I Was Sleep-Deprived at a Matchmaking Meeting and Ended Up Engaged - Chapter 35

“Hanami-san, I brought the pickles~”

One evening.

Yoshie arrived at the house holding her young child in her arms and rang the doorbell.

She had been asked by her mother-in-law, Hanami, to deliver some mail-ordered pickles to Hanami’s sister, Fuka’s house.

“Ah, thank you. Why don’t you come in for a bit?”

Hanami, who came to the door as if she owned the place, said this.

No, I’d rather not. I’m nervous. While the house looked ordinary at first glance, she’d heard the master of this house was from an incredibly wealthy family.

What should I do? I need some excuse to leave… — Just as she tightened her grip on her young son,

“I’m home~”

A voice suddenly came from behind her.

Startled, she turned around to see a slim, tall beauty—the kind you’d see in commercials—standing there.

“Ah, good evening.”

The woman smiled amiably.

This was the eldest daughter of the house, Fujimiya Ayato. When Yoshie had gotten married, Ayato was a university student. Back then, and even after she started working, Ayato always seemed busy, so Yoshie hadn’t seen her much.

By the way, when Ayato stood right beside her, Yoshie noticed something clearly.

—Her waist is so high!

“Ah, Ayato. Why don’t you play with Hiromi for a bit?”

“Hiromi-kun~, you’ve gotten so big~”

As the beautiful woman brought her face close and smiled, her son easily betrayed his mother and was effortlessly picked up.

Hanami scolded Ayato,

“Your way of holding him is dangerous. What if you drop him, my precious grandson! More importantly, can you even hold your own child like that? Are you sure?”

But such tension faded once she went inside and started talking with the family here. Everyone was friendly and interesting to talk to.

And it was a big help that Ayato was playing with Hiromi. Ayato seemed to be sitting with Hiromi on the rug in front of the TV, playing word-chain with him. Recently, word-chain seemed to be Hiromi’s latest obsession. Apparently, they all played it together on the kindergarten bus.

“Su, su, kaa. So, watermelon.”

“You already said that~”

Hiromi puffed out his cheeks and told Ayato.

“Then, watermelon splitting.”

“Ri… Umm. Apple splitting!”

My son, that’s cheap! There’s no such thing, but even as she thought this, Ayato started thinking,

“Ri…”

She’s continuing for him. She’s kind, Yoshie thought with a smile, when Ayato said,

“Squirrel… I said that too, huh. Then, squirrel splitting!”

Ayato’s beautiful face was beaming with a full smile, but… In Yoshie’s mind, a cute squirrel was being split in two on a tree stump.

—She’s not kind at all!

Even during these word-chain breaks, Ayato kept glancing at her smartphone. Was she expecting a message from someone special?

Come to think of it, she’d heard Ayato-chan’s wedding was approaching. I wonder if it’s Ayato-chan’s fiancé. He must be a wonderful person~.

Just then, Ayato’s phone rang. It was perfect timing, as Hiromi had just said,

“Mamirin” —his friend’s name—ending the word-chain game, so Ayato hurriedly answered her phone.

“H-hello?”

Her slightly flushed, flustered demeanor made Yoshie think, Ah, maybe it’s her fiancé.

“Ah, is that so— Right now, Hanami-chan and the others are here”

When Ayato said she couldn’t really go out, Hanami asked,

“Keiki-san?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I have plans to meet Kai-san, and he asked if I wanted to get dinner together.”

When Ayato said this, Hanami replied,

“Oh, in that case, why don’t both of them come here? I’ll whip up something light. —My sister will.”

…So, you’re not making it yourself.

When Ayato relayed this over the phone, it seemed both of them said they’d come over.

Hanami turned to Yoshie and explained,

“Both Kai-san and Keiki-san are very important guests.”

My mother-in-law is really sharp when it comes to work, Yoshie thought, when soon enough, ding-dong, the doorbell rang.

Coming~, Ayato went to greet them.

While Fuka was reheating dinner, Ayato returned with a tall, solidly-built handsome man. He had a broad chest and looked good in a suit.

“Oh, that was quick, Kai-san.”

“I happened to be nearby.”

Kai smiled.

He’s wonderful. Is this mature, charming, wonderful person Ayato-chan’s fiancé? They suit each other well.

“…Now that I think about it, we’ve gathered quite a few people.”

Hanami murmured.

“Since it’s a good opportunity, why don’t we play mahjong after dinner?”

—What, and how, is this a “good opportunity”?!

Yoshie thought she heard someone mutter, Just the right pigeons have arrived.

Hanami had the sharp profile of a true gambler. No, she’s supposed to be an insurance auntie! More importantly, you just said they were important guests, and now you’re calling them pigeons?!

Just as she thought this, ding-dong, the doorbell rang again.

A tall man with refined features had arrived.

I can’t choose!, Yoshie reflexively thought. No, it’s not like I have to choose.

This was Ayato’s fiancé, Shiragane Keiki.

Hanami made a sour face.

“This pigeon won’t be a pigeon!”

Then he’s not a pigeon, is he?! Anyway, he’s handsome!

“Eh? A mahjong tournament? Then maybe it’d be good to have a few more people.”

Keiki said.

“Now that you mention it, Yuya just learned mahjong and has been wanting to play.”

On the faces of Kai, Keiki, and Hanami, the expression A good pigeon! appeared.

Whoever he is, he shouldn’t come! Yoshie thought, but while Ayato and the others were eating, he arrived.

He was a handsome guy with a slightly flashy vibe. He was the one whose atmosphere most resembled her own husband’s.

He’s wonderful!

“I can’t choose!”

She hugged Hiromi tightly and cried out,

“What can’t you choose?”

Ayato asked her.