Episode 122: Wandering Eyes

「Da-ru-ma-sa-n-ga…」

I heard a voice while we were climbing the shrine stairs.

Sara-san and I reflexively looked at each other, and she gave a small nod, so she probably had the same guess as me.

Once we reached the top of the stairs…

「…fe-ll do-wn!」

My eyes met with Todo-san, who’d just turned this way.

Mio-chan was facing the other way, so she probably hadn’t noticed yet. There were two other kids, a boy and a girl around early elementary school age, mixed in too.

Noticing Todo-san looking in a different direction, Mio-chan turned around.

「Ahhh! It’s Onii-chan and Sara-oneechan!」

With a happy smile, Mio-chan made a mad dash toward us.

I braced myself for a tackle, but at the last second, she changed course toward Sara-san instead of me.

I was worried for a moment, but Sara-san caught her securely and seemed to have picked her up.

「Ehehehe, Sara-oneechan.」

Sara-san started stroking Mio-chan’s head as she nuzzled against her.

「Hello, Mio-chan.」

「Yeah! Hello, Sara-oneechan!」

It looks like the two of them really have become close.

Though, I feel a little lonely since I was completely ignored.

I guess that’s just how it is with women…

「Hello to you too, Onii-chan.」

「Yeah, hello, Mio-chan.」

I feel like I’m just a bonus item for Sara-san…

「Hello, Takanashi-kun, Satsukawa-senpai.」

Todo-san, who’d been watching for a bit, gave a greeting.

「Hello, Todo-san.」

「Yes, hello, Todo-san.」

While we were exchanging smiles and greetings, the boy who’d been playing Daruma-san earlier snuck up behind Todo-san.

I had a bad feeling…

But by then, it was too late.

「Hellooooo!」

While giving a loud greeting(?), he grandly flipped up Todo-san’s knee-length, fluffy skirt.

「Kyaaaa!!」

I hadn’t intended to look, but it’s a guy’s instinct to have his eyes wander…

But she was wearing leggings underneath, so for both Todo-san and me, it was sa—

Pinch!!

「I-it hurf! It hurf!!」

Ouch, ouch, ouch!

When I shifted just my gaze to the side, Sara-san was wearing an unnaturally bright smile—so bright I could almost see an aura of pressure in the background. She was pinching my cheek with what felt like zero holding back…

All while still holding Mio-chan with one hand.

「Kazunari-san, in a situation like this, isn’t it a gentleman’s kindness to turn his face away and avoid looking?」

「Yef, yuf right, I’m forry…」

It really hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes…

Leaving Todo-san behind as she held down her skirt looking embarrassed, that boy ran down the stairs like he was fleeing.

「Hey! Wait!」

The girl also chased after the boy while scolding him.

And I’m still being pinched.

「Kyahahaha! Onii-chan has a funny face!」

I guess Mio-chan being entertained is my only saving grace.

In the end, I was pinched until Todo-san stepped in to mediate.

「I’m so sorry.」

I bowed my head deeply, looking like I was about to perform a full kowtow.

Sara-san is scary…

「No, you didn’t do anything wrong, Takanashi-kun. Besides… um, I was wearing something underneath…」

I wish she wouldn’t say that while looking so embarrassed. If I start remembering it, Sara-san’s gonna pinch me again.

「Satsukawa-senpai, please forgive Takanashi-kun too. By the way… have you two started calling each other by your first names?」

Maybe trying to change the subject, she suddenly pointed that out.

Come to think of it, Sara-san was calling me by my last name the last time we met…

「Yes, about that…」

「Oh, Sara-chan and Takanashi-san, welcome.」

Before Sara-san could start explaining, Sachie-san appeared.

Ugh… I’m getting nervous… Even though I thought I’d be fine now since I even confessed in front of Mayumi-san.

「Hello, Sachie-san.」

「Obaa-chan, hello.」

「Yes, hello. What brings you two here together today?」

Sara-san looked at me, her eyes pleading:「Shall I explain?」

When I shook my head, Sara-san smiled happily and…

「I am sorry, could you please take Mio-chan?」

After handing Mio-chan over to Todo-san, she gently snuggled up to my arm and looked at Sachie-san.

Sachie-san showed a quite surprised expression, before finally nodding as if she understood.

「I see, I see!! Well, this is wonderful news! Takanashi-san and Sara-chan, huh?」

I felt relieved that she laughed happily.

Just as I was about to explain, Todo-san seemed to realize what was going on after watching us.

「E… ehhh!? Really!? You two!」

I decided to explain so Todo-san, who looked like a startled deer, would understand.

「Um, actually, I officially asked Sara-san to date me yesterday…」

「And I told him that I love him as well.」

Sara-san said, following up on my words.

Apparently she couldn’t hold it back after all.

「Well, I’ve had a feeling it would turn out like this ever since Sara-chan first introduced you, Takanashi-san. I can’t just stand around here. I’ll go prepare the tea, so come inside and tell me all about it.」

Saying that, Sachie-san went back into the house first.

After watching her go, I looked at Sara-san, who was staring intently at me.

「Is something wrong?」

「No… um… does it hurt?」

?

Ah, the cheek she pinched earlier.

It definitely still hurts a bit…

「Well… it hurts a little, but did something happen?」

「It turned red… I might have done it too hard.」

Sara-san looked a bit downcast and apologetic, but I was the one at fault, not her.

「It’s okay. I’m the one who was wrong, so please don’t worry about it.」

Since I’ve been on the defensive since yesterday, I thought I’d show a little composure and lightly hugged her while stroking her head.

Then Sara-san reached out to my cheek and slowly stroked the spot that was probably red.

Just as I was thinking it felt kind of nice, she suddenly leaned her face close to my ear.

「Kazunari-san, I hate it when you look at other women with wandering eyes…」

She whispered in a small voice.

Now there’s no way to tell where my cheek is red. I’m sure it’s turned bright red all over.

「Marina-oneechan, I can’t see!」

「Um, you two, Mio-chan is right here.」

We’d completely forgotten about Mio-chan and Todo-san, and I got scolded by Todo-san as she covered Mio-chan’s eyes…