Episode 178: Day Two of the Job

I received word that Masaomi-san couldn’t pick me up because of work, so Mayumi-san ended up coming instead.

I told her I could walk, but she insisted,「I’m coming to pick you up~」so I really had no choice but to wait quietly.

Once I got home, I finished changing, washed my bento box, and put it in my bag to get ready. Well, getting ready mostly just meant changing clothes.

While I was waiting by the road in front of the apartment, aimlessly watching the cars pass by, I eventually spotted a familiar white van driving toward me.

The car slowed down and stopped right in front of me, and Mayumi-san called out from the already open passenger window.

「Takanashi-san, sorry to keep you waiting~」

「No, thank you for coming.」

「It’s fine, shall we go?」

I opened the passenger door, got in, and buckled my seatbelt. Mayumi-san waited to confirm I was set before starting the car.

「It looks like my husband will be coming home late today. So, I’ll drive you back afterward too.」

「Ah, in that case, I can just walk…」

「That won’t do~」

Well, I knew she’d say that, but I figured I’d at least try to be polite.

The reason being, I’m just not thick-skinned enough to easily say,「Okay, I’ll count on you then.」

The scenery flowing by changed from the station area to the residential zone, and the car moved along slowly.

When we arrived at the Satsukawa home, she parked in the open garage just like yesterday, and we got out of the car.

We headed toward the front door, and Mayumi-san took her keys out of her bag and unlocked it… but for some reason, she hurried inside first and closed the door behind her.

Eh?

What was that about?

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but for now, I opened the door myself… only to find a smiling Mayumi-san standing just past the entryway, staring at me.

「Welcome home, Takanashi-san.」

「Eh?」

「Welcome home, Takanashi-san.」

「Uh…」

「Welcome home, Takanashi-san.」

「I’m home…」

「Good. Now, let’s have some tea. Be a good boy and wait on the sofa, okay?」

Apparently, that was the correct answer.

Mayumi-san gave a bright smile and headed deeper into the house with her slippers pitter-pattering. She probably went to the kitchen to get the tea ready… but being told to repeat myself like that felt like I was talking to a machine, which was a little scary.

Come to think of it, didn’t I have a similar exchange with Sara-san before…?

That was at my place, so it was fine, but saying「I’m home」at the Satsukawa house felt a bit weird.

I put on the slippers Mayumi-san had set out and entered the living room, taking my usual seat for now.

…Wait, I came here to work, so why am I acting like it’s totally normal to start a tea time?

I’d ended things yesterday in a pretty half-baked state, so I was actually totally fired up to get back to it early today…

That said, Mayumi-san had already started the tea prep, so I had no choice but to wait quietly.

「I had some time today, so I baked a chiffon cake. Please try some if you’d like.」

Apparently ready, Mayumi-san returned with a tray in hand.

One by one, she set a teapot, teacups, and the cake on the table.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the chiffon cake, which had a serious presence. It was decorated with whipped cream and looked no different from something served in a professional cafe.

Thinking back, Sara-san is also great at making cakes.

I guess she learned that directly from Mayumi-san too?

「Sara-chan has been helping me out since she was little, so I’ve taught her all sorts of things. So, I don’t think she’ll have any trouble with housework even after she gets married. Her future husband is going to be one lucky man~」

While saying that, Mayumi-san looked at me with a meaningful, smirking gaze.

I obviously knew she was talking about me, but honestly, I had no idea how to react.

Of course, I want to keep being close to Sara-san from here on out.

And if that continues, I can understand logically that eventually, things will lead to that kind of talk.

However, this is my first time ever having a lover, and my first experience with a romantic relationship.

For a total beginner like me, having people talk about the future or marriage all of a sudden makes it hard to even imagine… I haven’t even thought about what I’m doing after graduation yet.

「You don’t have to think too deeply about it, so just focus on having a good time with Sara-chan for now.」

Maybe seeing that I was struggling for a reaction, Mayumi-san followed up on her own comment.

Right, for now, the thing I need to work hard for is getting that present and making sure the surprise birthday party is a success.

I want Sara-san to be happy, especially as a way to thank her for everything she does. I’ll focus on that.

「Which is why, here, Takanashi-san, say aahn.」

「Huh? N, no, that’s really…」

I had no idea how that followed from what we were just talking about.

One look at her mischievous face made it clear she was just teasing me.

Even so, the reason I get so embarrassed is probably because looking at Mayumi-san makes me wonder if Sara-san will be like this when she grows up… the association just happens naturally…

「Nfufu, Takanashi-san, you’re so cute. But if I overdo it, I wonder if Sara-chan will get mad at me? I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself when I see your reactions.」

While saying that, she pulled back the fork she’d offered and brought it to her own mouth.

She took two or three bites of the cake and muttered with a satisfied look,「Yep, delicious.」

「Um… why is it that you go so far for me, Mayumi-san…?」

Since it was a good opportunity, I asked the question that had been on my mind for a while.

I can tell Mayumi-san likes me to an extent, but for a mother to do this much just because I’m her daughter’s boyfriend felt like a lot.

「Let’s see. I suppose the biggest reason is that you changed Sara-chan. The way she is now, she looks so truly happy that it makes me happy just watching her. So, I’m really grateful to you, Takanashi-san. My actions now are partly a way of saying thank you.」

So this is a parent’s perspective…

If it’s a thank you, I guess I should just accept it gratefully.

「Also, there’s one more little reason… but that one is a secret. I suppose that’s more of the reason why I end up wanting to meddle with you. But…」

Mayumi-san put her index finger to her lips in a「it’s a secret」pose. I think it’s a bit unfair for someone to pull off a cute move like that so well.

To be honest, I’m curious, but if it’s a secret, I guess that’s that.

But I understood well that Mayumi-san has her own reasons for doing all these things for me.

In that case, I just wish the teasing was… maybe a bit more moderate.

After thoroughly enjoying the cake, I was about to head to work when I remembered I’d forgotten to return the bento box.

I had it with me, of course, so I took the empty bento box out of my bag and handed it to Mayumi-san.

「Thank you very much. It was delicious. I gave it a quick wash.」

「Oh, you could have just left it as it was. But I’m happy to hear it was delicious. I’ll bring another one tomorrow, so look forward to it.」

「Y, yes… thank you very much.」

Since she said it’s a thank you, I intended to accept it honestly, so I just gave her a simple thank you.

She’d probably bring it even if I refused, and there was no real reason to say no anyway.

「Fufu, that’s more like it. Just leave it to Mother-in-law.」

Satisfied that I’d accepted it honestly, Mayumi-san gave a happy smile.

「Once again, I’m so sorry…」

Released from Mayumi-san’s intense hug, I immediately blurted out an apology.

As for what happened… I’d gotten too focused on the work again and forgotten to take a break.

And since I couldn’t hide it when she asked, just like yesterday, I ended up being given a mandatory punishment (reward?).

That thing, which was so violently large that I literally fit inside it, didn’t even allow me to resist with words until I was released.

So, naturally, I could only apologize after she let me go.

「Honestly, Takanashi-san. Taking a break is part of the job, you know? Oh, or maybe…」

Mayumi-san stared at me with an obvious smirking face, so clear I could almost hear a「smirk」sound effect.

Or maybe what?

「Did you do it on purpose because you wanted me to do this? Honestly, if you’re okay with me, I’ll say ‘good boy, good boy’ to you as much as you want. Come here.」

Mayumi-san stood there with both arms open, waiting for me as if to say「Bring it on.」

She’s joking, right?

「No, that’s just, well…」

If you ask if I’m happy or not, of course I’m happy, but I really want to do these kinds of things with Sara-san…

「Oh… I see, so it has to be Sara-chan after all. Mother-in-law is lonely.」

Mayumi-san lowered the hands she’d pointed toward me and looked visibly dejected, but I didn’t miss the fact that her mouth was smiling.

「Nfufu. It looks like Sara-chan is still growing, so I think Takanashi-san will have even more to be happy about in the future.」

Since I didn’t give her a reaction, Mayumi-san seemed to shift the subject immediately.

As for the part about her still growing…

She must mean her height, right? Yeah.

「Alright, Mother-in-law is satisfied now that I’ve seen that look on your face! Now, let’s stop work here and have dinner, okay?」

「Y, yes, understood.」

Mayumi-san, apparently satisfied with something, pulled me along toward the main house.

What was with that look? I should have been acting perfectly normal.

Returning to the main house and sitting at the living room table, the meal prepared was for two people.

Masaomi-san said he wouldn’t be here today, so naturally, I was having dinner with just Mayumi-san.

Thinking about it again, having dinner with just her mother… what kind of situation is this?

I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit of a snag in my heart.