Itsuki, Call Me Mother

"Going to Kuromori-kun's house?"

"That's right."

Haruto spoke seriously: "Itsuki, trust me, I promise I won't bother you anymore."

'But I was just bullied!'

Itsuki bit her lip hard. She thought she had already given up.

'What should I do? Refuse? What if Kuromori-kun doesn't want something like this? After all, I misunderstood him, but he just kissed me and didn't even give me a chance to react.'

He always felt so dangerous!

After hesitating for a moment, Itsuki still didn't refuse. She felt that Haruto wasn't that kind of person.

Now he was her boyfriend, and as his girlfriend, she had to take responsibility.

Since they were in a relationship, something like this would happen sooner or later.

So even if Haruto truly wanted to bully her, it didn't matter.

Compared to a place like that, the apartment where Haruto lived actually wasn't acceptable.

"I-I understand." Itsuki tightly held Haruto's hand, lowered her head, and said in a barely audible voice: "But... this can't take too long, or Nino and the others will worry."

She had just gone out for a meal, and it could be done in two hours at most.

Ten minutes later.

In front of a standalone house, Haruto stopped and said, "This is the place."

Kasugano.

Itsuki glanced at the nameplate, softly singing it, and nervously asked, "Kuromori-kun, are we at the wrong place?"

"No, this is it."

Haruto rang the doorbell and briefly explained.

Itsuki whispered, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked so many questions."

Haruto shook his head, unconcerned.

He had cared about it a lot when he was younger, but as he grew older, he understood.

Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. When a couple no longer loves each other, it's better to part ways than to torment each other!

His parents had divorced peacefully. Now, both had remarried, and both sides seemed to be living happy lives.

This was actually a good thing.

Besides, because of it, Haruto had two more cheeky younger sisters. Not to mention Sora, his mom had already booked a German orthopedic hospital. Even though Nanako lacked integrity, was clingy, and had many shortcomings, he didn't actually dislike her.

Especially when Nanako acted cute and flirtatious, he even found her adorable!

But that didn't mean he would spoil Nanako.

Itsuki took a step forward, quietly holding his hand, gathering her courage, and whispered softly, "Kuromori-kun, I'll stay with you from now on."

"Mm."

Haruto held her hand and looked at the serious expression on her face, feeling a slight pang of embarrassment in his heart.

But in a moment, he crushed that feeling.

Embarrassed?

Sorry, he didn't need that.

Time was short; he just needed to not regret it!

Soon, the door opened.

Nanako ran out wearing sandals, shouting in distress, "Onii-chan, mom is bothering me."

Haruto: "😐"

Without causing trouble, it's impossible to learn a lesson.

Haruto caught Nanako and looked up.

A beautiful, gentle middle-aged woman with long black hair appeared at the door, holding a kitchen knife.

What was she doing with a kitchen knife?

Had she discovered something and planned to kill her kin for justice?

Haruto twitched the corner of his mouth slightly: "Sorry, I came back late."

"No, Haruto-chan."

The mother spoke softly, then looked at Nanako and smiled: "Nanako, what did you just say?"

Nanako shivered and quickly buried her head in Haruto's arms, her slender body trembling: "Onii-chan, please save Nanako."

"It seems Nanako still hasn't learned her lesson."

The mother's voice was gentle and unhurried, paired with a smile on her face.

Itsuki shivered.

'Is this Kuromori-kun's mom? She feels so scary!'

❀❀❀

They entered the living room.

Nanako quickly ran upstairs.

Seeing this, the mother showed a stressed expression: "Nanako hasn't been reading at all today, she only knows how to play. If she keeps acting like this, even I will get a headache."

"So that's why you grabbed the kitchen knife?"

"Haruto-chan, what do you mean~"

The mother raised the kitchen knife, smiling as she said, "Actually, I was just preparing ingredients, and I didn't intend to scare Nanako at all~"

Haruto's face remained expressionless: "Have the ingredients been prepared?"

"Since the cutting board is broken, I haven't gotten to it~"

Haruto covered his forehead, speaking weakly, "I'll cook."

After speaking, he carried the ingredients into the kitchen.

In the living room, the mother held Itsuki and chatted.

"Sorry about earlier, Itsuki-chan, I didn't scare you, did I?"

Itsuki blushed and waved her hand, "Auntie, I-I'm fine."

"Wrong."

"Eh?"

The mother spoke seriously: "Itsuki-chan should call me 'Mom.'"

"..."

"What's wrong? Do you not like Haruto?"

"N-No."

'If I didn't like him, when he suddenly kissed me earlier, he'd have been punched so hard he wouldn't be able to defend himself!'

Itsuki placed her hand on her chest, quietly feeling the subtle emotions in her heart.

Actually, she liked him a lot.

"But Itsuki-chan doesn't want to call me 'Mom~'"

"Eh—?"

Itsuki snapped back to reality, her eyes widening in shock.

The mother smiled and said, "Itsuki-chan, call me 'Mom.'"

"I-I... Mom~"

Itsuki covered her face and stammered. Finally, she turned and looked toward the kitchen with a sad expression.

'Kuromori-kun, help!'

In the kitchen.

Haruto's face darkened: "Mom, don't bully Itsuki."

"Is that so?" The mother pondered for a moment: "But I really like Itsuki-chan~"

Even so, the matter eventually came to light.

Although Itsuki didn't mind calling her "Mom," and even wanted to, she had no choice but to do so. The girl's quiet nature and shyness made it difficult for her to say it easily!

It was truly unbearable for her!

In the kitchen, Haruto opened the steamer and saw the boiling potatoes inside.

If his guess was correct, his mom probably wanted to make boiled beef, as there were beef cuts and various seasonings beside it!

Haruto let out a soft sigh.

His mom wasn't good at cooking. No, she was really bad at it.

Not because her skills were poor, but because she often got confused, forgetting one thing or another.

For example, the boiled beef was supposed to have potatoes added, and while the potatoes were almost cooked, the beef and other ingredients were still set aside.

His mom couldn't even notice such an obvious thing!

Although it was hard for Haruto to understand, he had to accept this reality.

"There's no other way but to make up for it."

He put on an apron and got to work.

The ingredients in the fridge were also lacking.

That's why he had invited Itsuki to buy ingredients, because without buying more, it wouldn't be enough!

After all, it was Itsuki's first visit, so he wanted her to feel satisfied.

Thinking about this, Haruto glanced at Itsuki in the living room. At this point, Itsuki was slowly relaxing and wasn't as nervous as she had been at the beginning.

Although his mom seemed like a yandere, and it was a bit scary, she wasn't actually... Maybe.

But regardless, his mother had always been someone very gentle in his eyes.

She wasn't very capable and often let her children worry about her.

But... As far as outcomes went, bringing Itsuki home today was definitely the right choice!

Time passed without them realizing it.

Haruto stepped out of the kitchen and saw Itsuki happily playing with Nanako. Seeing Itsuki's ahoge bouncing with joy, he knew that this girl had been captured by Nanako's sweetness.

At some point, the mother came over and said with a smile, "Itsuki-chan is great~ I really like her. So, Haruto-chan, when do you plan to get married?"

"I'm calling Sora."

Haruto said his goodbyes firmly and headed straight upstairs.

He knocked on the door.

No response.

Haruto wasn't surprised. He had brought home a girlfriend. It would be strange if Sora was still in a good mood!

"Sora, I'm coming in."

The door was locked, but to Haruto, there was no difference between locked and unlocked.

"Wait~"

As Haruto opened the door, Sora's panicked and slightly urgent voice came through.

But it was too late.

In the next moment, Haruto opened the door.