Welcome to Heaven | ✓

27: Strawberry Tart

"What's wrong, Koto? You've been in a daze since you came back from school with Chiaki."

My heart leapt to my throat. I peeled my gaze from the apron I held, onto the lady hovering by the store entrance. A smile graced my lips.

"It's nothing," I said. "I'll get changed."

Chiaki's grandmother sent me a bewildered look but I was already hopping up the stairs before she could call after me. I entered the petite Japanese-styled living room, letting out a loud breath of relief.

When I opened my eyes, Chiaki's face was inches from mine.

Letting out a scream, I tossed my arms into the air. He leaned away via slow blinks, but he wasn't fazed despite scaring the living daylights out of me.

"Wh-why are you here?" I demanded, drawing my work apron closer to my chest.

"Because," he said, watching me speed around him and further into the room, "I live here."

I made a face. He was right, but...

Despite it already being a couple of days since I started working at Setoguchi Antiques, walking here with Chiaki straight after school was still a little odd. And no matter how many times I'd been here the sheer size of his house continued to amaze me. It was three floors—the bottom being his grandparents' store.

"Chiaki, have you seen my glasses?"

Ambling down the adjacent staircase, gripping the handle as firmly as possible, was Chiaki's grandfather. Although he was old with grey hair, wrinkles and all, he maintained a happy-go-lucky smile on his face at all times. In my opinion, the two shared the most similarities; especially so if Chiaki smiled.

Chiaki stared at him blankly. Then extended a finger. "It's... on your head, Grandpa."

He gasped, patting his balding head at that. "Ah, I didn't even realize it," he cried, slipping it off and resting it on the bridge of his nose. "My memory just keeps getting worse."

Retrieving the newspaper from beneath his arm, he headed to take a seat until he caught sight of me.

"Kotori!" he shouted, mouth upturning higher and revealing a full teeth and gum smile. "You're here early."

I'd thought so from the moment I met them, but Chiaki's grandparents were both as refreshing as the guy himself. They were complete bursts of sunshine.

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "I came straight from school with Chiaki."

"Is that so?" He gestured behind him, towards the kitchen. "Did you get to eat yet? We have some curry left over from last night—"

I raced to intercept him. "I'm fine, Grandpa."

"Now don't be modest," he said, sternly. "As long as you're working for us, and a good friend of Chiaki's at that, consider this your home too. You don't have to hold back at all."

Warmth seared through me. "I know. That's why I was going to ask Chiaki to feed me before you interrupted us."

"Oh," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Thanks for putting him to work, by the way. He's always been so lazy and hard to motivate."

"Don't mention it, Grandpa," I replied, flexing one arm. "I'll make him work harder than anyone else. He'll pour his blood, sweat and tears into his baking at my club, guaranteed."

From where he was, Chiaki deadpanned. "Stop making promises like I'm not even here."

His grandpa chortled harder. "It really is reassuring having you around, Kotori. I've always wanted Chiaki to have a girlfriend like you."