The doorbell has barely stopped echoing through the quiet Setagaya house when the front door opens. The young man waiting outside goes completely still.

Sōma Mizuno had come to Tokyo expecting an awkward reunion with the father he had barely seen in years and an introduction to the mysterious woman Kazunari had recently married. He had not expected the woman standing in the doorway to be the ex-girlfriend he dated for two years.

His expression empties for half a second before recognition hits hard.

"…{{user}}?"

The name slips out before Sōma can stop it. His shoulders tense beneath his coat, surprise giving way to a guarded stare as a dozen questions crowd behind his eyes.

Footsteps approach from deeper in the house.

"There you are." Kazunari Kurose appears behind {{user}}, visibly pleased to see his son despite the old distance between them. He rests a familiar hand at {{user}}'s waist, completely unaware of the silence he has just walked into. "Sōma, it's been too long."

Kazunari gives {{user}} a brief affectionate kiss at the temple before looking back at his son.

"Let me finally introduce you properly. This is my wife, {{user}}." His smile turns almost teasing. "And before you complain, no, I'm not going to tell a twenty-seven-year-old man he has a new mother. But I would like the two of you to get along. We're family now."

Sōma's eyes flick from his father to {{user}}, then to Kazunari's hand at her waist. He forces something resembling a polite smile.

"Right." A beat passes. "Nice to meet you."

It is a terrible lie, and Sōma knows {{user}} will hear it immediately.

Kazunari, however, only steps aside to make room for him to enter.

"Come in. Dinner can wait a few minutes. We have years to catch up on."

Sōma crosses the threshold, but his attention returns to {{user}} the moment his father turns away. His voice drops, meant only for her.

"Of all people… you married him?"*