Chapter 20 of 28
Chapter 20
7 min read1,669 words
Just when I came to stay to spend time with RinKa, I ended up being put through a test by her mother to prove our bond as a married couple. It’s all so bewildering.
RinKa had said there was no need to be so nervous, but how will this turn out…
RinKa had confidently said that if we act normally, we would be recognized as a married couple, but in reality, we haven’t even done things that a married couple would do, let alone things that lovers would do. We occasionally act affectionately, but only occasionally.
"Ando-kun, I’ll help you organize your things."
While I was organizing the luggage in the assigned room, I heard RinKa’s gentle voice from the entrance. I turned around. RinKa was holding a storage box.
"You should put your clothes in this."
"Thank you, RinKa."
"I’m sorry… I should have prepared it beforehand."
"It’s fine, you don’t need to worry about it…"
"No, I’m failing as a wife."
"Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? This is nothing—wait, what?"
As I was talking with RinKa who had entered the room, I discovered a terrifying fact. Two eyes were peering through the gap in the door, staring intently at me. I didn’t need to guess who it was…
"Ando-kun, what’s in this bag?"
"It’s my study materials. And some summer homework…"
"I see. Then this should go on the desk… wait, something fabric-like is sticking out—oh, underwear!? Ando-kun’s boxers are in there!"
RinKa pulled out the boxers that were sticking out of the bag’s small gap and blushed, her voice becoming harsh.
"Ah… I was lazy, so I might have put them in there."
"That’s not right, Ando-kun! This bag is for study materials! Why are your boxers in there!?"
"I just threw them in randomly."
"Hmm… what a sloppy husband… I guess I really need to be here—"
"RinKa, that’s a failing reaction as a wife. You shouldn’t be flustered by something like underwear."
Suddenly, RinKa’s mother stepped into the room and criticized RinKa in a calm tone. RinKa’s eyes sharpened, and she took a step forward, radiating anger.
"Mom! You’re interfering too much!"
"I wouldn’t say anything if it was just a relationship between lovers. But if you’re trying to be a married couple, it’s a different story."
"We are a married couple!"
"That’s even more of a problem."
You’re right… If you think about it logically, most people would support RinKa’s mother.
Could this be her plan?
Maybe RinKa’s mother isn’t outright rejecting RinKa’s way of thinking but is instead trying to make her realize the correct way of being a married couple by interfering excessively and negating their relationship?
"When I was RinKa’s age, I had already been recognized as a married couple by my parents and Kanji’s parents."
"…! I… still have a long way to go…!"
…
Both of them are tough.
"Is this enough for the luggage, Ando-kun?"
"Yeah, it’s fine. Thanks."
The clothes, study materials, and other items I brought were neatly organized, making the room comfortable for the next few days.
"Let’s take a break. Ando-kun, I’ll clean your ears… as a wife."
RinKa, who had somehow prepared an ear pick, was sitting in seiza, waiting for me. She tapped her knees lightly to guide me.
I felt like I was about to participate in an event where a popular idol would clean my ears, but it was a bit too sudden. Maybe this was RinKa’s way of showing her commitment as a wife.
"Ando-kun, hurry up."
"Y-Yes…"
I couldn’t refuse, so I went to RinKa’s side. I lay down and placed my head on her knee. The soft warmth of her knee on my temple was indescribable. RinKa’s voice, "Here we go," echoed, and I felt something enter my left ear. The sensation of it rubbing against my ear canal was incredibly pleasant.
"This is what being a married couple is… Ando-kun, does it hurt?"
"No, it doesn’t hurt. It feels good."
"I’m glad… …"
We might become a married couple, but right now, we’re still just lovers.
I had my eyes closed, but I opened them and almost screamed.
Three steps away, RinKa’s mother was sitting in seiza, staring intently at me—! No way, this is too much! Why do I have to let her mother see our intimate moments…?
☆
After lunch, it was Nona’s nap time. I laid out a futon for her in a corner of the living room and put Nona to sleep. She wouldn’t leave me, so it ended up like this.
"Zzz… mnya…"
"K… You’re so cute, Nona."
Nona’s innocent sleeping face was so peaceful, it made me feel warm.
"Good job, Ando-kun."
"Huh?"
RinKa’s mother spoke from behind me. She had a serious face but gave me a thumbs up.
"Being kind to children is one of the minimum requirements. It’s not about whether you like or dislike children, but whether you can be kind to those who need protection, which is a quality required of the head of the household… Ando-kun has successfully passed one of the trials."
"Th-Thank you…"
The head of the household… If we’re talking about income, I think RinKa can support the family. I don’t know how much a popular idol earns, but it must be a lot.
RinKa’s mother left, and I happened to meet Kanji’s father’s gaze. We were the only two men in the room, aside from the sleeping Nona. I thought I should ask him something I wanted to know while I had the chance.
"Um, Mr. Kanji, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Hmm… What is it?"
"Before, you said you were a pioneer. I’d like to hear more about that."
"……"
Kanji’s father slowly exhaled through his nose, closed his eyes, and fell silent. After about five seconds, he opened his eyes and looked at me with dark, almost black eyes.
"There’s nothing I can say."
"No, even a story from your memories would be fine—"
"Try your best. At least you won’t die."
"Does that mean you might get close to death…?"
"……"
Deny it!
☆
I spent my days at the Mizuki household, feeling a sense of fear after the incident with Kanji’s father.
When I was in the bath, RinKa would come in and say, "I’ll wash your back," and help me (as usual, RinKa was wearing clothes, and her mother was watching us intently). At bedtime, she would check if I was doing anything inappropriate (even though we were talking about being a married couple, she was pushing for a healthy relationship).
The days passed under the watchful eye of RinKa’s mother, and the three days felt like a stomachache.
"Ando-kun and RinKa, please come in."
Called by RinKa’s mother, we went to the living room. RinKa and I sat side by side, facing her mother across the table. The atmosphere felt even more serious than before.
"I’ve been observing your actions over these three days. To see if you have the bond worthy of aiming to be a married couple…"
"We’re already a married couple, not aiming to be one."
"RinKa is a busy idol, and it’s difficult for you two to spend time together. That was the case these past three days as well."
That’s true. In reality, RinKa was at home for a short time, and the lack of significant events was due to that.
"You two bonded through online games… right?"
"Yes."
"……Times have changed, I suppose. Our daughters are growing up in a world where we can’t keep an eye on them…"
RinKa’s mother’s eyes narrowed, and she sighed deeply. What’s going on here…
"I understand. I’ll recognize it. It’s also a mother’s duty to trust her daughter."
"Thank you, Mom. I’ll work hard as Ando-kun’s wife."
……
Wait? Did we just get her approval?
It feels like the conversation progressed smoothly while I was spacing out.
"Great, Ando-kun. Now we don’t have any obstacles."
"O-Oh…?"
As I nodded in confusion at RinKa’s excitement, RinKa’s mother spoke again.
"Ando-kun, why don’t you stay until the end of summer vacation? Let’s deepen our bond."
"Really? Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"That’s wonderful, Mom. …Eventually, I’ll stay at Ando-kun’s house and get his parents to recognize me."
I feel like I’m being cornered and my escape routes are being cut off.
I looked at Kanji’s father, who was sitting on the sofa, hoping for some help, but he shook his head silently and expressionlessly.
Ah……
Is this how I’ll be absorbed into the Mizuki household…?
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆