Chapter 1
MARRY ME
Chapter 1 — I Want to Get Married
Haruto Akiyama was twenty-four years old.
He had a normal job, a normal apartment, normal friends, and a completely normal life.
There was only one problem.
He was single.
Very single.
One Monday morning, Haruto was sitting at his desk at work, staring at his computer screen without actually doing anything.
His coworker, Kenta, looked over at him.
“You've been staring at the same screen for ten minutes.”
Haruto didn't move.
“Kenta.”
“Yeah?”
“I've decided something.”
Kenta continued working.
“What?”
“I want to get married.”
Kenta stopped typing.
He slowly turned toward Haruto.
“…What?”
“I want to get married.”
“You?”
“Yes, me.”
“Why?”
Haruto looked out the window dramatically.
“Because I'm tired of coming home to an empty apartment.”
Kenta stared at him.
“You're twenty-four.”
“I know.”
“You're acting like you're seventy.”
“I don't care!”
Haruto stood up.
“I want someone waiting for me when I come home!”
A few people in the office turned around.
Haruto immediately sat back down.
Kenta lowered his voice.
“Okay, Romeo. First question.”
“What?”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Someone you like?”
“No.”
“Someone who likes you?”
Haruto became silent.
Kenta waited.
Haruto looked away.
“…Next question.”
Kenta laughed.
“So you want to get married without even having a girlfriend.”
“Exactly.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.”
Haruto pulled a small notebook from his bag and placed it on the desk.
Kenta looked at the cover.
MY MARRIAGE PLAN
Kenta stared at it for several seconds.
“You actually made a plan?”
“Of course.”
Haruto opened the notebook.
“I'll find someone suitable, date her, fall in love, get married, buy a house, have a peaceful life…”
Kenta interrupted him.
“You've planned your entire married life before finding a woman.”
Haruto nodded proudly.
“Yes.”
“You're insane.”
“I prefer prepared.”
Kenta sighed.
“Fine. What's your plan for finding this mysterious wife?”
Haruto started counting on his fingers.
“First, I'll ask my friends if they know anyone.”
“Okay.”
“Second, I'll try a matchmaking service.”
“Okay.”
“Third, I'll ask my family.”
Kenta nodded.
“That's actually reasonable.”
Haruto smiled.
“And fourth…”
Kenta waited.
“I'll accept applications.”
Kenta nearly fell out of his chair.
“APPLICATIONS?!”
“Why not?”
“Are you hiring an employee?”
Haruto laughed.
“I was joking.”
Kenta stared at him.
“You weren't.”
“I was a little serious.”
The rest of the day passed normally.
But Haruto couldn't stop thinking about marriage.
On his way home, he saw couples walking together.
A couple sharing an umbrella.
A couple buying food.
A couple arguing over something completely stupid.
Haruto watched them.
For some reason, he smiled.
“I want that.”
He imagined coming home after work and hearing someone say, “Welcome home.”
He imagined eating dinner with someone.
Watching movies together.
Going shopping.
Arguing about what to eat.
Then making up five minutes later.
It wasn't some perfect fantasy.
He just wanted someone to share ordinary life with.
When Haruto reached his apartment, he opened the door.
Silence.
He turned on the lights.
His empty living room stared back at him.
He opened the refrigerator.
There was one bottle of water and half a piece of bread.
Haruto slowly closed the refrigerator.
“…I definitely need a wife.”
The next morning, he called his mother.
“Mom?”
“Oh, Haruto! You called early.”
“I need your help.”
There was silence.
“What happened?”
“I want to get married.”
Another silence.
Then his mother laughed.
“You?”
“Why does everyone react like that?!”
“Because you've never shown any interest in marriage before.”
“Well, now I am interested.”
His mother became serious.
“Are you actually serious?”
“Yes.”
“Then I might know someone.”
Haruto immediately sat up.
“You do?”
“Yes. A family friend has a daughter around your age.”
Haruto's heart started beating faster.
“What is she like?”
“I'll tell you later.”
“Can I meet her?”
“I'll ask.”
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Please.”
His mother laughed.
“Alright. I'll arrange something.”
Haruto hung up.
He stared at his phone.
His first real opportunity.
Maybe this was how his story would begin.
He spent the next two days preparing.
He bought new clothes.
He fixed his hair.
He even watched videos about how to have a good first conversation.
On Saturday afternoon, he arrived at a small café.
His mother had arranged the meeting.
Haruto sat at a table and nervously checked the time.
2:55.
3:00.
3:05.
Then a girl entered the café.
She looked around.
Their eyes met.
She walked toward him.
“Are you Haruto?”
He stood up so quickly that his chair almost fell over.
“Yes!”
She smiled.
“I'm Mio.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
They sat down.
For the first few minutes, everything was awkward.
Haruto had prepared several questions.
Unfortunately, the moment he saw her, his brain forgot every single one.
Mio looked at him.
“So… what do you like doing?”
Haruto panicked.
“Eating.”
Mio blinked.
“Eating?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of food?”
“Everything.”
She smiled.
“That's a pretty broad answer.”
Haruto nodded seriously.
“I don't discriminate against food.”
Mio laughed.
Haruto relaxed.
They started talking.
She liked movies.
He liked movies.
She enjoyed cooking.
He liked eating.
She liked going for walks.
He hated exercise but liked walking if there was food at the destination.
The conversation became easier.
They talked for almost two hours.
When they finally left the café, Haruto felt strangely happy.
He didn't know whether Mio was the person he would marry.
But he wanted to see her again.
That evening, he called Kenta.
“So?”
Kenta asked.
“I met someone.”
“And?”
“She was nice.”
“Do you like her?”
Haruto thought about it.
“I think I do.”
Kenta smiled.
“Then ask her out.”
Haruto became nervous.
“Already?”
“You're the guy who wanted to get married immediately.”
“That's different!”
“How?”
Haruto didn't have an answer.
The next morning, he received a message.
It was from his mother.
How did the meeting go?
Haruto replied:
Good. I want to meet her again.
A few seconds later, his mother replied.
That's great.
Then another message appeared.
Actually, I have another girl I'd like you to meet next week.
Haruto stared at the screen.
His expression slowly changed.
Another girl?
He typed:
Why?
His mother replied:
Because I don't want you to decide too quickly. You should meet different people.
Haruto stared at the message.
Then his phone buzzed again.
And your aunt also knows someone.
Haruto's eyes widened.
Another message.
Your cousin said she might introduce you to someone too.
Haruto dropped his phone onto the bed.
“Wait.”
He picked it up again.
He reread the messages.
One girl.
Then another.
Then another.
He had spent his entire life trying to find a wife.
Now that he had finally decided to search…
Everyone was suddenly trying to find one for him.
Haruto looked toward the ceiling.
“I only need ONE!”
His phone buzzed.
Another message from his mother.
Don't worry. We'll help you choose.
Haruto slowly covered his face.
“I have a feeling…”
He looked at the phone.
“…this is going to become a huge problem.”
And he had absolutely no idea how right he was.
