Chapter 2

After finishing my part-time job at the movie theater, I usually head home around nine o'clock.

I ride the elevator in the apartment building, which is a five-minute walk from Oofuna Station, and step out on the seventh floor, still feeling the tension that I haven't gotten used to even after a month of this life.

In fact, I even start to doubt if this is really happening.

"Is this how someone who wins the lottery feels...?"

While walking down the long corridor leading to the door of the farthest room, I always end up muttering to myself.

Before I know it, I've reached the door of room 707. I used to open this door with a key, but now I ring the intercom.

Almost immediately, a cute voice replies, "Okay, I'm opening it now."

The sound of a door I open myself is heavy and cold, but the sound of a door opened by someone waiting for me at home is somehow so warm.

Hanae Riko, wearing an apron over her casual clothes, opened the door and smiled shyly when she saw me.

"Kazuto-kun, welcome home...!"

"Y-Yes, I'm home."

"This exchange still makes me blush..."

"Ah, yeah. It does."

Riko takes the bag from my awkward hand.

Even though I say I can carry it myself, she never listens and always seems happy to take my bag, holding it with both hands as if hugging it, and carries it to the living room sofa.

I feel bad making her carry it, but her gesture is so cute that I can't really say anything strongly against it.

"I just finished making dinner. The bath is ready too, so do you want to go in first...?"

The light inside, the delicious smell of fried food, and most of all, Riko's incredibly cute smile with a slight blush on her cheeks.

Given this level of happiness in our newlywed life, it's hard not to doubt if this is real.

"Kazuto-kun?"

"Ah, s-sorry. I was spacing out. Thanks for the meal. I'll have it first. Is this smell from karaage?"

"Yeah, it's your favorite... I thought you might be happy..."

She fidgets with the hem of her apron, speaking in a whisper.

Her adorable mannerisms make my heart ache.

And "I thought you might be happy..."!

How can a guy not be smitten when a beautiful girl says something like that? No, there's no way.

...But wait, that's strange.

"Did I ever tell you I like karaage?"

"…! I, I think I heard it..."

Riko suddenly looks flustered and averts her gaze.

I find it hard to talk about myself, so explaining my likes and dislikes is quite a challenge for me.

But since Riko knows, I must have mentioned it in passing during some conversation.

There were a few times in the past month when I talked more than usual to fill the silence, and I can think of a few instances where I might have mentioned it.

But for her to remember my favorite food from such casual conversations...

Honestly, I'm really happy.

I want to thank her, but maybe I waited too long...

Riko follows me to the living room, half a step behind, walking silently in her slippers.

The sound of her small steps is unmistakable.

I can't tell her, but the way she follows me so earnestly reminds me of a small dog, like a Chihuahua or a toy poodle.

I don't have the courage to turn around and check, so I end up opening the living room door without saying thanks.

The warm, homey smell envelops me even more gently than when I opened the front door.

This kind of happiness is too much for a quiet, unassuming high school boy like me!

Riko, holding my bag, looks up at me curiously as I stand there, rooted to the spot at the entrance to the living room.

"…Are you thinking again that this might not be real...?"

There's no point in trying to hide it, so I nod, and Riko pouts a little.

"Come on... When will my husband finally recognize me as his wife..."

Faced with Riko's pouting face, which is also incredibly cute, I flinch.

It's not that I don't want to, but since the day I received that unbelievable reverse proposal, everything that has happened feels like a fairy tale.

The moment I thought that, the memory of that day, which started it all, came flooding back.

The day I received the reverse proposal was in January of this year—.

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