Episode 326: Mayumi-san

「By the way, Mio-chan, why are you here?」

More accurately, I’m wondering what the deal with all these kids in front of us even is.

But Sara-san’s song getting so hyped up was partly thanks to the kids’ chorus, so I’m grateful either way.

「Um… they said we could all go and sing a song.」

「Did someone tell you to?」

「Uh-huh!!」

Mio-chan nodded happily while being held quietly in my right arm.

Haa… so cute… she’s truly healing.

By the way, Mio-chan’s right hand was being gripped firmly by Hanako-san, who was already acting all soft and doting.

「Takanashi-kun, a RAIN came from Kazumi-san.」

「What did Kazumi-san say?」

「Mmm… she doesn’t seem to know the details. Mio-chan noticed Satsukawa-senpai’s voice, and when the song started and the kids were making a noise, a person who looked like a teacher invited them, saying the very front row was open. Oh, and apparently there are some friends from kindergarten too.」

「I see…」

I didn’t think a complete stranger would do that, and if it wasn’t the people from the Prep Committee… even if we don’t know who it was, it’s safe to assume it was a teacher, right?

「Mio-chan, you’re so lucky! Yuki wants an onii-chan too!」

「Mio-chan’s onii-chan, play with Sakura too!!」

「Aaaaagh! Sakura-chan, no!! onii-chan is Mio’s onii-chan!!」

Seeing Sakura-chan(?) clinging to my leg, Mio-chan’s cheeks puffed out big. That sight was adorable too, but Mio-chan’s eyes, staring intently at me, were clearly asking me to handle it… so this was a bit of a problem.

There’s no way I could tell a child this small to「get away right now.」

And following Sakura-chan, even Yuki-chan(?) was approaching!?

「Pffft… Takanashi-kun, being a popular guy is rough, isn’t it?」

「Man, I wonder what Sara would say if she saw this mess?」

「Goodness… you two, stop teasing him.」

Gratefully, Nishikawa-san scolded the two of them while wearing a wry smile.

But I… or rather, all of us including the kids, felt like she was looking at us with very gentle eyes.

I wonder what was up with that?

「…Eririn?」

「…Nishikawa-san?」

「As I said before, I find men who can be gentle with children very likable. So, you look very wonderful right now, Takanashi-san.」

「Um…」

Fo-for now, I at least understood that Nishikawa-san was genuinely praising me.

But since she said it so seriously… it’s honestly embarrassing!!

「Whoa, Eririn, you’re serious?」

「Of course. I’m not the type to tease someone about things like this.」

「Ugh…」

「S-Sorry, Takanashi-kun…」

「N-No, I knew it was a joke so I don’t mind.」

Nishikawa-san was wearing a mischievous expression, and there was no doubt Natsumi-senpai and the others were 100% joking. So being apologized to like that just made me more awkward.

「Excuse me, business announcement!!! Guardians of the children, please come and collect them!!!」

Right then, Minamin cut into the situation at a perfect timing.

As everyone’s attention shifted over there, the mothers who heard the announcement came over in a hurry. They were drawing a lot of attention… so they all looked quite awkward.

Since I’d experienced the same thing on the way here, I understood that feeling painfully well.

「Oh, Sakura… I’m sorry, Vice President-san.」

「I’m truly sorry. Come on, Yuki-chan, let’s go.」

「N-No, it’s fine.」

The mothers of the two girls clinging to my legs arrived… Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan were urged by their mothers and left reluctantly.

Seeing that, Mio-chan showed a smile… and I was secretly relieved too.

By the way, how did they know I was the Vice President… oh, was it the screen earlier?

「Takanashi-san, I’m always sorry. Mio again…」

The next one to arrive was a face I knew well… Kazumi-san.

She reached out for Mio-chan, who I was still holding, but Mio-chan ducked away with a huff.

「Mio, you shouldn’t trouble onii-chan, okay?」

「No! Mio’s being a good girl!! Right, onii-chan?」

「Yeah, Mio-chan is a good girl.」

「Ehehe~ I like you, onii-chan!」

When I gently stroked her head, she nuzzled against me like a kitten… this cuteness is a total foul.

So I guess I can’t help that Hanako-san is panting watching this.

「Kazumi-san, what are your plans after this?」

「We were just going to head home. My business is finished.」

「I see…」

Now, what should I do…

Mio-chan didn’t seem to want to leave yet, and I felt like I wanted to let her stay a bit longer too. Plus, having Mio-chan here might have a good influence on Sara-san…

「Hey, everyone…」

Even so, I thought I should check with the others first… but when I turned my gaze, every single one of them nodded silently without hesitation.

Hanako-san especially, with incredible intensity.

Even without saying it out loud, having them understand like this… it’s a truly happy thing.

Then, I’ll take them up on the offer.

「Kazumi-san, if you’d like, why don’t you stay and watch with us?」

「Eh? But you’re all having fun as friends…」

「No, please don’t let that concern you. We’d like to get to know Mio-chan better too.」

「Besides, it’d be a waste to go home now, wouldn’t it? Mufufu…」

Natsumi-senpai smirked in an almost uncomfortably meaningful way while glancing at me.

It’s true that this would add one more person I knew to the crowd… but at this point, it didn’t matter who was here.

My resolve was already set long ago.

「Mio, what do you want to do?」

「I want to stay with onii-chan and the others!!」

「…I’m sorry, then we’ll take you up on that.」

「Not at all.」

「That’s good, isn’t it, Mio-chan?」

「Yeah!!!!」

Mio-chan gave a big nod with a beaming smile to Todo-san’s voice.

Being able to see such a happy smile made the invitation worth it.

But, I hope…

No more unplanned surprises, please, God…

The second round of judging ended safely, and finally, only the third and final round remained.

Currently, large-scale preparations were underway on stage. Tables, cooking utensils, portable gas stoves, and ingredients were being lined up in the cramped space.

Yes… as you can tell from this scene, the next judging is a cooking battle. Normally, this round would have been Sara-san’s undisputed domain, but with Mayumi-san here, that wasn’t the case anymore.

Plus, if she was aiming for victory, she was in for a hard fight.

…Hm?

Did I forget something?

…Oh.

I don’t know if this counts, but the person who did karaoke after Sara-san completely bombed.

I think there were several reasons for it, but the biggest factor was probably the massive drop in energy after the audience got way too hyped during Sara-san’s turn.

Plus, their singing wasn’t nearly as good as Mayumi-san’s, and the whole thing just felt half-baked.

「SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITIIIIIIING!!!! Preparations will be finished in just a moment, so let’s have the contestants come out first!!!!」

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

Welcomed by loud applause and cheers, the contestants appeared one by one from the entrance.

They were all wearing aprons this time. Sara-san appeared on stage in a floral apron… since she didn’t bring her favorite cat apron, I guess she had no choice.

「SARA ONEEE-CHAAAAAAN!!!!」

Wave wave wave!!!

Mio-chan waved her hands over and over with a loud voice toward Sara-san, who had walked toward the front of the stage. Seeing that, Sara-san smiled and gave a small wave back.

Mayumi-san, standing beside Sara-san, was staring at us… wearing a strangely amused smile.

What is it… I don’t quite know, but it’s making me feel restless?

「UOOOOOO! SATSUKAWA-SA-A-A-AN!!!!!」

「GODDESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!」

「SARA-CHAA-A-A-A-AN!!!!!」

「MAYU-SA-A-A-A-AN!!!!!」

「ONEEEE-CHAAAAN!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!」

「G-Goodness, Satsukawa-san is incredibly popular, isn’t she? Having a lover who’s such a star must be tough for you, Takanashi-san?」

「Ah… well, I-I’ve gotten used to it.」

「Satsukawa-senpai ignores every guy except Takanashi-kun, so it’s fine, right?」

「Eh, is that so?」

「The Wife hates guys, so basically she won’t give the time of day to any man other than Kazunari.」

「H-hates guys? Satsukawa-san?」

Kazumi-san muttered that under her breath while staring intently at Sara-san on stage, as if chewing over the meaning of those words.

Come to think of it, Kazumi-san has never seen Sara-san at school before.

Basically, she only knows the「Real Sara-san,」so she might be a rare existence in a way.

「By the way, what is this ‘Wife’ thing?」

「Wife is Wife.」

「Um, well, Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai officially got engaged. Both their parents have approved…」

「WHAAAAAA!? ‘Wife’ means that kind of ‘Wife’!? Then, then… in the future…」

「Y-Yes… well.」

「My, my, my, my!!! Congratulations!! But when I saw you two before, you looked more like newlyweds than a couple… so I guess it’s not that surprising.」

「Right!! That’s why even we don’t feel any awkwardness when people say Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai are getting married, you know?」

「True. After seeing them like that, they definitely don’t look like just a high school couple.」

Todo-san and Kazumi-san started getting hyped up between themselves, leaving me, the actual person involved, behind.

I was honestly happy they said we were a good match, but Mayumi-san was still looking over here with that amused expression, which made me a bit uneasy.

「Hey, they’re saying that really is Mayumi-chan!!」

「I knew it!!! HEEEEEEY!! MAYUMI-CHAA-A-A-AN!!!」

「Mayumi-chan!!! DO YOUR BEST!!!!!!!」

Uh!?

Suddenly, voices shouting Mayumi-san’s name came from behind us.

And it wasn’t just from one spot, it was definitely from several.

Those voices obviously reached the stage, and Mayumi-san turned her head away sharply… no, no, that just makes you look more suspicious.

Stomp stomp stomp stomp!!!!

And this time, a figure burst out from the side of the stage.

The Chairman of the Prep Committee ran over to Minamin and started talking… and then Minamin hurriedly took her smartphone out of her pocket and started tapping.

What? What’s happening!?

The timing is too good, is this a coincidence!?

「Wa-wait a second!! Whoa, a bunch of stuff is coming in over here too!? Um… let’s see… what? Eh, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!??」

Minamin suddenly shouted and looked at Mayumi-san with a shocked expression.

Plus, the fishy… I mean, the Chairman next to her was looking at Mayumi-san with the same expression. Don’t tell me, this is…

「U-um, Mayu-san!!! I’m sorry, but this is important so let me confirm!!!!! Your real name is Mayumi-san, isn’t it!!??」

「Ah, ahh…」

Mayumi-san looked a bit awkward at Minamin’s question.

But that reaction was basically an admission that it was the correct answer…

No, once Minamin said Mayumi-san’s name, you had to assume everything was already out in the open.

「Ahaha… looks like I’ve been found out♪」

「Whoa, so it’s really true!? You’re way too young!!??」

「Nfufu, thank you♪」

Minamin’s reaction was the same path anyone who met Mayumi-san for the first time took… and her showing that shock meant that was exactly it.

The timing was strangely perfect, but it looked like the Prep Committee had found out everything too.

「Ch-Chairman, what are we going to do!!?? I mean, why didn’t you confirm properly!!??」

「N-no… I mean, no matter how you look at her, she didn’t look like a married woman!!!」

Minamin and the Chairman started arguing on stage, and the murmuring in the audience, who didn’t know the circumstances, grew louder.

Apparently some people reacted to the Chairman’s mention of her being a「married woman,」and that triggered even more of a commotion.

「Oh boy, looks like she’s finally been found out.」

「Seems so. Now then.」

「I wonder how this will turn out.」

「Well, it’ll probably be fine.」

「But for the info to spread this fast… I wonder if there was an inquiry to the Prep Committee?」

「Probably. The host started freaking out right after she checked something on her phone.」

「Um, what are you all talking about…」

「E-eh… well.」

Kazumi-san was the only one who didn’t know what was going on and looked at us curiously… Todo-san glanced at me as if to check if she should explain.

Even if we stayed silent, the talk on stage would eventually reveal everything… so I guess it was better to give a brief explanation.

「Haa… I can’t believe my classmates are here.」

「If anything, it’s a mystery why you thought they wouldn’t be?」

「Ahn, Sara-chan is so mean.」

「It is just that you are airheaded, Mother. By the way, what did you do with your ring?」

「I have it right here. See?」

Mayumi-san fumbled in her pocket, took out a small object… a ring, and slipped it onto her ring finger.

I see. I hadn’t noticed, but she’d taken it off.

「He-hey… did Satsukawa-san just call her Mother?」

「I-I heard that too…」

「Earlier, the Chairman said she was a married woman…」

「No way… she-she’s a Big sister, right?」

「She just put something on her finger…」

This time Sara-san’s comment was added to the ring, and the murmuring in the stands turned into a roar.

Words like「Mother?」and「Big sister?」flew about, and the voices grew louder…

「He-hey, Takanashi-san, Marina-chan. Is that Mayu-san person really…」

「Um… that person is Sara-san’s Mother.」

「Eh, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!??」

Just as expected, Kazumi-san looked at Mayumi-san on stage with a shocked expression.

Thank you for the standard reaction. But it can’t be helped… yeah.

「Sh-she’s… older than me… older… older… OLDER!!??」

Wait, apparently her point of shock was a bit different?

But I guess she was still shocked by Mayumi-san’s appearance?

「Hey, onii-chan, what’s wrong with Mama?」

「Um, you see, she’s shocked after seeing Sara-san’s Mother.」

「Sara onee-chan’s Mama?」

「That’s right.」

「Where!?」

「Over there.」

When I pointed at Mayumi-san, Mio-chan followed my finger and looked at the stage.

She seemed to meet the eyes of Mayumi-san, who was looking right at us…

「Sara onee-chan’s Mamaaaaa!!!!」

「Helloooo!」

The two of them waved happily at each other, while Sara-san, watching from the side, had a somewhat complex expression.

「S-sorry, something completely unexpected has happened!!!! Mayu-san, since the situation is what it is, may I explain to the audience!!??」

「Well, it can’t be helped. Go ahead~」

「Th-then I’ll explain!!!! The person here as Mayu-san is actually Satsukawa Mayumi-san… and she is the genuine Mother of Satsukawa Sara-san!!!!!!!!」

………

………………

………………………

「WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!??」

I’ve seen my classmates and others get shocked plenty of times, but I’ve never seen (or heard) a shock on this level.

It wasn’t just ear-splitting. It was truly a roar that pierced the heavens.

「Uuuu~ everyone’s too loud~」

Mio-chan leaned against me while covering both ears with her hands because the noise was just too much.

I wrapped my free left arm around her to hide her head, and she wriggled as she tried to burrow in. But with this much noise, it was only natural.

「Sh-sh-she’s a Mother!!??」

「WHAAAAA, she’s not a Big sister!!??」

「No way!!!?? I can’t believe it!!!!!!!!??」

「UOOOOOH, for real!!!!!!!」

「Wh-what is up with that Mother!!! She’s way too young!!!??」

And so began the standard path anyone who knows Mayumi-san takes.

But with this many people, it turned into an incredible scene.

By the way, it was the same on stage, and the stuck-up woman’s expression was especially something.

Well, if one of your rivals is your classmate’s mother, and she’s pushing you back on the「Miss Contest」stage… yeah.

「According to Minamin’s intel, Satsukawa Mayumi-san was the Student Council President at the time!!! And she is still the record holder for winning the Miss Contest three years in a row, a record that has never been broken!!!!!!!!」

Wh-what (etc.)

Wait a second!!!!

That info is more than just news to me too!!!!

I’d heard Mayumi-san was an alumna, but I never heard she was the Student Council President or a Miss Contest winner!!!

What is that!?

I mean, Mayumi-san, this is no time to be giving me a peace sign!?

「Whaaa!? What is with that info!?」

「Wait, I never heard about that!? Eririn, did you know!?」

「I-I didn’t!! Mayumi-san is as beyond-the-norm as ever…」

「W-well, it makes」

「Sense… doesn’t it.」

「The Wife’s mother is too strong an opponent.」

Apparently that info was too much of a shock, as everyone was making a fuss.

Of course, I was beyond shocked myself. I wanted to go home and ask her a bunch of things right away.

But did Sara-san know about this… ah, I guess she didn’t after all.

She looked like a deer in the headlights.

「Oh, so you found out that much?」

「Hmph, don’t underestimate my information network… wait, that’s not the point!!!! Why is Satsukawa-san’s Mother in the Miss Contest!?」

「Hmm… I had a bit of a personal reason.」

「Does that have to do with that duel you mentioned at the start!? Wait, does that mean this is a mother-daughter showdown!!!???」

「Well, I guess it is?」

Uooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Hearing it was a mother-daughter showdown, a massive stir broke out in the audience for some reason.

Why are you guys getting so hyped?

「Whoaaa, things are getting exciting!!!!」

「Satsukawa-san… no, Sara-chan, go for it!!!!!!!!」

「Goddesssssss!!!」

「Motheeeerrr!!! Do your best!!!!!!!」

「Please let me call you Mama!!!!!!!!」

「Mayumi-chaaaaaan!!!」

「Wa-wait just a minute!! No matter how you look at it, a married person should be ineligible!!」

「W-well, that’s true, but…」

The stuck-up woman, who had been completely ignored, finally snapped and confronted the Chairman.

But since the conversation was being picked up by the speakers… it triggered an intense round of booing from the stands.

I guess this was public opinion, or rather, audience opinion.

I wondered what the Chairman would do… then he picked up the mic.

「E-everyone!!! This situation is irregular, and it is our mistake!!! For that, we are very sorry… HOWEVER!!!! The audience still wants Mayu-san… wants Mayumi-san to participate!!! May we assume that is the case!!?? Please answer with your applause!!!!!」

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

There was a massive, almost unanimous round of applause, and the Chairman gave a theatrical bow to the audience. That meant Mayumi-san’s continued participation was confirmed.

Which meant if the stuck-up woman made any more noise, she’d be making the audience her enemy (though it looked too late for that anyway).

「Nugugugugugugugugugugugu…」

She looked visibly frustrated… wasn’t her mask completely off at this point?

「U-um, so, we’ll just keep going as we are!!! Is that okay!? I’m not taking responsibility!!?? Mayumi-san and Satsukawa-san are both okay with this, right!!!???」

「I’m fine. I’m not satisfied yet… right, Sara-chan?」

「Yes… I do not mind. Even if my opponent is my Mother, I will definitely not lose!!!」

「Nfufu, just being able to see Sara-chan like this might make participating the right choice after all?」

「Save your sleep-talking for after we get home!!!」

Sara-san showed an intensity I’d never imagined from her usual self, while Mayumi-san laughed happily at the sight.

The audience was getting hyped up watching them, and voices cheering for the two of them filled the stands.

For now, that settled the uncertainty regarding Mayumi-san’s identity… so I was feeling a bit relieved.

But with the mother-daughter showdown setup between Sara-san and Mayumi-san now perfect, it felt like the Miss Contest itself had faded into the background.

Even if I didn’t care about the stuck-up woman, I felt bad for the other contestants…

On that point, please let me apologize as well…