Episode 331: Question Corner, Part 2

「Mayu-san, what kind of boys do you like?」

「Nfufu, I have a favorite boy, and I guess he is my type. He is just so, so cute that I want to dote on him with everything I have…」

「I cannot let that statement slide. That is my role, and it has nothing to do with you, Mother.」

「Oh, Sara-chan, you are so mean. Let me have a little…」

「Wait, wait, wait! Please, I am begging you, don’t let this conversation head down a dangerous path!」

The scene currently unfolding on stage was a very familiar one.

To think that the day would come when I would witness that on stage.

That said, now that I have heard that story from Masaomi-san, I also feel like I want to accept Mayumi-san a bit more.

「Gugh… being doted on by those two, I am so jealous even if it is a kid!!!」

「Haa… they really love children. So good!」

「Domestic, good at housework, and loves kids. She really is the ideal wife!!!」

「I want to get married!!!!」

「Hey Takanashi-kun… I really hope you aren’t going to tell me Mayumi-san is the same as Sara.」

「It is bad enough you are spoiled by Satsukawa-senpai and Hanako-san, but don’t tell me your girlfriend’s Mother is doing it too.」

「N-No comment…」

I can’t say it. I can’t tell them that she hugs me whenever she finds a gap or sinks me into a certain place that is far too plush. There is no way I could say I am always being targeted by my girlfriend’s Mother.

「Heh…」

「I see…」

「That Mayumi-san…」

「If it is allowed for the Wife’s Mother, then it should also be allowed for me as the Big sister.」

「Ah, ahaha…」

It’s weird. I haven’t said anything yet, so why are Natsumi-senpai and Tachikawa-san giving me such cold looks?

And Hanako-san, please, I’m begging you to stop saying such ominous things. The conflict between the two of them has been getting more intense lately as it is. If things get any weirder, it will just make Sara-san’s skinship more aggressive in response. As a guy, I am happy, but it is also a huge problem.

「Alright, next person over there!!」

「I am Taka!! What is your dream for the future, Satsukawa-san? And what are you doing to work toward it?」

「Let’s see. I do not know if I should call this a dream, but I want to build a warm home with the person I treasure and stay close forever… I suppose?」

「So your dream is marriage?」

「It is not just that, but put simply, I suppose it would be.」

「I see. Ah, by the way, what about the effort part?」

「For me, my daily life is the effort I put toward the future. In the future, I will support my husband as a wife and take care of his personal needs, including housework. Toward that day…」

「Uooooh, I, I can’t take it!! Just hearing her talk, Satsukawa-san is too ideal, it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「She is a literal modern Yamato Nadeshiko!!!!! I-I have to get close to her somehow…」

「What should I do… is my only choice to transfer to this school!?」

「Even if it is classic, should I start with a love letter!? No… if a sudden confession is no good, then I should find a way through a friend…」

「He-hey… was there something weird about what she just said?」

「I felt like something was off too… what was it?」

「Haa… Satsukawa-senpai is as amazing as ever.」

「Well, yeah. But for me, the fact that Sara is seriously thinking about that is the real surprise.」

「Is that so?」

「I mean, up until about six months ago, she was the kind of woman who seriously thought men were an eyesore and should vanish from her sight, and that no one should talk to her unless it was the absolute minimum required. I still have trouble believing that is the same person sometimes.」

「Well, compared to the Sara back then, she is a completely different person. Even I doubt my eyes sometimes.」

「I see. I have only ever seen the Satsukawa-senpai who is super sweet to Takanashi-kun. Oh, but I saw clearly that she is blunt with other boys, so I guess I would be surprised if that was her original self.」

「No, no, calling the Sara from back then blunt is way too soft.」

「For the Wife, Kazunari is just that special.」

「That goes for you too, right Hanako-san?」

「Naturally. Kazunari is more important than my own life.」

「Um… please, that is enough for now…」

I’m aware that I am thought of as special by those two, though for Hanako-san it is as siblings, but it is embarrassing to have it pointed out so directly.

「Alright, time is wasting, so let’s keep moving!!!! Next is… oh, we have a girl!!!!! Then, it is you over there!!!!」

「I am Sakura. I have a question for Satsukawa-san. If you could send a message to yourself from last year, what would you say?」

「Let’s see. It sounds a bit cheap, but I would tell her that a fated encounter is waiting for her, so do not give up.」

「That’s a bit abstract, but is that okay?」

「Yes. If it were the me from last year, she probably would not believe anything I told her anyway. That much is just right.」

「I see. Thank you very much!!」

「He-hey… what did that mean?」

「Does that mean… she already had a fated encounter!!??」

「Hey, look!!! That means…」

「Wait, wait, wait!!! She never said that encounter was with a guy!!??」

「Exactly!! It could be a best friend or a teacher, there are plenty of other possibilities, right!?」

「R-Right!? Don’t scare me like that…」

「Optimistic idiots.」

「Hanako-san, watch your tone. I get how you feel, though.」

「A fated encounter… huh.」

「Natsumi-san?」

「…Hwah!? I-I wasn’t thinking about anything!!??」

「I mean, I haven’t said anything yet?」

「Ugh, that smug look on your face is so annoying.」

They are as consistent as ever. Those two are really fun to watch.

Plus, Natsumi-senpai’s maidenly side is way too easy to see through. She really isn’t one to talk about me, is she?

I would never say that to her face, though, because she would get mad.

「Next is… that person over there!!!」

「I am Ashish. Is there a possibility that Sara will become a yandere?」

「Whoa, an international guest? Alright, Satsukawa-san, give us your answer!」

「Before that, I do not quite understand what a yandere is?」

「Ah, well, you see… whisper whisper.」

「I see. However, I have no desire to act in a way that causes unnecessary burden or trouble for the person I treasure. Moreover, I will never again do something as pathetic as simply being dependent. Rather than depending on each other, we walk together while supporting one another. That is the correct way to be. In the future, if I ever distort that myself, I am prepared to punish myself without hesitation. Is that sufficient?」

「…Yes. Thank you.」

Dependency, huh. It is true that back then was the time when Sara-san’s dependency on me was at its strongest.

But since that incident, I feel like something inside Sara-san has changed. It is hard to explain, but it is like she gained an unwavering confidence in our relationship, or regained her strength of heart.

That is why I can say with confidence that the current Sara-san would never let the same thing happen again. With Sara-san having absolute confidence in us, she will be perfectly fine.

「Alright, next is the person over there, go ahead!!」

「I’m a relative auntie. Satsukawa-san, if you had a baby, would you push your worried husband aside and take care of it even if you had to ignore his feelings? Or are you prepared to act spoiled?」

「Parenting is something a husband and wife do together, so I do not understand why there would be a need to push my husband aside. The two of them support each other and cooperate to raise the child. Would the word ‘spoiled’ even exist in that situation?」

「I understand, thank you very much!!」

「Next person over there!!!」

「I am Papier-mache Doll. Satsukawa-san, when you have a child, who will you fuss over more, your husband or your child? Also, would you prefer a Japanese-style or Western-style wedding?」

「It is not one or the other, I would do both at the same time. My Mother managed both, after all, so there is no reason I cannot do the same. Moreover, loving my husband is my reason for living, so I can state with certainty that it will never waver.」

「I see…」

「And regarding the style of the wedding, I have not thought about it yet. But I am a woman after all… I do have a longing for a wedding dress.」

「Thank you very much!!!」

Sara-san in a wedding dress. Just imagining it is… well, really good.

It is still a long way off, but if it would make Sara-san happy, that alone gives me the motivation to work hard.

Now I have another new goal for my future.

「Whoa… she’s still a high schooler, but she has such a firm sense of self.」

「She can’t possibly know what it’s like after marriage yet, but being able to answer with that much confidence is incredible.」

「I thought I’d marry an older woman, but I’d want to marry that girl even if she’s younger. I’ve never seen a beauty like that before anyway.」

「I’m seriously in love!! She said she didn’t want to be confessed to out of the blue, but I have to aim for an opportunity somehow…」

「Is it just me, or are the audience’s delusions getting even worse?」

「I wonder what will happen to the venue once Kazunari proposes?」

「Satsukawa-senpai probably won’t be able to hold back and will just snap. She might not even care about being on stage anymore.」

「So you mean the usual stuff is going to start up even more than normal?」

「No, listen…」

Yuji and Hayato were smirking happily while looking at my face.

Of course, I have considered that situation, so I am prepared to accept everything even if something happens on stage.

So it’s not a problem.

…It isn’t, right?

「Next person, go for it!!」

「I am Jinmogu!! Satsukawa-san, do you have a specific point about yourself that you want a member of the opposite sex you’re interested in to look at more?」

「Do you mean ‘look at’ in a physical sense?」

「No restrictions!!」

「To begin with, I have never really thought about having a specific part of my appearance looked at. If anything, I would like you to just say so without hesitation if you have a request. But regarding anything else… no, never mind. I shall simply love you with my whole heart and soul, after all… fufu.」

「Th-thank you very much!?」

Why was that? I think it was a very Sara-like expression of love, but it felt strangely meaningful, or maybe it didn’t?

I felt like I caught a glimpse of Mayumi-san for a second too.

Hmm…?

「Next person over there~」

「I am Daisuke!! Satsukawa-san, what kind of things do you want to do for the person you love?」

「What kind of things? I want to do anything and everything I am capable of doing for them, you know?」

「Anything at all?」

「Yes. I want the person I treasure to be happy, and I want to love them from the bottom of my heart. That is my joy. So please do not hold back, I want you to act spoiled with me more and more. I also…」

「Wait!? Sa-Satsukawa-san!!! That’s enough, THAT’S ENOUGHHHH!!!!」

After receiving yet another forced intervention today, Sara-san wore a blatantly dissatisfied expression.

That said, I also find the development where the idiots in the audience misunderstand Sara-san’s statements in their own favor very unamusing, so I was also feeling like I wanted her to keep the appeals to a moderate level.

「Alright, we are out of time, so this next question will be the last one!!!」

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

「No, no, no, we’re already overtime so it’s impossible!!! Alright, the last question is… you over there!!! Staff, go!!」

「I am Miya. It is a pleasure to be here!」

Among the overwhelming majority of men, a woman was unexpectedly chosen to close out the Question Corner.

But for Sara-san, it was definitely much safer than a man, so I was grateful for that too.

「I heard a rumor that Satsukawa-san is dating the Vice President. Is it true!? If it is, tell us the number one memory of the two of you!!」

…Or so I thought.

I had considered this kind of question, so it wasn’t a problem, but to have this question come up at the very end. And from a woman, no less.

「Oh, it finally came!!」

「We’ve pulled so many stunts between yesterday and today, it is more surprising that the topic hasn’t come up until now.」

「That might be true. But when it comes to the Question Corner, there is a simple element of luck involved.」

「So she pulled the winner at the very last second. Now then, how will Sara answer this…」

I had intentionally been making an appeal myself, and Sara-san had no intention of hiding it to begin with. So I’d been expecting this topic to come up eventually.

But with so many regular guests here, it was also a fact that the vast majority were people who knew nothing at all.

Meaning.

「…Hah? What is that woman saying?」

「The Vice President, that’s the guy who was on the screen earlier, right?」

「Yeah, that dull-looking guy… no way, there is no way that’s true, right?」

「Right. There is no way someone like Satsukawa-san would choose a plain guy who looks like a loser like that.」

「Totally. They are way too mismatched.」

And naturally, that was the reaction. Rather than being shocked, there were even scoffs of laughter, and some voices were even mocking the idea itself.

I’ve seen this scene plenty of times before, so it’s not new, but no one will believe it just from talk.

「Wait, Hanako-san, hold back!!」

「No, you CAN’T!!! Where did your usual composure go!!??」

「Kill… I will kill everyone who mocks Kazunari…」

「Ha-Hanako-san, stop!! STOOOOP!!!」

Her usual composure was nowhere to be found as Hanako-san looked ready to lunge forward any second.

On top of her usual expressionless face, her eyes were completely dead, which only made the atmosphere more dangerous.

If we don’t hold her back soon, this might be a bit risky!!

「Onee-chan, I’m happy you are getting angry for my sake, but you can’t!! It’s okay!! I will definitely make them eat those words later!!!」

「Exactly!! Are you really going to ruin your precious little brother’s big moment as his sister!?」

「Ngh…!?」

Hanako-san reacted strongly to Natsumi-senpai’s words and looked at my face in a panic.

While staring intently into my eyes, she took a deep breath as if enduring something and then showed a sign of relaxing.

It looks like she’s calmed down.

I am really happy Hanako-san cares about me as her little brother that much, but I can’t let her do anything dangerous.

「E-eh, um… Sa-Satsukawa-san?」

Minamin’s voice came through the speakers, full of hesitation. When I hurriedly looked at the stage, Sara-san was staring at the audience in silence.

And the commotion in the stands was definitely growing louder, perhaps because Sara-san wasn’t reacting.

「The timing is a bit off from the plan, but this is a perfect opportunity.」

Sara-san’s mutter reached my ears as if it were leaking from the speakers.

A perfect opportunity… what does that mean?

「Kazunari, what now?」

「Are you finally going in?」

「No, I really want to, but… look at Sara-san.」

If I didn’t mishear her, Sara-san definitely said「perfect opportunity.」

Does that mean there is something convenient for her even in this situation?

If that’s the case, my proposal can still wait based on the situation, and it won’t be too late to see Sara-san’s move first.

「Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!」

Suddenly, a single spectator came running into the open space next to the stage.

Shouting like a child and jumping occasionally, they were repeatedly making a desperate appeal.

And since they were so close to the stage, it only made them stand out more.

「Um… you over there, please return to your seat!? Also, the questions are over…」

「Oh, why not let him? Since he’s shouting at this timing, surely he has something special to say?」

The stuck-up woman, who had been completely ignored until now, suddenly joined the conversation.

It has nothing to do with her, so why did she jump in?

「…What is that woman smirking about?」

「It feels a bit nasty, doesn’t it.」

「When she has that look on her face, she is always thinking of something no good.」

Now that she mentioned it. Every smile I had ever seen from her was either a sarcastic one or a snobbish fake one.

But right now she was wearing a beaming smile that was actually kind of gross. What was with that sense of wrongness?

「You over there, if you have something to say, just say it. If you are making such a desperate appeal, I am sure it must be important?」

「Thank you very much!! I look forward to it!!!!」

「Wait, don’t just do as you please!!!」

Minamin looked indignant at the stuck-up woman’s selfish behavior.

But unfortunately, that man had already reached the side of the stage, so the stationary mic was picking up his voice perfectly, forcing the conversation to happen.

If he were further away, she could’ve just ignored him by not giving him a mic.

「I do not mind. Since he shouted at this timing, his question is likely something similar anyway, right?」

「Satsukawa-san!?」

「Hmph. The person herself said it was fine, so there is no problem, right? Now, you over there, let us hear your question.」

That gross smile was one thing, but that strangely kind attitude was also a bit concerning.

Judging by the way he spoke, it was their first meeting, and she isn’t the type of character to be that kind to someone like that.

「Yes!! Are Satsukawa-san and the Vice President living together!? I saw you going home to the same house multiple times!!」

Hah?

What did he just…

The words the man shouted happily and excitedly were a complete surprise.

I hadn’t been on high alert, but I was still being careful when entering and leaving the house.

And he saw it multiple times? We don’t even move at set times, is that something that happens by chance?

「What is he saying?」

「…Did he say living together?」

「That is too stupid. Someone like Satsukawa-san, living with a guy…」

「That is too impossible. It lacks any sense of reality.」

「Is he half-asleep?」

「Nah, maybe he’s a plant for someone?」

Because it was so abrupt, even more scoffs and boos erupted from the stands.

Voices saying「impossible, unbelievable」started coming from everywhere, and some were even shouting insults like「get lost」and「get out of the way.」

But more than that, I was… no, Sara-san’s move.

「You were together in the morning too, weren’t you!? I saw you coming out of the same room multiple times!」

「What of it?」

「…Hah?」

Sara-san gave a flat, nonchalant response very much like herself.

Without changing her expression in the slightest, she stood with a dignified attitude that said「so what?」The man who asked the question let out a dumb voice at her reaction.

「I am asking what of it?」

「No… well…」

His childishly happy figure was gone. The man started fumbling for words, looking awkward and unsettled as he began to fluster.

Even in the middle of that, I couldn’t help but notice the stuck-up woman, who still had that gross smile on her face.

No, Sara-san is the priority right now.

「It is true that we are living together. What of it?」

「Eh, no, well…」

「Are you satisfied with that answer?」

「Um… yes, yes. Thank you very much…」

The questioner scurried away with quick steps like a small animal escaping.

In the end, what was he trying to do? Was he just trying to expose our cohabitation and enjoy the fallout?

「Um, Satsukawa-san…」

「Yes?」

「This is news to Minamin too… what is this talk about living together?」

「I am sorry, the order has gotten a bit mixed up from the plan. Well, it was within my predictions, so it is not a problem.」

「No, it’s not a problem… eh? Eh? WHAAAT!? Then, then, don’t tell me, for real?」

「Yes. We are living together. I have no intention of hiding it.」

A bomb of the largest scale ever dropped with a cheerful smile.

At those words, the audience… and the stage… stopped moving instantly. It was enough to make me think Sara-san’s time-stopping power(?) had been activated again.

The audience that had been so noisy went completely silent, and the only thing that could be heard was the voices of the kids.

「Uhyahyahyahya, this is hilarious!!」

「Yuri, please don’t shout.」

「Read the room, the room…」

…I can only hear the kids making a noise!!

Anyway, at least as far as I can see, the crowd is just staring at Sara-san on stage in a daze.

The look of people who don’t know what they were just told, who can’t understand it, was clear on their faces.

「Ugh…」

The moment I thought I heard a groan from someone, voices saying「ugh…」started overflowing from the surroundings as well, spreading out like ripples. This was intense déjà vu.

Meaning that the developments that were likely to follow were easy to predict.

「「 IT’S A LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 」」

I knew that would happen!!

Since the bomb was the largest ever, the classic reaction(?) was also the largest ever.

The things I’d used as metaphors until now, like tremors, tsunamis, and avalanches, seemed small compared to this roar, this scream that was truly worthy of being called super-dreadnought class.

I mean, where is all that sound coming from!?

「It’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a lie it’s a LIIIIIIIIIE!!!!!」

「Wait, you’re lying, right!? Are you seriously living together!?」

「Aaaaaagh, and I liked her so much!!! I was serious about her!!!!!!!!」

「Living together… living together, that means, that meanssssssssss!!!??」

「Uoooooh, I don’t want to believe ittttttttttt!!!!」

「For real!? I thought that was absolutely impossible!!!!!!!!!!」

「I can’t picture it at all…」

Once the screaming settled down, what followed was the usual scene of pure agony and screaming.

The idiots were wailing, shaking their heads, and crouching down to scream. Seeing them like that, looking almost insane… it was honestly a bit of a turn-off.

But I’ve been told all sorts of things by them, so I should be allowed to think「serves you right」for a bit, shouldn’t I? I should, right?

「I truly do not understand why you call it a lie. I am not so eccentric as to tell lies to complete strangers I have zero interest in, after all?」

「「 GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 」」

「Anyway, there is no reason for us to be told anything by others. There is no grounds for outsiders to meddle in our living situation, and I will not allow anyone to interfere in our business.」

「「 Uoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 」」

「Ah… she finally did it.」

「Well… she is Sara.」

「She is Sara, after all.」

「Are you two really trying to settle it with just those words?」

「I mean, it’s a fact. Right, Eririn?」

「Yes. It is a fact, so it cannot be helped.」

「Haa…」

「Now then… what’s the plan, Kazunari?」

「Right… Sara-san seems to be thinking of something else still, but…」

「Fufu… fufufufu… ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.」

Huh!?

Inside the venue wrapped in disaster, a distinct laugh that made me feel a sense of madness echoed throughout.

The owner of that voice… it wasn’t just the laugh, they wore a distorted smile that made me feel like they were harboring madness even in their expression.

Seriously, one after another… what is the deal with that person?