After much pleading and almost signing a written guarantee that he "would absolutely not do anything inappropriate or hurtful to Utaha before graduation," Miyahito finally earned Kei's trust, officially passing the supervision baton from his mother and sister.
Watching the Shirogane siblings return to the neighboring apartment, Miyahito turned back into his home, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.
Hearing the door open, Utaha, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, looked up at Miyahito walking into the living room with a completely deadpan, 'my life is over' expression, and smiled.
"Weren't you just seeing Miyuki-senpai and Kei off? Why did it take so long to come back?"
"Ah." Responding with a single syllable, Miyahito plopped onto the sofa, leaning back with utter exhaustion.
Seeing this, Utaha placed the last clean bowl on the drying rack, wiped her hands on her apron, untied it, and hung it on a wall hook.
After a thought, she poured a glass of cola from the fridge, carried it on a tray to the living room, sat down beside her boyfriend, handed him the cola, and smiled. "What happened now?"
His throat feeling like it was on fire, Miyahito didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took the cola and gulped it down in one go before speaking.
"Got lectured for a really long time..."
"Hmm?" Utaha's wine-red eyes curved, her lips lifting slightly as she asked. "Why the sudden lecture? Did you do something wrong again?"
"No." Miyahito sighed helplessly, his tone utterly drained. "Kei warned me: no impure relationships, don't do anything that might hurt Utaha... or else she'll tell Mom if she finds out."
"Seriously, I'm not some pervert filled with dirty thoughts. How could I do those things... Wait, Utaha, what's with that look?"
Looking up, Miyahito caught Utaha's gaze, which clearly said "Are you sure you wouldn't?" His mouth twitched.
"..."
"Eh?"
Finally realizing her boyfriend's complicated expression, Utaha quickly averted her eyes, puffing her cheeks slightly as she mumbled, "I-I mean, of course Miyahito isn't that kind of boy. You definitely couldn't do anything anyway."
"...."
Utaha, do you realize what you just said?
Irritated but fond, he lightly tapped the head of his girlfriend, whose thoughts had clearly gone astray. "What are you thinking, Utaha? We're still young."
".....Hmph, I know that without you telling me."
Seeing her clearly dissatisfied expression, Miyahito truly felt exhausted.
Really, can someone please teach me how to handle a girlfriend who's incredibly well-endowed, unpredictably charming, and loves to playfully tease him?
Lightly pinching her puffed cheek, he got his hand swatted away in annoyance. Smiling helplessly, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.
Then, he slowly leaned back against the sofa cushions.
Utaha, now in his embrace, didn't resist. Instead, she naturally relaxed, resting comfortably against his chest.
For some reason, neither spoke. They just quietly leaned on each other, immersed in the silent, warm tranquility.
As time ticked away, suddenly...
Tracing circles on his chest with her fingertips, Utaha tilted her face up, looking at her dazed boyfriend, and called his name softly.
"Miyahito."
"Hmm?"
His fingers idly playing with a strand of her long hair, Miyahito responded absently. "What's wrong?"
"At the agency today, were you recording a new song?"
Remembering the first time she'd seen her boyfriend recording, Utaha asked curiously.
"Also, Maki-nee said you usually just hand finished tracks to the agency for release. Why did you suddenly go to the studio to record today?"
Hearing this, Miyahito's fingers stopped. He sat up slightly and nodded.
"Yeah, I used to record everything at home and give it to Maki-nee."
"Then why this time....."
"This new song is different." Miyahito smiled, lightly tapping the nose of his curious girlfriend. His tone was half-joking, half-serious. "It's the theme song for Love's Metronome, made for you. The home equipment isn't up to the required standard."
Utaha paused, instinctively wanting to say, 'Eh, I looked it up online, your home setup is already professional?'
But the next second, she understood.
"Yeah, exactly." Seeing that she'd figured it out, Miyahito didn't wait for her to speak and smiled in confirmation. "The home gear is good enough, but I still want to give you the absolute best."
"Miyahito....."
Suddenly, an indescribable, deeply gentle warmth flooded Utaha's heart.
"My Utaha."
Lifting his head slightly, gazing into her wine-red eyes that were gradually welling up, Miyahito gently raised both hands, cradling her flawless, delicate face, and spoke with doting affection.
"How could I bear to give you anything less than the best? Besides, this is Kasumi Utako-sensei's first major step. Of course, I have to pave the road ahead with the best song I can make."
As he spoke, Miyahito silently made a decision in his heart.
At most, I'll stick with it until November. If it still doesn't work by then, I'll scrap "Love's Metronome."
I can't take risks. This is her first anime adaptation.
Besides, it's not a big deal to just use another song from my past life like before.
After all, the worlds are different. No one will ever know... Everyone will just think it's the work of genius singer Miyani.
However.
Just as Miyahito made that quiet decision, a fleeting trace of disappointment flashed in his dark eyes, and Utaha noticed it.
Why? Is the new song not going smoothly?
Mistaking that disappointment for creative frustration, Utaha gently thanked him for his hard work.
"You've worked hard, my dear Mr. Miyahito."
Then, she slowly leaned down.
Pressing a soft, light kiss to his unconsciously closed eyes, she intimately pressed her warm body against his solid frame.
Her ear pressed against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, Utaha murmured softly.
"I'm so glad I get to love you."
Hearing the emotional confession in his ear, Miyahito paused for a moment, then smiled softly as he reached out to wrap his arms around his girlfriend.
"Me too."
Being with you is my greatest happiness.