Today is Sunday, the day I had scheduled to meet a girl through a rental girlfriend app. Honestly, this makes me really nervous. Because this will be my first experience going on a date with a girl.
"Hoam…"
I was still rolling around on my bed, my eyes feeling heavy because I didn't sleep well last night. I kept thinking about the girl I was going to meet through that app.
I got up from my bed and walked downstairs toward the bathroom. As I descended the stairs, the strong aroma of Mom's cooking wafted through the air.
Mom's cooking has a unique presence in my life; every time I catch its scent, my stomach seems to demand to be filled immediately.
"This smell… is making me hungry."
My steps moved toward the dining table, and when I arrived, the warm steam from Mom's cooking was still rising. Today's menu was miso soup.
Our dining table was simple, a table Dad bought three years ago. There were only two chairs facing each other and a single table with a cherry blossom pattern in full bloom on its surface. Simple, but in my eyes, it was beautiful.
"It's rare for you to wake up this early, Kamuto."
Mom's voice, still sounding damp from the kitchen, called out to me, and I immediately turned toward her.
"Ah, it's nothing, Mom. Besides, waking up early isn't just for going to school, right?"
Mom narrowed her eyes, looking at me with a suspicious gaze. I knew she would get suspicious, but I couldn't tell her the truth. If she knew, she would definitely scold me nonstop.
"I'm going out with my friends today, Mom."
I chuckled softly while scratching my head. I had no choice but to lie to Mom today. Forgive me, Mom. Your son has to lie, just for today.
"Oh, I see… I thought you were going out with your girlfriend."
"W-what did you just say, Mom?!"
"Why is your face all sweaty, Kamuto?"
I gulped down hard. Mom's guess wasn't wrong; I was indeed going out with a "girlfriend," even if it was a rented one. My heart beat a little faster this morning, and this sweat… it was coming out because Mom said the word "girlfriend." It made me panic, even if it was just a little.
"No, Mom. Besides, I don't have a girlfriend. Having a girlfriend is just a waste of time."
Mom laughed while tapping the table, as if teasing me for not having a girlfriend, then looked at me with a broad smile.
"You're so funny, Kamuto. If you keep saying things like that, Mom won't be able to stop laughing. Your youth should be made beautiful, you know? It's during this time that you'll get to know what love is, especially since you're still in high school."
"But I don't like anyone yet, Mom. How could I possibly know what love is?"
After saying that, I sat down on the chair, taking some rice and miso soup that Mom had prepared earlier.
"Hmmm… Mom is sure that it won't be long before you fall in love with someone."
Once again, Mom said something that sounded strange to me. She sat down next to me, looking at my face with a curious gaze.
'Mom's curiosity is growing even more. If she ever found out that I rented a girlfriend… I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.'
I continued eating the miso soup, trying to ignore Mom's gaze that kept focusing on me. Her right hand was propping up her chin, and she would occasionally smile at me.
'I need to find a topic so Mom will stop staring at me like this.'
I turned toward Mom while chewing my rice.
"What is it, Kamuto?"
"Mom… how did you meet Dad back then?"
This topic always worked. Because women love talking about their past love stories. I was sure Mom would get excited when talking about Dad.
"That's a good question, Kamuto."
Mom snapped her fingers excitedly, then shifted her gaze straight ahead before she started speaking.
"Your Dad fell in love with me back when we met at the supermarket. At that time, he was looking for the cheapest drink."
"That moment happened when we both opened the fridge door at the same time, our eyes met… it was as if fate really brought us together."
Mom's eyes were sparkling brightly. Seeing that, it felt a bit strange when Mom started telling her love story with Dad, because during moments like this, Mom would lose herself in the story.
"By the way, Mom, where's Dad? It's unusual for him not to come home this month."
"He said he's taking care of Grandma's retirement matters in Jakarta."
My grandma worked as a civil servant in Indonesia. I am half Japanese and half Indonesian—my Mom is from Japan, and my Dad is from Indonesia. Occasionally, I would go back to Indonesia to celebrate Grandma's birthday there.
"Oh, I see, Mom."
I kept chewing the rice and warm miso soup in my mouth. It was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating Mom's cooking this morning.
"Eat slowly, Kamuto."
"Mom's cooking is the best food in the world!"
"Of course, Kamuto. If your Dad were here, he would keep asking for seconds until his stomach was full."
I laughed at that, but what Mom said was true. Dad wouldn't stop eating until he was completely full.
After a few minutes of eating, I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my now full stomach.
"Mom's going to the supermarket later. Do you need anything?"
"Of course, Mom. Please buy my favorite drink."
"Again with that Jasmine tea. What's so good about that tea anyway?"
"It's super good, Mom! It tastes like being carried away by angels."
I laughed after saying that, and Mom laughed along with me. Then, she took the empty rice bowl I had used and brought it to the sink to wash it.
I felt too lazy to get up from this chair. My eyes glanced at the wall clock to check the time.
"Still a long time to go…"
The clock showed 8:23 a.m. I rested my chin on the table, my thoughts wandering back to the girl from the rental girlfriend app.
'Will she really come? If she comes, that means she's really serious about going on a date with me. But her rating is zero… it doesn't look recommended at all. But… it's better to try than not try at all.'
"Kamuto, don't forget to leave the key in the usual place if you go out later, okay?"
"Okay, Mom."
As usual, I would leave the key under the doormat at the front door. It had become a Hashimoto family habit. But actually, that was all Dad's idea. He said it was so we wouldn't have a hard time finding it, so Mom and I followed his suggestion.
Dad also took on the Hashimoto surname after marrying Mom. He has been living in Japan for 18 years, so it's not surprising that he has fully become a Japanese citizen.
"All right… today is the day I've been waiting for."
I muttered while raising both of my hands up, trying to hype myself up. Today would be my trial day, to find out what it feels like to have a girlfriend.
I quickly got up and walked toward the bathroom to take a shower, so I could feel refreshed and excited to meet Ayaka Shirase, my rental girlfriend for today.