Nao received the gift Haruto brought and smiled as she said,
"You didn't have to bring a gift just for coming to visit. Ai's already been in your care."
Nao Hayasaka actually knew a bit about Haruto.
Although he wasn't part of the Foundation, as a former core executive of the Shinomiya family, she was well aware that the family had changed hands.
On the surface, it was still under the control of the direct descendant, Shinomiya Kaguya.
But the actual direction of the Shinomiya conglomerate's business was being led by someone else.
And since Ai referred to that person as her boss, Nao had already guessed—the young man before her was the true head of the Shinomiya conglomerate.
For most people, that would be a shocking revelation.
However, Nao didn't let it show on her face at all.
Hayasaka Ai gave a small huff and leaned in close to Haruto's ear, whispering,
"You scummy president, at least you've got some sense."
Haruto let out a helpless chuckle.
Alright, in front of Nao, he'd let Ai save a little face.
"Please, come in! And Ai, you too—why didn't you say anything beforehand?"
Nao said as she ushered the two into the house.
Haruto was about to wave his hand and say he was just here to drop Ai off—
Before he could finish, Ai grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him inside. Nao smiled meaningfully at the scene.
Helpless, Haruto followed Ai inside.
The two of them sat down on the living room sofa.
Nao brought them some tea and sat across from them.
Haruto picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The tea leaves weren't anything particularly rare, but it was clear the person who made it had excellent tea-making skills.
Just as Haruto was about to compliment her—
Nao smiled sweetly and asked,
"When are you two planning to get married?"
Haruto almost spat out his tea.
Hayasaka Ai also visibly panicked for a second.
"Geez, Mom, your personality is the worst! It's not like that at all!"
Ai snapped back.
But when she spoke to Nao, it always had a hint of spoiled affection. Completely different from her usual cold and capable maid persona.
Haruto thought to himself, As expected of mother and daughter.
Both were equally wicked in personality.
And Ai actually had the nerve to call someone else wicked?
She was the embodiment of a scheming maid.
Nao raised her brows in feigned surprise.
"Oh? Is that so? I guess I misunderstood. But Ai's been saving up her dowry bit by bit since she started working~. And this boy, Haruto, is the only one she's ever brought home. So I naturally assumed… My bad, I overthought it."
Her words successfully rattled Ai.
The usually expressionless icy maid now had a bright red face, wanting to protest but not knowing where to start.
Because Nao wasn't wrong.
And Haruto was now intrigued.
"Oh? So Ai really has a habit like that? Though I think she's mentioned something about a dowry before. She's been working since… that must've been a long time ago. Really didn't expect that."
Back at Kisaragi Station, when Haruto arrived, he did recall Ai mentioning something about a dowry.
He hadn't paid it much mind then—but now it sounded like a pretty big deal.
After all, it was rare for girls these days to start saving up a dowry on their own. Especially considering that Ai had served as a maid to Kaguya since she was young.
That was quite a long time.
Lady Nao nodded in agreement.
"Yes, this child barely spends any of her salary each month. She's saved nearly all of it into her dowry fund. I even worried at times whether she was eating properly…"
At last, Ai couldn't take it anymore and waved her hands to stop the conversation.
"Can we please drop this already?!"
She was more flustered than usual.
Haruto and Nao both chuckled.
Ai shot Haruto a sharp look, already regretting ever bringing him into her home.
The conversation gradually shifted to more normal topics. Nao asked Haruto a wide range of questions—from all kinds of angles.
But with Haruto's knowledge and intellect, answering them was no problem.
The two of them chatted away like old friends.
For a while, Ai—the actual daughter—felt like the outsider, unable to get a word in.
Time passed quickly, and before they realized it, night had already fallen.
"Oh dear, it's my fault. I got so caught up in chatting I forgot to prepare dinner."
Nao got up, ready to head to the kitchen.
Haruto quickly waved his hand.
"Lady Nao, no need. I still have things to do tonight—I should be going soon."
Ai also quickly chimed in.
"Yes, the president still has things to take care of!"
But Nao shook her head.
"Even so, you have to eat. A meal a day keeps you strong."
Haruto tried to decline a couple more times but couldn't get out of it.
Ai pouted angrily at Haruto.
It was all his fault! Their mother-daughter reunion had totally lost its vibe now! With no other choice, Haruto headed into the kitchen.
"Lady Nao, let me help you then. I'm actually pretty decent at cooking."
Soon, sounds of chopping and sizzling could be heard from the kitchen.
Ai watched the scene and felt slightly dazed.
Haruto hadn't cooked for quite a while.
After all, with Tohru around, he'd gotten spoiled.
Luckily, thanks to the Blacklight Virus, his body always stayed at peak condition—none of his skills dulled with time. Before long, dish after dish of golden, mouthwatering food—like something out of an anime—was brought to the table.
The three of them sat down and began eating.
Ai quietly spooned rice into her mouth, one bite after another.
Back then, what she looked forward to most was eating dinner with her mom.
After all, Nao Hayasaka used to be a high-ranking Shinomiya official, and Ai was always by Kaguya's side as a maid.
Both were always busy. They rarely had time to sit together like this.
If someone had interrupted one of those rare moments, Ai would've been furious. But now, as she glanced at Haruto across the table, she didn't feel angry at all.
In fact, she felt… content.
After dinner, Haruto got up and prepared to leave.
This time, Lady Nao didn't insist he stay.
Ai followed him outside to see him off.
At the doorway, Haruto smiled and asked,
"By the way… Ai, how much have you saved up for that dowry?"
Ai froze, then lightly punched his chest.
Not hard—just a symbolic little jab.
Haruto smiled.
He was just teasing her. After all, it was rare to see the unflappable maid flustered like this.
But then Ai quietly gave him a number.
A string of digits that represented all the savings in a hidden bank account. It was every bit of money Ai had saved since her very first paycheck.
Haruto was stunned by the amount.
It was a large sum.
Not large in the context of the Shinomiya conglomerate or the Foundation.
But large for Ai.
Even though she served Kaguya directly, her salary was still within a set range. That number represented years of strict saving and frugal living.
"Ai's secretly a rich girl, huh… Whoever marries you is getting a real deal."
Haruto said sincerely.
Ai stared at him without blinking.
Then, suddenly, she reached into her inner pocket and pulled out a bank card. She placed it in Haruto's hand.
Haruto was stunned.
He'd handled sums hundreds or even thousands of times larger than this.
But never had money felt so heavy.
It was like it carried the weight of a girl's entire hope and longing.
"…Isn't this a bit impulsive?" he asked softly.
Ai shook her head.
Seeing this, Haruto carefully stored the card—not in his spatial storage, but on his person.
Close to his heart.
Seeing him neither refuse nor return the card—
Ai smiled.
Tears quietly slipped from the corners of her eyes, falling to the ground with soft little splashes.
For someone like Ai, raised in the world of the Shinomiyas, hope was like a poison.
But now, that hope had become a gentle, warm light.
(T/N: This is so fuckin cute bro. Also, this deserves some stones, yeh?)