The sun dipped low, casting a golden glow across the farmhouse garden.
Smoke from the grill curled lazily into the air, blending with the smell of sizzling meat, a warm, comforting scent that wrapped the yard like a cozy blanket.
Aoki finally lowered the grilling tongs, his theatrical chase now over.
He let out a gruff sigh, plopped onto a wooden stool with the weight of a day's labor, and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
Venzel stood a short distance away, arms crossed, a sheepish grin on his face.
A fresh red tong-mark on his forearm glowed like a badge of paternal discipline.
Aoki gave him a stern look. "Next time you do something—don't half-ass it, you hear?"
Venzel blinked. "Eh?"
Aoki jabbed the air with a finger. "Do you know how much this poor girl cried when I found her? It was enough to drown you. I could've bottled it and flooded the whole damn farm."
Venzel rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling guiltily. "Yeah, yeah… I get it. Sorry, Father."
At the nearby outdoor counter, Tsuki stood beside Kana, stirring a pot of miso soup while flipping slices of marinated eggplant in a pan.
The two women exchanged soft laughter, their sleeves rolled up and cheeks glowing with the heat.
"They're always like that," Tsuki said with a fond sigh, watching the men with a sideways glance.
"Venzel might be an only child, but he tries so hard to be independent. Unlike my sister's son, who's a lazy thing thinks inheritance is a career path."
Kana giggled, nudging the rice cooker lid open. "Your son's the reason I'm standing here today.. he gave me a second chance. He didn't give up on me and made me achive my dreams. He's a real hard worker."
Tsuki smiled warmly, setting the pot lid down. "That he is." Then she turned to Kana, tilting her head slightly. "Oh right, my child, when can we meet your parents?"
Kana froze mid-scoop, holding a wooden ladle like it had suddenly turned into a weapon.
"Ah… that. Well… I'll talk to them," she muttered.
Tsuki's brow furrowed. "Your parents don't know yet?"
Kana looked away, fiddling with the corner of her apron. "They do… just not everything. They were fine when I first dated Venzel. But when he got fired… they told me to break up with him. So… I ran away."
Tsuki's eyes softened.
"Oh, my poor girl." She reached out, gently cupping Kana's cheek. "But we can't proceed with things like this. We'll need to talk to your parents, alright?"
Kana hesitated, then slowly nodded. "…Alright, Mom."
Tsuki rubbed her head affectionately, a proud glint in her eyes. "Good girl. Don't worry, I'm an excellent negotiator. I'll convince them."
She gave Kana's cheek a final pat, straightened up, and wiped her hands on her apron. "Now go call those two idiots. Dinner's ready."
With a wink, she turned and strode into the dining room, her footsteps light and assured.
Kana watched her go with a tiny smile, then turned and headed back toward the garden.
She cupped her hands to her mouth, standing just a few feet from the duo.
"Father, darling, mother says it's time to eat. "
"Coming, coming!" Aoki said laughing, standing up and brushing ash from his pants.
Venzel smirked and held up his hands. "Alright, alright, we're moving!"
Kana smiled and turned back, her bare feet padding softly on the wooden floor as she returned to the house.
When Aoki and Venzel stepped into the dining room, the warm scent of steamed rice and simmering soup greeted them, along with a pair of very unimpressed eyes.
Tsuki stood by the table, carefully setting down plates with precise, almost pointed movements.
Her lips curled in a pleasant smile, but her gaze carried the quiet storm of disappointment.
Aoki, sensing something in the air, tried to play it cool. He casually pulled out a chair and lowered himself into it, only to yelp a second later.
"Ah—ah ah! What—what is it, dear?" he cried, voice cracking like a teenager's as Tsuki pinched his ear hard between two merciless fingers.
Venzel froze mid-step, eyes wide as Aoki winced and squirmed in his seat, trying not to scream.
Tsuki leaned in slightly, her smile still sweet and calm. ""Remind me, love—what exactly were you grilling out there?"
Aoki looked up with pure regret in his eyes. "Meat… meat, my love. I'm sorry please let me go, I'll go grab them. Ah—ah!"
Her grip tightened slightly, making his head tilt toward her.
Venzel couldn't help it, he let out a loud laugh, clutching his stomach at the sight of his dad being reduced to a pleading puppy.
But then Tsuki turned her head slowly, smile still intact, and stared straight at him.
His laugh cut off mid-breath like a balloon popped with a pin.
"What are you laughing at?" Tsuki asked, placing the last plate down with an ominous clink. "Both of you deserve punishment for being careless."
She released Aoki's ear at last.
"Phew…" Aoki rubbed it gingerly, sighing in relief. "Still stings…"
Not waiting for another scolding, he stood up quickly and hurried toward the kitchen counter. "I'll go get the meat! Don't worry, it's not burnt."
Tsuki exhaled through her nose, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm not going to punish you," she muttered as she watched her husband scurry away, "just because you've finally brought in a beautiful daughter-in-law."
Kana, who had been quietly filling bowls of rice at the corner of the table, paused.
Her hands froze mid-scoop.
A breath caught in her throat. Then the blush bloomed, pink and vivid, like a camellia in snow.
"T-thank you… Mom," she said softly, voice barely louder than a whisper.
Venzel glanced at her, lips quirking up in a small smile. He stepped closer and gently took the bowl from her hand, setting it onto the table for her.
"Careful," he whispered. "Too much praise and you'll explode."
Kana nudged his hip with hers, hiding her face behind her hair as the faintest giggle escaped.
In the corner, Tsuki looked on with a secretive, satisfied smile, while Aoki, returning with a tray full of grilled meat.