The soft hum of the ceiling fan filled the quiet living room of Ren and Aoi's shared house in Tokyo. A rare pause had settled in their usually busy university lives. Their group project had ended on a high note. The team even secured an early internship offer — which conveniently came with a 3-month holiday break. For once, they had room to breathe, reflect... and plan.
Ren sat cross-legged on the floor with a notebook open in front of him, brows furrowed, pen tapping gently. Across from him, Aoi was lounging sideways on the couch, chin resting in her palm as she scrolled through her tablet. She was looking up countryside properties again — ever since Ren had shared his dream, she'd started obsessing over small wooden homes surrounded by rice fields and forest trails.
"You know…" Aoi began, breaking the silence, "if we're really going to live in the countryside someday, maybe we should learn how to deal with bugs."
Ren blinked. "That's… a very fair point."
She giggled, her legs playfully swaying off the edge of the couch. "And tractors. And solar panels. And gardening. I mean, I'm willing to do all that… with you."
Ren looked up at her, a smile tugging at his lips. "Aoi?"
"Hmm?"
He closed his notebook. "Should we tell our parents?"
She froze mid-scroll.
"About... our intentions. Living together. Marriage," Ren said softly. "I want to do it properly. With their blessing."
Aoi lowered the tablet, her usual sparkle softening into something tender. "I was thinking the same. Let's call them here. Give them a vacation in Tokyo. Book a hotel and everything."
"Together?" he asked.
"Together," she nodded.
Planning the Family Vacation
They set to work immediately. Booking the hotel, checking flights from Hokkaido to Tokyo, scheduling days off in advance. Ren managed the logistics while Aoi handled the aesthetic — she chose a modern but cozy hotel near a scenic temple district, with family-sized suites and room service menus that included both sushi and curry rice.
"We'll do it over lunch," Aoi said as they finalized the last itinerary. "It's the best time to talk about serious things without making it too heavy."
Ren agreed, though nervous butterflies stirred in his stomach. Not just about what they would say — but how their parents would react.
Arrival of the Families
A week later, both sets of parents arrived in Tokyo.
Ren's parents were quiet but warm, his mother instantly hugging Aoi the moment they met. "She's even more beautiful than in pictures," she whispered to Ren later.
Aoi's parents, in contrast, were lively and expressive. Her mother kept snapping photos of everything — the train station, the hotel, even the subway seats — while her father loudly complained that Tokyo air was "too efficient."
The first day was spent sightseeing and letting the families settle into their hotel. Ren and Aoi had planned every hour with care — shrine visits, dinner at a rooftop restaurant, evening walk near the university campus. Everything went smoothly. Almost too smoothly.
Until lunch on the second day.
The Confession
The six of them sat at a traditional Japanese-style restaurant, knees tucked under the low table. Aoi reached for Ren's hand under the table and gave it a quick squeeze before letting go. Her signal. It was time.
Ren cleared his throat. "We... wanted to talk to you both."
The room quieted.
He looked at Aoi, who gave a small nod.
"We're in love," he continued, voice steady. "And we've been dating seriously since high school. We're not just living together for convenience — we want to build a future together. Get married. Eventually move to the countryside and start a life there."
There was a pause. Ren's mother blinked. Aoi's father dropped his chopsticks.
Aoi jumped in quickly, "We're not rushing! Ren wants to work for a year before we take that step. But we thought it was time to tell you. And we really want your blessing."
Ren's father finally spoke. "A house… in the countryside?"
"With solar panels and tools and hybrid tech," Ren added, more confidently now. "Not a vacation life. A real one."
The table was silent again.
And then — Aoi's mom laughed. "You two... already have a house plan?"
Ren and Aoi nodded in unison.
"Kids these days," Aoi's dad said, shaking his head. "You don't just fall in love. You blueprint the entire life too."
Ren's mom smiled. "If you're serious — and this isn't just young love — then we trust you."
Her words made Ren feel a weight lift from his chest.
"I always thought Aoi needed someone calm to balance her," Aoi's father grunted. "Maybe this dork is exactly what she needs."
Aoi beamed. "You think I'm not calm?!"
Ren squeezed her hand under the table again. They shared a look — full of laughter, relief, and warmth.
New Dreams, New Trials
After the lunch confession, things moved quickly. Their families began asking questions about budget, location, life goals, and wedding planning.
Back at their house later that night, Ren lay beside Aoi on the couch, scrolling through countryside towns on his phone while she read articles about eco-living.
"We still have three months," she said. "To learn. To plan. To grow."
"Together," he echoed.
But the road ahead wouldn't be easy.
Saki had started acting distant. Their friendship was strained, her texts turning from bubbly to brief. Ren felt it — the shift. He respected her, but things were changing.
Aoi noticed too. And she wasn't sure how to feel.
The next trial was beginning.
And though their hands were still joined tightly — the future was as uncertain as it was beautiful.