My Part-time Girlfriend

At the Restaurant.

Whew, we're finally here at last.

The walk to the restaurant felt like forever, but as we arrived, the sight of it left me speechless. The building stood tall and grand, with its gold-accented windows glowing warmly against the frosty night. The entrance had polished wooden doors with intricate carvings, flanked by glowing lanterns. Even the air around it felt refined, like it was laced with the scent of something expensive.

Woah. Look at that restaurant—it's so big… and it looks super expensive.

My feet wouldn't move, rooted to the pavement as a wave of nervousness washed over me. My hands tightened around the scarf Kaori had insisted I wear. This wasn't the cold making me freeze up; it was the realization that this was happening. I was about to meet her family. How was I supposed to act? How could I possibly pull this off without embarrassing myself—or worse, Kaori?

As if sensing my nerves, Kaori let out a soft laugh beside me. It wasn't loud, more like a quiet chuckle that caught my attention immediately.

I turned to her, confused. "What's so funny?"

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she glanced at me. "Look at you, Yuto. You're shivering," she said, her tone laced with teasing. "Are you… are you nervous?" She leaned in slightly, her playful grin making it clear she was poking fun at me.

"N-no way!" I stammered, my cheeks instantly warming. "I-it's just really cold out here, that's all!" My voice cracked slightly, making my denial sound even less convincing.

Kaori smirked, clearly not buying it. "Sure, it's the cold," she said, her teasing tone lingering.

...

Kaori's POV.

He's so cute when he acts like that.

Wait, what? Cute? Did I seriously just think Yuto was cute? No, no, no. That's not right. This is all fake, a setup for my family's sake. I can't actually think he's cute.

I shook my head slightly, trying to clear my thoughts. There's no way I'm falling for him. Right?

But then again, seeing him like this—nervous but still trying to play it cool—made me smile. It was different from his usual easygoing self, and somehow, it felt... endearing.

...

What the heck is up with her? Why is she suddenly blushing while looking at me?

For a split second, a ridiculous thought crossed my mind: Does she… like me?

No, no way. Quit dreaming, Yuto. This is all pretend. There's no way a girl like Kaori would ever actually—

"U-umm, K-Kaori?" I blurted out, unsure why I even said her name.

She blinked, her blush fading slightly. "Y-yes?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. My brain short-circuited. "Nothing," I finally muttered, feeling the awkwardness seep into every corner of my being.

Kaori raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed. "If you have nothing to say, then let's go inside. My family is waiting for us," she said, her tone firm. "Don't just stand there."

Without waiting for me to respond, she turned and headed toward the entrance, her strides quick and purposeful.

"O-okay," I mumbled, following after her.

Man, this girl. She's so pretty I can't even deny it, but she's impossible to figure out. One second, she's teasing me; the next, she's all bossy and serious. Women are so confusing.

...

Kaori's POV.

Girl, that was way too close. I'm glad I reacted quickly.

Did he notice me blushing? Did he see it? Did he not? Did he see it? Did he not?

No, of course not. He's too clueless to notice something like that.

But why am I even blushing in the first place? This isn't real. I need to stay focused.

...

The moment we stepped inside, I felt completely out of place. The interior of the restaurant was even more luxurious than I'd imagined. The floors were made of polished marble that reflected the golden glow of the chandeliers above. The walls were lined with intricate wallpaper and framed paintings that probably cost more than my entire tuition. The air smelled faintly of truffle and expensive wine, a mix so foreign to me that it only made me feel more out of my league.

I scanned the room, trying to keep up with Kaori, but she had already disappeared into the crowd of sharply dressed diners and waiters.

Damn it. Where did she go?

Panic started to bubble in my chest. I couldn't exactly wander around aimlessly—what if I embarrassed her in front of all these fancy people? My palms started to sweat as I looked around, searching for any sign of her.

Just as I was about to spiral into full-blown panic mode, I spotted her. Kaori was standing near a table toward the back of the room, waving at me.

"Oh, thank God," I muttered under my breath. Without thinking, I rushed over to her.

...

Kaori gave me a polite smile as I reached her side, gesturing toward the table. "Oh, he's here. Mom, Dad, this is Yuto, my boyfriend."

Her parents turned to look at me, and I immediately felt the weight of their gazes. Her father, a tall man with sharp features and an air of authority, eyed me critically. Her mother, on the other hand, wore a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Here, Yuto, sit down," her father said, his tone firm but not unkind.

"Yes, sir," I replied quickly, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my stomach.

I extended my hand, shaking both of theirs with what I hoped was a firm grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you both again," I said, trying to sound confident.

They nodded politely, and I took the seat Kaori gestured toward, positioned awkwardly between her and her father.

...

The moment we sat down, the questions started.

"So, Yuto," her father began, his deep voice cutting through the soft hum of the restaurant, "what do you do in your free time?"

"I, uh, I'm a college student, sir," I answered, my hands tightening around the edge of the table. "Most of my time goes into classes and studying."

Her mother smiled faintly, her gaze flicking between me and Kaori. "That's good. Kaori always said she wanted someone ambitious," she said, her tone light but probing.

Kaori coughed into her napkin, clearly embarrassed. "Mom…" she mumbled.

Her father wasn't finished. "Do you have any hobbies? Sports, perhaps?"

"Oh, no, sir," I said, shaking my head quickly. "I'm more of the, uh, indoorsy type. I like reading and studying."

He raised an eyebrow at my response, but thankfully, he didn't press further. "I see," he said simply, leaning back in his chair.

I exhaled quietly, hoping that was the end of the interrogation.

...

The food arrived quickly, and while it looked amazing, I could barely eat. My nerves wouldn't let me. Every bite felt forced, and I found myself reaching for my glass of water more often than not, taking long sips just to keep myself from choking.

The conversation at the table continued, mostly between Kaori and her parents. I chimed in when necessary, offering polite nods and short answers.

Just as I started to think I might survive the evening, her mother's voice cut through the chatter.

"So, Yuto," she began, her tone casual but her words anything but. "How do you plan to arrange the marriage with our daughter? Don't worry, we'll provide everything."

I froze, the water I had just sipped threatening to go down the wrong way.

"M-marriage!?" I exclaimed, nearly choking as I set my glass down too hard on the table.

"M-marriage!?" Kaori echoed, her voice rising in shock. We both stared at her parents, wide-eyed and completely stunned.