The inside of the studio was bigger than I'd imagined. Several theme rooms had been carefully decorated: one with tatami mats, another with a small artificial zen garden, and even a Taishō-style room with antique furniture and warm, amber lights. The whole place smelled faintly of incense and makeup.
"You're right on time!" greeted a woman in a pale pink kimono, holding a tablet in one hand. "Are you the family from the group 'Kawa no Hikari'? Perfect! Come in, please. You're already registered."
"Kawa no hikari…?" I muttered under my breath.
"I came up with it. 'River's Light' sounds elegant, doesn't it?" Aisha whispered proudly. "And it's a little nod to your journey. Everything fits!"
We were led to a dressing room filled with traditional clothes: summer yukatas, floral-patterned haoris, colorful sashes, and even pairs of wooden sandals. The attendant explained we should dress "like a family spending a special summer day together." Nothing too formal — but in harmony.
"Kaori-san, Ailany, with me." Aisha grabbed their hands and vanished between the curtains of the changing room.
I was left alone, holding a folded navy blue yukata in my arms, not having the slightest clue where to begin.
"Need help?" an assistant — probably a college student — asked, noticing my lost expression.
"No, thanks… I think I can—"
> I couldn't.
After several minutes of wrestling with the folds of the yukata and a sash that wouldn't stop loosening, I stepped into the main hallway, half-dressed and with my hair a complete mess. I felt ridiculous.
But then — I saw them.
Kaori appeared first, wearing a black yukata patterned with golden cherry blossoms and a deep crimson sash that gave her a refined air. Her hair was pinned up with glittering hair ornaments.
"What? Never seen a stylish aunt before?" she teased, crossing her arms.
Ailany came out next, wearing a light blue yukata with water patterns and tiny dragonflies. It was simple, loose, and matched her personality perfectly. Her hair, usually tied up, was left down over her shoulders this time.
"You… look cute," I managed to say.
She quickly lowered her gaze, blushing.
And lastly — Aisha appeared as if she were walking down a runway. A vivid red yukata, a white sash at her waist, and an artificial flower clipped to her ear.
"Ta-da! Don't I look like the mischievous daughter who's always getting into trouble?"
"You look more like the mom who's going to drag us all into bankruptcy," Kaori-san muttered.
"Shh! Stay in character!" Aisha struck a dramatic pose. "Otōsan… shall we go to the festival together tonight?" she asked in an exaggeratedly sweet voice, clinging to my arm.
"D-don't call me that…!" I blushed, looking around in a panic.
"You're ready," the attendant smiled. "This way — we'll start with the first scene: a family lunch at a traditional house."
They seated us at a low table set with fake dishes. The cameraman moved around us, giving out instructions: "Smile a little more," "Look at your daughter with tenderness," "Feed her a sweet," "Make it feel real!"
Aisha pretended to laugh with her mouth full. Ailany held a tea cup with both hands, glancing at me as if she were truly waiting for me to say something. Kaori-san looked off to the side, a little embarrassed, but unable to stop a small smile from slipping out.
And for a brief moment — the city noise, the stress, the money, the maps, the plans… it all disappeared.
> It was just us. Pretending to be a family. But somehow feeling… a little closer.
"Haruki-kun…" Ailany whispered during a pause. "Thank you… for not leaving me alone."
"You don't have to thank me," I replied with a small smile. "We're… a family now, aren't we?"
She blinked, surprised, then lowered her gaze, a shy little smile appearing on her lips.
Aisha glanced over at us from the side.
"I see… maybe you really would make a decent young dad after all."
"Is it really that obvious…?" Kaori whispered from the corner, looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
The photographer called for the next scene: out in the garden, beneath a paper lantern, as if we were waiting for the summer fireworks.
And as we made our way there — I realized something strange.
> Sometimes, even the most ridiculous lies can give you moments that feel real.
And me, Haruki Kiryuu, the guy who just wanted to find a road to follow… was starting to realize this trip wasn't just about reaching Uke Mochi.
It might be about something else too.