Shizuka Hiratsuka was often urged by her parents to get married.

It was easy to understand their feelings. They only had one daughter, and now she was 30 and still single. As parents, how could they not be anxious? It wasn't just about wanting grandchildren. They wanted their daughter to settle down early so that when they were gone someday, she wouldn't be alone—she would have someone to be with her, to care for her.

But from childhood to adulthood, Shizuka never seemed to have any interest in romance. It was as if her brain simply never thought about such things. As for marriage?

Perhaps before she even knew what the word "marriage" meant, she didn't even know it existed.

She never wondered why people were divided into men and women, never thought about feelings called "love," and didn't know what ceremony two people had to go through to become a family.

From kindergarten until university graduation, she never liked anyone, never dated. Her parents were actually happy about this—it meant their daughter was focused entirely on her studies.

In the first few years after graduation, when Shizuka still hadn't dated, her parents weren't worried yet. After all, she had never been interested in romance, had never liked anyone. She was a blank slate—how could they rush her?

But… time flew. Shizuka had been working for years now, and some of her students were already married with children, yet she herself hadn't had even one relationship.

So when she turned 28, Yuko Hiratsuka and Iwaoka Hiratsuka sat her down for a serious talk:

"Shizuka, do you want to be single forever?"

Shizuka shook her head. "No."

If she had said yes, they might have been able to accept it—at least then it would mean she had no interest in love, marriage, or starting a family. But since she said no, it meant she did want to get married someday.

It was just… the person she liked hadn't appeared yet.

Yuko and Iwaoka, at a loss, asked her what type she liked. Shizuka, showing her stubborn side, gave vague, meaningless answers.

It left them clueless about where to even start looking—especially since they certainly didn't know where to find a naturally white-haired Japanese person.

When she turned 30, Yuko asked again if she'd found someone.

Shizuka realized her mother was desperate to see her married, so she braced herself and said, "I did."

At first, Yuko thought she meant the usual "not yet, no rush" she had heard countless times before. She was about to sigh heavily when she realized she had misheard. After a stunned pause, she said, overjoyed:

"You finally came around! You got a boyfriend!? When will you bring him home so we can meet him?"

She was so excited she opened a bottle of champagne—by coincidence, there happened to be one nearby.

Once Yuko finished celebrating, Shizuka cautiously added, "I said I found someone… but I didn't say it was a man, did I?"

Yuko froze. Then, when the meaning sank in, she said in a complicated tone, "You mean… you have a girlfriend?!"

"Yeah… my girlfriend is really cute."

When Shizuka said this, the image in her mind was of the white-haired little angel she had met years ago at the summer fireworks festival, who had gotten separated from her family.

She had wanted to say "sexy," but when she thought of that white-haired little angel, the word "cute" slipped out instinctively.

When Yuko Hiratsuka heard that her daughter was in a relationship but that her partner was a cute girl, she stayed silent for a full hour. During that hour, Shizuka held the phone, too nervous to hang up or put it down.

An hour later, Yuko finally spoke again: "You really have a girlfriend?"

"Mm."

"You're not lying to Mom?"

"No."

"You really like her?"

"Yes."

"She's the only one for you?"

"Yes."

After another long silence, Yuko said, "In that case, in November, when we have dinner, bring your… girlfriend along. Even an 'ugly bride' must meet the in-laws—let me see what kind of person this girl is."

Then she hung up.

Shizuka opened her mouth to protest—her girlfriend wasn't ugly at all, she was truly cute! And beautiful!

Kotomi Izumi agreed to "happily" play the role of her girlfriend and go meet her mother.

What Shizuka didn't expect was that the night before, Yuko lay in bed thinking about the upcoming meeting and couldn't sleep, tossing and turning until she woke up her husband, Iwaoka Hiratsuka.

"Why aren't you asleep? It's so late," he asked.

"I'm just thinking—November is almost here, and I told Shizuka to bring her partner to dinner."

"You can't sleep over that? Come on, our daughter is finally dating—that's a good thing. You're a chief editor at a light novel publisher; you shouldn't get rattled over something so small. It's just meeting her partner."

"Speaking of which, I have a conference abroad on November 5th, so I can't join you. Treat it as a simple dinner—just see what he looks like, what his personality is, what his family background is like, and whether he's reliable. Then tell me. When I get back, we'll invite him over for another meal, and I'll talk to him myself. If things go well, we can arrange for the families to meet. This is Shizuka's first relationship—let's make sure to be thorough. If it's right, let's have them marry next year. She'll be 31."

Only then did Yuko realize she had never told her husband the partner was a girlfriend.

"Dear, there's something I forgot to tell you—Shizuka's partner isn't a boyfriend, but a girlfriend."

"!!!"

...

Shizuka sighed. "Yesterday, my mom told my dad about my girlfriend. When he found out, he blew up on the spot. My parents are good people, but they're old-fashioned. My mom doesn't like relationships with big age gaps, and my dad doesn't understand same-gender love."

She shot Kotomi a knowing look.

Kotomi instantly understood—and more. "So I tick every box for what your parents would oppose?"

"They're my parents, not yours!"

Shizuka wanted to cover her face. They hadn't even met yet, and this little witch was already calling them "our parents." Even after meeting, at least start with 'uncle' and 'aunt'!

"All the same. So that means at dinner, I'll be facing both your parents?"

"Right. My mom might not mind me having a girlfriend, but if she notices you're much younger than me, she'll join my dad in opposing us. So no matter your clothes or makeup, you need to look more mature."

"Is that really something you should be saying to a youthful, pure high school girl?" Kotomi lifted her chin, looking up at Shizuka.

"Stop joking. Pure? You? Anyway, here's my plan—this weekend, I'll take you shopping for an outfit that makes you look more mature. If accessories can enhance it, we'll get those too. And shoes… wear heels that day."

"As for makeup, on November 6th, I'll take you to my place first and do it for you. You're still in high school, so you probably don't know adult makeup styles. Actually… let's do this—on the morning of the 6th, I'll drive to your house, pick you up, and take you to a hair salon in Tokyo for a proper style."

Shizuka Hiratsuka began explaining her plan to Kotomi Izumi—her mother opposed relationships with large age gaps, and her father didn't understand same-gender love.

By asking Kotomi to pretend to be her girlfriend, Shizuka was basically stepping on every landmine her parents had.

She hadn't expected Iwaoka Hiratsuka to be so furious about it. It made her so nervous she even considered telling them the truth—that she wasn't dating anyone and Kotomi was just her student.

But on second thought, that would make them even angrier. Not only was she not dating, but she'd gone as far as to bring a fake girlfriend, and worse, her student! Even rabbits know not to eat the grass by their own burrow—let alone the taboo of a teacher-student romance, even a fake one. It could end her career.

Shizuka knew it was reckless to ask Kotomi to play her girlfriend and meet her parents. But she couldn't think of any other girl more suitable for the role.

If the white-haired little angel she'd met years ago at the summer fireworks festival were here, Shizuka would have chosen her without hesitation—even if she'd grown up to have an unremarkable appearance.

But so many years had passed, and Shizuka still had no idea where that little angel was.

By her calculations, the girl should be starting high school this year. She had probably forgotten about the older girl she met when lost from her parents, maybe already had a partner of her own, and perhaps even lost the pendant they had treated as a promise.

Whenever she thought about it, Shizuka would sigh with a twinge of regret. If only I'd known her name back then…

Pushing aside the memory, Shizuka focused on the task at hand—working with Kotomi to pass the "meet the parents" challenge.

On November 6th, Yuko Hiratsuka might be polite at first, but Iwaoka definitely wouldn't be friendly. And if Yuko noticed Kotomi was much younger than Shizuka, she'd likely turn against them on the spot.

Then there was Kotomi's appetite…

When Shizuka had stayed at Kotomi's house, she had truly witnessed the girl's eating capacity. If she ate like that in Ginza, she could probably empty Yuko's wallet.

Shizuka remembered a time she'd gone to a French restaurant in Ginza with Yuko. Even though they hadn't ordered much, the portions were minuscule—and the bill was staggering. She hadn't been full at all and had ended up buying oden on the way home.

Thinking of this, Shizuka warned Kotomi again:

"When we meet my parents, control that little stomach of yours. In Ginza, don't expect to get full. If you're still hungry afterward, wait until we leave, then tell me and I'll take you somewhere else to eat."

"I want Burger King," Kotomi said without hesitation.

So much for hiding it—she'd already decided she wouldn't be full.

"Alright. If we get through my parents without trouble, I'll take you to Burger King, and you can eat as much as you want."

Shizuka waved her hand generously, feeling no pressure—she knew from experience that the Whopper series at Burger King lived up to its name, and even Kotomi couldn't eat that many. Five at most would be enough to stuff her.

"For now, the goal is to get past my parents. Of course, my dad's opposition to me having a girlfriend won't be resolved in just one meal."

"According to my mom, after my dad found out I had a girlfriend, he canceled an important trip abroad next month just so he could be at the dinner and see exactly what kind of girlfriend I've found."

"Even without meeting him yet, I can already feel our dad's disapproval. Don't worry, I'll do my best to win over Father- and Mother-in-law!"

"…I told you, it's my dad and mom!"

Shizuka felt helpless. First, Kotomi had casually called them "our parents," and now she was calling them "Father- and Mother-in-law."

"So, then what?" Kotomi changed the topic while Shizuka was still emphasizing the correct titles.

"Hm?" Shizuka looked confused, unable to keep up with Kotomi's pace.

"'Hm?' Sensei, you haven't thought about what to do after we get through meeting your parents, have you?" Kotomi asked with mock shock.

"…Not at all." Shizuka looked away, embarrassed, lighting a cigarette.

It was true—she had only planned for Kotomi to accompany her to dinner with her mom. She hadn't thought about what to say when her parents brought up Kotomi afterward.

Even if Kotomi somehow earned their approval and charmed both Yuko and Iwaoka over dinner, it wouldn't change the fact that their "relationship" was fake. After dinner, the façade would end as soon as they left Ginza. The next time they saw each other, it would be as teacher and student again.

But if her parents asked about Kotomi later, what would she say?

She racked her brain, convinced that at 30 she should at least be able to come up with a believable lie. Yet she couldn't.

Kotomi watched her with a faint smile as Shizuka smoked three cigarettes in a row. Even after she crushed the last one, she was still frowning, trying to think of an answer.

It felt like sitting before a one-question test written by Kotomi herself. Just one question—but impossibly hard. Her hand holding the pen was starting to sweat, yet she had no idea what to write.

Kotomi's eyes dimmed slightly. She reached out and took the cigarette from Shizuka's hand.

"Hey, I wasn't done with that," Shizuka said reflexively.

"Break up," Kotomi said flatly.

"Huh?"

"After I meet your parents, you'll still be my teacher, and I'll still be your student. If they ask about me again or invite me over, just tell them we broke up." New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on ɴovelfire.net

She stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it in the trash, then turned with an innocent smile and waved. "That's the whole follow-up plan. Simple, right? Learn it well, Sensei. I have things to do, so I'm going back to class. Oh, and one more thing—this weekend I'm busy, so I can't go shopping with you. Since we're not meeting our parents until next month, we can go next weekend."

"Alright… next weekend then…"

Shizuka could only watch Kotomi walk away until she disappeared from sight. She reached for her cigarette pack out of habit but found it empty.

"Pretend to be lovers until after meeting my parents, then break up…"

Kotomi's simple suggestion felt like the perfect answer—after all, the one who wrote the question was Kotomi herself. If the 'examiner' gives the answer, isn't it the correct one?

And yet, deep inside, Shizuka felt something telling her that even if it was the right answer… she didn't want to use it.

She wanted to write her own—true—answer to Kotomi's question.

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