Chapter 8 – Jewelry Designer

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It’s done. Today’s work is finished! It’s finally the end of the workday. I ignored my surroundings, stood up, and picked up my smartphone.

“Iwabuchi-senpai!”

“Sorry, but I can’t help you today… Um, hello, Aoi-san? I’m finished now, so I’m thinking of going to your place. Can you please tell me your address?”

I noticed that Hayama beside me turned pale.

“I’m nearby, so I’ll come to pick you up. Let’s choose some drinks and go back together.” Aoi replied.

“That sounds great. Alright, I’ll wait for you in front of the office.”

“Sure, I’ll be there.”

I’m sure Aoi-san must have smiled at that. With that thought in mind, I was about to end the call when Ishiyama-senpai grabbed my shoulder.

“Do you understand what going to a guy’s place means?” he asked.

“That’s right! Think it over, Iwabuchi-senpai!”

“He’s just treating me to a meal, nothing more.”

“We’re definitely up for it!”

What’s with these useless brothers!

“You don’t get it, huh? After he treats you, you’ll be treating him, Iwabuchi!”

If he treats me, I’ll be grateful, won’t I?

I haven’t been in it for about 3 years, but I’m not a virgin, and Aoi-san is attracted to many different women, so it seems unlikely that he’s inexperienced.

Wearing special underwear for today’s showdown is just basic etiquette, isn’t it?

I’m trying not to overdo it with my enthusiasm; it’s like an insurance for my heart.

I don’t want to come off as flashy or desperate.

It might not create that kind of atmosphere, and I don’t dislike Aoi-san, I feel like there’s a connection… It might be a bit too fast, but we’re adults, so it shouldn’t hurt to be prepared.

“So?”

“So? You don’t get it!”

“Ishiyama-senpai and Hayama are so close… Why don’t you two just date each other?”

“Creepy!”

You guys are a perfect match, I think, useless brothers.

“Iwabuchi-senpai, is it a date~? I want to see your boyfriend~ Introduce him to me~”

Is it my imagination that Himekawa’s smile looks like a hunter?

“Oh, I don’t think he’s the type I would introduce…”

“Eh~ I don’t mind that kind of thing, so it’s okay~”

For some reason, Himekawa’s face looks like she’s mocking me, and it annoys me. She must have decided that Aoi-san is of low standard. I don’t want to show… I got a text message.

“I’m here.”

He’s here already.

I packed my things and said, “Okay, I’m leaving.”

“I’ll come along~”

“You don’t have to.”

Despite my refusal, Himekawa followed me.

---

The lobby is clearly noisy because of Aoi-san. When I head toward the commotion, I see Aoi-san surrounded by female employees.

“Who are you waiting for?”

“It’s Iwabuchi Mikoto.”

“Huh? It’s that person again?”

“Again?”

Good stories don’t seem to be happening.

“Aoi, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“She’s here now.”

Aoi rushed over to where I was, away from the female employee.

“You must be tired.”

“Aoi, you look a bit tired too.”

“Hahaha, I’m used to it.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

As I said that, Aoi gave a slight smile.

“What drink would you like?”

“It depends on the dish.”

“Italian.”

“Meat or fish?”

“Fish.”              

“Then, white wine or rosé?”

“Champagne is also an option.”

“Aoi, you’re a genius.”

“Of course?”

Aoi-san chuckled happily.

“Wait, why is Aoi Kawakami here…?”

Suddenly, a low voice came from behind, and when I turned around, Himekawa was glaring at me.

Scary!

She regained her composure and made a smiling face, standing in front of Aoi and tilting her head.

Aoi made a refined smile and shook hands with her.

“I’m a junior of Iwabuchi-senpai! Can I join you for the meal?”

Himekawa directed a sparkling and cute smile at Aoi.

“Sorry! I’m planning to seize the heart of someone today, so please don’t disturb.”

“Huh?”

Himekawa seemed surprised that her sparkling smile didn’t work on Aoi.

“I’m okay with it though?” I said

“I don’t want that!”

Although I said it as a joke, Aoi’s forehead wrinkled.

“It was just a joke.”

“Good to know. Well, let’s go before someone becomes a hindrance.”

Himekawa’s fierce expression was scary.

I looked away from Himekawa and was pulled away by Aoi, leaving the scene.

---

“…Aoi is really famous, isn’t he?”

“Oh? You didn’t know?”

“No.”                   

“It’s written in celebrity magazines, don’t you think?”

“I don’t even know of the existence of celebrity magazines.”

“Even my three measurements are in there.”

“Set it on fire right now.”

“I don’t want to.”

Aoi is grinning.

“I wonder if Aoi’s fishing book is with your father? Let’s go get it later.”

“If you see my fishing book, you’ll fall for me, you know!”

“I heard for the first time yesterday from my brother that he’s a famous jewelry designer.”

Aoi looked at me with a slightly troubled expression. What’s going on?

“But, I kind of understand now. Because Aoi’s sweets are sparkling and beautiful like jewels.”

“…So?”

“What do you mean ‘so’?”

“So? What do you want, like a necklace or a ring…”

I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

“How many annoying girls are you involved with? I’m fine on my own. I’ll buy what I like myself.”

“…But somehow, that makes me feel lonely!”

I chuckled.

Aoi-san looked at me like he’s seeing something rare.

“Maybe I’d like to see the jewelry you designed?”

“Do you want to see them? There’s a shop nearby where my works are displayed.”

“Yes.”

Aoi-san grabbed my hand, and led me to the nearby shop.

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Chapter 6 – Strawberry Tart

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After enjoying the delicious sea bream rice, when I looked at Aoi, she smiled mischievously.

“This person is seriously drunk,” I thought.

“What would you like next?” asked the chef.

“Hmm… I’ll have dessert, please. I got a bit carried away with the Tai-meshi,” I replied.

“Alright,” said the chef.

He brought out a fruit tart topped with plenty of strawberries. The strawberries were sparkling like jewels.

“They look so beautiful,” I remarked.

“I know, right?” Aoi chuckled.

Aoi received the fruit tart the chef served.

The palm-sized tart got me excited.

“Let’s dig in!” I said.

“Well… how is it?” Aoi asked.

“…” I was speechless.

I really love the sweets Aoi makes!

“You like it?” Aoi asked.

“Love it!” I exclaimed.

“!”

“I really love the sweets you make, Aoi.”

“…Sweets, huh…” he muttered

Aoi slumped a bit.

“Thank you, Aoi. You always treat me to such delicious food,” I said gratefully.

“And what about me?” Aoi asked.

“Huh?”

“Do you like me?”

“…This is only our third time meeting today.”

“Even after three times, I love you,” Aoi confessed.

He was confessing to me at a sushi restaurant, and he seemed to be nicely tipsy. I shouldn’t take this too seriously, I know that much.

“You’re quite used to this kind of thing,” I said.

“This is the first time I’ve said something like this,” Aoi replied.

“Well, say it when you’re not drunk. Then I’ll consider it,” I teased.

“Your response is quite well-practiced,” she said.

“I’ve been approached by drunks before, so I’m used to it,” I replied.

Aoi gazed at my face for a while, then turned to the chef.

“Clam soup and tea,” he requested.

A collaboration of liquids.

“Sure thing. Today, the lady wins,” the chef said.

“Huh?”

“Clam soup is good for reducing intoxication. It seems Mr. Kawakami has realized he’s had too much to drink,” the chef explained.

Aoi looked embarrassed and tried to hide it from me.

Despite this wild appearance, he’s so cute.

“I like people who can admit their faults,” I said.

Aoi smiled at my words.

“Just keep liking me as I am,” he said.

“I’ll consider that as time goes on. Please treat me again without hesitation.” I replied.

“Next time, I’ll cook for you. Will you eat it?” Aoi asked.

“Of course! I’d love to try something other than the sweets you make!” I replied.

Aoi happily messed up my hair as she laughed.

I wonder if there’s a way to do something about this situation.

---

After the meal, I hailed a taxi and got a ride home.

“Thank you so much for the wonderful treat today,” I said.

“…Don’t you usually say something like, ‘Would you like some tea?'” Aoi responded.

“I told you, I won’t invite someone I’ve only met three times to my single-person household,” I explained.

“I see. I like that about you,” Aoi said.

“Drunkard!” I thought.

“I’d say the same even if I wasn’t drunk. I love you, Kawakami.”

What a drunkard! My heart’s going to explode!

“I have to go to work early tomorrow, so I should get some sleep. Until next time,” I said.

“Once again, a well-practiced line,” Aoi replied.

“It’s the first time someone has escorted me all the way to my doorstep.”

“You’ve never been dropped off at your doorstep before?” I asked.

Aoi smiled awkwardly and said, “I haven’t.”

“I’ll invite you again,” Aoi said.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Are you free tomorrow night?” Aoi asked.

“Can you message me tomorrow? Drunkards tend to forget things,” I teased.

“I get it. I won’t forget!” Aoi said.

I smiled at him, and Aoi reluctantly left.

Honestly, I had a great time.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll invite him into my home.

He’s drunk after all.

---

Once I got home, I took a bath, freshened up, and relieved my fatigue After getting out of the bath, I received a message from my brother.

“Heard you went on a date with an amazing guy! Good luck!” he wrote.

“Amazing guy? Who are you talking about?” I replied.

“You didn’t even look at the business card of your matchmaking partner?” my brother asked.

“I don’t remember being given any business card,” I replied.

“He’s a famous jewelry designer, right?” my brother continued.

“Oh, really? All I know is he’s a wild and handsome guy who’s good at cooking,” I replied.

In my brother’s last message, he wrote something interesting.

“Glad my sister is marrying a man.”

Wait, is he implying that Aoi is my future husband?

…I can’t deny it.

The thought of Aoi as my husband… Sorry, I couldn’t help but imagine him wearing a frilly white apron, welcoming me home.

Even though he’s a wild and handsome guy, it might suit him a bit?

I burst out laughing while holding my stomach. Please forgive me for that.

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Chapter 5 – Sea Bream Rice (Part 1)

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The place Aoi took me to was a high-class sushi restaurant. The middle-aged chef behind the counter had a stern expression, but when he saw Aoi, he softened and smiled.

“Chef, we’ll have tai meshi.” ^{* Tai Meshi or Taimeshi (鯛飯) is seasoned rice cooked with sea bream.} 

“Got it.”

Aoi slowly removed his wristwatch.

I remember my father used to say that in high-end sushi restaurants like this, they use single pieces of wood for the counter, and the restaurant dislikes customers scratching it, so it’s considered good manners to take off your wristwatch. Aoi is such a well-mannered and smart person.

“What would you like to drink?”

“For Japanese cuisine, it has to be sake, right?”

“Sounds good! Chef, we’ll have your recommendations.”

Aoi seems to be a regular customer here. It seemed like Aoi had complete trust in the chef.

“Here you go. Sake and a small appetizer, namero.”

The chef placed the namero and a bottle of sake in front of us. It’s probably a 720ml bottle, I think?

Aoi poured some sake into our cups from the bottle and then raised his cup for a toast.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers. We appreciate your hard work.”

For some reason, Aoi gave me a sly smile.

What’s with that?

“I like it when you say things like ‘We appreciate your hard work.’ or something like that”

“I see.”

Aoi quickly downed his sake in one go

I took a sip of the sake and then ate the namero.

“Mmm, this is heavenly!”

I unintentionally murmured.

Aoi, sitting next to me, asked, “Which one?” and reached for the namero on my plate with his chopsticks. I quickly defended my namero with my hand.

“Please eat yours.”

“It looks so delicious when Mikoto eats it.”

“Since I’m already eating it, I’ll finish it, so please give me yours.”

“No way!”

“Then just finish yours!”

When I said that, Aoi burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

” It’s fun interacting with Mikoto. Don’t worry about it. Ask me for anything you want. Everything here is delicious.”

“I have to consider my wallet. Otherwise, it’s tough before payday.”

Aoi stopped laughing and gave me a puzzled look when I mentioned considering my wallet.

“Don’t you want me to treat you?”

“If you’re treating, I won’t hold back!”

” Well, I’ll treat you… But, don’t women expect men to treat them? Isn’t that the norm? I’ve only dated annoying women.”

“So, that’s why you break up with them?”

Ah, I see, no wonder he doesn’t have much trust in women.

As I was thinking that, the chef served us a plate of sushi.

“Beautiful! I’ll devour it in no time! …Delicious and heavenly!”

I quickly finished the sushi set, and the head chef smiled at me.

“You really enjoy your food,” he commented.

“Hey, chef, don’t try to win over Mikoto by feeding her! I’m trying to win her over by feeding her and making her fond of me.”

“Win me over? That won’t happen.”

“She won’t?… How about these tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) here? They’re delicious too.”

“I want to try them! Chef, could you please?”

“Don’t try to win me over, Chef!”

The chef chuckled and started making the tamagoyaki.

“Your skills are shameful,” Aoi said to chef

“Thank you for today.”

“Huh?”

“At work, two guys approached me, my senior and junior. It was helpful.”

Aoi grinned and emptied his cup.

“Were they pestering you?”

“They said they would date me once I improve my cooking skills. They acted high and mighty, saying I should attend cooking classes because I’m not good at it. It’s annoying! There’s this idea that women should naturally be good at cooking.”

I also emptied my cup at once.

“No need to worry about that. I’ll handle the cooking, and you just enjoy the delicious meal.”

His words were touching enough to bring tears to my eyes. I couldn’t help but well up.

“Huh? Mikoto?”

“Sorry, I got emotional.”

“Are you actually crying?”

“Yeah. Aoi, you’re the first non-extinct type of guy who doesn’t belittle my cooking skills.”

“I’m curious if there wasn’t a better way to express that.”

He seemed to have caught on to me treating him like a rare species.

“Well, forget it. If Mikoto likes me, that’s enough.”

“You say that to various women, don’t you?”

“I don’t even need to flirt; women just come to me.”

“I’ll come to you too, but then I’ll run away.”

Silence fell between us.

“I won’t run away.” I said again to assure him

“Who knows? I’m looking forward to it.”

“Oh, you’re expecting something? Good boy, good boy.”

Aoi happily sipped his drink.

It’s a bit embarrassing, I feel ticklish.

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Chapter 4 – The Company Lobby

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Before Friday, I received a message from Aoi.

“I’m thinking of preparing dessert for Friday. Which do you prefer, tart or pudding?”

Excitedly, I requested the tart.

Well, I’m sorry for being greedy. But, the mille-feuille he made last time was insanely delicious…

And then, Friday came.

Thirty minutes before our agreed time of 7 o’clock, I should have plenty of time to get to the station if I left the office now.

Even though we agreed to meet at the station, I’m still not done with work.

Of course, it’s not because of my work.

I’m stuck cleaning up the mess left behind by my annoying junior and my senior, whom I hate for being too familiar.

“I’m taking a break.”

“What? Now?”

“This is not my work; it’s their mess.”

“…I love you, Iwabuchi-senpai.”

“I don’t need the love of an incompetent idiot!”

I called Aoi from the break room, in front of the vending machines.

After a short ringing, he picked up the phone.

“Aoi-san?”

“Yeah. What’s up? Did you already arrive?”

“No, I’m sorry, but my work isn’t finished yet, and I might be late.”

“I see. I don’t mind waiting, and I don’t hate it either.”

Hey, handsome, you’re too understanding! Shouldn’t you be angry or something?

Usually, men would say something like, “Which is more important, me or your work?” at times like this.

Well, it’s not like I’m dating Aoi or anything.

“Aoi, you’re too handsome and suspicious.”

“Haha, don’t worry about me. Just focus on your work. You love your work, right?”

“I do love my work. But I can’t wait to have that tai-meshi.”

“Hahaha, tai-meshi isn’t going anywhere. Well then, call me when you’re done.”

When the call ended, I thought to myself.

Among handsome men, Aoi has an attractive personality as well.

While thinking about tai-meshi, I went back to work.

---

“Iwabuchi, thanks for your help! Let’s go for a drink! I’ll treat you!”

“Iwabuchi-senpai, let me treat you!”

Honestly, I can’t stand looking at you guys anymore. Can I just say that plainly? No, maybe not, since it might make things uncomfortable at work.

“Sorry, but I already have plans.”

“What? Are your plans more important than going out for drinks with me?”

This guy, even though he’s my senior, does he think he can say anything he wants?

I want to punch him.

In my mind, I beat him up.

I walked towards the lobby without minding those two.

---

As I reached the lobby, I realized it was quite noisy.

What’s going on?

Curious, I approached the secretarial section, where my colleagues were making a lot of noise, giggling and chattering.

In the midst of them, Aoi-san, who had an oddly strained expression on his face, stood out, and I froze.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“What’s your income like?”

“Why did you come here?”

Uh-oh. I need to step in.

But it takes courage to interrupt them…

At that moment, Aoi and I made eye contact.

“Mikoto.”

“Aoi-san… Are you okay?”

Aoi-san quickly escaped from the secretaries and hugged me.

“I’m scared of carnivorous women.”

“Ah!”

Aoi-san’s deep and cool voice, which was oddly sexy, sounded right next to my ear, causing me to let out a strange sound.

After distancing himself from me, Aoi looked at me and chuckled.

“Sorry, it’s my fault.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Does he really think he’s at fault?

“…Wait a minute, Aoi-san, how did you know I work here? Wait, more importantly, where’s the souvenir? Why are you empty-handed?”

Seeing Aoi empty-handed, I realized something.

Where’s my tart?

“I left it at the shop because it’s a hassle to carry around.”

“Oh, I see! Let’s go eat now!”

“Yeah.”

---

We were about to leave when my senior and junior blocked our way.

“Who are you?”

“Iwabuchi-senpai, who is this person?”

Aoi-san looked puzzled for a moment before answering.

“I’m always grateful for Mikoto’s help. I am Aoi Kawakami, Mikoto’s fiancé. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

Aoi-san’s words stunned me. I looked up at him.

“Is there a problem?”

“Uh, no, I mean… Fiancé?”

“If things go well after a matchmaking, that’s what it means, right?”

So, that’s how it is?

Is it okay to skip dating and go straight to being fiancés?

Huh? What does that mean?

“Well, we won’t get married right away, but we’ll eventually, so please take care of me!”

Aoi smiled mischievously and put his arm around my shoulder, and I couldn’t make sense of anything, so I gave up thinking.

What’s important now is tai-meshi with tart, right?

Can someone please tell me that?

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