Arisa progressed smoothly.
Yuzuru, barely making it in time, managed to submit his master’s thesis.
Both were accepted without issue—
and the two of them graduated.
There were about two months before Yuzuru’s job began and Arisa advanced to her next stage.
For them, it might be the last long holiday of their lives.
For their wedding—and their honeymoon—
they returned to Japan.
“I’m home.”
“Welcome back.”
As soon as Yuzuru stepped into his family home, his mother, Ayu, greeted him.
She smiled warmly.
It hadn’t been years—they had seen each other six months ago—
but she was clearly happy to see her son again.
“Huh? Where are Grandma and Ayumi?”
Normally, his grandmother and younger sister would be there too.
Ayumi was in university now and usually lived away, but she should have been back for summer break.
And his grandmother was almost always home.
Ayu answered his question.
“Your grandmother’s at the hospital. Ayumi went with her.”
“The hospital…? What—something serious!?”
“It’s just a slipped back. Nothing life-threatening.”
“Oh… good.”
Yuzuru let out a sigh of relief.
Both his grandparents were still alive, still relatively healthy, and sharp-minded—
but their age made him uneasy whenever he returned home.
“Dad’s at work, I guess. Is Grandpa here?”
“He’s in the annex.”
Yuzuru headed across the corridor to the separate building to greet his grandfather.
He checked room after room until—
“Ah, Grandpa.”
“Hmm, Yuzuru.”
In the fourth room, he finally found him.
Takasegawa Sogen—the former head of the family—
was dressed casually in a tank top and shorts.
He had earphones in and was running on a treadmill.
No need to ask if he was doing well—he clearly was.
“I’m back. …Bad timing?”
“Welcome back. …Give me one more kilometer.”
“Sure. Take your time. I’ll go change.”
“Alright.”
After greeting him, Yuzuru returned to the main house and changed into traditional clothing.
As he sipped tea prepared by a house attendant, he heard noise at the entrance.
Voices—his grandmother and sister.
They were back.
“We’re home.”
“Welcome back.”
Yuzuru greeted them.
Both widened their eyes when they saw him.
“Big brother!”
“Yuzuru!”
His younger sister Ayumi looked quite different from six months ago—
her hair was now pink.
(It was blue last time.)
She seemed to be enjoying university life thoroughly.
Supporting her was their grandmother, Chiwako.
Despite the slipped back, her complexion looked fine.
“Welcome home.”
“When did you get back?”
“Just now.”
Yuzuru took the bag Ayumi was carrying.
Chiwako removed her shoes with Ayumi’s help and stepped inside.
“How’s your back?”
“It hurts… but it’s not the first time.”
She was telling him not to worry.
“Seriously, you should’ve seen her,” Ayumi said. “She tried to bench press at her age! Tell her something, will you?”
“Bench press…?”
Yuzuru couldn’t help but smile wryly.
His grandfather on the treadmill flashed through his mind.
Apparently, gym training was trending among the elderly couple.
“Taking care of your health is good, but don’t overdo it…”
“I know. I can’t die before seeing my great-grandchild.”
At that, Yuzuru and Ayumi both looked away.
Three hours later—
Yuzuru’s father, Kazuya, returned home, and the family gathered for dinner.
All together, for the first time in a while.
“Things going well with Arisa?”
“Of course.”
Yuzuru nodded firmly.
With the wedding just around the corner, anything else would be a problem.
“But you know, Yuzuru,” Ayu added, “girls can get anxious before a wedding. Make sure you support her.”
“I know.”
He answered firmly.
Recently, his mother had been lecturing him more whenever he came home.
Probably age, he thought—somewhat rudely.
“Still… Yuzuru getting married already… You used to be so small.”
Chiwako spoke nostalgically.
Sogen nodded in agreement—
then glanced at Ayumi.
“That hair… I think you understand without me saying—”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll dye it black. I’m not so clueless that I’d show up to my brother’s wedding with hair that outshines the bride.”
Ayumi huffed lightly, twirling her pink hair.
She was probably used to being scolded about it.
“Pfft…”
“What? What’s funny, big brother?”
“Nothing.”
Yuzuru shrugged under her glare.
Soon, Arisa would join this family circle.
Thinking that—
he felt quietly, deeply happy.
