Minami stared blankly for a few seconds, then couldn't hold back a small laugh.
"That's exactly how it is, huh? Well, it's not like I could stop you now anyway, and there's no way I could stop my daughter once she's made up her mind."
The petite "little cucumber" clearly hadn't expected her mother to tease her like that. A rare look of fluster crossed her normally expressionless, delicate face, the tips of her ears slowly turning red. The blush peeked through the soft strands of her translucent, light green hair.
No words could fully capture the poetic beauty of the girl in that moment.
Mutsumi merely shrank back a little, hiding behind Haru's shoulder, unable to meet Mori Minami's gaze.
Haru, watching this, could only let out a sigh that was equal parts amused and exasperated.
"Since you two don't want the engagement to be too public, I won't bother with a party or formal reception. But I'm also not going to go out of my way to hide it."
The subtle meaning in Minami's eyes made Haru raise an eyebrow. That comment clearly meant she'd already decided to bind him to the Wakaba family.
Even if it wasn't announced far and wide, people around both Mutsumi and Haru would come to know about it. Others would naturally start associating the two of them as husband and wife.
Of course, the Togawa family would also be informed of the Wakaba daughter's engagement.
"…"
Mutsumi quietly furrowed her brows. She seemed quite bothered by her mother's unilateral decision.
She didn't particularly care if others found out about the engagement. What she did care about was that the news would reach Sakiko. After all, little Sakiko still hadn't found the courage to confess to Haru. If she suddenly found out that he was already engaged…
With her painfully fragile yet intense sense of pride, it was very likely she'd never dare approach Haru again, now that he was "spoken for."
"Haha, don't worry, don't worry. I've already thought that part through."
"Didn't I already say I wouldn't make a big deal out of it? At most, people will just know that Mutsumi's fiancé is the artist 'Yuuka,' who recently won the grand prize at the FIRST exhibition. Only a few of us in the family know Haru-kun's real name."
Minami, as if she could see the future, quickly explained, and the tension slowly melted from Mutsumi's face.
No matter how you looked at it, she clearly wasn't ready to let Sakiko know about this yet.
Seeing Mutsumi return to her usual composed, doll-like elegance, a quiet and serene grace akin to a work of art, Minami curved her lips into a faint smile. Then, tapping her finger against the table, she suddenly spoke in a tone of theatrical surprise.
"Now that I think of it, there's something rather important I remembered."
"I heard Haru-kun's been looking for a new apartment lately, right? The place you were living in before was too small, and a lot of things weren't very convenient. But spacious apartments like that aren't exactly common in Tokyo, and I bet you've spent a lot of time trying to find the right place."
Haru blinked in mild surprise. Catching the implication in her words, he quickly realized what she meant.
Mother-in-law dearest was about to shower him in gold, wasn't she?
With a bright smile, Minami seemed to read his thoughts perfectly. Without haste, she pulled out a key and gently placed it on the glass surface of the coffee table in front of both Haru and Mutsumi.
Under their watchful eyes, she took a delicate sip of tea, then continued nonchalantly with a smile.
"I happen to have a lovely detached house available. It's right in the center of Ikebukuro. Seems like it would suit you perfectly, Haru-kun."
"Thank you, Mom~ then I'll gladly accept."
"…You little rascal, like it'd be that easy."
The normally calm and composed young man, always so cool and collected, broke into a grin as he readily took the offered key without the slightest hesitation. Minami's eye twitched faintly at the sight.
Her expression stiffened as she stared at the black-haired boy, then she folded her arms and continued.
"Even if you call me 'Mom' in that charming tone, that's not enough. Use that clever little brain of yours and think a bit harder, would you?"
"Then, Mother-in-law, do you have any other requests?"
Haru's swift change in tone left Minami laughing despite herself.
"Actually, it's not anything particularly difficult."
"I just thought, that house is far too big for one person to live in. It'd be lonely, right? So I figured, why not use this chance to have Mutsumi move in with you?"
Living together?
"…"
Mutsumi blinked in surprise at the sudden suggestion.
She pressed down the nervous flutter rising in her chest and looked toward Minami with a questioning gaze. The woman simply winked at her meaningfully. Familiar with her mother's ways, the little cucumber immediately understood what she was getting at.
After all, proximity breeds intimacy.
Since Minami couldn't convince Haru to marry into the Wakaba family and become a live-in son-in-law, the next best option was to have Mutsumi establish her place beside him with a legitimate reason, as his fiancée.
That way, any other girls would think twice, and it would also help keep Haru from being led astray.
"No problem."
Haru agreed without a moment's hesitation. He had no reason to say no.
In fact, it worked out perfectly. He had been thinking the exact same thing.
Even if Minami hadn't brought it up, he'd planned to suggest having Mutsumi move in with him later. After all, from today on, they were officially engaged. No one had any right to object to the two of them living together.
And this would also give Mutsumi a chance to live freely, on her own terms.
Only after hearing Haru's firm reply did Minami's face finally relax with satisfaction.
"Well then, from today on, I'll be entrusting Mutsumi to you."
"Yes. You can leave her to me."
As her solemn voice filled the room, Haru, who had been holding his breath all this time, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Of course, the so-called "engagement" was still mostly a verbal agreement for now. Technically speaking, it wasn't an essential step before marriage.
From the moment Minami decided to entrust Mutsumi to him, the burden and chains that had weighed on the little cucumber for years finally began to dissolve. From this point on, she would be living a life of her own choosing.
"…"
The blonde woman sitting beside Minami was staring intently in their direction. Her unwavering gaze caught Haru's attention.
With a hint of curiosity, Haru furrowed his brow slightly, then asked in a gentle, courteous tone, "By the way, Mother-in-law, I've been meaning to ask since earlier. Who might this be?"
"She's an acquaintance of mine with a sharp eye for art appreciation. I believe I mentioned her to you before?"
"This time, she came specifically to meet you."
To meet him?
Just as Haru looked up, the cool, composed blonde sitting across from him swiftly pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it over. Her voice was calm and refined as she spoke.
"Pleased to meet you, Yuuka-sensei."
"I'm the regional art director for East Asia under the Illusion Group. You may call me Lan."
At her self-introduction, Haru raised his eyebrows. The "Illusion Group" she referred to was the organization behind the prestigious global art stage known as the Illusion Exhibition. For her to serve as the East Asia regional director meant she was a senior executive, someone with considerable power.
Still, it was puzzling that someone of her status would come to see him personally.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Haru."
Their handshake lasted no more than two seconds, just a formality. Haru then calmly withdrew his hand and began sorting through his thoughts.
Why would such a high-ranking figure come all this way for him?
Even though his alter ego "Yuuka" had just won the grand prize at the FIRST exhibition and received a burst of media attention abroad, he was still a newcomer, barely having made his debut. It didn't seem likely that someone like Miss Lan would come meet him one-on-one.
Perhaps sensing his doubts, the composed blonde woman continued speaking.
"Please don't overthink it. I'm here mostly in a private capacity."
"Mostly?"
Haru immediately caught the peculiar nuance in her words. Before he could ask further, she placed a bank card on the table and spoke in an official tone.
"First, I'm here on behalf of the FIRST exhibition organizers. This is the prize money for winning the top award."
That brought him back to reality. Winning the grand prize at the FIRST exhibition did indeed come with a three-million-yen reward. But with so much of his attention wrapped up in the wager, he'd completely overlooked that detail.
"And next comes the private matter."
"I happen to collect paintings and artwork as a hobby. I'd like to purchase your exhibited piece, CucumberAfternoon, in a private capacity. Regarding compensation, I'll offer the highest amount I can reasonably manage… roughly this figure."
As she said that, she held up one finger.
Haru blinked in mild surprise. From someone like Lan, a senior executive of the Illusion Group, one finger clearly didn't mean a hundred thousand or even a million yen. It was a flat ten million.
A faint glint flashed through Haru's eyes. He responded with a pointed remark.
"…I don't recall my work being worth that much."
"I believe the value of art isn't determined solely by the fame of the artist."
Miss Lan answered with effortless calm, then fell silent, waiting patiently for his reply.
Offering ten million yen was a sincere and considerable gesture on her part.
But Haru shook his head without hesitation. He spoke earnestly.
"I'm very grateful that you like the piece, Miss Lan. But that particular painting… I have no intention of selling it."
Beside him, Mutsumi slowly raised her head in a daze. A warmth spread through her as if it were soaking into her skin. When she turned, she saw Haru looking at her with a knowing half-smile. At once, she understood, and her eyes sparkled with quiet emotion.
That painting no longer belonged to Haru.
"I see. Then I've overstepped."
Miss Lan accepted the refusal without issue. She clearly wasn't the kind to push her way in where she wasn't welcome.
"One last thing, also on a personal note."
"I'd like to establish a professional relationship with you. I'm offering to act as your agent in the art world. I would handle all matters related to exhibition submissions, completely on your behalf."
"All you would need to do, Mr. Kazami, is focus on maintaining the quality of your work. Nothing more."
Haru frowned slightly, resting his index finger against his chin in thought.
In truth, he had very little time to handle such tedious matters himself. Every exhibition required piles of preparation, information gathering, and applications. Having someone as competent as Miss Lan take over as his full-time agent would certainly be a relief.
But what puzzled him most was why someone of her standing in the Illusion Group would personally offer to manage a newcomer like him.
"If I may ask bluntly… what's your condition, Miss Lan?"
She smiled lightly, as if she had been waiting for that question.
"As for payment… I'd only require the most basic arrangement."
"But I do hope you'll participate in the Illusion Exhibition, and within one year, win the Platinum Prize."
The Platinum Prize, second only to the highest honor awarded at the Illusion Exhibition, was an achievement that few in Japan had ever earned. In fact, even the lower-ranked "Gold Prize" had only been won by a handful of Japanese artists in history.
For someone like Haru, who had only been on the scene for less than two months, winning the Platinum within a year would be considered an impossible dream, a laughable fantasy.
Yet from Miss Lan's lips, it sounded anything but a joke.
That was her condition... harsh, by any measure.
But to Haru, it was a different story.
"I understand."
Since she had laid out her terms so clearly, he saw no need to quibble.
Wearing a confident smile, he extended his right hand toward the blonde woman. She returned a meaningful smile and clasped his hand without hesitation. Her voice, cool and calm, reached his ears.
"Well then…"
"Let's work well together."
…
Now this was what you'd call moving in properly.
When Haru unlocked the front door of the luxurious villa Minami had given him, a strange, indescribable expression crossed his face.
Because everything, starting from the entryway, was already perfectly in place. It was hard not to suspect that his extravagant mother-in-law had prepared it all well in advance.
Apart from the basic necessities like toiletries and slippers, the house was fully equipped with top-notch facilities and tasteful interior design. The three-story detached villa also included a spacious outdoor garden, and even the nameplate at the entrance had already been engraved with the name "Kazami."
In other words, all Haru needed was a change of clothes and his toothbrush. He could move in as easily as if he were strolling down a deserted street at three in the morning, without a single obstacle.
"…"
The dazed little cucumber still stood at the entrance, clutching her small bag, unsure of what to do.
Truth be told, after following Haru home, Mutsumi was still struggling to process everything. Becoming his fiancée was already overwhelming enough, but now they were suddenly starting their life together under the same roof. For Mutsumi, it was a shock beyond words.
From today onward, she would be living with Haru?
"Little Mutsu, why are you still standing there?"
Seeing the cute, dazed expression on her face, Haru couldn't help but chuckle. He waved her over and said gently, "We're home now, you know. If we don't start getting settled, we might not know where to sleep tonight."
"…"
Her brilliant golden eyes slowly widened. Usually calm and unreadable, they now shimmered faintly with moisture. She took a breath and, before Haru could react, suddenly dashed forward and threw herself into his arms.
"What's wrong, my dear fiancée?"
Though a little surprised, Haru smiled wryly.
"I'm… happy. I've never felt this happy before…"
"Thank you, Haru."
With her waist-length light green hair flowing like a waterfall, the girl looked up, her small hands hugging him tightly around the waist. Then, affectionately, she nuzzled her cheek against his chest.
Haru, who was notoriously weak to her cuteness, inhaled sharply.
"Mutsu, I suggest you reflect on your actions. You do realize your mother already left you in my care, right?"
Blushing, the girl tilted her head and replied in a soft, natural voice.
"…If it's you, Haru, I don't mind anything."
And just like that, he exploded...
Still, Haru managed to keep his composure. He couldn't exactly ravage her on their first day of moving in together.
Besides, Mutsumi had just begun this new life with him. Neither of them was fully mentally prepared yet. They needed a bit of time, even if only a little.
That said, some crimes couldn't go unpunished.
With that thought, Haru gently cupped her expressionless but slightly joyful face, and kissed her without holding back.
He kissed her face, her neck, her ears (three minutes straight) until she was flushed and breathless, her eyes glassy. Only then did he let her go, finally satisfied.
He guided her to the couch in the living room and poured her a glass of mango juice.
"We'll have to swing by the old apartment later to hire a moving company, get my cucumber plants, art tools, and all that stuff. Also, there's nothing in this house yet, no daily essentials, so I'll need you to come with me to the department store to pick up toothbrushes, cups, slippers, and the rest."
"All of this… I'll need your help, Mutsu."
The dazed little cucumber sipped her mango juice in small gulps and nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
Until now, as the daughter of a wealthy family, all aspects of her daily life had been handled by maids. Gaining her freedom from the Wakaba household meant she now had to learn everything from scratch.
Drawing herself back from her thoughts, Mutsumi reached out and tugged gently at Haru's sleeve.
"I asked the maids back home… about cooking methods, how to clean and do laundry, even how to sew torn clothes. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm not completely clueless anymore."
"…For you, Haru, I'll work hard."
Oh no...
Her power level was too high.
Haru took deep breaths to steady himself. This was only the first day of cohabitation, and he was already taking critical emotional damage from the cucumber sword princess.
If they lived like this for ten or fifteen days, he wasn't sure how long his self-control would last.
"I get the feeling you're trying to get kissed again, Mutsu."
"…"
Blushing, Mutsumi lowered her head and quietly sipped more mango juice.
Seeing her so adorably submissive, Haru sometimes seriously suspected she was doing it on purpose. Maybe she said those things just to provoke him.
The girl squinted her eyes mischievously and slowly scooted closer on the couch. Then, lips slightly parted, she hesitated before asking,
"Haru… should we tell everyone about us living together?"
"Hm? Of course we'll tell them."
Haru blinked naturally, as if surprised she'd even ask.
Mutsumi opened her mouth slightly, then frowned in thought. Her conflicted, troubled expression caught Haru off guard.
"Mutsu, is something wrong?"
"…Could we not tell anyone yet? About the engagement, or the fact we're living together."
Her soft, tentative request made Haru's eyes sharpen slightly. Normally, he treated all his girlfriends equally.
But Mutsumi clearly wasn't the type to abuse her position as his fiancée. If she was making a request like this, she must have her reasons.
And he quickly understood.
"Is it because of Soyo… or Sakiko?"
"…"
She only gave a tiny nod, but that was all he needed.
Even though Soyo had once emotionally unraveled in front of him, Mutsumi still hadn't fully regained trust in her. There was always a wall of caution between her and Soyo. As for Sakiko... well, that was easier to understand. Given her current emotional state, hearing this news would be far too much.
"I understand. But we should at least tell everyone about the move, right?"
"…Thank you, Haru."
Mutsumi nodded gently, then rested her head on his shoulder.
"There's really no need to thank me, though. You're only thinking of me, after all."
Seeing her cute, sincere expression as she thanked him, Haru couldn't help but smile faintly. Taking advantage of the moment while she wasn't looking, he slowly pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it in front of her.
"…?"
Mutsumi blinked in confusion, her gaze instinctively drawn toward the box.
And then she froze.
Inside the small box Haru held was a shining silver ring. Realizing what this was, she abruptly sat up straight, flustered beyond words. With zero experience in situations like this, she could only gape, unable to form a single response.
"Dear Miss Wakaba," Haru said with a teasing smile, "this is the engagement ring you ordered."
"If you don't accept it now, I might have to send it back, you know?"
The dazed little cucumber finally snapped out of it and, in a panic, reached out to grab the silver ring with both hands. Seeing her reaction, Haru dialed back the teasing and let out a warm laugh.
"Well, we are engaged now. Saying it out loud doesn't quite make it real, does it?"
"It's not some fancy expensive item, but think of it as a small keepsake."
With that, he gently took the ring from her hands and, under her completely flustered gaze, slid it onto the middle finger of her left hand. Even after it was fully on, Mutsumi remained frozen in place, her expression utterly blank.
She just stared at the ring in silence, not even reacting to Haru.
Crap. What was going on?
Was giving her a ring just for an engagement too much? Did it seem over the top to her?
"…Ahem, anyway, we should probably head out soon."
"We need to buy enough supplies before evening. Looks like your mom didn't pack you any extra clothes, and what you brought probably isn't enough. We'll need to get spices and condiments for cooking too, plus—"
Before he could finish, something stopped him cold.
The petite girl suddenly reached up, wrapped her soft arms around his neck, and kissed him with a gentle boldness Haru had never seen from her before. Even someone as self-proclaimed rational, unshakable, invincible, and strongest as Haru found himself completely stunned by the surprise attack.
It was a brief, feather-light kiss, and the moment it ended, she buried her bright red face.
"…"
Haru inhaled deeply.
At this rate, they might not be leaving the house at all today.