Episode 217: Kazunari’s Power

When we returned to the living room, Sachie-san was getting ready to head out, saying she was going home for the day.

Masaomi-san intended to drive her, but Sachie-san said she wanted to take the long way home and would just walk. It was still evening, so time-wise it wasn’t a problem, but…

「Well then, I’m heading home, but make sure you report to me properly next time if something happens.」

「Y-Yes… I’m very sorry…」

「Mother, we’ve reflected on it, so please forgive us already…」

I wonder what happened while we were out of the room.

Looking at the dejected Masaomi-san and the slightly fed-up Mayumi-san, I assume Sachie-san followed through on her「we’ll talk later」warning.

「Takanashi-san, Sara-chan, come visit anytime. I’d be happy to hear more of your stories. And if you ever have any trouble, don’t hesitate to come to me, okay?」

「Yes, thank you very much.」

「I will, Grandmother.」

Her tone was a complete 180 from how she’d been scolding Masaomi-san and the others, returning to the usual calm and gentle Sachie-san.

「Mm-hmm. Seeing you two standing side-by-side like that, it wouldn’t even feel strange to call you a married couple already.」

「Eh!?」

「Grandmother, is that true?」

Sachie-san probably said it as a joke, but Sara-san looked genuinely happy.

That reaction seemed to please her, as Sachie-san left with a laugh.

Now, Sachie-san has gone home, but what should I do?

According to the RAIN messages from Yuji and the others, everyone who gathered today has already dispersed. Apparently, they plan to gather again later for our「report session.」I’d received a message saying Sara-san and I were required to attend.

Regardless of that…

I figured Masaomi-san and the others probably had a lot to talk about with Sara-san since she’d basically been a runaway for a few days, so I thought I should be considerate and head home.

「Kazunari-kun, let’s have dinner together today.」

「She’s right. Please, stay and eat.」

When they both said it right as I was about to leave, I felt bad turning them down… or rather, I had no reason to refuse, so I decided to gratefully accept the offer.

「Thank you, I’d be honored.」

「Honestly~, such formality is strictly forbidden from now on!」

「Hahaha, well, expecting it immediately is a bit much. But I’d be happy if you could get used to us at your own pace.」

Being told that makes me realize that Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san have truly accepted me, which makes me happy. That doesn’t mean I’m going to forget my manners and start being over-familiar, but I think I can relax a little more.

I just have to make sure I don’t overstep.

「Thank you. I’ll do my best to get used to it.」

「Yeah, that’s all I ask.」

「Ufufu, I hope you’ll be able to call me Mother-in-law soon.」

Oh, right. Whether it’s adoption or marriage, I’ll eventually be their son-in-law… which means Mayumi-san will be my mother-in-law… Ah!?

「Is that what ‘Mother-in-law’ meant!?」

「Ah, you finally figured it out? I’m glad.」

In other words, Mayumi-san had been looking at me that way since long before this incident… That’s why she’d been pushing the「Mother-in-law」title on me for a while now.

「Kazunari-san, is something the matter?」

Just then, Sara-san returned from the kitchen after finishing the dishes.

「Kazunari-kun finally understood the meaning of calling me Mother-in-law, you see.」

「Mother-in-law… R-Right. If we get married in the future, that is certainly what you’ll be, but…」

Sara-san spoke a bit bashfully as she came over to me and sat in her usual spot to my right. It wasn’t my imagination that she was sitting slightly closer than usual.

「I was thinking Takanashi-kun should join us for dinner today.」

「I see… Kazunari-san, what would you like to do?」

「I’d like to stay, if it’s no trouble.」

「Understood. Well then, I shall prepare dinner for us today…」

「No way, I’m cooking today. Sara-chan makes food for Kazunari-kun all the time, so let me do it for once…」

「……All the time?」

Sara-san obviously assumed she’d be the one cooking, but Mayumi-san cut her off mid-sentence. I had a feeling it would turn out like this…

Also, I think I heard Masaomi-san mumble something.

「I handle everything regarding Kazunari-san’s personal care. Since I’ve promised to become his wife in the future, I have no intention of yielding that role, not even to Mother.」

I secretly thought she wouldn’t have yielded it regardless of the promise, but I decided not to point that out. She’ll probably be pushing that angle even more from now on… but if Sara-san is that happy about it, I don’t really mind.

「Now, now, why don’t you two just cook together? I’d like to eat Sara’s cooking for the first time in a while, too.」

Honestly, I think Masaomi-san’s compromise is the only path left. The two of them looked at each other and gave reluctant nods. I guess that’s settled for now.

「Mmm-fufu, maybe I’ll have Kazunari-kun praise my food as the most delicious.」

「Don’t make me laugh. When it comes to making meals for Kazunari-san, not even a three-star chef can beat me. If anyone could, it would only be Kazunari-san’s Moth—no, my Mother-in-law.」

I mean, I hate to say it, but my Okan could never beat Sara-san… which makes Sara-san the strongest. And that deliberate correction was a nice little touch of self-assertion.

「You said it… it’s ten years too early for you to beat your master.」

「The very thought that you could beat me when it comes to Kazunari-san is unforgivable.」

Invisible sparks seemed to fly as the two of them stepped up their competitive stances. This was supposed to be a simple invitation for dinner… how did it turn into this?

Even Masaomi-san looked surprised by the unexpected situation…

Since the two of them headed to the kitchen, it’s just me and Masaomi-san for the first time in a while. We happened to catch each other’s eyes and both burst out laughing.

「It feels a bit strange, doesn’t it? You started as just my benefactor, then our points of contact increased, and before I knew it, we’re talking about you becoming my son in the future… Human connections are truly interesting.」

「You’re right… To be honest, when I got your business card, I thought I’d never see you again. I didn’t need a reward, and I had no intention of calling you to ask for one. But then it turns out that person is Sara-san’s father. What are the odds?」

It really is an incredible coincidence. Who could have predicted that the person I met just once would someday be someone I call「Father」? At that point, Sara-san and I were barely even acquaintances…

「Still, today has been a day of constant surprises. I thought you were an interesting young man, but I didn’t think you’d exceed my expectations to this extent. To tell you the truth, seeing Sara by your side still feels like a dream. For her to change that much…」

Natsumi-senpai was surprised at first too, and if I remember Nishikawa-san’s reaction, I guess anyone who knows Sara-san would be. For a parent, that shock must be on a whole different level compared to friends or acquaintances.

「Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san were pretty shocked too. But from my perspective, Sara-san has been kind to me ever since we met…」

「…I don’t want to be overly negative about my own daughter, but that’s almost hard to believe. Still, that’s exactly why it makes sense. If she was favorable toward you from the start, then the way you two are now was probably already decided the moment you met.」

It’s embarrassing, but hearing that makes me really happy. Though, if I do say so myself, I think Masaomi-san is quite the romanticist too.

「It might be a bit much to say in front of Sara-san’s father, but I think it’s fate.」

「Heh, hahahaha, you certainly have a way with words. I knew about your character and your seriousness toward work, but between Grandmother, the Yamazaki Industries incident, and even having a massive secret weapon like President Nishikawa… are you really just a high schooler? You’re truly something else. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you can do.」

Well… it’s all a coincidence, really.

The thing with President Nishikawa was definitely the result of Nishikawa-san taking action, and the Yamazaki incident was the same. I didn’t even know Masaomi-san was involved in the first place…

「That whole thing started from a grudge between me and Yamazaki, but it was finally solved thanks to everyone who cooperated with me. There’s no doubt I couldn’t have done anything alone…」

「No, I think that’s a bit different. When moving as a group, you should consider everyone’s territory and strengths/weaknesses and complement each other. I don’t know exactly how you all solved it, but because you moved, everyone ended up gathering around you. And the fact that everyone cooperated means you’re that kind of person. So that in itself is a magnificent power of yours.」

…I remember Hanako-san saying something similar before. I don’t know if it means the same thing, but I feel like I understand what he’s saying.

It’s not my power as an individual, but the act of moving cooperatively, gathering that cooperation and putting it into motion, is ultimately my power… maybe. That’s just a vague feeling I have…

Sara POV

「I’m so glad~. I’ve been worried since long ago about what would happen to Masaomi-san if Sara-chan ever found someone, but it looks like he’ll get along just fine with Kazunari-kun.」

「Well… as long as it all settles peacefully, I don’t really mind…」

As long as there is no opposition regarding Kazunari-san, it doesn’t matter to me how things go.

Our business is our own… or rather, more accurately, I will simply follow whatever Kazunari-san decides.

「…Hahahaha!」

Father’s laughter reaches all the way here.

It seems they’re having a lively conversation. I just hope Father doesn’t say anything rude to Kazunari-san…

「Oh my, it looks like they’ve become fast friends. At this rate, it might be a good idea to have Kazunari-kun move in so the four of us can live in this house together. Maybe I should ask him?」

In this house?

It might not be a bad idea… but I still prefer it being just the two of us.

I won’t call them a nuisance, but I want to be the one to handle Kazunari-san’s personal care and everything else, all by myself.

And if it’s just the two of us, Kazunari-san will pamper himself with me at any time.

However, I must ask Kazunari-san first.

「You may ask if you wish, but the decision lies with us, understood?」

Because if it’s Kazunari-san, I’m sure he’ll understand my feelings.