Episode 369: Kazunari’s…

「Wow, I’m truly envious!」

「Hahaha, what are you saying? That’s my line.」

「Hehe… I really just find Kazunari-kun so incredibly cute.」

「Well, I also can’t help but find Sara-chan adorable, but is that thing really that cute…?」

The atmosphere that was filled with tension at first had changed completely, and by the time the food was brought out, the members of both families were thoroughly relaxed.

Father and Masaomi-san continued their conversation in a friendly way while praising each other’s households, and Mom and Mayumi-san were passionately discussing how cute their respective children were, creating a situation that was extremely awkward for the actual subjects involved.

That said, if you asked if Sara-san and I were shrinking back in embarrassment… that definitely wasn’t the case either.

「Here, Kazunari-san, say aahn…」

「Ahn… mgh mgh…」

「How is it?」

「Well, I think it’s delicious… but」

「…but?」

「I just can’t help but feel that Sara-san’s food is the most delicious in the world.」

「Hehe… honestly, Kazunari-san♪ Ah, please don’t move, okay?」

「Eh? Mgh…」

Sara-san’s mouth curved into a happy smile as she carefully wiped around my mouth with a paper napkin. Once she finished, she stared straight into my eyes and gave a supreme, melting smile…

「Now, what shall we have next?」

「N-No, Sara-san, you should eat too. I can do the rest myself…」

「Please don’t worry about that. I’m eating properly in between, after all.」

「I know that, but this is a special kaiseki meal, so it’s a waste if you don’t focus on eating too, Sara-san.」

It was true that Sara-san was sticking to her usual style of taking care of me while occasionally putting food in her own mouth… but since it was such a luxurious meal today, I wanted her to enjoy it fully instead of just eating on the side… ah, I know.

「Sara-san, please let me give you an aahn for once.」

「Eh?」

If I pushed it on her a bit forcefully, Sara-san would have no choice but to eat, wouldn’t she?

Yeah, this might be a nice idea, if I do say so myself.

「N-No, I…」

「Don’t hold back. I’m always the one being looked after, so for once, let me…」

「B-But, taking care of Kazunari-san is what makes my life worth living… um」

As expected, Sara-san was flustered and troubled, yet unable to give a clear refusal. If this were anyone else, she’d probably have refused the second it went against her wishes… but I knew that Sara-san was extremely weak when it came to me.

She looked like she was just one more push away from nodding, so even if it felt a bit sneaky, I decided to go into「please」mode.

「Sara-san, I want to try doing an aahn too. …Is that a no?」

「Uu… y-you’re so mean. If you ask me so cutely like that, Kazunari-san, I…」

「Staaaaare…」

「K-Kazunari-san…」

「Staaaaare…」

「A-Alright, alright, I get it!」

「Yes! Then it’s my turn from here on.」

Alright, now I can make sure Sara-san eats properly too. Plus, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Sara-san look this embarrassed, so my own excitement was secretly skyrocketing.

「Now then, let’s get right to it. First… this.」

「Y-Yes…」

Sara-san gave a small, shy nod and stared intently as my chopsticks (holding a simmered dish for now) approached her mouth. Then, she placed her left hand under the chopsticks as if mimicking what she’d seen and silently accepted the「aahn」request…

「A, aahn…」

Perhaps she was already near her limit, as Sara-san squeezed her eyes shut with a bright red face and eventually opened her mouth slightly… and as for me, seeing the movement of Sara-san’s lips, which felt different from a kiss, I felt all sorts of things welling up inside.

So, how should I put this… um… my heart was pounding.

Well, here goes nothing!!

「Ahm…」

Sara-san took the simmered dish I offered into her mouth and immediately began chewing while covering her mouth with her hand. Her face remained bright red, and since I was aware that I was probably just as red…

This was more embarrassing… or rather, more awkward than I thought!?

「How is it, Sara-san?」

「Uu…」

「S-Sara-san?」

「I-I’m so embarrassed that I can’t really tell what it tastes like…」

「Eh, i-is that so?」

「Yes…」

Sara-san gave a small nod and shrunk back, looking slightly downward as if she couldn’t look me in the eye.

That gesture was so adorable that I couldn’t take my eyes off her, staring almost unintentionally…

「P-Please don’t stare at me so much. It’s… embarrassing.」

「Eh!? A-Ah, s-sorry.」

「…Mean.」

「Gugh!?」

Seeing Sara-san with a bright red face, looking up at me with that gaze that held such incredible destructive power… more than just striking a chord in a man’s heart, she was so cute that even God couldn’t have withstood it!?

I’m the one who started it, but that was unfair, Sara-san!! Totally sneaky!!

「Uuugh, I think I’m getting heartburn. To think the day would come when I’d have to watch my own son flirting right in front of me… wait, I saw this on the visit day too.」

「Hehe… they’re so in love that this is just a daily occurrence. I’m really feeling the burn too♪」

「A d-daily occurrence!!?? D-Don’t tell me they’re fooling around at home whenever they have a spare moment, hey!?」

「Ha… haha. No, i-it’s truly a joy that those two get along so well… yeah.」

Mom had a look of pure exhaustion, while Mayumi-san was writhing around for some reason. And between Masaomi-san’s slightly twitching smile and Father’s dangerous-looking gaze directed at me… it seemed I’d done it again, as per usual!?

「Now, Kazunari-san, next is my turn, okay?」

「N-No, Sara-san. Look, everyone is watching us right now…」

「I don’t mind at all, so please rest assured.」

「I-I’m the one who minds!!」

If it were complete strangers watching, I wouldn’t care at all, but flirting openly in front of my actual Father and Mother was quite a high hurdle, or rather, it was complicated… it might be incredibly late to say this, but it’s a bit awkward!!

Plus, Mom’s completely fed-up gaze and Father’s silent「you brat, what do you think you’re doing!?」pressure were quite something too…

「Kazunari-san… by any chance, do you hate it?」

「Wha!? I-It’s not like that…」

「If you hate it, Kazunari-san… then I…」

「Uu… S-Sara-san, that’s cheating…」

Faced with Sara-san, whose expression had suddenly clouded over with sadness, I had no way to resist anymore. Even if it was an act, making Sara-san look like that was the ultimate taboo for me.

「Kazunari-san… I…」

「Alright, alright, I get it!! I’m happy with whatever you do for me, Sara-san, anytime!!」

「Yes! I love you, Kazunari-san♪」

Hearing my reply, Sara-san’s expression shifted once more to a full smile.

So it was an act after all… but I have no regrets in losing. Nothing is better than Sara-san’s smile, after all.

That said…

「You’re so mean, Sara-san.」

「Hehe… that was a return for earlier♪」

This kind of Mayumi-san-like counterattack was not good for my heart or anything else, so I kind of wanted her to stop…

「Well then, since I have formal permission, everything from here on will be done by me…」

「Eh!? You’re joking, right?」

「…Hehe♪」

The way Sara-san chuckled mischievously was more than enough to give me a premonition that she wasn’t joking at all.

Meaning, I was…

「Here, Kazunari-san, say aahn♪」

Watched over by the parents of both families, just like a baby bird getting food from its parent… it was confirmed that I would be subjected to a kind of public humiliation by continuously eating the food Sara-san offered me.

Well, as long as I can see Sara-san’s happy smile, it’s not a big deal… I’m always thinking the same thing, aren’t I.

The luxurious meal ended safely(?), and while we were spending a relaxing time with post-meal dessert and tea, the topic shifted primarily to us… though not the main point or serious talk for today, but rather the kind of onlooker talk known as idle gossip.

And when it came to these topics, the women… Mom and Mayumi-san… took the lead like fish in water.

「Hoh… Kazunari did a public proposal on the school festival stage, huh.」

「Hehe… even I was thumping just watching! It was truly wonderful… his desperate expression was quite adorable too.」

「Hmm… I can’t imagine it at all. I mean, is that really about Kazunari?」

「Of course it is. And I didn’t just hear about the proposal, I got to hear even more about their future.」

「Their future?」

「Hehe… we’ll become grandmothers after Kazunari-kun gets a job…」

「Wha!? You’re already discussing things that far ahead!?」

「As if!!」

Forget marriage, I haven’t even graduated high school yet, so there’s no way we’re thinking that far ahead!!

I mean, I thought this during the Miss Contest too, but why does it always turn into talk about kids!?

It’s awkward for us!!

Even Sara-san is totally blushing… though she’s cute!!

「Hehe… by the way, Sara-chan says she wants a cute boy who looks like Kazunari-kun. Of course, I’m all for it too♪」

「Eeeeek, it should definitely be a girl, right? If she looks like Sara-chan, she’ll be more than just promising in the future… anyway, I definitely don’t want them taking after our family line. That would be too much of a waste.」

「Honestly, Fuyumi-san…」

Ugh, so awkward. Seriously awkward!!

I really wish they’d stop this kind of talk!!

But even if I wanted to change the subject, there was no doubt it would just blow back on me if I interjected… Sara-san probably knew that too, which is why she’d been silent this whole time.

Regardless, every time our eyes met, Sara-san would look down shyly, which made things even more difficult for me.

「Well, in the end, whether it’s a boy or a girl, just them being born is a blessing.」

「Ah, Mayumi-san, that’s cheating. I feel that way too…」

「Hehe… right, Sara-chan? We don’t mind whether it’s a boy or a girl, okay?」

「I-I don’t know!!!」

Sara-san finally used her momentum to forcefully reject the sensitive topic.

But… but you see, when you direct such a shy look at me, these mothers-in-laws aren’t the type to miss it!?

「Hey, Kazunari. Are you really going to let Sara-chan feel all the embarrassment while you run away alone?」

「Wha, what am I even supposed to say about a topic like this in the first place!!」

「Well, you could say this is a matter for the two of us, so please watch over us quietly… or something?」

「The difficulty level is way too high!!」

I might have seen a line like that in a manga or something, but could a high school freshman like me really pull that off!!

「Ahem!! M-Mayumi, that’s enough with that kind of talk. It’s still… still way too early for those two, and they’re troubled, aren’t they?」

Masaomi-san, who had been listening with quite a complicated expression until now, finally interjected. It felt like this topic might finally end, but honestly, I wish he’d stopped it a bit sooner.

「Oh, Masaomi-san, you’re acting like it’s someone else’s business, but this is about your own grandchild, you know? Their child will be, for us…」

「I-I’m telling you it’s too early for that kind of talk!! First comes high school graduation, then university and work…」

「Geez… how boring.」

Mayumi-san reluctantly pulled her body back after having been leaning forward a bit.

But her usual mischievous expression and the secret wink she sent my way… Sara-san and Father both showed an extreme reaction (for different reasons, of course), so please give me a break already…

「Ahem!! J-Just as the topic of career paths has come up, shall we get to the main point regarding that and other matters? We couldn’t talk in much detail over the phone.」

「Y-You’re right. I have various things I’d like to ask as well…」

Father gave a sort of agreement to Masaomi-san’s proposal to change the subject with a bit of momentum.

It seemed they finally read the room, as Mayumi-san and Mom finally settled down.

「Then, first, regarding the adoption… but before that.」

After saying that much, Masaomi-san shifted his gaze from Father to us… toward me and Sara-san, and showed a gesture of thinking about something.

What is it?

「We’re going to be discussing various administrative matters now, so Kazunari-kun, Sara, why don’t you take a walk in the inner garden in the meantime? The garden here is famous, so I recommend taking the chance to see it thoroughly.」

「Hehe, let the young couple take their time~ …well, it’s not exactly like that, but the inner garden walk is a privilege only available to those using this room, you know? Opportunities like this are rare, so it’s a waste to let it go.」

「Um…?」

It was true that as someone interested in gardening… and gardens (specifically Western-style ones), I did want to see the garden here up close…

But this was about to be a discussion regarding none other than me, so I wondered if it was really okay for the person in question not to be there.

「You don’t have to hold back. Discussing procedures is our role, and honestly, I think there will be a lot of talk that would be boring just to listen to.」

「Right, right. Leave this to us and go flirt… I mean, go get along with each other.」

「I-Is that so? In that case…」

Well, if the two of them were going this far, maybe it was okay to take them up on their kindness…

If it was administrative talk, it was true that I wouldn’t be of much use even if I were here… and it wouldn’t be good to flatly refuse such a kind offer.

「Sara-san, what do you want to do?」

「Let’s see… it’s true that if it’s administrative talk, we might not be of much use here, and I think it’s not a bad idea to accept their kindness. Besides…」

「Besides?」

「Since I went to the trouble of dressing up like this, I want you to look at me more, Kazunari-san… um, just the two of us…」

「A-Ah, y-you’re right! That… well… certainly.」

With her cheeks flushing a soft red in embarrassment…

Faced with Sara-san saying such a wonderful thing, there was only one decision for me. It would probably be fine if it was just for the time it took for a short walk, and if it ended early, I could just join in as a formality without interjecting.

Alright, now that that’s decided…

「Then, I’ll take you up on that and go for a bit of a walk. Is that okay with you, Sara-san?」

「Yes. I will gladly follow you wherever you go, Kazunari-san… so please feel free to decide.」

「R-Roger. Then…」

I stood up slowly and offered my right hand to Sara-san. Since she was in traditional clothes today, things would be different for her than usual…

「Hehe… thank you very much.」

Sara-san gave a happy, bashful smile and gently squeezed my hand back…

Yeah, it looked like this was the right choice after all.

「Hoh… so you’ve become able to be considerate like that, have you.」

「Hehe… it’s just that you haven’t noticed, Fuyumi-san, but Kazunari-kun really is such a good boy, you know?」

「I-It’s not like it’s much…」

「Hehe♪」

I thought this much was only natural, or rather, I’d even expected to be told I was exaggerating… so being praised directly like this was a bit embarrassing…

「Hmm…?」

「Haha. Now, now, since that’s settled, go and enjoy yourselves. It’s lit up this time of year, so the night scenery is quite elegant too, you know?」

「Y-Yes. Well then, we’re off.」

「We will be heading out then.」

I’d better get going quickly before I received any more unnecessary praise for something so simple. Besides, going for a walk in a night garden with Sara-san in traditional clothes… yeah, that sounds like it would have a great atmosphere.