5.2

The Next Day.

By the time I reached school the next morning, my nerves were shot. I hadn't slept a wink, and every scenario I'd imagined during the night only made me more anxious. Kaori, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. She greeted me in class with a casual, "Good morning," like nothing had happened.

"Hey, are you free after class?" she asked, her voice low enough that only I could hear.

"Uh, yeah, I guess," I replied, trying not to stutter. "Why?"

"We need to buy you some new clothes," she said matter-of-factly.

"Clothes?" I echoed, confused.

"Yes. You can't meet my parents looking like…" She trailed off, gesturing vaguely at my wrinkled shirt and scuffed sneakers.

I looked down at myself, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

She raised an eyebrow but didn't bother answering. Instead, she handed me a slip of paper with an address on it. "Meet me here after school. Don't be late."

And just like that, she was back to flipping through her notebook, as if the conversation we'd just had was no big deal. Meanwhile, I couldn't focus on anything for the rest of the day.

...

At the Shop.

When I arrived at the place Kaori had written down, I felt like I'd stepped into another dimension. The place was full of sleek suits, polished leather shoes, and mannequins that looked more expensive than my monthly rent. This wasn't just a shop; this was a fortress of high-end fashion. I didn't belong here.

Kaori was already inside, flipping through a rack of blazers like she owned the place. When she spotted me hovering awkwardly near the door, she waved me over without a second thought.

"Try this," she said, holding up a navy suit jacket that looked like it belonged to a CEO.

I took one look at the price tag and nearly passed out. "Uh, isn't this a bit much?"

"Don't worry about the cost," she said, brushing off my concern. "I'll handle it."

Now, let me just say something here, okay? Man, my pride cannot handle this. I'm the kind of guy who dreams of spoiling his girl, buying her everything she wants, making her feel like a queen. That's what guys are supposed to do, right? Not that Kaori's my girl—we're just pretending. But still! The fact that it's reversed right now and she's the one spoiling me? It's messing with my head, big time.

"Are you sure? I don't want to—"

"I said I'll handle it," she repeated, her tone sharp enough to cut through my hesitation.

Reluctantly, I took the jacket and headed to the fitting room. As I shrugged it on, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The suit fit perfectly, transforming me from a scruffy college kid into someone who actually looked... decent. Maybe even good.

When I stepped out, Kaori was waiting, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe.

"Hm. Not bad," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You actually clean up pretty well."

"Gee, thanks," I muttered, feeling my face heat up under her gaze.

Man, I'll admit, there's something satisfying about earning her approval, even if it's just for show.

...

At the Sugiyama's House.

That evening, I found myself standing outside Kaori's family mansion. Calling it a house would've been an insult. The place was massive, practically a palace, with towering gates that could probably withstand a zombie apocalypse.

Kaori appeared beside me, looking completely unbothered. "Ready?" she asked.

"No," I admitted.

She smirked, clearly amused. "Too bad."

Before I could protest, she rang the doorbell.

The door swung open to reveal Kaori's mother, a poised woman whose sharp eyes could probably see right through me. "Kaori, you're late," she said, though her tone wasn't particularly harsh.

"Sorry, Mom," Kaori replied smoothly. "This is Yuto, my boyfriend."

Her mother's gaze shifted to me, and I suddenly felt like a bug under a magnifying glass. "N-nice to meet you," I stammered, bowing awkwardly.

Her eyes lingered on me for a moment before she stepped aside. "Come in."

Inside, the house was just as intimidating as the exterior—crystal chandeliers, polished wood floors, and artwork that probably cost more than my entire existence.

Kaori's father was seated in the living room, a stern-looking man who barely glanced up from his newspaper. When he finally did, his gaze was like a laser beam.

"So, you're the boyfriend," he said gruffly.

"Yes, sir," I said, trying to sound confident even as my palms started sweating.

Kaori's mother raised an eyebrow. "Kaori, didn't you say you weren't interested in dating? Something about it being a distraction from your studies?"

Huh, so she's been saying that, huh? Focused on her studies, huh?

Kaori didn't even flinch. "Oh, Mom, I was just joking. Of course, I have a boyfriend. I mean, look at me. How could I not?" She flashed a confident smile, radiating enough charm to light up the room.

Whoa. That level of confidence is actually kind of amazing. Gotta say, I'm impressed.

"By the way, what's your name, boy?" her father asked, his gaze still pinned on me.

"Oh, come to think of it, I didn't tell you yet," Kaori said before I could respond. "Dad, meet Yuto. Iwasaki Yuto."

Her father nodded, his expression unreadable. "All right, Yuto. Man to man, let me tell you one thing. Don't make my daughter cry. That's the only rule you need to follow." He sighed, a hint of regret flickering across his face. "I know I'm not around much because of work, but I love my daughter more than anything."

Whoa, her dad might seem intimidating, but that's actually... kinda sweet. A good dad, even if his delivery needs work.

"Yes, sir," I said, trying to sound steady.

Kaori placed a hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. "Dad, be nice," she said with a teasing smile.

Her father grunted but said nothing more.

The rest of the evening was a blur of questions: How did we meet? How long had we been dating? What were my intentions?

Dude, stop. A day has passed. You guys are not even dating. What are you talking about, bruh? This is insane.

I stumbled through my answers, but Kaori was quick to jump in, weaving such a convincing story that even I started believing it.

...

By the time we left, I was drained—mentally, emotionally, everything. But as we walked back to the gate, Kaori turned to me, a satisfied smile on her face.

"You did well," she said.

I blinked at her, surprised. "Really?"

She nodded. "Really."

As I walked home that night, her words replayed in my head.

"You did well."

Maybe this fake relationship—my part-time job—wouldn't be so bad after all.