Dinner Preparation

I got home and went straight to my room, almost running.

I closed the door behind me and threw myself onto the bed.

(I hope everything goes well…) — I thought apprehensively.

The silence didn't last long.

Knock , knock , knock .

Someone was knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked , already imagining who it could be.

"It's me, Himari ," replied the cheerful voice from the other end.

I sighed.

"Don't you have chores to do around the house?" I asked.

"Oh, escaping for a few minutes is no problem. My mother won't notice. Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Aoyama aren't home," she replied quickly.

— I understand… but what do you want? — I asked her what she wanted.

"I want to talk to you about something," she said.

I frowned.

"I'll open it, but I hope you don't want to rub your head against my chest like you always do," I said.

"Don't worry," she said, in a tone that was far too serious for her.

"I really need to talk to you," she continued in a serious tone.

I opened the door.

Himari went inside quickly and I closed the door right after.

"So? What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked .

She crossed her arms and looked me up and down.

"You were tense this morning. After lunch you left in a hurry. And now you've come back even more tense. What's going on?" Himari asked, worried.

"It's kind of complicated..." I tried to disguise.

"Don't worry. I'm trustworthy. I won't tell your parents anything," she said, more calmly.

I ran my hand through my hair, pacing back and forth across the room.

(Should I tell her? I've confided many secrets to Himari before ... and never had any problems.) — I was confused, but I'll trust her.

I sighed.

— Okay … I'll tell you. — I replied.

I told them everything.

Dinner.

The director.

The arranged relationship.

The rental girlfriend.

And, of course, the most absurd detail of all: she's my university classmate.

When I finished, there was a second of silence.

After…

Hahahahahaha !!​

Himari started laughing loudly, almost falling off the bed.

"I can't believe it! Your parents try to set you up with a boyfriend , you run away by renting a girlfriend... and to make matters worse, she's from your university! This is like a cheap romantic comedy plot!" she said , laughing.

"That's not funny," I complained.

"And I need you to help me," I asked her.

She wiped away a tear from laughing so hard.

"How can I help?" she asked.

"If you notice that Kanzaki is tense, try to break the tension. Don't let anyone suspect anything," I said seriously.

She tilted her head, thoughtfully.

"I'll only accept on one condition," she replied.

(I'm even afraid to ask…) — I thought, already suspecting what it could be.

"What condition?" I asked her.

She smiled.

"Can I rub my face against your chest?" Himari replied.

I closed my eyes.

— … Okay . — I replied.

I lifted my shirt slightly, resigned.

Himari came closer and rested her face against my chest, rubbing it in an exaggeratedly pleased manner.

" Ahhh ... that was really good," she said happily.

"Now I'm going back to work," Himari said.

She left the room as if nothing had happened.

The door closed.

(I really hope everything works out…) — I thought.

An hour later, I heard the sound of the front door opening.

My mother had arrived.

And somehow, my heart started beating even faster.

I left the room still trying to organize my thoughts when I saw her.

My mother was standing in the hallway, with five shopping bags dangling from her arms, three in one, two in the other, as if it weren't at all uncomfortable.

Even so, she smiled.

"Hello, my Riku . I did some shopping," Ayane said , in that calm tone that always kept me on my toes.

She lifted the bags slightly.

"I bought a suit for you to wear to dinner," she said, all excited.

"I understand..." I said.

She walked past me too slowly.

"I'm eager to meet this girlfriend of yours," she said in a low, mischievous tone.

(She knows. She always knows.) — I thought apprehensively.

But no…

She didn't know everything.

She had no idea that I had rented a girlfriend.

"You'll be happy when you meet her," I said, trying to sound natural.

Ayane tilted her head slightly.

"By the way... what's her name?" my mother asked.

My heart skipped a beat.

— Kurokawa … Mio — I replied..

"I understand. A beautiful name," she said , smiling.

She handed me one of the bags.

"Now go take a bath," she ordered.

I agreed.

I left the bag in the room and went straight to the bathroom.

I got into the bathtub and sank up to my shoulders.

(How did it get to this point?) — I thought.

I had already memorized the lines.

I had already practiced expressions.

But none of it seemed like acting.

It seemed like… survival.

(If Mio gets an answer wrong… if I get it wrong… if my mother notices…) — I thought desperately.

I closed my eyes.

(It's just dinner. Just tonight.) — I thought this nightmare would end today.

I got out of the bathtub, dried myself off, and went back to the room.

The suit was too expensive.

Too tight.

Too perfect.

I dressed carefully.

The reflection in the mirror didn't look like a college student.

He looked like someone ready to be judged.

🕕 6:30 PM

I went downstairs to the living room.

My mother was sitting on the sofa, impeccable as always.

I sat next to her.

"Your father texted. He'll be here around 7 p.m.," Ayane said , looking at her phone.

"I understand... He probably told the staff he'd be leaving early," I replied .

"By the way , what time is your girlfriend arriving? The Midorikawa family arrives at 7:30 PM," she continued , crossing her legs.

"She arrives at 7:15 PM," I replied.

"I understand," my mother said.

The silence that followed was uncomfortable.

My mother was watching me.

Not as a mother.

But like someone evaluating a poorly rehearsed role.

🕖 7:00 PM

The front door opened.

My father came in.

"Is everything ready?" he asked. Shin , taking off his jacket.

"Yes. Akane and Himari have everything ready," he replied . Ayane .

My father then looked at me.

"That's good," he said.

🕖 7:17 PM

I looked at the clock for the third time.

Nothing.

No message.

No signal.

(She was supposed to arrive at 7:15 p.m.) — I began to think worriedly.

My stomach started to churn.

I discreetly picked up my cell phone.

No notification.

The clock showed 7:18 PM.

And, for the first time since this absurd idea began…

I thought maybe I had gone too far.