Ringo froze like a startled hamster. The pastry in her hand instantly lost all appeal.
She stared blankly at her mother. It took her a long while to recover before she swallowed the bite in her mouth with a loud gulp.
Mom, do you hear what you’re saying?!
“A… a blind date?!” Ringo asked stiffly. “Mom, why did you suddenly… think of something like that?”
Who goes on a blind date on Christmas? And what kind of parent arranges one for their daughter on Christmas?!
“Didn’t you just get your heart broken? Then Mom will find you a new boyfriend,” Ringo’s mother said decisively. “Listen to me, sweetheart. The best way to forget one man is to find another.”
This time it was Ringo’s father who exploded.
“What?! Heartbroken?!” He shot to his feet. “My precious daughter, when did you get your heart broken? No, wait—when did you start dating someone in the first place?!”
Ringo looked at her mother.
Her mother explained, “I didn’t tell your father because I didn’t have your permission.”
“So Dad didn’t know…” Ringo shrank back a little. “I had a boyfriend when I was in Yokohama. We broke up after Halloween…”
“No wonder you’ve been so down since you came home,” her father said, suddenly enlightened. Then he immediately became indignant. “Which blind fool was it? My daughter is so wonderful, and he still didn’t know how to treasure you!”
“I’m your daughter, so of course you think I’m wonderful,” Ringo comforted him instead. “Other people won’t necessarily think the same way. Dad, don’t be angry. It’s really not a big deal.”
“Exactly,” Ringo’s mother said cheerfully. “It’s just a breakup. Just find someone else. So go on a blind date. You happen to be free tomorrow anyway.”
Ringo slowly turned to look at her mother.
“I… I’d rather not? A blind date means eating together or having coffee with someone, right? But if it’s the first time meeting them… I probably won’t even be able to speak.”
Just imagining the scene was enough to make her feel awkward and miserable.
Holding Ringo’s hand, her mother said brightly, “Then just choose someone you already know.”
“Huh?” Ringo looked completely confused. “Someone I know?”
Her mother scooted closer, looking slightly excited.
“What do you think about Takeshi?”
This time, Ringo couldn’t help blurting out, “Mom… do you even know what you’re saying?”
A blind date with Yamamoto?!
“Of course I do,” her mother answered calmly. “I’ve been watching you two these past couple of days. Takeshi takes very good care of you, and you’re not nervous around him. Isn’t that perfect?”
Ringo’s expression turned complicated.
“But… that’s completely different…”
“Speaking of which,” her mother suddenly remembered something, “back when Takeshi’s mother was still alive, she and I used to watch you two playing together every day. We even joked that you should get married when you grew up.”
Ringo froze again.
“…Huh?”
How had she never heard about this?!
Her father, who had barely managed to get a word in until now, finally found his chance.
“I remember that too. That really did happen.”
What was this?
A childhood betrothal?
“But after Takeshi’s mother passed away, you stopped playing together, so we never brought it up again.” Her mother sounded a little regretful. “Do you remember when you were little? Takeshi used to play house with you, and you said you wanted to be his bride when you grew up.”
The dead memories of her childhood suddenly launched a vicious attack.
Ringo’s toes nearly dug holes through her bunny slippers.
“D-Don’t suddenly bring that up!” She covered her face with both hands. “It’s way too embarrassing, Mom!”
“What’s so embarrassing about it?” Her mother didn’t think much of it. She was already daydreaming. “If you and Takeshi really do get married someday, won’t these become wonderful memories?”
Ringo was practically burying herself in the sofa.
Scenes from her childhood replayed one after another in her mind, and she was beginning to despair.
She remembered all of it.
Then Yamamoto, who was several years older than her, definitely remembered it too, didn’t he?
She’d never be able to face him again!
“Alright.” Ringo’s mother smacked her fist into her palm. “Then it’s settled.”
“W-Wait!” Ringo finally stopped trying to disappear into the couch and said with a conflicted expression, “Um… Mom, isn’t it a little inappropriate for you to decide this on your own? Even if I agreed, Takeshi—”
“Takeshi’s father will probably talk to him too,” her mother said, rubbing her chin. “Yesterday, while you two were out shopping, your father and I already mentioned it to his father.”
“Y-You already talked about it…” Ringo froze once more.
“Of course. Takeshi doesn’t have a girlfriend either,” her mother explained. “Originally, we planned to see how you two got along over the next few days before bringing it up. But since you’re free tomorrow, we might as well move it up.”
Ringo had only just woken up, so her mind was already running half a beat slow.
Now her mother had dumped so much information on her at once that her brain simply stopped working.
After sitting there frozen for a long while, she finally noticed one crucial flaw.
“But Mom… I may be free tomorrow, but what about Takeshi? You haven’t even asked him.”
“Oh, right.” Only after being reminded did Ringo’s mother realize it. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s pretty late now. I’ll ask him tomorrow.” She stuffed the unfinished pastry back into Ringo’s hand. “Alright, sweetheart. Finish your snack and go back to bed.”
Ringo nodded obediently.
“Okay.”
Afraid her parents might say something else that would shock her, she hurriedly finished the pastry.
“Dad, Mom, I’m going back to sleep.”
“Don’t forget to brush your teeth.”
“I know. Good night, Dad. Good night, Mom.”
After brushing her teeth, Ringo returned to her room.
She lay in bed but couldn’t fall asleep.
She picked up the phone beside her pillow and glanced at the time.
It was already eleven-thirty at night.
Just half an hour earlier, she never would have imagined that a blind date would suddenly become her problem.
And the person she was supposed to go on it with was the older brother who lived next door.
Yamamoto probably wouldn’t agree either, would he?
He still seemed to think of her as a little kid.
Then again…
It was actually surprising that Yamamoto didn’t have a girlfriend.
Ringo couldn’t help remembering how, back in Yokohama, Satsuki had told her to dump her unreliable boyfriend as soon as possible and get together with the dependable older childhood friend next door instead.
At the time, Ringo had assumed Yamamoto must already have a girlfriend.
After all, he’d been popular ever since middle school.
As for her…
She really had broken up with her unreliable boyfriend.
And it had ended in the most miserable way possible—with him disappearing for no reason at all.
She’d started thinking about someone she shouldn’t again.
She tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
Finally, she flopped onto her stomach and buried her head under her pillow.
I really want to sleep—!
Because she’d suffered from insomnia the night before and hadn’t fallen asleep until two or three in the morning, when her alarm rang the next day, Ringo was so sleepy she couldn’t even open her eyes.
She groped around until she found her phone and turned the alarm off, feeling annoyed.
She’d forgotten to disable it again.
Yesterday she’d already been woken up by it and couldn’t sleep in, and now the exact same thing had happened today.
After turning it off, Ringo wrapped herself tightly in the blanket like a burrito.
She vaguely felt like there was something she needed to do today.
But she was far too sleepy.
Her thoughts were tied up in knots, and she couldn’t think straight at all.
Just as she was about to fall back asleep, someone knocked on her bedroom door.
A moment later, she heard her mother’s voice.
“Ringo, aren’t you getting up?”
“Mmm…” Ringo burrowed deeper under the covers. “I’m so sleepy.”
“Then sleep a little longer, but make sure you get up afterward, okay? I’ll come wake you again.” Her mother paused before adding, “I just called Takeshi. He said he’s free today.”
Takeshi…
Big Brother Takeshi!
The moment she heard his name, Ringo instantly woke up and sat bolt upright in bed.
She remembered now.
Last night, her mother had said she was going on a blind date with Yamamoto today.
Ringo’s mother looked in surprise at her daughter, who had been wrapped up like a sushi roll one second earlier and was suddenly sitting upright the next.
Silently, she wondered which keyword had flipped the switch.
Seeing the dazed, vacant look on Ringo’s face, she said, “Since you’re awake now, hurry up and wash up and have breakfast. After you’re done eating, ask Takeshi where the two of you are going for your date today.”
As she spoke, she noticed the single stubborn cowlick sticking up from Ringo’s messy bed hair sway gently.
Ah.
So the keyword had been “Takeshi.”
After her mother left, Ringo slowly collapsed back onto the bed.
Looks like there’s no escaping this blind date today… QAQ
After washing up, she went to the dining room for breakfast.
As soon as she pulled out a chair and sat down, she made one final attempt at resistance.
“Um… doesn’t Big Brother Takeshi have to help at the sushi shop today?”
Her mother handed her a slice of toast spread with jam.
“Takeshi’s father said he hired college students to help out over Christmas ahead of time, so Takeshi could take the day off.”
“Oh…”
Ringo accepted the toast.
“Thanks, Mom.”
She took a bite before finally giving up.
“So… what’s the usual process for a blind date?”
“Normally, both sides agree on a place to meet—usually a café or tea house. You chat, get to know each other, exchange impressions, and then decide whether you want to move on to the next stage.” Her mother thought for a moment. “But you and Takeshi don’t need to go through all that. Just find somewhere to have fun together.”
Ah…
The decision to have the blind date had been rather hasty, and the procedure had been simplified just as much.
Ringo’s father added, “It’s going to be lively outside today. Stay out and enjoy yourselves before coming home.”
“Okay.”
Ringo nodded obediently and slowly ate her toast.
Halfway through breakfast, she received a message from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto: What time are you planning to head out?
Ringo: I haven’t decided yet. I just woke up not long ago and I’m still eating breakfast! KURUSHII.JPG
As she replied, she did the math.
It was around eight o’clock now.
She’d already spent about half an hour dawdling since getting up, and her mother had contacted Yamamoto before waking her.
Yamamoto had also told her before that he exercised every morning.
That meant he’d gotten up by at least six.
Such a healthy, disciplined schedule!
Yamamoto: Let me know once you’ve decided. No rush.
Ringo: Okay! (￣▽￣)丿
After replying, Ringo set her phone aside and took a sip of milk.
Putting the blind date aside…
Spending Christmas hanging out with Yamamoto actually didn’t sound so bad.
After breakfast, Ringo and Yamamoto agreed to head out at ten-thirty.
She planned to leave a few minutes early.
But the moment she stepped outside, she saw Yamamoto already standing at her front door, looking down at his phone as he typed out a message.
Hearing the door open, he put away his phone.
Leaning forward slightly, he smiled at the Ringo who had walked up to him.
Though the winter air was cold, the young man’s smile carried a warmth that seemed capable of driving the chill away.
“Merry Christmas, Ringo.”