Chapter 1 - Meeting the Family ( 1 ) "Haruki! Don't be so tense. We're just meeting my parents," Satomi said with a cheerful smile, giving him a gentle nudge. "Umm... o-okay..." Haruki stammered, his hands awkwardly resting on his lap. "They'll be here soon. Just relax, okay? They're not that scary," she laughed, reaching out to smooth the line forming on his forehead. Haruki nodded, but inside, he felt tightness in his chest. It wasn't exactly fear — it was something else. Maybe it was because they were meeting for the first time at a fancy Japanese restaurant, the kind where even breathing too loudly felt wrong. The air carried a faint smell of tatami mats and nice incense. Outside the private room, he could barely hear the quiet sounds of the staff moving around. Before Haruki could find a way to explain how he felt, the sliding door creaked open. He quickly sat up straighter. A serious-looking man walked in first — his face sharp and cold. Behind him was a woman... no, a girl ,slim and graceful, with her face mostly hidden behind a pale mask. She walked in quietly, keeping her eyes down. Her kimono was a soft blue with pretty flower patterns that moved gently with her steps. Haruki instinctively stood up, almost knocking over the small tray of tea next to him. "A-ah... g-greetings..." he stammered, bowing awkwardly. The serious man nodded briefly before sitting on the cushion across from Haruki. The woman followed him, sitting elegantly beside him without looking up. The room felt smaller to Haruki, and the heavy silence weighed down on him. After a long moment, the man spoke in a deep, strong voice. "I am Harusawa Satoshi. Satomi's father." Haruki quickly bowed again, his palms sweaty. "It's... it's an honor to meet you, sir. Thank you for meeting me today." He fumbled to sit back down, still feeling the sharp look from the man. "And this," Satomi said with a cheerful smile, noticing the tense atmosphere, "is my mother." The woman bowed her head slightly in greeting, her hands neatly folded in her lap. But she didn't say anything. Haruki offered another awkward bow toward her. "I-I'm honored to meet you as well..." The woman simply nodded, her face mostly hidden behind her mask. ( Kyouko image on comment ( Click here ) ) Haruki swallowed hard, glancing at Satomi, silently asking her to help him through this awkward situation. This wasn't going to be easy. Haruki clenched his trembling hands, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. "I-I... I ask permission... to marry your daughter!" he blurted out, his voice cracking halfway through. Without thinking, he bowed very low into a deep dogeza, his forehead touching the shiny wooden floor. The room went quiet, all surprised. Behind her mask, Kyouko let out a soft, muffled laugh, quickly hiding it with her sleeve. Satomi's cheeks turned very red as she gently elbowed her mother in silent protest. Satoshi, the serious father, just shook his head and took a long, tired breath, as if he was wondering what his daughter saw in this nervous boy. "Very well," Satoshi finally said, his tone flat and heavy, like a judge giving a verdict. Haruki paused for a second, unsure if he heard him right. Satomi leaned toward him and whispered quickly, "Haruki, you can sit up now..." Realizing he was still kneeling, Haruki hurriedly got back into a sitting position and bowed again. Soon after, the sliding door opened again. A line of helpers brought in food — a beautiful spread of seasonal dishes arranged carefully. They all bowed politely before leaving the room, and the family started eating. Haruki picked up his chopsticks with trembling hands, silently hoping he wouldn't make himself look worse. Satoshi, always serious, broke the silence first. "So, Haruki," he said, calmly. "Where do you work?" Haruki stiffened, his chopsticks stopping midair. "I-I work at... um... Yamashita Corporation... in the design department," he answered, stumbling over his words. Satoshi nodded slightly, his eyes steady. Satomi looked at Haruki from the side, giving him a gentle, encouraging smile — like saying, you're doing okay, don't worry. While Satoshi and Satomi ate normally, Kyouko moved carefully, picking at her food little by little. She kept her mask tight on her face, tilting her head just enough to sneak bites of food behind the cloth. "Kyouko," Satoshi said, frowning. "You can take off your mask while we're eating." Kyouko just shook her head without saying a word. Her hands folded neatly on her lap for a moment, then she kept eating quietly and carefully. Satomi sighed softly. "Mom! Haruki's going to be your son-in-law soon. You don't have to be so shy!" Kyouko only smiled gently behind her mask, her eyes a little crinkled at the corners. She shook her head again, refusing to speak. Haruki, feeling a bit nervous, bowed his head awkwardly toward her. "I-It's... really an honor to meet you, ma'am," he mumbled, almost dropping his chopsticks. Kyouko's eyes softened briefly, showing a quiet kind of approval she didn't say out loud. The rest of the meal was a strange mix of heavy talk, nervous laughter, and long silences. The atmosphere felt even heavier because of Kyouko's quiet presence. When the last dishes were taken away, Satoshi looked at his watch and let out a quiet sigh. "It's time for us to go," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But Papa~!" Satomi pouted, gently pulling on her dad's sleeve. "We didn't even talk much yet — about the wedding, or where to have it, or anything..." Satoshi gave her a small, almost apologetic smile — the first warmth he showed all night. "Sorry, Satomi," he said. "My company is still small... and I have a lot of work to do." Satomi's shoulders sank a little. "Mm... okay. I understand..." Satoshi stood up, fixing his suit. "You can decide where to hold the wedding. I approve." Then, he turned his sharp gaze to Haruki, who immediately straightened, heart pounding again. "And Haruki?" "Y-yes, sir?" Haruki answered, his voice almost breaking. Satoshi narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly checking him one last time. "I trust you'll take good care of my daughter... right?" Haruki, trying to be brave, bowed deeply once more. "Yes, sir! I swear I will!" Satomi giggled quietly, clearly amused by how nervous Haruki was. Meanwhile, Kyouko stood up quietly, still wearing her mask, still silent — but her eyes lingered on Haruki for a moment. There was a tiny smile hidden behind her cloth. It was a quiet approval. One that didn't need words. ( End Of Chapter )