Episode 186: Mayumi-san’s Mistake

Now, I wonder if it’s about time.

I’m sure she was happy to see Takanashi-kun for the first time in a week, so it feels a bit cruel to pull them apart, even if it is only temporary…

But Masaomi-san is really looking forward to this, and so am I, so please forgive us just this once. I’ll make sure to drop you off at his place in secret later, of course.

Regardless, Takanashi-san’s part-time job was a really great opportunity. It makes me so happy that Masaomi-san and Takanashi-kun managed to get along that well. With this, I’m sure everything will be fine when「that time」comes.

Oh, and speaking of that time, it seems Takanashi-san has made up his mind to tell Masaomi-san about Sara-chan. Just like when he confessed to Sara-chan right in front of me, announcing it so clearly like that… he’s decisive as always, or maybe just very brave… Nfufu.

「Mayumi, isn’t it about time to head out?」

「You’re right. If we leave now, the crowd should be settling down. Shall we go?」

Maybe it’s because he hasn’t seen her in a week, but Masaomi-san is really fired up.

To be honest, Sara-chan can be a bit strict with her Father… though I know she doesn’t actually hate him. It’s just that age, after all.

That’s why I’m so surprised that a man actually appeared who could make Sara-chan fall that head-over-heels.

And for her way of loving him to end up so much like mine…

On the way to the school in the car, Masaomi-san spoke up as if he just remembered something.

「Right, Mayumi. About Takanashi-kun.」

「Yes?」

「Sara won’t be happy if she finds out a boy her own age has been coming to the house. So, let’s try to avoid mentioning Takanashi-kun’s part-time job as much as possible.」

「……You’re right, I understand.」

It’s true that Sara would have hated it if it were any boy other than Takanashi-san, so Masaomi-san’s concern isn’t exactly wrong.

Now then, I wonder what kind of reaction you’ll have when Takanashi-san introduces himself properly?

Still, he’s the fated man who finally appeared for your precious daughter, so I really hope you can accept him.

When we arrive at the school, it doesn’t look as crowded as I expected.

Maybe being a little late was actually for the best.

I have Masaomi-san wait in the car while I step out to meet Sara-chan.

Let’s see, Sara-chan’s class is…

I spot Sara-chan in front of a bus. Beside her are Natsumi-chan and… oh, there are others too. They look like they’re having a fun conversation; I wonder if they’re friends.

「Ah, Sara, Mayumi-san is here.」

Natsumi-chan notices me and waves. It looks like she told Sara-chan too.

「Eh!? Wait, is that Satsukawa-san’s mom!?」

「No way, she looks like an older sister!」

「Wait, Satsukawa-san looks just like her! Her future is set, I’m so jealous…」

My, my, I guess I’ve still got it (lol).

But I’m happy to see Sara-chan making more close friends.

Sara-chan says goodbye to everyone and heads my way, so I bow to the group to say hello before welcoming her back.

「Welcome back, Sara-chan.」

「I’m home, Okaa-san.」

Oh? She looks a bit down.

I wonder if something happened…

「What’s wrong, Sara-chan?」

「No, it’s nothing.」

If it’s nothing, you shouldn’t be making a face like that.

Well, I’m sure she’ll be fine once she gets to flirt with Takanashi-san later.

「Did Takanashi-san already go home?」

「Yes, he left a moment ago.」

「I see. I’ll drive you over there later, so make sure you act like a pampered baby as much as you want. And then, let him act like a pampered baby with you, too.」

「No, I’m staying home today.」

……Oh, that’s an unexpected answer.

I actually expected her to say she was staying at Takanashi-san’s house tonight.

「Are you sure?」

「…Yes. Kazunari-san said he wanted me to prioritize my parents over him today…」

Eh?

We’ve never had a talk like that before, so why so sudden…?

Of course, it’s a very good thing for him to be able to care for those around him instead of just being drowned in his own feelings.

But I don’t think he needs to force himself to be that much of an adult yet, and honestly, there shouldn’t have been any sign of that.

For him to suddenly be so considerate of us… could it be that Takanashi-san felt something during his part-time job?

Come to think of it, how was Takanashi-san acting today? Today at the house…

Thinking that far, I realize that we… no, Masaomi-san doesn’t know, so I realize that I might have made a mistake.

If Takanashi-san suddenly showed such un-high-school-like consideration, isn’t it because he saw something and realized it?

So what did he see to make him realize it… today, when Takanashi-san came to the house, what did we show him?

We talked about having a party because Sara-chan was coming home.

Masaomi-san looked so happy, and I was so excited that I’d been prepping since the morning…

「Hey, Sara-chan, did you tell Takanashi-san about today?」

「Yes, that we seemed to be having a party at home today…」

With that, my guess turns into a certainty.

It’s my mistake… it’s too late to regret it now, but I should have waited until Takanashi-san left before I started prepping.

Takanashi-san is a kind boy, so he must have seen us and decided he didn’t want to get in the way.

But he couldn’t tell Sara-chan that he saw it, so he probably convinced her without mentioning that part. Acting like it was just his own selfish thought.

Honestly… when he does something so touching like that, it just makes me want to dote on him even more.

If it’s a family party, honestly, Takanashi-san should be there too… Once Masaomi-san recognizes their relationship, I want to treat Takanashi-san like my own real son.

Though, in my heart, he’s already as good as my son anyway.

No, more importantly right now…

「Sara-chan, go get ready for a sleepover after we eat dinner.」

「Eh? But Kazunari-san said…」

「You know that isn’t Takanashi-san’s true feelings, right? That’s why you were looking so down, isn’t it?」

「………」

「We’ll be satisfied just having the party, so go to Takanashi-san’s place after. Make sure you pamper Takanashi-san enough for my share too, okay?」

「Huh? Why does your share even come into this, Okaa-san? I am the only one who will act like a pampered baby with Kazunari-san, and the only one who will let him be pampered in return.」

I only meant it as a little joke, but for her to snap back that clearly…

It would be a total disaster if I told her what happened during Takanashi-san’s part-time job.

Once we start hanging out as a whole family, I suppose I should take it easy on him or it’ll be too pitiful.

Well, now that that’s decided, let’s go home and have our party.

Masaomi-san is waiting, and we have to get you to Takanashi-san’s house soon.

I’ll have to make it up to Takanashi-san for making him worry unnecessarily eventually… but I can leave it to Sara-chan to handle the part where he was feeling lonely.

After getting home, I changed clothes and spent the whole time lying down looking at my phone.

Since I’d been waiting at the school since early on, I hadn’t eaten dinner yet, but I wasn’t particularly hungry; I was just rolling around. It was too much effort to change again and go shopping, so I figured I’d just eat some bread if I got really hungry.

I wonder if Sara-san is having fun right now…

It’s fine. Just because we can’t see each other tonight doesn’t mean we can’t see each other tomorrow.

Sara-san will definitely come over in the morning like usual, so it’s not that big of a deal.

……I know I’m just acting tough, though.

Well, I don’t have anything special to do today, and no part-time work either.

Maybe I should just go to sleep…

Knock, knock…Click

There’s only one person who would knock without ringing the bell and then just unlock the door and walk in.

When the door opens, Sara-san is standing there with a travel trunk in one hand…

「Wh, why…?」

Sara-san returns a smile to my surprised face. She looks like she’s in a bit of a rush; she leaves her trunk and her shoes, which she usually lines up so neatly, right there in the entryway as she steps into the room and pulls the stunned me into a hug.

My face ends up buried in Sara-san’s chest. That favorite warmth and softness of mine… the reality of it finally catches up to my thoughts.

Why is Sara-san here?

What happened to the party?

What about Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san?

All the questions that should have popped up vanished, leaving only one single thought in my head:「Sara-san came.」I was so happy that she came that I ended up hugging her back.

Sara-san seemed to feel me hugging her back because she let out a small「Fufu…」and adjusted her arms to hold me deeper while stroking my head.

「Once again, I’m home.」

While still in that position, Sara-san gave her homecoming greeting one more time.

Right, she hadn’t actually given the greeting for returning to this house yet.

「Welcome back, Sara-san.」

「Yes! I am back.」

She said「back」even for my house. That meant Sara-san thought of this house as「that kind of place,」and that made me happy.

「But, how…? Weren’t you with your parents today?」

「I was kicked out.」

「Kicked out?」

「Yes. Okaa-san asked me how long I intended to stay when the party was already over. She told me to go back to where I belong… and the only place I belong is by Kazunari-san’s side.」

「I, I see.」

Looks like Mayumi-san set this up.

I’m happy, of course, but now my noble endurance feels kind of pointless…

「Okaa-san said that Kazunari-san has to take responsibility for me being kicked out of the house.」

「Re, responsibility?」

「Yes. Therefore…」

Sara-san whispered that, leaning her mouth close to my ear while still holding me.

「Will you… take responsibility?」

Being told that in such a pampered, whispering voice, I knew instantly that my face had turned bright red.

「Y, yes… Well then, um, please stay the night.」

「I understand. Of course, please let me hold you all the way until tomorrow morning, okay?」

「……The whole time?」

「The whole time. I want you to act like a pampered baby with me today… I want you to lean on me… Kazunari-san.」

The sweetness and the longing in Sara-san’s voice made my heart race violently.

I understood perfectly that the current Sara-san was fully intent on spoiling me.

When Sara-san enters Onee-san Mode, she just wants to pamper me endlessly.

And that also meant that my「lonely battle」was about to begin.

A meaningful battle that was so happy it was painful…

It turns out Sara-san had already figured out that I hadn’t eaten dinner yet before she even got here, because she’d brought all the ingredients for a meal with her.

Tock, tock, tock…

The rhythmical sound of the knife hitting the cutting board. I haven’t heard this in a week.

Even while watching Sara-san standing in the kitchen, I wondered if this was actually a dream instead of reality. While I was thinking that, I’d moved close to her without even realizing it.

「Fufu… is something the matter?」

Being spoken to, I realize I’ve come right up beside Sara-san.

「Eh!? Wait, I…」

「Here, Kazunari-san, say aahn.」

Sara-san picks something up with her thumb and index finger and gently offers it to my mouth.

I reflexively open my mouth and she slips it in. I’m careful not to bite her fingers as I eat what she was holding.

Chomp… Munch, munch. Gulp.

The slightly sweet tamagoyaki was perfectly seasoned, showing she had a total grasp of my preferences.

It’s delicious…

「How is it?」

「……It’s perfect.」

「I’m glad. I’ll be finished in just a bit, okay?」

「…………」

I was so captivated by Sara-san’s gentle smile that I accidentally froze up.

「Kazunari-san?」

「……………」

Chu…

「!?」

I snap back to reality at the feeling of lips against my cheek. I see Sara-san pulling away after kissing me.

Noticing that I’m back, she gives another smile.

「Be a good boy, okay?」

「Yes.」

That answer came out so naturally it even surprised me.