In Pursuit of Happiness, Starting from Sakurasou

As soon as Hozuki Nozomi stepped into the room, he was greeted by the sight of Ogiwara Sayu diligently mopping the floor, dressed in an apron that accentuated her housekeeper vibe. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, with strands sticking to her flushed cheeks from the light sheen of sweat. Clearly, she had been working hard to tidy up the house while he was out.

Noticing him enter, Sayu quickly put down the mop and turned to him with a radiant smile, her voice sweet and cheerful. "Okaerinasai, Nozomi-sama! Dinner's ready, and the bathwater is hot and waiting for you."

She tilted her head slightly, placing a finger against the corner of her lips as she gazed up at him with her signature puppy-dog eyes, feigning innocence. "So, tell me, Nozomi-sama… would you like to take a bath first, have dinner, or… me?"

Her expression was mischievous, her eyes sparkling with barely concealed amusement.

Nozomi raised an eyebrow at her antics and closed the distance between them, lightly tapping her forehead with his finger. "Where did you even learn something like that, baka?"

Sayu giggled, a little embarrassed. "I found a note under the bed while cleaning earlier. It said boys would be happy if I acted like this." She bent down and pulled out a cardboard box from behind her as if presenting him with a treasure.

Curious, Nozomi peered inside, and his face twitched as he realized what it contained. A collection of manga with covers featuring scantily clad onee-san types in bikinis stared back at him.

"This…" Nozomi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This must be a 'gift' left behind by one of the previous residents. Maa, Sayu, you can't look at stuff like this. It's confiscated!"

"Ehh?! Why?!" Sayu protested, puffing her cheeks in an adorable pout. She tugged at the corner of his sleeve and whined, "But it looks so interesting…"

"No means no!" Nozomi declared, his tone firm as he snatched the box away. "Stuff like this will corrupt your pure and innocent mind, wakatta?"

Sayu crossed her arms, her lips forming a deep pout as she shot him a skeptical look. "Hmph. Aren't you just confiscating it so you can read it secretly? After all, you are one of the 'juniors' it was meant for!"

"Oi, do I look like that kind of guy to you?" Nozomi retorted, his voice tinged with mock offense. He leaned in closer and smirked, his tone dropping mischievously. "Besides, with you here, Sayu, do you really think I'd need to resort to this kind of manga?"

Sayu's face instantly turned beet red, the color spreading all the way to her ears. Her flustered expression was priceless—she looked like a boiled shrimp, with imaginary steam practically rising from her head.

Although she had attempted to act bold just moments ago, her naive nature was painfully obvious. The poor girl avoided his gaze, fidgeting nervously, her mind no doubt replaying his words over and over.

Nozomi couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. "You said dinner was ready, right?" he asked casually, holding up a small takeout box he had been carrying. "I brought you something special—braised pork with soy sauce. It's super popular, and they only make a limited amount each day. I had to stand in line forever to get this."

Sayu's eyes lit up as he handed her the box. "Really? You bought this for me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Of course," Nozomi replied with a grin. "Go heat it up so we can eat."

Sayu clutched the box tightly, her heart swelling with emotion. His casual words, "I bought this for you," hit her harder than they should have.

She had run away from home because she felt unwanted and unloved, but here was someone who not only cared about her well-being but also went out of his way to bring her something special. She blinked back the tears threatening to form and quickly turned away, rushing to the kitchen.

As she heated the braised pork, the rich, savory aroma wafted through the air, making her stomach growl. "What a suteki smell! No wonder people line up for this!" she exclaimed, practically salivating.

"Good, isn't it?" Nozomi called from the dining area. "If you like it, we can try making it ourselves sometime. It's actually based on a traditional stewed dish, so I could probably figure out the recipe just by tasting it."

"Ehh? You can cook something like this?" Sayu asked, poking her head out of the kitchen, clearly impressed.

"Of course," Nozomi replied confidently. "How about I teach you this weekend? If you get the hang of it, you could even open your own shop near the school. I'm sure it'd be a hit."

Sayu blinked in surprise, pointing to herself. "Me? Open a shop? Is that even possible?"

"Why not?" Nozomi said, walking over and gently patting her head. "You're hardworking, great at cooking, and super reliable. Besides, you're not tied to Sakurasou forever, Sayu. You have your own life to live and dreams to chase. If you want to try something new, I'll support you."

His words struck a chord deep within her. Sayu had always felt lost, unsure of her place in the world. But Nozomi didn't treat her like a burden or a runaway—he respected her as a person, as someone capable of achieving her own happiness.

"Of course," Nozomi added with a teasing grin, "if you'd rather stay here forever, I wouldn't mind. That room is already yours, and I'm more than willing to take care of you for as long as you want. After all, I am a responsible man."

Sayu Ogiwara felt her chest tighten with emotion. The kindness she received here was unlike anything she'd experienced before.

Of course, she had resolved to do housework and repay his kindness when she first moved in. It was the least she could do. But deep down, Sayu wasn't just a dutiful housekeeper or a tenant; she was still a girl, with her own dreams and insecurities.

What if one day she wasn't needed anymore? What if her presence grew tiresome?

Yet, Hozuki Nozomi never made her feel like a burden. On the contrary, he gave her a sense of belonging—something she'd never felt before. He respected her, valued her as an individual, and even entertained the idea of helping her build a future where she could support herself. It wasn't a plan for some idealized "perfect housewife" life. It was a plan for her happiness, one that didn't depend solely on him.

Sayu's cheeks flushed as the thought warmed her heart.

"You don't need to cry about it," Nozomi teased, his sharp but gentle eyes catching the telltale shimmer in hers. "Besides, I'm not serious about you running a shop right now. What if some creepy guy kidnaps you while you're out working?"

"Pfft!" Sayu let out a laugh, wiping her eyes. "Don't worry, Nozomi-kun. I'm not that easy to kidnap."

Not physically, at least.

But my heart... My heart has already been stolen by you, she thought, biting her lip to hide the overwhelming smile that threatened to escape.

After dinner, Sayu swiftly cleared the table and washed the dishes. Nozomi, meanwhile, lounged on the sofa, a book in his hand and an air of calmness around him. When she finished, he disappeared into the bathroom for a shower, leaving her to prepare for the night ahead.

By the time the evening deepened into darkness, Sayu found herself nervously standing outside his door, clutching her hands together.

"Nozomi-kun," she called softly.

"Come in," his voice replied, casual and relaxed.

Sayu opened the door hesitantly, only to see Nozomi holding out a box toward her.

"Here," he said. "Your gift, as promised."

Sayu blinked in surprise. She took the box and opened it, gasping as her hands flew to her mouth.

"A... a phone?!"

"Yup." Nozomi leaned back on his futon with a faint smirk. "Isn't it obvious? Who else would I give it to?"

"But... this is so expensive! Are you sure?" Sayu stammered, clutching the box like it was made of glass.

"Of course, I'm sure." Nozomi raised an eyebrow and spread his arms lazily. "And now that you've received my gift, it's time to fulfill your end of the deal. Come here."

Sayu's lips curved upward as a sweet, mischievous smile played on her face. Without hesitation, she placed the box aside and launched herself into his waiting arms.

The sudden impact sent them both tumbling onto the futon.

"Hehe, am I heavy?" she asked playfully, her cheeks dusted pink.

"Not at all," Nozomi replied, his hand instinctively brushing through her hair. "You're as light as a feather."

To her surprise, he didn't make any other moves. Instead, he pulled the blanket over the two of them and closed his eyes as if he were preparing to sleep.

Sayu tilted her head in confusion. "Nozomi-kun... that's it?"

He cracked one eye open, his expression teasing. "What were you expecting, Sayu-chan? I didn't bring you here just for your body."

Her cheeks reddened furiously, and she stammered, "T-Then why are you so good to me?"

"Because I want the people around me to be happy," he said, his tone soft but firm. "Of course, I'm selfish and possessive. The happiness I'm talking about has to be the kind that I give. I don't believe in letting someone leave me to find it elsewhere."

Sayu blinked, taken aback by his blunt honesty. "That's... such a terrible thing to say!"

"Do you hate me for it?"

Sayu was quiet for a moment before shaking her head. "Right now, I don't hate you at all."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer. The warmth of his body and the faint scent of his shampoo were intoxicating.

"Nozomi-kun, you're bad at being subtle," she murmured, her voice low and teasing.

But before he could respond, she leaned in and sealed his lips with her own.

The kiss started slow, but the emotions behind it were fiery, and soon neither of them could resist the pull. What began as a moment of sweetness stretched into something far deeper.

By the time the night was over, the clock had already crept past midnight. Sayu curled up against Nozomi's chest, a blissful smile on her lips.

No matter how selfish or bad he claimed to be, this warmth of his was hers alone.

And no matter what happened tomorrow, she promised herself she wouldn't let go of it.

*************

Yeah, I don't think I'll write smut scenes other than the first times or there are some special occasions, but if my premium members want it, who am I to refuse!