Episode 242: The Weekly Visit to the Satsukawa Residence

After school, Student Council room.

「Now then, once again, everyone, good work on the student general meeting.」

「「「「「 Good work!! 」」」」」

With the student general meeting successfully finished, the executive committee members are technically switching over today.

In other words, this time is the final gathering for the old executive committee… well, sort of.

I say that because the Former President has promised to continue participating in the committee, and the other two senpais have agreed to come help whenever they have time.

Basically, things might not actually change that much (lol).

Or rather, will it just get easier since the headcount increased?

Since everyone understands that, there’s no sentimental talk and the atmosphere hasn’t changed. It’s purely just a celebratory「Good work today」greeting.

Besides, we already got our impressions of the event out of the way in the wings of the stage right after it ended.

「Even though we say today’s the end, nothing really changes until the school festival is over.」

「Timing-wise, it’s been that way for the senpais every year~」

Since they said it themselves, we’ve decided to gratefully let them continue as they are.

「Everyone worked hard today, so how about we disband early?」

Uesaka-san has already stepped down as President, so the decision-making power belongs to the current President, Sara-san. So, this was phrased as a suggestion from the Former President.

「You’re right. Usually, any after-party talk happens after the cultural festival is over, so let’s disband for today. It’s not quite a coincidence, but we have plans after this as well…」

The plans Sara-san mentioned are the dinner gathering at the Satsukawa residence scheduled for today.

Since we have a promise to go back once a week, we were supposed to do some shopping on the way back and then eat dinner at the Satsukawa house.

Apparently, Masaomi-san is extremely happy to be able to see his beloved daughter, and Mayumi-san messaged us saying he was all fired up about trying his best to get home early today.

「Is something going on?」

「We’re having a dinner at my family home today. So, we have to do some shopping on the way back.」

「Heh, with Takanashi-kun going along, it really is a whole-family thing, huh. Oh, by the way, is your father okay with it? I have this image of boyfriends and fathers not getting along.」

「It’s fine. My father is actually happy that Kazunari-san is going to become an adopted son-in-law.」

As expected, the girls seem to love getting fired up over this kind of talk. Sara-san loves talking about us, so it’s an easy topic for the people around us to bring up. However, for me, I’m constantly on edge worrying that the conversation will go too far and expose something bad.

Especially the bath stuff…

「…Hm? Takanashi-kun is becoming a son-in-law?」

Naturally, even if he wasn’t part of the conversation, everyone in the room could hear it. The Former President asked me, as if to confirm the son-in-law part that had piqued his interest.

「Yes, to be precise, it seems I’ll be an adopted son-in-law. Sara-san’s parents requested it.」

「I see. (…Right, Satsukawa-san’s house is Saba’s… Eh? Which means Takanashi-kun is…)」

The Former President stared at my face, wide-eyed and with his mouth half-open as if he’d just realized something shocking. What was that about?

「Is that how it is? As a girl, the image of ‘marrying into’ a family is stronger, but are you okay with that, Satsukawa-san?」

「Fufu… Either way, the fact that I will become Kazunari-san’s wife remains the same. In the future ahead, I will always, always be together with Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san said that with a happy smile while leaning her weight against my arm. She usually pampers me to an excessive degree, but sometimes she acts spoiled like this too.

「U-Umm, honestly, as high schoolers, it doesn’t really feel real even if you talk about marriage or wives. ‘I got a lover’ or ‘I got a boyfriend’ makes sense, though. How can you think that far ahead, Satsukawa-san?」

「Ah, I thought the same thing. To be honest, it’s not really the kind of talk high schoolers have, or rather, it’s a bit heavy. What about you, Takanashi-kun?」

It’s only natural for them to feel that way. Even as one of the people involved, it doesn’t quite feel real to me either, and the reality is that I still don’t fully understand it. It must be even harder for others to grasp.

「The most important thing to me is being able to be with Sara-san forever. I just sort of think of it as the place where our current relationship will eventually lead, and I think that’s fine for now.」

「Yes. To be honest, I have a longing for marriage itself, but my feeling is that it’s an extension of our current relationship. If I had to use a metaphor, it’s like I’m currently an intern, and after marriage is the real deal?」

The gesture of her looking up at my face with upturned eyes was way too cute, and I reflexively stroked her head. Sara-san wasn’t surprised by my sudden action; she narrowed her eyes like a cat and leaned into me comfortably.

「…I’m scared of myself for being able to talk normally while they’re flirting right in front of me.」

「…Me too… it must be hell for the guys who admired her, though.」

「You’d better get used to it soon. Those two are only going to get worse from here on out.」

「H-Hanako-san, let’s say they’ll get ‘even closer’ instead…」

I intend to understand that our relationship is a major outlier for typical high schoolers. But the fact that I was able to become lovers with Sara-san is something I have to call a miracle… considering that, I don’t think it’s strange at all for people to think we have an unusual relationship.

Satsukawa House

「Welcome home~」

The one who greeted us as we opened the front door was Mayumi-san, wearing a beaming smile. She must have been waiting the whole time, because she came out the moment the door opened.

I’d heard that Masaomi-san was lonely, but wouldn’t Mayumi-san feel the same way now that Sara-san has left the house?

Thinking that… I wonder if there’s any good idea for that.

「Welcome home, Sara-chan.」

「I’m home.」

In contrast to the joyful Mayumi-san, Sara-san looks like her usual self. But she seems happy deep down, as the corners of her mouth are slightly relaxed.

「Welcome home, Kazunari-kun!」

Squeeze…

The moment I thought she’d given me an unusually high-energy「Welcome home,」Mayumi-san’s actions were incredibly fast. Without even waiting for my reply, she pulled me into a hug without missing a beat. It was so sudden that I couldn’t move at all. And in the limited space of the entryway, even Sara-san, who usually blocks Mayumi-san’s actions, couldn’t move in time.

Since Mayumi-san is standing on the raised step… it meant that as I was hugged, I fit perfectly right there. Yes, in the position that could only be called a mass of motherhood.

I was a bit surprised to realize Mayumi-san’s size all over again, but of course, Sara-san is the best for me.

Regardless, is it a hereditary trait for mother and daughter to do the same kind of thing?

Or is it just because they’re mother and daughter?

「Mmm-fufu, we have plenty of time today, so mother-in-law is going to love and pamper you enough to make up for the time we can’t meet…」

Yank!!

Sara-san’s hand reached around from behind and pulled me away from Mayumi-san with incredible force. And with that same momentum, I ended up in Sara-san’s spot this time. The size is a bit different from before, but the sense of security and comfort is on a whole other level. This probably has a lot to do with my psychological state, though.

「What do you think you’re doing!!! I won’t forgive you even if you’re my mother!! In the first place, Kazunari-san loves my hugs!! Right, Kazunari-san?」

Whether Sara-san was excited from anger or not, while she was shielding me from Mayumi-san, she kept pushing my head firmly into her「set position.」So, even though I tried to speak, I was in a state where my mouth was blocked, and I couldn’t give a reply. Since I had no choice, I nodded two or three times to signal to Sara-san that she was right.

「Hyan!?」

Perhaps my movement was ticklish, as Sara-san let out a slightly sexy sound. Being teased with a sound like that in this state might break my will which is harder than Gu◯dari◯m alloy, so I wish she’d give me a break…

「G-Geez, Kazunari-san…」

For some reason she regained her composure, but her voice sounded somewhat sultry, making my heart pound.

「Uuu~, Sara-chan can do this anytime, can’t she? Even Kazunari-kun was happy when I gave him a hug before~」

「………What?」

Tighten!!

「Mgh!?」

Sara-san’s strength in hugging me suddenly intensified. This is a bit stronger than the usual punishment.

Mayumi-san’s hug… remembering all sorts of things, I recalled that she’d done it a few times under the name of punishment.

Yes, a punishment. And Sara-san’s punishment is this, too.

They really are mother and daughter, aren’t they…

「Mmm-fufu~, did you get jealous?」

Mayumi-san teased Sara-san as if to provoke her. Usually Sara-san should be able to calmly ignore it, but when I’m involved, that often isn’t the case. I guess that’s why Mayumi-san teases Sara-san about me.

「You just did it by force earlier, didn’t you, Mother? Honestly… Kazunari-san doesn’t do that kind of thing with anyone but me.」

「Oh my, you’re calmer than I thought. If you know that, you should let him go.」

「That is a separate matter, so this is a punishment.」

Of course, it hasn’t turned into a punishment in the slightest, so if someone said we just wanted to flirt, I could only say that’s exactly right…

「Eh?… That’s Sara-chan’s punishment? Ufufufu… I-I see… fufufufu…」

Apparently Mayumi-san also realized that Sara-san’s punishment was the same as her own. She couldn’t stop laughing and kept giggling away.

「Kazunari-san, have you reflected on your actions?」

On the other hand, Sara-san seemed to have decided to ignore Mayumi-san.

Reflected… of course I reflected.

To convey that, I slowly nodded my head this time so as not to startle her.

「Yes… good boy ♪」

It seems I was granted forgiveness, as she loosened the pressure that had been pushing me against her. I wasn’t having trouble breathing to begin with, so loosening the strength just meant I could lean against her more comfortably.

Sara-san continued to speak as if to convince me while stroking my head.

「I told you this before, but I will give you a hug anytime, okay? At school, in the classroom, anytime is fine with me. Please don’t hesitate to say so, okay? So, you don’t need Mother anymore, do you?」

「I, I understand.」

I have no intention of saying that kind of thing at school or in the classroom, but if I reply like this, Sara-san will be satisfied. Besides, since I get to act needy every night in our current situation, that’s more than enough for me.

「Geez, Sara-chan, keeping him all to yourself.」

「It’s not about keeping him to myself or anything; Mother has nothing to do with our relationship.」

In the end, due to Mayumi-san’s actions which I couldn’t tell were serious or just a joke, Sara-san wouldn’t let go of me the entire time…

It was quite a bit later before we were finally able to move away from the entryway.