Episode 111: Sara-senpai’s Family Home

「Kazunari-san, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?」

「Not particularly, but did you need something?」

Sara-senpai, who had finished cleaning up after lunch, asked me suddenly while setting out dessert on the table.

It looked like she had prepared pineapple today, cut into bite-sized pieces to make it easier to eat.

「My mother contacted me on RAIN just now, asking if you might like to come over to our family home for tea, if it suits your schedule, Kazunari-san… Here, say ‘ahh’.」

Munch. Munch, munch.

「It’s been a while since I’ve had pineapple, but it’s delicious… I don’t really have any plans, so if it’s okay with you, Sara-senpai, I can go?」

Come to think of it, this will be the first time I’ve gone to Senpai’s house.

And back then, things were so hectic that I wasn’t able to give a proper greeting to Mayumi-san.

「Ah, by the way, what about your father?」

「My father has been away on a business trip since yesterday. Since I am over here, she is likely bored being all alone… ahh.」

Munch. Munch, munch.

I see… honestly, I hadn’t summoned the courage to greet Sara-senpai’s father yet, so I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

「Anyway, it’s fine with me, so if you’re okay with it, Senpai, I’d be happy to.」

「Thank you very much. Then shall we head out after a short rest? Ahh.」

Munch. Munch, munch.

Sara-senpai’s family home, huh… I’m a little nervous.

Wait, showing up empty-handed is probably bad, right?

In times like this, is it rude not to bring some kind of souvenir?

It’s my first time, so I’m not really sure.

「Senpai, how about we buy a small gift on the way…」

「Fufu… please do not worry about such things. If I let you spend money unnecessarily, my mother will scold me instead. Going as you are is perfectly fine. Now, here is the last piece, say ‘ahh’.」

Munch. Munch, munch.

If she puts it that way, I can’t really insist on buying anything.

We passed the station and entered a residential area.

After walking for a bit, Senpai stopped in front of a house.

It was large, but not quite a mansion; still, compared to my family’s place, it was more than enough to be called one.

「I will open it now, so please wait a moment.」

Senpai pulled out her key and opened the front door.

She stepped in first, took off her shoes, and lined them up neatly.

She’s so proper about stuff like this, even down to the small details…

When she put on her slippers, she prepared a pair for me as well. I was just standing there awkwardly for some reason.

「Now, Kazunari-san, please come inside.」

「Excuse me…」

Moved by Senpai’s smile, I took off my shoes, lined them up properly, and put on the slippers.

I’m so nervous…

In the entryway, figurines shaped like fairies were laid out beautifully, and in small spots like near the outlets, there was cat-themed wallpaper.

Overall, it looked like they loved cute things.

When we entered the spacious living room, there was a low table separate from the dining table, with a large sofa arranged to surround it.

The TV was huge, and there were several speakers arranged for what was likely a surround-sound system.

「Please wait here on the sofa. My mother will be here in a moment.」

「Ufufu, welcome, Takanashi-san. I’m so glad you came.」

!?

I looked toward the voice and saw Mayumi-san standing there; I’m not sure when she arrived.

It’s not polite to stay seated while greeting someone, so I stood up in a hurry.

「I… it’s been a long time, Mayumi-san. Thank you for inviting me.」

「The pleasure is mine. Thank you for always getting along so well with Sara-chan. I thought I’d join in once in a while since I’m envious…」

「Okaa-san, did you really call Kazunari-san here for such a reason?」

Sara-senpai stood beside me and questioned Mayumi-san with a slightly glaring look.

Hey, even if that were the case, I don’t really mind, so you don’t have to glare at her…

「Geez, Sara-chan… you get worked up so easily when it comes to Takanashi-san. I do have a proper reason. Still… Kazunari-san, huh…」

Mayumi-san looked our way with a smirk. Apparently, she didn’t know that Sara-senpai had started calling me by my first name.

「What about it?」

「Oh, nothing. I just thought it was so sweet that I’m jealous. Takanashi-san, you can call me Okaa-san whenever you like, okay?」

「Y… yes?」

No matter how you look at it, it would be weird for me to call Sara-senpai’s mother「Okaa-san」.

Sara-senpai looked at Mayumi-san with a puzzled face as well, before realizing that we were still just standing there.

「Ah, I am sorry for making you stand. Please have a seat on the sofa. I will go prepare the tea.」

Sara-senpai urged me to sit and headed toward the kitchen to prepare the tea herself.

「Well then, I’ll leave that to you. In the meantime, I’ll get along with Takanashi-san in Sara-chan’s place…」

As she said that, Mayumi-san tried to sit right next to me, but Sara-senpai quickly caught her and pulled her away.

「Okaa-san, you are helping with the preparations too.」

「Oh, Sara-chan, you’re so mean!」

Hmm, Mayumi-san is a free-spirited person in a different way than my own mother.