When Shirakawa Sawahei woke up, Tsukimi sakurazawa had already gotten up as usual, quietly covering him with a blanket before doing her own washing up. He rubbed his eyes, a bit surprised at how early this girl’s biological clock was... He thought waking up around six-thirty was diligent enough, but it was nothing compared to Tsukimi sakurazawa.
Thinking back, it made sense. Last night he struggled with a pained expression until one o’clock before barely managing to fall asleep, which was certainly no comparison to someone drifting into sweet dreams early. He sat up dazed for a while before starting to tidy the bed. After washing up, he returned to the room and turned off the heater.
"Hey, Shirakawa, you’re awake."
Tsukimi sakurazawa pulled open the wooden grid, carrying a simple bowl of noodles over. "Aunt and uncle said they went to town early to buy something and wouldn’t be back for lunch, so it’s just us figuring out our lunch."
"What did they go to buy?"
"Probably getting things ready for the New Year. Plus, since you rarely come back, Aunt said she’d get something nice for you to eat."
"Do I really need to eat something nice?" Shirakawa Sawahei wondered out loud, "You didn’t stop her?"
"Nope, I can’t. I’m now the sweet and adorable girlfriend, how could I question Aunt’s decisions?" Tsukimi sakurazawa blinked, "Isn’t that right, Mister Boyfriend?"
"How was your sleep last night?"
Shirakawa Sawahei’s face darkened, "Woman, you’re playing with fire."
"Ah~ Your complexion doesn’t look that great..." The girl’s charming eyes filled with a playful glint, drawing out her tone, "Hungry? What do you feel like eating?"
"You’re right, first, I’ll eat you up."
"Ugh... Shirakawa, are you crazy... Eat the noodles first, we’ll talk later, or they’ll get cold."
"I didn’t volunteer for this." Shirakawa Sawahei shrugged, "Later, you can’t bail on me."
"That’s not certain. Messing around is a girlfriend’s prerogative."
"No way, my Tsukimi has always been well-behaved. Never unreasonable or backing out."
"Okay, okay, don’t look at me like that, eat breakfast first, won’t you... it’s almost cold..."
Tsukimi sakurazawa handed him a bowl of noodles decisively while propping her chin and supervising his breakfast. Shirakawa Sawahei had no choice but to address breakfast before trying any of his shameless play.
"Alright, I’m done eating... about that kiss..."
Before he could lift his head to make his move, Tsukimi sakurazawa had already grabbed her bowl and chopsticks and slipped out through the wooden partition. Watching his nimble girlfriend’s departing figure, Shirakawa Sawahei couldn’t help but throw up a question mark.
Fooling your boyfriend’s feelings?
The things related to a girlfriend, you don’t seem to bother with!
Despite his grievances, Shirakawa Sawahei wasn’t about to drag her over for a spanking. Resigned, he clapped his hands in surrender before leaving the room, closing the partition as he went.
The mountain village air was refreshing and pleasant, with scenery that spoke for itself. Shirakawa Sawahei stepped outside for a stretch, as dawn’s light slowly brightened, revealing the distant mountains like a maiden’s veil, with an understated beauty. He looked around at the setup, the wood was neatly chopped and stacked, so chopping it was not his job, leaving him to reach for the broom to sweep the courtyard of leaves and debris.
The scene seemed peaceful and serene as if he and Tsukimi sakurazawa had entered an early retirement, secluded in the mountains.
In fact, Tsukimi sakurazawa, watching Shirakawa slowly and leisurely sweep the courtyard, felt that same warm and serene vibe. She took out her phone on seating to capture a photo of her boyfriend, but finding every angle unsatisfactory, she gave up the idea, stowed her phone, and continued to appreciate the sight of the reformed playboy turned hermit with her eyes.
"What are you looking at me for?"
"You’re weird. This place is so big, how do you know I’m looking at you?" Tsukimi sakurazawa laughed, "Maybe I’m just taking in the views?"
Shirakawa Sawahei thought about it, decided reasoning with his girlfriend was futile, put the broom down, and approached to show Tsukimi sakurazawa what not to take advantage of a playboy’s charms for free.
"Shirakawa... What are you doing! Stop fooling around... Will you just sweep properly... Ugh... If you keep on, I’ll have to call out."
It created the feeling of teasing a virtuous woman, Shirakawa Sawahei sighed and gripped Tsukimi’s hand with added intensity.
That was the feeling, a playboy must resemble one. When a girl protests, it really means yes, right?
"Alright... Stop messing around... You haven’t finished your chores." Tsukimi sakurazawa giggled, "Maybe I’ll help sweep a little if you let go... It’s so ticklish..."
Once their daily couple sweeping chore was done, Tsukimi sakurazawa excitedly expressed her wish to raid a squirrel’s stash on the mountain.
Is it possible to stop being human first thing in the morning? Should I just laugh at you?
As the ideal boyfriend, Shirakawa Sawahei silently pondered and promptly refused the suggestion. Though he was locally native, it had been a while since he visited, so venturing deep into the mountains could easily lead to accidents...
Tsukimi sakurazawa visibly pouted, looking pitifully at him. A chink appeared in Shirakawa Sawahei’s defenses, and he conceded, "Strolling along the mountain trail is okay, but not too far."
"If you want, we can check out the shrine ruins that collapsed after the earthquake."
"Yay~ Shirakawa, you’re the best. Let’s go reminisce about the old shrine!"
Recently, his resistance to Tsukimi had visibly decreased... In the past, he could turn her down with a straight face... He even held out till she used her pleading tactics before caving... But not now, a single look and he surrendered...
Looks like I’m in trouble... With such softness, can one still play the bad boy role?
Next time, I’ll be stronger! Yes, definitely next time! Original content can be found at novel※fire.net
Shirakawa Sawahei silently promised himself, then followed his girlfriend to head up toward the mountain shrine.
Ise Yu Yuka, wearing an apron, called upstairs, receiving a faint response before silence descended again. After a long time, the lazy girl reluctantly came down to eat her portion of lunch.
"Hubby, with the New Year around the corner, should we buy more rice cakes? We might have guests coming over then, right?"
"Didn’t I buy some yesterday?"
"Hm? Did you? I don’t recall?"
"They’re in the fridge... Have you traveled until you’re dizzy?"
The parents began their daily exchange, seemingly blind to their daughter’s absent-mindedness.