"Mom."
Hearing her mom praise her boyfriend like that, Sajuna couldn't quite handle it and quickly called out to her mom.
Sayouye's mom indeed showed no intention of stopping, continuing to express her thoughts.
"I'm truly grateful to Akira-kun."
"Not only for taking care of Sajuna during this time, but also for wanting to take care of Sajuna in the future, Akira-kun."
Sayouye's mom tilted her head and asked,
"Akira-kun, you want to be with Sajuna forever, right?"
"Isn't that obvious!"
Akira quickly explained that he wasn't the kind of scumbag who toyed with people's feelings.
From the moment he started pursuing Sajuna, Akira had already prepared to spend his entire life with Sajuna.
"So, Akira-kun, do you have any future plans?"
It's here. The imagined question about the future arrived as expected.
Akira thought to himself.
"Auntie, since I'm still a student, I can't make enough promises yet."
Akira's tone shifted, "However, I'm already trying my best to plan for the future."
"I've published a light novel, which is quite popular now, and I expect the royalties to be substantial."
Sayouye's mom nodded; she wasn't very concerned about Akira's career.
After all, she knew that Akira only had his grandfather as a relative, and for him, an orphan, to live happily was already very difficult.
"So, Akira-kun."
Sayouye's mom couldn't help but smile, looking at Akira-kun, who was sitting with Sajuna across from her.
He was a boy who had suddenly appeared in Sajuna's life, but now he seemed so comforting.
"Have you ever considered getting engaged to Sajuna?"
"Engaged!"
"Eh? Engaged!"
"Sister is getting engaged!"
Three different voices rang out. Shinju, who had been quietly watching Akira -elder brother meet her mom, couldn't help but exclaim.
Her sister had only been dating Akira -elder brother for less than half a year. Was it really reaching the engagement stage so quickly?
Thinking of her sister transforming from a university student to a newlywed wife, Shinju felt herself starting to fantasize.
Her sister would be so cute like that too.
Sajuna's face turned completely red, and she was at a loss for words.
"Engaged, engaged to Aki-Kun."
She instinctively glanced at Akira, saw him gazing at her gently, and Sajuna's body suddenly softened.
"Getting engaged to Aki-Kun was something I secretly fantasized about before."
Why was she suddenly panicking now that it was right in front of her?
"Akira-kun, what do you think of Auntie's suggestion?"
Akira turned to look at Sayouye's mom, his expression as happy and content as before.
He probably didn't mean to test his feelings, right?
Akira couldn't help but think to himself, but then he felt there was no need to test such a thing.
After all, this was just an engagement, not a marriage.
So, under Sayouye's mom's expectant gaze, Akira slowly nodded.
"If Sajuna agrees, I am willing."
"Eh, eh, I'm going to get engaged to Aki-Kun."
"Sajuna, you don't want to?"
Sayouye's mom smiled, interrupting Sajuna's mumbling.
"Eh, yes, I do."
As Sajuna spoke, she couldn't help but want to bury her face in Akira's embrace.
Akira looked at Sajuna's conflicted expression, reached out and gently put his arm around Sajuna's shoulder, and Sajuna naturally leaned into Akira's embrace.
Her cheek pressed against Akira's chest, listening to Aki-Kun and her mom's conversation.
"You two are really close!"
Sayouye's mom suddenly changed the subject, as if she hadn't mentioned the previous topic, and said,
"But I shouldn't interfere too much in your affairs. Letting things happen naturally is best, after all."
Sayouye's mom saw her foolish daughter nestled in Akira's embrace.
"Akira-kun has always taken good care of Sajuna."
Compared to her past, Akira-kun was truly a boy who respected Sajuna.
Akira stroked Sajuna's hair in his arms and looked seriously at Sayouye's mom, replying,
"Thank you for your trust, Auntie, regarding the engagement with Sajuna."
Akira saw Sajuna lift her head from his embrace.
"If it can bring more happiness to Sajuna, I am very willing to do it."
Akira hesitated for a moment but still spoke.
"However, for Sajuna right now, it's still a bit too early."
"I really want to use my future to guarantee my love for Sajuna, but if that's the only way to give Sajuna enough security in love, then I, as Sajuna's boyfriend, would be quite a failure."
"So, thank you, Auntie, for allowing us to let things happen naturally."
Seeing Akira's serious expression, Sayouye's mom couldn't help but wave her hand.
"Actually, what I say doesn't really count! Sajuna's Dad will definitely object then."
"However, since Sajuna's Dad doesn't know Akira-kun very well, let's take things slowly with Papa-san."
Sayouye's mom's face also showed a look of comfort.
"I will help Akira-kun win over Papa-san."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Akira quickly thanked her.
After discussing Akira and Sajuna's matters, the group began to eat quietly.
Sayouye's mom's gaze at Akira and Sajuna grew more and more satisfied, which put Akira at ease quite a bit.
"Auntie, I'll do the dishes."
Akira saw Sayouye's mom start to clear things away and quickly went to help.
"Akira-kun is a guest. How can we let a guest do such chores?"
"After all, I'm Sajuna's boyfriend, so I guess I'm family now."
Akira said nonchalantly.
If he hadn't insisted earlier, he would be called Sajuna's fiancé now.
Seeing Akira's nonchalant attitude, Sayouye's mom wavered, looked at Sajuna, who was full of anticipation beside her, and changed her mind.
"Akira-kun is right."
"Then you and Sajuna can do the dishes together."
"Okay."
"Then why don't you go rest, Auntie? Sajuna and I are enough to do the dishes in the kitchen."
Sayouye's mom paused, looked at the two of them, and seemed to understand something.
"You want some space for yourselves, do you?"
"Mom!"
Sajuna stomped her foot, trying to retort.
After Sayouye's mom left the kitchen, Akira and Sajuna took out aprons, tied them on, and began to tidy up the dishes and chopsticks after dinner.
Since it wasn't their first time doing housework together, the two had a clear division of labor: Akira was responsible for the initial scrubbing, while Sajuna ensured the tableware was clean enough.
Akira handed over a bowl, and while Sajuna took the bowl and diligently washed it, he shook the water from his hands, then slowly tucked a strand of hair from his cheek behind his ear, feeling a sense of happiness.
If it could always be like this, that would be pretty good.
Akira couldn't help but think.