go brush your teeth and wash your face.”
“R-right… got it!”
He rushed to the sink, brushed his teeth, splashed his face—then realised he hadn’t brought a towel.
“Sorry, Arisa. Could you grab me a tow—”
“Here you go.”
Before he knew it, she was already behind him, draping a towel over his face.
He took it and wiped himself down.
Arisa let out a quiet sigh at the sight.
“You’re in too much of a rush. You still have an hour. Calm down.”
“S-sorry… and thanks.”
“And fix your bed hair too. I’ll get your clothes and stationery ready.”
With that, Arisa left the sink.
Yuzuru checked his reflection again.
Sure enough, his hair was sticking up in places.
(I could probably just fix this with some wax…)
The thought crossed his mind—but Arisa wouldn’t approve.
So he thoroughly soaked his hair, dried it with a hairdryer, and lightly styled it with wax.
When he returned to the living room, Arisa was already waiting, holding a set of clothes in both hands.
“Sorry to keep you waiting… and thanks for getting everything ready.”
“You finally look presentable.”
Saying that, she handed him the clothes.
Yuzuru took them and immediately started taking off his tracksuit—his makeshift pyjamas.
“H-hey…! Don’t just start stripping out of nowhere!”
Arisa cried out, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Yuzuru gave a wry smile.
“It’s fine, isn’t it? We live together. It’s not like you haven’t seen what’s under my—”
“Agh!?”
He yelped.
Arisa had stomped on his foot.
“Don’t say weird things first thing in the morning!”
“It’s already basically noon—”
“So you do understand. Now hurry up and get dressed.”
“I was trying to, you know.”
Grumbling, Yuzuru stepped out of the living room, quickly changed, tossed his clothes into the laundry basket, and returned.
“How’s this?”
“Yes. Here’s your bag—your stationery is inside. Check it.”
“Yeah… looks fine. Thanks for everything.”
“You can repay me with interest. And here—this is breakfast… or rather, lunch.”
She handed him a cling-wrapped onigiri.
There was only one, but it was slightly on the larger side.
“You won’t be able to think properly if you don’t eat at least something. Finish that, then we’ll go.”
“Thanks… Mm, still as good as ever.”
Ever since high school, his fiancée’s cooking had always been delicious.
Though not unchanged.
If anything, after four and a half years together, it had only improved.
“It’s just onigiri. I doubt it tastes any different no matter who makes it…”
She said that, but her cheeks softened with a pleased smile.
That bashful reaction hadn’t changed either.
“Thanks for the meal.”
“I’m glad you liked it… Now then, shall we?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
And so, the two of them left their flat and headed to university.
After graduating high school, Yuzuru and Arisa both successfully enrolled in university.
Now they attended the same university, the same campus—and lived in the same flat.
The only difference was their faculties.
After finishing his third, fourth, and fifth-period classes, Yuzuru headed to the campus library.
He looked for his fiancée, who should have finished her day after fourth period.
Thanks to her striking appearance, he spotted her right away.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Been long?”
Arisa was working on something on her laptop, with a stack of books beside her.
“No, I was just finishing a report. I’ve just completed it.”
She closed her laptop and stood up.
“Shall we head back? Mind if we stop by the supermarket on the way?”
“Of course.”
They left the library and, instead of going straight home, headed to a nearby supermarket.
“Thanks for coming to get me today. It really helped.”
As they walked, Yuzuru thanked her again.
In high school, everyone shared the same schedule—but at university, it varied.
Today, Yuzuru had classes from third to fifth period, while Arisa had hers from second to fourth.
Thinking he’d be fine since his classes started later, he’d overslept—
and Arisa had gone out of her way to come get him.
“You’re welcome. …Just make sure you wake me up if I ever oversleep, alright?”
She said it with a smile.
Yuzuru nodded with a wry grin.
He simply couldn’t imagine Arisa oversleeping.
They chatted idly about their classes and recent club activities—
and before they knew it, they had arrived at the supermarket.
“What should we make today?”
“How about beef stew?”
“Sounds good.”
With the menu decided, they began placing ingredients into their basket—
beef, mushrooms, onions… and red wine.
“Hm? Arisa… you’re using that?”
Yuzuru tilted his head at the bottle of red wine she’d added.
Of course, he knew red wine was used in beef stew.
But the one she’d picked was a bit expensive for cooking.
She usually bought cheaper cooking wine.
“This one’s for drinking.”
“…You’re drinking?”
“Yes. I’ve finished my report.”
She replied cheerfully.
Both she and Yuzuru were already over twenty—adults.
There was nothing wrong with buying or drinking alcohol.
Legally, no problem at all.
And tomorrow was Saturday—no classes for either of them.
“Is that a problem?”
Sensing his reaction, Arisa tilted her head.
Yuzuru shook his head firmly.
“No, not at all… If we’re drinking, maybe we should get some cheese and prosciutto too.”
“That sounds nice. Let’s also buy what we need for tomorrow’s meals.”
They gathered everything they needed, paid, and returned to their flat.
“Well then, let’s get started. …Will you help?”
“Of course.”
And so, the two of them began preparing dinner together.
