Evening, Utaha's apartment.
"How about I just do it?" Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the room, Miyahito looked at his girlfriend, who was standing in the hallway using the small kitchenette to make dinner, with a face full of worry.
"Mm..." Wearing a cute pink cat apron, Utaha's pretty face full of confidence couldn't help but curve into a smile. She shook her head, turned around, and looked at her boyfriend sitting on the floor with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Relax, Miyahito!"
"Although it might not be as delicious as yours, I'm a woman who has gone through cooking special training. So, look forward to it, darling. (>▽<)"
Finishing her words, Utaha blinked, revealing a rare charming expression, and blew a kiss of love toward her boyfriend.
However, faced with his girlfriend's flying kiss, Miyahito not only didn't play along, but his gaze gained even more worry, and even a trace of anxiety.
"Knife, knife, knife! Utaha, put the knife down first!"
"Seriously, I know, okay." Putting down the sharp kitchen knife, Utaha puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction, feeling underestimated. She didn't say a word and continued cutting the ingredients on the cutting board.
"..."
Seeing this, Miyahito had no choice but to turn around, scooting his butt across the floor to move himself back to the small table.
Sighing secretly, he picked up his pen, trying hard to shift his attention to the science homework in front of him.
If he didn't do this, Miyahito would end up anxiously watching Utaha cook the whole time.
Gurgle gurgle—!
A slightly shaking pot emitted a beautiful melody of deliciousness. Coupled with the rhythmic chopping sounds and the sizzling of the frying pan due to the Maillard reaction, they together composed a symphony named 'Dinner'.
Accompanying the symphony in the room, the warmth of 'home' slowly spread in this small but fulfilling room, like the spring rain that moistens things silently, unconsciously seeping into the hearts of Utaha and Miyahito.
"Miyahito."
Carefully observing the changes in the beef in the frying pan, Utaha called her boyfriend's name in a gentle tone.
"Hmm?"
Busy fighting his lifelong enemy (science), Miyahito didn't look up and replied with a slightly distracted tone.
"How was it? Today."
With nimble movements, she flipped the sirloin steak in the pan. Utaha slightly turned down the stove's heat and looked up at her boyfriend, who was working hard on his homework.
"How did you get along with the senpais? Did you prepare the visiting gifts in advance?"
"Mhm, we got along pretty well." Hearing this, remembering the fun things that happened at Shuchiin today, Miyahito couldn't help but put down his pen with a smile.
Supporting his upper body with both hands behind him, he tilted his head back, looking at Utaha behind him with an inverted line of sight.
"I just didn't expect everyone in the Student Council to be my fans. Well, except for Miyuki-nii."
"What a coincidence."
Looking up at her boyfriend in slight surprise, noticing the little smugness on her dear's face, Utaha felt a hint of amusement.
Seriously, he's still like a kid who never grows up.
"Yeah, yeah." Seeing Utaha smile, Miyahito couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips too. "Luckily I listened to you and prepared an album for everyone. Shinomiya-senpai, Fujiwara-senpai, oh, and Ishigami-kun were all very happy."
"Mhm, mhm, Miyahito is the best." Utaha nodded very cooperatively, then picked up a soup spoon and gently scooped a small dish of pork miso soup that was almost done cooking, and smiled.
"So, here's your reward. Help me taste it."
"Oh! Lucky!" Without thinking twice, Miyahito scrambled up from the floor and happily hopped behind his virtuous girlfriend.
Leaning his head forward and resting his chin lightly on his girlfriend's shoulder, Miyahito also greedily pressed his cheek against her tender cheek and opened his mouth childishly.
"Ahh~~"
"Drink it yourself."
Although Utaha acted complaining, the upturned corners of her lips and the obedient action of bringing the tasting dish to her boyfriend's mouth betrayed her true feelings.
"How is it? Is it too salty?"
"Delicious! The taste is just right."
It had to be said, Utaha's soup truly exceeded Miyahito's expectations.
Originally, upon hearing that this girl who had never cooked before and sometimes even helped him make a mess was going to prepare dinner for him... Miyahito was already prepared to say it was delicious no matter what he ate.
However, the current situation truly gave him a big surprise.
"Good job on the special training, Utaha."
Gently wrapping his arms around his girlfriend's slender, easily grasped waist, Miyahito intimately rubbed his cheek against her exquisite, fair face.
"Hmph~~" Enjoying her boyfriend's intimate interaction, Utaha tilted her chin up with a hint of smugness. "Satisfied already? Mom taught me a lot of secret moves, you know."
"Mother-in-law! I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!"
"What are you saying? That's my mom."
"Not yet. Soon she will be."
"Hmph, that's not necessarily true."
"Eh? Does Utaha not want to marry me?"
"That depends on whether my dear Mr. Miyahito can pass my dad's trial."
"Mm....." Miyahito frowned deeply, putting on an expression of deep thought.
And Utaha, noticing the little expression on her boyfriend's face with her peripheral vision, not only didn't feel any sympathy, but the smile on her face grew even richer.
"Hmph~~"
After "pondering deeply" for nearly a minute, Miyahito, seemingly having come up with a plan, leaned close to Utaha's ear as she happily hummed a tune. His expression was grave as he said,
"How about I invite your dad out for drinks? I know some people at Takagi Shuzo and can get a bottle of their Juyondai."
"Hah?" Utaha looked at Miyahito as if questioning her life choices. "Why on earth would you want to get my dad drunk?"
"And why do you even know people at Takagi Shuzo?"
"Well, Dad just took me to a banquet at their brewery when I was a kid," Miyahito replied casually. Then, looking earnestly into Utaha's eyes, he added with a hint of smugness, "How's that for a plan? Men bond over drinks. Once your dad has a few cups, he'll realize I'm a good man worthy of entrusting his daughter to!"
"You just want to get my dad blackout drunk."
Utaha shot a flat, unimpressed glare at her boyfriend and his terrible ideas. She wriggled slightly in his embrace, her tone laced with impatience. "Go set the table. It's time to eat."
"Eh..." Miyahito started to protest his reluctance, but one glare from his girlfriend shut him up. Without a second thought, he scrambled off to set the table.
Sigh. It seems I really need to rack my brains if I want to marry Utaha with her dad's blessing.
"Let's eat!"
"Itadakimasu! Whoa, Utaha, this sirloin is amazing!!"
"Then eat more."
"Love you, Utaha."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't just eat meat, have some vegetables too."
"....."