Mitsuko overhears Junpei Ogiya struggling with how to confess his feelings to Asuka Izaka.
He lay on the ground clutching his stomach and burst into laughter.
Junpei Ogiya glared at Mitsuko with displeasure: "Why are you laughing at me?!"
"I don't usually smile..."
"So what's your situation now?"
"Unless you can't help it."
Mitsuko laughed even harder.
After a bit of playful fighting, Junpei Ogiya asked, "Mitsuko, as my good brother, give me some advice!"
"I don't have much experience with this kind of thing, so how can I give you advice? But..."
Junpei Ogiya pressed on urgently, "But what?"
"Since two people love each other, they shouldn't get hung up on this formality, but rather focus on their attitudes."
"Manners?"
"Yes, attitude. As long as you sincerely confess to Asuka, Asuka will see your attitude and see that you, Junpei Ogiya, like her, Asuka. That's the most important thing. If you don't let Asuka see your attitude, even if you are well prepared, it will be useless."
Junpei Ogiya pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "Mitsuko, you're right. I'll go ask Uncle Nakado and the others later to learn how they showed their partners their attitude back then. I want Asuka to see my attitude from the inside out!"
Mitsuko shook his head: "I think it's better not to ask."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because feelings can only happen, not be learned. Just like you and me back then, did you learn from others how to be my brother? The ways you learn from others are theirs, not yours."
Junpei Ogiya started to hesitate again: "But... I'm a bit clumsy with words, I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing."
"So what? You are you, and that's enough. The purpose of confessing is to express your feelings, not to demand a relationship. I believe Asuka likes the real you. Even if you said something wrong, it's still the real you, isn't it?"
Mitsuko took a sip of the sake from the flask and then handed it to Junpei Ogiya.
Junpei Ogiya murmured thoughtfully, "Mitsuko, you're right! I want to be myself, not try to imitate others!"
Junpei Ogiya raised the sake bottle, tilted his head back to drink, only to find that there wasn't a single drop of sake left.
Mitsuko covered her mouth and chuckled to herself.
Junpei Ogiya pinned Mitsuko down, threatening her menacingly, "Katō Mitsuko! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
...
One night three days later.
Everyone was busy preparing dinner.
At the dinner table, everyone chatted and laughed, recounting the interesting things that happened that day.
Junpei Ogiya seemed to have mustered immense courage to stand up and say loudly, "Everyone, I have something to announce today."
Everyone looked up at Junpei Ogiya.
Junpei Ogiya pulled up Asuka Izaka, who was standing to the side with her head down and a shy expression. The two intertwined their fingers tightly and then announced, "Asuka and I are together. I think it's important to announce this to everyone, and we hope to receive everyone's blessings!"
After exchanging glances, the group ignored Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka and continued chatting amongst themselves, completely disregarding the two.
Junpei Ogiya stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning, while Asuka covered her face, too ashamed to show her face.
However, Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka failed to notice that Emi Matsuo had disappeared.
Suddenly.
All the candles went out, plunging the scene into darkness.
When the candle is lit again.
Emi Matsuo presented Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka with a colorful and exquisitely crafted cake.
Everyone present stood up, applauded, and congratulated Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka.
Asuka Izaka was so moved that she started to shed tears.
Junpei Ogiya stared blankly at everyone: "Everyone..."
Mitsuko joked, "I thought you would announce it to us three days after you confessed your feelings. We made three cakes, and we ate two of them ourselves."
Junpei Ogiya sensed something was amiss: "How did you know I confessed to Asuka three days ago? Could it be that Mitsuko...?"
Mitsuko grinned mischievously, "That's right, it was me! Who told you to pin me down that night? I hold grudges, and everyone wanted to witness such an important moment as you confessing to Asuka."
Junpei Ogiya's breath hitched. He thought back to the day he confessed his feelings, how he held Asuka's hand, stammering for ages without uttering a single word, finally managing only to say, "Have you eaten?" Has everyone seen that embarrassing scene?!
Junpei Ogiya blushed, his finger trembling as he pointed at Mitsuko: "Mitsuko, you can't do this!"
"Junpei-nii, Asuka-neechan, hurry up and blow out the candles and make a wish! After you make your wish, you can eat rice cakes!"
As Emi Matsuo held the cakes, her eyes were fixed on them, and her mouth was already watering uncontrollably.
Asuka Izaka patted Emi Matsuo's head and said, "Emi, this isn't your birthday, you don't need to blow out candles and make a wish."
"The atmosphere's already set, let's make a wish!"
"Make a wish, make a wish..."
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka closed their eyes and made a wish in their hearts.
The two shared the same wish.
I hope that no matter how long it takes, we can all live together happily, just like we do today.
Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka opened their eyes, looked into each other's eyes, smiled at each other, and then blew out the candles.
Under Junpei Ogiya's cutting, everyone held a cake in their hand and enjoyed it to their heart's content.
Even though Mitsuko didn't need to eat, she ate a piece in this atmosphere.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they started gossiping.
"Junpei, I thought you confessed to Asuka much earlier."
"Yes, yes, I noticed a long time ago that Junpei and Asuka like each other."
"Asuka, what do you like about Junpei?"
"Junpei, really. If Mitsuko hadn't told us, we would have missed that confession."
"Junpei, Asuka, you two are really not being fair."
Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka answered everyone's questions, their foreheads covered in sweat.
until...
"Junpei, Asuka, when are you getting married?"
Junpei Ogiya, his face flushed red, retorted loudly, "I only confessed three days ago, how could it be so fast!"
But no one listened to Junpei Ogiya.
"Leave the wedding banquet to me!" Chef Daiki Nakado said, patting his chest.
Carpenter Rintarō Iwakiri chimed in, "Then the wedding furniture is mine!"
Tailor Kumi Urai walked up to Junpei Ogiya and Asuka Izaka and compared their sizes: "We're still missing the wedding attire. It seems I'll have to start preparing tomorrow."
We spent a pleasant evening amidst everyone's laughter and joy.