Episode 313: A Tiny Typhoon

The entry line began flowing smoothly as soon as the gates opened, and the number of guests coming to our tent for directions started to grow.

We handled the school officials and the idiots who’d clearly come just for Sara-san as they came, and for the time being, we were off to a「steady」start.

Finally, the waiting queue was cleared and our work started to settle down.

Just as I thought I heard someone’s voice calling out, the voice of a small child, I looked around at my surroundings.

From the direction of the bicycle parking area, I saw a tiny guest I hadn’t had much of a chance to see lately, pitter-pattering toward us.

「Oniiii-chaaaaaaan!!」

A cute figure ran toward me, waving her hands wide with that slightly dangerous-looking gait unique to children. There’s only one child who calls me「Onii-chan.」

But it made me nervous just watching her, so I figured I should meet her halfway.

「Hup!」

I rushed over, and Mio-chan launched into her usual full-body human missi… I mean, an intense tackle. Of course I expected it, so I timed it right, caught her with both hands, and hoisted her up.

「Oryaaaaa!」

「Kyahahahahahaha! So high! So hiiiiigh!!!」

I swung a giggling Mio-chan around for a bit and then hoisted her onto my shoulders.

Since I hadn’t had a chance to see her much lately, it’d been a long time since I’d played with her like this.

「Mio-chan, where’s your mother?」

「Well, over there, talking to her friends. Onii-chan was here, so Mio came by herself.」

I checked the direction Mio-chan’s tiny finger was pointing and spotted a group of three women about the same age in the crowd. Kazumi-san was definitely there.

She seemed to be looking our way too. When our eyes met, she bowed repeatedly with an apologetic look. I gave her a small nod in return.

「Onii-chan, that way!! Over to Sara onee-chan!!」

「You got it.」

Since Kazumi-san seemed to understand the situation, I figured I’d take her to the tent.

I headed toward the headquarters tent with Mio-chan on my shoulders, and Sara-san, who’d been watching us, greeted us with a smile.

「Sara onee-chan!!!!!」

Mio-chan reached out her arms forcefully from my shoulders, which was dangerous, so I shifted her into a hug first… then passed her to Sara-san.

「Sara-san!」

「Yes!」

「Hup!」

Sara-san caught her perfectly. Mio-chan clung to her and nuzzled against her chest.

「Ehehee, it’s Sara oneee-chaaaan!」

「Fufu… it’s been a long time, Mio-chan.」

Sara-san wore a very gentle smile while stroking Mio-chan’s head.

Mio-chan hugged her with her whole body, occasionally looking at me and laughing with a「nihihi.」

And that smile… Mio-chan’s squishy cheeks were just too tempting, so I couldn’t help myself.

「There.」

Poke, poke, squish, squish.

Man, she’s soft.

「Nyuuuuu! Sara onee-chan, onii-chan is being a prankster!!」

「Fufu… Kazunari-san, playing tricks is a no-no, okay?」

「Onii-chan, no-no!」

「Hahaha, sorry, sorry.」

Getting scolded by Mio-chan with a smile, I obediently gave up on the squishy cheeks and switched to stroking her head.

I focused on the back of her head so I wouldn’t bump into Sara-san’s hand. Mio-chan closed her eyes happily and rubbed her head against us.

Haa… so cute. This is so healing.

But looking at the two of them again, Sara-san’s mature aura made the sight of her holding Mio-chan look strangely natural. I’d felt that way before, too.

「…Gasp!? I found myself staring…」

「…Wh-Wh-What is this… this scene…」

「…No matter how you look at it, it’s…」

「…A-A young couple raising a child!!??」

「…Right?」

「Mio-chan!?」

「Marina onee-chan!」

Todo-san, who hadn’t been able to step away while giving directions to guests, came rushing over.

She looked heartwarmingly at the sight of Mio-chan clinging to Sara-san and began stroking her head just like we were.

「Where’s Kazumi-san?」

「Over there!」

「Ah, I see. I heard she was coming, but she’s early, isn’t she?」

「Because I wanted to see onii-chan and Sara onee-chan soon!」

Mio-chan gave a beaming smile and a「Right?」to Sara-san, who returned it with her own beaming smile and a「Right.」

Seeing that, Mio-chan giggled and clung to Sara-san’s chest even tighter. She was completely acting spoiled.

「M-Mio-chan, Satsukawa-senpai’s busy, so come to onee-chan.」

However, Todo-san watched them with an apologetic look and reached out to take Mio-chan, but Mio-chan resisted and clung to Sara-san even harder.

「It’s fine, Todo-san. I’m used to this.」

「Eh!?」

Todo-san wore a look of pure shock… and for some reason, she looked at me?

Hey, wait a second, what on earth does that look mean!?

「I’ve had many opportunities to play with children, so this sort of thing’s a regular occurrence.」

「…Ah, r-right!? Takanashi-kun, I’m sorry…」

Realizing her misunderstanding, Todo-san turned bright red and shrank back.

How rude, I’m pouting!!

Well, I wouldn’t actually get angry, but it makes me pretty worried about how I’m normally perceived.

「Sara onee-chan, your chest is big. Bigger than Mama’s…」

「Fufu… Mio-chan, that tickles.」

Mio-chan was now completely stuck to Sara-san, looking like she might even fall asleep right there in her arms. She looked like she was in a dream.

But… I totally understand how she feels.

Because I’m the only one in the world who knows that Sara-san’s chest is literal heaven!!

「…H-Hey, what is up with that beauty…」

「…Alright, I just got here and I already got to see Satsukawa-san. Lucky!!」

「…Haa… Goddess…」

「…So healing.」

「…She’s usually so sharp, but she’s gentle with kids… she’s the ultimate ideal.」

「…I seriously want to get close to her…」

「…Should I try talking to her?」

「…Stupid, now’s a bad time.」

「Ka-Kazunari… who is… that child?」

Suddenly being called from behind, I turned around to see Hanako-san. She’d been at the teachers’ office with Uesaka-san. Since he wasn’t with her, it looked like she’d come back alone. For the usually calm Hanako-san, she looked surprisingly shocked, staring at Mio-chan with wide eyes.

Ah, right, Hanako-san hadn’t met Mio-chan yet.

「Um, this is Mio-chan. She’s Todo-san’s cousin…」

「……」

Hanako-san drifted toward Sara-san… specifically, toward Mio-chan… like a sleepwalker.

Once she was within arm’s reach, she just stared at Mio-chan with her eyes still wide with shock.

「…?」

Mio-chan looked back at her with a blank, curious expression. They just stared at each other.

Still, Hanako-san’s behavior was…?

「Onee-chan, who are you?」

「Gasp!!??」

Hanako-san’s expression turned to one of pure astonishment, as if she’d been struck by lightning. Wait, what happened!?

「Mio-chan, this onee-chan’s name is Hanako-san, okay?」

「…Hanako onee-chan?」

「Haugh!?」

Like a certain warrior taking a critical hit, she stumbled back… no, she actually closed the distance as if being sucked in.

Don’t tell me…

「Mi… Mi… Mio-chan?」

「What is it, onee-chan Hanako?」

「Guhh!?」

Hanako-san’s knees buckled and she collapsed. She looked so happy, so blessed, with a truly satisfied face, as she left a mysterious thumbs up as her final act.

Ha… Hanako-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!?

「Man, this kid is seriously cute.」

「Whoa… so squishy…」

「Oof… this is irresistible.」

Once we got back to the tent with Mio-chan, we were swarmed by everyone who came rushing over, mostly the girls. Specifically, they were swarming Sara-san and Mio-chan.

Startled by the attention, Mio-chan hurriedly clung to Sara-san, but that only added to her adorableness and gave the girls even more fuel.

「Onii-chan, come here!」

「Yes, yes, what is it, Mio-chan?」

When I moved to her side, Mio-chan skillfully shifted her upper body while still clinging to Sara-san and grabbed my arm too.

Um… what kind of position is this?

「Whoa, the Husband’s in the way!?」

「Takanashi-kun, I can’t see lovely Mio-chan if you stand there.」

「Hey… why is Mio-chan so attached to that married couple?」

「「「 Married couple!? 」」」

I should’ve pointed out the mistake… and yet, part of me was happy.

And it wasn’t like they were completely wrong. Yeah.

「Married couple? Papa and Mama?」

「Yes, in terms of meaning…」

「Sara onee-chan is Mama? Onii-chan is Papa?」

「Um…」

「T-That’s…」

「Sara onee-chan, do you have a baby?」

「Eh!?」

「Pfft!?」

Wh-Wh-Why are we talking about this!?

Mio-chan was just saying what she knew, so obviously I knew there were no ulterior motives. But that was only for Mio-chan herself. For the onlookers, this was the ultimate bait.

I mean…

How am I supposed to handle this!?

「Mio knows. When you have a baby, you become a Papa and a Mama, right?」

「Um…」

Sara-san’s smile wavered, and she sent me a troubled look.

It was true that once you had a child, you became a father and a mother. Mio-chan wasn’t wrong.

But if we dug any deeper into this, it would just give more fuel to the self-proclaimed maidens whose eyes were sparkling with delight right in front of us.

「Y-Yes. However, Kazun… Onii-chan and I are not a Papa and a Mama yet…」

「I see. Ah, then, then, when onii-chan and Sara onee-chan become a Papa and a Mama, tell Mio, okay? Mio will play with the baby!」

「Y-Yes. I-I shall ask you then, Mio-chan… right, Kazunari-san?」

「Wha!?」

Wh-Why are you passing the conversation to me now!?

Still, Sara-san couldn’t just ignore Mio-chan’s cute talk, so she was doing her best to respond even while looking embarrassed. It’d be pathetic if I was the only one who ran away.

「Pfft, this is too funny… even if it’s inappropriate, it’s hilarious.」

「Ufufu, you picked a great topic, Mio-chan…」

「Satsukawa-san’s troubled… how rare!」

「That response… Satsukawa-senpai…」

「…I can’t take this anymore.」

「…What a coincidence. Me too.」

「Ah, wh-what should I do… hey, Hanako-san…」

「………」

「Hanako-san!!」

「…Gah!? Where’s Mio-chan!?」

「Onii-chan, let Mio hold the baby, okay?」

「U-Understood. When that time comes, um, I’ll ask you, Mio-chan. Okay?」

「Yeah! Promise!!」

Faced with a giddy Mio-chan, I somehow managed to keep my composure and give an answer… but to be blunt, I felt extremely awkward. And everyone else wasn’t even trying to hide their smirks. Fine, laugh if you want!!

I only said it to match the child… to match Mio-chan!!

I mean, if we get married, that topic will come up eventually, but that’s a long way off.

Actually…

I’m only a first-year in high school!?

Why are we talking about something so far in the future!?

「Sara onee-chan!! Onii-chan said he’ll let Mio hold the baby!!」

「Fufu… is that so? That’s wonderful, Mio-chan.」

「Yeah!! Hey, hey, Sara onee-chan. When are you gonna be a Mama?」

「Eh!? W-Well… I wonder when?」

「Does onii-chan know?」

「U-Um… I-I wonder… right, Kazunari-san?」

「Pfft!?」

「「「………」」」

I could tell Sara-san was struggling for an answer. I knew it!

But looking at me so bashfully, with that upturned gaze, while talking about that topic.

Plus, the looks from everyone else.

Some were filled with pure curiosity, others with blatant envy… all sorts of things.

It’s been a really long time since I felt this awkward.

「Sorry for the commotion.」

「See ya~」

Shortly after that, Kazumi-san came by and picked up Mio-chan, who left happily (well, she went into the school building).

At first she complained about not wanting to leave Sara-san, but she was easily swayed by the promise of snacks.

Well… that’s childish and heartwarming in its own way.

By the way, Kazumi-san was going to walk around with some other moms she knew.

With the eye of the cute typhoon gone, the tent regained a silence that felt like the lights had been put out. Now that it was quiet, I almost felt like something was missing.

「Hanako-san, are you okay?」

「I’m fine. Just a bit of a shock.」

I spoke to Hanako-san, who looked visibly disappointed now that Mio-chan was gone.

But calling that「a bit」was quite a stretch.

Was it Mio-chan’s cuteness, the shock of being called「Hanako onee-chan,」or both?

…Probably both.

「You don’t need to worry. I just felt a surge of moe. It’s different from how I feel about Kazunari. Kazunari is my only sibling.」

Hanako-san gave me a gentle smile… her onee-chan smile.

Um… that wasn’t exactly what I was worried about.

But correcting her would be uncool, so I just let it go.

「An-Anyway, as long as you’re okay.」

「That was the first time I ever thought a child was cute. So I was just surprised in that sense.」

「I see.」

It was true that I never really had the chance to think kids were cute until I met Mio-chan either… so I could kind of understand how she felt.

「…Haa… girls really are cute, aren’t they?」

「Kids that age are the cutest. They’re so honest and innocent.」

「True. But didn’t she seem strangely attached to Satsukawa-senpai?」

「I wonder? She is quite attached to Kazunari-san as well…」

「Ah, but I think the way she acts spoiled with you is more direct than when I hold her. It felt like how she acts with Kazumi-san.」

「I-Is that so?」

Sara-san looked bashful, but she didn’t seem to mind. Since she’s used to playing with and touching children.

Mio-chan being cute was part of it, of course, but I think she just normally likes kids.

「Phew… I finally made it back. That teacher just kept talking… oh, did something happen?」

While I was watching Sara-san, Uesaka-san returned from the teachers’ office where he’d been handling guest business. He tilted his head curiously at the sight of everyone gathered around Sara-san.

「Good work. No, just someone we knew stopped by.」

「Ah, I see. By the way, how is the guidance handling going? If things have settled down, I think it’s about time for everyone to split into their assigned roles.」

「You’re right. I doubt we’ll have a line for directions anymore…」

「Yeah. Ah, r-right, as for today… um.」

As usual, his mood swings were intense, or rather, he was just incredibly easy to read.

The second he started acting hesitant like that, I knew exactly what he wanted to ask.

He’s normally such a dignified and reliable person, but since he’s only shown this side of himself to Nishikawa-san, I guess he left a weak impression.

「I think she’ll be here soon. Natsumi-senpai’s match is coming up after this, after all.」

「I-I see… what a shame. I won’t be able to go to that one…」

Since we were going to cheer for her (under the guise of an inspection), Uesaka-san had to stay behind to handle the tent and the headquarters due to staffing.

I felt really bad about it.

「I’m sorry…」

「No, no, it’s fine. Please give Natsumi all the support I can’t give… though I’m not really in a position to say that since I’ve never actually gone to cheer for her.」

「I’ll make sure to tell her you’re supporting her too, Uesaka-san.」

「She’ll probably tell me she doesn’t need my support, though.」

「Haha. But I think she’ll be happy deep down.」

「You’re right. She’s shy, so she’s never honest about things like that.」

Natsumi-senpai definitely wasn’t honest, so she’d probably snap at him.

But it was that kind of casualness between childhood friends. They might seem blunt, but deep down they understood and were connected to each other.

If they’d been able to understand each other properly, would things have turned out like this at the very least?

「…Takanashi-kun, what’s wrong?」

「…No, nothing. Speaking of the devil, as they say.」

Just like yesterday, an unnaturally long white luxury car pulled up, fitting perfectly between the gates.

The passenger door opened, and just like yesterday, a man in a sharp black suit hurried out to open the rear door.

The person who slowly appeared was, of course…

「Ni-Nishikawa-san…」

Uesaka-san was stunned… or rather, while everyone except those who saw it yesterday watched with wide eyes, Nishikawa-san stepped gracefully and sharply out of the luxury car.

Followed by Tachikawa-san, who made a clumsy, comical attempt to mimic her… and Yuji, who stepped out normally without a care in the world.

What a sight.

I guess they all came together today.