"My parents want to have you over for dinner again," Hiroshi said during one of their Wednesday evening café sessions. "Now that we're officially dating, they want to celebrate properly."
Aiko smiled, thinking about the Tanaka family she already knew well through her friendship with Yuki. "That sounds lovely. Your mother's cooking is amazing."
"They're excited about us being together. My mom keeps saying she always hoped you and I would figure out our feelings for each other." Hiroshi grinned. "Apparently, Yuki has been not-so-subtly suggesting we'd be perfect together for months."
"I should have known Yuki was matchmaking," Aiko laughed. "She's been asking me about you constantly since I got back from Spain."
Sunday afternoon found them walking up to the familiar Tanaka household, where Aiko had visited many times as Yuki's friend. But this time felt different—she was arriving as Hiroshi's girlfriend, not just as his sister's classmate.
"Welcome back, Aiko!" Mrs. Tanaka greeted them at the door with her usual warmth. "Though I suppose I should say welcome to the family now."
"Mom," Hiroshi protested, but he was smiling.
"What? I'm just happy you two finally figured it out," Mrs. Tanaka said, leading them inside. "Yuki owes me money—I bet it would happen before the end of the year."
"You bet on us?" Aiko asked, surprised.
"Of course we did," Yuki called from the kitchen. "You two were so obviously perfect for each other, it was painful watching you dance around your feelings."
The dinner was warm and familiar, but with a new dynamic now that Aiko was there as Hiroshi's girlfriend rather than just Yuki's friend. The family treated her with the same warmth they always had, but there was an added sense of celebration and acceptance that made Aiko feel truly welcomed into their circle.