Tokyo: My Girlfriend

"Huh? Shinichi, you're going to Akemi's house for dinner again? Didn't the performance already end?"

After returning home, Shinichi Kitagawa quickly took off his school uniform and changed his clothes in his room, as he still needed to buy some simple gifts for their meeting.

"Yes, I made plans with Mingmei tonight. Her parents are coming back to see her and her brother, so I need to tell them about Mingmei's performances lately. Didn't Mingmei win the championship this weekend?"

At the bedroom door, Kitagawa Rena watched her brother change clothes: "The reasons are quite good, but lately you seem to be paying much more attention to Akemi's affairs than before."

"You've become much more attentive?"

Shinichi Kitagawa changed into a new short-sleeved shirt and looked at Rena with a smile: "What? It's still the same as before. Whenever I'm free, I'm either with you or with Akemi practicing singing. It's just that I was going to Akemi's house a lot recently because of a performance."

Reina Kitagawa stared at her brother with her cool eyes: "That's why I said it was a feeling."

"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. Rena will have to eat at home by herself again tonight. I'll try to come back as early as possible."

"Oh." Rena Kitagawa went to the entrance to see Shinichi Kitagawa off, but she subconsciously asked, "Shinichi, what do you think about Akemi's makeup reverting to its old look lately?"

Shinichi Kitagawa asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, 'how do you see it'?"

Rena Kitagawa understood Shinichi Kitagawa's attitude towards Akemi Aoki from the other's expression at that moment, and laughed: "It's nothing, I was just asking. I guess I was overthinking it. Come back early after dinner, I'll make you a midnight snack."

Shinichi Kitagawa said awkwardly, "I still have to make midnight snacks."

Rena Kitagawa tilted her head back haughtily and snorted, "Of course! Shinichi can't sleep without eating my food every day! My cooking is magical."

Shinichi Kitagawa could only indulge Rena; after all, she was a siscon. He smiled and left, saying, "Alright, then I'll just have to eat less for lunch tomorrow."

"Don't worry, I won't make too much. My recipes are all very particular."

Shinichi Kitagawa waved goodbye to Rena and officially began his journey to Akemi Aoki's house.

Meanwhile, the home of the Aoki siblings was bustling with activity. The returning parents looked at their son and daughter and expressed how much they missed them after a month apart, while also grumbling about how messy the house was.

Unlike Shinichi and Rena, Akemi's parents obviously came back quite often and were quite familiar with many aspects of the family's situation.

Tonight, Hirano's excitement contrasted sharply with Aoki Akemi's nervousness. Her parents wondered why their usually carefree daughter was so well-behaved today.

"Mingmei, what's wrong? Are you unhappy to see Mom and Dad come home?"

Akemi Aoki paused for a moment, then covered her mouth with her fingers and laughed heartily, "Why wouldn't I be happy to see Mom and Dad back? The few days you stay, the more delicious food we get! We're not just happy, we're ecstatic! Hahaha!"

The mother teased indulgently, "That's such a fake smile."

Her fox-like eyes kept glancing towards the door, but unfortunately, she couldn't see what was happening on the street from inside the house, which made her extremely anxious.

A reminder: "By the way, Mom and Dad, a friend of mine might be coming over later, but it's not certain they'll show up. Please prepare an extra set of chopsticks and a bowl."

"A friend?" Mom and Dad asked curiously, as did Aoki Hirano, who blushed nervously and whispered, "Who is it, sis? It's not Tohka, is it...?"

Akemi Aoki smiled at her younger brother and said softly, "How could it be Tohka? She's your girlfriend; she wouldn't come without telling you." She stood up and raised her voice, "Mom and Dad, isn't it still a while before dinner? I'll go outside and check."

The parents asked in confusion, "What kind of friend is it?"

Mingmei hurriedly changed her shoes: "I'll introduce you when you arrive. You might not come, just call me when it's time to eat."

Her parents were surprised by their daughter's mysterious behavior today, but Hirano was in such a good mood that she didn't think much of it.

However, I roughly understand who is coming.

After leaving the house, Aoki Akemi stood at the gate of the yard and looked towards the road leading to her house from Kitagawa Shinichi, but she still couldn't see the familiar figure at the end of the road.

She took out her phone and glanced at the time, her eyes revealing worry.

Judging by the time... if Shinichi was coming tonight, he should be arriving soon.

Oh right, he also needs to buy some things, how could I forget...

Akemi Aoki, her slender fingers adorned with pink manicures, clenched her fists as she leaned against a pillar by the door, taking out her phone to browse the web.

Five more minutes passed, and during that time, Aoki Akemi looked into the distance countless times, her brows gradually furrowing.

Why is it taking so long...? Could it be that Shinichi really went to meet with Hina-sensei...? If so, Shinichi might not be here tonight...

She shook her head to clear her mind, not wanting to think the worst before she got a result.

Even if those two meet, Shinichi-kun isn't completely immune to coming to find him, it's just that the chances are a little smaller.

I told him that as long as he could arrive before dawn tomorrow, it would count as him coming.

"Sis! Dinner's ready! What are you doing out there?!"

Hirano Aoki opened the door and shouted. Akemi Aoki turned to look at her younger brother and replied, "Dinner's ready so soon?"

"What? So fast? It's been ten minutes." He walked up and casually asked, "Is your partner coming? Are you going to introduce him to your parents?"

Akemi Aoki forced a smile but didn't answer. "Why don't you guys eat first? I'll wait a few more minutes. The food's too hot to eat anyway."

Aoki Hirano shrugged: "Alright, I don't know what you two are up to, but I'll stall for time a little longer."

Aoki Akemi rarely thanked her younger brother, which surprised Hirano.

She continued to stand alone at the door, looking down at the boring messages on her phone, but her mind was not on them at all.

Until the next moment, at the end of dusk, a figure carrying a gift appeared in the distance.

"Akami." Kitagawa Shinichi quickened his pace. Aoki Akami heard the voice and her finger stopped on the screen, her whole body trembling. Kitagawa Shinichi said, "Sorry I'm late. I was thinking of buying some gifts, but the nearby shops were closed, so I took a detour. I hope you weren't in a hurry."

Akemi Aoki looked up, moved, and saw that the person she had been waiting for had actually appeared before her.

She couldn't help but laugh, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She rushed to his arms and hugged his neck.

Kitagawa Shinichi wanted to say something, but he noticed Aoki Akemi's trembling body and her soft, choked sobs.

He could only free one hand to hold her slender waist and gently comfort her: "I'm so sorry, I should have sent you a message first. I shouldn't have made you so anxious."

She still didn't speak, but hugged Kitagawa Shinichi's neck tightly again, burying her face in his chest, and after a long while, she finally managed to utter, "You scared me to death..."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"You're afraid that Shinichi will change his mind and abandon your little fox."

At the entrance, Aoki Akemi, arm in arm with Kitagawa Shinichi, beamed as she introduced him to her parents. Everything had finally come to a close today: "Mom and Dad! Ono! Let me formally introduce you, this is my boyfriend, Kitagawa Shinichi! Mom and Dad, please make sure you recognize him, because I'm going to marry him."

Shinichi Kitagawa glanced at the way his uncle and aunt were looking at him.

He was also a little embarrassed: "Hello, uncle and aunt, nice to meet you. I am Shinichi Kitagawa, Akemi's boyfriend."

Akemi Aoki smiled broadly: "Mom and Dad! Shinichi is a very talented writer, he has a lot of fans online."

Hirano Aoki blinked at the dining table, already expecting this: "As expected, it's my partner coming. I knew no one but my partner could keep my older sister waiting like this." He joked with a grin, "But you two seem to be getting engaged?"

Akemi Aoki interjected, "It was bound to happen sooner or later! Right, Shinichi-kun?"

Shinichi Kitagawa hummed in agreement.

Akemi Aoki's parents exchanged a glance, and seeing their daughter so happy, they were also very welcoming of Shinichi Kitagawa's arrival.

Upon hearing the invitation from his aunt and uncle, Kitagawa Shinichi changed into slippers and entered the house hand in hand with Aoki Akemi.