Hitori Gotou's Family Dinner

"Ah, Shin, welcome, welcome!"

After driving Hitori Gotou back to her home, Shin was immediately greeted with a warm welcome from her family.

Hitori's parents stood at the entrance, looking at Shin as if he were a miracle doctor who had cured an autistic patient, their faces filled with gratitude.

Hitori's younger sister, Futari Gotou, had already run up to Shin, sizing him up with apparent satisfaction.

Even the family dog had come over to Shin's feet, rubbing against his pants to show affection, displaying a remarkably human-like understanding.

"Stop acting so weird!"

Perhaps because her family's behavior was too unusual, even Hitori, who usually acted the strangest, couldn't stand it and nervously shouted beside Shin.

"We can't help it! Who would have thought our little Hitori would actually invite a boy home? I'm so moved," said Hitori's mother, Michiyo Gotou, looking as if she was on the verge of tears, wiping her eyes with emotion.

"When Shin brought you home last time, we only saw him from afar at the door. We never expected him to be such a handsome and outstanding young man... It's almost a pity for our little Hitori."

Is this how you belittle your own daughter?

Hitori felt a bit withdrawn, but it seemed like her family always acted this way, so she was somewhat used to it.

"It's not appropriate to keep standing here talking. Let's move to the living room," said Hitori's father, Naoki Gotou, the only one who wasn't being overly dramatic. Hitori had inherited her guitar from him, and he was also her first guitar teacher.

It must be said that Hitori's family had always been very good to her. Even though she had always been reluctant to go out and interact with others, her family never forced her to do anything.

Although, as a result, Hitori's social anxiety had become more severe... but in the end, it wasn't a big problem. Hitori had eventually managed to communicate with the members of the band and Shin.

Although she hadn't completely overcome her social anxiety, there were signs of improvement. At least she could now look at people and speak normally.

"You're right. Let's go to the living room and chat. I still need to prepare dinner," said Michiyo Gotou, still wearing a happy smile, her eyes darting between Hitori and Shin before adding, "Now that you've brought Shin home, Hitori, you don't need to make excuses about band practice when you want to go on a date with him."

"...Wait! That's not an excuse! I really am practicing with the band!"

Hitori had initially relaxed a bit, seeing that her family seemed to accept Shin and that Shin hadn't said anything inappropriate. But when her mother suddenly said that, Hitori couldn't hold back and quickly defended herself.

So her family had always thought she wasn't actually in a band and that her band practices were just excuses to go on dates with Shin!?

"Hitori, we've already met Shin. You don't need to use the band as an excuse for dates. You can just tell us; we won't object," said Naoki Gotou, looking at Hitori with loving eyes, as if she were a daughter about to get married—oh wait, she was his daughter, though not about to get married.

"Shin seems like a good kid. We won't object."

Object to what!? There's a huge misunderstanding here!

Hitori scratched her head, unsure where to even begin explaining—she suddenly realized that her family had a lot of misconceptions about her.

It wasn't entirely their fault, though. Hitori had indeed changed a lot recently.

Suddenly becoming close with a boy, joining a band, and frequently attending practices—these were things the old Hitori would never have dared to imagine.

...

"So, you're not dating after all."

At the dinner table, Shin and Hitori's family were eating together when Shin clarified his relationship with Hitori.

Of course, he omitted the awkwardness of their first meeting—Hitori still thought he was a yakuza boss, and he didn't want that to become public knowledge.

However, after Shin said that he and Hitori weren't dating, Hitori's family seemed a bit disappointed. They had apparently hoped that Hitori and Shin would start dating.

"Why didn't you believe me when I said it, but you believe Shin as soon as he says it...?"

Hitori looked exasperated. At home, she seemed to act a bit more normally, at least not as timid as she was at school.

"Because you've told too many lies to keep your family from worrying, so they don't trust you," Shin quickly guessed the reason. Based on Hitori's usual behavior, he could almost imagine what she usually told her family.

"That's right! Last time, big sister said she made a friend named Megumi Kato at school and even had lunch with her!" Futari chimed in from across the table, trying to expose Hitori's lie—though to Shin, this "lie" sounded a bit subtle.

Shin gave Hitori a strange look, as if to say, "What kind of image do you have in your family?"

Even telling the truth was considered a lie. She probably told outrageous lies like "I have a hundred friends at school" that were obviously false.

Hitori buried her head in her rice, her ears turning red—this was so embarrassing, especially in front of Shin. She wanted to die.

"Hitori."

Michiyo Gotou, sitting next to Hitori, suddenly poked her in the side and whispered, "You have to make your move when the time is right. Shin is definitely popular. If you don't act, someone else will."

"I told you, we're not like that..."

Hitori looked humble, but perhaps her mother's words had some truth to them, as a faint, unknown thought began to stir in her heart.

To be continued…

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