After rounds and rounds of "friendly negotiations."
The first meeting between Kasumi Utako-sensei and future anime director Kosaka Akane successfully ended in a "parting on bad terms."
On the way home.
"What does she mean by 'Except for Vol 1 being barely readable, aren't the rest just pandering to otaku fantasies', Miyahito! Listen to that, is that even human language?"
"And 'The original's excessive, meaningless internal monologues will only drag down the anime's pacing. An anime like that will put people to sleep'. Hmph! I'm so mad!!"
"If she can't do it, she should just say so! Worst case, I'll go learn how to write scripts myself! I'm furious!!"
"....."
Suppressing the urge to laugh out loud, the corners of Miyahito's mouth twitching, he reached out and gently took the hand of his girlfriend, who was grinding her teeth with a "fiercely cute" expression.
Gently enveloping her cool hand with his warm palm, Miyahito softly coaxed her.
"Don't be mad, Utaha."
His fingers slipped casually between hers, lacing them together carefully.
"Didn't Akane-nee say at the end, 'I look forward to your script, dear Kasumi Utako-sensei'?"
Hearing this, Utaha turned her expressionless face to look at her boyfriend, whose expression was slightly odd, as if holding something back. She replied in a completely flat tone.
"Did you leave that out on purpose? What happened to the sentence right before that?"
"..."
Unable to answer, Miyahito fell into an awkward silence.
Noticing his troubled expression, and remembering the close ties between the Kosaka and Aragaki families, Utaha sighed softly, then asked casually.
"Kosaka... umm, Kosaka-nee was here to test me today, right?"
"?" Slightly stunned, Miyahito instinctively denied it. "No way, Utaha. Why would you think that?"
"Just a guess." Squeezing his hand slightly, Utaha lowered her eyelids and continued. "Hey, you told me yesterday your family and the Kosaka family are very close."
"You've known Miss Kosaka since you were little, and you've always treated her like an older sister."
"So, I wondered if your mom asked her to... um, test me?"
After speaking, Utaha didn't hear Miyahito's reply.
As he remained silent, her heart unconsciously grew tense.
The next second.
Losing patience slightly, Utaha sighed internally and slowly tilted her face up.
However, the moment her gaze landed on his face, what appeared in her wine-red eyes was her boyfriend's completely doting smile.
Seeing her confusion, Miyahito smiled, raised his hand, and curled his index finger.
Snap—!
"Mmm... Ouch! Miyahito! What are you doing!"
Flicking her fair forehead lightly, Miyahito smiled without a trace of apology. While gently rubbing the slightly red spot with his thumb, he said.
"What are you thinking? This isn't a TV drama."
"Besides, my parents would never do something so boring."
"As for Akane-nee, well, how should I put it... She's basically just an upgraded version of Kasumi Utako now. Ouch..."
(Utaha kicked Miyahito's shin)
"Well, she wasn't always like this."
Listening to him, Utaha still felt defiant and wanted to argue back.
"But..."
"No 'buts', Utaha." Suddenly stopping, Miyahito turned to face her, taking her other hand as well.
Then, slightly raising their interlocked hands, Miyahito's eyes sparkling with amusement yet his tone utterly serious, said.
"Remember this, Utaha."
"My parents already approve of us being together. So stop overthinking all those unnecessary things, okay?"
Remembering what his mom had said on the first day of summer break, Miyahito's lips curled into a playful smirk. He leaned down slightly and whispered in Utaha's ear, who still looked somewhat disbelieving:
"Also, my mom actually asked me when I'm finally bringing you home so the whole family can meet."
With an imaginary poof.
A deep crimson rapidly climbed from Utaha's slender, fair neck up to her delicate cheeks.
"I-I-I-I... I..."
Watching his girlfriend, face completely red, head lowered and stammering, Miyahito internally screamed 'Kawaii! So kawaii! Utaha is the best!' He couldn't help but chuckle out loud.
At that, Utaha, already extremely shy, turned her embarrassment into playful anger and abruptly shook off her giggling boyfriend's hands.
She turned on her heel and marched forward with her head down, steps quick and flustered.
Seeing this, Miyahito blinked for just over a second, then immediately chased after her without a second thought.
"Hey! Utaha, why are you walking so fast?!"
"I-I... go away! I don't want to see you right now!"
"Ah, don't be like that!"
"..."
After walking a short distance, their bickering taking on the unmistakable tone of lovers' teasing.
"Are we still going to my place tonight?" Miyahito turned his head to ask. His cheeks were strangely flushed, looking almost like pinch marks. Utaha, meanwhile, looked refreshed, as if all her earlier frustration had evaporated.
"If so, we can skip the grocery store. We still have ingredients from yesterday. I can make tempura, your favorite."
Hearing this, Utaha thought for a moment.
"Mmm~~ let me think. Tonight... yeah, tonight let's go to my place!"
After speaking, Utaha winked at him, her voice carrying a deliberate, meaningful undertone.
"I've already slept in your bed, but you've never spent the night at my place, Miyahito."
"..."
So, Utaha just completed her "daily temptation" quest?
Raising his left hand with a curled index finger as if to flick her forehead again, Miyahito playfully threatened her. Seeing his girlfriend glare back defiantly, as if saying "I dare you to try," he replied with mild exasperation.
"I'm a guy. How can I just casually spend the night at a girl's place?"
"So what you're saying is," Utaha replied, slightly offended, "I'm the kind of girl who casually spends the night at a guy's place?"
"No."
Miyahito smiled, lifting their tightly interlocked hands. He gently pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand and said.
"You're Aragaki Miyahito's future bride. My home is your home."
"So, staying over means staying home."
A faint blush unconsciously colored her delicate features. Slightly turning her face away, Utaha suddenly acted like a stubborn little girl.
"I don't care. Tonight, you have to stay with me."
"Yeah! Even if it's until morning! I want to wake up and see you right there!"
Tonight... sleep together?