A bustling street, a number of curious eyes and a girl who didnt know whether to be happy or be embarrassed at the current situation.

Thats whats happening around me at the moment.

I left the house at eight oclock and the trip to this place took a little more than 30 minutes. Its still early in the morning so seeing a couple walking like this while most of the people had just woken up was a rare sight for most.

Furthermore, judging from how close the houses and establishments in this neighborhood were, this was certainly the opposite of ours.

As I didnt care about the eyes landing on us as we walked along this busy street, I never let go of Minas delicate hand.

Originally, she should be guiding me to their house. But because of my own doing, that changed to me asking for directions while I led her by hand. The girl had to constantly cover her face lest her flustered expression would be shown to every person passing by.

At this moment, shes nowhere close to the easily-annoyed girl or the brave girl who stood up against me at the Poem Appreciation Club. Her smug was also replaced by a bashful maidens expression.

The urge to hold and kiss her was clearly putting me over the edge. How can she be this lovely already?

Anyway, that didnt last long as she eventually recovered once the density of people on the street lowered. She then boldly hugged my arm as she began introducing me to things that she deemed unique in their neighborhood.

Like an obscure teashop on the far end of a narrow street. She slipped that one day, she wanted to bring me there. She blushed but never took her words back. Instead, she moved to another highlighted landmark hurriedly, preventing me from teasing her.

Looking at her like that, no one would mistake that she became an introvert. Shes shining too brightly to be one. If I had to guess, I somehow managed to bring out the extrovert Mina from years ago.

Around 10 minutes, after a few turns on streets that werent as busy as the main one, we soon arrived at their humble house. If I compared it to ours, its small enough of a house thats perfect for a family with only one child.

The yard wasnt that wide either but I saw the flora and other types of plants thriving and blossoming beautifully. Its a well-kept small garden.

Remember, youre not my boyfriend. Mina reminded me once more before she opened their front door and invited me in.

Mhm. Dont worry. I enjoyed the walk with you where everyone thought were a couple. I whispered next to her ears which immediately produced a reaction from her.

The girl separated from my arm just to prevent her mother from mistaking me for her boyfriend.

Until the end, the girl insisted on introducing me as her boy friend who she always let taste the tea she brewed almost everyday.

Honestly, if I was her mother, Id definitely arrive at a conclusion that even if Mina denied it, theres no way the boy shes bringing wasnt in any way special for her.

But shes stubborn like most of my girls. Thats why for now, Id be satisfied with teasing her.

Forget that, you shameless guy.

Nope. I wont.

Ugh. Suit yourself.

Mina facepalmed once more, giving up completely. She clicked her tongue as a show of annoyance but even so, that didnt change her mind to invite me in.

As soon as I stepped foot inside, a refreshing aroma of tea and baked sweets instantly assaulted my nose. The tea was not in any way inferior to the teas Mina brewed before. As for the baked sweets, they had a tinge of a fruity scent. A pie, maybe?

Either way, since its a small house, the living room and the kitchen could be seen right from the door.

Her mother also prepared for this, huh?

Looking at the woman busily moving in the kitchen with her back turned to us, theres no mistaking that its Minas mother.

I mean, their hairstyle was slightly the same, a ponytailed long black hair that hung on her shoulder. Furthermore, her figure was truly that of an adult with curves in the right places. From my estimate, shes closer in age to Miwa-nee or my mother.

Although her subtle movements couldnt be considered gentle, theres no doubt that shes in a bright mood since shes humming a song while shes pulling what she baked from the oven.

A few seconds later, with the fruit pie on a tray, she turned around and saw us staring at her. Albeit a little surprised at seeing me, her lips soon curved into a welcoming smile before switching her gaze back to her daughter. At least say something if youre already here, Mii-chan.

Mii-chan, huh? Thank you in advance, auntie. Ill use that well later.

Minas mother was just as I expected. Although Mina didnt inherit all of her features, theres also a beauty mark below her lips which added to her charm. Her blue eyes looked gentle and thoughtful. Theres not a hint of the sorrow that she supposedly experienced in life. Her posture was also great. I bet she had a lot of suitors in her job. But considering she didnt remarry after that and raised Mina alone, shes either waiting for Mina to become an adult first or she already lost her trust in men.

Shes wearing a knitted turtleneck sweater topped with an apron that somehow emphasized her well-endowed front.

We just arrived, mom. Didnt you hear the door opening?

Im busy here, cant you see? Enough of this, come here and help me. As for you Her gaze then returned to me.

I immediately bowed to her and introduced myself. Please excuse my intrusion, auntie. Im Onoda Ruki. Mina, I mean, Nakano-sans friend.

Calling her Mina was intentional of course.

As expected, that earned a reaction from her as her smile grew wider. Were both Nakano here. I dont mind it if you call my daughter how you used to. As for me, call me auntie or mother, I dont mind.

Mom! RukOnoda-kun is just my friend!

You already slipped, Mii-chan. I dont mind it if you find a boyfriend in him. Ill win him over with my tea anyway.

Minas mother smirked and the familiar smug expression that I saw from Mina filled her face. Like mother like daughter, huh?

But what is this situation? Should I play along with her mother? Mina was flustered once more as she tried explaining that Im not her boyfriend, even missing that weird line from her mother.

Win me over with her tea, huh? So, shes also eager for the competition.

After a while, Mina lost spectacularly against her mother when it came to words. In the end, she gave up explaining and rolled with it. However, the loss she suffered from her mother was vented on me. And thats in the form of giving me a pair of small house slippers that were tight around my feet.

Without letting me complain, the girl dragged me to the living room and had me sit in front of a coffee table, my back turned to the kitchen.

Dont you dare look. Just wait quietly there. You hear me? Mina warned me before she moved to the kitchen wherein her mother laughed at her pettiness.

Anyway, although I received a warm welcome from her mom, I sincerely doubt that shes happy for a guy to be close to her daughter Is this a trap set up by her or Im just overthinking things again?