"HIKARI!? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Hikari's mom entered the room, her eyes widened with shock when she saw her daughter tangled in a blanket with Yuuto. The air was filled with tension.
Rika and Ren, who had been standing by, exchanged awkward glances before backing out quickly.
"Uh, let's go, man," Ren mumbled to Rika, pulling her toward the door. "This is, uh... a code red."
Yuuto, frozen in place, his heart dropped. His face turned a deep shade of red as he stammered, struggling to find words.
"M-Maam, I—I didn't— She, uh—!"
Her mom raised her hand, cutting him off. "You three...go home."
Yuuto struggled to get up. Hikari keeps pulling him inside.
Murmuring, "Mhmm...Don't go." Still half asleep
Yuuto's heart raced, and his face turned even redder. He forcefully gets out of Hikari's grip, tripping over the blanket in panic.
Yuuto grabbed his bag with trembling hands, bowed deeply, and muttered, "I'm sorry!" before walking out in tiny, embarrassed steps, thinking-
"Why is this happening to me?! All I did was help… and now I'm going to die from embarrassment…"
Once everyone left, Hikari's mom sighed heavily, crossing her arms as she scanned the room. She noticed the well-cooked porridge, the medicine bottle on the table, and the cooling patch on Hikari's forehead.
Finally, her gaze softened as she turned to look at her daughter, who was still sleepy.
"Well," her mom said, smirking a little, "Looks like you've been well taken care of."
After some time
Hikari wakes up still half asleep, "Nnh.." And notice her mom sitting near her.
"Mom, when did you come?"
Her mom raised an eyebrow, her voice teasing. "I don't know what you think you were doing, but when you're wrapped up like that…"
Hikari's face flushed bright red. "W-WHAT?!"
Her mom chuckled softly. "You don't remember?"
"Remember what?!"
Her mom said, "You were all cuddled up with him. Yuuto, right? He made you porridge, gave you medicine, put a cooling patch on your head, and then you pulled him into bed and fell asleep on his chest."
Hikari's face turned into a tomato. "I—I didn't—! I didn't mean to—!"
Her mom just looked at her, amused. "Oh, I'm sure. So, what's the deal with you two?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Hikari stammered, avoiding her mom's gaze.
Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because it sounds to me like you've got a boyfriend now."
Hikari's eyes went wide. "A—Boyfriend?!"
Her mom was grinning. "Isn't that right?"
Hikari mumbled, too embarrassed to look at her mom. "…Yeah…"
Her mom blinked in surprise. "Wait, really?"
"…Yeah…" Hikari muttered, trying to hide behind her blanket.
Her mom tilted her head, now genuinely curious. "I always thought you didn't have time for guys. So, how'd this happen?"
Hikari fidgeted uncomfortably, clearly not expecting to be questioned like this. "It's… complicated."
Her mom leaned in slightly, sensing the hesitation. "Complicated how?"
"Well… I— I confessed to him a few weeks ago, and, uh… he agreed to date me, but only as part of a game."
"A game?" Her mom blinked, surprised.
Hikari nodded slowly. "Yeah. Whoever falls in love first… loses. So we're just… playing."
Her mom's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, that's your idea of dating?"
"I—I didn't think it through!" Hikari blurted, flustered. "I just thought it would be fun."
Her mom leaned back, crossing her arms, her expression shifting. "So, let me get this straight. You two started dating… and it's all just for fun?"
Hikari avoided her mom's gaze, looking sheepish. "Well… yeah. Kind of."
Her mom raised an eyebrow, her voice softening. "So… what if you really do fall for him?"
Hikari's face turned even redder. "I don't know. I didn't really think that far."
Her mom smiled knowingly. "But you like him, don't you?"
Hikari froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't find the words. "I… I don't know. I mean… maybe…"
Her mom chuckled lightly. "I'm your mom, Hikari. I can tell when you're acting all shy. You definitely like him."
Hikari shifted uncomfortably, then whispered, almost to herself, "He's nice to me. Really nice. And he never makes me feel bad… even when I act stupid."
Her mom's voice softened. "That's a good sign."
"I… I don't want to lose him," Hikari admitted quietly, her eyes welling up. "He's the only one who really cares about my inner self, not my beauty."
Her mom sighed, a warm smile spreading across her face. She placed a hand on Hikari's back. "Then don't let him go. You've got something real here."
Hikari looked up at her mom, blinking through the tears. "But… what if he wins? What if he leaves?"
Her mom gave her a reassuring smile, her voice gentle. "Love isn't a game, Hikari. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. But if someone makes you feel safe, seen, and understood… that's not something to play with. That's something to hold on to."
Hikari's eyes shone with newfound determination. "I will. I'll make him fall in love with me."
Her mom nodded, clearly proud. "That's the spirit. You've got this."
"And next time, lock the door. I don't want to walk in on my daughter spooning some boy again."
Hikari: "Moooooom!!"
"Okay, okay. Good night."
"Good night, Mom."
Hikari's mom left the room, turning the light off.
"Tomorrow," Hikari whispered, curling under the blanket with a small smile. "I'll show him how much he means to me."
(Meanwhile, Yuuto lay in bed wide awake, staring at the ceiling… unsure why his chest wouldn't stop pounding.)
To be continued....