Daichi Moriyama woke up to thirty-seven unread messages.
Thirty.
Seven.
He stared at his phone like it had personally betrayed him.
Grandma: "Bring her for dinner tonight."
Grandma: "I already told Mrs. Tanaka you have a beautiful girlfriend."
Grandma: "Don't be late."
"…I'm dead," Daichi whispered into his pillow.
Last night's "emergency rental" was supposed to be a one-time thing. Just a quick photo. A small lie. A harmless act.
But apparently, fate had selected the "Hard Mode" setting.
His phone buzzed again.
Akari Hayakawa:
Good morning, Moriyama-kun. I assume this is about your grandmother?
Daichi sat up instantly.
How does she already know?!
How did you know? he typed back.
Three dots appeared immediately.
You panic-text at 1:13 a.m. only when family is involved.
…She was annoyingly correct.
4:30 PM – University Front Gate
Daichi adjusted his collar for the fifteenth time.
"This is just acting," he muttered. "Professional acting. Totally normal."
"Talking to yourself already?"
He froze.
Akari stood a few steps away, sunlight catching in her soft brown hair. She wore a pastel cardigan over a simple dress—effortlessly cute without trying too hard.
Daichi's brain short-circuited.
Off the clock, she had been sharp and blunt.
Right now?
She was pure girlfriend material.
She smiled sweetly. "Shall we, Moriyama-kun?"
His heart skipped. "Y-Yeah."
As they walked, she leaned closer and whispered, her tone dropping instantly.
"Relax. You look like you're being escorted to execution."
"There's no difference."
She suppressed a laugh. "Just follow my lead."
Before he could ask what that meant, she gently slipped her hand into his.
Daichi malfunctioned.
Warm.
Soft.
Why is this so realistic?!
Akari tilted her head innocently. "Your grandmother might see us before we reach the house. Physical proximity increases authenticity."
"P-Physical proximity?!"
"Scientific terminology helps reduce embarrassment."
"It does NOT."
She squeezed his hand slightly.
And for a split second…
It didn't feel like acting.
Moriyama Residence
The door slid open before they could knock.
"DAI-CHAN!"
His grandmother appeared like a love-seeking missile.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh my goodness… she's even prettier in person!"
Akari bowed gracefully. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Grandma Moriyama. Daichi-kun talks about you often."
Daichi choked.
I HAVE NEVER—
Grandma beamed. "He does?!"
Akari nodded, squeezing his hand again.
"Yes. He said you're the most important woman in his life."
Daichi's soul left his body.
Grandma sniffled. "What a sweet couple!"
This is emotional manipulation, he thought.
Professional. Emotional. Manipulation.
Dinner Disaster
Halfway through the meal, Daichi accidentally dropped a piece of tempura.
Akari calmly picked it up before Grandma noticed.
Then—
She wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue.
"Careful," she said softly.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Daichi's brain: Explosion noises.
Akari's eyes flickered for a moment.
Just a moment.
Then she leaned back, smiling perfectly.
"Clumsy as always."
Grandma clasped her hands. "You two are adorable!"
Daichi wasn't sure what was hotter—his face or the soup.
Outside the House – Night
They walked back toward the station.
Silence hung between them.
Finally, Daichi exhaled dramatically.
"You're terrifyingly good at this."
Akari folded her arms. "It's my job."
"Yeah but… when you held my hand earlier…"
She glanced at him.
"And?"
"It didn't feel fake."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Akari slowed her steps.
For once, she didn't have a rehearsed response.
"…That's because," she said quietly, "I don't like doing things half-heartedly."
Their eyes met.
The world felt oddly still.
Then—
"DAI-CHIIII!"
A voice rang from across the street.
A girl with long dark hair waved dramatically.
She jogged toward them with a grin far too confident.
"Mika Kanzaki," she said, eyeing Akari with open curiosity. "And you are?"
Akari's polite smile returned instantly.
"Hayakawa Akari. Daichi-kun's girlfriend."
Mika's eyebrow twitched.
"Girlfriend, huh?"
She stepped closer to Daichi—very close.
"So that's what you've been hiding from me?"
Daichi gulped.
Akari slipped her arm around his.
Mika smirked.
"Oh," she said sweetly. "This just got interesting."