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Fumiya asked for your help at his home next weekend. He said he bought some interior decors cuz his mom asked him too, and he needs your help to arrange it all for him. He'll be the one moving the things around as you instruct him how to decorate his living room. But it's not just the two of you. He asked two more colleagues aside from you. Relieving you of the tension you felt thinking about being alone with him.

He gave you his address and you go there alone. It's easy to find, and you are at his doorstep before you know it. When you arrived, the other two colleagues were already there, waiting.

"Douzo!" He said when he opened the door for you and you entered his place, with a happy heart.

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It doesn't take much time to arrange his things. After about an hour and a half, you are done. His living room now looks more pleasing with everything arranged according to his preference.

"That was quick," Fumiya said.

"I told you," you replied with a smile.

"Ahh! I'll just smoke outside Fumiya," one of the guys said.

"Give me some!" Said the other as he tailed the first guy.

Fumiya just looked over at them as they went out of the house. Meanwhile, you're still staring at the newly posted paintings on the walls and a few pieces of furniture installed near the windows. Fumiya walks over to you, and now both of you are standing before the couch. You smile at each other. It sure does look more spacious now. And it's comfier.

"Let me treat you lunch for this," He said.

"Sure," you uttered.

"Let me keep these boxes first, and then I'll prepare something."

"I'll help you with that."

As you both reach for the scattered trash, you oversee a small box at your feet and lose your balance. And because of the other boxes lying around, you ultimately trip and accidentally fall over. You thought you'd be reaching the floors soon, but to your surprise, Fumiya caught your fall and held you in his arms as you crashed onto his chest.

"Arigatou!" you said as you slowly lift yourself up from leaning on him.

"Be careful, Kisa," he told you.

You face him, and you realize the situation you're in. His hands are still on your arms, and he's staring closely at you. His face is inches away from yours. Your heart suddenly starts thumping as your eyes meet his brown ones.

You stood still for a couple of seconds until both of you noticed the state you're in. Fumiya quickly removes his hands from you, turning away shyly, as he scratches the back of his head. Meanwhile, you stand straight up with your face heating up. He was so close! You can feel your heart pounding.

"Sumimasen! (Sorry!) I'll just get us some water," he excused himself.

"Hai..." you uttered.

You can still feel your heart thumping as he walks away. This is the first time you've ever been this close to someone you like. It gives you a different type of feeling. Something you never felt before.

An hour later...

After eating the snacks Fumiya prepared for the three of you, and the other two guys bid goodbye to Fumiya.

"We'll go ahead, Fumiya," one of them said, and the other just waved at him before leaving the house altogether.

You're still sitting at the dining table with Fumiya by your side as he waved goodbye to them. You're thinking of going home too since there's nothing left to help him with.

But Fumiya had something else in mind. He then told you, "Kisa-san, can you stay a little longer?"

"Huh?" His voice resound in your ears.

"My mom's dropping by, I want you to meet her," he added.

He smiles at you, but did you just hear it right? He wants you to meet his mom? HE WANTS YOU TO MEET HIS MOM?? For what reason??

You panicked deep inside before answering, "What? I don't think I have to meet your mom."

He scratched the back of his head and looked awkward. He finally realized what he said might have gotten you uncomfortable. "No! Don't get the wrong idea. She said she wanted to meet you. For choosing the best gift I had for her on her birthday."

"Ahhh... So ka, (I see)" That reason quite relieved you but still! Meeting his mom would be like so weird in so many different ways for you right now.

You sighed in relief, and he looked at you with a soft smile, both of you feeling the awkwardness starting to fade.

Later on

You watched Fumiya as he prepared something for his mom, who's arriving by 3PM. It seems he's really good at cooking. From cutting the ingredients to carefully blending all of it in the pan. He was busy doing his thing as you carefully glanced over him, embedding every single second of it in your memory to cherish.

Fast forward

"Konichiwa, Nakama Kisa desu," you introduced yourself as his mom stood in front of you in the living room.

She smiled at you and said, "I'm finally able to meet you, Kisa-chan. Thanks to you, Fumiya has given me the best gift for my 50th birthday."

"Iie, iie (no, no). I just did what I could to help," you replied.

She side-eyed Fumiya, which he caught, and he just looked down, smiling awkwardly. You're mesmerized at how beautiful and young looking his mother is. You overlooked how they were talking with their eyes to each other. It was subtle, but something was there, definitely.

When you have totally gone, his mom says, "So she's the girl. She's nice. I don't usually say this, but I think she'll make a nice girlfriend. Don't you think?"

Fumiya sighed, looking out the window, and said. "I know, mom. I know."

You were still oblivious at this point as you were walking away down the street from his home. For today, you were just glad you got to spend some time with him. And meeting his mother was pleasant too. You wished things won't change for a while. You hoped he won't find out about your feelings. This is enough for you. So you hoped it won't end.

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To be continued...

nantokanarusa 23.12.30