《Working at Black is painful, but the delivery girl is too healing!》 1 1 I met a little girl who controls healing (not a case) ☆ I can die. I''ll turn 26 this year, and if I were to describe in one word the current me, who secretly despises myself for finally seeing my "Alaska" in action, I would definitely have no other choice but to express my feelings in one word: WA SAGAWA, Yamato. After graduating from high school and not going to college, he took the opportunity to change his mind and live by himself in a place far from his hometown, which was good, but now he is regretting his decision to work for a different company. I don''t know why I chose to work for a shipping company of all places... It''s a simple job of storing goods requested to be delivered for various reasons in cardboard boxes and transporting them to the specified address... I was already wrong from that perception. I thought it was a great idea to get a driver''s license and a large driver''s license as well, so I thought it was a vicious circle. Until I got my driver''s license, I had to do a lot of paperwork, which included the basics such as coordinating the delivery schedule, and even after I got my license, I had to run around the city in every direction to deliver packages. Staying overnight in the car is an everyday occurrence, and it''s better if he can get home once every three days. The salary he gets after all this hard work is not very high. Isn''t this a black company? This is what a transportation company would do (note: somewhat prejudiced). In addition, the other day, a senior colleague of mine, who has been with me since I was a rookie, decided to retire due to back pain. I''ll miss him and it''s a shame for personnel reasons, but it''s better than whipping his injured body into an unnecessary mess, and he''s also married, so I can''t force him to quit and ask him not to quit considering his family. Anyway, if that happens, someone will come in to fill the hole that was left out...and what came was a thankless wrinkle. All the delivery workers were to share the area that the senior staff member was in charge of, and the area of responsibility per person became larger. As soon as the bosses told them this, they all thought the same thing: "We''re not going to get paid more. The pay wasn''t going to increase, but the amount of work was going to increase," he said. When I suggested that I too should quit, the faces of my colleagues and juniors began to wince, so I continued to work there until today. But I''ve reached the end of my rope. I was seriously thinking that it would be much better to quit the job and help my parents with the farming, when I arrived at my next delivery address. "Well, it''s on the first floor of the Avery Smile apartment building, room 184, isn''t it? I''m thankful for this. I had been depressed about having to go upstairs when I found out it was an apartment building, but the fact that the ground floor was relatively better is a bit of a relief. Before I could get lost in the emotion of the April breeze blowing softly and comfortably, I took out the luggage in the back of the truck. ''''Come to think of it.......this apartment building is where my seniors said it was, right? I suddenly remembered something. It was a conversation I had at a farewell party for a retiring senior staff member when I told him I was going to be in charge of a certain area of the apartment building. "Oh, Hayakawa is in charge of the area where the condo is located? What''s going on? "Hey. Well, I''ll find out when I get there. "Well... I had to come without being able to hear any details from the strangely deserving senior........ At first glance, an 11-story apartment building that could be found anywhere in the city.......I''ve heard that the entrance is fully secured. What in the world is there to do...? With these questions in mind, I head to my destination, room 184, with my bags in my arms. This house uses a ''foodstuff delivery service'' every Tuesday and Friday with an assortment of vegetables, meat and other foodstuffs, so as long as I''m in charge of this area, I''ll be coming to deliver like this twice a week. To be honest, it''s a pain in the ass........but the meaningful words of my senior staff members bothered me here. The result of my prediction - perhaps there is a beautiful woman or a beautiful girl in room 184? It''s not fair. You''re married with a child, you''ve built a smooth sailing family, and yet you''re an acquaintance of such a person, which is nothing short of unfair. But now, the person who delivers the food to room 184 is me. You may be confused by the fact that the delivery person has been replaced, but you will be seeing each other many times in the future. This means that even though it''s my job, we naturally have opportunities for skin-to-skin contact. I''m already 26 years old and I''ve never had a girlfriend, so this would be a great opportunity for me. With that expectation in mind, I finally arrive at the front door of room 184. I pressed the intercom and heard the already familiar sound of a pin drop from inside. ''''Yes!'''' Hi, this is Umineko Transport. I''ve got a package for you. "Yes, I''ll be right there! The voice that came through the intercom speaker sounded awfully energetic and somehow lispy. Is this more of a beautiful girl''s side? It wasn''t long before there was a sound of a door being unlocked, and then it was slowly opened. Now, at last we meet...! I was looking straight ahead, expecting to meet face to face as much as I could, but behind the open door, I could see no human faces, only the corridor at the back. ''''Huh...?'''' A small voice escaped me. Oh, no one! No, I''m sure it was a proper human voice that responded to me earlier... then it was the Invisible Man! I couldn''t hide my confusion and cringed wondering what was going on... ''Thank you for always being a very good sport!¡¡Yes, stamp! Ha... ''Huh?¡¡Mister, how do you do? Suddenly, a lisping, energetic voice came from below, and I turned my gaze towards it fearfully.... ©¤ ©¤ There was a little girl. The light brown hair is in two pigtails, and the large lapis lazuli eyes are open to see the other person clearly. The nose that sticks out so far that you want to pluck it, the pudgy and soft cheeks, and the small body that you can tell from my height, which is only up to my waist, are unmistakable little girls no matter how you look at them. The cute outfit of a character shirt and checkered skirt also adds to her juvenile nature. After restraining myself from doing so, I decided to answer this kid''s questions first. ''I''m in charge of this area from today. Okay. Um, are you sure this is the right place, Mr. South''s house? ''Yes, this is Minami-amana!¡¡It''s a gingerbreadth year! To my confirmation, the little girl - Amana-chan replied with a snippet of a smile. Yes, this carelessness is the very definition of a little girl. When a simple "yes" would have been enough, she not only introduced herself by name, but also introduced herself in a polite manner, giving her approximate age. "Amana-chan?¡¡It''s polite to introduce yourself, but you shouldn''t do it in front of strangers, you know? ''What?¡¡But the schoolboy sensui told me that I had to do something about it. ''That''s for people I know. You don''t even have to tell me your name if you''re new to it. How did you do that? It''s because I will be certified as a case and receive social erasure. ''''It''s because it''s just like you can''t get candy from a stranger or follow them around. Okay! I''m relieved to hear a cheerful response, and I''m relieved that the school and parents seem to have been well educated in that area. All right, I''ve got to get to work now. ''Well then, can you stamp your seal here? Yes! When I prompted her to stamp the receipt, Amana grabbed the seal in her familiar hand and pressed it with a snap. After confirming that the seal was properly stamped, I put it away in my pocket. ''''Well then, where shall I put this?'''' I''d like to come in here, please! I place the cardboard box containing the foodstuffs in the place Amana-chan pointed to, and when I''m finally released from the weight of the package, I giggle and stretch out. ''''Huh~........'''' Are you tired, man? The sigh that came out of my mouth was met with a worried look from Amana as she asked me about it. As she asked, I''m really tired to death, but I smile as if to appeal to her that it''s nothing. ''I''m fine. Well then, let''s get this over with... Oh, wait a minute! What? The moment I was about to walk away because I had the next delivery to make, Amana-chan huffed as if she remembered something and then ran with a patter towards the living room. The girl came back in about ten seconds, and with a nipple and an adorable smile, she held out her hands to me. On the palms of those two little hands were three chironore-chocolates. According to Sensee, when you''re tired, eat something sweet to make you happy. ...ah.... With a big smile on her face, I felt a warmth deep in my heart at the kindness of Amana-chan, who gave me a 100% good-hearted consideration with no ulterior motive for our first meeting. With my dumbfounded mind at ease, I accept the three chocolates offered to me. What is this..... The thing that had been weighing me down until now seems to have floated away and disappeared. ''You know what, you know what, just bend over! Hmm?¡¡Yeah, good. I follow Amana-chan as she says that while bouncing around, and I bend my knees and make eye contact with her. Then.......... "Alright, you did your best~ ... A small hand came to gently stroke my head. As I was speechless at this completely unexpected turn of events, Amana-chan smiled and laughed and said.... She smiled at me and said, "Mommy is going to stroke me like this when I''m done with my shukudai!¡¡Then I''ll stop being so tangled up and I''ll give you a good one, Onii-san! Oh no, I''m going to cry. I wouldn''t make the mistake of crying in front of a little girl, but that was the best I could do. ... But at this moment, Amana''s casual kindness has healed my heart. My eyes are clearer, my depressed thoughts have cleared up as if the clouds had dissipated, and my body seems to have become strangely light. Oh no, it''s amazing what little girls do these days........ ''''Oh, thank you.......thanks to that, I feel less tired. "Heh, thank God! When I told her that without exaggeration, Amana smiled shyly. Seeing that smile, I''m convinced. I''m not sure if she''s the one that she was talking about....... Every time I make a delivery, I am healed by this kind-hearted girl, which is so precious nowadays. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends. In fact, I''ve experienced it myself, so I understand. It was the moment when a definite light was shone on my life, which had been so bleak at the time. 2 2 Black-tailed gull transportation Hey, I''m back. I met an angel called Amana-chan in the additional area of responsibility, which healed me (although I was reluctant to be dependent on her), and I was able to do the rest of the work with plenty of energy. So I came back to the office of Umineko Transport, where I work, after finishing my delivery for today. It was a little after eight o''clock. My co-workers and my seniors and junior staff in the office were looking very pale. Up until yesterday, I would have been just as sullen, but thanks to Amana, I''m on a high horse. I''m not sure why you''re so energetic, Yamato.¡¡You were more or less dead when you went out to deliver...? Well, they worked on the delivery, or something like that. The one who posed the question with a blue face was a colleague named Mitsuya Arikuma. He is one of the few peers from when he started working at Umineko Transport, and although he looks like a delinquent at first glance because of his blond hair and slightly sharp eyes, he is, on the contrary, a serious guy with a serious personality and a sincere work ethic. However, like me, he doesn''t have a girlfriend. He replied to Miya while keeping Amana''s existence a secret. It didn''t bother me right after I was healed, but it could have become a normal matter of getting cheered up because a little girl in the first grade worked on me. There''s no need to be foolishly honest about it. But when Sanya heard those words, she glared at him while scratching her hair. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re talking about. Wow, that''s awful and inexcusable... ''If it was going to change, it would have been better to have been a younger sister,'' or some s*xual harassment. It''s not because I was close with my seniors, it''s just that I didn''t like Miya, that''s a bad quality....... ''You''re an idiot. If you commit an indecent act with that, it''s a great obstruction of business and indecency charge. Oh, Sakai, huh? As I was pitying my colleague, who in a way encountered the complete opposite of me when I met with Amana, a woman with reddish-brown hair cut into a long bobbed cut and wearing glasses - Mao Sakai - interrupted our conversation. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on a new one. She is popular within the company because of her good looks, but she is just as disciplined as she appears to be, which is why she has been rejected countless times by men.... Sakai turned to me and smiled faintly. ''''Thanks for the delivery, Ka(?)zu-kun(?). I''m going to have to borrow a phrase from you, Miya, but you''re in good spirits as if you were a different person this morning. "Sankyu. Well, unlike Sanya, I was able to pull off a good-natured part, so it was easier than I thought it would be. ''Wow, I''m so jealous! Sanya comes to me with a look of envy. However, Sakai glares at Sanya as if to shoot him in the eye. Kora. If you''re going to be a courier, isn''t it common knowledge that you can''t choose your customers?¡¡You''d better do something about that blonde hair and that look in your eyes before you envy me. Wow, a negative physiognomy... ''Well, well. Sakai said that if the vendor''s attitude and appearance was bad, the customers wouldn''t feel good about it either. Kazu, you''re following Mao''s side, not mine, right? I told you not to put your name on it.¡¡And Kazu-kun has a point. Hey, hey. I don''t know if he''s ever really felt sorry for himself... She sighed and lowered her eyes at Sanya, who half listened to Sakai''s complaint as she spoke. Both of them haven''t changed since they joined the company........ I''m still on the side that has softened considerably even with this, so it''s still better.... Incidentally, the reason Sakai calls me ''Kazu-kun'' is because she thought my name was ''Kazu'' instead of ''Yamato'' for a long time. It''s an unfamiliar reading, though, so I don''t blame her. As we got to know each other better, I told her she could call me by my name, but it turned out to be a mispronunciation, which caused a bit of a stir. At any rate, Sakai is popular, so at one point my coworkers were jealous of me because they thought I was hot for a girlfriend. ...I jokingly asked him if he wanted to go out with me for real, but he looked at me skeptically, so the rumor never became true. Since then, a lot of things have happened, and although we still call each other the same thing, we''ve been able to clear up any misunderstandings. Some of them still think of me as a rival. Well, let''s leave it at that. As I was watching the hustle and bustle between the two of them, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. Surprised, I quickly turned around and..... ''''Sagawa kun~?¡¡You look like you''re doing well~? Hi, Hinomoto.... A slightly overweight man with black hair mixed with white hair, which gave the impression of mature age, was smiling with a commanding smile. The man is Hinomoto Isao, the head of Umineko Transport''s Administration Department. The Administration Department mainly handles logistics, delivery and inventory management, but it also performs substitute work such as arranging and scheduling deliveries and staffing in accordance with the shippers'' requests. Hinomoto-san is in charge of the delivery arrangements and schedules for the couriers, including me and Miya, so we''ve known each other for quite some time.... This, when you call someone something like ''fuda kuun~''.......this is the worst pattern. I thought today''s delivery schedule would be reasonably tight, but~ it seems there''s still room to spare~ Hahaha....Ki, I just felt good today, I can''t be sure if it''s the same tomorrow or not, but... "It is natural for this industry to be hard. Since an employee like you, who is able to work positively, is very precious to me, I try to keep my schedule reasonable. That would be greatly appreciated.... Scary, scary, scary! Don''t smile and try to intimidate me! I''ve never seen anyone say "I can''t do it" in the face of this intense pressure. Let me tell you, this is not power harassment in any way. As he says, the delivery schedule is designed to suit each courier''s physical strength, and he doesn''t begrudge the request for pay. Of course, if I tell them my schedule is too tight, they''ll even readjust it properly. He''s helped me distribute the pressure that arose when a senior colleague quit, and since he''s been a big help to me on a regular basis, this kind of request (pressure) is a factor that I can''t refuse. As a result, I was forced to add to my delivery volume while I was drooping my head to the point that the tension that I came back was suddenly spiraling downward. 3 3 Healing charge → Japanese has become fine! Three days later, Friday. I''m proud to say that I was able to work surprisingly efficiently, as I was encouraged by this day and worked hard to deliver the extra items. The paycheck was a plus, but that meant more work for me. You can see how egregious it is when I tell you that they made a work schedule there when I could afford it. My mind and body, which had been completely wrecked in just three days, couldn''t stop seeking the healing power of Amana. There''s a bit of a misnomer in my phrasing, but I''m not a pedophile. It just happens to be a little girl named Amana who heals me. What, do pedophiles usually say that? Chichi, chichi, chichi! And I''m not a pedophile! What a one-man ramble, just barely keeping my composure, I reached room 184 for the first time in three days. Within 10 seconds of pressing the intercom, I got an answer from Amana and the door opened immediately. ''Konnichiwa, onii-san! Hello, Amana-chan. I return the greeting to Amana, who makes eye contact with me and greets me with a smiley face. Today''s hairstyle is a ponytail. Combined with the flowery shirt and jean skirt, she''s as cute as ever. ''Kyomogokorosama! This is it, this is it. You may be told ''thank you'' at the delivery point, but it''s a lot different than saying ''thank you for your hard work''. I don''t know if it''s unconscious or not, but Amana''s kindness soothes my weary body and soul. The healing process penetrates the five organs to the point where you can be convinced that you can''t live without it. ''Yes, please give me a seal here. Yes! He gave me a cheerful pomp and a seal of receipt. Like last time, I put the package in one of the doorways and stood tall with a giggle. ''''Onii-san, are you getting pecked at again?'''' ''Yeah, I''ve been doing a bit of heavy lifting, my shoulders are a bit stiff. But now that I''ve met Amana-chan, I feel like I can do my best again. Really?¡¡I''m so happy to see you too, Amana! I''m pretty sure I''m 10 times that happy. Just seeing her smile is enough to make my fatigue go away. I can really feel that sincerely. Mmmmmmmm... Suddenly, Amana closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and began to look thoughtful about something. I can see her cheeks loosen up from the smile on her face as she tries so hard to wrap her head around it. Because she''s so cute. While I was thinking about it, Amana opened her eyes with a snap and began to pull on the sleeve of her work clothes. ''You know what, will you sit here?'' Hmm?¡¡Yeah, good. You can''t get away from it. There''s still plenty of time before the next delivery, and it''s no problem if you want to receive more healing from Amana. I mean, I sat on a stranger''s doorstep, but is it okay with you, Amana? When I was wondering what to do, Amana quickly took off her shoes and walked up to the front door and behind me... Thump, thump, thump. ''Oh, oh! She made a fist with her little hand and tapped me on the shoulder while clinking onomatopoeia. She''s a schoolgirl, so her strength isn''t as strong as it should be, but her cute, rhythmic voice and the situation itself, tapping her shoulder, deeply moved me. ''Do you want to?'' Oh, Amana-chan, you''re really good. Really?¡¡My mom would praise me for being a juju too! I''m sure I can get along with Amana''s mother. I can''t do it, I can''t do it, I can''t do it. I don''t care if my shoulders are too stiff or not. Rather, every time Amana-chan''s hand touched my shoulder, I felt a surge of motivation and zest for life, and in an instant, I felt a surge of positive emotion. I''m no longer afraid of anything. I was convinced of that. It''s like a death flag, but I think this is a good time to ask her about something. What kind of person is Amana-chan''s mother? Mom?¡¡It''s soooo neat! Oh, yeah? It may sound strange to say this, but Amana is quite a beautiful girl for a first year elementary school girl. When it comes to being the mother of such a promising girl, you can''t blame her for expecting it, albeit inappropriately, from a married woman with a child. ''Does Amana-chan love her mother?'' ''Yes!¡¡I love it! It''s easy to understand that she''s a good mother when she has such a pure daughter named Amana. However, it''s only been less than a week since I got to know Amana-chan, but considering that she uses the food delivery service, I''m guessing that it''s a little complicated for her. The fact that no one has come out of the living room at the end of the corridor in the evening after school is over, despite the fact that no one has come out of the living room in spite of being tapped on the shoulder, and the fact that there are only small shoes on the front porch that you can recognize as Amana''s at a glance, suggests that she is probably a dual-income earner or a single mother. Well, I''ll leave that kind of prediction for later, but for now, I have to savor this pat on the shoulder. But sadly, I''m not going to do this forever. I would have liked to do this forever, but with the time for the next delivery coming up and Amana-chan herself getting tired, the heavenly pat on the shoulder time was over. When I thanked her again, Amana smiled and said, ''''You''re welcome! He returned it. I was relieved to see that she seemed to be recovering from her energy quite quickly, like a child. Thank you, Amana-chan. Thanks to you, my shoulder has become lighter. Heh, heh, you''re welcome! I turned my shoulders to see how much I was adding or subtracting, and my shoulders really felt lighter. Muscle fatigue, but there was probably a mental factor as well. Amana-chan seemed as happy as I was to see that I was feeling better. I was happy just to see her, but I didn''t expect her to even tap me on the shoulder.... I might finally have to think about repaying him for this. I made a plan to secretly repay the favor in my mind. 4 4 I want to give back to the little girl (case thread) I returned to the Umineko Transport head office at around 8:30 p.m. and sat down in my desk chair, after Amana had tapped me on the shoulder to soothe me. Now, I''m glad I decided to give Amana a gift in return, but now I realize that giving a gift to a stranger''s child is a difficult thing to do. For example, let''s say I gave her a stuffed toy of some sort... Naturally, Amana''s mother would ask who gave it to her. Amana-chan, who is in elementary school, would probably honestly say ''I got it from a delivery man''. At that moment, the case is established that ''someone unknown to them gave their daughter a gift''. It was a genuine thank-you for healing me, but it was so unworldly.... Then how about some sweets? With this, if Amana-chan ate it, there would be no residue left behind. But the obstacle here, however, is that this is what we''ve been thanking her for. The same is true for the candy bars, and the same goes for the more expensive sweets, the latter of which take a long time to eat, and even if you do eat them, you won''t get your dinner. If that happens, it''s a problem in the end. I don''t know why we live in a world where it''s so hard to give thanks. This is all because of the sins of people who have committed them in the past. Because of the actions of a few people, the fact that we have become a society in which even the good intentions of the people are questioned is really making me angry. "........you know it''s a crime to touch them, pedophile....... Oh, they''ve been giving you a curse, Nagato. ''Whoa! What''s the matter with you? As I was directing my resentment at the criminals in the world, I was approached by Sanya, who came back from a delivery late to me. I was surprised, but rather relieved that this guy was the one who spoke to me. If Amana-chan''s presence was exposed at the wrong time, the worst thing that could happen is that they would change the delivery area. That''s the last thing I want to do. So what the hell is bothering you? Hmmmm.... However, there''s no way to get anywhere if I keep worrying about this alone....... You can''t survive in this industry if you can''t open up people''s secrets to the public. "Sanya, would you like to go for a drink afterwards? Nice!¡¡We''ve got tomorrow off, so let''s have a drink to celebrate! It''s hard to talk about it here, and with that said, I decided to move to a new location. ~~~~~~~~~~ In a private room in an izakaya not far from the headquarters, me and Sanya relax with a beer in hand. Well, the alcohol after work is outstandingly soaked up...! I''m only buying a round of drinks for the consultation, okay?¡¡You''ll have to pay for the second round or a snack or something. Hey, I know what you''re talking about. So, what''s the story? Yeah, actually... When I''ve had enough to drink, Miya cuts in on me. I took a sip of my beer in response to his question, and then began to explain. I told him that I had met a girl named Amana-chan, who politely greeted the delivery man after he resigned, and that she had given me the strength to concentrate on my work, and that I wanted to thank her for her help, but it was difficult to do so due to various reasons, such as public opinion. After listening to the conversation, Miya looked up at the small amount of beer left in his mug and locked eyes with me. "Police, let''s go? Hey, wait a minute. Didn''t you hear what I said before? He came to me with a good smile and implicitly advised me to turn myself in. He was so ruthless that I couldn''t help but feel like I was in a fight with him, but it couldn''t be helped. ''''No, no, no!¡¡You''re dealing with an elementary schooler, and a first grader at that!¡¡I''m rather surprised, in fact, that the neighbors didn''t call the cops on me! ''Yes, but!¡¡Though I realize I''ve overlooked that possibility myself now that you''ve told me!¡¡But I''m just treating him for his job, and he really just wants to thank me for it!¡¡I ain''t thinking about groping or spitting on it or anything impure like that, I swear! If I was thinking about it, we wouldn''t be discussing it like this! However, Sanya continued without a grin or loss of face. ''I see~. There were rumors that he was going out with that Maou-chan, but we haven''t heard anything about it because Wa was a pedophile... No, first grade is roughly six or seven years old, so I guess a Heidi complex is appropriate. "What are you trying to calmly label me as something I''m not? What did I do? "I''m a claymage jee, why are you being healed by a little girl, you eeeeee!¡¡What''s the difference!¡¡And of course you''re jealous that your mother might be beautiful!¡¡You should be in charge, d*mn it! Is that what you really think? The tears were flowing from Sanya''s eyes, probably due to her tear glands becoming brittle from the alcohol. Apparently it''s very painful, but.... ''No, it''s impossible. I can''t live without Amana-chan''s healing. I''m aware of that. But I don''t regret it. Let''s do it. If you keep this up, you''ll never get a girlfriend for the rest of your life, and you''ll end up an unmarried virgin, right? You''re not the only one. Oh, yeah. I''m sorry, but... Wait, wait, wait. I''m going off on a tangent. That''s for sure. What''s important isn''t my public image, it''s how I should thank Amana-chan. I''ve gone to the trouble of asking for advice, even though I''ve gone to the trouble of risking it, and I still haven''t come up with a solution. As I was pondering again what to do, Miya came up with a suggestion. ''''Well, why don''t you just ask him directly instead of trying to surprise him? For him? Yeah. A schoolboy can tell you what he wants, right? ''I know it''s like marinating in a juvenile mind but it''s certainly the only way to go...'' If you''re going to continue your relationship with this woman, you might as well get to know your mother. There is no doubt that they will be warned. ''G................¡¡I know, I know.... I listen to the nails in Miya''s words, told with a nasty grin on my face, as if I''d received a heavy blow. After thanking Amana-chan, I''ll ask her if I can see her mother. And so the consultation at the bar comes to an end for the time being. 5 5 Amana and Yamato are friends! And so the week ended on Tuesday. In recognition of my recent work, the amount of deliveries has increased again, Chikusho........ Now, having consulted with Sanya about wanting to do something in return for Amana-chan, I''ve come to the conclusion that I''ll ask the person in question. It''s not just that he can''t even think of anything to do in return for being an adult, but there''s also the possibility that he''ll say it''s a shameful thing to ask the person himself, or that it''s something he can''t respond to, depending on the content, but he resolves that this is something that can''t be helped. It''s my own fault for not knowing how to deal with my children better. Even as I gather my thoughts like that, I arrive at room 184 on the first floor of Avery Smile. I was about to press the intercom, when my finger snapped to a stop. It''s because I hesitated from nervousness. ".........soooo........ Don''t be afraid, don''t be afraid. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for this. I press the intercom, and a moment later the front door opens. ''Yes, always a very good day! Hello, Amana-chan. Hey, man, hello! Amana-chan greeted cheerfully, her hair was down straight, and she was dressed in a yellow striped dress, a ladylike outfit with a yellow base. She''s still cute today........she''ll definitely be beautiful in the future....... Feeling as cute as ever, I decide to finish exchanging packages for the third time. ''Here''s your seal, please.'' "Yes, pop! With the seal held in my little hand, my heart feels like it was pressed along with the receipt. The healing from Amana-chan was normal, to the point that the backward-looking thoughts I had a while ago seemed ridiculous. Now, I feel like I want to writhe all the way through, but this is where the real work begins today. ''Nah, Amana-chan.'' What? When I called out to her, she tilted her head with a smile and asked me back. d*mn it, where do you come up with such a cute gesture! My thoughts are about to be derailed by the unexpected agony, but I manage to step on it and say the rest of the story. ''I want to thank you for always helping me out Amana-chan, is there anything you want?'' Want it? At the sudden question, Amana crinkled her eyes and scowled. ''''Yes, of course I can''t give it to you without permission, so you have to talk to Amana-chan''s mother first, right?'''' Yes. So, what would you like? Mmmmmmmm... Amana hesitates as she holds up her fingers on both hands, wondering if she''s counting what she wants. The way she looks at her is cute and dusty again, and then she looks up as if she''s decided on an answer.... ''Tell me your name, Onii-san! What? I didn''t expect the answer, and now I''m on the side of the jerk. ''Why my name?¡¡I don''t care if it''s a stuffed animal or candy, okay? You know, you said before that you shouldn''t accept sweets from strangers. Yeah, I know, but... When she''s at a loss for an honest answer, Amana looks a little sad, and says, "I was told by a friend of mine that it''s weird to be friends with an older man who doesn''t know his name. A friend of mine told me that it''s weird to be friends with a guy who doesn''t know you... And I was really sad for you, Amana," she said. I... Even though she was in the same first grade as Amana, I found my heart tightening in pain when I heard that she thought my relationship with her was strange. Not for the fact that I was being treated like a suspicious person, but for the fact that I made Amana-chan sad. But she quickly changed her expression to a smile and faced me.... I''d like you to tell me who you are and become my friend!¡¡Then you won''t be a stranger, right? Yeah. I was stunned by the childlike innocence of the idea. Amana-chan''s answer may not mean much in the eyes of society at large, but it could be taken as me abetting her to say so. Rather, it''s more likely to be taken as me abetting her to say that. But..... At the very least, my heart was moved. It was because I was so concerned about my own public image that I hadn''t given any thought to Amana''s feelings. In her own way, it was probably because she thought she could trust someone she only saw twice a week that she wanted to be friends with me like this. I bend down to make eye contact with Amana and make eye contact with her. I''ll be proud of myself for being suited to the pure eyes that don''t know to doubt this person. "My name is Kazu Hayakawa. Sagawaya, Yamato... In an effort to remember the name she taught me, Amana ruminates over and over again in a whisper, ruminating over my name. I think it''s only one name, but it warms my heart to see how hard she works at everything. ''Sagawa, Yamato!'' Yeah, you''re doing good. Kanji ... is still a bit early. You can call me up or down, Amana-chan, whatever you want. Really? "Blah-ha-ha!¡¡What''s the point of giving them names then? Oh, it''s true! I gush and laugh unbearably at the fact that I ended up calling her Onii-san. Amana doesn''t know why I''m laughing and tilts her head. Each gesture is so cute, I really can''t get enough of watching her. The laughter dies down and I hold out the little finger of my right hand to Amana-chan. ''Then me and Amana-chan are friends from today. Let''s make a promise by cutting off our fingers. Yeah! With a smile on my face, smiling at the promise and the fact that I''ve said it out loud, Amana also holds out the little finger of her right hand. She cooed with her little finger, which is smaller than my thumb, and clipped in a rhythm. "Yubiki-ri-gen-man, us-tsutu-taira, ha-ri-senbon, no-mau, yubiki-ta! That''s how Amana-chan and I became friends. The little girl I had become friends with by chance had a big smile on her face, like an angel that heals everyone she sees, and she was truly happy about that fact. 6 6 Inadvertently disturbing There was no clear change in the fact that I became friends with Amana, and my black workday continued to be a normal hard workday without softening. Seriously, I think it sucks. So, two days later, Thursday. When I returned to the head office after finishing my deliveries for the day, I decided to have a cup of coffee before heading home, so I went to the employee break area. ''Huh...'' It was around 8:00 p.m., so I didn''t expect anyone to be there, but I noticed someone else was there. You''re the one who said, "Hey, it''s Sakai. What''s up? .... The first customer - I called out to Sakai Mao, but there was no response. For a moment, I wondered if she was unconscious, but I soon realized that this was not the case. At any rate©¤©¤. ©¤ ©¤ Kuu........soooo....... This was because Sakai was breathing a quiet sleep. It''s said that the corporate sales department also has quite a large amount of work to do, and it wouldn''t help if he dozed off from exhaustion. More than anything else, it''s fascinating to see that Sakai, who usually has a crisp and stern expression on his face, has such a soft expression once he''s asleep. Her usual expression is cool and beautiful, but I was reminded again that her face is so well-groomed that you can think she''s cute even when she''s unprotected like this. Not that that''s why I wanted to do something for Sakai, who was probably tired to the point of dozing off, but I wanted to do something for her. But as with thanking Amana-chan for her help, she wondered what she should do. It was probably because that''s how I thought of Amana-chan. I unconsciously reach out to Sakai''s head and gently stroke her auburn hair, which is neatly trimmed even after all the hard work. Ugh, my hair is so smooth........ The unexpectedly soft touch of the hair makes me forget my own self and stroke it around enthusiastically. I''ve never had much experience with women, but my curiosity is tickled by the fact that I can''t stop myself. It''s time to stop this........but just a little bit more.......and after repeatedly fighting over and over between Ego and Ido''s mount...... ''''©¤©¤Hey. I''m going to sue you for s*xual harassment? Hi! The hand that had been stroking his head with Gashiri was grabbed and ended in many ways as Sakai slowly looked up with his eyes set. Yabba yabba yabba! I totally f*cked up, albeit inadvertently! I get so impatient that a cold sweat runs down my back. ''''©¤©¤, Kazu-kun?'''' No, no, Sakai!¡¡This is... When I tried to explain myself in a hurry, she quickly let go of my hand....... ''''........Huh, what. I thought it was Arikuma-kun. I''m sorry. I''m sorry? As soon as Sakai, who looked furious, realized it was me, she told me it was the wrong person and then apologized. I was taken aback by her reaction, and then she turned her gaze on me. And then?¡¡If you were going to wake me up from dozing off, why did you pat me on the head or anything? Oh, I don''t forgive you for that. "Well, I just thought you were tired enough to doze off, so I just wanted to give you a pat on the head to help you out... ...Really? I guessed that and immediately decided to reveal the reason. But, of course, he doesn''t seem to be convinced and is still giving me a stern look. ''''Oh. You don''t have the nerve to s*xually harass me in the first place. "...Hmmm. Yeah, come to think of it, you''re right. I''m sorry for doubting you. Sakai let his guard down with a giggle and a smile. It seems that he was unexpectedly easily convinced, so I pat my chest in relief for now. But this time it was just me who patted him on the head, so I forgive him, but you can''t do the same thing to another female employee, right? I know. ...Let''s not talk about what it sounds like you''re implying that it''s okay to do to yourself. ''Hey, Kazu-kun,'' Uh-oh... As I was thinking this, Sakai took half a step closer to me and called out to me while staring upwards. I was inwardly upset by her beautiful girlfriend''s rather rare gesture. Yes, yes, I''m not used to being a woman anyway. ''''You''re going to work on me, right?¡¡Can''t you just keep going? Huh...?¡¡What, are you sure? I trust you, Kazu, and more importantly, you have a way of stroking me that I''m familiar with. ''Well, well, I used to stroke my sister''s head a lot...'' The embarrassment of being praised for letting go made me feel strangely nervous and uncomfortable. What''s this? Is this what Sakai was like? To witness the unexpected side of a colleague she had been in contact with for nearly seven years.... With such deep emotions, he continued to stroke her head until she was satisfied. ~~~~~~~~ And the next day, Friday, I was in a good mood because it was the day to see Amana. Today was the day I was going to meet Amana-chan and I was in an excited mood. But..... "You''re looking really weird right now~ Shut up. If it''s true, I''m going through withdrawal symptoms to the point where I''m willing to throw away my job to get some relief from Amana-chan. Officers, this guy. Just as I was about to get into the delivery truck, a courier''s tool of work, my colleague - Arikuma Miya, who was supposed to be off today - sent me a slanderous remark as a greeting. I understand that the slander is just a light-hearted remark, but I feel that the content is terrible. But as I said, I''m starting to see withdrawal symptoms, so much so that I even saw Amana-chan in my dreams. This morning, I woke up and shuddered at the same time, thinking that this wasn''t good at all. But it''s more than that. So?¡¡You were supposed to be off today, why are you coming to work? No, I''m not here to work. I don''t want to be the company man, okay? I couldn''t help but sigh back at Sanya, who cowered her shoulders and spoke so matter-of-factly. I mean, don''t make fun of the company employees by implying that they''re company employees. Unless you''re a workaholic, not everyone wants to be one. ''''Huh?¡¡If you''re not here to work, did you forget something? Hmmm, well, speaking of forgetting things, you forgot things. ''Don''t boil it down, just say it clearly...'' All right, all right, don''t give me that look. I''m delivering a car. Don''t give me that big of a grumpy look. Who do you think it''s my fault that I have a Buddha''s face....... With that in mind, I''m convinced that if I go out to deliver with this expression on my face, I''m sure I''ll scare the customer away. ''''So, what''s the main point?'''' ''I''m glad you listened to me!¡¡There''s only one reason for that: I want to meet Amana-chan too! What? What is this guy saying with a smug look on his face? I couldn''t help but give him such a cold look. 7 7 Healing little girls are kind to colleagues It''s very satisfying to have a delivery truck driven by someone else once in a while. It''s a new discovery to me that I can be this comfortable just because I''m not the one carrying the goods in the back of the truck! ''It''s amazing to have the guts to say that in front of a guy who''s driving. I don''t particularly admire or respect him. When I arrive at the parking lot of my usual apartment building, "Avery Smile", I tsk-tsk at Miya, who has a clean smile on her face. Just as he declared that he wanted to meet Amana-chan, this guy followed me on my delivery....... Well, he drove for me for a little while while while I ate my lunch, so it wasn''t really a burden at all. I took out a familiar heavy delivery item from the back of the truck and held it up while I was drooping in a groan, and then Sanya came calling out to me. ''''What is it?¡¡The recipient is Tengri Nantenri. So this person is Amana''s mother. Hey! Hey! It''s private information! What are you doing looking at people''s luggage without permission? I''m not sure how much of an employee they are, but when I accuse them of not having the right manners, Sanya shows no remorse, saying, ''It''s just a name. Well, it''s only natural, because if you don''t have that much to say, you won''t be able to continue in this job for more than seven years. ''''I wonder what kind of person he is?'''' I don''t know. I don''t know. I don''t know, I haven''t met him yet. "Seriously? We arrived at "Room 184" while having this conversation, and pressed the intercom. Less than five seconds later, we received a response. "Yes! Hello. Umineko Transport. "I''m coming, sir! Amana''s cheerful voice, transmitted through the intercom microphone, made my heart slightly warm. As I was immersed in the realization, the door was opened immediately. Hello, Amana-chan. Hey, man, hello! Amana-chan''s smile welcomes me today, full of energy, and I greet her while suppressing the feeling of looseness in my cheeks. ''''Then please place your seal here again today. Yeah! As usual, she''s cute in the way she firmly stamps her seal on the receipt. I''d like to go into the healing course as usual, but today I have to introduce Sanya to you....... I''m not too keen on it, but I owe it to him for the advice he gave me, so I''ll just have to meditate on it. I''ve come to that conclusion and call out to my colleague. "Hey, Sanya. Hoi, hoi~. Nice to meet you, Amana!¡¡My name is Arikuma Sanya. I''m a friend of Uncle Wa''s over here~ Who''s your uncle? I''m only 26 years old and I''m not that old. As soon as I said something like that, Anama-chan moved quickly and quickly to hide from Miya and got behind me. I guess she was surprised to be approached by a stranger all of a sudden? When I was confused by the reaction she hadn''t shown when I was there, she looked up in horror and uttered a word. ''It''s a chalakin! "...hmm...? We don''t know what a ''chalakin'' is, which is probably referring to Miya, and we all nod our heads. Unlike what Amana-chan did, the two bastards just look like idiots with little understanding, and they''re going to feel helpless. You can''t help but think about such a strange thing. Amana-chan, what is ''Charakin''? What''s "Charakin"? Uh, it''s the bad Texan from Love Pure! Bu! Yeah..... I couldn''t help but blurt out what was conveyed to me when Sanya asked for details about Chalakin. In contrast, Sanya, who was told that he was the antagonist of the anime, had a complicated expression on his face. ''''Oh, you, with your blonde hair and eyes, you''re being treated like a complete villain, kuhahahaha, yikes, har har, ouch...! ''There''s not so much to laugh about! I feel bad for Sanya, but it''s impossible to hold back the laughter on this one. As I''m laughing with my stomach, Anama-chan, who was behind me, strikes some kind of pose. ''Pure Pure Lovely Energy! What''s that? The way he made a heart mark with his little hands, thrusting forward and shouting the name of the technique was frankly a national treasure of cuteness. My heart was shot out safely, so it seems to be working properly. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get your hands on it.¡¡I''m going to have to pretend that I''ve been beaten up by it! Chalakin''s always saying, "I''ll never get another chance! "I''m not an executive, I''m a mushi and a cozy bunny, dammit! The unexpected treatment caused Sanya to crumple to the ground. It''s not that she didn''t seem to hate him, but playing around with a large adult, Amana-chan, you''re a good sport. That girlfriend is smiling and has a big smile on her face. ''Onii-san!¡¡Amana, I''m cheating! Good, good, good, good job. "Heh-heh-heh. Oh, I''m no friend to you. I pat Amana''s head as she proudly talks about her own battle results. Ah, finally, I touched her directly. Well, she looks happy and it''s nothing to be ashamed of, so let''s not worry about it. Orehananimo warkuna indah, tada jungseu inimedeteir deke nanda. "I mean, Sanya. You''re too jealous of Amana-chan to be playing with you. ''There''s a lot of danger in that statement of yours!¡¡You''re really not a pedophile, are you! Don''t treat me like a pedophile when all I want to do is touch an angel named Amana-chan. Do you want to go to the hospital?¡¡He must be tired, Kazu........ For some reason, Sanya looks at me with a pitying look. How rude. You can recover a million times better being healed by Amana than by a bad doctor. The comparison is absurd. As I was reminded of this obvious fact, Amana stopped hiding behind me and approached Miya, who was still on all fours. I thought about stopping her for a moment, but I decided to respect her wishes here. Then Amana put her hand on Sanya''s head and slowly began to stroke her. ''Chalakin, thank you for playing with me even though I''m a pee-choo! What...? She smiled as she continued and thanked him. Not only did he not expect to be thanked, but also to be stroked by a girl a year younger than him at all, leaving Sanya with a pout and a dumbfounded look on his face. So after stroking him for a while, Amana-chan was satisfied, ''''It''s time to let him finish his shukudai! And then he went back to his home. Eventually, Sanya stood up and muttered with tears in her eyes. ''''I know exactly why he''s getting into Amana-chan. That''s a bit of a misnomer, isn''t it? I don''t have the slightest intention of changing my area of responsibility, but if the timing is right, I wouldn''t mind bringing him over like today. With that in mind, I finished the rest of my deliveries. 8 8 I just want to love, its definitely not a lolicon! Tuesday. It''s already been three weeks since I met Amana. I feel like the time has gone by too quickly, partly because she''s been doing so well lately. Miya was also feeling better after being healed by Amana-chan, and even though she was still busy, her motivation was off the charts. That girl likes Sanaya too, and if the timing is right again, she might be able to get her to meet him. Be that as it may, today, Tuesday, is the day I get to see Amana. Looking back, I realize that I''ve never been able to help her myself, even though I''ve thanked her for her help. I have a relatively small amount of deliveries to make today, so maybe I can help her with her studies or something. I don''t feel like I can teach her anything within the range of what a first grader can learn, but I still want to do something for her, that''s for sure. With that secret determination in mind, I press the intercom to Avery Smile Room 184. ''Umineko Transport here!'' "Yes, I''m coming! Not long after I heard the usual good reply, the front door was opened. ''Hi, Onii-san!'' Hello, Amana-chan. I greeted Amana-chan, who was dressed a bit more maturely than usual, with her bright brown hair falling straight down and wearing a red catsuit, and a dress with a pink and light blue flower pattern on white fabric. To be honest, she was so cute I thought my heart would stop beating. What is this? Amana-chan is an angel just by being normal, but what kind of illusion is that to make her even cuter? Good job, Amana''s mom! So in my mind, I send a thumbs up to someone I have yet to meet. I also have to tell them thank you for giving birth to Amana-chan... oh no, that would be s*xual harassment. ''Onii-san, what''s wrong with you in a daze?'' ''Oh, no. It''s nothing. Oh no, I''ve got Amana worried about me thinking something stupid. I''ll pull myself together and get to work. Yes, Hanko! Thanks. So, actually, I need to talk to you, Amana-chan, if that''s okay? Wha...? I''d like to help Amana with her homework as a friend. What, are you gonna help me with my homework? Then I got the seal of receipt, and when I mentioned a suggestion to Amana to watch her study to repay her for all the work she''s done, she tilted her head back to me with a scowl. The gesture was so cute that my heart was lightly shot out of my chest, but I tried to keep my composure and continued. ''You''re a pee-choo, but are you sure?'' ''I''ve got some time to spare at work today so I can watch for an hour or so. Of course, I won''t force you to do anything if Amana-chan says she doesn''t want to, but.......what do you think? Um, give me a minute! With that, Amana went back to the end of the hallway. Is she going to call her mother or something? I mean, it''s only now that I''m realizing that my proposal is going to set foot in the South House. The biggest record I''ve ever set was just sitting on the front porch. Oh shit, what should I do........I didn''t intend to do that at all, but a sense of immorality came over me....... Oh, that''s not good enough, is it? Hey, good morning, man. We hit an impasse and couldn''t find a solution, and eventually Amana came back. And that too with a bright smile that didn''t harbor any suspicion at all. I don''t need to tell you that I felt even more guilty. Whether or not she knew of my anxiety, Amana-chan bowed her head in a courteous manner and.... ''''Onii-san, please help me with my obento-kyou! ''Oh, oh!¡¡I''ll take care of it! OH.......................Why is my heart so heavy? Yes, because I''m so dependent on the guilt, my guilt is piling up in a weird way! Let''s do it proud now that we''re here! Half-heartedly, I stepped into the south house with Amana holding my hand while maintaining a smile. I''ve already broken the record at this point. And it''s still being broken. Just as I was thinking about it, the door to the living room, always visible at the end of the hallway, opens. ''Oh, Amachi''s back. So, Onii-san is the adult friend Amana-chan was talking about! Hey, hey, hey... There were three little girls in the living room. If you include Amana, there are four of them. They are all very pretty, as they say. If I could, I''d like to be the wall where I can watch these four get along with each other forever. I''d like to add that I''m not a pedophile, I just want to look at them and love them. I mean, isn''t this a pretty bad situation? I had clearly thought that Amana-chan had called her mother for permission, but in reality she had gone to get permission from her friend who was doing her homework with her. No matter how much they trust you, I feel like you''re too unprotected in the quicksand........ ''This is Amana''s friend, Sagawa Yamato Onii-san! Howdy, howdy... That Amana-chan herself introduced me to her classmates with a smile that was somewhat boastful, with no offense. I''m 26 years old this year, breathing the air in the same room as four little girls... I clearly feel out of place. I wouldn''t be surprised if the burglar alarm went off at any moment. I didn''t know you had adult friends like this. I didn''t know you had this kind of friend. Hasumi-chan was the first to greet me, and she introduced herself with a bright smile. She was dressed in a white tank top and jean shorts with indigo-black side-tails and a white tank top, anticipating the season even though it was only April. When combined with her tone of voice, you can tell that she is full of vitality, even more so than Amana. I''m Kitatani Chiyuri! Yuri-chan came next and greeted me, looking very confident. She wore a light green blouse and an orange floral patterned salopette skirt, with long brown hair that was almost reddish brown and glasses. Uh, uh..... The last girl - Kana-chan, with her blonde hair and blue eyes that were cut in a bob cut length, whether she was half or not, caught my attention. Dressed in a yellow shirt, pink cardigan and long beige skirt, she looked the most mature of the four Amana-chan and the others, and honestly, she''s the type of girl that inspires a desire for protection. "Um, I''m Kazu Hayakawa. How do you do? "''Yes! Yes, yes.... I smiled and said my name again, trying to scare him as little as possible, and he replied pleasantly. I feel like a school teacher for a bit. I''m going to be helping the elementary school kids with their homework, so maybe it''s not wrong in a way. ''''Yes!¡¡It''s a question! Oh, that''s fast. What''s up? Once we''ve introduced ourselves, Chiyuri asks a question with a beautiful raised hand. What do you want me to tell you, I listen.... ''Onii-san is a ''lorikon''? I don''t know. The question that sounded like a death sentence had been handed down to me made my eyes go dark. 9 9 See? Isnt it a healthy study session? Lolita complex. Commonly known as "Lolita Complex". It often refers to a person who has a s*xual preference for, or an obsession with, young girls. The boy''s version of this is known as Shota-Kon. With an unending stream of crimes committed by pedophiles in recent years, the actions of parents and other adults around them to protect their children can be tantamount to overprotection. While it''s inevitable when it comes to the safety of one''s own child, overprotection has gone so far that even asking for directions is often met with an overly aggressive response. Giving a child candy out of kindness can even lead to a police report. In today''s society where even innocent behavior can be labeled as suspicious, the question "Are you a pedophile? Let''s see what they say. I mean, that''s practically a death sentence, right? That''s about as good as it gets, and I think it deserves to be eliminated from society. Now, why do I bring this up all of a sudden? That''s......... ~~~~. You''re a "roly-poly"? I don''t know. It''s because this is the situation right now. I almost fell to my knees when Amana''s friend, Chiuri, asked me with a look of conviction on her face, as if she was sure she was right. Oh, I wonder if the newspaper will print the sentence, "I''m suspected of plotting an insolent act with four girls by coming into a stranger''s house under the guise of studying"? I''m just thanking Amana for always being soothing to me by helping her with her studies. I''m not a pedophile and I''m not a pedophile. So, all you have to do is just say ''no'' proudly here. It''s not my fault! It''s not my fault! You mean the adults, not the family and the teacher, right?¡¡I know, I know! ''No, no, no!¡¡That would make every adult in the world a pedophile! ''Oh, really!¡¡Ugh..... She hurriedly corrected Tachi-Yuri-chan, who looked so confident and showed off her tremendous know-it-all attitude. Then her embarrassment at being pointed out her mistake made her blush in a flash. Hmmm, cute. But I was surprised. Chiyuri''s misunderstanding seems to symbolize the darkness of modern society. We don''t want to be accused of being a pedophile just because we casually stare at a child passing by. ''Oh, oh. I guess it''s better to point it out so I can see the mistakes... The word "listening and biting" comes out of Kana-chan''s mouth, the quietest girl, and she returns it, although she is confused. She has a better vocabulary than I do, so I''ll keep quiet about the fact that I feel like Chiuri-chan''s blunder has been brought into sharper relief. I mean, Onii-chan. My sister always called her simply ''Aniki'', so the call from a young girl to Onii-chan is almost agonizing. Chiyuri-chan apologized to me for that with a depressed expression on her face, instead of her panicked look. ''It''s okay. Chiyuri-chan is cute, and I understand your father''s concerns. "!¡¡Um, uh, thanks... When I told her I didn''t care, Chiyuri squirmed and replied with a red face. Yeah yeah, like I said before, I can understand why you would be overprotective when you have a child like her....... It turns out that the source of the misunderstanding is also the father, though. I don''t care about that anymore. Well, if you don''t understand something in your homework, feel free to ask me. I can''t tell you the answer out of the blue, but I can at least solve it by hand as many times as I want. ""Yes!" The four of them respond cheerfully to my cue. Although it looks like this, I''ve seen my sister study before, so I think I know some of the points by heart. ''''Come to think of it, which subject do you have homework on? Sansuu! Amana showed me a print. I feel nostalgic about the sound of that itself. It''s the most inevitable fate that I will change jobs from middle school to mathematics and come at the new middle school students as a powerful enemy. ........What am I talking about, what am I talking about? Yes, I have a question! What''s going on? And immediately, Hasumi-chan, being a cheerful girl, raised her hand. "2...1 is... You''ll know that''s on purpose, won''t you? What? There is a limit to how much he is being licked. No, in this case, the possibility that it''s Hasumi-chan''s way of being a mood maker can''t be discarded. Either way, all I can say is, take it seriously. You know what, Onii-chan?¡¡Is six plus five in the number three, or is ten enough? ''Hmm... What kind of fruit do you like, Kana-chan?'' ''What?¡¡Yes, I like strawberries...? Well, let''s see how many strawberries there are in the haystack. Yeah, I''m a bit nervous. Yeah, that''s the answer. Oh, thank you, Onii-chan... Kana-chan''s tone of voice was faltering, but she handled it carefully, step by step. I couldn''t help but smile at her hardworking attitude. ''Got it!¡¡Onii-san, look at it! Oh, let''s see. As for Chiyuri, she came with her own answers. I''m not a school teacher, so I can''t give her an Akamaru, but I can make sure it''s right. Then I went through her answer column once and.... ''Your answers are off one by one. What? Properly pointing out the mistakes. As for Chiyuri''s answers, it was already like a brilliant misplaced button, the answers were off one by one. It''s just a shame because the answers were all correct, just misaligned. Let''s hope that this screw-up doesn''t come into play in the real test. Onii-san, I did it too! Okay, okay.... I check the printout handed to me as if I were replacing Tomoyuri. And, oh..... Yes, you answered all the questions correctly. You did well. Eheheh! As a reward for my hard work, I stroke Amana''s head. She doesn''t make a disapproving face in response, but rather smiles and opens her face in a happy way. In this way, the study session went on without a hitch.... 10 10 Healing Jumon ""Oh, no!" The students finished their homework within 20 minutes of starting the study session. In the end, I can''t help but feel that there wasn''t much point in me teaching them, but seeing their faces filled with a sense of accomplishment, I can''t help but feel my cheeks naturally loosen up when I see their faces. As I was thinking that, Amana turned her face towards me........ ''''Thank you, Onii-san! She bowed her head cutely and thanked him. ''"Thank you! Following them, Hasumichi-chan, Kana-chan and Tomoyuri-chan came to thank me as well. This scene of the four elementary school girls bowing to me all together..... This is the kind of thing that is blamed on me to make things happen, no matter how you look at it. "I''m just here for work, it''s not that big of a deal. But my mom told me to say ''thank you'' when I was saved. Wow, what a well educated word........Amana''s mother is definitely a good mother. Our mother is at the level of wondering why our dad got married, and it''s just a shame that she says and does things like that.... I''m glad both of my siblings don''t look like her in terms of personality. Well, I''ve gone off on a strange tangent.... Oh, if that''s how it is, you''re welcome. You want me to do your work? ''Yeah, I finished earlier than I thought I would, so there''s still time.'' Well, I''ve got a question for you, my dear. What do you want to ask me, Hasumi-chan? When I asked Hasumi-chan, who raised her right hand and came up with the topic, she shook her head and then opened her mouth. I want to see what kind of person you are, Onii-san''s Imoto! Heh?¡¡You mean my sister? I''ve been curious to hear what you said about Imoto when you were looking at the videos. The fact that you''re curious about someone else''s sister is just the curiosity of an elementary schooler....... Well, she goes to a high school that she can commute to from her parents'' house, so it''s not like I''ll have the opportunity to see her, so it should be fine. I came up with this idea, so I took out my phone and showed them the photos I took on New Year''s Day when I returned home. See, this black-haired girl over here is my sister. She just started high school this year. ""Oh!" All four of them had a twinkle in their eyes when they saw my sister. Maybe it''s a natural reaction from the elementary school kids, since high school students look like adults too. My guess is that the four of them will grow up to be quite cute when they become high school students. I don''t know if they will continue to interact like this until then, but if these kids are the same age as their sister, I''d like to do something to celebrate. ''Hey, Onee-san, that''s pretty! Right?¡¡You look like my mom, but your personality is very different, you know? Amana''s honest impressions are also very cute. I myself think that she is a beautiful girl, even if I don''t look at her in a favorable light. When I was little, I used to stick close behind me..... When I was thinking back, Kana-chan saw her sister in the picture..... "Wow, your diaper is so big... I... I heard him spill that to me, and I couldn''t help but blurt it out. ''Huh?¡¡Wow, that''s really big!¡¡It''s more than my Kachan! My lady''s in high school, but she''s not even... Wow, it''s true! Starting with Kana-chan''s words, the other three also took a bite out of it. And the ruthless facts that were revealed one after another made me ponder how I should answer them. I had a pretty good idea of what they were going to ask me afterwards. You know what? Can I ask you just one question? What''s that?¡¡Kana-chan? Kana-chan, who looked so nervous and had a red face, asked me something that looked disturbing, and I urged her to continue with a sense of dread that I didn''t want to hear more. After receiving permission, Kana-chan clenched her skirt and locked eyes with me, and then.... How do I make my boobs bigger like this onee-chan? No, how would I know? Huh? I forgot that the other person was in elementary school and loudly tsked at the content of the question, which did not betray my expectations. But Kana-chan, who was surprised by the exclamation, began to get clearly frightened with tears in her eyes. "Oh, no, I just got startled and... I quickly came to my senses and tried to quiet Kana-chan in a hurry. My fears that if she continues to cry loudly, this time the neighbors will be notified, will come true! The moment I thought that and stood up.... I won''t forgive anyone who trashes Kanachi, even grown-ups! "Oh... With a valiant shout, a straight right was driven into my pigeontail. I ended up squatting down with my stomach in my hands, shamefully holding it in my hands as Hasumi unleashed a brilliant blow. However, the brilliance of her technique was clearly beyond that of an elementary school student. So, even if his strength is weak, if he strikes precisely on the vital point, it''s easy to bring him down, even if he''s an adult like I am now. School kids these days are amazing..... Hasumi-chan!¡¡Kana was just surprised, so it''s not bad for her, right, Onii-chan? Oh, I''m sorry I did that to you... Shit!¡¡You can''t have blunt force! Hello, Mister. Are you okay? ''Oh ... oh. I''m sorry I''m so weak for an adult...? With Kana-chan''s persuasion, Hasumi quickly apologized. Maybe this is a right fist that could get me a gold medal in the Olympics. At that time, I''ll probably remember being pigeon-tailed like this and hold my stomach....... As I was thinking about how stupid it was, Amana, who was rubbing my back, put her palm on my hand that was holding my stomach. Maybe it''s because she''s an elementary school student, but the fact that her body temperature is higher than mine can be felt on the back of her hand. "Amaa... I want to stay.... Just as I was about to say what, Amana-chan started rubbing her hands in a circular motion, I thought.... ''''Tondeke~'''' I let go of my right hand that I was rubbing with a big smile on my face with a nipple. I had been watching the series of actions in a stupor, and then Amana squatted down and aligned her eyes with mine. Onii-san, do you miss it? It''s crazy not to get this kind of full recovery. ''''........Thank you, Amana-chan. Heh, heh, you''re welcome! Afterwards, completely oblivious to the pain in my stomach, I left the girls and went to work as hard as I could, remembering the warmth of Amana''s hands. 11 11 Oh, have you finally met ☆ Friday, a few days after I saw Amana and her friends doing their homework. It''s another good day for delivery. It went well enough that I received a rare compliment from Hinomoto''s manager, and as a side prize, I got even more deliveries, Konchikushou! Well, Sakai gave me some time to spare in return for all the work he''d put into me, and Sanya encouraged me to do my best to let Amana heal me to the fullest. In fact, that''s what encouraged me to put in the effort to work, so what Miya says is not wrong. Anyway, I was supposed to watch Amana study in return for her help, but in the end I ended up being rescued again.... The "Itai no Itai no Tondeke" was more effective than the one my mother gave me when I was little, but that was largely because of what Amana did. It''s not that Mom''s was bad........ It''s just that Amana-chan''s talent for healing people was outstanding.... Thinking about how ridiculous it would be to look back on it, I arrived at my usual ''Room 184 of Avery Smile''. I was later than usual today, but well, Amana-chan was back on time for delivery, so I wasn''t absent for nothing. I press the intercom and the light sound that I''m beginning to get used to echoes outside and inside simultaneously. ''''Yes~!'''' Hello. This is Umineko Transport. "I''m coming, sir! As soon as I felt my heart warm up at the sound of her voice, still as cheerful as ever, the front door was opened. Today''s Amana-chan had her hair tied up in twin tails and was dressed in a pink t-shirt and jeans skirt. ''Hello, Onii-san! Hello, Amana-chan. Then she sees me and comes over to greet me with an adorable smile on her face. I returned the greeting and decided to finish my work first, resisting the slackening of my facial muscles as she gave me a smile that soothed the people I saw. ''''Well then, here''s your receipt.'''' Yeah! I pressed the seal in my little hand, and the package was ready to be picked up. Looking at the shoes, it looks like Sumi and the others aren''t here today. However, I always think that Amana-chan is all alone until her mother comes home after school. I guess it''s because I thought so. ".........Amana-chan. Hmm? Don''t you miss being home alone? What...? I couldn''t help but spill out such a question. She hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand, but it seemed to be firmly in Amana''s ears, and she rolled her eyes in a daze. Even if she tried to make an excuse, there was no way she could come up with the right words in her confused mind, and while she was in a slumber.... I know my mommy is working hard to do it for you. I know it''s lonely, but I don''t want my mom to be bothered by it, so I''ve decided to be patient. I... He replied with a bitter smile, his eyebrows raised into a figure eight. This child in front of me should still be small, but she knew exactly what kind of effect her actions would have. When I was the same age as Amana-chan, she used to be so selfish.... You could say that she is sensible, but in reverse, you could say that she is skilled at suppressing her own greed. A girl who hasn''t even...turned seven years old yet. ''''©¤©¤But! "Whoa! Amana, who showed such mature understanding, turned around and smiled brightly, then jumped to my leg. I wondered what she was doing all of a sudden without reading the air, but.... I''m not afraid of being lonely because my brother plays with me," she said. I see. When Amana told me that with a big smile on her face, my heart tightened involuntarily. It''s not sadness, it''s the joy of realizing that I was unexpectedly able to support her. (Oh, I''m such an idiot...) I can''t help but think so. I thought for a long time I wasn''t going to thank you for spending time with you, but in fact, spending time with you was a way for Amana to thank you. It''s a good thing that it''s such a simple thing to do, it''s so typical of Amana that it''s beyond astonishing. It''s just a matter of treating them as friends, even though they are far apart in age. It''s a good way to repay the debt of gratitude to the little girl. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with Amana, so I can do my best at my job. Yay, matching!¡¡Hehehe. I crouched down on my knees and stroked Amana''s little head. When she realized how I felt, her face turned into a dazzling smile, so full of life that she could be mistaken for the sun. That''s enough to make me smile naturally. Like that, we laughed at each other......... "©¤©¤Amana? Suddenly, a dignified and beautiful voice was heard. "Eh, who...? I reflexively turned my head in the direction the voice had come from and I choked up. After all, the owner of the voice was such a beautiful woman that I thought she was a model. And young. At least young enough that I could tell she was younger than me. I''m not sure if it''s a good idea, but I think it''s a good idea. She is wearing a navy blue jacket and white cutout shirt, a tight skirt of the same color as the jacket and black tights, and is instantly recognizable as an office worker. I''m sure he was on his way home from work at this time of day, and he had a plastic bag in his hand that he had probably bought on the way home. "Um........where are you? I''ll tell you what. "Whoa! When I questioned the sudden interrupter, she came with a mixture of anger and frustration in her eyes and an angry tone. ''''What on earth are you thinking!¡¡If you don''t want the police to call the cops, get away from that kid as soon as possible! ''Hey, hey, hey!¡¡Wait, wait, wait, wait, this is all a misunderstanding and there''s nothing urgent... ''That''s what all prowlers are supposed to say!¡¡I don''t mind the oracle, so can''t you just move on! The woman came close to me and gave me a righteous argument with a blue streak on her face. I was completely freaked out by the word "report" and tried to explain myself as soon as possible, but the other person didn''t seem to listen to me and blamed me for not listening to her. As soon as Amana-chan, who was attached to my leg, turned her head to the woman, she said "Ah!¡¡Ma-ma-ma-ma! Heh? He went to hug the woman so with a bright look on his face. Mom.........eh, seriously! This is the guy? No, no, no, you don''t look like a pregnant woman! While I''m in such a state of turmoil, the woman smiles lightly at Amana, but opens her mouth with a bare look of suspicion on me. ''''As for what she''s surprised about, well, I''m pretty much out of guesses. ........But it''s a natural duty for parents to try to protect their children. This young woman is the mother of Amana-chan, who I''ve always been curious about....... Ah, that''s right. Come to think of it, her name is on the recipient list of the packages I always deliver. Yes, if I recall correctly......... Minami (Minami) Tenri. That''s the name of the woman in front of me, I suddenly remembered in a corner of my mind. 12 12 I exchanged contacts with a beautiful married woman (white eyes) Amana''s mother, Miss Tenri Minami, I had been curious about her for a long time, but honestly, I hadn''t expected her to be so beautiful and young. I thought she was at least a couple of years older than me in age, if not in looks.... There''s a good chance she''s the same age or younger than me. I couldn''t stop being upset, and Minami-san glared at me as if to protect her daughter. "So, what in the world were you planning to do to trick my daughter? I don''t have any plans, sir. As you can see, I''m a delivery boy for a pussy hauler... ''Do you think I''d believe such a blatant lie?¡¡If you won''t tell me the truth, I will tell the police... ''Waaaaaaaah!¡¡Wait, wait, wait!¡¡I''ve got a card, here! If you call the police, I will seriously lose my job! I hand my business card to Ms. Minami, scared of her harsh attitude. After receiving the business card, she crossed her eyes quizzically at me and the card, and then took out her phone and began to operate it in some way. For a moment, I brace myself as if I''m going to be reported, but she doesn''t seem to be holding the phone up to her ear at all. Eventually, the still unquestioning gaze was returned to me. ''''........I checked the company name and address listed on your business card, and it appears that it''s not false. ''''You''re getting a food delivery service, South-san, right?¡¡I''m just in charge of that delivery service, and usually the b*tc*... the kids get it for me. Amana, is it true? Yes. When I told her why I''m here to tell her that I have no bad intentions, Minami-san asked her daughter about the truth. The questioned Amana, perhaps reading the atmosphere of the place, affirmed my words with a slightly strained expression. I don''t know if she can''t disregard her daughter''s words, but Minami-san stares at me with a dour expression on her face. Normally, I would be happy to be stared at by a beautiful woman, but I can''t have that kind of optimism at all because the other person is directing his or her doubts at me. Then, after about 10 seconds, he let out a bigger sigh than before and slowly opened his mouth. ''''........For now, since it seems that you did not approach my daughter with malicious intent, let''s let it go without calling the police this time. I was reluctant, but I was relieved to see that the brunt of her anger was put to rest for the time being. ''''©¤©¤but. As for the fact that my daughter was hugging you, I still haven''t heard about it, right? ''Oh....'' But the world isn''t that naive, and it''s soon to be smashed. That''s right.......the reason I was in this situation in the first place was because Amana-chan had been witnessed by her mother, Minami-san, of all people, when she was hugging my legs. The only thing she admitted to me anyway was my identity, and she didn''t tell me any stories about being hugged.... Feeling a cold sweat running down my back, I decided to spit out my relationship with Amana-chan without lying. "Well, you see.........me and my daughter became friends while we were repeating our deliveries....... Oh.........friends, huh........ Wow, I was honest with you and your eyes are coldly pleading, ''How can I believe you? I was easily believed by Amana''s classmates, so I was caught off guard as much as I could. It''s just that they are so stupid that they can''t even tell the difference between adults and children, and I''m really amazed at myself. I''m not lying to you, Mom.¡¡Amana and Onii-san are my friends! What? Withdrawing from her mother''s hand, Amana replied with a look in her eyes. Perhaps she didn''t expect words from her daughter to come out in defense of the other party, but Minami-san looked surprised as she opened her lapis lazuli eyes. ''''©¤©¤©¤©¤'''' Uh..... I choke up as she glares at me with a look that contains vindictiveness and anger, saying, "How many girls have you seduced? However, Amana-chan is really a friend of mine, and I don''t remember making a move on her at all. If anything, her daughter is the catalyst for her relationship with me beyond work.... I can understand that it''s hard to believe me when I say that, so I just shake my head and say that I''m not doing or planning anything reluctantly right now. Perhaps my desperate plea was answered, Minami-san put her hand on her forehead in meditation. Even though she was on her way home from work, she seems to be wearing a lot of heart when she found out that her daughter was friends with an adult she didn''t know...............that was also a man. ''No..... First of all, it''s not like I don''t have enough pride in my work to think that way. By chance, I''m more than a customer, but I feel energized to the extent that I can say that about that hard work. There are many other places to deliver goods besides the Minami family, but I am sure that this place is a great support for me. Mom, you''re not a bad person, are you? Tenna is still... no, it seems so... Minami-san, who still seemed to leave no room for doubt, and her daughter, Amana, continued on. For a moment, I was about to deny it because my daughter was only in the first grade, but perhaps because my child seemed to have a good eye for people even at such a young age, she seemed to listen to the denial instead of saying it. ''''Tenna. It''s about time for dinner, so please go in the house. ''Yes!¡¡Bye, man! ''Oh, ah...'' Taking her mother''s words in stride, Amana greeted me and then walked into her home. I, on the other hand, could barely give a vague reply, as I had guessed that Minami-san still wanted to talk to me. As soon as Amana was gone, she came over and held out her palm to me. ''''What, what is it?'''' ''You''re a courier, aren''t you?¡¡I thought we''d exchange contact information with each other so that you could contact me after your shift. What? You''ll have to forgive me for the mix of joy and fear in my heart at the suggestion. After all, even though she is with child, she is a beautiful woman. I''m sure I''m happy to be able to make contact with such a partner. .... but at the same time, I was terrified because I knew she was trying to put some kind of nail in my coffin. ''Of course, it''s your personal property, not your office contacts, right? I know, I know, I know... Of course, I had no right to say no to it in its current state, and I had no choice but to accept the offer. Then please contact me as soon as you''re done. Oh, and by the way, we''ll exchange contact information, but I''m frankly uncomfortable with unintentional emails. I won''t... Even if he doesn''t, he completely hates me, this is........ It was easy to read that from the expression on her face that was filled with serious displeasure. Oh, I never thought the day would come when I didn''t want my job to end as much as I did when I got this job.... With that feeling in mind, I completed the rest of my deliveries. 13 13 With mom 9:00 PM. As I finished my delivery, I thought many times about backing out of my appointment with Mr. Minami. But when I did, I could see that the police would be called to the scene. There was no way I could get away with it when my mother''s girlfriend, of all people, saw me being hugged by Amana-chan. The phone in my pocket looks like a collar with a leash attached to it. I change out of my work clothes into my civilian clothes and select the phone number of the contact I''ve exchanged since I got into my car. I hope I don''t get a signal, but the call rings unceremoniously and we''re connected. ''Yes, it''s South. The fact that you''ve contacted me means you''ve finished your work. Thank you for your work.'''' Oh. So what do I do? Do you know the coffee shop across the street from the apartment building? Oh, I''ve seen it before. ''I''ll talk to you there, and you must come. Now,'' As if it was an office call, the first call ended with Minami-san just saying what she wanted to say. Although my heart repeatedly complains that it doesn''t want to go, my body presses the accelerator and moves the steering wheel, saying it has to go. Fifteen minutes later, I drive away. I parked my car in the parking lot in front of a coffee shop, which is located in front of the apartment building where I usually deliver packages. The interior of the coffee shop is decorated in a Western style, and the smell of coffee beans gives it a pleasant atmosphere. I would like to spend some time in a place like this next time I have free time. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I saw Minami-san sitting at the counter, where he was easily spotted. She was not dressed in a suit that she wore when I met her, but in a plain, unpretentious outfit of a three-quarter-sleeved white blouse and jeans. However, the simplicity of the outfit made her good-looking, and with her youth, she didn''t look like a married woman with a child. A closer look reveals that the men in the store are glancing at her. The reason no one spoke to her is that Ms. Minami is too high up in the world to be touched for fear. It''s a good idea to sit down next to her, who is vacant, even though I feel some difficulty in going there. That''s why the surroundings start to get slightly noisy. It''s a quiet coffee shop, so it''s easy to hear their breathing. ''''Oh, here you go,'''' Good evening, Mr. Hayakawa. When I called out to the woman with a shamelessly frightened look, Minami-san only turned her gaze to me and greeted me. But that gaze is still the same cold one as before, and it''s not the kind of eye you would expect to see in an encounter between a man and a woman. ........It''s not that I want to have a relationship with her, but.... What a good excuse to make, I''ll get right to the point while making an excuse to no one. ''Well, so what''s the story?'' It''s about my daughter, of course. That''s right! Minami-san''s eyes, which clearly stated without any emotion or hesitation, sternly complained that there was no other way. ''After dinner, Tenna told me about Hayakawa-san in general. At any rate, I admit that we had a healthy association. Ho..... I was relieved to hear that the police would not be notified. However, Minami-san''s expression remains stern. ''''But why did you have to be friends with that girl because of your business relationship? Well, as you know, I''m in the delivery business, and I was exhausted both physically and mentally from the hard work, and my daughter saved my life... She asked me to be her friend, so I thought it would be a good way to thank her, but nothing else. There are no guilty pleasures.... ...I see. When I tell her briefly how she and Amana became friends, Minami puts her hand to her chin and pretends to hesitate. The conversation ended as it was, and I couldn''t stand the silence any longer, so I decided to ask her a quick question. ''''Mm, your daughter is good at healing people like that, isn''t she? ''What?¡¡Oh, yes. She''s my reason for living. I''m not afraid to say it. I can''t speak for others either, though, because I know so much about how I feel. ''She taps me on the shoulder a lot when I''m tired from work. No matter how expensive or skilled a masseuse is, it''s still nothing like the healing she gives me. Amana herself had once told me that she was happy to be praised by her mother. I remembered the smile on that girl''s face as she cheerfully talked about it, and my cheeks naturally relaxed. How I wish I could have him tap me on the shoulder again..... ''Oh....'' A chill, equivalent to an ice age, ran down my back. It was something that emanated from Minami-san sitting next to me, and it was enough to make me realize that people have infinite possibilities. Or rather, I had to do something about the fact that I slipped up and said that I had been tapped on the shoulder by Amana in the course of the conversation. ''''Oh, I often carry heavy loads, so I changed my position as Amana-chan told me to, and the next thing I knew, she was tapping me on the shoulder.......'''' ''''No..... If you think about it for a moment, you should have been able to easily see that it was the result of her trying to solve the problems that were unavoidable in Hayakawa-san''s business in her own way, but when it comes to Tenna, I can''t help but get suspicious. I think that''s what parents are supposed to do, because I''m not married, but I''m not qualified to tell you that... If you''re going to follow up, don''t break off in the middle and let it all end. Yes..... If I told the story properly, the blizzard quickly disappeared. I knew it was obvious, but Minami-san is really a child molester or overprotective....... I decided that if you have a cute girl like Amana-chan, it''s not surprising that you would be like that. ''''Kohon........it feels good to have Tenna praised, but please don''t distract me from the topic at hand. Yes, I''m sorry... Minami-san coughs and says something reasonable, and I say an apology that I don''t even know how many times I''ve said it. Ever since I met her, I''ve been apologizing all the time, haven''t I? As I''m taken aback by my own shamelessness, Minami-san gives me her icy gaze and tells me what she wants from me. ''''There''s only one requirement. I''d like you to have nothing more to do with my daughter than to have a professional relationship with my daughter and me. I... I gasped, my eyes widening at the shushing mannerisms. 14 14 Circumstances of Nanke You''re not to associate yourself with my daughter beyond a professional relationship, huh? It''s only natural. It''s a good idea for you to get involved with me because I''m 20 years older than you, even though I''m your friend, and my daughter, Amana-chan, is the object of your protection. She must really want to cut off the relationship with me right away, but for that to happen, I''d have to change jobs or change the delivery category. You can''t interfere to that extent, so it''s a compromise at the very least. ''....I understand. Then I have no right to refuse the terms. And I have no interest in getting involved in other people''s family affairs. But..... "If you tell me one thing I want to know, I''ll agree to it. It depends. As I said before, I''m not thinking of hurting you in any way. At the words that show a bit of caution, I preface my question by saying so. ''''©¤©¤Amana-chan''s father.......I mean Minami-san''s husband. Is it........about my husband? Until now, the existence of a father has never been mentioned from Amana''s mouth. The fact that Minami-san works - this doesn''t mean that there isn''t a possibility of co-workers, but otherwise, the girl wouldn''t be ''lonely'', she wouldn''t be thinking about it. Besides, in the living room where I went up to look at the study, there didn''t seem to be too many furniture and dishes. That made me wonder if Ms. Minami was raising Amana as a single mother. The question I had been feeling for a while now made Minami-san frown sadly for a moment. As it is, she turns her face away from me and looks down. "Hey, Minami-san... ''No, it''s past time.... If I ask you about my husband, you can promise not to interfere too deeply with us, can''t you? ''Well, uh, if Minami-san is okay...'' Hmmm ... okay. I''ll talk to you. I thought I''d heard something unpleasant after all, but she snapped out of her sour mood, turned her head to me and pulled something out of the bag on her lap. It was a single photograph, showing Minami-san and a man who looked slightly younger than she does now. He is tall with short, cropped black hair and glasses, and you can tell from his expression that he is intelligent and gentle. It''s easy to recognize the man in the photo if you can see him with your own eyes. This is Amana''s father. "This is a picture of me in high school. "This is a picture of me in high school. My husband and I used to be a tutor and a student, and six months before I graduated from high school, I found out I was pregnant... ''Oh, that''s also kind of...'' On the way, I could only respond to what Minami-san confided in me with a painful look on her face, but I was at a loss for an answer as to how to respond. The fact that they are both teachers and students, even though they are tutors, they may have been prejudiced against each other in various ways, and above all, the fact that they are pregnant students is probably a target of some kind. The photo shows that the two of them seem to get along well with each other, so it seems that they did not give in to the opinions of the people around them, but kept their affection for each other. Perhaps she knew what I was thinking from the way I was looking at the photo, but she looked at me with a distant look as if she were looking at a memory and began to talk about the rest of the story. ''I''m aware that public condemnation is inevitable. But my parents have been very kind and welcomed him and Tenna as family. But this man is now... ''''Yes. He died in an accident shortly after Tenna was born. I''m sorry. As I said before, it''s past time. And I can''t just throw my daughter out while clinging to the past. As Minami said this, she had a wistful expression on her face. But even in the face of the fact that the person you love has died, the way she acted stoutly for her daughter was very dazzling. ''''I''ve decided that I''m going to protect Tenna as her mother until she becomes a full-fledged person. For that reason I must work hard. But, if I let you stay at home by yourself because of that... I know! Even though she understands Minami-san''s efforts, she interrupts me when I tell her that I feel sorry for Amana-chan, who''s staying home alone after school, and she lets out a loud voice that sounds like she''s sticking a needle in my ear. If you make that kind of noise in a quiet coffee shop, of course the other customers will hear you. Perhaps sensing this, she got up from her seat and apologized to the people around her before I could say anything. As soon as she sees that the people around her have lost interest, she sits down on the seat next to me again and continues to talk. ''''.......I''m sorry. But as you know, Tenna is a smart kid. She''s restrained her own selfishness and put up with it well. It''s true. Even though she''s only in the first grade, Amana is as attentive as an adult. That''s something to be proud of, and I think it''s something to be praised. But. Just because I can put up with it, doesn''t mean I won''t miss her. I... He tells her not to equate being able to endure with not feeling lonely. In response to her words, Minami''s mouth was tied into a single line and closed tightly, as if she had been hit by a figure. I think I''m pointing out a nasty thing about myself. Her feelings for her daughter are quite strong. That feeling was so strong that Ms. Minami didn''t seem to have any room for it. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what to expect when you are raising a child by yourself. But.......... I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not lonely," she said, "but what do you think she said when I asked her if she was not lonely?¡¡I said, ''I don''t want to smother my mom any more than I want to be lonely.'' It''s...! I know it''s not what I would say, but I know it''s hard for single parents to spend time with their children, not just single mothers. And Amana-chan is not only smart, she''s also kind. She has a strong desire to lighten your burden by being patient with you. But you have to put up with it?¡¡To me, it looks like the parents are spoiling their kids more than I am. I... Even though Minami-san''s aspirations and dedication are admirable, it doesn''t look good for Amana''s current situation. But to the extent that I can understand that, I''ve continued to associate with her and have come to understand her character. It''s a good thing that Minami herself feels this, too. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have such a bitter, biting look on her face. Eventually she turned her piercing gaze to me and said..... ''''........please don''t talk like you, an outsider, know.... Well, I''m sorry. I just lost my temper. She was right, it wasn''t something I, an outsider, should have said. I can''t help but think of Amana-chan, who said she was lonely at the time and couldn''t help but say, "I can''t help but say it," she said honestly, which would only add fuel to the fire. Then I decided there was nothing more to ask or say, so I left. In the end, I didn''t drink a cup of coffee, but I took the money for Minami-san''s portion out of my wallet and left it there. You said you wouldn''t interfere in my life beyond a business relationship with you two. I''m open to suggestions then. .... I told her that much and left the store. Minami-san didn''t say anything, but there would be no point in talking about it any further. My relationship with Amana''s mother, who I had hoped to be able to meet face to face, has become somewhat awkward. But if she doesn''t interfere any further, I''ll dismiss it as a matter of course. I drove back to my house, wondering how I would behave when I saw Amana-chan in the future. 15 15 Consultation and future Hi. Oh, good morning. The next day. After an awkward breakup with Amana''s mother, Minami-san, I went to work with a guilty feeling in my heart, and returned the greeting to Miya, who greeted me cheerfully. ''''Huh?¡¡You''re not in good spirits for a guy who''s just met Amana-chan. How do you know? I was trying to make it look like it was nothing, but this guy seemed to see right through me easily. Do I have no talent for acting? ''Rather, let''s be aware of how sickeningly energetic you are after being healed by Amana? ''Seriously? There''s that much difference in tension? It''s all there. Ggh..... After receiving Amana''s healing, I certainly didn''t have the words to say anything back just because I was in good spirits. And it''s annotated with the words ''unpleasantly so''. But from now on, I might not have that kind of energy anymore. ''''So?¡¡What''s going on? Well, it''s a bit of a thing with Amana... ''What?¡¡I didn''t think you''d finally get your hand...! I won''t tell you if you keep messing with me. Sorry, sorry. I didn''t mean to get carried away... I''m in a groove, but I''m not in a good groove. I''m in serious trouble, and yet.... Well, I understand that Miya is trying to encourage you in his own way, but.... After moving to a different location so that no one else can hear, I begin the conversation. "©¤©¤I met Amana-chan''s mother. Really? And that''s just the moment Amana-chan hugged me. ''Wow I can only say wow in two ways...'' Sanya''s expression when she said that was one of complete pity for us. The fact that he was hugged by a young girl and that his mother, of all people, witnessed it. If I wasn''t a party to this, I would have reacted the same way as Miya did. I was able to avoid reporting the incident for now, but they nailed me for not getting involved with them more than a business relationship. Ahh~. If that''s the case, I won''t be able to receive any more healing from Amana-chan. It''s not my choice. It''s a job I can''t afford to lose, even if it kills me. ''Oh~ Quite professional. I only have a name that sounds like I was born to be a courier. What did I tell you about not doing that stuff?¡¡I''m going to blow you away, okay? I''m sorry... I made a clenched fist and held it up as soon as I made a clenched fist and withdrew it as soon as Sanya spoke lightly about what people were concerned about. I don''t want my parents to touch me too much, since I''ve gotten a lot of teasing from them for that kind of stuff. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do that. ''What?¡¡What? I wondered if Minami-san had guessed the other reason for such an attitude, and when I added it back, Sanya made a mysterious expression on her face. "Amana-chan''s mother is.... Was she pretty? Hey. That''s what bothered me until I got a serious look on my face. The question was so anticlimactic that I turned my frustrated gaze on Miya, telling him to read the air. But the other person doesn''t show any remorse, and instead comes closer to me. "Because that Amana-chan''s mother!¡¡Then it''s a stretch to tell me not to get my hopes up! I know what you''re thinking, but it depends on the time... ''Right?¡¡And?¡¡And?¡¡What was the real story~? Yuck..... This is the one I''ll never back down from if I don''t tell you. ''''Well some people will think it''s better than Sakai, won''t they? ''Seriously?¡¡You''re too jealous of your husband to have an angelic daughter in addition to a wife who''s as beautiful as Mao and her husband! And by the looks of it, he''s younger than us. ''Isn''t that too much of a rear end!¡¡d*mn it! When I responded by comparing her to Sakai, a beautiful woman close to me, Sanya showed astonishment and jealousy. If I didn''t know anything, I would have reacted the same way as this guy. And it''s hard to see her as a married woman with a child at that young age. But Minami-san''s husband and Amana-chan''s father are already gone from this world. Since he had no intention of teaching Sanya that much, he could only let it slide with a bitter smile for now. ''''Huh.......I''m already entering my late twenties, why are we living a life without her letters and without any color.......'''' ''Stop going through the cooler side of things and suddenly falling to the bottom. While I was thinking this, Sanya, who had finished spewing out a curse on the rear end of her spell, spoke out with a hint of emptiness. It''s a good idea to have a tweak in return, but that shouldn''t make the loneliness of being single feel better. To be honest, it''s because the work is so hard that I don''t have the energy to look for a boyfriend on my days off, but... Hmm? You''re not even popular to begin with. I know that. How awkward it was for both of them to formulate, in an awkward air that was hard to describe, Sanya, who regained her composure, opened her mouth. ''''So©¤©¤and?¡¡Did you go along with the proposal?¡¡Even though Amana''s healing is gone and her energy is gone? ''''Listen ... me and Amana-chan are friends, but we''re originally a delivery man and a customer. What you say, Minami-san, is fair enough. I mean, come on... As if she has something to say, Sanya scratches her head and looks me in the eye as she replies. ''Have you confirmed what you want to do, Amana-chan yourself? ''It''s... not that I didn''t, but she''s only in the first grade and her mother said she''d do it...'' That''s true. It''s not a reliable thing for an adult to say, but it''s still a child''s word, and I''ve only met her once, so I can tell you that she can think for herself and speak her mind.¡¡But if you make a decision on your own because of what your mother says, you''ll be talking about what you became friends for. .... What Miya says is not wrong. The only reason I became friends with that girl is because Amana herself wanted that relationship. Normally, it''s a rare thing to even think about, let alone say, wanting to be friends with an adult man who is nearly 20 years older than you... I''m sorry to say it, but I trust people too much. Just like Minami-san, it''s only natural that the world would see me as having blown the whistle on that girl. Of course, I have no intention of doing anything about Amana-chan myself. Otherwise, I don''t think anyone would have said anything about wanting to be friends with that little hand, even to the point of cutting their fingers off. So.......... "...Then what should I do? I can''t help but spill such a question. ''Oh, no, that was...'' Gaining Amana''s mother''s trust. Well, I''m going to go make a delivery now. Oh... oh. By the time I noticed, Sanya had already handed me a response, and I just said it and went to work. On the other hand, I was just dumbfounded and left to my own devices for a while. I''m going to be able to gain Amana''s mother''s trust, huh.... Her trustworthiness towards me is, frankly, a negative. It''s so easy to say that it''s a positive thing to do. But if you don''t do it, it won''t change. If that happens, even Amana-chan and her friends will end up breaking their promises. This is more painful for me than being pointed back at by the world. I''ve got to go deliver the goods! I suddenly remembered that I was about to make a delivery, so I rushed out to the delivery truck. 16 16 After all, I couldnt win the healing of the little girl "f*ck!¡¡That little pig boss is a real jerk! Tuesday, a few days after I talked to Saniya about meeting Amana''s mother. While I was frustrated with the signal, which didn''t change much, I remembered that yesterday, I was informed by General Manager Hinomoto that the delivery schedule had changed. This time of year, just before the Golden Week. In other words, we''ve got another job to do. No, I know that in the industry, it''s more of a long weekend like this that''s the best time to make money, you know? But this means that the amount of work I have to do is also increasing. The darkness of the service industry is taking its toll on my mind. Furthermore, Amana-chan''s absence of a healing boost has left me in a state of mental and physical disarray. The stress has left me feeling a bit sleep-deprived, and I feel like I''m on a high. It''s what I call the late night tension. But it''s evening now. And the main source of such irritation is........ ''....I''m hungry........ I bought two rice balls at a convenience store I stopped at on the way to the airport and ate them as soon as possible, but there was no way my stomach was going to be filled with them and I didn''t even have time to get another meal. So, I''m very, very hungry. I feel as if my back and my stomach are already attached to each other. The combination of hunger and stress is making my consciousness unsteady. I''m even more nervous not to have an accident while driving, and that''s putting even more pressure on my body and mind. Well I''m doing a good job, aren''t I? This is how I arrived at Amana''s apartment building, "Everyday Smile", where she lives. Normally, I would feel refreshed in anticipation of being able to receive her healing, but I can''t do that due to the promise I made to her mother, Minami-san. That said, I understand that it''s not right to resent Minami-san. She just did what a mother should do, and for me to complain about it is just an accusation. For now, I''ll try to show her as much energy as I can so that she won''t have to worry about me. With that in mind, I press the intercom. ''''Yes!'''' "I''m sorry. I''m a sea cucumber transporter. "I''m coming, sir! ©¤ Ah, even through the speakers, Amana''s voice soothes me........ While I was feeling the happiness from my ears, the front door was slowly opened and Amana-chan greeted me from inside with a seal in hand. Today she was dressed coolly, with her bright brown hair tied back in a short ponytail and a pale yellow short-sleeved dress, as May was approaching. In other words, it''s cute. ''Hello, Onii-san!¡¡Always a very good time! Hello, Amana-chan. She greets me with a flowery smile, and I return the greeting with a superficial calmness. Aaahhhhh~ This is it. That''s right, I don''t necessarily need to receive any charity from Amana-chan. Just by seeing her adorable figure like this, I didn''t care about the d*mn boss in the blink of an eye. Well, now I''m concentrating on my work! So, do you mind putting your stamp on this? Yes! She gave me a stamp of receipt in the same energetic tone as always. I put my luggage in its usual place and turned to face Amana. I''ll see you another time then. ''What?¡¡Are you going to leave already, mister? Ugh...! As I was about to leave quickly to keep my promise to Minami-san, Amana gave me a forlorn look. I feel a tightening pain in my chest at the cuteness of it, and the fact that I let her look at me like that. To tell the truth, I don''t want to go. Of course I want to spend time with Amana. But her mother, Minami-san, told me to stay out of it, and I''ve accepted that myself. After making a promise, the next step is to violate the contract, which is a negative start at best, but it would be even more distant from trust. If that happens, the worst thing that could happen is that they will report you. Thinking that this was a bad idea, I decided to answer Amana''s question with a heartfelt response. ''I''m sorry, okay?¡¡I''ve been, well, I''ve been busy at work today... ''Oh....'' Personally, Amana let out a little gasp when I told her the #1 excuse that the child would not want to hear. And then she turns her face down........ ''''.........I''m sorry for being selfish in spite of the fact that I''m a pediatrician.......'''' He said this weakly with a slight tremble in his voice. ©¤ Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Ouch! It hurts like a knife in my heart! I was in unprecedented pain for making Amana sad. What''s bad is that she backed down so quickly, only because she''s a seriously smart and attentive girl. I could tell that he thought I was bothering him because he was a good listener. I would like to withdraw my previous statement of ''that''s not true'' right now and do my best to take care of him, but the promise to Minami-san flickers in the corner of my mind and comes to a halt. The guilt of making the little girl feel lonely because of my own cuteness stimulates me to do this. ''.........good luck with your work! Ggh...... Furthermore, Amana-chan looked up and gave me a smile that she had forced herself to make and came over to give me a pep talk. A healthy cuteness and an apologetic feeling of not being able to care about her hit me at the same time, and it was all I could do to let out a gagging sound. Still, trying to somehow move her heavy footsteps........ ©¤ ©¤ Guh~~~............ At the worst possible time, a stomach bug came complaining of hunger. Are you hungry, mister? ''No, no, this is...'' I''ll just be a minute! Oh, Amana-chan? Without listening to my reply, Amana goes to the back of the corridor as if she had come up with something. Within a minute after that, she came back..... ©¤ With a plate and a spoon with a bowl of pudding on top of it in her hand. As she was dumbfounded by the scene, Amana scooped up a bite of pudding with the spoon....... "Onii-san, is this going to make you hungry? .... With a thoughtful expression on her face, she held out the spoon with the pudding on it. ......... Ah, I see. So you''ve sensed that I''m hungry, and you''re sharing the pudding that you were in the middle of eating? That''s right, I see~. After realizing the true meaning of her actions, I covered my eyes with one hand, looked up to the heavens and then slowly. This is too precious to refuse. I broke. The balance, which had been wavering between Minami-san''s promise and Amana-chan''s healing, was easily tipped by the mere act of kindness. My reasoning was easily broken, to the point that I couldn''t help but think about the cause of my defeat in Kansai dialect. "....I''ll just take a bite. Really?¡¡Then yes!¡¡Ahhhh! Huh ¡ü¡ü! Isn''t that a little too cute! As soon as you received the courtesy, your lonely expression just a moment ago brightened up like a lie. You already have a big smile on your face. I had a vision of a flower blooming around my face that I often see in cartoons? And uh-oh! Ahhhh! I don''t think it''s an exaggeration to say that this is an angel that has landed on earth. No, that''s exactly what it is. That''s how deeply Amana-chan''s healing touches my heart. Well, I don''t have time to stay in agony forever. Amana-chan has taken the trouble to feed me her pudding herself, so let''s enjoy it to the fullest. Let''s savor it to the fullest. I took a bite of the pudding on the spoon that was offered to me and chewed it thoroughly to savor the flavor. I think it''s twice as sweet as the pudding I usually eat. ''Onii-san, is it good?'' Oh, it''s so good. I return Amana''s question with a hearty smile. My stomach isn''t small enough to be full from this, but my heart is full. Then I parted with Amana, who had regained her composure, and decided to return to work. After this, I was scolded by Minami-san. 17 17 Sermon and invitation Are you nuts? Past 9pm. When I came back to work and revealed to Sanya that Amana had given me an "ahhhh" when she saw me acting like I was still in love with her, this was her response. I feel like I''m being pulled in. ''What?¡¡It''s not. I can''t compare it to anything other than stupidity, breaking a promise I made to Amana-chan''s mother immediately! ''Well, well I certainly thought that was a bad idea for me, but...'' What Sanya says is reasonable, and I can''t talk back. It''s a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It''s a good thing that you can''t see the child''s expression of sadness, but you have to be mindful of that and not let that happen, right? ''Fair enough....shit, if my stomach didn''t growl at that moment...'' No, that could have been avoided if you''d eaten properly. Ugh..... That''s exactly what happened, and I choked up. And although it''s obvious, I''m afraid to ask Miya something. "Nah, Sanya, What the f*ck? What do you think will happen if Mr. Minami finds out about this? "Call it in. I know... I couldn''t help but swoon at the very obvious reply. This is the first time I''ve ever had such meaningless questions and answers. If I got a little girl to share her pudding with me, I wouldn''t even be laughing about losing my job after being reported.... ''''Well, it''s not like there were witnesses like before, right?¡¡Then there''s a slight chance that they won''t call the police. Yeah, you''re right!¡¡We''re not sure it''s over yet, right?! I took advantage of Sanya''s encouragement, which was too uncertain. To be honest, I''m clutching at straws. But I don''t regret it. And there''s nothing in the world better than Amana-chan''s healing. When I regained my composure.... Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri! My phone, which was in the pocket of my work clothes, started to ring. ''Hmm?¡¡Was there an absence? No, it was in the morning, but it''s done. I mean, this is my own thing. Sometimes, when I make a delivery, there is no one at home and I put a missed package in the mailbox. The purpose of this is so that I can deliver the package when the recipient comes back later. It''s a two-time job, so I''ll add a sincere wish from the first-time courier that he''d like you to stay home if possible. Anyway, while answering Sanya''s questions, I take out my phone and look at the name of the incoming call. The caller''s name is ¡¾Nan Tenri¡¿. ©¤ ©¤ Owwata........orz. Seeing me, who collapsed on the spot in shock, it seems that Sanya has also sensed the other party. Hey, guys, don''t join hands in silence. It makes you feel even more miserable. I''m sorry to say that I had it coming, but I was chiding Miya for being so rude to me while answering the call from Minami-san, even though I was very reluctant to do so. ''''Hello........'''' "Good evening, Hayakawa-san. ''Hee!¡¡Gohon........good evening, Mr. Minami. I can''t help but let out a small scream as I feel the intense pressure of a perfectly normal greeting. The complexion of Miya, who is standing next to me and listening to me, has also paled. It''s quite upsetting to hear that he can hear it too..... I''m sorry to call you suddenly. I''m sorry to call you unexpectedly, but is now a good time? Yes, yes.... My time is fine, but my mental health is not fine. I suppress the urge to say so and reply with my approval. However, even though I''m angry, your greeting is polite........ ''''It looks like you''ve had a hard day at work today too, right? ''Yeah, yeah. It''s just.... I guess so. After all, she''s got so much to offer her daughter or others. Ugh... Oh no, everything is gone. I was handed down a checkmate, and I was under the illusion that my soul had emerged from my mouth. Sannya is also looking away as if she can''t watch. I mean, how long is this guy going to be listening to me? You are well aware... When I asked my daughter about what happened between her and Mr. Hayakawa when she returned home, she told me right away. Wow, that''s what you''re known for, Amana-chan. You''re so obedient and good. It''s a far cry from this unholy adult. ''From a layman''s perspective, but no matter how busy you are, shouldn''t you at least take in a healthy meal?¡¡I don''t know how long Hayakawa-san has been in the workforce, but is she so thick-skinned that she doesn''t mind sharing her food with her daughter....or is she so thick-skinned that she doesn''t mind sharing her food with elementary school students?¡¡That''s shameful as an adult and frankly, it''s disgusting.'' Heeeeeeeee! I''m going to stick a verbal knife through your heart, messed up! It''s so sharp because what you''re saying is so right! ''By and large, I''m terribly uncomfortable and disappointed that you took lightly the terms I gave you. ''Sooooo sorry!¡¡It''s not that I forgot about it, but when I saw the sad expression on Amana''s face, I just couldn''t help but....... ''''So you remembered it, and then you were tricked? That''s disgusting. Well, of course you can''t ask for understanding with that unjustified excuse. You shut up! I''m the one who knows best! You''re just going to have to scramble badly to put words together in a desperate attempt to avoid a call! ''''Well, I didn''t tell my daughter not to get excessively involved with Hayakawa-san, so for once we''ll let it slide. What, really? The words of forgiveness that came to me suddenly and with nine deaths to spare, I asked back in my honest tone. ''''But if you ever break your promise again........please be prepared, okay?'''' Ha-hi.... After the last nail was firmly inserted, Mr. South hung up the phone. I was scared......... "Well, it''s a good thing you managed it!¡¡Mr. South''s credibility has dropped even further, though. You think you can''t... I glare at Miya, who only made a tease beside me and didn''t follow up on anything. I''m aware that it''s my own suicide, so it''s a false accusation, but still, I''m the only one asking for advice on Amana, so I wanted some help....... Even though he received the gaze of such a heartfelt gaze, Miya casually shrugged it off with an unconcerned face. "...Hey Kazu-kun. Do you have a minute? ? But suddenly a familiar voice calls out to us from behind and we all give a small shake of our shoulders. Slowly, I turned my head back to see a woman with reddish brown hair and glasses - Sakai was standing there. "It looks like you were on the phone with someone earlier, did you have something to do? ''Oh, oh. We''re done, but... So.... There''s no way she can say she was being lectured by a woman with a child, and she lets out a breath of relief when she answers Sakai''s question with a huff. I wondered how she could be so relieved, but Sakai made eye contact with me and began to announce her requirements. ''Kazu-kun. You''re off the day after tomorrow, Thursday, right? ''Oh. Right. Do you have any plans? No, not really... I see. He answered Sakai''s question without any hesitation, and when he nodded and pretended to agree with something....... ''''Then will you come with me that day to run my errands?'''' That''s what you told me. 18 18 I was expecting a little The hall with its extravagant chandeliers on the ceiling was adorned with roses to celebrate the day. It was common to see men and women of all ages dressed in formal attire such as suits and dresses, chatting rudely with each other. In particular, a crowd of people gathered around a couple of men and women sitting on the largest debris. The man and woman are dressed in the most expensive outfits in this venue, and their expressions are so bright that they can be described as being at the peak of their happiness right now. That''s right, this is a wedding venue and right now the wedding party is in the middle of the dinner. That man and woman are the bride and groom who are going to share their joys and sorrows as husband and wife from today. They look happy and very good. As I watched the protagonists from afar, I looked at Sakai, who was sitting next to me, the one who had invited them here. His straight reddish-brown hair is curled up at the tips, and coupled with his glasses, which are more cleanly polished than usual, I can see that he is a truly cool beauty, and he is very precise. Above all, the pale blue dress she''s wearing for the wedding ceremony and reception makes her look even more attractive than she usually is. When I came to the meeting place, I couldn''t help but fall in love with her because she was so beautiful. Well, that''s about it........ ''I don''t know why it''s a wedding.......'' It''s not that this is the first time, but I still feel out of place for a bachelor. I''m not sure if I''m going to be able to get away with it. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it, but it''s not very hopeful because you don''t have a partner. The reason for this is because of the busyness of the daily grind and the fatigue that comes with it, there is no room for romance, but that is the reason. It''s not a good idea to go to the wedding day after tomorrow, but it''s hard for me to go alone, so I want Kazu-kun to come too! And Sakai explained why, but of course I asked the question why me. The reply..... "The rest of my colleagues were busy with work, and I couldn''t think of anyone else I could ask to accompany me except Kazu-kun... Apparently. Incidentally, Sanya was supposed to be there at the time, but Sakai ignored him. Well, if Miya had accompanied him, he would have been trying to make friends with the woman who came to the ceremony site, and he was probably concerned about that. With that in mind, you can say that she trusts me that I won''t do anything weird, just like I did when I patted her on the head before. It''s not a bad idea to have dinner with a beautiful woman like Sakai, even if it''s just for the wedding party. It''s not a bad idea to have a dinner with a beautiful woman like Sakai and her wedding party. I''m sorry to have you come all the way out here on your precious Golden Week break. However, Sakai, perhaps having heard the murmurings earlier, made an apologetic expression and told him to apologize. "What are you talking about? I took Sakai up on his invitation, so it''s up to me to do what I want with my time off, right?¡¡Then it''s worth it to have dinner with Sakai like this. You''re acting all cool like that again... Well men like to be cool, you know. Hmm. Yeah. When I uttered a bitter embarrassment that I was indeed a bit too cool, Sakai smiled and affirmed it. I''m glad to see that it seems to distract you from your guilt a little. However, I was surprised to hear that Mr. Ito, who was even called the idol of the corporate sales department, was getting married, I''ve always known I had a partner, but watching you as a bride like this gives me a lot to think about. There''s no doubt about it. In fact, I''m past my late twenties, and I still miss the fact that I''m single and out of place. And one more thing. I think of Minami-san, who was probably married in her teens. She was married to an older man who was her tutor, and I can''t imagine how much pain she must have had to go through when she married a man who was her tutor - and it was a marriage. She lost that husband in an accident, and she has sacrificed her time to protect her only daughter, Amana, who is her blood relative. She should have been able to celebrate her certain happiness like a newlywed couple who are still happily kao.... ''Kazu-kun?¡¡What''s up with the spacing? ''What?¡¡Yeah, no. It''s just, you know, my future. I was just lost in my thoughts when Sakai called out to me and made up for it. It''s not good. I reconsider this and ask her a question to change the subject. ''Does Sakai have aspirations of getting married or something, too?'' ''What?¡¡I''m a woman, too. I do have that kind of longing, don''t I? Sakai''s brow wrinkles as if he is not expecting it to be a surprise when the question is suddenly posed to him with a thought. ''''Oh no. I didn''t mean to ask in that way, you know...'''' I''m just kidding. But it''s not enough for me to express my admiration for it, I just vaguely wondered if I would do it too. I hurriedly tell her that it was a misunderstanding, but she quickly comes over with a mischievous smile on her face. It seems she was just teasing me........ But I can kind of understand what Sakai is saying. Maybe it''s because when I imagine the highest level of happiness in my life, ''marriage'' is the first thing that comes to mind. "Sigh..... I have the same desire to get married as anyone else, but if you ask me if I can take on someone else''s life, I have a hard time answering that question. ''''That''s true. It''s not like I have someone I can trust with my life either... After saying that much, Sakai muttered a small ''Oh'' and then asked me something. ''What about you, Kazu?¡¡Is there someone you want to date, let alone marry? What?¡¡I''m not here, but.... What?¡¡So, who was calling the day before yesterday?¡¡I didn''t understand what they were talking about, but it was a woman''s voice, wasn''t it? I... I can''t help but blurt out a question that seems to get to the heart of the matter in a way. Oh, geez, I''m glad I didn''t put anything in my mouth.... Because the person on the other end of the phone is the same Minami-san who had just popped into my head. It''s still better that Amana-chan didn''t come to mind. I''ll try. I realized that Sakai was giving me a teasing look and said, ''Oh, this is the kind of person who will pursue you until you answer me,'' so I decided to answer her with an air of composure, though it might be too late. I''m just an acquaintance from the delivery site. That''s it? That''s it. Sakai asks back as if he were quizzical, to which I responded quite calmly. In reality, though, he''s seen as the enemy in many ways because of his daughter (Amana-chan) relationship. I''ve been with my kids for a long time. That''s quite a misnomer, isn''t it...? Once again, I shudder as I''m reminded of how much of a socially dangerous tightrope I''m walking. Yeah, I regain my composure now that I''m eating. Besides, it''s not good that Sakai keeps teasing me. This time I''ll ask him back. "What about Sakai like that? ''What?¡¡Me! As soon as I asked the question, Sakai was visibly upset. I was already satisfied with the fact that I was able to return their intentions, and when I tried to open my mouth to say that I didn''t need to answer right away.... ".........I........ Marriage I don''t know if it''s going to go all the way to.......but there''s someone I''m interested in....... Huh? With a meaningful and hopeful look in his eyes, Sakai answered my question with that. 19 19 Japanese and Mao It was around six months after I started working at Umineko Transport that I began to recognize Sakai Mao as a person. At that time, Miya, who had become a colleague and a good friend of mine, told me a story. He said, "Hey, hey, Wa. Did you know that there is a really cute girl in the corporate sales section? I don''t know. I''m more interested in studying for this exam now. At that time, Sanya and I didn''t have our driver''s license yet, and we were in the middle of studying for our driver''s license after joining the company, with the help of the company, during our breaks at work. The problem is basically two choices, so it''s not impossible to get lucky at worst, but if you don''t read the questions carefully, it''s easy to trip over a trick question. I''m trying my best to remember the traffic rules and etiquette to avoid even one of them... ''Ehhh~?¡¡You could come with me for a bit of a break, you know? ''Shut up. That''s why you haven''t passed your final exams yet. Ggh..... So, unlike me, who is getting ready to take the main test at the license center, Miya has not yet been able to pass the graduation test at the driving school. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for when you''re in the marketplace. "......... .... I hear she''s a very cool beauty. Hey. A silent silence envelops the surroundings for a while, and then Sanya, who has quickly run out of concentration, speaks to me again. I tsked at the limit of how fast it was too fast, but he continued as if he hadn''t heard me. The older man who was in charge of educating her was going to tell her about it, but he couldn''t help it. And then, to my surprise, I found out that she didn''t have a boyfriend. Hmm. In contrast to Miya, who shows some kind of expectation, I return with a bitterly cold heart. To be honest, since I''ve had my hands full with all the things I''ve had to learn since I started working, I can''t pay that much attention to other people''s love affairs. It''s just so disgusting that you guys don''t have time for this. Well, I may look like I have more time on my hands than you. The reason is that I''ve never had a chance to get involved in a relationship, so I don''t really understand the fun of it. But since the end of the break is approaching, we cut off our studies and walk back to our posts. ''''T?'''' "Yikes! But the moment we came to a bend in the corridor, the person who had bumped into me fell down. I knew it was a woman from the pitch of her scream, which I could hear for a moment, but it was sudden and my physical ability is not flattering enough to hold her back on the spur of the moment. The other person who fell on his or her buttocks was scattering papers that he or she must have been carrying in his or her arms around. It''s not just a matter of time before you''re able to get your hands on some of these documents. There are many personal information, but as a future courier, I''m determined to maintain the confidentiality of the information. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a good reason to hand over the documents you''ve finished picking up to the woman. Hmm. I''m sorry I didn''t look at it properly. No.... I told him I was sorry, but the other party didn''t seem to be particularly angry either, so I said goodbye without leaving any regrets... ''''Ah!'''' It was not the case. It''s because the moment Sanya, who was behind him, saw the woman, he suddenly started screaming out loud. I turned my face back and stared at her, wondering what it was, and for some reason she had a happy expression on her face. ''It''s this girl, Wa!¡¡Look, that cute girl from the corporate sales department I mentioned earlier! Huh? Speak of the devil, and you''ll get what you deserve, eh? I looked at the woman again, wondering how such a coincidence could happen. The word "captivating" is a word that I experienced firsthand at this time. The reddish-brown bob cut was so well-kept that it was shiny under the light, and the dignified eyes behind the glasses were certainly beautiful. I see, I miss the idea that she''s the embodiment of the term "cool beauty". This was the first time Sakai and I met. ~~~~~~~~ Since then, Sakai misremembered my name below and there were rumors that we were going out as an example, but I thought I had gotten to know her in my own way. But I didn''t think there was someone else I was interested in.... Spring has finally come for Sakai-san... Hey. That''s not only unclely, it''s annoying. Oh, I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I felt like it was going to be a weird atmosphere, so I tried to ease it up by playing a little prank and I got angry. Yeah, definitely not the one I did earlier. I reflect on that as I receive the jit eye directed at me from Sakai. ''But you really took me by surprise, didn''t you?¡¡I''m sure the guy who''s going after Sakai will be in a big hurry to find out. ''Oh, come on. From my point of view, it''s just annoying to hear a confession from someone you have no more to do with than work... The fact that he responds in a disciplined manner every time he says something is typical of Sakai. Because if you turn them down in a strange way, it will affect the cooperation between the employees. That too. It''s the most frightening part of the entanglement of love affairs. I''m sure these words are filled with a sense of realism because Sakai is a beautiful woman, unlike me, and she is fed up with it. You''re going to be able to find out what you''re looking for. I''m not going to be able to get it right. I won''t tell you. ........ As for the important person, it seems that he or she was unable to know about the person he or she was rejecting without a word. It''s not that I was planning to imitate telling off anything, but I guess the reason is to hide the embarrassment of wanting to keep the person I love hidden. You can''t say anything because you don''t understand that feeling. ''''Kazu-kun.......even more so, I can''t say it to you.......'''' ''What?¡¡Why can''t it be me? When I asked the truth of the small muttered words, Sakai huffed and then blushed for some reason. ''''Ah, nah, why not!¡¡Anyway, that''s the end of this story! Oh. Yeah. His rage made me tell him not to pursue it any further. I''m not sure if it''s a bad idea with me, but I don''t want to step in and make her hate me too much. So let''s do as I was told and end this topic here. After the dinner, the wedding went on without a hitch, and the final bouquet toss was a great success, ending the day spent with Sakai. 20 20 Hidden feelings Huh......... I went home and had a quick drink and then dove into bed with all my might from my back, letting out a sloppy breath as I thought back to the conversation I had with Kazu at the wedding party dinner. Even after answering his question, we broke up awkwardly, unable to continue the conversation in any way. ''''........As expected, did he notice?¡¡Ughhhhhhh! I was writhing around on the bed, unable to keep my composure with a complicated mix of anticipation and anxiety. This is something I''ve only told some of my colleagues in the corporate sales department, but I - Sakai Mao - like Hayakawa Kazu. I like him enough to be able to clearly say that he''s a love interest. I met him about half a year after I joined the company. But in my mind, he was just one of many men. That all changed when I was serving my boss some sake at a year-end party in my first year with the company. I was drinking sake with my boss at a year-end party in my first year with the company, and he was persistently asking me for my contact information. It''s not a matter of self-conceit, but I''m a good-looking man, and I''m popular because of my good looks, so I often get the attention of my boss. I usually ducked by coldly shunning them, but the person I was dealing with was my boss at work and I couldn''t say no because I was afraid of the repercussions if I refused. When I was at a loss as to what to do, Kazu helped me out by distracting my boss''s interest in me, as if he was used to it. From that point on, I knew he was just one of several peers, but as I began to talk to him more often, I realized that unlike the other s*xes, especially Miya, Kazu was not so stubborn, and therefore very comfortable. As a courier, it''s hard to find time to spend with him, but the fact is that the little time we do have is what motivates me the most. Eventually we became friends and he told me that I could call him by his first name instead of his surname, which turned out to be "Yamato" instead of "Kazu", but I kept calling him that, and then, to my surprise, a rumor came out that he might be dating me! I couldn''t help but feel my heart racing and my cheeks loosening at that, which I had assured myself would not normally be funny. It was painful and heartbreaking to deny to those around me who were making so much noise that it wasn''t that kind of relationship. Then Kazu asked me, ''Do you want to go out with me like they say? What a joke he told me, and I realized that I liked him. But then I stared at him as quickly as I could because of my confusion about my feelings, and Kazu pulled back and the rumor never became true. I don''t need to tell you that I was tortured with regret, wondering how I could have missed out on such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After that, it was hard to approach him, and I was so frustrated that I didn''t know what to do, when the unexpected happened. "I want you to stroke my head again.......... It was only about two weeks ago. I was resting in the break room, and I was so tired I dozed off and Kazu patted me on the head. He put his big hands on my head! At first I thought he was s*xually harassing someone, but he was too happy to know that Kazu-kun was the other person and struggled to keep his composure. According to him, ''I used to stroke my sister''s head a lot,'' but I think that familiar hand is the proof that he was quite spoiling her. Well, I was embarrassed to ask him to stroke me, so I haven''t been able to stroke him since then. But.......... "The person on the phone........I didn''t know what kind of person he was after all....... When I tried to get up the courage to invite my junior, Yuki, to her wedding, Kazu-kun was on the phone with a woman I didn''t know. I didn''t understand what they were talking about, but the voice I heard was completely that of a woman. I was strangely unsettled and couldn''t seem to calm down. Because lately, Kazu-kun has been doing extremely well. This is especially noticeable on the days when he finished his Tuesday and Friday deliveries, despite the fact that he was assigned to the delivery category that his senior colleague, who retired at the beginning of this month, was in charge of. While I was relieved that I had found some good way to relieve stress, I was also concerned that I had found someone I liked. It wasn''t so much getting rid of stress as it was being healed by someone else...or something of that sort. But I didn''t have much energy before I left for a delivery the day before yesterday, Tuesday. Anyway, I''m sure he''s in good shape after getting to know the person on the other end of the phone. It''s natural to wonder what kind of receptiveness and girl power he has to be able to cheer Kazu-kun up so much. So I took the opportunity of the wedding party dinner and stepped in.......but the result wasn''t that different than before I asked. I don''t know why I was shuddering, but it doesn''t seem to be such a deep relationship. Maybe Miya-kun knows something about it. But you''re so perceptive that your feelings for Kazu-kun are likely to be exposed, and I wouldn''t want to get involved if I could....... I''m aware that I can''t say such things at this point in time. But I''m sure he''ll make fun of me for being a Miya-kun, so I''m sure he''ll make fun of me. And so, in the end, we''re back to square one. ''''Ahhhh~~! Then I remember the marriage story I had with him and the answer I gave to his question. Just because I wanted Kazu-kun to be a little bit aware of me, that''s not a good way to answer a question like that! I can''t even have a conversation with him because of that, and I''m really just amazed at how stupid I am. I didn''t know what kind of cao I should talk to Kazu-kun about tomorrow, and all I could do was hold my head in my hands. What he thinks and how he feels about me is a damsel-in-distress thing that I''m too old to think about, but right now I''m filled with a feeling that I don''t want to know. Nevertheless, my love for Kazu is unwavering. It''s a good idea to be able to heal Kazu-kun like that person on the phone.... It''s very impossible for me to be honest and stiff even in front of someone I love. Even though I know it''s impossible, I still have a high desire to be that kind of person to him. To be honest, I''m jealous of the person on the phone. I''m going to self-medicate by saying that I may have had too much to drink by running my mouth about my strange desires. I''ll think about what I''m going to do in the future, but let''s just get to bed today. It doesn''t take long before you decide to do so and fall asleep. I wondered if I would be able to see Kazu in my dreams. 21 21 Rewarding like Santa Claus It''s Friday, the day after the wedding where Sakai and I awkwardly part ways. It may be Golden Week, but we are always working. I didn''t expect Sakai to have someone else in mind. It must have been a very embarrassing coming out of the closet to make her face so red. She didn''t tell me who it was after all, but the guy who has that much of a crush on her is a lucky guy. With that in mind, I left the convenience store with my purchased lunch in hand. I bought three rice balls and a cup of tea. Don''t think the lineup was shabby. There is no such thing as a lunch break for a delivery person in the delivery business. Thus, the mainstream is the one that can eat with one hand while driving. Because it''s easier and more efficient! I''ve increased the amount this time so that I don''t growl in front of Amana. This should be fine. ''''Hmm...? As I''m walking to the delivery truck parked in the convenience store parking lot, I see a familiar rear view. Because of the curiosity of not expecting to meet here, I call out to the person. "Hello©¤©¤Mr. Minami. ''¡¡...Hello. The one who responded to my greeting with a slight shake of her shoulder was Amana''s mother, Minami-san. She''s wearing a suit as she goes to work. The first time I saw her in person was when we met for the first time and at a coffee shop after my shift, but I recognized her right away with her beautiful, shiny, dark brown hair, which was striking. And I still think she''s beautiful. In fact, guys passing by the convenience store were glancing at her with sideways glances. But she''s married with a child. But she returned my greeting without any wariness. I wondered for a moment why, but my doubts were soon put to rest. At any rate, it''s because my first impression of him was ''a strange adult male who is friends with my daughter'', which in a way is a bad start, and yet he broke the promise he made to himself a few days later. This makes me sound like a helpless scum, but I''m not trying to do anything out of spite. It''s not surprising that a person with a remarkably low level of trust from Minami-san would say hello to you just because you passed him on the side of the road, and it certainly wouldn''t be surprising if you were alarmed. I''d like to be friends with Amana-chan''s mother, but that''s hard to do when she''s seen as an enemy. She''s still staring at me like that. I can tell that she hates me so much. I''m not going to be able to say that it''s a good idea, but it''s not a bad idea. I can''t help but wonder how you knew it was me just from my back, but yeah, I suppose. Eh.........isn''t this a suspicious situation to call out to, itself? Do you think I''m a stalker? I mean, we really met by coincidence... I don''t even know Minami-san''s workplace, let alone her job title... Okay. When I appealed to her for lack of malice, Minami-san sighed dismissively and then let down her guard for the time being. Yes, I know it''s pathetic, so..... "So, what do you want? ''What?¡¡I just saw someone I knew, so I said hello, not really... .......... When I answered frankly without thinking too much about it, Minami''s gaze became even stronger. I can''t stay like a needle stuck in me........ ''''I''m.......sorry.'''' ''Please don''t speak to me in the first place, rather than apologize. Yes, sir. You''re right. Me, I keep apologizing to Mr. South. I might have to add ''I''m going to get my ass kicked'' to the predictions for the future of my marriage that Sakai and I talked about yesterday. I don''t know who the other guy is. Well, this is not the time to be thinking about that kind of nonsense. ''Besides, I warned you the other day to keep a close eye on your diet, what''s with that lonely meal? Ugh. Shh, you can''t help it!¡¡This is what delivery companies are for! ''That said, couldn''t the lineup have been a little more nutritionally conscious?¡¡Onigiri tastes like sea chicken, kelp and plum... there are no vegetables. Guggi... I can''t say anything back. So, but it''s good sea chicken mayo! What about you, Minami-san...? ''It''s a blatant distraction. Well, I make lunches, but the reason I came to the convenience store is to buy a drink. Ah, yes. I''m completely defeated. If you think about it, since I have a child, I should have been able to take care of my nutrition. Even if it''s a sour grapes, it''s the most pathetic gaffe on record. ''''Don''t you cook for yourself, Hayakawa-san? I''ve been so busy, I haven''t grown at all from a food source. Well it''s not for me to interfere as an outsider, but wouldn''t it be better for you to consider a career change? Mr. Minami gave me a look of pity. Apparently, not being able to even cook for oneself is pretty bad, even if you look at it objectively. However.......... It''s not that I didn''t think about it, but that doesn''t mean it''s not worthwhile. Challenging? When Amana-chan said to me, ''Thank you for your hard work,'' I felt like I understood how Santa Claus felt, and it really encouraged me to work. It makes me happy to be thanked and appreciated for everything. At least, that''s what I think. The deliveries are heavy and the long hours of driving are rare, but they''re not supposed to be in vain. If you call it complacency or hypocrisy, that''s all right, but it''s much easier and friendlier than looking at it from such a perceptive point of view. Hearing my words, Minami-san stared at me closely and then let out a breath..... ''Are you really going to keep your promise to me?'' I do. And if it''s a business relationship, it''s not unusual for someone to thank me for delivering something. M..... Oh, Mr. South choked on his words. I feel like I have to do that for a bit. ''''©¤©¤Hayakawa-san is........'''' Hmm? You don''t think of me as a jerk, do you? What? He tilted his head at the question, wondering what it meant. ''Why should I think that?'' What? When I spoke my honest thoughts, Ms. Minami responded with a stunned response. It''s just a matter of doing what is natural for Amana-chan''s mother to do, so it''s out of line for us to feel bad for her, isn''t it? In fact, it''s me who is thought of as such. It''s true that I can''t receive Amana''s healing because of my promise to Minami-san, but that''s because I''m an outsider and I''ve made her uncomfortable. And yet, to feel estranged from her is just a scrappy idea that can''t be resented. ''''........'''' I wonder if she realized that my thoughts were realized by what I just said, and Minami-san was stunned as if she had missed her guess. The moment I was about to call out to her to see if she didn''t need to return to the company soon....... ''''Huh~?¡¡Isn''t that Minami-senpai~? I wonder if she''s meeting a guy during her lunch break? I... A sarcastic sound of sarcastic voices mixed with contemptuous mockery jumped in from the side. 22 22 It seems that no company will change Two flirtatious-looking office workers interrupted Minami-san''s conversation with me from the side. One had blonde hair and the other had brown hair. From the fact that they called Ms. Minami their senior, they must be juniors in the company she worked for. However, their blatant attitude showed no respect for her. To those girls, Minami-san gave them her usual cold, indifferent look. Mr. Yamaki, Mr. Tsunemori, he was just an acquaintance. He''s just an acquaintance and we just happened to meet each other. Please don''t bother him with such mischievous words as ''meeting up with me''. "Pfft. Why are you being so serious?¡¡It''s a joke, of course~ Besides, you and Mr. South don''t really fit together. Hey, I''ve got a heart that will get hurt if you say it out loud, no matter how true it is. But he''s got such a bad character that it''s hard to believe he''s Minami-san''s junior. Do they have a grudge against him? ''Excuse me. These girls are junior colleagues at work, but they don''t seem to like me for some reason... ''I know that when I see it, but why are you coming at me like this?'' I inwardly ask Minami-san, who is whispering in my ear next to me with a heartbeat. I''m told to read the air, but it smells so good........ No, no, no, calm down........Minami-san is Amana-chan''s mother, don''t be aware of it, I.......! I listen to the story while dispelling the evil thoughts that suddenly fell and boiled over. ''''I''m often invited to dinner by a man who is a colleague at work, but as you know, I can''t devote that kind of time to Tenna. So I always decline them, but........ Oh, I see. It''s just a little playfulness on the part of the women to say that they''re on the hook for turning down the advances of someone they were interested in. Yes.... I''ve heard that Sakai was caught in the middle of such a mishap, and it seems to be the same regardless of the type of job. ''''And I still get a lot of invitations from that person... why is she so obsessed with having a child like me? What? Don''t you realize what you look like, Mr. Minami? If you pass her on the street, ten out of ten people will turn to you, even though she''s so beautiful! Maybe it''s that kind of unconsciousness that''s making him even more unhappy.... It seems that the reason why people disliked him is because he was unaware of it. ''''If you''re aiming for Minami-san, you''d better not do that~? Because he''s married with children and divorced. What...? I couldn''t believe my ears when she laughed and told me her words were so joking that I couldn''t believe my ears. I''ve been told about Minami-san''s situation, but there is no element of ridicule in it. In fact, even though she''s younger than me, she''s doing better than me as a person. And most importantly, their words seem to deny the existence of Amana-chan, and it''s not something that can be overlooked. I''d like to try my hand at it right now, but I''m afraid there''s no point in me speaking out when the keynote speaker is silently enduring the situation, so I stop myself and stand my ground. The two juniors still have a cold look on their faces. He is free to decide what Hayakawa-san thinks of me. You don''t have the right to tell him what to do about it. (Ugh...) But it''s true, isn''t it? ''Yes. I love my late husband, and I have no intention of spending any time in a new relationship for my daughter''s sake. The two juniors are still acting like fools, but Mr. Minami is as calm as a gentle breeze. She''s been involved in this kind of confrontation so many times in the past that it even makes you feel a kind of familiarity with her. Is the reason why she has no room to spare for Amana''s sake is also to avoid unpleasant interference from others? It''s a thankless meddling nuisance, or perhaps, from Minami''s point of view, she can''t even imagine how many enemies she has in the world. As I was marveling at her hardship at such a glimpse, I heard her say in my ear. ''''I don''t understand how she could raise a child born out of a marriage and...'''' I don''t expect him to understand. I''m not surprised. What, Hayakawa-san...? I found myself interrupting Minami-san''s words to argue with her. The two juniors, of course, and Ms. Minami seemed surprised by the suddenness of the situation. But I can''t afford to be concerned about that right now. ''''How can you strangers understand what this person decided to have a child, what kind of feelings she had, how she''s enduring the pain of not having a husband and doing her best for her daughter, something only she can understand? I... I don''t know if there is any chance of a man...and I''m not even sure if I''d have a chance to be a bachelor, but Ms. Minami has never given up on her husband even after he passed away and continues to work hard at raising her children. In that sense, I would say that she is a straightforward human being. At the very least, she''s better than someone who looks down on others in front of her and basks in a shallow sense of superiority. ''''Huh!¡¡You''re trying to act cool in front of Mr. Minami?¡¡Isn''t that kind of lame? No?¡¡I simply don''t like you guys. Gross. I don''t care what you think about it. I don''t give a shit what they think of me. I brush aside the words of the two people who come at me in opposition to what I have to say. It doesn''t matter what they say about me here and now. I''m just pissed off at their words, and I''m not thinking of breaking them down or anything. But there''s no way I wouldn''t think anything of it, no matter how familiar South-san is with it. I''ve dated the man I love, married him, and nurtured his life. It can''t be hard to be exposed to the insensitivity of someone who uses your insensitivity as an outlet for his or her frustrations, without considering the amount of pain you went through during that time. And the person you''re dealing with is a junior colleague at work. You can''t make the relationship even worse than it already is by lobbing out the frustrations that have piled up in your mind. So I''m going to take my frustrations out on him. "You don''t have time to be jealous of other people''s happiness, go find your own happiness. Oh, for crying out loud!¡¡That''s enough! Enemies of women! When I gave them the best of my ability a ridiculous look and said it, the two of them uttered some defeated words before slinking away. ''''Huh ... it felt good to say what I wanted to say! .... Mr. South? ''¡¡What is it, sir? To be honest, it''s a lot less stressful. It''s not so bad to complain once in a while. Thinking that, I called out to Minami-san and she seemed dumbfounded, shaking her shoulders and replying with a bit of dismay. ''''No, I was just going to say that I''m going to go deliver soon...'''' ''''Oh, well I''m sorry for getting you involved in my affairs. ''''Haha, she doesn''t care about that. If I denied Minami-san''s efforts, it just sounded like I was denying Amana-chan, so I just got into it on my own. You''re not... no, you''re not anything. Okay. Bye. She wanted to say something, but I was seriously pressed for time, so I left Minami and got into the delivery truck. I ate the onigiri I bought on the way, but then again, she was right, I should probably pay a little more attention to nutrition. 23 23 Reason for loneliness After I left Mr. Minami, I found myself driving my delivery truck in all directions to make deliveries, and the time was past four in the afternoon. Let''s be honest. Work is pushing me crazy. I should have just bought a quick lunch to begin with. Aside from the fact that I met with Minami-san, I wasted my time getting rid of a pissed off junior colleague. You know, the kind of thing that can lightly register in the black history books, like being busy later while trying to be cool like that! Hmmm........although I''m going to visit Amana-chan now, I really don''t have time to talk to her today because I really don''t have time to talk to her. However, there''s a little bit of room to spare when you deliver food to the South family - so don''t even think about it, you idiot! Many times the evil feelings come sideways, but each time I shake my head and desperately endure them. Anyway, let''s just get the delivery done. I calmed myself down and parked the delivery truck in the parking lot of the Avery Smile apartment building. I got out of the car and was about to pick up the packages in the back when a familiar high-pitched, energetic voice comes into my ears. ''Ah, onii-san! Really! Hi there... The three voices are Amana''s friends, Hasumi, Tomoyuri, and Kana-chan. Since they didn''t have their school bags on their backs, they were probably on their way back from playing at Amana-chan''s house during the Golden Week holidays. Hello," she said, "I just played with Amana earlier. Were you playing with Amana earlier? Boo!¡¡I wasn''t just playing around! We were talking about tomorrow''s ''Juggernaut''! Well, I''m going to draw a picture, and then I''m going to present it to my parents... Oh, I didn''t know you have a class visit. I thought it was difficult to come during the Golden Week, but it makes sense that it''s the easiest time to come, in a way. It''s not easy when you have a work schedule like I do as a delivery person, though. But, well..... I''ve never had my parents come to a class visit, so I''m jealous of them all. ""What...?" As soon as I casually said that, the three of them came staring at me with a shocked expression on their faces. Oops, I must have given them a misunderstanding. I realized I didn''t say enough, so I hurriedly added, "It''s okay, it''s okay, I didn''t imagine that. ''It''s okay, it''s okay, it''s not like I imagined it would be. My parents didn''t come because they were simply too busy with work. When I told them that, the three of them let out a breath of relief. I guess I let them get the wrong idea after all. ''''Good, good........'''' We were afraid we were going to say something stupid. You scared the shit out of me, man. Bad, bad. I don''t think I''m exaggerating, but I realize that the more I take them seriously, the more kind-hearted they are. The fact that they''re friends of Amana-chan''s makes me feel very warm and fuzzy. By the way, I didn''t mind it so much, but my sister was very unhappy with it, because she was in a period when she wanted to be pampered. Nowadays, her words and actions are very strong, but at heart she is still a lonely person.... When they were thinking back to the days when they were brother and sister, the three of them said a question to each other: ''Come to think of it,'' they said. "We''ve never seen our mom at home. Me too. Your mother wasn''t the only one who didn''t show up for the day''s recreational activities, either. I''ve never seen a kana... I couldn''t believe my ears at the conversation between Hasumi and Tomoyuri. What do you mean? Does this mean that Ms. South, who is supposed to be that daughter first, isn''t coming to a valuable family event? I couldn''t believe how hard she was working for Amana, even in our short relationship, just because I knew how hard she was working for her. I don''t know what type of job she has, but she seems to be finishing work about as close to the time I first met her, so there''s no way she''s not working weekends off. ''I see...'' But, Amana-chan, you looked so lonely... Huh! I know my mommy is working hard on the job for you. It''s a bit sad, but I don''t want to make Mommy suffer, so I''ve decided to be patient. Hearing Kana-chan''s words, the thoughts that Amana-chan had mentioned unexpectedly came to mind. She really is so healthy that it''s hard to believe she''s a first grader. With that recognition reaffirmed, I left the three of them. I took my bags of food and headed to room 184 and pressed the intercom. ''''Yes!'''' Umineko Transport. We''ve got a package for you. "I''m coming, sir! There was a light sound and soon after, Amana responded cheerfully. Then the front door opened and we met up for the first time in three days. I was relieved to see that she wore her hair up in a two-sided updo today, and every hairstyle she had was cute and looked good on her. ''I''m always a very good sport! Okay, so here''s the seal. Yes! After the usual exchange, Amana looks at me expectantly with something in her eyes. She''s cute. But......... ''Sorry, I''m busy today, I have to go right away. ''Oh I''m sorry...'' Ugh! My heart hurts with guilt! But I''m sorry, but I''m seriously out of time today. I don''t have any but I do have one question. That''s all I need to know. "Amana-chan. Hasumi-chan and the others told me that you have a class visit tomorrow, right? ''Oh, yes!¡¡Mommy only has to do her work on the last day of school, but the three days of the school year are after lunch, so I''ll be able to do it! "!¡¡I see. Well, good for you then. He answered my questions with a carefree smile. Apparently, my fears were unfounded. I caught a glimpse of Ms. Minami''s determination to attend her daughter''s class. I''ll see you another time then. Yeah, I''ll see you later! Reassured by this, I parted with Amana-chan, wishing her good luck for tomorrow. Although I was extremely reluctant to do so, I couldn''t go back on my promise twice, so I made a desperate decision to return to the delivery truck. I hope that the father and son''s first class visit will go well. Little did I know that this wish would later come true in a way I didn''t expect. 24 24 It is important to say thank you! I''m home. ''Oh!¡¡Momma! Just before 5pm. As I come home, I hear my daughter''s bright voice from the living room. Not long after, Tenna came to hug me while shaking the braid I tied this morning, so I hug her back too. Huh~........it''s soothing....... Tenna is really an amazing child to heal my tired heart just by doing this. I want to cuddle with her all the time, but that doesn''t mean I can''t make dinner. So I endure a sense of regret and release my embrace with Tenna. Mama, what is Kyou''s dinner? It''s omelet rice today. Really? Yes, really. Wow! Ah, cute........ Tenna eats without being picky, so she basically likes good food. She was very happy to know that she could eat an omelette. Before making the food, I take the ingredients out of the styrofoam box on the front porch and put them in the refrigerator. ''Tenna. Did you talk to Hayakawa-san today? Mmm-hmm. You said you needed to do some work, so I didn''t get to talk to you very much... Kuhn! Looking at Tenna, who was shunned and depressed, I felt my heart tighten. For some reason, my daughter misses Hayakawa-san who delivers this foodstuff to her. They say that they are friends, but........no matter how much Tenna says, it''s hard to trust her. But..... What kind of feelings she had when she decided to give birth to a child, how she endured the pain of not having a husband and did her best for her daughter, only you strangers can understand these things that only you can understand. Until now, most of the men who have approached me have been those who seem to have an obvious ulterior motive, and the only ones who don''t have one are the ones who back off as soon as they find out I have a child, or those who plan to deepen their relationship through a child. I''m not going to spend time on a new relationship for Tenna''s sake, so I turned them down in all cases. From such experience and measurements, I assumed that Mr. Hayakawa would be the same. In order to protect myself with Tenna, I revealed that person to her and made a promise not to interfere in her affairs. ''''You don''t think of me as a marginalized person?'''' ''What?¡¡Why should I think that?'' He showed the depth of his ability to not complain about anything, but rather accept that it''s normal. Of course, I can think of the possibility that it could be an act. In fact, he once broke his promise to me and was given a pudding by Tenna! I felt like I was going to have to deal with my head in jealousy, but I managed to restrain myself and just nail him. Rather, I wondered if I should have reported him, but from what I heard, Tenna had done it herself, so I also wondered if I should let that ruin Hayakawa-san''s life. Well, that didn''t seem to be the case with today''s delivery. ''Tenna'' Wha...? After dinner. When I call out to her, Tenna stops painting and turns to me. ''I met Hayakawa-san outside today. ''What?¡¡Mom, are you talking to your brother?¡¡It''s not fair! What do you mean it''s not fair and when I say I talk to you it''s just small talk. It''s as if she''s accused of missing out, and she hurriedly corrects him, but her cheeks are still puffed up. It seems that Tenna is not happy with her promise not to interfere with Mr. Hayakawa''s work, isn''t it? It is very rare for her to express her dissatisfaction like this. It may not be an exaggeration to say that this is the first time. If it weren''t for that, of all things, Hayakawa-san, I would be able to take it in stride.... ''''Mom!'''' Hmm? I turned my head as she called out to me unexpectedly, and Tenna sat on my lap and gave me a cute and crisp look.... You''ll listen to your story with Amana Onii-san, won''t you? Yeah, I''ll need to know as much as I can. So, tell me what your mother told you about your brother. What...? What is she saying? No, I know what it is and why. It would be unfair for me not to tell you the details of my conversation with Mr. Hayakawa. But I couldn''t understand why she told me this now. Did Hayakawa-san say something to you by any chance? That thought comes to mind for a moment, but I quickly conclude that there''s no line between the two, because if that''s the case, he would have been honest with me. For starters, I think he''s going to hate me if I don''t tell him. I wanted to avoid that much to hell, so I revealed the conversation I had when I met with Hayakawa-san during the day. Naturally, though, I''ll leave out the bad words Yamaki-san and Tsunemori-san were running around talking about. It''s bad for my daughter''s education. And so, when I finished the whole conversation, Tenna was smiling in a good mood for some reason. ''''Mom, Onii-san saved me! ''Yeah, yeah. That''s generally speaking. Especially when he said, "If you don''t have time to be jealous of other people''s happiness, go find your own happiness," it was honestly what I had been thinking, and it seemed to clear the blackness in my heart. Mr. Hayakawa said that he only said what he wanted to say, but that was almost exactly the same as my true feelings. I can say that I was so happy that my mouth relaxed after we parted. ''Well, then, you''ll have to talk to your brother again, won''t you? ''What?¡¡Why? ''What?¡¡Mom, I always say that, don''t I? When I don''t understand the true meaning of Tenna, who speaks as if it were natural, and tilts her head, my daughter gets off her knees and faces me again before opening her mouth. "When you get saved, you say ''Thank you'', Ore! ''Oh....'' At that moment, my mind was not occupied with Tenna''s cuteness, but with the shock of realizing the fact that I had failed to thank Hayakawa-san. If I''m not practicing what I taught my child, then I''m not an unfit mother.......! After being shocked and devastated by this fact, I rush to take out my phone and try to make a phone call, but that''s when my movements stop. As Mr. Hayakawa is a delivery man, his closing hours are erratic. It''s just before 8:00 p.m....not a good time to call him, but it''s not a good time to do so. ''Mom?'' ''''Well, yes. I''ll have to make sure to tell you the next time I see you. I''ll tell you what you need to know. ''Thanks. But this is my mom''s decision to say it herself, so Amana is fine as usual. Yeah, okay. I don''t feel comfortable telling my child''s handlers. I have to get it right before I say it in front of my daughter. I don''t know when that will be, but as a mother, I have to be able to be a good example to my children. I secretly made up my mind that I would be able to be a good example to my children. 25 25 Its like a death sentence Hmmm........class attendance. Yeah, I hope it''s a good memory for you, if you can help it. I returned to the head office a little after 10 p.m. and told Miya that Amana had a class visit at her school. All I can do is wish them luck. When Miya heard that thought, she looked at me with distant eyes and said something to me. The first time I attended a class, the teacher guessed at me, and as a result of my nervousness I freaked out and shat my pants... ''Why did you just bring that up?¡¡It''s going to be kind of ominous, so don''t do it! And a big one. In the meantime, I''m just going to use it as a nickname... Stop it. Any more and it makes me sad too... After being told of the black history I want to bury, I rub Sanya''s back. I mean, that thing was you......... I remembered what had been rumored at the time, but we were actually in the same elementary school. The world is surprisingly small, isn''t it..... "Huh. I''m sure Amana and I will be able to do it. I''m more concerned about something else........ When he regained his composure, Sanya came over with a slightly annoyed grin on his face. When I prompted him to continue with my gaze, he deliberately cleared his throat and asked, "What is it? ''''You went out with Mao the day before yesterday, right?¡¡How did it go? ''Ohhhh...'' Come to think of it, this guy was up close and personal at that time. He may have read the air right away and quietly walked away, but when a woman invites you to join her, it''s understandable that you''re curious. "Wasn''t there an Ido-san from the corporate sales department?¡¡He asked me to be in that man''s wedding with him. ''What?¡¡Yuuki got married?¡¡Who are you dealing with, huh? Sanya reacts with astonishment and jealousy. Apparently, he was secretly aiming for Mr. Ito, but unfortunately, he left the company on his birthday. ''''It seems she''s an employee of one of our clients. They met each other when they responded to a problem or something. ''Keh. The rear..... Cora, I''m not jealous of people''s happiness. I''m not saying you shouldn''t be jealous, because it reminds me of two of Mr. South''s juniors I met at lunchtime, but at least don''t show it to my face. ''Well, what''s past is fine. Dada, is there any progress with Maou? ''What''s with that tone........ It''s nothing special. What? When I returned to Sanya''s question asked again without wrapping my mind around it, she looked at me like I was disappointed for some reason. I don''t know why, but I''m pissed off. ''''Mao-chan, I thought you had a thing for harmony~'''' Sakai?¡¡No, they didn''t. I''m sure the rumors didn''t take long to sink in.¡¡He said he''d rather be bothered. Otherwise, you''d have said yes to the joke about whether you''d really want to go out with him. The moment you get stared at, you have no pulse. But you know, you''re so pretty, but I never heard you have a boyfriend. She''s tough on me, but she''s nice to you.¡¡That''s why I thought there must be a pulse. Really?¡¡As usual. I think the reason Sakai is hitting you so hard is because you''re sloppy. That said, it''s honestly a sleeper for me. I''ve never been popular in my life, and a girlfriend is out of the question. And yet, a beautiful woman like Sakai has me? I can''t say I''ve never fantasized about it, but dreaming is a good place to start. Well, we won''t know the truth until we read Mao''s mind. Besides, Kazu is a pedophile. Hey, man. That''s not what I''m talking about. Hadn''t that pedophile allegation gone away yet? Amana is an object of love and has nothing to do with those reluctant feelings. The three friends have started to miss her as well, but I swear I''m not a pedophile. ''I don''t know.¡¡Even now, instead of being tired from work, you''re thinking about Amana''s class attendance. Isn''t that already a great pedophile? ''I just want it to be a genuinely good memory. If you''re a real pedophile, you''re planning to break into an elementary school or something. "Breaking in....you''re the one who comes up with that idea... ''Cause it''s not!¡¡I''m not going to let that ruin my life! So stop looking at me like I''m in the same league as those preppers! I implore him to chant a reminder that I''m not a pedophile while protecting my glass heart, which is about to be hurt. When I was chatting with Sanya like this.... "Nah, you look fine~?¡¡You guys... Heeeee? A sticky tone enters our ears and we all let out a small scream. I know that it was Chief Hinomoto who called out to me. But.........this tone of voice is very bad. ''''Do you mind? Your boss seems to be in good spirits... I''ve started jogging lately, you know? I''ve realized that it''s not hard to be health conscious~. You guys can try it too~. Ha ha ha..... What should I do? It''s as uninteresting as the principal''s useless talk. I didn''t know what to say, but we both smiled bitterly to cover it up. And so~. I have a favor to ask you guys who are that energetic~ "Huh! We regret in unison that we couldn''t escape with words that sounded like a death sentence. Can''t you do something about that pressure called ''please''? I mean, I knew it was a request for more work. We were so traumatized by his tone of voice that when he appeared in the anime, we got scared unconsciously because of his tone of voice, like Mr. Ago. He didn''t care what we were going through, he just designated a delivery address for the additional amount and went home. I cast a curse on his back, ''Go bald,'' and then sighed at the same time. ''''Gotcha........'''' Why do you specify a delivery location that is the opposite of your current delivery zone?¡¡It''s not efficient by any stretch of the imagination... Yeah. Just because we don''t have the manpower, doesn''t mean we can''t allocate a few of them. There are others who deliver closer, after all, it''s us..... Huh~.... I let out a heavy, heavy sigh. They say that sighing escapes happiness, but personally, I don''t think there''s any way I can be happy because I''m so frustrated that I want to sigh. At any rate, it seems that tomorrow is another busy course to be confirmed. That fact was weighing heavily on my mind. 26 26 Amana is okay It was a Saturday during Golden Week. Normally it would be a day off, but it was different at Amana''s school. Today was the day for observing classes. It was the first time parents came to watch their children''s classes in the afternoon, but it was the first time for them to do so, so the class seemed somewhat relaxed. It was the first time for them to watch a class. Let''s have it! ""Let''s have it!" And so the time for lunch arrived. Today was not a school lunch but a bento lunch, so we had a lot of fun showing each other what was in the classroom. My hamburger is this big! Oh, my fried chicken is huge! Wow, I''m so jealous, I can''t eat that much... Kana-chan, if it''s hard to eat, I''ll make a Amana for you. Thanks, Amana-chan.... The four of them, including Tenna, were no exception, and there was a congenial atmosphere in the air. The three of them have been friends since nursery school. Hasumi was active and loved to play outside. Chiyuri could study, but she made a lot of mistakes, so to speak. Kana is the quietest of the four, but she is surprisingly assertive. Among the four, Amana is the kindest of the four. She is cheerful and friendly with everyone, and since she is both literate and skilled in the arts, she is often relied upon by both men and women. In such a situation, her classmates are always talking about their afternoon class observations. There are a variety of children who show their willingness to work hard in front of their parents, those who are nervous and anxious, and those who are positive that they will be able to see their parents at school. But Tenna''s usual smile was gone and she had a dark expression on her face. (Mom, is she done with her pee-pee now...?) The Minami family is a motherless family with no father. Her mother, Tenashi, was at work on weekdays and didn''t spend much time at home, but on her days off, she left Tenna to her own devices. It''s not that she doesn''t feel lonely, as she mentioned in front of Wa. However, Tenna understands that the reason Tenashi is working hard at her job is undoubtedly for her own sake. She knows that she''s taking care of him, so she can put up with the loneliness. Especially these days, he has the presence of Wa, who comes to deliver on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tenna loves him for being a friend to her, even though he is supposed to be busy. Nevertheless, he had developed a bad feeling about these family events. It was only vague and not clear. Tenna, who is skilled at reading the atmosphere, can endure this bad feeling so as not to show it. This is because he knows that if he expresses it, he will offend everyone who is looking forward to it. The patience I''ve cultivated through experience has been demonstrated in places like this. Whether that is fortunate or unfortunate will be up to each person. However, such Tenna was also positive this year. Tenashi would only leave for work in the morning, but she would try to make it in time for the class visit. Tenna''s heart leapt with anticipation then. Rensui and the other three know that Tenri is a proud mother to Tenna. Her beautiful face and slender, polite appearance make her an ideal image of a woman, even in the eyes of her only daughter. When such a mother came to visit her class, she was inwardly excited to show off to her classmates. I''m sure they would be surprised, they would probably pay attention. At that time, she would brag out loud. This is your mother," he said. ".... I couldn''t help but smile. With just that, I could realize how much Tenna was looking forward to it, even with a sidelong glance. You''re not going to be able to get away with it. Amachi, you look like you''re having fun. ''Yes!¡¡Because Kyou is going to come to me, Mommy! Wow I''m sure people will be surprised. Of course I''d love to be your mother, Amana-chan, just like you! Even from the perspective of the three people who knew what was going on, Tenna''s changes were easy to understand. In particular, when Chiyuri met Tenri for the first time, she even asked her how she could become a beautiful woman like her. It was around that time that Tenna began to see Amari as a proud mother. While we were building up our hearts in anticipation, lunchtime was over and it was time for lunch break. Since it was a class observation, the boys were chatting in the classroom instead of going out to the school grounds. About 20 minutes later, when the class was about to start, my classmates'' parents came into the classroom. Everyone is dressed tightly and some parents are talking to each other. Even the kids looked back and looked around, looking uncomfortable with nervousness and anticipation, waiting to see their own parents now and then. The children who had found their own parents seemed to be having a great time, waving their hands and introducing them to their friends. Catching on to that, Tenna also looked for Tenashi. However, she hasn''t come yet. I''ve been promised that my mom will come. I''m sure you''re right. Oh!¡¡It''s our cousin and my cousin! Then Renshui''s parents arrived. She was very happy that they had come. ''''Kana''s mom and dad are here too...'''' So are my mom and dad! Around ten minutes before the class started, Kanna and Chiyuri''s parents had arrived as well. But Amari still hasn''t shown up. The time seems late for a mother who has told her daughter to try to act 10 minutes before the start of class. I''m just a little bit late, Mom. While suppressing the black anxiety that smoldered in my chest, I thought so stoutly. Tenri said, ''I''ll make it in time. Then I take it positively that it can''t be helped if I can''t come 10 minutes before. But......... Even if the doorbell rings 5 minutes ago.... I''ve done my homework.......... When the teacher came into the classroom.... When the class started.......... Twenty minutes passed and Amari hadn''t come to the classroom. 27 27 Amashi is disqualified as a mother ...? 12:00 PM. After finally finishing my meeting with my business partner, I turned the turnstile and waited for my train on the station platform. Even though it''s only in the morning, I''m not happy about working on a Saturday when Tenna has a class visit. But I decided to take it, deciding that I should do my best. Even so, the meeting took a long time and I ended up being 30 minutes over schedule. Well, I had expected that point, so there was no problem if I delayed the train a bit. Apparently, it was worth it for me to increase my walking speed to get to the station so that I could get there as quickly as possible. I wasn''t able to go to that little girl''s sunny day at the nursery school recitals and during the sports day because of work. Especially the first time I made her cry, and I had a lot of regret in my heart for the next time. But finally........I was hoping so much that my cheeks loosened in anticipation that I would finally get to see Tenna''s hard work up close and personal. Just by imagining my daughter, who was guessed by the teacher in class, solving the problems brilliantly, I can feel the fatigue that accumulated in the morning being washed away by the water. I''m sure she''s cute.......I''d even take a picture of her with my phone if I could It would be a waste of time to get lost in thought and miss the train, wouldn''t it? I tried to restrain myself, but the train didn''t arrive until the time was up. Is the train running late? You can still get away for a bit, and you might want to consider running or taking a taxi when you get off the station over there. ......... ......... ................Strange. It''s almost 20 minutes past the scheduled time, but the train hasn''t come to the platform at all. I''m not the only one who feels this way; I can see the impatience and frustration on the faces of the people on the platform as well. Of course, I feel the same way, and if I don''t, I won''t be able to get to school before classes start. Like a stain that cannot be removed no matter how much I wash it, the anxiety that cannot be wiped away makes me feel a pain that feels like I''ve pricked a needle in my heart. ©¤ ©¤ Peen pong pong pong..... "! Soon, I heard something on the platform. I was almost relieved to hear that the train was almost here, but then I heard an announcement "Attention passengers. We are currently dealing with a personal accident in this lane. The train is currently stopped as we are dealing with the situation. We are currently taking care of the situation. We apologize for the delay. What? The broadcast was merciless. When I heard it, I was shocked to lose my footing. ~~~~~~~~ -What do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do! As I left the platform and returned to the front of the station, I was thinking frantically with my head in my hands. My thoughts are trapped in a circle with the same words listed endlessly, and time passes in vain with no solution in sight. Others complained to the station attendant about the train being late, but I didn''t have the luxury of time to deal with the fact that I couldn''t make it to Tenna''s class visit. We already have less than 15 minutes before the class visit starts. ''''Tenna........Tenna.......! Even though I know it''s futile, I try desperately to maintain a sense of normalcy by saying my beloved daughter''s name, but my head is filled with penitence. And so it is. I promised her that I would definitely go to visit her class, and now I''m going to break my promise by doing this. I swore that I would never let her get sad again, so why is it that only today there is a personal injury accident...! I''m on the verge of tears from the impatience of not being able to keep my promise and the anger at the accident. I understand that it''s a backhanded resentment against the accident, but I still can''t help but take out this inexorable feeling. Buses didn''t go from here to outside the city where Tenna''s school is located, and even if it was a taxi, unfortunately, none of them stopped at the moment. We looked at other ways to get there like this, but we were already hamstrung. Naturally, I don''t need to think about the fact that by the time I arrived on foot, the class visit was long over. ''''Tenna, I''m sorry........'''' I utter an apology to Tenna, who is not here and is probably still waiting for me. Come to think of it, it was always always this way. The nursery school presentation was over while I was dealing with a sticky creeper, and the sports day passed while I was busy cleaning up the mistakes Yamaki-san made, and I couldn''t go. During the last sports day at the nursery school, Tenna made me say something I never thought I would say, ''I don''t care if I have to work''. I didn''t want him to feel that way, so I told him that I couldn''t come to work today, but I didn''t want him to have to pay the bill for the paid leave of Mr. Yamaki and the others.... Of course I couldn''t say no to him when he was begging me to do something that was so important to the company that we couldn''t fail! If you think you can make it in time because it''s only in the morning, you''ll end up like this.... "You promised me...!¡¡You smiled so happily at me...! Isn''t this the equivalent of betraying that girl........ My heart was filled with guilt with no part of a gap between us. What kind of mother is she if she can''t keep her promise to her daughter? Am I........not even allowed to see Tenna''s sunny day.......? I can''t face her like this. Ugh.............. At last, my tear glands break down and tears flow down my face at my own so pathetic and unworthy attitude. I''ll be 25 years old this year already, but how very unpopular I am....... Stuck in a helpless cul-de-sac, I gave up trying to stand and squatted down on the spot, folding my knees. I can''t even pay attention to my surroundings........ I was overwhelmed by the sorrow of betraying Tenna, and I was terrified of the worst possible future where that girl would hate me........ ''''©¤©¤Minami-san?'''' What? I heard the voice of someone I recognized just recently. I look up, forgetting to wipe my tears, and turn my gaze towards the voice. ''''It''s Minami-san, after all. What''s the matter with you, squatting here? Seriously, Mr. Ga...? The man with whom I had a strange relationship, who had become Tenna''s friend without regard to the age difference, was looking at me curiously. 28 28 Because I made a promise Hayakawa-san''s expression as he called out to me as I was squatting down was one of serious concern for me. He was wearing the same work clothes I had seen when I first met him, and I could tell that he was still delivering things. Mr. Hayakawa, who has been watching my face for a while, suddenly becomes surprised and starts to panic. I''m crying, are you okay? ''¡¡No, no........I''m sorry for worrying you......it''s nothing now.... His words reminded me that I was shedding tears and I wiped them away as I stood up. The embarrassment of being seen made me try to put him off early by saying something I wasn''t expecting to say. That, too, was fragilely broken by the next words that were thrown at me. ''How dare you... wasn''t today Amana-chan''s class visit day? "...?¡¡How did you know that?¡¡Did Tenna tell you that? How did Hayakawa-san, who was supposed to be an outsider, know that today was Tenna''s class visit day....... ''Oh, no, that~, I just met Amana''s friend when I made a delivery yesterday, and she told me about it in the course of a conversation!¡¡I never broke my promise not to overinterfere! Well..... I didn''t feel the frivolity of knowing that the words were a lie, but I guessed that they were true. He seems to know Tenna''s friends as well. From my daughter''s example, apparently he is easily liked by children. ''''And by the way, you even told me the time of day.......shouldn''t it be about time? ...It''s none of Hayakawa-san''s business. That being said, but........Amana-chan, those girls said they were really looking forward to Minami-san''s visit. I... By the time he told me how Tenna was feeling, and I was aware that my once calm emotions had started to flare up again, I had packed up on Hayakawa-san and grabbed his chest. ''''I know better than anyone that she was looking forward to today! Despite the traffic, they shouted at him loudly. But Hayakawa-san didn''t argue or get upset, he just remained silent. That''s a good thing, and I explode with the frustration I''ve been pent up in the past. But I can''t always get a chance to see Tenna''s sunny appearance up close and personal at the crucial moment... Even today, I had told her I would be taking a day off beforehand, but I had to go to work in the morning as a form of paying the bill for a junior colleague''s day off, and when I thought I had finally finished my work... If the train stops because of an accident... this is not happening!¡¡How am I qualified to be her mother when I''m the one who made a promise and then betrayed her and made her sad...how am I supposed to face her! The tears that I wiped away in the middle of my speech start to flow again and bury their faces in Hayakawa-san''s chest. I don''t think that just venting my frustration now will help. Still, I couldn''t help but let it out. Since that day when that man passed away and I decided that I would raise Tenna.......the tension that I kept tensing up to avoid showing any weakness seemed to dissolve. Most importantly, even though she was confronted with such frustration, Hayakawa-san did not say anything. He just seemed to honestly accept my feelings, and I felt a kind of comfort. Thinking that far, I finally realized that I had been sorry to him. ''Oh, soooo sorry!¡¡How rude to Hayakawa-san... I hurriedly move away and apologize while briefly combing my broken bangs. Hayakawa-san, on the other hand, had a mysterious expression on her face, and for a moment I thought I had offended her. ''''©¤©¤Minami-san,'''' Yes? Wait here for a moment. What? But when he said this, he didn''t even hear our reply and got into a delivery truck parked nearby. He seemed to be contacting someone on his phone, though from a distance. I didn''t know why, so I just stood there and waited as I was told, and then Hayakawa-san got out of the driver''s seat and came back. I don''t know why he was smiling bitterly at that time, but the words he continued to say made it impossible for me to question him. After all......... ".........Please get in the car. What....? He suddenly said so, and he took me by the hand and led me to the delivery truck he had been riding in earlier. When my brain finally understands, I step on it as soon as possible and resist. ''Stay, wait!¡¡What is this all of a sudden? ''I''ll take Minami-san to Amana-chan''s school. Oh, you can show me where, please. Yes? I can''t help but be upset at the suggestion, which is so ridiculous. It''s because I can''t understand why he would go to such lengths. No, before that..... ''Isn''t Hayakawa-san still delivering?¡¡You''re not going to be able to work if you''re driving me to elementary school! It''s about 20 minutes by train from where I am now to the elementary school that Tenna goes to. I can''t believe that he, as a courier, doesn''t think about the fact that even I, as a layman, can easily imagine how much trouble such a time loss would cause in a delivery business where time is of the essence. When I refused to accept Hayakawa-san''s invitation because I felt guilty beyond the joy of being able to make it to class on time, he turned to face me and said........ ''I''ll get it, but I''ve informed him I''ll be late, so it won''t matter what I do. Ha.... I was at a loss for words for a moment as he said it off without a care in the world. ''You''re an idiot!¡¡How can you put your own work on the shelf to help people and what about your promise not to interfere with us! But it was too ridiculous for me to take umbrage with. I told him implicitly that I would call the police if he took him away and warned him to change his stupid idea. When he heard what I said, he stopped and turned to me. I listen to Hayakawa-san''s words while appealing to him with my eyes, saying if you have any complaints, go ahead. I made a promise to Amana before Minami-san," he said. I said I would always be friends with her. What...? The words returned were something I hadn''t expected to hear. I was so upset that I couldn''t believe it, but Ms. Hayakawa continued, "I don''t want to make her sad as a friend. As a friend, I don''t want to make Amana sad. That''s why I''ve decided to take you with me. If I don''t, I''ll be breaking my promise to that girl. So," he breaks off the words before continuing. ''Now shut up and rely on me for that boy''s sake!¡¡You''ll think about the rest later, just think about your own daughter like you always do! I... As I was persuaded to do so, I weakened my ability to resist. Truly........I am an unfit mother. Because I was reminded that Hayakawa-san, a stranger to me, puts Tenna first. I had given up easily and was at a loss, but he''s willing to sacrifice his own work for Tenna''s sake to take her like this, isn''t he? Generally speaking, Mr. Hayakawa''s behavior would be considered insane. But in reality, he''s such a good-natured person that he''s indirectly trying to help me, without any malice whatsoever, purely for the sake of Tenna. There''s no way I could sue such a person............ "........no matter how much you say it''s for the sake of hurrying, please don''t neglect safe driving, such as ignoring traffic signals and checking your left and right.... Of course. There are loads in the back that need to be packed to prevent breakage, so safety is the most important thing. To the advice I gave him to make sure, Hayakawa-san replied without a care in the world. As she speaks so proudly, the impatience she had been feeling until a while ago has quieted down, and her heart has become relaxed. Hmm, that''s right. Well, then, it''s nice to meet you. I can''t help but smile. Hey. Just drive like you''re in a truck. Then Mr. Hayakawa drove the delivery truck with me in it. 29 29 First class visit It had been almost half an hour since the class observation began. When the teacher asks for a show of hands to see who can solve the math problems written on the blackboard, the students raise their hands enthusiastically to show their families that they are doing well. Amana was the only one who didn''t raise her hand and kept her face down. Her expression is far different from that of her other classmates, and she has a dark and somber look on her face. Hasumi and the others looked at her with concern, but they couldn''t talk to her during class. The teacher, who is teaching the class, also notices, but decides that she can''t let the progress of the class slow down, so she presses the chalk to the blackboard and writes up the questions, killing her feelings. Once the feeling had sunk in, he slowly fell into the crucible of his thoughts. (Don''t blame it on Onii-san!¡¡(Because they''re so sweet!) In the event that you''re in a situation where you''re in a situation where you don''t have the time to spend with yourself even when you''re at work, you''ll be able to judge the presence of Wa, who cherishes time with you even when you''re at work, as someone who is trustworthy in Tenna''s mind, even if not as trustworthy as his mother, Tenri. It''s a good thing that I don''t understand why Tenri sees him as an enemy to such an extent. That''s why he thought that he had offended her by becoming friends with Wa. In reality, the reason for this is that the train was stopped because of a fatal accident that occurred at a station outside the city, but it would be absurd to ask Tenna, who has no way of knowing that, to guess. (Pardon me, that''s a lot of work, isn''t it?¡¡(Then I don''t blame you for not being able to do this...) In the end, that''s where I ended up with the answer, based on my past experience. He was resigned to the idea that it was inevitable that adults, not just Tenashi, would be busy with their work. By believing that, Tenna swallowed her own frustration. But it doesn''t disappear as it is digested. Like a pile of dust, little by little it will accumulate. ''''Well then, let''s take this issue--'''' ""Yes!" In the class that was going on regardless of Tenna''s state of mind, the teacher left the students to answer the questions. The children cheerfully raised their hands and tried to show their sunny appearance to their parents who had come to visit. Only Tenna was the only one who kept her face down. When it was time to choose one of the students who raised their hands first..... ©¤ ©¤ The door at the back of the classroom was opened with a rattle. The sudden loud noise caused everyone in the classroom to roll their eyes in surprise and stare in that direction. There was a woman standing there, her shoulders swaying widely. Her dark brown hair was stuck to her forehead from sweating, as if she had arrived in a great hurry, and her hair was disheveled to the point that it could not be called unkempt in a flattering way. However, regardless of the gaze of those around her, as soon as she made eye contact with the girl in the classroom and made a face of relief, her expression, which was imbued with frustration, was transformed into an admiringly cheerful one. Then, as she adjusted her breath and body language, she slowly opened her mouth while blushing, partly because she was aware that she was receiving all the gazes of the surroundings. ''''Jyu, I''m sorry for interrupting your class. I''m Nantenna''s mother, and after finishing a busy errand, I belatedly came to visit my daughter''s class. "! When the woman - Nantenashi says her name, the parents who have come to visit the school let out a breath of admiration from her appearance. Even if more than half of the class time has already passed, they are trying to burn the sight of their children''s hard work into their eyes. He admired the sight of them. It''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re going to do with it. ©¤ ©¤ I''m here to watch you properly. ''''Huh!'''' With her silent inspirations, Tenna''s depressed feelings up until now have vanished from her mind nicely. Her Ruri eyes, like her mother''s, regained their usual brilliance to meet the expectations of the person she loves. And then Tenna..... ''''Yes! Let''s get Ms. Minami to solve it. He raised his hand cheerfully and came forward as a respondent himself. The teacher, who had been watching the series of exchanges, nominated Tenna with a smiling expression on her face. Standing up from her seat and approaching the blackboard, she held the chalk in her right hand and raised her heels to write the answer to the question. ''''Yes, that''s the correct answer.'''' Yes! From an adult''s point of view, it was a problem that could be solved with one hand, but the person who solved it was really proud of it. Tenna turned her big smile on Tenashi. The daughter''s sunny appearance that she had always wanted to see, Tenashi was also caught up in it and had a smile on her face. ©¤ ©¤ Well done. Since it''s only in class, Tenashi praises that with a mouthful of praise. ''''Ehehe!'''' Receiving those words, Tenna decided on a peace sign with a more radiant smile. And so the class proceeded in an orderly fashion, and at the time when the class was about to end in five minutes, the teacher clasped his hands together and gathered his gaze. ''''Okay then, everyone!¡¡Let''s give your mom and dad a gift for coming to school today. ""Yes!" All the parents nodded their heads at the sudden revelation of the present. After all, that was not mentioned in the printout with the date and time of the class visit. Naturally, Amanashi felt the same way. On the contrary, the children who had been preparing ahead of time got up from their seats, took out a sheet of paper from their desks, and then brought it to their families at the back of the room. ''Three, two, one, yes!'' "''Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!¡¡Thanks for everything! When the teacher gave the signal, the children handed a piece of paper in their hands, face down, in unison. It was a picture drawn by colored pencils. Although they were poorly drawn due to their young age, I could tell that they were all drawings of my parents. And the most important thing in this moment is the feeling of gratitude for the gift, along with the words. Some of them were so moved to tears when their own children, who they had raised with so much love and care, expressed their gratitude in both words and pictures. Yes, Mommy! Thank you, Tenna. Of course, Tenashi, who received the painting from Tenna, was also holding back tears on the verge. Being able to be here with the help of Wa, Tenna''s hard work and the gratitude that was handed to her...they filled her heart with happiness. Their first class visit ended amicably in this way. 30 30 After visiting the class After returning home after class visitation, Tenashi and Tenna decided to take a bath together before dinner. Aside from Tenna, Tenashi couldn''t help but worry about her sweat because she had run to work and to class. However, it was only with the help of Wa''s help that she only had to worry about the sweat, and if he hadn''t been there, Tenashi wouldn''t have been able to go to school. With that in mind, she finishes washing her daughter''s hair. ''''Yes, I''m going to wash her hair.'''' Yeah, my eyes are giggling! Yeah, great. She showers off the bubbles on her nearly amber brown hair. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. My daughter says, ''I''ll be able to show you more clearly if you ask your mommy to do it for you. The daughter says, ''It''s better for me to have my mommy do it for me.'' From the point of view of Tenna, who dotes on her, these words could not be happier. The atmosphere between the two of them was one of smiles. ''Come on, Mom, hurry up!'' ''Wait. You have to count to 100 before you can go up. Yes! After washing their hair and bodies, the two of them soak in the hot tub. Tenna is completely embraced by Tenashi''s body. Tenna seemed happy to feel the comfort of feeling her mother''s body heat directly, besides the warmth of the bath. Looking at her daughter, Tenashi said something to her. ''''Tenna. I''m sorry I''m late today...'''' I don''t mind. I don''t mind. She came to me as fast as she could. There was no lie in those words. Tardiness, etc., was not a problem in Tenna''s mind, as Tenashi had been able to arrive on time. The only thing that filled the girl''s heart was the fact that she came to visit the class. ''Did you have a hard time with your pee?'' ''No, the work itself was fine, but the...well...the train stopped...'' ''What?¡¡So, how did you get to the school? It''s... Even though she''s in the first grade, even Tenna knows that if the train stops, she usually can''t make it in time. Despite that, it was natural for her to be curious as to what method Tenashi had come by. On the other hand, when the question was posed to her, Amari wasn''t sure if she should answer it for a moment, but she decided to speak honestly before she decided to trust the harmony too. ''''©¤©¤Hayakawa-san happened to be passing by and gave me a ride in his truck. You''re an idiot! Even Tenashi himself is astonished by the chance to see a meeting that he finds strange, and the color of his eyes changes. If her mother''s words are true, then he is the one who has contributed to the class visit becoming a good memory. Tenna, who is particularly fond of Wa, smiles with an even happier smile at this fact. The next time I see you, I''ll have to say thank you!¡¡Oh, but I''m not supposed to get in the way of peeing, am I? Well..... In contrast to his honest daughter, Amari''s reply was rather cringeworthy. It was because she was worried that he would be punished in some way for putting off his own duties for their own sake. The physical strength consumed and the fatigue accumulated are immeasurable due to the delivery business, which is a black job at best. Then, as a thank you for today''s help, Amanashi gropes for what she can do. Eventually, the answer she arrived at is..... ''Tenna.'' What? You can treat Hayakawa-san as you did before I warned you. Really? Yeah. Tenna looked expectantly at the permission from her mother. He cherished the time he spent with his daughter. Then he decided that it would be okay to partially nullify the promises he had made to himself. ''But it''s only that I shouldn''t interfere with your work, right? ''Yes!¡¡If the man has a hold of you, can I slap you again? ''Eh, yeah. It''s all right, just in moderation... Tenashi''s cheeks twitched at the words of wanting to summon the taps on Tenna''s shoulders that she had been monopolizing until now, but she allowed it to happen, even though her cheeks twitched. Because of the wish that comes from pure kindness, she couldn''t come out too strongly. It''s just proof that Tenashi is sweet to Tenna. ''''So, what do you do, Mom?'''' Oh, my God, is that me? Asked unexpectedly, Tenashi was puzzled, but Tenna continued on. ''''Yeah. Because Mommy was saved by Onii-san too, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then you should say thank you, too! ''Oh....'' After being told that, Tenashi was stunned, but she remembered something. (I........I still hadn''t thanked Hayakawa-san for being saved by Yamaki-san and the others.......) He had asked me to say it back to him when he was being sarcastic to the two juniors before, but I still hadn''t told him how much I appreciated it. It wasn''t that there wasn''t a lack of timing, he could have told them when he gave them a ride in the truck he was driving, but Amari hadn''t had the luxury of doing so at all at that time, and he had completely lost sight of it. Of course, now that she knows Wa''s personality, she can easily imagine him not being the kind of person who would be overly grateful and overbearing, and in fact, she can even imagine him being humble and telling her not to worry about it. But it would be too unconscionable for her to allow this to continue, and that''s something she can''t allow herself to be proud of. In short, she doesn''t feel good about being left to be saved. ''''©¤©¤That''s right. I should thank you properly. Yeah! At Tenashi''s answer, Tenna nodded with a big smile on her face. It was another story that the two of them realized that they had long ago finished counting 100 as they were talking, and they were completely upset. 31 31 No way thank you After dropping Minami-san off at the elementary school that Amana-chan goes to, my work has turned into a wave of rage. That''s just as well, because no matter how much I couldn''t watch and help, it doesn''t mean that my workload is going to decrease. By the time I finished the delivery I''d been putting off, the last train was long past. Well, I don''t commute by train, so I don''t have to worry about the last train... Anyway, with the help of Miya and Sakai, I''ve managed to live without dying of exhaustion. ''''Huh~........'''' I''m so sleepy that I open my mouth wide and yawn. Today is Tuesday which means it''s the day I get to see Amana. I have an appointment with Minami-san, though, so I won''t be able to receive any healing from that girl. But it''s just after 8am now. It''s also in the parking lot of the condo "Avery Smile". I''m not here to break any promises. There''s a good reason why I''m here. After all..... "Good morning, Hayakawa-san. Good morning. Mr. South. Because she called me last night to ask me to come here at this time. Minami, the woman who called me here, is about to go to work or in a suit, and it doesn''t seem like a very long conversation in terms of time. And I can pretty much guess what we''re going to talk about. Probably she was thanking me for dropping Minami off at elementary school on the Saturday when Amana-chan had her class visit. I didn''t want to help her out just for the sake of payback, and it would be better for Amana to have a good memory. I''m the only one who thinks so, and she doesn''t seem to be. ''''Thank you for responding to my sudden call for you. If I may be so blunt as to see that you''ve already figured it out, I''m here to thank you for the other day. I was right. I listened to Ms. Minami''s words without interrupting her, while thinking of such impressions as if they were someone else''s. ''''First of all. I''m sorry that I walked away without saying thank you for the help I received from my junior colleague in regards to the matter he talked back to me. ''What?¡¡No, that was simply my way of saying what I wanted to say, and as a result, I ended up helping Minami-san, so it''s not something to be said with such awe. She bows her head and apologizes, and I tell her it''s no big deal, even though she''s upset. In fact, it''s so much that I forgot about it until she told me. It''s true that she hadn''t thanked me but.......Minami-san seemed to care about it. ''And secondly........thanks to Hayakawa-san, we were able to successfully complete our class visit without breaking our promise to Tenna. That girl was very happy too. "...¡¡........I see. I''m glad to hear it then. I was relieved to know how Amana-chan felt, which was briefly conveyed to me by Minami-san, and I patted my chest. I didn''t know exactly what happened since I went back to work right after I dropped her off. I''m relieved that it worked out so well and I''m feeling warm and fuzzy with relief. But Ms. Minami still seemed to have something to say. I''ve realized through these two cases that Hayakawa-san is not the kind of person who plans to do bad things. Therefore, I''m going to partially nullify the example promise. What?¡¡Partially invalidated... ''''Yes. You can continue to treat Tenna as you did before. I couldn''t hide my agitation at the unexpected permission to ask back. The speaker, Ms. Minami, remained remarkably calm and added, "I''d like you to continue to avoid over-interference, but.... I don''t have any complaints if I can get Amana to heal me without having to report the incident. In fact, I''d say it''s the best way to thank her. Huh? But isn''t this, in essence, a parent-approved interaction with a little girl? As soon as I thought that, I wasn''t sure if I should be honestly happy. No, no, that''s not what I''m talking about, so let''s not think about it now. Yeah, I''ll do that. I put it off for now. "And then... What''s left? Gratitude doesn''t come with some weight! Without paying any attention to me who couldn''t stop being shaken up, Minami-san took out something from her bag on her shoulder. It was wrapped in some kind of cloth, so I couldn''t quite figure out what it was. I''m not sure what it is, but Minami-san, blushing a little, holds it out to me. Managing the nutrition of your diet is the best way to manage your condition. So, you see........I thought if you ate this for lunch, it would improve things a bit...... ''Well, uh... I mean, what''s this? I know I have a problem with my eating habits. I mean, I''m aware of it, and even when I tried to improve it, it didn''t last long. So why did Ms. Minami tell me that again? Well this is the lunch I made, though? What...? I didn''t understand what she was trying to say, and as if she was annoyed with me for questioning her, she turned her head away and revealed the contents of the package to me. I was simply taken aback by the contents of the package. As I slowly chewed the words and understood them, I felt the heat focus on my face at once. ''''Eh, ha, eh! What does this mean? One, I mean what? Does that mean I can eat Mr. Minami''s homemade bento? Homemade by a beautiful woman like her......... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, calm down, I''m a widow with a child! And, but maybe..... Oh, uh, ka-ka-ka, don''t get me wrong!¡¡If anything happens to Hayakawa-san, Tenna will be sad!¡¡I just want you to make sure you are getting good nutrition so that this doesn''t happen, because I never made it out of love! ''What?¡¡Ahhhhh........well, that''s true....... Minami-san huffed at my reaction to my skepticism like that and denied it by talking up fast and winding up with a more blush on her face. Well, well, I understood, didn''t I? Because they''re married, right? For some reason, I put the sadness I feel in my heart in a corner and try not to show it. Since it''s a good time, I''ll accept the lunchbox. I''m only going to receive them on Tuesday and Friday when I go to deliver them to the Minami family, and I''m going to give the containers I used to Amana-chan when she comes to deliver them. ''''Kohon ... well, there''s one last thing. Huh.... Mr. Minami also cleared his throat to calm down for a moment before continuing. ''''You may call me by my name from now on. There''s no need for honorifics either. Or rather, I''m younger than you, so it would be uncomfortable if you were strangely awed. If they''re going to keep on banning people from interfering with each other, then I''m going to have to go through with it. ''''We''re going to continue to interact with each other, and since both Tenna and I have southern surnames, I thought it would be a hassle to react at the same time and reverse the situation as it is now. That won''t happen as long as we call each other by our first names. ''That''s the way it is ... oh my God! I broke down early on with her refusal to acknowledge my response or anything else but approval. Like the first time we met, I couldn''t seem to win her over with my mouth. ''All right. You want me to call her, right?¡¡I''m sorry, Amani... Yes. Good. Feeling strangely embarrassed, I called her©¤©¤Tenashi''s name, and she made a sober face, saying it was fine. Suppressing a restless heartbeat, I parted from Amari and headed for work. 32 32 The delivery destination girl is ... Past four o''clock in the afternoon. After another day of hard work, I arrived at the Avery Smile apartment building, room 184. From this time onwards, I also brought my lunch box that Tenashi gave me this morning. The taste was very good. I could tell just by looking at it that it was well-balanced in nutrition, but also that it was easy to eat, which made me realize how great she was. If you have kids, you might be more careful about what you eat, so this must have been an accomplishment backed by experience. So, does Amana-chan eat that every day...? I shake my head to get rid of the evil thoughts. That''s right, I''m about to meet Amana-chan, what are you getting so nervous about! I''m going to get some healing from that angelic girl, I''d rather not have time to be depressed. Thinking about this, I stop in front of the front door of room 184. I press the intercom so as not to drop my luggage, and hear a light sound from inside. ''''Yes!'''' Umineko Transport. I''m here to deliver a package. "I''m coming, sir! Her pretty voice, as usual, shakes my eardrums through the speakers. The healing effect is so strong that you can actually feel it, I think Amana has a tremendous talent for healing. Not long after the reception, the front door was opened. From inside, she''s wearing her light brown hair in two buns, just like when I first met her, and she''s dressed in a white t-shirt and a pink and yellow floral dress. Her lapis lazuli eyes are fixed on my face, highlighting her cuteness. ''Hello, Amana-chan,'' Hello, man! As we exchange the usual greetings, Amana smiles happily. My cheeks loosen up at that. I''d like to add that a smile is the best thing for her, and I''m a bit cool about it. But first, I have to get my work done. Then do you stamp this place as usual? Yeah! I make sure it is marked for receipt with the seal held in my little hand. Receipt complete, now it''s time for healing. ''Did you enjoy your class visit?'' ''Yeah!¡¡You''re the one who got my mom to come and get me, right?¡¡So thank you! You''re welcome. I''m glad it was a memorable experience for you, Amana-chan. "Heh-heh! On the road, Amanashi was anxious all the way through, but by the looks of it, she didn''t seem to care that she was late. ''''Onii-san, Onii-san! As I was thinking that, Amana-chan started beckoning to me. I mean, the little hand patting gesture is so cute. I almost let out a groan. Why does she make me writhe so much with every move.......because she''s an angel? (Affirmative) What''s going on? You know what? She opens her mouth with a smile on her face as she is happily invited in. ''Onii-san, didn''t you leave your mommy for Oshikomi-chu?¡¡You worked hard after that, didn''t you? Yeah. But I don''t regret it. What I said to Amana-chan wasn''t a lie. Even if I had made the most recent delivery, I would have definitely taken Amari for a ride. I think I know myself well enough to be sure of that. ''But you worked so hard, didn''t you get tired?¡¡So, okay, I''ll give you that! Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I imagine myself shouting that in my mind as I pose with my fist in the air when he tells me "Good, good" with a pure smile. I don''t show it in my actual words or actions. If I let it out, I''ll just be a dangerous person. Hm? Already in danger? I thought I heard something like that, but I decided it was a trivial matter in front of the ''alright, alright'' from Amana-chan and put it to the back of my mind. For now, I folded my knees and crouched down so that Amana-chan could easily pet me. The fact that they are now at eye level reminds me once again that this girl is still very young. On the other hand, Amana-chan, with a smile that makes me feel even motherly, puts her little hand on my head and begins to slowly stroke me. ''''Alright, you did your best~'''' The fatigue that had been weighing heavily on my mind and body melted away, as if to purge the dirt from my heart. Thank you, God, Buddha, Amari-sama. I can''t stop thanking you for being able to receive Amana''s healing in this way, for being born in this world, and for the existence of the angels in front of me. If possible, I would be grateful for a better workload and salary. I''m so enlightened. Hasn''t this already reached the point of cleansing? Little girls these days are amazing........ ''''How''s that?¡¡Man? "Highest and best. What? ''Oh, no, it made me feel exhausted. Thank you. Really?¡¡Ehehe! I inadvertently said a strange word, but I quickly gave my thanks and made it okay. That seemed to work, and Amana-chan, who was praised, was embarrassed and flushed with embarrassment. Then Amana started holding my face between her little hands. I made eye contact with her, wondering what it was about. Her expression was very serious, but she couldn''t stop smiling at the overflowing happiness. ''You know what, Onii-san!¡¡Thank you so much for bringing my mom to me!¡¡It was so good to see you, Amana! Yeah, that''s very nice of you to say. I truly believe that from the bottom of my heart. Not just for Amana-chan, a smile is the best thing about children. Since you''re here, I don''t miss my mommy anymore, even if she has to do her work!¡¡So... Amana broke off her words there, and just when you thought she''d pulled her little body in as best she could. "Tut-tut! What...? I feel a soft touch on my cheek. It doesn''t take me long to realize that it''s a kiss. "What?¡¡Ah, Amana-chan! Oh, heh. I couldn''t hide my surprise at the shock that suddenly happened to me, and I lost my balance and fell on my buttocks in shame. Amana-chan, who brought this shock to her, was embarrassed and embarrassed with her face turning red, but her expression was somewhat happy and embarrassed. But the expression on her face is somewhat happy and I can''t take my eyes off her. When I complained to her with my gaze, she replied while holding her cheeks in her hands. ''Mommy said that she kisses you on the cheek because she loves you so much!¡¡And since Amana loves her brother as much as her mom does, she gave him a kiss! Oh, oh, yeah... Amari, you were the reason. I''m wondering whether I should say GJ (good job) or complain bitterly to Amana''s guardian, who is not here. Then Amana-chan hugged me while I was still on my buttocks. The light weight and sweet smell of a childlike body makes my head feel like it''s on the verge of exploding and I can''t resist. "Ehehe, Onii-san!¡¡I love it! ''''~~~Ha~~~ Thank you.........'''' I was completely overwhelmed by this too-healing young girl. Even so, I didn''t feel bad at all because of the cuteness of the girl named Amana-chan. That''s what I thought sourly........ 33 [Extra edition] Character introduction Part 1 ?¡¶Principal Character¡· Kazu Hayakawa (25 years old) He is the main character of the film. She has a younger sister. She works as a courier for Umineko Transport, but after being healed by Tenna when she was exhausted from the hard work of a black company, she finds her life worth living by interacting with her twice a week. He has an extremely tough mind, probably because of the hard work he does every day, and on top of that, he has a personality that is easily liked by children. Sannya and Tenashi suspect him of being a pedophile, but he denies it. He''s probably a bit of a child-botherer, as he''s always in love with Tenna. The reason why Tenna''s name is written in hiragana from his point of view is because he doesn''t know Tenna''s kanji name. But even if he knows it, he keeps it as it is for differentiation. The name comes from a famous shipping company. It was too obvious, and I got a lot of complaints in the short version. ¡î Amana Minami (6 years old) The main heroine of the film. A first-grade student. A beautiful girl with a bright future. A girl that Wa meets at a delivery service and has an innocent and friendly personality. She has an unbelievable talent for healing others, which, combined with her innocence, makes her highly effective. She has already discounted the fact that she doesn''t have a father in her own family, and she doesn''t dare to bring it up, out of concern for Tenri, who raises her by herself. The source of her healing behavior is that she learned from Amari that you should not do to others what you don''t want done to you, so she thought, "If you do what you are happy about, it will make others happy too. That''s the idea behind it. Genius. Stars. Nantenri (age 24) Tenna''s mother. A beautiful woman. She is an office worker at an IT company, and after joining the company as a temporary worker, she is highly valued for her performance and is hired as a regular employee. She is so serious that she doesn''t lose her tone of voice even when dealing with her daughter, and on the contrary to Tenna, she doesn''t allow others to see her heart. She is a beautiful woman and therefore quite popular, but she keeps turning down invitations to go out with her children. She used to be a bit of a jerk to Kazu in the beginning, but after the sarcasm of her juniors and the incident with her classmates, she has come to believe in his character. ¡î Mao Sakai (25 years old) She belongs to the corporate sales department of Umineko Transport and is the same age as Kaz. A beautiful woman who looks good in glasses. She is serious in a different vein from Amanashi, but she is only serious about her work and cheerful in her private life. After an incident at a year-end party she participated in after joining the company, she develops a crush on Wa. As a result of the combination of Kazumoto''s insensitivity and her laziness, they hadn''t progressed beyond the occasional drink. That changed after his encounter with Tenna, and he finally started to act on it. Her colleagues in the same section who know how she feels are finally sending her support with a mixture of dismay and dismay. While she has a good rapport with Kazu, she does not get along with Sanya. Her name comes from a certain moving center (the panda one). ¡î ?"Umineko Transporters Mitsuya Arikuma (25 years old) A courier who, like Wa, works for Umineko Transport. A friend. He is called "Charakin" by Tenna. With his dyed blonde hair and slightly bad eyes, he has an air of unpredictability, but he has a very spirited personality. He is the first person who knows about Tenna''s relationship with Kazu, and he often asks for advice, but he inwardly worries about when his friend will be reported to the authorities. He has been recruiting for a girlfriend, but to no noticeable effect. He doesn''t get along with Sakai, but he doesn''t dislike her because she only sees him as a one-sided enemy. His name comes from a certain moving company (the ant one). ¡ï Hinomoto Isao (38 years old) The manager of the administration department of Umineko Transport. Slightly overweight and seemingly soft-spoken at first glance, but he has a way of talking like a certain Mr. Ago and reporting additional work to the other party. If you tell him that it''s impossible, he will usually back down, but the pressure that comes with the aforementioned manner of speaking is so great that no one has ever been able to do so. In fact, it''s not even known. He is married and has a 13-year-old son. His name comes from a certain post company. ¡î ?"Friends of Amana Hasumi Nishiyama (6 years old) Tenna''s classmate and friend. He has a "sss" at the end of the word. He has been practicing karate since his family runs a dojo. She also likes sports and is the most active of the four. ¡î Chiyuri Kitatani (6 years old) Tenna''s classmate and friend. He is a confident man with glasses. He is already able to read and write simple Kanji characters because he can study, but he is even more of a klutz than that. Also, he sometimes misuses some of his knowledge, so Kana corrects him whenever he misunderstands. ¡î Kana Higashino (6 years old) Tenna''s classmate and friend. A timid child. She is shy and timid, but she is not bad at asserting herself. She is the smallest of the four and has a small animal-like cuteness. She has a dexterous side to follow up on the blundering Tomoyuri. ¡î ?"Behind the Scenes Hi, I''m Aono. I''d like to write a short article titled "Working in Black is Painful, but the Young Girl at the Delivery Center is Just Too Healing! , thank you for reading "Delivery Girl" for short. I can''t help but feel that the abbreviation is a matter of concern. If you have any other ideas, please do so. In this backstory, I''d like to tell you how I came up with the idea for the work. It''s not that complicated, because it started with the so-called "noble manga" that you may have seen on social networking sites, pixiv, Twitter, etc., which is a one- to four-page manga that is simple and concise, but which you can''t help but agonize over because it''s so noble. I thought about how to develop it in my own way, and the result was "a story about a delivery company protagonist who is healed by a young girl he meets at the delivery site"... in other words, this work was born. I started out submitting a short story, but it received its first review on Narrowrow Style and reached the 5th place in the daily human drama genre, which is something I hadn''t been able to do with another serialized work yet. I wondered what would happen if it was a short story, what would happen if it was serialized, so I reworked the plot for the serialization, and the serialized version was released. And at that time I thought - ''I want to see the Tenna-chan that the artist drew for me. After some twists and turns, I asked Otaru Omu to draw her, but as soon as he showed me the rough draft, Aono''s breath caught in my throat (laughs). No, really, the cuteness of Tenna that Mr. Oumu-ryoku-sama drew for me was just too much.... ''This is in the rough, so what about when it''s finished? I was so excited about the cover, and as a result, that cover was made. When I think of Wa, I feel an irresistible urge to kill her when I think of an angel like that doing me a favor. I can''t express my deepest gratitude to Otaru-san for drawing the angelic Tenna-chan. Once again, I''d like to take this opportunity to thank you. Alright, I''m going to take my leave of absence from Aono soon. I hope you enjoy the following chapter 2....................then~. 34 33 Japanese daily life It''s the end of May, and I can feel the temperature gradually rising. It wouldn''t be a problem if I was working indoors, but I can''t be too careful in my line of work, especially in the delivery industry. In the case of the delivery business, it''s not so bad when you''re in an air-conditioned truck with a load of stuff on it, but the work of unloading it and carrying it away gets tougher and tougher. Every year, every summer, the expression on the faces and hearts of the home delivery guys, including me, would die. But this year, however, it''s different for me. After all..... "Good, good, good! I''m soothed~........ Just by having a soft hand caress your head along with the sound of a lovely, inferior voice, the fatigue that had built up in your heart disappears. It''s a good thing that you can be sure that this is not the case with any other person. It''s a good thing that the other person is a little girl in the first grade. You can find a lot of people who have been in the market for a long time, but you can''t find a lot of people who have been in the market for a long time. She looks like her mother (Amari) and has the potential to be popular when she grows up. I think it''s very cute, wearing a pink dress over a white tunic. I was relieved of my daily fatigue by that girl - Amana Minami. I met her after I took over the delivery area of a senior colleague who retired last month, and our weekly interaction on Tuesdays and Fridays is what gives me something to live for. Let me tell you, I''m definitely not a pedophile. I just love this angel called Amana-chan and I don''t want her to be in the news with the people who are in the news. And since I got permission from her mother, Amari, for this touching, I have nothing to feel guilty about. I was reminded of something by Amari, so I very reluctantly asked her to stop stroking me and took out some things with my luggage. I''m going to return your lunch box for today, Amana-chan. Can you tell your mom that it was good? ''Yes!¡¡I''ll make sure it''s properly cleaned up! At the beginning of this month, Amana-chan had a class visit at her elementary school, and unfortunately, she couldn''t even make it to school on time, let alone arrive on time. I happened to be on my way to deliver her to the school, but I happened to be on my way to deliver her to the school, so I put off my own work. After that, she gave me a home-made bento box as a thank-you gift on the days that I came to deliver her to the Minami family. It''s been two weeks now, and he has to return the box to Amana when she delivers it to him. Amanashi''s food is made with a good nutritional balance in mind, and frankly, it''s better than my parents'' food. Apart from the fact that I get to see Amana-chan, that bento is becoming one of my favorite things to eat. If I''m honest about it, people might misunderstand that I have a thing for them, so I''ll just tell them how delicious it is. I don''t want to piss him off and ruin his lunch. ''''Amana-chan can be jealous of Amari''s cooking. Right?¡¡Mom''s distance is the biggest in the world! My daughter, Amana-chan''s reaction is as proud as if she had been praised. As I watched her expression with a smile, a voice suddenly came into my ear. ''Hello, Hayakawa-san,'' Oh, Amanashi. The owner of the voice at the end of the face was Amana''s mother, Nantenashi. Her dark brown hair was as lustrous as ever, and her lapis lazuli eyes, which were the same as her daughter''s, seemed softer than when I first met her, and it was clear from her suit that she was on her way home from work, and her attire made her elegant appearance all the more attractive. She doesn''t look like she has a child, with a beautiful face that all ten people would look back at if they passed her, and a style that looks like a model for a women''s fashion magazine. ''You''re early today, aren''t you?'' Yes. But it just so happens to be my day. I don''t know what type of job she has, but she seems to excel in her company and is often relied upon for things. Even though it helps financially for the South family, as a mother and child, it''s a bit of a bummer that he has to go to work only in the morning on the day of his class visit because of it. ''Mom, welcome back!'' Yes, I''m home, Tenna. Amana-chan hugged her mother as she returned home, her smile glowing. Amari also crouched down to hug her daughter, making the scene of a harmonious father-son relationship and making me smile. So, I quietly try to keep my presence out of the way and not interrupt the parent-child time. This kind of consideration is the proof that I''m growing as a member of society, I thought to myself without any particular meaning. ''Tenri. Thank you for this one as well. It was delicious as always. ''No, it''s something I like to do, so don''t worry about it...'' It''s because of that generosity that I''m able to have a good lunch, I just try to make sure I''m grateful every time. About time, I hand the empty bento box I was about to give to Amana and tell her what I thought of it. Then she insists that it''s not a big deal with her modesty, but when I confide in her without wrapping it up that it''s not....... ''''I see........'''' He gives a somewhat dumbfounded and unclear answer. I''d like to ask him what he thinks, but unfortunately I have to get back to my delivery. ''''Well, I''ll get back to work then. See you later, young man! Yeah, I''ll see you later. When I said goodbye, Amana responded cheerfully. It seems so simple, but it''s unexpectedly hard to get, to say ''see you again'' in this way. I bit down on this and returned the greeting, trying not to forget it. I''m sorry, Mr. Hayakawa, but I''ll be in touch with you after work today. I''m sorry, Mr. Hayakawa, but could you please call me back after today''s work? Huh?¡¡Why? As I was about to leave, I was stopped by Amari. I thought that I should just tell her right here, rather than call her at the end of the workday, but I realized that she couldn''t hold me back any longer as I was about to return to work. ''''I''ll get to the details later... anyway, just give me a call as soon as I finish work and I''ll answer. Oh, yeah. All right. I''m not sure if it''s a requirement to finish telling you right away, but Amari''s expression is slightly troubled. I''m not going to be able to say no, so I''m going to try to remember it and agree. And so I went back to my delivery. 35 34 at the end of work 9:00 PM. After finishing my delivery relatively early, I came back to Umineko Transport''s headquarters and changed from my work clothes to my civilian clothes in the changing room. I remembered to call Tenashi when I finished my work, and I remembered correctly, so when I tried to call her now.... ''''Hey, good job~wa~'''' Oh, good job, Sanya. Sanya came back at exactly the same time, not much difference, and came into the changing room. It''s probably because of the high temperatures of late, and it looks like my skin is starting to burn a bit. As I was thinking that, Sanya sighed loudly. ''Hah~ Wa is good~. I can get healed by Amana-chan, you know~ Oh, I''ve had a lot of healing to do today. I don''t know why they didn''t call the police... I got my mom''s permission to do it. ''That''s it!¡¡Don''t tell me you''re seriously gaining Tenashi-san''s trust or something! I''ve been talking to Miya about Amana-chan for a while now, but she kept the matter of the class visit under wraps due to Tenashi''s circumstances, explaining that they were able to touch each other like they used to for the time being. And yet, it''s honestly depressing to see her asking for details every time like this. ''''Well, a lot of things,'''' I wish you could tell me all about it... It''s a matter of their privacy, you know. You''re a courier, you know that. "Mr. Hayakawa, who is suspected of being a pedophile, has stated that... I''m not a pedophile. This guy tried to provoke me and let me slip out of his mouth by accident, didn''t he? I''m not careless and I don''t like it.... I''m not sure if he realized I wasn''t going to be provoked or not, but he didn''t ask me anything else. It''s a relief that things have quieted down, and after we finished changing we left the changing room. Oh, thank you for your hard work, both of you. Good job, Mao-chan! Good job, Sakai. It was Sakai who called out to me. The other side seemed to have just finished work, wearing a light beige cardigan over a light blue blouse and a gray and black striped skirt. Maybe it''s because they''ve finished their work, but their expressions are quite soft. ''Thanks, Kazu-kun,'' ''Huh?¡¡Naturally wiped out of existence...? Maybe it was a bad idea to call her Mao. It''s almost summer, do you two have any plans? "I''m gonna get a girlfriend this year! I don''t really have one. It''s doubtful I could take the holiday itself in the first place. I don''t remember much about last summer except for work. The best I can remember is that I went home to spend time with my family during the Obon holidays. That''s when my mom asked me, ''Isn''t there anyone good out there?'' Finally, he urged me to get married. I was too busy with work to talk about it, so I tried to cut the conversation short, but for some reason, I clearly remember that he stressed to me for an hour about how it was better to get married as soon as possible. Speaking of marriage, I was invited by Sakai to attend her junior''s ceremony the other day. As I recall, there''s someone she''s interested in, who I don''t know, but I''m sure she''ll be spending time with him this year, so we won''t be able to have a karaoke all-nighter like last year. Then Sakai heard our plans, and after showing some pretense of nodding....... "We''re going to do it again this year, too. "Wow.... He announced that he would hold a karaoke all-nighter as usual. When he told us that, we all slumped our shoulders and hung our heads. You should direct your energy at the person you''re interested in. Sakai often goes to Hitokara as a hobby, but since he''s become friends with us, the three of us usually go together. The number of places is different, so Sakai always gets a high score, and Miya, perhaps because she actively participates in the parties, also sings the most popular songs. In this regard, I haven''t been able to keep up with the latest trends, so my repertoire hasn''t changed since high school. The karaoke itself is not a problem, but it is very hard to sing all night long. I''ll adjust my schedule so that all three of us can have our holidays at the same time, so don''t fill up your schedule without permission. "Wow.... We have no right to refuse. It''s one of Sakai''s few stress relievers, and he can''t bear to say no to the idea of having a good time with two or three people rather than one. Well, he says it, but he''s generous enough to say that if he actually has other plans, he can prioritize them. It''s hard to refuse when you''ve been shown such a kindness, and it hurts your conscience to say no. As I was thinking back, I noticed that Sakai was staring at me. I wonder what it is? What''s up?¡¡Sakai? ''What?¡¡Oh, Kazu-kun, I was thinking that you''ve been very dedicated to your work lately... but you don''t seem to be too tired, so maybe you''ve found a good way to relieve stress? Oh, well, it works pretty well. Apparently, he was wondering about my recent changes. ©¤ I don''t think I''m actually being healed by a little girl, do you? The only person at work who knows the truth is Sanya, and she doesn''t know about Amana. It''s not a joke if you talk about it badly and are misunderstood and in danger of reporting the incident. The relationship with that girl is too complicated to explain, and it''s reasonable to hide it. I had decided to do so, but Sakai looks at me with growing interest in my response. ''Huh. Can you tell me what kind of method it is? ''Sorry. I''m practicing the men-only stuff. Oh, dear. That''s too bad. I''m not defending s*xism, but I couldn''t think of anything else to give a reason to lash out. Incidentally, Amana''s healing works for men and women of all ages, so I think it would work for Sakai if she actually tried it. Especially Amanashi, she''d be healed on a daily basis. After I finished chatting like that, I got in my car and called Amari after I got in my car to avoid any mishaps. "Hello? Hi, Amari. I''m done with work, I''m calling you. ''''Ah, Hayakawa-san. Good evening. Before the third call sounded, Amanashi answered the door. I was relieved to see that he was just a handful of people on the other side. ''How''s Amana-chan?'' "If it''s Tenna, she''s already in bed. You''re early. "They say a sleeping baby grows up. That''s to be expected. In moderation, I ask about the requirement that Amari wants to talk about. ''So, what were those requirements you mentioned during your delivery?'' ''Yes, I''m actually going on a business trip from Friday to Sunday in two weeks'' time,'' ''It''s also...'' I could feel Amunashi''s troubled state of mind through the phone and I had an indescribable mental image of her. How devilish of a boss is he to send a single mother on a business trip, no matter how good she is? But even such a trivial complaint of mine was drowned out by the words that followed. After all......... ''''So, for the three days of your business trip, would you be willing to take care of Tenna at Mr. Hayakawa''s home? ...Yes? The requirements were too outlandish. 36 35 Consultation from Tennashi Two weeks later, Tenashi was going on a three-day, two-night business trip for work. This in itself, well, is still within acceptable limits. But the problem is after that. ''Amana-chan at my house while I''m on a business trip! ''''Yes. I''m aware that I''m asking you to do something outrageous after understanding Hayakawa-san''s work, but...'''' No, no, no, Tenashi-san, I''m not talking about work, I''m talking about Amana-chan coming to the room I''m renting, of all things! Eh, when did I gain enough trust to trust Amana with Amana''s affairs while she was away! The details of the requirements she conveyed to me only surprised and unnerved me. However, however, Tenashi continued on without a care in the world. "Even in the transportation business, which I''ve heard is a hard job, it should be possible to apply for paid work, but... No, no, no, no. Let me check a few things out first. ''Yeah, yeah. I don''t mind. I hurriedly interrupted the conversation as it began to proceed with the assumption that I would be taken in by a smoothie, and I calmed myself down before asking Amari a question. ''First one. Why me?¡¡Tenri''s parents are still alive and well, right? When I heard about the situation with the Minami family, I heard that her parents - Amana''s grandparents - are still alive and well. Isn''t it strange that she can rely on me, who I''ve only met less than three months ago, instead of those people she can rely on first? It''s nice to be trusted, but that''s not the same thing as this. Of course, I thought I would ask my parents first. But for the three days of the trip, my father and mother were going to organize a trip organized by the neighborhood association. Ugh, what a bad time... When I asked her that, Tenashi replied with annoyance. I can''t even rely on my husband''s relatives because of the anguish I had when raising Tenna, and, well, I have my hands full with that child, so I don''t have much time to get to know my neighbors...'''' That''s just the way it is. Oh, what about Amana''s friend Hasumi and her friends? ''''Ki, like our neighbors, we don''t have a lot of interaction with each other''s parents, so that''s a bit...'''' ''Sorry, I can''t follow up on that one...'' "Hey, I never asked you to do anything else... Tenri''s daughter first is a thought........ Let''s hope that this is an opportunity to pay a little more attention to the people around her. ''''Wow, it''s good for me!¡¡But more importantly, there is no one else I can rely on but Hayakawa-san, so that''s why I''m asking for your help! So you''re saying that I wasn''t chosen because I was trusted, but simply because I was left in the elimination process. I''m honestly both happy and sad at the same time, now that I understand what happened. I''ll ask the next question first. I''ll take the second one then. Did you tell Amana-chan about the business trip? I haven''t told them yet. I have to keep it a secret until I find out where it''s staying, otherwise it will make them nervous. ''Ahhhh....'' I was super convinced. Then even if I had said no, I shouldn''t have told Amana. Come to think of it, the first day of the school year is a weekday, but it''s coincidentally the anniversary of the founding of the elementary school and it''s a holiday. It''s an enviable system for a company employee. Anyway, I tell Amanashi my last question. "Finally, the third and final one ... is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good(is it good)))? That''s why I believe that Hayakawa-san is the only one I can rely on. ''No, I''m not, and I''m saying this while I''m doing this, but I''m only an outsider who only interacts with people at work. What if you were up to something? .... It may sound harsh, but I think Amanashi''s actions are rash. Even if he was chosen through the process of elimination, the reason he was chosen as a candidate in the first place is undoubtedly because of the trust we have built up in each other. But I swear, that''s not true, but it doesn''t seem to be assumed that if I''d been hiding my true nature until now. As I waited for Amari''s words with that thought in mind.... ''''Hayakawa-san, are you planning to do something that would be detrimental to Amana and me?'''' ''No, not even this one at all. I''d rather work than have time to plot that. I told her, for example, that''s all I was telling her. My own feelings have no intention of doing that. So I kicked off Amari''s question and returned it. ''''©¤©¤then there''s nothing wrong with that. What?¡¡Eh, no, but.... I can''t hide my confusion at Amari, who seems to believe it so easily. Regardless of my unsettled state of mind, she continues. ''It''s because I believe in Hayakawa-san in my own way that I have decided that I can leave Tenna in safe hands. Please don''t hesitate to say no if it''s not convenient for you.'''' I... Those words made me realize that the idea of elimination was a mistake. It was the result of Amari thinking carefully about who among the people she and her daughter had interacted with, she could trust Amana with whom she could feel safe. I''m sure she must have agonized over it. She must have thought long and hard about it, and that''s why she chose me. I''m going to be able to say that I don''t regret my decision. So, I can only tell you one thing. Okay. I''ll take care of Amana-chan while she''s away on a business trip. ''Really?¡¡Thank you!'' When I responded to Amari''s request to accept her request, the words of gratitude were spun bouncily, as if she thought it was so hopeless. Her response was somewhat similar to Amana''s, and I couldn''t help but give a wry smile. ''''I''ll take care of the rest, so I''m asking you to explain to Amana-chan. ''''Of course, if you can spend time with Hayakawa-san, even if it''s only for three days, it should ease her loneliness a little.'''' I hope so. If they say ''no'' or something, I''m confident I can die. Anyway, I''ll just have to leave Amana-chan to Tenashi. ''''I will also give you some precautions when you take care of her on the day, so I''d appreciate it if you could take care of her. Yeah. I''ll do whatever I can to get the time off, too. ''Try not to strangle yourself too much, please. Then good night. Oh. Good night. Once the conversation is settled, I hang up the call with Amana. I''m not optimistic due to the circumstances, but I''m looking forward to the day I can spend time with Amana in two weeks time. "Well...I have to clean up my room. It''s not that it''s dirty or that there''s anything in it that I don''t want to be seen, but if you''re going to be sleeping in it for three days, it''s better to keep it clean. So while I was planning my cleaning, I was driving home. 37 36 Paid leave The day after I accepted Amari''s request, I went to work early. I came to work early and immediately went to the Administration Department. In order to ''take care of Amana-chan for three days'' as she asked, I first needed to take three days of paid leave. To be honest, since I''ve been in the transportation business, this is the first time I''ve had to take such a long vacation (*I''m losing my senses due to the hard work). The paid leave itself would not be denied, but the problem would be the reason for it. Even if I''m stupidly honest and say ''It''s to take care of the daughter of an acquaintance,'' they might still pursue it as if it has to be me. In fact, since Tenri has no one else to rely on but me, she can go through with a thick-skinned attitude, but the person she''s going to be applying for paid leave from now on is that Hinomoto manager. There''s no doubt that the "pressure" is going to come flying at you. It''s a sure bet that he''s going to put pressure on you with his Ago-like tone of voice, as if he''s slowly choking you. If I didn''t give in to the pressure, I would win if I could get three days of paid leave. Having reaffirmed my own victory conditions, I face Headquarters Chief Hinomaru, who''s taking a bite of French bread right now. It''s huge. You''re going to eat something that big now? That''s a bit of a concern, but first, let''s say hello. ''''Good morning, Chief Hinomoto. Good morning, Hayakawa-kun. What''s up with you so early? I haven''t felt the pressure yet to say hello. "I need to take some time off in two weeks... I see... Ugh, as soon as I heard the word paid leave, I started releasing the pressure! Maybe I''m not thinking about taking time off, I''m thinking about the effort it takes to re-adjust my schedule, but let me at least finish. "I don''t mind the paid holidays, but what day are you going to take them? Well, the week after next, from Friday to Sunday... Three days! What? I''ve got a bunch of deliveries scheduled for that time, and you''re giving me three days? Scary, scary, scary! I know that''s a stretch, but nothing is that intimidating! In the event that you''re not going to be able to find a way to make your application rejected, you should be able to use it. If so, there must be a good reason for that, right? ''Yes, of course!¡¡In those three days, I had to take care of a kid I know, so I had to take care of him! Does it have to be you, by any means? Huh! Here it comes, the words that will be said most in this paid leave request........ As usual, the pressure emanating from Director Hinomoto was tremendous, and if this request for paid leave was for me personally, I would have pulled back pathetically here. But.........I was asked by Amari to take care of Amana-chan as a last resort. In order to repay that trust, there is no way I''m going to give in for something like this, right? I take a deep breath once. I stomp my feet that are about to drop back and face Director Hinomoto, keeping my head calm. ''''©¤©¤I was drummed up that I can handle it. Then I think responding to that is the most correct way to socialize with people. "!¡¡Hmm..... After hearing my response, Chief Hinomoto''s eyes widened for a moment, and then he showed a pretense of hesitation. Come to think of it, this is the first time since I got this job that I''ve contradicted the words of this man, my boss. The guy who was always giving in to the pressure and listening to his words is certainly a little bit surprised to see him stand up for himself like this, face to face. While I was objectively aware of my growth, Chief Hinomoto turned to me with a slightly troubled expression on his face. I understand how you feel. But can''t it be at least two days instead of three? Due to their schedule, we have to do it in 3 days. After that, I''ll have to clean up the rest of the employees'' messes, so please...! Mmm, mmm... I know you''re busy. I don''t know how many years I''ve been doing this always dying job, either. Still, I insist that I can''t miss those three days at all costs, and I bow my head as a final push-off. Even the quintessential Hinomoto manager let out a puzzled snort. Feeling a tantalizing feeling as if this was still not enough........ ''''©¤©¤Isn''t it okay?¡¡I''ll be on hand to follow you around in the meantime. Sure, it''s tough to be shorthanded for three days, but it''s not as harsh as it should be. Suddenly, a word is thrown in my defense from behind me, and I raise my head and turn my head towards it. ''''Sanya.......Sakai..... Behind me, I saw Miya and Sakai. Both of them looked at me as if they were looking at someone who had no choice, but.... I''ll accept Hayakawa-kun''s request for paid leave. I''ll let the top brass know. Thank you! That backup was the deciding factor, and Chief Hinomoto broke off in abandonment. He quickly thanked her and bowed his head again. Well....it''s my purpose in life, you know? I was surprised by the unexpected assessment from the head of the department, but I returned the questioning that continued with a wry smile and a vague reply. It''s a lie to say that she''s a relative''s child, and I can''t really say that I met my parents through her. Aside from Sakai, Sanya, who knew Amana-chan, had a smirk on her face. I''m not going to be able to get a good idea of what I''m talking about. ''''That Kazu-kun is on paid leave, it''s a rare occurrence. That''s not very nice... Well, this guy hasn''t taken a single paid holiday since he joined the company. ''Even Miya? Of course not, right?¡¡I''ve been working there for seven years, and I''m supposed to take my leave... in moderation... Huh? I''ve certainly never taken a paid holiday before, have I? Well, I''m finally realizing that I''m pale. "No matter how many times I said it, he just said ''someday'' half the time. "No wonder they called me the ''Master of Corporate Responsibility''. Wait a minute, did they call me that? I couldn''t hide my astonishment as I listened to the words of a dumbfounded Sanya and Sakai. But the two pretend to be unaware of the situation and lazily avoid the pursuit. It''s a good idea to make sure that something doesn''t happen to Amana-chan. You know, I knew... I have no words to say in response to Miya, who quietly whispered words of encouragement in my ear so that Sakai wouldn''t hear. Anyway, thanks to my good colleague, I was able to get three days of paid leave without a hitch... 38 37 Healing little girls mother was also healing ''Hey, you must be a very important girl to put your job before your own!¡¡It''s ruined when you''re pushing your hard work forward, baaaaaaaack! Friday, two days after I got the promised three days of paid leave I was having a rough time. At any rate, it was because later that day, General Manager Nomoto gave me a normal increase in delivery volume. That too, ''You said you''re going to take three days off, but isn''t it going to be business as usual for the next two weeks?'' And the reason for this is the reversal of the idea that I don''t need. Really, seriously, I didn''t need that idea.... Especially this time, the pain of refusing the paid leave was extraordinary, since it was granted to me. But for now, it''s time to go back to nothing...! Yes, today, Friday, is the day I get to see Amana. I''ve been so busy that it''s now past 5pm. I want to completely heal and forget all this anger, frustration and fatigue.... It was definitely that healing that kept my weary, frayed mind together. With my overflowing thoughts, I drive the delivery truck to the south house. That''s how I arrived at "Mansion Avery Smile". I unload the luggage from the back of the truck and walk to room 184 with it. I pressed the intercom as usual and heard a light sound from the other side of the door. ''''©¤©¤Yes.'''' This is Umineko Transport. I''m here to deliver a package. "Okay. One moment, please. Hmm...? Something is wrong..... Normally she''s in good spirits, but today she seemed so cold-hearted or low on tension.... Just as I was wondering this, the front door was opened. ''Hello, Hayakawa-san. ''What, Amanashi? It wasn''t Amana-chan who came out, but Amari. I would not be surprised if she had gone home in time, but for me, the fact that it wasn''t Amana-chan who came out to greet me just made me feel an inexplicable sadness. I''m not sure if she''s wondering how I''m going to react or not, but she''s not happy about it and gives me a jit eye. ''''Is there some kind of inconvenience for me to come out? I''m hit with a figure, and I quickly mend and lash out. He remains to look at me as if he''s immediately searching for the truth, as he has a criminal record, but eventually he removes his gaze and lets out a sigh. ''Well, I understand. That boy is not at home right now as he''s going to visit your friend''s house. Hey, Amana, you''re not here...? I''ll be back by dinner, but I''m sure I''ll be missed by Hayakawa-san. ''Seriously...'' The unexpected absence of the angel made me collapse from my knees in shock. Oh, I left my luggage in a way that the contents are not damaged, so they are safe. But, you know, it''s a pity that Amana isn''t here or something, Konchikucho.... It''s a good thing that they''re on good terms with each other since they''re probably playing with Sumi-chan and her friends, but.......hmmm.... ''''You person is really.........'''' Amari mutters in a dumbfounded manner. In fact, from the sound of her voice, I think she''s really dumbfounded. ''I got paid time off, but my delivery has been moved up to the week after next. Oh, you''re losing your nerve in the streets. I contacted Amari on the day I got the day off, so she was immediately convinced of our exhaustion. And even then, it wouldn''t feel good to have one''s own daughter as a vitalizer. I don''t need to think about it again, but it''s not well reported. Well, as Amana-chan gets older, this kind of day will probably increase, so we''ll just think of it as a prelude to the next one. There''s some time before the next delivery, but I''ll be tired when Amana comes home, so I''m going to leave for today. Say hello to Amana-chan for me. Wait, Hayakawa-san. Hmm? I was about to pull back meekly when I was unexpectedly stopped by Amari. I turned around to see if she wanted something, and for some reason her beautiful cheeks were mixed with vermillion. ''''Well, could you bend over for a moment?'''' What? So, please bend over quickly! Yes? I was about to ask her back what she was trying to do, but she yelled at me and I hurriedly crouched down as I was told. Just as my head dropped down around Tenashi''s neck........ ''''Ei.'''' Oh...? Tenashi''s palm, extended with an awkward movement, is lightly placed on my head. I don''t know how to react to the suddenness of the situation, and before I can do anything but be dumbfounded, she gives me a look that gives me a glimpse of a bit of unwillingness. ''''I heard from my daughter that Hayakawa-san likes to be f*cked like this..................but is it still not enough for me? Well, I mean, I''m not saying no, but... Oh, I see... Are you sure you''re not just being obedient, Amana? What a tweak in my mind, I confess that I don''t miss the evasiveness of Tenri''s behavior, and I feel relieved when I tell her that I don''t miss her. Or rather, what is this? It''s a good thing to say that she is healed. Amana''s mother, who is indeed a healing young girl, or should I say Amana, gets the hang of it early on and heals my fatigue. The same thing happened with Amana-chan, but this father and son are very similar in the way they come over and stroke people''s heads. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends. In addition to this, Tenri, who was silently stroking me, became silent, and the atmosphere was a bit strange. My heart is beating loudly in a way that makes me cheerfully, and this accelerates the tension even more. ''''~~, Ko, that''s it! What, oh, oh... Eventually, Tenashi seemed to have reached her limit and removed her hand from my head. The warmth that was so comfortable earlier, like inside a futon in the winter, was gone, and I felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness. ''We''re heading to the next delivery soon, aren''t we! Oh. I''ll just put my stamp in here and... ''Yes, sir!¡¡Now if you''ll excuse me! Hah. Amari, whose face is bright red, somewhat roughly stamped her receipt before I could finish, and quickly returned to close the front door. It was awkward because of the air we were in earlier, so even for me, I think her actions helped. In order to shake off that sensation, which seems like a waste, I went back to work and worked tirelessly. And so, two weeks later.......the day comes when I have to take care of Amana during the three days that she is out of town on a business trip. 39 38 Pick-up day It''s been two weeks since the unexpected Friday when I was healed by Amanashi. This day finally came, as a reward for getting through the nightmarish days of hard work while being healed by Amana, or perhaps it should be called a reward for me. Since Amana is not on a business trip for the next three days, she''s going to take a day off and keep Amana at my house. Of course, this is a role that Tenashi has trusted and relied on me for, and I swear I won''t do anything foolish to mess with her. I''ve packed up my room for today, and I''ve made a plan to keep Amana occupied. I had so much fun that I didn''t sleep much yesterday, but it''s not a problem because it will be a chore once I get her healed. I drove my car, which was parked in the parking lot of my rented apartment, and arrived at my first visit to "Mansion Every Smile", which I hadn''t thought about before, except for work. The time was a little after 8 a.m., half an hour before Amanashi was going on a business trip. I''ve had a meeting with her in advance to come at this time, so I''m sure she''s finished her preparations as well. I got out of the car with high spirits and pressed the intercom to room 184. ''Yes!'' Umi... I mean, good morning. It''s, uh, Hayakawa. ''Oh, man!¡¡I''m coming! It''s off today and I''m about to say the name of the company out of habit, which is not a very tight start, but Amana-chan, who answered the door, seemed happy to find out that it was me, so I''ll forget it as soon as possible. Soon after, the front door is opened. ''Good morning, Onii-san!¡¡Please take care of me, Mikka-kun! Oh, good morning, Amana. Nice to meet you too. I return the greeting with a polite greeting from Amana, who has her brown hair up two-sided, beautiful as amber. She''s wearing a pink t-shirt with a rabbit printed on it, a jean skirt, and white and pink sneakers for shoes. And she was carrying a yellow and blue checkered rucksack on her back, as if it were for an overnight stay. The fact that he''s carrying it on his back now means that he''s been wearing it since early on. Is it an angel? ...Good morning, Hayakawa-san. ''Good morning, Amani........'' Following Amana-chan, who turns a big smile on her face, comes out Amanashi, who is wearing a suit as she is going on a business trip from now on. But for some reason, her expression is sulky and severely dissatisfied. ''''Listen, why are you in such a bad mood?'''' It''s not so bad. I asked her anxiously if something was wrong, but she denied it without making eye contact with me. Sadly, however, it''s obvious to anyone who looks at her that she''s in a bad mood. It''s not a good idea to go on a business trip, or maybe she''s worried about leaving her husband in charge of her, even though she trusts him. To be honest, we''re out of ideas. When I thought that..... I''ve got work to do now, so I''m not going to be in a bad mood. Yes, I don''t mind at all that the moment I told the lonely Tenna that she was going to stay at Hayakawa-san''s place for the time being because of the business trip, she seemed happy with anticipation, as if her loneliness of not having me around outweighed the fact that she was so excited about it. ... They confided in me. No, you''re dragging it out like crazy. Since you''re a clever Amana, you might have been concerned about not worrying Amana. That''s not the case, though I''m glad you were happy to spend time with me. ''It''s fine. Originally, it''s my fault for making my daughter feel lonely as a result of being away from home for work.......I''ve headed out on business trips in the past, and I''m sure Tenna will get used to it....... I couldn''t bear to look at the situation too much, so I quietly whispered to Amana standing next to me. "Is that all you need to do? ''Oh. It''ll make your mother feel better. Okay. When Amana-chan heard the details, she asked a frank question, but I assured her with confidence. Just like the other side knows me, I know a little bit about Amari too. Unfortunately, the only person who can put that knowing into practice and be effective is my daughter, Amana, though. ''Hey, Mom,'' Yes? When Amana called out to me, Amanashi, unlike me, bent down to make eye contact with me with a blissful calm on the surface and listened to the rest of the story. This blatant difference in treatment isn''t the first time, and it doesn''t bother me much. Regardless of my emotions, Amana smiled at Amari........ Amana, I''m going to be a good girl so you don''t give mommy a heart attack, so good luck with your work! Yes, I''m Tenna''s pride and joy. When the words of encouragement were sent to her, Amana recovered in an instant. It was easy to know that the support from Amana-chan would be the most effective, though simple. Because I know how you feel, and I know how painful it is. Amanashi, who has regained her condition, coughs while her cheeks turn red, perhaps embarrassed at having shown her earlier appearance. ''''Kohon........There''s a note in Tenna''s luggage with notes on how to take care of it, so please refer to it. If you still don''t understand anything, it''s free after 8pm, so please contact me and tell me about it, as well as regular reports. Yeah, I''ll try to be as uncomplicated as possible. It''s important, I''ll remember it well. After such an exchange, I put Amana-chan in the back seat of the car. Make sure she''s got her seatbelt on tightly and we''re ready to go. Then, for some reason, I started looking around the car as if I had witnessed an unusual sight. The curiosity that comes through is so cute that I feel like I want to watch it all the time, but on the other hand, I''m also anxious to see if it''s something that''s bothering me. I''ve washed the car just in case I had to take Amana out like this, but.... Amana-chan, is something bothering you? Hey, man, this is my first time in a car!¡¡That''s why it''s so exciting! Oh, yeah? A surprising response. Thinking back, I realized that if Amari was driving a car, she wouldn''t have been in such a hurry to visit the class. Then is it possible that she doesn''t even have a car, let alone a license? What a question I had in mind, and Tenashi, who was seeing me off, answered before I could be asked. ''Tenna''s right, this is the first time this child has ever been in a car, except on public transport. I couldn''t take the time to get a driver''s license because of childcare...'''' ''Oh, I see.'' If she was working as a single mother, she obviously couldn''t afford to attend a driving school. That brings up a concern. ''That doesn''t even tell you if you''re going to get carsick, does it? ''I''ve never been drunk on a bus or a train, so I hope I''m okay...'' If that happens, we''ll take care of it. Please. That''s how I settled in for now. When I realized it was getting close to Tenashi''s time to go to work, we were finally leaving. ''''Well then, please take care of Tenna for the next three days. Yeah, I''m on it. Mom, come on in. ''''Yes, Tenna, please try not to bother Hayakawa-san too much. After saying goodbye, I stepped on the gas pedal and started the car with Amana in it. I''m quietly excited by the prospect of three days with a girl I''ve only interacted with on the delivery site.... 40 39 A little girl came to our house (approved by parents) I drove the car with Amana in it for about 40 minutes and arrived safely at the apartment I was renting without any problems such as car sickness. I thought she might be bored while driving, but I think she seemed to be having fun on the road, not to mention the moderate conversation, and maybe it was because she was so excited and curious to get in the car for the first time that she was transfixed by the rapidly changing scenery outside. I parked the car in the parking lot and got out first, then slowly dropped Amana off so she wouldn''t get hurt. ''Is this where Onii-san lives?'' Yeah. It''s not as big as that one, though. Compared to the apartment that this girl and Amari live in, I can''t help but feel the disparity in this apartment. Even so, after spending seven years here, I''m glad to be here. That''s exactly what it means to live in a city. For now, I head over to room 201, where I live, in order to put the bags on Amana''s back. I stop at the front door, unlock the door and open it to let Amana in. ''Come in,'' Okay, excuse me. I can feel my cheeks loosen up at the cheerful greeting. I didn''t expect a little girl like Amana-chan to come to a room that I''ve never invited anyone to before, other than Miya or her sister who comes here once in a while... I''m tidying up as much as possible, but I guess I can''t help but miss the tension after all. The rent of the apartment I''m renting is 46,000 yen and the floor plan is about 1DK in size. At the end of the narrow corridor, there is a washroom and a changing room at the entrance, and it is connected to the bathroom from there. On the front side of the hallway is the bathroom. From the door next to the toilet, you can get to the dining room and kitchen which is less than 8 tatami mats in size, and next to it is a western style room over 4 tatami mats in size, and further back is a balcony which is used only for hanging laundry to dry. ''''Whew!'''' After looking around the room once, Amana can''t seem to hide her excitement. I mean, is it just me or does the mere presence of this girl make a room that was just a place to sleep rival the capital, not to mention live in? As I was thinking about this, Amana began to take a deep breath for some reason. ''I can smell Onii-san! Yeah, we''ve taken care of the deodorant, but did it smell? I don''t mind. I don''t mind your smell, Amana. ''Ugh...'' I stifled my heart and squat down at the favor that was released with a big smile, not hiding a trace of it. It''s because I''m soothed by his straightforward love for me. But you know what, Amana-chan? I''m sure I''m not the only one, but if you talk to a guy like that, he''ll get the wrong idea. You''re cute like Amari, so you''re sure to be popular. Onii-san? Yeah, that''s fine. You wanna put your stuff down anyway? Yeah! I returned to my off-topic thoughts and put the backpack that Amana was carrying on her back in an empty space in the Western-style room. Incidentally, the bed I usually use (washed) is where she''s going to sleep for the past three days. I''m going to use the futon I had brought out for my sister who comes over occasionally. I don''t have high hopes of sleeping with her. It would be nothing but the best, but I think the line should be drawn. Then, Mana-chan, can I see the note you keep from your mother? I''ll just be a minute and... yes! Thank you. When I went to pick her up, I asked her to take out a note from Amari that said she had written notes on how to take care of Amana. I unfolded the memo, which was folded into a small clear file, and looked through the contents. It was written in quite a bit of detail, as is typical for Tenashi, but to summarize the main points.... I don''t have allergies and I don''t dislike tomatoes, but I''m not very good at them. 2) I can take a bath by myself. I go to bed from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm and wake up around 6:00 am. (4) If possible, please do my laundry. (5) We make sure that they have their insurance card and doctor''s card with them in case they get sick. (5) I make sure they have their insurance card and doctor''s card with them in case they get sick. Something like this. As for the laundry, I''ve washed my sister''s that stayed over, so I don''t mind. There''s no problem with meals either........except that I''m the one who has them. It''s because unlike Amari, I don''t cook for myself very often, so while it''s not inedible, it''s not remarkably good. I don''t know if it''s really okay to serve Amana a dish of such quality, but.... Yes, let''s not be stubborn and just eat out. After concluding the action I should take from the contents of the memo, I look at the clock. The time is now past 8:30 a.m. It''s still too early in the morning to do anything. So, first of all, I''ll ask Amana what she wants to do so I don''t get bored until lunch. ''Amana-chan. Do you have anything you want to do? ''What?¡¡What can I do? Yeah. I''ll go with you on anything. ''Hmmm...'' She was going to be reserved or mature with me, but I didn''t want to be that boring when we were spending so much time together. Amana-chan, who seemed motivated by my assurances that I would go along with her playfulness to the extent possible, crossed her arms and began to contemplate while swaying her upper body from side to side. Perhaps it was decided while they were relaxed like that, Amana opened her eyes and suggested which game to play. ''''©¤©¤I want to play family games! Oh, you''re playing house! Her cheeks loosened at the girlish suggestion she raised with a smile. ''Then what role would you like to play, Amana?'' Mommy wants to do it! Eh, is that a roundabout way of proposing to me? If I had a wife like Amana-chan, I''d be able to get over even the most painful of things. Even if it''s just for fun, there''s no reason to refuse if you can be a married couple even if it''s just for fun. I ask further, keeping my expression in a smile, even as I hallucinate a scene that is in some ways bliss. ''What part do you want me to play?'' Amana''s Aka! No way BABY. I said I''d go out with him all kinds of things, but I didn''t expect that. I think that choice is a bit too disastrous for an adult opponent, but the person in question is giving me a glowing look of expectation. However, as I was stuck for words, my reaction may not have been positive, and Amana-chan made an apologetic expression on her face. "Onii-san, did you not want to play Amana-chan''s baby girl? I will be happy to oblige. With that question, the scales in my mind''s balance easily shifted to ''becoming Amana''s Aka-chan. What did I have to wonder about? It would be nothing but heaven for Amana-chan to become a mother. ''Yes me...?'' I mean, I don''t mind it. Really?¡¡Thanks! When I briefly answer Amana''s question, which she doesn''t understand the meaning of the order, she seems to understand that I agree with her and she is really happy to see me. You''re going to be my mommy now, isn''t that the best you can do? With that thought in mind, I made up my mind to do my best to ogle.... 41 40 If you have a bubbly, its easy to get rid of it! All of a sudden, have you ever heard of the word ''bubba''? To put it simply, the term refers to a girl whose mother''s inclusiveness and protectiveness is especially prominent, and when she feels strongly that she wants to be a mother, to be raised, and to be pampered. Don''t get me wrong, this is not the same as being a pedophile. It''s not about wanting to go out with a girl who is younger than you. It''s like a red comet, where the guy you fell in love with happens to be a girl, and you feel a buzz as a way to start liking him. If you feel the bubba more strongly, the bubba is high, and if it gets worse, the bubba regresses to a regressive state of infantile desperation and wants to be pampered. It''s been a long time, but what I want to say is.......... "©¤©¤Okay, drink a lot of milk~ Noaboo. I''m just trying to argue that it''s safe for a grown man to lie on the floor and have a little girl suck on an empty soy sauce jug instead of a baby bottle, even if it''s just for playtime. Where do you see the matter from? It''s certainly too unflattering a sight, but think about it. It''s hard to believe that Amana is a six-year-old with a talent for healing others. It''s impossible not to feel bubba to her. And moreover, this is the kind of play and casting that Amana-chan wanted. I''m just going along with it, shamelessly...you know, I have nothing to be reluctant to be dependent on. So this is not a matter. Yes, QED proof is complete. And so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on. I''m glad you took on the baby role, but aren''t you creating a ridiculous amount of black history, selfishly! It''s hard to concentrate from such regret and fear. d*mn it, entertaining Amana-chan in this situation is just a dream. It''s a good idea to use a soy sauce saucer on the table, as if the milk time is over. I turned my attention to her, wondering if she''d had enough of it, and watched her movements as she assumed a seiza position. Then, with a smile on her face, she taps her own thigh with both hands.... "Yamato-kun, Tsukihi is a good time to sleep~ What...? When I heard those words, I was shocked as well as guessed. I''m sure you''ll be pleased to know that Amana is using her lap as a pillow and telling me to sleep with her. From the point of view of a company employee, what a magical - or perhaps too tempting - offer. Can you sleep with those two little knees as pillows? What''s that, it''s super bubbly and you''re absolutely guaranteed a good night''s sleep. I''m not a fan of that, but I''m not a fan of being called by a girl 20 years younger than me. The fact that you don''t feel uncomfortable about it at all shows how maternal you are.... But the temptation is a very dangerous one. To be honest, the urge to jump on the bandwagon is building up right now, but if I follow that urge, I''ll end up in the pig pen. If that happens, I''ll be betraying the trust of Amari, who has deemed me worthy of entrusting her with my daughter. It''s a shame, but I have no choice but to give it up with a steel will. "Amana-chan. I''m sorry, but that''s not really... Oh, that''s so important. Does it matter? Just as I was about to say no, I was interrupted by Amana, who seemed to remember something. When I wondered what in the world she remembered, she stretched out her short, childlike arms to the fullest and smiled a benevolent mother''s smile as if she was accepting everything from the other person. "©¤©¤Come on, come on, come on~ Let''s sleep soundly in your mother''s lap~ ''''©¤©¤(*)MAMA!!!!'''' My resistance was easily broken up. You can''t do it, but it''s ridiculous to resist in front of such a set meal. You can''t help but laugh. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. Instantly, I can''t hide my astonishment as I feel an indescribably soft sensation from the back of my head. What is this........isn''t your knee-pillow too soft? To be honest, it''s far more comfortable to sleep on than any pillow I''ve ever used. Even though she''s a young girl, she''s a girl...she has a good flesh that''s steadily growing even though she''s still developing. It''s not an exaggeration to say that this unique softness exists because she is a young girl. It''s not a strange feeling, isn''t it, Yamato-kun?¡¡Are you OK? Aye. I''m glad to hear that. Whether she knows it or not, Amana is not malicious at all, but rather smiling softly as a mother would at the age of only six. If you are going to have any inferiority complexes, you will have no choice but to commit suicide, I realized. What is it........does Amana''s knee pillow have the effect of washing away the bad things that nestle in your heart and cleanse it? I can see that my mind, which has been worn out by the rough and tumble of society and hard work on a daily basis, is recovering in no time at all. No, it''s a misnomer to compare it to just recovering. If I were to give an exact example, I''d say it''s like patting a baby''s head with a gentle hand and applying the wounding medicine to the injured part of the body...something like that. I''m actually still being patted on the head by Amana-chan right now. It''s not the usual labor-intensive stroking, but a warm, compassionate one. It''s working extremely well, and the knee-pillow makes me feel sleepy without a joke. I can''t bear to sleep like this and bore Amana, and I want to let the bubbles take over, but every second is overwhelmed by the desire to endure. Yes, that''s it!¡¡I''ll sing a lullaby, too. Huh! Then Amana-chan, who didn''t know about our struggles, started to sing a lullaby. Her lovely voice, despite the poor pitch, was so pleasant.... It''s a blow that''s more than enough to toxify the guts I''ve been enduring. And so I fall asleep with the little girl''s knee as my pillow. 42 41 Park and sudden intruder ☆ In the end, I slept until noon, and then I woke up with Amana waking me up in a shameful way. But I have no regrets at all. I was able to sleep very comfortably. Anyway, we decided to have lunch at a nearby family restaurant. I was afraid that I would be accused of being inappropriate just because I was with Amana-chan, but from the way the waiter looked, he seemed to regard us as a normal family. While being healed by Amana-chan eating a delicious children''s lunch, we moved on to the next place after we finished eating our meals. Our destination was a park not far from the apartment. It was a little smaller than the tennis courts, but it had basic equipment such as slides, swings and sandboxes. The purpose of the park is to exercise after the meal. Of course, exercising right after eating is not good for your body, so we come after a long time. ''Wow!'' It doesn''t matter which playground equipment you go on. Amana is smiling as she is visibly excited, as if everything she sees is fresh. I told her to encourage her expectations, and she immediately pointed to a certain playground equipment. ''Really?¡¡I''ll take the swings then! Okay. There are several other kids in the park besides us. Another group of kids were already playing on the swings that Amana had requested. She was about to say that we should wait until it''s empty, but I swallowed it down. ''Onii-san, that........'' Oh, you have a monopoly. The two boys had a monopoly on the swings that you had appointed. They remained on it for a long time, ignoring a few other kids who wanted to play, and even from a distance you could tell they had no intention of getting off. Some of the kids even had tears in their eyes as they pretended not to care no matter how many times they were told to change. I guess the one who is on the swing is the so-called "brat master". He seems to be arrogant because he has a strange advantage. I could have warned him, but if his parents were monster parents, there was a good chance he would sulk even more. The swings aren''t the only playground equipment in the park, so if you don''t mind your own business and go to the other equipment, you won''t have any trouble. Correr! But even though I was, the girl next to me was not so sure. "You can''t leave her to fend for herself if someone else wants her to! What?¡¡What? Swings are for everyone to play on, so make sure you do it right or you''ll end up in the wrong place! Amana-chan, who speaks with a brave manner, is glared at by the bratty general who is still on the swing. You''re not going to be able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for, but you''re going to be able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for. ''''Omae, you''re a slut, you''re a slut! That''s right! They tell me I can''t do bad things, but I can''t care about boys and girls! ''Yes!¡¡Don''t leave me alone on the swings! Come on! The kid-general and the boy next to him are upset with him, but Amana-chan doesn''t get intimidated and bravely refutes him. Perhaps impressed by this, the other kids, who had only been watching, also began to criticize the kid-daichi, or perhaps it''s rare to see Amana-chan get angry. I mean, it''s rare to see Amana-chan get angry. It''s always a smile, so it''s kind of new. The reason for her anger is typical of that gentle girl, blaming her monopoly for the other kids, and I''m impressed that she''s once again Amari''s daughter. ''''Ugh.......I get it!¡¡You just have to bend over! The kid general was no match for the many voices, and the kid general got off the swing halfway down. I patted my chest in relief because he didn''t hit the girl. If the brat was about to touch Amana, I would have forgotten about Monpe and tried to stop him, but I''m glad we avoided a violent incident. After stopping the empty swing, Amana-chan smiled at the child who had been waiting her turn first. ''Yes, after you...'' Oh, you sure? Yes. Furthermore, she didn''t hide her accomplishments, and showed a maturity that was equal to that of an adult giving up the lead. Even though she had never met any of the children in the park before, Amana-chan became popular in the blink of an eye as she defeated the kid leader with her mouth. Before she knew it, she had become a friend of the kid-goblins. Amana-chan was upset with him for monopolizing the playground equipment, so he didn''t have to drag her around. The kid''s chief also apologized for his earlier behavior, so there was no longer any tension between the children. If this is the case now, I wonder what will happen when they grow up.... I watched with a smile as such a promising young girl played happily. I''m home! I''m home. As the time was approaching 5pm while we were playing in the park, we came back to the apartment. The kids seemed to regret it, but we parted amicably when Amana promised to see them again. The kid-general in particular was blushing and promising to see her again. That was probably a love affair. Amana-chan is insanely cute like Amanashi, so that was a natural consequence and not unreasonable. But if you want to go out with this girl, you''ll have to go through me. I can''t let some horse''s bone do my precious, precious, precious angel, can I? Mister?¡¡You''re kind of scaring the crowds, aren''t you? Oh, no, it''s nothing. I''m glad you had a lot more fun than that. ''Yes!¡¡We''re all best at being friends! I agree that peace is best. It''s easy to say, but difficult to do in practice. The reason for today''s victory is probably because of Amana''s kindness and correctness. I want to praise her for that. But then again, you did sweat it out, didn''t you? My forehead is sticky! Ha, I''ll take a shower then. Yes! Since they seemed to have played a lot, it would be better to shower off the sweat until dinner. That''s what I suggested, and Amana honestly agreed with me. I prepared a change of clothes, showed her where to find the towels and how to turn on the hot water, and let her take a shower first. In the meantime, I fiddled with my phone to see if I could get dinner for delivery. But shortly afterwards, the intercom rang. I don''t remember ordering any particular delivery service, so it''s probably a salesman or something. I judged so, and I went directly to the front door to say no. The equipment in this apartment is old, so unlike the Avery Smile, the drawback is that it can''t be handled through the visuals. With the frustration I usually feel in my heart, I open the front door. "I''m sorry, but we don''t have any sales... Oh, there it is. Long time no see. What...? A sharp chill stabbed down my spine at the voice that interrupted the words I''d uttered in an attempt to refuse the sale. I turned my head to the owner of the voice with a jerky movement like a well-oiled machine, and there stood a girl I didn''t recognize. Semi-long black hair that is so well groomed that it reflects the light of the evening sun, glossy, victorious black eyes that don''t even try to hide their cheekiness... At first glance, anyone would think she was a beautiful girl. She carries a large Boston bag on her back and is dazzling in her sailor suit, the symbol of a working high school girl. The most eye-catching thing about her is her inappropriately large, age-appropriate chest. That''s just one word: huge. I''m sure that combined with her already well-groomed face, she''s sure to be eye-catching. The fact that the girl calls me "Aniki" doesn''t mean that I''m her apprentice or anything like that... she''s a true(n) sister who has a true(n) blood(n) connection with me. I had a fight with my dad and I didn''t want to stay home, so I came to stay here! What? I was surprised with my eyes wide open at the content of her statement as if it was natural. In the event you are in a situation where you''re in the presence of Amana-chan, suddenly my sister, Sakawa Kurone, came on board. 43 42. Dont be fooled by being notified to your sister! !! My younger sister, Kurone, who looks like a beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed, big-breasted schoolgirl with all the elements of a girl who is popular with the public, came to me out of the blue and asked me to stay with her because she had a fight with her father. I can''t stop sweating inwardly at that visit. It''s not that I have to worry about this kind of thing now, as it happens often since I started living on my own, but for once it''s not good for me! At any rate, I''m taking a shower right now, so they won''t find out right away, but Amana is there. For someone who doesn''t know what''s going on, it''s nothing but a problem, like my own brother taking a little girl he doesn''t know into his room and taking a shower. And it''s not funny that the person who reported the matter is my sister! Anyway, there was nothing to do now but let the black sound go. Having decided that, I decided to try to persuade my sister to keep my twitching cheeks calm. ''''Wow, I''m sorry but I can''t have people over for a bit from today until Sunday...'''' ''What?¡¡Big brother, you finally got a girlfriend?¡¡It''s not like you''re an imaginary or anything, is it? You''re really starting to sound terrible, don''t you think? Kuroone-sensei, who took the liberty of guessing the excuse on the spur of the moment, came with a gaze that looked at the poor thing. But that excuse is not something that can be satisfactory. How much do you mean that your sister doesn''t expect you to have a girlfriend or something! Well, that''s okay, it''s okay. I''ll pass the time outside during the day, and you can lend me a futon for the night so I can get out of the rain and wind! ''No, that''s not quite...'' Even if Kuro-One is not there during the day, in this apartment, which has far fewer rooms, Amana-chan can easily be found. There''s no way I''d risk that risk and let my sister stay over. But I was well aware that Kurone was not such an easy opponent that I could easily back down just because of that. ''''Ehhh, let me stay over~. If I''m sleeping outside, I''m sure I''ll be attacked by a guy I don''t know the face of, right?¡¡Is big brother such a heartless man that he thinks it''s okay for this cute little JK sister to do that to him? I''m not thinking!¡¡I''m sorry, but it''s really not convenient! I told you I only let you sleep at night! Sure, it''s like a beautiful girl like Kuroone-she''s asking you to sleep on a park bench or attack her, and it must be very distressing to be imitating her abandonment. But even if you''re dealing with a younger sister like that, you can''t let her know about Amana''s existence. It''s not that I don''t trust her, but I''ll reduce the possibility of her being reported for giving me a strange misunderstanding, if at all. Otherwise, Amana-chan will have to spend the day at the shelter until Amanashi comes back. As someone who is trusted to take care of a stranger''s child, that is something that should be avoided at all costs. I''ll give you enough money to stay at a net cafe or something!¡¡For God''s sake, I can''t do it just this once! But no! I was kicked out of the compromise I was trying so hard to come up with, like some cartoonist. d*mn it, this guy has figured out that we have something to hide! Then would you kindly return on your heels? ''There''s definitely something about Aniki insisting that he doesn''t want to stay there or something!¡¡He doesn''t care if we''re watching porn or something! ''Duh!¡¡For God''s sake, I''m begging you to back off quietly! Even if you''re in the middle of a shower, don''t let a flowery high school girl proudly say porn in the presence of schoolgirls! Perhaps judging that persuasion is impossible from my too desperate appearance, Kuroone-she puffs up her cheeks as if she is sulking. ''Moo~, Aniki''s stingy! No need to be stingy. I''ll just go to the nearest Internet cafe and make a reservation. At the moment when I was inwardly relieved that I was finally going to be able to convince Kuroone-sensei ''Onion!¡¡Where''s the hair dryer? What? As if retribution for my attempts at hiding turned on my fangs, the bathroom door was unexpectedly opened. As soon as I turned around, I found Amana, wearing pastel pink pajamas with white polka dots and wiping her hair with a white towel hanging around her neck, coming out. Apparently, she didn''t know where the hair dryer was and came out to ask me. But this was the worst possible time for me to do so. It''s even contrived from the way the room was built to begin with. If you go up from the front door to the end of the hallway, you''ll find a washroom and a changing room, so if you leave those two doors open, you''ll be able to see yourself changing in the washroom from the outside. And in that doorway is my sister, Black Sound. In other words, the situation I feared was a reality. ''''Eh...?'''' ''Huh?¡¡Who''s that lady, huh? The JK from the front gate and the little girl from the back gate recognize each other with me between them. Kuroon is dumbfounded, rolling her eyes from astonishment, while Amana misses the pure questioning of the stranger. Standing between the two of them, I was dripping cold sweat from my entire body, not just my back. If I could, I would run away now, but in hindsight, that would have been impossible. Because it was faster for Black Sound to move before he could even think about whether or not to carry it out. ''''Aniki........'''' Wait, wait, Kuro-One..... ... (smiles) I hurriedly demanded time to explain, but the black sound in contrast only gave me a smile that didn''t have a smile in its eyes. ©¤ ©¤ Holding the phone in one hand. ''Yeaaaaahhhh!¡¡Get out of here, you f*cking animator! He hurriedly restrained his sister''s outburst of trying to report his brother silently, but the black sound was donning a disappointed expression on his face. That reaction is not unreasonable, but please don''t report him without hearing the situation. Anyway, now an explanation, an explanation! ''No, black sound, there''s a reason for this! You''re making excuses like that because they are dependent on you!¡¡What were you thinking, bringing a little girl into a room with you?¡¡I really can''t believe it! "Godd*mn, what a great d¨¦j¨¤ vu! As I recall, he was like this when I first met Tenashi! How could you trust me as someone to entrust Amana-chan from this situation........ ''Objection!¡¡I think it''s defamatory to treat him as a pedophile without hearing our defense!¡¡So let me explain! Dismissed, you pervert! f*ck you!¡¡There''s no way I''m going to have that kind of arrogance! I snapped back at the flowing treatment of a pedophile. However, the black sound doesn''t stop accusing me of being a pedophile at all and calls me a pervert. Since my life is on the line, I try desperately to avoid reporting the incident, but.... Isn''t this exciting! ".... Amana''s angry voice silenced our argument at once. It''s not so much that I was told the right thing to do, but more that I was warned by Amana. The fact that even the first time we met, Kuroone-speaker, was silenced makes me realize how unpopular we are. Nevertheless, the fact that Amana-chan''s existence has been exposed by her sister, Kurone, doesn''t change. The fact that it has been exposed is one thing, but for the sake of explanation, I admit that Kuroone-san has been allowed to stay overnight. 44 43 Template that my sister is good at cooking Hmm....Amana-chan''s mother asked you to take care of her? Once we regained our composure, we revealed to Kuro-One in the room not only the reason why Amana was home, but also the whole story of how it all came to be. I asked Amana if there were any lies along the way, but since I only told the truth, there was no such thing as a lie. I''m sure that Amana is the most honest person in the world to encourage me to talk, so the conversation went on smoothly and without complications. After listening to the whole story, Kuroon''s reaction is one of doubt and suspicion. "You still doubt me..... It''s my fault for being so careless, but I think it''s also my fault for trying to hide it.¡¡You just said you''re usually keeping the kids of someone you know, and now you''re getting more suspicious as a result of your deception, right? Ggh..... I could barely let out a gagging sound because I knew it was true if the black sound told me so. It''s a good idea to hide it, considering that you''ll be treated like a pedophile if you flaunt it. ''''Yes... so you''re going to stay here after all, Black Sound?'''' Mochi. I''m here with that intention in mind, so it''s only natural.¡¡There''s no way I''m going to stop you just because there''s a girl I wasn''t expecting. Huh, well, I''ve got a futon, you can stay the night. Yes! After getting permission to stay the night from me, Kuroone-sensei strikes a gut pose and lets out an overtly happy smile. "You''re going to stay in the same room? That''s right~ During the explanation, Amana-chan missed Kurone and began to call her ''onee-chan''. Kuroone-san also seems to have forgiven Amana-chan, who smiles carefree, and her tone is a bit soft. The word "Amana-chan" can only be used to describe this. As I was admiring that, Kurone stood up. I''ve received your permission, so let''s get started. Aniki, can I take a look at the refrigerator? Oh. Otherwise, there''s no point in letting him stay. You''re renting your own bedroom, of course you''re going to do this. "?¡¡What are you going to do, Onii-san? The brother-sister relationship between me and Kurone was established without words, but there was no way Amana could understand that. She has a questioning look on her face, and I tell her what Kuroone-san is trying to do. ''Kurone is going to make me dinner,'' ''Wow!¡¡Can you go all the way down, oneechan?¡¡Amazing! ''''Hmmm... You can praise me more! Some animator says it''s a substitute for rent, but as far as the taste is concerned, you can count on it! Otherwise, there''s no benefit to staying even if you''re my sister, and I''ll return to the black-toned complaint that was casually vented to me in my mind. But it''s true that the food that Kurone makes helps me. It''s a good thing that you can''t get away with it. So the food lined up at my parents'' house tonight will be my mother''s. And unfortunately, my mother''s housekeeping skills are inherited by me. ''Onee-chan, that''s neat,'' ''Didn''t I once show you a picture of a black sound in your homework when you looked at everyone''s homework?¡¡He said the same thing then. ''Oh!¡¡Come to think of it, I''ve seen it before! Amana, who seemed to be convinced by the vague sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu that she was feeling, made a surprised expression on her face. Cute. Well, it was only once, and even smart Amana-chan can''t help but forget about it. ''How old are you, Onee-chan?'' I''m a freshman in high school and I haven''t had a birthday yet, so I''m fifteen. Hey, you''re six now, so you''re nine up! ''''That''s right. It''ll take another nine years for Amana-chan to be the same age as Kuroone-chan now. Mmmm.........I can''t wait to be a grown up....... Amana muttered in frustration at the age difference between her and Kurone. From Amana-chan''s point of view, who has only been in elementary school for two months, the first year of high school, Kurone must look like an adult. Even if she didn''t, with Amari, a true female role model, around her, it wouldn''t be surprising if she longed to become an adult as soon as possible. In the meantime, the food seems to be ready, and the apron-clad Kuroon sets the meal on the table. What my sister made as tonight''s dinner was stir-fried vegetables. The white rice is something you heat up in the microwave to save time, but I think the simplicity of the dish makes it easy to notice the difference in flavor. Amana-chan sat next to me and Kuro-One sat down in front of her. In an effort to quickly satisfy this hunger, we began to eat. ''''Itadakimasu!'''' I put the bean sprouts and cabbage between them with chopsticks and bring them to my mouth to chew. The flavor of the vegetables and the pepper tossed in the frying process is delicious. Even if your taste buds have been completely enriched by Amunashi''s cooking, you are more than satisfied. ''As usual, on your front. You''ve improved your skills again, haven''t you? Yeah?¡¡It''s not going to be the same as usual. Her mouth is bare, but from the way her gaze is turned in the direction of the day after tomorrow, she''s just hiding her happiness at receiving the compliment. ''O-nee-chan''s ori-ri, yummy! Oh, yeah? ''Yes!¡¡It''s just as awesome as my mom! Hmmm... yeah, right... Ah, you look so happy. Amana-chan''s straightforward praise had even Kuroone-she couldn''t hide her embarrassment and was chewing with a grin. Not long after, the meal was over, and when I finished washing the dishes I used, I saw Amana and Kurone chatting with each other. The two beautiful girls, despite their different ages, laughing at each other in harmony is a sight to behold. ''I was thinking at the dinner, Amana-chan loves Aniki~'' ''Yes!¡¡I love it! And it''s this doozy of a favor. Oh no.........I can''t stop grinning....... Do you like onee-chan? Hmm, it''s nothing out of the ordinary. In contrast to such Amana-chan, Kuroon''s reply is very straightforward. Hmmm, if you say so, it can''t be helped. You can''t be a liar. When you were little, you used to say things like, ''I''m going to marry my sister and her sister. Kurone Hayakawa, at the time, was four years old when he said this. She''s a bit cocky now, but she used to be a superb big brother. At my coming out, Kurone''s face instantly turns bright red. ''''Gaaaahhhh!¡¡Wait, what, how can you remember something so long ago, you f*cking animator! The way you put it, you remembered it too... "Oh, wait.........ah~..... There was no need to dig a grave........ Kuroone-san, whose sense of shame was limited by her own gaffe, buries her face in the cushion beside her and shuts up. ''''Ehehe, Onii-chan likes Onii-san a lot too~! ''What?¡¡Ngaaaaah! And then Amana''s pure and innocent impressions became a tome and she began to writhe and writhe on the spot.... 45 44 Request from Amana-chan ''Oh, by the way, you said you had a fight with your dad, what was it about?'' Hmm? I asked Kurone, who had revived from her agony and finished bathing while playing with her phone app next to Amana-chan''s view. After changing into light blue pajamas, Kurone, who has regained her form, turns her face to me as she chews on an ice cream from the fridge. ''''There''s nothing special about it~. I just stopped by for a little while and got home late, and I just snapped at him for being impure or my boyfriend wasn''t ready or something petty. ''Dad, you''re so overprotective of the black sound...'' The black sound is already in high school, and if you''re treating them like children because of their childishness, they''re bound to rebel. I''ve told them that I''m with them just in case. What did she say? Mom said my dad was crying himself to death. Hmmm. Apparently, he''s still angry. My parents are relieved that they don''t have to take me back if I''m at my place, and since it''s within commuting distance from here to the high school that Kuroone-san attends, I''m sure I''ll stay for a while. ''''Onie-chan, did you and Onie-san''s dad get into a fight?¡¡You''ll have to fold in, okay? Maybe someday. At least not right now. How did you do that? I have to. In response to Amana''s question, who seems to have no experience of fighting with people.......much less her family, Kurone answers with a look of envy at her purity. Nothing, I didn''t fight with my dad because I hated him. I just rebelled emotionally from the rebellion that comes from adolescence. It''s not hard to apologize if you have the chance to do so. I don''t mind staying home and taking care of things until that time. It''s not something you have to worry about, Amana-chan, so don''t worry about it. ''Yeah...'' At the words of Kuroone-sensei, who smiled and told her not to worry about it, Amana-chan couldn''t help but stifle a look of disagreement. The air became heavy from the casual question, but Kurone put her hands together in an attempt to change the atmosphere of the place. ''Yes!¡¡You''re going to stay here until the day after tomorrow, right?¡¡Then let''s go to the mall tomorrow! Out? Yeah, yeah, I can buy you anything you want!¡¡My brother! Hey. Don''t proudly rely on people''s wallets. Nevertheless, Black Sound''s suggestion is not a bad one. It would be unpalatable to play at home or in the neighborhood park all the time when you''ve been here for three days. If possible, I want to do something memorable. But.......... ''Well, um, Amana, just stay at your house, okay? You don''t have to hold back! As if to take this one into consideration, Amana-chan humbly and softly refused to go out. The black-toned voice immediately tells her that she doesn''t need to be shy, but Amana''s expression doesn''t clear. But, "But I''m not going to ask you to take a bite when I''m being bothered by you, and you''re not going to be bothered by me either... ''It''s not a bother at all!¡¡I''ll buy you anything you want for Amana! So why do you say that? You''re tempted to say so, but you can hold back and hold your tongue. In fact, I''m confident that I would buy anything for you if you asked me to, Amana-chan. Or rather, as I thought, Amana-chan, who has little desire for things, reacted in a reserved manner. It''s not that she doesn''t have anything she wants, it''s more that she can''t bear the thought of having someone buy her something when she''s out and about, even though she''s in the position of being entrusted with it. I would like to praise him for being smart enough to know his place in the world, but at this point, I''d say he''s wrong. You know what, Amana-chan? It''s a good idea, but when we say it''s a good idea, and you refrain from doing it, it makes me sad. Yeah, but... I don''t want to blame her for anything, but at my words, Amana-chan has a sad look on her face as if she''s feeling guilty. Holding her little hand, I meet her eyes and smile at her. ''''Neither me nor Amana would get angry at Amana-chan for spoiling her. In fact, we''re very happy to see Amana spoiling us. For adults, there''s nothing that makes us happier than to see a child laugh. Does that make you happy when your brother smiles at you? I''m happy. Of course I''m super happy. If you can go out with us tomorrow and have lots of laughs and make memories, that will make me even happier. Really? The question would be like the last bulwark of her mind in a way. In order not to bother Amana, who is busy with work and childcare, Amana has learned to put up with her selfishness. That in itself isn''t a bad thing, but in her case, she''s putting up with too much. This is not good. Too much selfishness is not good, but too much patience is not good either. Both are just fine in moderation........at least, at Amana''s age, it''s still okay to be selfish. As a parent - and I''m not a parent - I think it''s very sad that a child won''t be pampered anymore. I''m always comforted by Amana''s smile. I''d rather see a smile from the bottom of her heart than a smile from the strength of her strength that she puts up with. That''s why I gently tell you that it''s okay for you to be more lenient. "©¤ ©¤ I love your smile, Amana-chan. If you can see that, then listening to your selfishness is not a bother or anything. .... After receiving the untrue words, Amana opened her lapis lazuli eyes and stared at me intently. She blinks a few times, then blushes shyly, and her gaze turns right and left before her little mouth slowly opens. ''I want to go out with you, Onii-san...'' Okay, well, why don''t the three of us go out together tomorrow? "!¡¡Yeah! When she agreed to the adorable request, Amana smiled a radiant smile. Then, while we were talking about what we were going to see at the mall, including the black sound, Amana-chan started rowing the boat in stages. It''s time to go to bed. Amana-chan, let''s go to bed now. ''Yeah ... hmmm ...'' Ah, the cute little Amana-chan who stretches out.... It''s quietly soothing to see the way she seems to deliver a good night''s sleep to those watching. Anyway, Kuroone-san lies in bed with Amana-chan. The way they look like sisters from the sidelines makes me smile indifferently. Not long after that, Amana-chan falls soundly asleep. 46 45 Report to Tennashi I left the sleepy Amana-chan in charge of the black sound and called a certain person out in the hallway. I managed to get the girl''s selfishness out of her, but I thought I would ask that person if there was anything I should be aware of in terms of actually shopping. After a few calls, the person on the other end answered the phone. ''Good evening, Hayakawa-san. It''s Minami. Good evening, Amari. Good job. A dignified and audible voice can be heard from the speaker of the phone. The person on the other end of the phone - Amana-chan''s mother, Amana - comes to greet me, so I return the greeting. ''''How''s Tenna doing?'''' He''ll sleep through the night. ''That''s good to hear. Are you sure you''re not causing me any trouble? Not at all. You''re so good, you''ll think I''m being watched out for. "I guess I''m doing my best not to be disliked by Hayakawa-san. Tenashi easily showed me how Amana-chan was feeling, but honestly, there was no way I was going to dislike that girl. Then I reported to Amari about the events during the day. I told her about playing house, playing in the park... and, of course, about Kuroon. ''''©¤©¤Why did my sister come to me without contacting me? Your sister? Oh. I''m Kuroon, he just started high school this year. Thanks to you, I don''t have to worry about the food, though. "Hayakawa-san has a sister... Amanashi? But for some reason, Amanashi on the other end of the phone was dumbfounded, and when I called out to her, I could see that she was startled in a small, breathless way. Was she thinking about something? You okay?¡¡If you''re tired from work, I''ll hang up, but... ''''©¤©¤No. I was surprised that Hayakawa-san had a sister, so I couldn''t help but fall silent.'''' Yeah..... Are you really that surprised that you have a sister? I felt uncomfortable with the situation, but decided to continue with my report. ''So, it looks like my sister will be with me while I keep Amana-chan in my care. Really?¡¡I think that''s normal. But Amana-chan also misses Kurone, so it won''t be a bad thing. She''s Hayakawa-san''s sister, so I''m not worried about her. I''m grateful for that, and I inwardly patted my chest. As I realized when I was about to be reported to the Black Sound, the trust from Amari is quite reassuring. Once again, I''ll try not to betray that trust. As I reminded myself of this, I realized I hadn''t yet told her about tomorrow''s outing. ''''That''s right. Actually, the three of us are going to go shopping at the mall tomorrow at Kuroone-s suggestion.'''' Shopping? Yeah. What do I need to know? "Uh, yeah, wait a minute. You don''t have to do all that... As expected, or rather, from Tenashi''s point of view, she only intended to have her daughter taken care of, but she started to refrain from asking him to do so much for her. Even over the phone, I could tell that she was confused, and I couldn''t help but smile as I realized that we are similar in that way, just like parents and children. It''s not a duty or anything like that, it''s just a normal kind of thank you. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to get along with Amana as well, and I''ll be able to see to it that we don''t stray from each other. ''''But........no, I understand. I''m sure Tenna would be happy if she was going out with Hayakawa-san and the others. I was thinking... ''Well, it seems to be boiling over for some reason...'' Even Amari seemed to think that she would agree with me, and she asked me back, questioning my reaction. Once I told her about Amana-chan''s refrained state, I had a momentary lapse in thinking whether I wouldn''t go into the over-interference I promised her, but I decided to tell her boldly. ''''Well what do you think Amana-chan said when she heard Kurone''s proposal?'''' "...what...? ''I refrained. He said it''s too brazen to ask you to buy something for him when he''s indebted to you, and it would get us in trouble. "... I could see Amari gasp on the other end of the phone. I easily guessed what she would say next and interjected before she could tell me. ''''Wata©¤©¤'''' ''Cause it''s not like you''re saying it''s your fault, okay?¡¡That was just that she doesn''t know how to be selfish to anyone other than Amanashi. When I told her that me and Kurone weren''t bothering her, she said she wanted to go and was looking forward to shopping. Is that so? It seems that Ms. Hayakawa-san has a better way with her children than I do, and as a mother, I will lose my confidence...'''' ''It''s not because of the way Amari was raised. It''s the result of caring for others in her own way. At least, Amana-chan is a good mother, which is why I''ve been able to help her. As I told you in my words, she''s a busy single mother, but the reason she''s so cheerful and compassionate with Amana-chan is definitely due to the good way she''s raised her. She''s a really good mother to be able to do that much for the first time. Even if the people around you and Tenri herself don''t think so, I don''t think there''s any mother who can make her child as proud as you are. .......... Just like Tenashi trusted me and left Amana in my care, I can seriously believe that because I trust her too. At the words I told her with that thought, Amari on the other end of the phone fell silent. The silence finally made me realize that I was getting off topic. In addition to that, the embarrassment of spitting out some kind of green line came late, so I hurriedly asked for attention while shopping to change the air. So, is there anything to pay attention to while shopping? ''What?¡¡Oh, yes, well, you can buy only one thing you want, if you want it. Please don''t let the rest get lost.'''' Oh, oh, okay. Well, I gotta go. "Yes good night. With that, I ended the call quickly. It''s been a long time since someone said ''goodnight'' to me, even though it was over the phone, and I feel as if it touched my heart very much. The way she patted me on the head before, or the way she handed me my lunch two days a week in a worthy manner, makes me strangely aware of the fact that the other person was a widow with a child. I think I understand, just a little bit, the feelings of the men who work at the same company as her and the guys who approach Sakai. She returned to her room with these thoughts, which she didn''t have to tell anyone. 47 46 Morning before departure The first thing I felt the moment I woke up was a small shaking of my upper body. Rather than adding or subtracting as if to slowly wake her up, it was more like her strength was too weak to push too hard. ''''©¤©¤...!¡¡.........! Hmmm... let me sleep... Get up!¡¡You''re going out, aren''t you, Onii-san! ...hmm? Why do I hear the voices of angels in the morning? Such a question comes to mind, but I can''t seem to get my thoughts together and it feels rather tedious to think about it. As a result, I concluded in my blurred mind that ''this is a dream. "©¤©¤Hyah! Mmmm, soft... Anyway, I grabbed the hand that pushed my shoulders and pulled it all the way to my chest at once, hoping that if I was dreaming of such a cute angel coming to wake me up, I would be able to tuck it into my arms like a hug pillow. The body of the embraced angel fits into your arms just right, and its warm body temperature and soft skin like a rice cake is incredibly comfortable. The scent that tickles your nasal passages is also very good. I can hold her like this for the rest of my life. You have to get up in the morning, buddy. Oh no, I don''t want to go to work. "Yikes! I put more strength into my arms to keep the angel from escaping, wondering if I could bear to leave this heaven. Yes, this is heaven where I am now...a gentle world where I want to stay forever. So why is it so sad that I have to go to such a lukewarm job in hell? So I refuse to go to work. The angel in my arms complained about something, but I didn''t care because I was in a dream. I''m going to be healed like this for the rest of the day and... Enough of this.¡¡You f*cking animator! What? With a shout of anger that was suddenly interrupted, I was forcibly awakened to consciousness by having my ear pinched as hard as I could. While suppressing an ear that hurts to the point that you feel as if it might be torn to shreds, you raise your upper body and glare at your underling. ''What are you doing, black sound!¡¡I was just having a great dream! I asked Amana-chan to wake me up because breakfast was ready, but she never gets up, and it''s your fault! Oh, is it that time already? The angry-looking Kuroon is wearing an apron over his plain clothes, and I can tell he''s not lying from the smell of miso soup coming from the kitchen next door. I mean, I want you to wait. Didn''t this guy just say that he asked Amana to wake me up? What if the content of the dream was actually reality..... ''''Uu~........'''' There was Amana-chan, who had shrunk back, her face was bright red and refused to look at me. Eh.........isn''t this bad.......? Cold sweat floods my back like a sudden rush. Along with that, my whole body can''t stop shaking. Without caring about such a mental image of my brother, Kuroone-san calmly operates his phone and thrusts it towards me. There was a picture of me, who has a disgustingly disheveled face, holding Amana-chan in my arms. It''s a matter from any point of view, thank you very much. At any rate, the first action I took was to get down on my knees and apologize to Amana-chan....... ====. I choked myself in the morning, but I got a quick and unexpected forgiveness from Amana. She said it was no wonder that it was hard for her to get up in the morning because of her usual hard work, and she was very grateful for the kind words. And if it weren''t for her ego, she''d be happy to be hugged by me, or she''d be in a good mood. An angel, eh? On the other hand, as for the pictures taken by Kuroone-san, I''m having them erased on the condition that I buy one of the things I want while I''m out. This guy, I guess that''s what he took it for, rather than for proof. This one isn''t so cute at all. After we finished breakfast, we got ready to go out. Amana is wearing a cute pastel yellow short-sleeved blouse with orange frills on the sleeves and hem and a pink and light blue striped skirt. On her tiny back was the yellow and blue checkered backpack she''d carried on her first day, with a small amount of contents. And her bright brown hair is in twin tails, supervised by Kuroon. It looks good with the clothes. As for Kuroon, her semi-long black hair was bunched down around the nape of her neck, and she was dressed in a black tank top with a large, off-the-shoulder white shirt over it. Underneath, she was wearing jean shorts that generously exposed her fleshy thighs. Add to that the paisla caused by the brown shoulder bag, and he was dressed well, but as a brother, it was hard to say. ''Can''t you do something about that exposure, dude? What do they do now? "No, you see, if you''re dressed like that, you''ll probably get picked up, and as a brother, I''m worried about you... I''ll be fine then, I''ll use my brother to avoid picking up girls! Hey. Don''t say something that will make me lose it by worrying about you. You can''t even say a thing in disgust and sigh, but Kurone is dressed this way with a full understanding of her appearance. It is typical of my sister that she tries to be herself, rather than the eyes of the people around her and their assessment of her, or.... Well, I think it looks good on Kurone, but don''t make me worry too much. I know. For now, I''ll just give you my honest opinion. Receiving those words, Kuroone-sensei is unconcerned, but her mouth is slightly smiling. Apparently, she''s happy. ''''Onii-san, where''s Amana?'''' ''She''s so cute. It''s amazing how different they look at all. Really?¡¡Yes! Seeing that the black sound was being praised, Amana now asked me for my opinion. So I state the praise that broke through the obtuseness. Aren''t I overreacting? To be honest, I don''t have enough words at the level of resenting my own lack of vocabulary, so it''s not even enough yet. ''''........Hey Aniki. Aniki isn''t really a pedophile, is he? Huh? But for some reason, Black Sound turns a drawing gaze and says so. I don''t know what she''s going to say rudely all of a sudden....... ''There''s no way that''s possible, right?¡¡I''m perfectly normal. You know, stroking Amana-chan''s head while saying that isn''t very convincing at all, right? But when I explained, Kuroon''s gaze didn''t soften, in fact, it even seemed to open up the distance between us. In the meantime, it was time to head to the shopping mall. 48 47. Seen from the side, youre an older brother with sisters, right? After an hour of driving with Amana and Kurone in the car, we arrived at our destination, the "Akemi Shopping Mall". We drove with the two of them sitting in the backseat as background music on the way, and I''m glad we made it there without any accidents. Since it was Saturday today, it took us a little while to find a vacant parking space because of the many people visiting, but it was expected beforehand, so it was no problem. When she got out of the car and entered the mall from the parking lot, Amana looked around with her eyes shining without hiding her elation at the large crowd of people and the selection of tenant stores. ''Huh~!¡¡It''s so fragile! It''s the closest mall around, but is this your first time here, Amana? Yeah. And I''m really looking forward to it. The smile that comes from my heart is dazzling. I''m glad I convinced Amana to be shy. And most of all, cute, cute is justice. My thoughts drift off, but I pull myself together and hold out my right hand to Amana. ''Here, let''s hold hands so we don''t get separated. Yeah! Amana''s small left hand is stacked on my hand. Even though they are overlapping, they are of different sizes, so it''s like my hand is wrapped around hers. ''Then I''ll hold the other hand for you. Otherwise, it''s going to be hard for Aniki~ Heh, heh, I''m afraid I''ve been stolen by the man and the woman. Kuroone-s left hand wrapped around Amana-chan''s free right hand. Even if the first half is good, I would like to complain about the content of the second half, but it was not spun as words by the happy Amana-chan''s appearance. Well, with Amana-chan in between and holding hands with Kuroone-she might be seen as ''an adult male with a young girl'' to ''an older brother with a beautiful girl sister'' or something like that. I decided to think positively about that and decided to head to the tenant store of the apparel shop first. Rather than me or Amana-chan, this was the result of Kuroone-san taking the initiative in choosing it. As a flower girl in high school, it''s not an exaggeration to say that she''s betting her life on fashion, and I''m impressed by how adolescent she is. But it''s not the clothes I''m going to see today..... ''It''s going to be summer already, so I wanted a new swimsuit! Just as Kurone happily said, it''s to buy a swimsuit. In fact, the apparel shop I visited is holding a swimsuit sale, with a variety of swimsuits on sale. To be honest, I don''t know which one is the trend or anything but I''m not buying my own and I don''t need to worry about it. "Hey, onee-chan, do you want a new mizugi? ''Yeah! See, I''ve grown up here and elsewhere, so the old ones won''t fit. In response to Amana''s genuine question, Kurone smiles as she points at her own chest. Since they bent down to meet eye contact, Futagoka''s insistence is even more intense, but it''s just a wild thing to be tsking. Or rather, if I pointed it out, even though they are brother and sister, I would be blamed for s*xual harassment. On the other hand, Amana put her hand on her own chest and compared it with Kuroone-s chest over and over again. Her gaze was serious or rather.......she seemed stunned by the clear difference between them and herself. ''''Onee-chan!¡¡How do you make your boobs bigger? What? I remember a friend of Amana''s asking the same question at a study group one day and I can''t help but blurt it out. The pure, straightforward way of asking, coming from envy rather than jealousy, is so confusing... even though I''m a guy, and I wonder if she''s really bothered by it. You know that you won''t get a reaction that comes from an ulterior motive, or maybe you know that Kuroone-sensei replies with a smile on his face without a disgusted look on his face. ''''Don''t be picky, eat a lot, exercise a lot, sleep a lot and you''ll grow up~'''' Okay. I''m so used to the way you reply. Even though it varies from person to person, I''m sure that health is the best factor for growth, and in that sense, Blacktone isn''t lying. Well, if you look at Amana-chan''s mother, Amanashi, I think a good line will go, even if it''s impossible for Black Sound Cheng to do so. If possible, I''d like to see her grow up healthy like that. ''''Good!¡¡Well then, I''m going to buy a swimsuit for Amana, too! ''What?¡¡But... It''s okay.¡¡It''s a courtesy from Kuroone-and even Amana-chan would benefit from remembering that kind of thing eventually. ''Yes, yes!¡¡We''re the same girl, so let''s dress up as much as we can and be pretty! Cute....yes! For a moment, I almost refrained from the proposal of the nodding Kurone, but she seemed to agree with our words of encouragement for the future, and Amana-chan also showed a look of enthusiasm. We''ve gotten permission from Amari to buy her just one thing if she begs for what she wants, but this is something we''ll buy as a favor, and although it''s a bit of a ploy to fry her, it''s fine to say no. And so, based on my sister''s advice, Amana chooses a swimsuit that she thinks will fit her. Me? I''ll be outside the store, fiddling with my phone, waiting for them. Because there''s nothing to do in a place like this unless you''re looking at yours. After about 10 minutes of waiting like that, I received a message from Kuroone-sensei telling me to come to the front of the fitting room. I guessed it was just the usual thing, but I didn''t have to go against it and just did as I was instructed. In front of the fitting room, the shoes worn by Kuroon and Amana were placed. While thanking them in my heart for the easy to understand landmarks, I called out to the two people who would be inside. "Kurone, here we are! "Oh, that''s great! Well then, Mana-chan, I''ll open the door! Yes! Oh, they were in the same fitting room. What a thought came to mind, and at the same time the curtains were opened. ''''Ta-da!'''' Oh... The moment I saw the two of them inside, I let out a voice from admiration. The swimsuit that Kurone chose is a ruffled bikini with a blue flower pattern on white. It''s the type of swimsuit that shows off your s*xuality and cuteness, but it''s the type of swimsuit that you can''t easily get your hands on if you''re not confident about your body shape. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. And as for Amana-chan, she had a pink halter-neck type top and pants of the same color that were shaped like a skirt. As for her body shape, being a first grader, it can''t be called feminine, but it''s not a problem because she''s just plain cute. I''d rather give him a standing ovation. ''Well?¡¡Do I look good? It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. Normally it would be upsetting, but I don''t know if I can say that I have any taste for lusting after my sister. ''You''re even more of an angel, Amana-chan. Really?¡¡I''m so happy! ''Wow....'' So, I send praise to Amana-chan, who is not afraid of being praised. The praised Amana-chan revealed her joy with a big smile, but when the praise was ignored, Kuroone-chan gave her a cold look, as if she were looking at a criminal for some reason. 49 48 Arcade Nau! That one! Okay, now let''s play hard to get! Oh! After finishing shopping and matching the high-strung black sound, Amana also gave a cheerful counterpart. Although my wallet was not lightly damaged, I still had some time to spare, as I had predicted this to happen. Anyway, led by Kuroone-san, we came to the game center. Since it was an arcade in a shopping mall, there were a lot of different games on offer. There are many people already playing in the arcade, and the loud noise from the machines makes it feel like a live concert hall. I was used to it when I was a student, but it''s a bit loud when I haven''t been here in a while. "Otokki! Unlike me and my experienced players, Amana, who came to the arcade for the first time, not only covered her ears at the sheer volume of the noise, but she also closed her eyes to see if she was too much of a pain in the ass. It''s not that you need to close your eyes, but I''m guessing it''s just like that thing that makes you jumpy when you suddenly hear a loud noise. I''m not sure if she can hear me even if I call out to her in this state, so I''ll guide her by slowly pushing Amana''s back, where the black sound is blocking her ears, so that she doesn''t fall down. To be clear, I''m not very good at it, but as an adult here, I''d like to take something from him. But even if I were to pick one, Amana-chan is too tall to see the prize inside. So I look at Amana-chan, who has her ears covered, and call out to her. "Amana-chan, can I hold you in my arms for a moment? Yeah! She seemed to be able to hear me well through the palm of my hand and responded in a loud voice so that I could communicate my voice. Since I got permission, I put my hand on Amana''s side and slowly picked her up. With the arm strength trained in the delivery business, the six-year-old girl is really light, even compared to her usual luggage. She seems surprised when her eyes suddenly go up, but when she sees my face, she smiles with relief. She''s cute. I switched to holding her in my arms and put my hand on her chest to prevent her from falling off. ''Which one do you want me to take, Amana-chan?'' Hm! I asked him to look inside the case that I could see in my arms and pointed to a certain item with a greedy look in his eyes when I asked him what he wanted me to take. There was a stuffed toy of a character with a large fork stuck in its round, white body... no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Is it some kind of mascot or loose character? Oh, it''s Daifuku-chan. It''s very popular these days. That''s what it''s called, it''s... The first time I''ve seen this strange creature (?) When I couldn''t hide my confusion about the black sound, the black sound told me as if it was natural. I feel like I''m being left behind by the trend, but I switch my mind to not worrying about it here. For now, I''ll just think about catching that stuffed animal with the crane so that I can hand it to Amana-chan. I take out a 100 yen coin with one of my free hands and throw it in. The game began with light music. Now, let''s try to grab the prize in all its glory...! There was a time when I felt that way too. No matter what, I couldn''t get the arm off because it was so weak anyway! It''s already worth $2,000 and there''s no sign of me getting any of it! Even though I didn''t originally think I could get it in one sitting, this is still too much of a quandary! d*mn.......... ''Oh, Onii-san. Amana, I''m just glad you''re doing your best, okay? No, I''m fine!¡¡This time! The fact that I let Amana say she would only accept my feelings spurred me on even more, and my twentieth attempt, which I was completely stubborn about, ended in failure. ''Hah, hah........ "Haha, I can''t stand to see that stupid animator exposing his haplessness anymore. ''What a black sound!¡¡If you''re so sure, why don''t you try it?¡¡If you can take it, take it! That''s not a line from someone who couldn''t get it, and it''s the lamest thing ever, that''s the lamest thing I''ve ever heard. Shut up, why do you bother going after him? Although I felt irritated by Kuroon''s words of dismay, I couldn''t argue with him out loud because I was aware that his words, which were tacky and sarcastic, were lame. Despite such an itchy feeling, I switched players with Kurone. I watch my sister, who has an unusually serious gaze, with half expectation, but to conclude........ ©¤ That guy, he took it with one shot. What was the point of my 2,000 yen? You can see Amana, who is holding a stuffed animal in her arms and looking happy, and Kuroon, who is proudly showing off her smug face, at the end of the gaze that feels sadness from the purse, which has become light, even if mindlessly. Aside from Amana-chan, the expression on her sister''s face makes her feel indignant. The Kuroonte''s smile never falters as she puts her hand on my shoulder and says... It seems that most crane games are designed to make the arm stronger when a certain amount of money is thrown in. What...? So if Anita had only stuck with it one more time, it might have come off~ Hey, you. If the specs revealed by Black Sound are true, are you saying that my 2,000 yen only ensured Black Sound''s one time? Even if it wasn''t a waste of time, it''s not enough to wipe out the sense of drudgery. ''Aniki''s 2,000 yen wasn''t wasted.......pfft. Well, let''s have a war. The black sound is a deliberately sad expression - no, it looks even more agitated because of the loose mouth. Naturally, I lost my temper. Let''s show this cocky little sister what''s in our eyes.......! Sweetheart, you''re so soft. Amana-chan was hugging Daifuku-chan''s stuffed animal, leaving us in a state of shock. I hope that will change a bit, Daifuku-chan. 50 49 Arcade Nau! Thats it! Unintentionally, we decided to play a game of air hockey, and we chose air hockey. In order to be fair, Amana chose it for us, because if one of us tried to pick one of them, she might choose the one that was better for her. I''d have to say that she had good instincts and an eye for choosing a game that was suitable for a showdown. It might be a good idea to let her play it later. "Hmmm........Can I, an active high school girl, beat my brother, who is starting to see Alaska? ''Say it. You don''t want to lick the physical and mental strength of a delivery service trained by working black. It''s a good thing that you have a strong desire to win, but when you make a forceful hump and bounce back, for some reason you get a worried look from them. ''Stop worrying about me in a stubborn tone because it makes me feel empty. If I kept working that black job, I would have met Amana and I would have been able to go out like this, so it''s really complicated. It''s a bit of a tight situation, but the game is about to start. In an air hockey game, the first one to get 10 points wins. Both players are motivated enough to hold a mallet - the one you hold in your hand - in one hand and hold it in the other. Then, boom! "... As soon as Amana threw in 100 yen, the pack popped up on the table. ''''Yes, first move-rai! Huh! As if he had luck on his side, the pack heads towards the black sound. What a bad omen........ So grudgingly, he is wary of Kuroone-s smash. ''''It!'''' He slid down the mallet, and the puck was reflected off the wall with great force, changing its angle as it hit the wall. Fast ... but not so fast that you can''t react! I predicted the puck''s trajectory as it bounced off the wall and held my mallets in place. Then the puck slides into a position not unlike the one I expected. My mouth hangs up, but I don''t care and shake the mallet at once. ''Huh?¡¡Feeling like a mistake~? The black sound muttered agitatedly when he saw the shot I released. In fact, the puck, which was released at an angle that could be said to be almost directly beside me, was busy reflecting off the wall and going right and left. ''''Wow, it''s going round and round...'''' Amana, who was watching the game, also followed the puck''s movements, moving her face as well as her eyes. Cute. Anyway, the black sound to the movement of Puck, who is moving forward slowly, when he threw a huge blow, he held up an unseemly position. This is the proof that they are in on our plan. First, a point! Then Kuroone-san released a smash... "Yup. What? The counter-smash, which he promptly decided not to respond to, scored the first goal. What the hell was that? Completely unsuspecting of his first point, Kuroone-who hadn''t doubted his first point-is impatient and demands details, but the next puck pops up as if there''s no time for that. What I did was simple and clear I just invited Kuroone-s smash. The logic is that by reflecting the puck left and right, I made my opponent limit the trajectory of his smash. In this case, the puck was sliding in from the right, so no matter how powerful the smash was, the puck would move to the left side. That makes it easier to read the trajectory. It''s easier said than done, though. You can''t succeed that many times, and the black sound will come with caution. However, being wary of counters means that the opponent''s offensive moves will also be relaxed. They will be on the offensive against a defending Kuroone. ''''Ugigi........'''' ''''Hmmm........Hey, hey, what''s up with your usual bullishness, Kuroon?¡¡Maybe you''re scared because you''re about to lose~? ''Oh, shit!¡¡You''ll see...! If I goaded Kurone, who was glaring at me in frustration, with this, she would react in an interesting way. According to Amana-chan, the way we get mad at each other when we get agitated is similar, and she''s reminded me that Kurone and I are brother and sister. ''Sora! Oh! He took advantage of the gap exposed by a pissed off black sound to get the ninth point. With this, if she takes another point, there is no more to go after for her sister. Amana-chan is also watching the game, unable to hide her nervousness. Cute. ''''Already!¡¡I don''t want to lose to a pedophile who glances at little girls while competing! "Hey, wait a minute, don''t say those things in front of Amana. What if I learn something weird? ''The reason to be careful isn''t your appearance, it''s Amana''s emotions! I don''t know what you''re talking about.... Even athletes wave to the fans who come to watch the game, right? It''s the same as that. Anyway, Kuroone-she seemed very unhappy about losing to me, but she suddenly stopped screaming. ''''Black sound?'''' "Hmm........if you''re going to do it, I''m going to do it too....... As I wondered what was wrong, I eventually turned to look like a god of the new world who had plotted an evil plot while shaking my shoulders. No, no, no, no, that''s not a good look for a high school girl in Hana. I was dumbfounded. Due to the action that Kuroone-san took, the point gap that had been as wide as six points was reduced to a tie in the blink of an eye. What does this mean........ ''''Ahahahahaha, how''s my invincible style! You know, it''s against the law to do two things at once. That''s right, Kuroon demonstrated a two-faced style of holding a mallet in both hands. As if it were a knight with a shield, he was able to both attack and defend himself like a knight with a shield and had no gaps, so that''s how the score was tied. This guy is a common criminal. It''s not an official match, so it''s safe!¡¡That''s another fine tactic! Yuck! The protests I spat out unbearably at being pushed didn''t mean anything with what an annoying return. Anyway, this is bad, if I keep this up, I''m going to lose...! When I thought that......... "©¤©¤Oni-san!¡¡Go for it! I... As soon as the cheering from the angel was heard, the pack''s movements suddenly started to appear slow. At the same time, I can see a slight gap in Kuroone-s''s two swords that I thought was seamless, but it could be mistaken for a thread. I quickly smashed the puck that was looming in front of me there, and by the time Kuroone-reacted, the puck was already in her bosom. That is to say, the last point that confirmed my victory has been entered. The deciding factor was a cheer from a little girl. It''s a horrible way to win, but a win is a win. It''s a good idea to have a good time with your own family. 51 50 Arcade! Thats it! Buh~.... Are you still bitter about your loss? Of course it''s frustrating....... I won the air hockey game, but Kuroon, who bought me a bottle of coffee, glares at me in frustration. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re talking about, but it''s not a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re talking about, because it''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re talking about. This guy......... ''''I''m sorry, onee-chan. I thought you''d lose your mind........ ''Oh, no, it''s not Amana-chan''s fault... oh my God!¡¡All right, I''m going to lose.¡¡Yes, that''s it, isn''t it! Oh, well... As if to interrupt my irritated me, this time Amana came apologizing with an apologetic look. It seems that the guilt of taking it out on a first grader was getting the better of her, and Kuroonne honestly admitted her defeat. His momentum pushed him to say nothing. Anyway, having finished the air hockey game, we continued our tour of the arcade. UFO catcher and air hockey, and since Kurone and I are the only ones who have been playing so far, it''s time to get Amana-chan to do something as well. I mean, that was supposed to be the main thing, but what were the two brothers and sisters doing? When I cooled down, I felt like reflecting on how selfish I was. With that apology in mind, I look for a game that Amana-chan wants to play. As it''s her first time coming to an arcade, Amana looks around, her eyes darting from one game to the next. However, she is satisfied with just looking at the games and does not give them a try. It''s typical of Amana-chan, who is basically selfless, but she''s willing to be pampered like other children her age. I think it''s good to be pampered like other kids my age. As I was thinking about this, I suddenly saw a game that Kuroon recommended and I understood. The game is called "Taiko no Tetsujin", in which you beat the drums with an attached bee to music. The game contains a repertoire of songs that even Amana would be familiar with, and more importantly, it''s fun. What are you doing with it? Ha-haha, it doesn''t look so obvious at first glance. Well then, let me show you how it''s done once! For Amana-chan, who wasn''t quite sure about the game, I decided to show her how to play it in real life. After completing the tutorial, she chooses a song on a low difficulty level that even the young Amana-chan can understand. Oh, it''s the OP of "Love Pure". I recognized it right away since it came up when I made Miya meet with Amana before, and I started watching it as a conversation piece with her. It''s the same with Amana-chan, who looks excited as soon as a song she knows starts playing and watches Kuroone-san''s bee handling. Even though it''s on a low difficulty level, she''s good at it. I''m not very good at this kind of game because I don''t have a sense of rhythm, but I can at least tell if I''m good or bad at it. Maybe you can clear this game easily, even if you''re a double-speed demon. Kuroon, who easily cleared the game with full-control, turns to face Amana with a relaxed expression. ''''How''s it going?¡¡Do you want to try? Yeah! The sparkling-eyed Amana-chan held the bee in her tiny hands. Rather than the game itself, she seemed to be motivated by the black sound that she had vividly cleared, which seemed to attract her to the game. But that''s fine for the trigger. What''s important is that Amana-chan showed her motivation willingly. When you select the same song, the song begins to play. She swings her bachi as hard as she can to match the music played on the screen. There''s no need to be so forceful, but there''s no way she''ll know how much force to use for the first time. Even so, the sight of her striking her face with the bachi in time with the rhythm of the song was very funny and fun. By the time the one-and-a-half-minute song was over, Amana was exhausted, shaking her shoulders and gasping for air. But her face was smiling with a sense of satisfaction at having done it all, and a glimpse of an age-appropriate face could be seen on it. ''''Huh..........'''' How''s that, Amana?¡¡Fun? The black sound asks the girl who is slowly catching her breath. Amana, looking at the large bee in her hand, opens her mouth, looking stunned. It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one who''s had a lot of fun. "Pfft, ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!¡¡You were concentrating so hard on it. But I see.... It''s a good thing that you''re not going to be able to get your hands on any of these things. I''m very happy that you are enjoying yourself, Amana-chan. Fluffy.... Receiving the frank compliment, Amana''s face turns bright red and she looks down at her feet in a restless manner. However, her cheeks are so loose that you can tell she is smiling, and you can tell she is too happy to know how to react. ''''Oh, Arigato........'''' ''''~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I can''t do this anymore!¡¡Amana-chan is really cute~! What? At the words of gratitude that were murmured as if they were being squeezed out, Kurone reached the end of her patience and hugged Amana from the front. As a result, Amana buried her face in Kurone''s big tits, and a muffled, adorable scream could be heard from her astonishment. Honestly, I wish she would switch places with Kurone''s position, but I don''t feel like interrupting the friendly scene, so I quietly keep my mouth shut. Eventually, the embrace ended as she seemed to be suffocating and started tapping Kurone''s arm. ''''Huh ... hmm ... onii-san, onee-chan, you know ...'''' Hmm? What''s going on? After regaining her breath again, Amana called out to me and Kuroone-san with a shy blush on her face. She looked up at me with an upward glance when I made a ministerial gesture that prompted her next words....... ''''Can I do it again........? "Of course! How cute and selfish she is! We immediately agreed to such teasing, and Amana-chan was back to playing the "Iron Man of the Drum"... 52 51 Lunch and emergencies When we''d had our fun at the arcade, it was just in time for lunch. Amana-chan was visibly smiling after playing Taiko no Tetsujin, which made me and Kurone want to smile. When we arrived at the food court for lunch, there were many people lined up in line. Let''s get ourselves a seat first and decide what to eat. ''Well, what would you like to eat, Amana-chan? Uh, garlic! It''s so outlandish but I forgive it because it''s cute. Then the hamburger line would be the best. If we''ve decided on a direction, we can narrow down which tenant shop to choose. After much deliberation, Amana-chan decided on the hamburger steak and salad set, Kuroone-soba (cold soba noodles), and I decided on curry udon. Amana-chan. Let me know if you can''t fit everything in, okay? ''Yes!¡¡But I''m going to eat it right so it doesn''t stay there! Oh, wow. Shall we eat then? And so we each get our hands on a meal. The aroma of the spices and the firmness of the noodles are delicious.......this is why curry udon is the best. I suddenly look at Amana while slurping the noodles. Using a child''s fork and knife with dexterity, she cut the hamburger into bite size pieces and chewed them well. She also kept the noise to a minimum, so minimal that you had to listen carefully to notice it, and I have to admire her admirable manners. As I thought at lunch and dinner last night, she''s a pretty neat eater for a first grader. As far as I can remember, compared to when I was the same age as Kuroone-sensei and I, I don''t remember her ever eating so politely. It''s more like spilling or staining was the norm. I don''t know if I can become one, but I don''t have the confidence that I could teach him this perfectly, even if I became a parent, as a glimpse of how thoroughly Amari has educated him. When the time comes, I vowed to ask her to teach me by all means. You have to be able to say that you''re a good person. It''s a good thing Amana-chan has a beautiful way of eating, don''t you think? You''re like a princess. Ahem. My mama was teaching me how to become a responsible adult. It''s easy to picture that Amana talking so sourly with a serious face. After being praised, Amana-chan smiled cheerfully and proceeded to eat her hamburger with her cheeks full of praise. I can''t help but wonder what kind of person she is. And what kind of person is she, Aniki? Why are you asking me? When you look after them like this, it''s because you know them, right? Well, there is, but... I''m irritated by the grimace on his face as he asks me about it, but I affirm that we''re acquainted. By the way, he also gives me a homemade lunch box two days a week, but I don''t bother to mention it, so I keep it quiet. I''m sure that if I don''t tell Kurone about Tenri''s personality, she will persistently ask me about it. It''s because I understand that my sister is that kind of person that I decided to tell her without flinching. ''''You''re a beautiful woman with a picture-perfectly serious personality, and you''re impeccable as a person and a parent who can think for Amana-chan. ''Wow, I expected a certain amount of this since Amana-chan is so cute, but she''s really pretty. The first time I met you, I could tell you were younger than me. Especially when it comes to your cooking skills, you''re at a level where you can compete with Kuroon. Oh, I see. The black sound that convinced me of my explanation was shown by nodding something blatantly and then....... ''''So?¡¡You know what you''re doing... and what you''re doing... and what you''re doing. What? The question that grabbed my heart was put to me. You have to be able to say that you''re not the only one who has a good idea of what you''re talking about. You want to wrap your head around the inescapable gaffe of self-destruction, but your sister''s curiosity was not kind enough to allow you that kind of time. ''''I thought you were a pedophile, but I didn''t know you had a taste for married women... As a sister, I can''t help but be disgusted by my brother''s abnormal taste...'''' ''Cause it''s not!¡¡It was because Amanashi took care of my nutrition... "Call me names and I''ll call you names!¡¡Oh no, you''re the one who does the name-calling with people with kids! ''No, no, no, nothing like you''d expect has happened! ''Again - if you miss it now, you have no hope of getting married, do you?¡¡I have to take my chances properly~ That''s...! The more you argue with me, the more you''re being driven to the bottom of the barrel, dammit! It''s true that now that he''s able to build trust with a woman like Amari, it''s an opportunity. But it''s also true that I have no intention of doing anything about her. So while Kuroon''s evil reasoning is pointless, he''s not the kind of guy who would stop at saying it. As I was pondering how to silence her........ ''''Onee-chan.'''' Hmm?¡¡What''s wrong with you, Amana-chan? I''m going to make a meal of it. Yes. Amana easily silenced him with a smile that didn''t make her eyes smile. ''''Onii-san, too.'''' Oh, yes. I was pissed off too. What a shameful sight for both brother and sister to be exposed........ After lunch, we had to take a restroom break and meet at a bookstore near the food court before going to the next restaurant. But for some reason the men''s room was always crowded at such times, and by the time our turn came at last, more than 10 minutes had passed. When I arrived after I finished using the restroom, I found that the black sound that had come before me was looking around. Besides.......... ''''Black sound, what''s going on?¡¡Is Amana-chan here yet? ''¡¡Oh, uh, my brother.... Just as she asked her sister, Amana, who should have been heading to the women''s restroom with her, was not there. When questioned, Kurone comes with a weak expression as if her usual bullishness is a lie. It''s as if she''s in a hurry, but she''s not sure how to act.... In a moment, a possibility has passed through my head. If this expectation is correct, then the impatience that my sister is feeling is perfectly natural. You can find a number of different types of products and services on the market. "Ah, Amana-chan, we got separated........ Huh! He told her of the fact that Amana had gotten lost in this large shopping mall. 53 52 What to do more than an apology than a regret After finishing lunch, Atashi and his friends decided to take a bathroom break before turning to the next restaurant. I noticed that there was a huge line in the men''s restroom where men''s buddies were lined up, but I quickly lost interest in the women''s restroom as long as it wasn''t like that. There are a lot of people in front of the restroom too! Yeah. Let''s stick together so we don''t get separated. Yeah! While agreeing with Amana''s frank impressions, I turn my gaze to the little girl standing next to her for that. Amana-chan that''s her name. She has light brown hair that is almost amber in color, round and beautiful lapis lazuli eyes, and a beautiful young girl with a promising future for a mere six years old - no, a beautiful young girl. It''s a miracle that he met her at work. And not only that, he also said that he has a delivery service two days a week to help him recover from his daily fatigue. When I first heard about this, I thought it was a terrible idea, but from what I''ve heard, Amana-chan herself is willing to do it, and more importantly, she''s got her mother''s permission to do it. It''s hard to believe, but she''s not a bad kid, in fact she''s too good to be bothered. He''s too clever for a first grader... but we were able to see his childlike cooing, just like when we played "Iron Man of the Drum". I realized that he simply doesn''t know how to be selfish. It''s nothing short of astonishing that he''s the one who brings out those wrongs. Seeing Amana pampering him reminded me of the time when I used to pamper him like that. I can''t do childish things like that now, but I hope she learns to be more lenient like I was in the past. That''s how much Amana-chan''s presence was too much. It''s kind of hard to leave her alone.... While I was thinking about this, we went out of the restroom and were heading to the bookstore, where we decided to meet, when we were suddenly blocked by a roadblock, so I stopped and looked up to see what it was about. ''Hey you''re cute!'' Come have tea with us when you''re free. Huh? But the other person was a very flirtatious man at the first meeting. It''s like he was approached as a target for pickup, and it''s a pain in the ass, and I feel like it''s someone else''s problem. This is especially bad for such a move. It''s not a good idea to try to hide the lewdness of your gaze, and even though Amana is with you, you''re treating her as if she isn''t there. I''m not saying you shouldn''t look at her because she''s dressed very revealingly, but that doesn''t mean you can''t look at her breasts or legs or anything else nasty. I''m used to hiding that kind of disgust, so I reply with a troubled, affectionate smile for now. I''m sorry. I''m with my sister and I''m with Karepi today~ He doesn''t really have either of them, but it''s too much trouble to explain his relationship with Amana-chan and he lies about being her sister. Then, as a lying boyfriend, he shows her a picture of Miya-san, who is close to Aniki at work and in private. It''s a picture I took two years ago when I stayed in Aniki''s room, just to commemorate our meeting by chance. I''ve been asked out on a few dates, but I''ve politely refused to go out with him a few times. Anyway, the flirtatious men obviously got scared off in front of Sanya-san, who at first glance looks like a man with a flair, and left. If you''re going to back down just like this, it''s almost as if you''re a man and you know your degree. I breathed a sigh of relief as I dismissed the pickup. Aside from the fact that I''m used to it, I look at Amana-chan to see if I gave her a scary thought. "........Huh? However, I didn''t see Amana, who should have been next to me. I quickly looked around, but it was hard to find that short girl in the crowd because she was so young and it was hard to find her in the crowd. I tried to call out to her while heading to the meeting place, but the hustle and bustle drowned it out and it was useless. Soon after, I arrived at the bookstore, but Amana was nowhere to be found. ©¤ I got completely separated from her........ ====. "I''m sorry, Anita. If I hadn''t gotten tangled up in a pick-up or something... if I had just held hands with Amana properly, this wouldn''t have happened... With her usual cockyness lurking, Kuroone-she was pale and piled on regret. It''s true that I wish Kurone had held her hand, but it was the pick-up guys who got involved in the first place. It''s impossible to say that you can''t talk to this guy because of his appearance, and there''s no way to blame him for what passed. "Yup, what if I get kidnapped or something.......if I scare Amana-chan because of me....... Calm down, Black. This is no time to settle down! In response to the words that told her to be calm, Kuroon retorts with a tense look. ''''It''s because of me that I''m making that girl lonely, so we have to find her quickly...! So, in order for this to work, you have to calm down. ''Aren''t you worried about Amana-chan!¡¡How can you be so fluent in the fact that her mother will hate you if you''re not good enough! She must have a strong sense of regret. I''m sure you''ll be able to find a way to make it work. I''ve decided that just warning her with words won''t get us anywhere, so I hold my hands up and decide to clap my hands together with all my might by Kuroone-s ear. ''''©¤©¤? There was a dry sound, as if a balloon had burst, and the sound startled the black sound, and the black sound rolled its eyes and turned its head towards me. After making sure that the impatience is gone from his expression, I open my mouth. ''''Of course I''m worried about you. But that''s why you have to keep your cool in a situation like this.'''' .... Don''t tell me not to regret it, but don''t do that until after you find Amana and apologize. If you try to look for her in a hurry, you''ll miss her by accident. "Oh, I''m not... no, I get it... I was about to argue that I wouldn''t make such a blunder, but he immediately remembered what happened earlier when he wasn''t cool with it and backed off easily. It''s unusually salty, but under the circumstances, it''s not unreasonable. I put my palm on my sister''s head and lightly stroked it to encourage her. Then, to reassure her, she smiled and spoke the rest of the story. ''''It hasn''t been that long since we got separated, so let''s split up and look for them. Yes. After telling that to Kurone, who has finally regained her composure, we split up and went to look for Amana-chan in two groups. Stay safe........! 54 53 Do you come here? In order to find Amana-chan, who has gotten separated from her, she and Kuroone-san split up and run through the shopping mall. I''ve been trying to ask people I passed on the way to tell them about her features, but they either replied that they hadn''t seen her or they just looked at me like I was a criminal. ........It''s too rude to say that you don''t have a single bit of intention to do that. In fact, a guy like that wouldn''t ask you if you''ve ever seen a girl this openly. I don''t care what''s on my mind right now. You''re going to pass so many people in such a large mall, and you force yourself to convince yourself that it''s going to be difficult to keep just one girl in a corner of your memory. Normally, a lost child would cry from loneliness, but I can''t imagine Amana-chan being like that. In fact, it''s more likely that she would have stopped right there when she realized she''d strayed away so she wouldn''t have to pass by. Is that girl really a first grader? If I''m not good at it, it might be Amana-chan who is the calmest person in the room. But no matter how clever she is, she''s never been to a shopping mall before and this is a crowded place. You can''t blame her for not being able to function with her sense of direction and get lost if her vision is restricted, unlike me and Kurone. You''ll be able to find a lot of people who have a lot of confidence in you, but it''s hard to find them. It''s not the black pitch of earlier, but this is getting a little impatient....... Aniki. The best way to do it is to have a look around. And then a message came flying in from the black sound. I send a text asking about not being found and how things are going there, and it is immediately read and replied to. ''Sorry. Not yet either.'''' "Oh, really... I don''t like the sound of blackness, either. We''ve been looking for this guy for what, half an hour now? I''d be itching for Amana to at least have a kids'' mobile phone, but asking for something that isn''t there won''t help. I''ll tell Amana to give her some kind of way to contact me after I find her. As I resumed my search with that in mind, some light sound came out of the building''s broadcast that was playing background music and sale information. I quickly lost interest and started to look around to see if there was some kind of trouble, at the same time an announcement was made. ''''We have a lost child announcement for our customers. Nantenna is waiting for you at the Lost Child Center. I repeat. We are taking care of Nantenna at the Lost Child Center. Parents/guardians, please come to the Lost Child Center next to the service area on the first floor...'' ...What? Is this what a crane call is all about? The name of the girl I was looking for right now was announced over the building''s public address system, which made me stop in my tracks. After ruminating over the content of the announcement, which was equivalent to a heavenly voice, I rushed out to the lost child center on the first floor. ====. On the way there, he meets up with Kuroon and the moment he reaches the Lost Child Center, he is faced with one problem. That is........how to take in Amana-chan. I don''t need to confirm this now, but Amana-chan''s relationship is one of friendship. I''ve only heard of them as friends with a 20 year age difference or on social media. The only way to prove that relationship is through testimony from the person in question. However, the staff at the Lost Child Center didn''t believe in the relationship between her and the child, and even with the encouragement of Kuroone-sensei, the answer was a resounding ''no''. I''m tormented with regret that I should have brought the memo that Amari had kept for me, but after asking her to look at the history of conversations with her left on my phone, I only manage to get a face-to-face meeting with Amana. ''Onii-san!¡¡Hey, girl! Yeah, I didn''t really know him... As soon as Amana came out of the room at the lost child center and saw me and Kurone, a big smile appeared on her face. A staff member casually let out a paranoid murmur, but for us it''s nothing to worry about as long as we get to see Amana-chan in one piece. Anyway, Amana-chan''s happy action of coming to hug my leg brought the lost child commotion to a close. I''m sorry, Amana-chan!¡¡I wouldn''t have gotten lost if I had been right... I''m so sorry! When Amana came back safely, Kuroone-san clasped her hands together and uttered an apology. ''Uh-huh. Onee-chan looked for Amana for me, right?¡¡I''m sorry I lost you and your sister, Amana no Ho, "Wow, is this girl really in first grade?¡¡You''re too good and too godly, and I feel even more sorry for you~ In contrast, Amana-chan, on the other hand, rather than showing any signs of resentment, she simply forgave herself for being at fault. At the depth of her generosity, Kurone reveals her mixed feelings of confusion and admiration. In fact, he doesn''t seem to care at all that he was lost, and he can''t hide his surprise at the fact that the possibilities ahead of him were so done-like without a figure. ''''Um~ There''s also the person who brought that child here...'''' Oh, really?¡¡If so, I''d very much appreciate it if you could call me, as I''d love to thank you. I understand. The attendant reveals the existence of a kind person who helped Amana-chan, and she happily asks him to call her out to thank him. How could he call out to me without fear of trouble........ Since Amana-chan is a good listener, it wouldn''t have been too much of a hardship, but I still want to express my gratitude in a chaste way. Then when I was thinking about how to thank her......... ''''©¤©¤Ka(©¤©¤)zu(©¤©¤)you(©¤©¤)...?'''' ... what? Hearing the voice muttered in astonishment, I felt a cold sweat like a waterfall running down my spine. Wrong person......... That voice was very familiar, and I''m the only one who doesn''t need to think back to the fact that he(...) woman(...) calls me ''Kazu-kun''. I''m not going to be able to get rid of it. And then, there was my colleague at work, dressed in civilian clothes - Mao Sakai. She was wearing a pastel green dress with a pastel green dress with a hem that hung over her thighs and jeans, and was quite pretty for her to be in her usual outfit. But the eyes behind her glasses were wide with astonishment, and she realized that the reason was next to her. That''s right, the one next to me right now is the little Amana-chan who answers to anyone who sees her as a little girl. I could tell that she was here because Sakai was the person who brought Amana-chan to the Lost Child Center, but I guess she had no idea that her companion was me, the person she knew. And the alarm bells of caution were ringing in my head. What happens twice in this world is three times. Since he had almost been reported by Amari and Kuroon, it was easy to consider Sakai''s actions after this. What a joyless growth. While thinking about this, Sakai brought his trembling hands to his mouth and..... It''s a good idea to make sure that you''re not going to have to worry about the fact that you''re not going to be able to find a way to make a good impression. He muttered, with a face that had encountered the worst scene. ......... .........n? 55 54 I didnt expect that misunderstanding What did you say? It was all I could do to ask that back to the question that was too plainly stated. It''s the same for Kuroone-a dumbfounded expression on her face. Amana-chan was tilting her head in a kyoton, unable to swallow the situation. Cute. But what on earth makes you think she got married and had a child? I don''t mean to brag, but I''m turning 26 this year, and that age = virgin with no girlfriend history. Oh, I''m starting to feel like crying.... And anyway, it''s not that I didn''t hear it, unfortunately. It''s just that I couldn''t understand it on the spur of the moment because of the sudden and unthinkable things that were said. The reason for such a question like this guy saying such a thing, Sakai reveals the reason with his expression still tense, "Because........ ''''Because........I have such a young and pretty wife and child.......'''' No, no, no... I can''t understand where I saw such a mistake, and I wave my hand in denial with a wry smile on my face. The only two people acting together today should be my sister and Amana-chan, and no one else. Could it be that she''s seeing some kind of a background spirit or something? If that''s the case, I''d seriously consider going for an exorcism in the near future. And I''m sure they''re all worthless. You know, Sakai. This girl is, um......... Unlike Miya, I try to explain the relationship with Amana-chan to Sakai, who doesn''t know what''s going on, but honestly, I''m lost for words to briefly explain the miraculous process of walking a tightrope like a miracle. While you''re taking the time to do so, Sakai forces a smile with teary eyes and continues. ''''Ah, haha you don''t have to deny it just because you''re embarrassed. You have a beautiful and stylish wife and a cute daughter, so you can''t be a beehive of bragging rights on the contrary. At least I''ll congratulate you, okay? Um, Sakai?¡¡I didn''t mean to... Of course I''m not going to run it off at work. Of course I wouldn''t make a big deal out of it at work, but then you need to take a proper break. You have such a wonderful family, you need to take care of your family... Sakai-san?¡¡I don''t know what you''re talking about. Yeah. We can''t have just a colleague interrupt us forever, can we?¡¡I''m sorry.... I don''t know why the conversation doesn''t get along with each other. I tried to talk to him to clear up the misunderstanding, but he made a mysterious discovery, and I couldn''t continue the conversation properly. In fact, I feel like I''m hurting them even more and I''m starting to feel bad about it. "Well, I''d better be off... Sakai... Eventually, Sakai''s patience becomes unbearable and he turns himself around to leave. He hurriedly tries to call out to her, but.... ''''Um, can I have a word with you~?'''' What? Black noise? Earlier, Kuroone stopped Sakai by placing a hand on his shoulder. ''''I think I''ve misunderstood you, so I''ll correct you~'''' The two of them were stunned, not understanding the reason, and then the black sound smiled at them. "©¤©¤I''m Kore''s younger sister, and this child is the child of the A-ni-ki''s knowledgeable one, right? ...Heh? Sakai was dumbfounded by the correction of the black sound, with its emphasis on the subject, like a pigeon being pigeonholed. At the same time, I realized how Sakai had mistakenly thought I was married and with children, and I put my hand over my mouth to hide the smirk on my face. In other words, she thought Kuroone-she thought she was his wife and Amana-chan was his daughter. ©¤ I didn''t expect that mistake........ It''s better that they didn''t call the police, but that''s very bad for your heart. It didn''t take long for Sakai, who gradually swallowed the black sound''s words, to go down with a red face like a tomato. ===. You okay?¡¡Sakai? Adding Sakai, who had managed to regain her composure, we were sitting at a table in the food court. She''s a contributor to the Amana-chan lost child fiasco, though, and she''s propped up in shame for her ridiculous misunderstanding. Normally, I''d like to thank her immediately, but if the person in question seems devastated, it''s best to leave her alone for a while. For now, I ask Amana what she did after she and Kurone got separated. When she realized that she was lost, she stood there waiting for me or Kuroon to pass through the crowd. She''s amazing. But while none of the results came to fruition, I was approached by Sakai. He asked me where my parents were, but while I was having trouble answering the question because Amari was on a business trip and her father had died, it seems that Sakai suggested that he was going to call them over the air from the lost child center. And so, by the time we arrived, Amana-chan seemed to have taken to her, calling her ''onee-san''. I feel bad for Sakai for making black history, but I''m glad it was someone I know who found her and called out to her. ''Oh no~ By the way, I didn''t expect Aniki to have such a beautiful colleague~'' What''s with that smirk on your face? Sakai and I are close, but we''re not much more than co-workers, you know? Eh. Big brother, are you serious about that? "?¡¡Yes, but? Huh..... When I told Kuroone-someone who was obviously teasing me that he was just a coworker, for some reason he gave me an inescapable look. On the other hand, Sakai was given a sympathetic look, and I feel like there was a difference in the way he was treated. I don''t understand. ''''That said, I heard Kazu-kun had a sister, but I didn''t know she was this cute. ''Huh?¡¡Was it?¡¡But he''s cute, sure, but he''s a lot cheekier. It''s not so much the cuteness that''s left over as the strength. Even her breasts are large and... Comparing herself to Kuroone-sensei, Sakai puts her hand on her own chest as if it were empty. ''''What did you say?'''' I just thought that Sakai is a beautiful woman too, so I didn''t have to worry about it. I returned his sharp look as if he had read our thoughts and returned it with an air of equanimity. Scary.........how did you know....... ''''Eh........really?'''' In response to the spur-of-the-moment reply, her gaze changed to one that seemed to exude unconcealed happiness this time. What the hell. My face is hot........ ''''Hmmm........'''' Black sound was staring at us like we were amused. When I was uncomfortable with that, my sister put her hands together and made a light noise. ''Yeah, Aniki!¡¡You should go around the mall in two(-) people(-) to thank Mr. Sakai. What? Huh? ''You can buy something you want!¡¡Feast on this!¡¡Or if you want, you can pick out your next holiday prep item to go on!¡¡We''re here at the mall, so we have to take full advantage of the opportunity! It''s a very good idea, but it''s not a good idea. But that proposal certainly makes sense. It''s a good thing that you''re able to get the most out of your time with us. And since we are in the delivery business, you never know when you''ll be able to take the same day off as her next time. Well it''s good for me, but what about Sakai? Wow, me? Why am I surprised? Does it mean that no matter how much I say thank you, I''m not happy with the idea of going around the store with a guy I''m rumored to be in a relationship with? Maybe they want to avoid the possibility of being found by the guys in the company. Then you try to open your mouth as if to refrain from forcing yourself to do so, but.... You''re right. Shall we settle our debts and loans by the end of the day? Oh, well... I didn''t expect him to agree. Well, if you say you like it, then I''ll take on whatever it is you want to do, even if it''s a luggage carrier. Black sound... I''ll be with Amana. I''ll hold your hand firmly so that you don''t get separated this time, so don''t worry about it. All right. You''re all yours. Hey, sister, come in. The expression on Kurone''s face as she appeals to Amana-chan to hold her little hand and never leave her is serious, as she doesn''t want to make the same mistake again. Then I decided that it would be okay and decided to go around Sakai and the shopping mall with Amana-chan seeing me off.... 56 55 Sakai is satisfied just by being next to him I rescued a girl who turned out to be lost, and the person I loved was with her sister as her guardian. I wondered what kind of miracle the odds were, and then something happened that I wouldn''t have believed even if I had told myself yesterday.... I was so surprised that I made a weird mistake, but... oh my god, how stupid I was thinking! Anyway, now I''m going on an unexpected date with the person I like - Kazu-kun. The proposer is his sister. She''s a cute girl with black hair, and her breasts are big - really big. I just want her to share a little bit - but let''s not think about it any more. I mean, she''s definitely aware of her feelings for Kazu-kun, right? Otherwise, I wouldn''t have asked you to act together in such an obvious way... would it have been so obvious? I can see that she''s exactly the reason Kazu-kun took a rare paid holiday. She was so cute and clever that it''s hard to believe she was still in the first grade.... The way Kazu looked at Amana-chan like that was very kind, and although it wasn''t a good look for a child, I was envious of her. When you submitted your request for paid leave to Mr. Hinomoto, you said it was your purpose in life, but I wonder if Kazu is a pedophile or something...? Nope, don''t think about doubting him like that. It''s the date of your dreams now, and you need to enjoy it properly! Sakai. Like I said before, thanks for finding Amana-chan. ''Don''t worry about it. It just happens to be me, and I don''t need to be so awed and grateful. Even so, it was Sakai who actually helped the girl, and I still want to thank him. ''''Well. Can we expect a thank you then? ''''Ugh ... please be gentle with me ...'''' I enjoy this casual conversation. Just walking side by side with Kazu, my heart is already filled with happiness. However, I wasn''t thinking about getting an honorarium, so I''m not sure what to get for it. It''s awkward to ask someone to buy you something too expensive or large, and it''s not the time to eat, so you don''t feel hungry. However, if you buy something cheap and small, he won''t be satisfied with it. So, what is it that Sakai is looking for? Hmmm. It''s quite troubling when it''s said, isn''t it~ I racked my brain for what I wanted, but I never got an answer. Then I thought, "Well, let''s just enjoy this as a pure date until we come up with something. Let''s go around to different shops for now. And if there''s something good in it, that is. Yes, sir. When I told him of my policy, Kazu-kun easily accepted it without a disapproving look on his face. I guess it''s because I don''t recognize it as a date anyway.......but when I think about it, I feel like an idiot for expecting it, and I''m irresistibly angry at myself for expecting it. I wanted to make myself aware of myself at will from this Park Nenin, so I hugged his arm as hard as I could. ''''Hey, Sakai! Isn''t that a lot of people?¡¡We have to make sure they stick together so they don''t get separated. I mean, this is a little too close to the heart. What?¡¡Are you possibly thrilled? I didn''t... Do you realize that you can''t convince me to be so red-faced? Well, I hope this makes you a little more aware of the fact that we''re all rather full of it, too, right? .........heartbeat, I hope you didn''t hear it. ===. After much consideration, we decided to look for something of note in the general store. To tell the truth, it''s just a front, and I didn''t tell anyone that I was just saying it in passing. Nevertheless, Kazu doesn''t seem to doubt that he is still recommending me to pick up the items. You can see how serious he is in his own way in choosing items that he would not feel uncomfortable with in a woman''s room, and if you are not careful even a little bit, your cheeks almost loosen up. ''Yeah. There''s someone you''re interested in, right, Sakai? Then you can choose what you want to give that person! I pinched my unprotected side with my hand out of frustration because the lover himself came running out of his mouth to say something stupid. It''s so hard that it''s almost like I''m going to cause internal bleeding. He remembers talking about it before, during a dinner at a junior''s wedding, but the way he doesn''t seem to think of himself as if he''s the one he''s interested in is inexplicably annoying. I''m the one who hasn''t clearly expressed my feelings, but even if I didn''t, you should be a little more aware of it, you insensitive person! Why are you pinching me? ''Because you''re going to pull off something so stupid, Kazu. Yeah..... When I let go of my fingers, Kazu-kun gives me a puzzled look as he holds his side. He seems unexplainable about the reason for the attack, but if I''m honest about it, it would only be a confession, so I''ll let it slide. Why do I have to let the person in question choose what to give to the person I love? Surely that would make him happy for sure though! But if you do that, even Park Geun-jin here would notice! If I could do that in the first place, I wouldn''t have been a slacker for six years. I don''t remember when I decided to stop that slacking off because I noticed a change in Kazu. He''s been doing so much better lately than he was until April of this year. It should be a good thing that the guy I love is doing well, but I was somehow feeling anxious, which is the opposite of happy. I''m sure I''ve found a good way to relieve stress, but seeing Kazu interacting with Amana, my anxiety, which should have calmed down, started to smolder again. When you think about it, you wonder if you can leave someone you trust enough to leave your child in the care of someone you know. Even if there was no one else to rely on, when you''re still entrusting 6-year-old Amana, Kazu and that child''s parents must have established a reasonable trusting relationship. Suddenly I remembered the woman he had called before inviting her to his junior''s wedding. Then, even though he didn''t like it, he connected the dots with a line. I don''t want to think about this when it''s just a date.... Once you start to worry about it, you become aware of it like a small bone in your throat. Especially when it''s someone you love..... "©¤©¤Hey, Kazu-kun. Hmm? So I was more concerned about what I really wanted to ask than focusing on my date. The call that came out of such a thought, he still comes urging me to continue in his normal tone. You''re close with your parents, aren''t you? While the feelings of wanting to hear and not wanting to hear are in conflict, the words I spit out as if they were squeezed out.... ''''Ah. Compared to when we met, I think I''ve gotten a lot closer to Ten(ish) Nashi(ish) than I did when we met. I''d never heard the name before, but I was told the reply included a trusting call that was undeniable. 57 56 Jealousy to recruit, feelings to recruit ©¤ Amanashi, Minami (Minami) Tenri..... She has the same surname as Amana, and from the sound of her name, you can tell that she is that person''s mother. That''s why I hated the fact that the person I love referred to a woman I didn''t know as my mother by name, and I hated it unbearably. ''To tell you the truth, we''ve become friends while I''m getting energy from Amana-chan on every delivery. That''s the reason I''ve been doing so well lately. While half embarrassed and scared to realize it, Kazu revealed his relationship with Amana-chan. It''s not surprising that it''s a matter of concern. Even if you think so, you can tell from the way they treat each other that they have nothing to be ashamed of. It''s just a sign that they genuinely care about each other, to the point where you realize that it''s a sign of genuine concern for each other. ''So. From the first time I met Amari, you''re a prowler approaching my daughter!¡¡I was very hostile to them. I almost got reported, but.......well, I managed to get them to believe me. What''s the deal? How can you trust me enough to leave your kids with me from such a first impression? I can see my feelings going down to the point where I can''t even afford to minister. Because the expression on Kazu''s face when he talks about Amari-san looks like he''s having fun. I can''t bear the thought of someone else making that kind of face, I hate it so much that I want to run away right now, I can''t stand it. ''''........leaving your own daughter in Kazu-kun''s care, that''s quite something. That''s a surprise to me too. I''m surprised to hear that. I... Oh, I just thought I''d let you know, but don''t tell Miya about the bento, okay?¡¡He knows about Amana-chan, but he''s going to kill me if he finds out that Amana is making my lunch for me. The relationship that was casually revealed to me with a wry smile made my heart strangle to the point that I felt like I was choking. Not only is she being healed by Amana-chan, but she''s also being treated to a home-cooked meal by her mother.... Why would that person make her lunch for another man who wasn''t her husband? What was Amari thinking, getting married and having such a pretty daughter, and being friends with Kazu-kun? I was going crazy with envy and jealousy that I was so easily in the pocket of someone I love that I didn''t have it in me. Maybe that''s why. ''She wasn''t crying when you found that lost Amana-chan, was she?¡¡It''s partly because he''s clever, but the fact that he was able to raise such a good child with a woman''s hands is definitely the result of Tenashi''s efforts. What, you''re a single mother, huh? Uh... well, you know. It was only when she was informed that she was a mother and child that she was confronted with how jealous she was. As for the husband''s whereabouts, Kazu-kun only replied vaguely and didn''t say anything else. -True........I''m disgusted. Amari-san is away from home for work, so she only left her precious Amana-chan in the hands of Kazu-kun, the most trustworthy person in the world, but she got a strange feeling of jealousy. If you want to delve into the jealousy that caused that, it seems to me that it''s not just a romantic thing, but it even includes feelings for you as a person. After all, just look at that Amana-chan and you can see what a great mother she is. If you were thinking about how to deal with a married woman, Kazu-kun wouldn''t have been trusted either. I can only sigh at my own narrow-mindedness. It''s presumptuous of me to be jealous of a colleague who isn''t even my girlfriend yet and I don''t even know him/her well enough to know his/her face and personality. If you have the time to be jealous, you should try to get Kazu to like you as much as possible. And.........I have no intention of losing when it comes to the strength of my feelings. So let''s stop being just a colleague. I open my mouth, trying to keep the tension from showing on my face as my heartbeat quickens, in order to move forward with the step I''ve been stomping on. ''Kazu-kun,'' What''s going on? We''ve already decided what to say to you. Oh, yeah. What is it? When I called out to her, she didn''t seem to notice my jealousy, and I felt a mixture of relief and frustration that she didn''t mind me paying a little attention to her. I''m tempted to laugh at his troublesome state of mind. In spite of that feeling of joy and sorrow, I tell Kazu the thanks I want him to give me. ''''We''ve known each other for six years now, haven''t we? Well, yeah. In that case, I think it''s okay to have a proper name for it. I don''t know... but it''s a little late for that. Hey, hey, hey. I wouldn''t say that if it were true. I''m about to change that now, and I don''t want to say anything that will diminish my energy. Why are you being so bizarrely insensitive in these situations? It''s a weakness I''m in love with that I can''t talk about even if I think so... well, I''ll just have to positively open up and say that I can make him change that perception depending on his efforts in the future. ''''So?¡¡What''s the good in the end? Okay, I digress. Nothing is that hard to do. Kazu-kun, who still doesn''t seem to be on the same page, tells me his conclusion with a placid, bitter smile to hide his nervousness. ''''Mao........call me by my name, I want you to, but.......no?'''' I was going to say it more firmly, but in the end it got so small that I doubted I could hear it myself. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, why did I slack off at a crucial moment! I''m so embarrassed, my whole body is about to burst into flames! While I feel a sense of shame that is beyond dismay at the state I am in, Kazu was stunned when he was told of the contents of his thanks. "Huh?¡¡Uh ... is that what you want? And he returned it flatly without a word. This guy isn''t upset at all! I''m feeling angry with the momentum of punching shame away, but I suppress the urge to bite down on my teeth because if I acted emotionally here, it would ruin your courage earlier, so I suppress the urge to bite down on my teeth. ''I said it for goodness sake!¡¡What''s your complaint?! No, no, but... Then call me. I want to know your name right now, and you have two seconds to tell me your name. All right, all right, all right!¡¡I''ll call you! I already felt like I forced him to call me by my name in a yakuza way, but Kazu-kun hurriedly regained his breath before looking me straight in the eye. ''''©¤©¤Ma, Mao........'''' ''~~~! Calling my name........that''s all it was, but I almost couldn''t help but smile. It shouldn''t have been this simple of a sensibility.......but there was a sense of satisfaction that couldn''t be described in one word. I''m too happy to think about whether I''m able to keep my expression on my face, and it''s all I can do to hold back so that it doesn''t come out in my voice. This first step will be an important one for me, as I realize that this first step will be a memory I''ll never forget, and at the same time, I can feel that I love him again. I cherished and enjoyed the rest of my time with Kazu-kun, excitedly anticipating that he would call me Maao every time we talked from now on. 58 57 Shopping for Kurone and Tenna! After I got Sakai-san, who is a colleague of Anita, to act together with her, I was looking around at the kitchen utensils in the grocery store, holding hands with Amana. How did you separate Onii-chan and Onii-san? ''Hmmm ... that''s because they might become a couple. I''d heard lightly from my brother that he''s a mother and son, so I answered honestly and gave the answer to my question, though I was a little worried about not reminding him of his father. I know!¡¡Fufu is the guy who''s going to be a mom and dad, right? ''''Haha, well, it''s technically a step before that, but... well, you''re not wrong. Since she''s a first grader, Amana-chan''s lack of understanding of romance made me smile so much that I wanted to hug her for her pure reply. Ahhhhhh, why is it that her every move is so cute that she lacks vocabulary~? But I didn''t know my brother had such a beautiful acquaintance.... The fact that she looks good in glasses and looks like a capable woman makes me admire her more than just jealousy. Amana-chan''s mother, Amana-san, is probably also a beautiful woman, so I''d say she''s a flower in her hand. One of them is married with a child, though. But regardless of Amari''s feelings, Sakai-san is definitely in love with him. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be so upset when he met her at the Lost Child Center. But sadly, my naive brother doesn''t seem to notice it at all. It''s a great opportunity for him, and if he doesn''t realize it, I can''t find a word for it other than "stupid". I thought that Sakai-san wouldn''t be rewarded for the way things were going, so I had to complicate the situation and leave them alone, but... I hope it works out. Then that guy will be my sister-in-law.....ant. The reason why we are looking at the kitchen utensils while holding such worries and expectations in a corner of our minds is because of Amana''s wishes. The reason is..... I want to make cookies for my mom, who is always making me delicious meals! When I heard that request, I was in so much emo agony that it took me a little while to calm down. Of course, I answered immediately and said OK. According to Amana, Amana-san likes to eat cookies. She once asked Amana to make cookies to show her appreciation to her favorite mother, but she was refused. Well, no matter how clever I say she is, she''s still in the first year of elementary school, and she''s still a bit young to be making sweets. But it would be a shame to let her feelings go bad.......with proper supervision and guidance, there''s no problem. I concluded that, and now we are looking at the tools necessary for making cookies. Now, in order to fulfill Amana''s request, we need not only the ingredients, but also tools that even little kids can use. Yes! ''Good answer!¡¡Basically, I''ll pick out the best one for you, but if there''s a design you like, don''t hesitate to let me know. Yeah! Whether it''s cooking or work, if it''s a tool you''re comfortable with, there''s a world of difference in usability. Well, in Amana''s case, she''s a beginner, so just the basics are fine. Can I use this, Onee-chan? Yeah. Then it''s all good. I gladly give the OK to the item in my hand with a straight look in my eyes that doesn''t hide my excitement. Watching her reminds me of when I first started cooking. I couldn''t help but enjoy cooking with the tools that only I would use, and when they told me it was delicious when I ate it, I struggled to suppress a smirk on my face. I didn''t have a bit of math in between, so it was inspiring and really heartwarming. I realize firsthand what Anita meant when she said it was soothing. It''s tempting to spoil him endlessly when he''s such a good and cute boy, but he doesn''t seem to be taking advantage of Amari-san''s restraint and his own selflessness. I''m sure she''ll be very popular in the future. I''ve allowed my heart to be in Amana-chan''s hands to the extent that I wish I could go shopping with her like this even when that time comes. ''Oh, Onee-chan. What do you want to do about your apron? Oh, you noticed?¡¡But I''m going to buy it right, so it''s okay. Amana, I want a pretty one! It''s my own apron, after all. Maybe I''ll pick something really cute later. Yes! I''m sure he''d be flabbergasted if he was an older man who doted on her to the point where he was worried about getting into trouble. No, I''m just imagining it, and I''m pretty excited about it too, so we''re even. Amana-chan should be made to realize how cute she is. Ah, I wish I had a sister like her.... While fantasizing about Amana''s apron like that, we decided to choose the apron we were talking about earlier, as we went through the process of buying the necessary equipment. It seemed that they were having a sale, and there were various kinds of aprons hanging on the rack. There was also a size for children, so you can hold them up and try them out. There was a time in my life when I thought, "I might be able to finish my selection early with this. I can''t........Amana-chan is too cute to narrow it down to just one....... Yes, as I have thought many times, Amana is so cute. I could have chosen a pink frill, a white lace, a red plaid, or even a plain apron, but I couldn''t decide on just one because it looked good no matter what design of apron I wore. It''s a foul thing to say that you look cute no matter what you wear. Well, you can wear any apron that Amana-chan designed for you. "Shh! In addition, Amana''s witty words of annoyance and distress over her happy and annoyed reactions made me feel like I was being accused of being indecisive. I never thought I''d have to worry so much about a single apron.... I''d like to buy all of them, but the money Anita has given me isn''t enough. I know it''s reckless of me to complain, but you could have left me a little more money! Considering how cute Amana-chan is, there''s no way you can limit yourself to just one outfit! That''s how he continued to pick out Amana''s apron while directing his frustration at his foolish brother, who was probably enjoying being alone with the beauty right now. 59 58 Dissolution and return home Sakai©¤©¤no, as a thank you to Maou for saving Amana-chan, I decided to call her by her first name, which I had been calling her by her last name until now. Since I had always called her by her last name, I was strangely nervous to call her by her name again. How many times can you say that guy from Saniya........ At any rate, even though I asked him if it''s okay to do that, Marao is all about this. She looks uncomfortable when Miya calls her, but she looks happy when I call her, so I don''t know what women are thinking. This is why you can''t get a girlfriend, but... well, as long as you''re happy with yourself, it''s fine. When I contacted Kurone with these thoughts, it seems that she was shopping for Amana-chan, and she''s finished that too. Or rather, there was some very interesting information at the end of the sentence called ''Amana-chan''s apron''. I can''t wait to see it, but I can''t bear to disparage Maou for it. The message from Kurone also said that I could come slowly to the meeting place, and I walked along while chatting with Mao. And so I arrived at the meeting place, where I found Kuroone-and Amana-chan with a bag that must have contained the things I bought. When Amana-chan sees me, she waves her hand out in a big gesture, as if to show off the vitality hidden in her small body. Cute. ''Onii-san!'' Amana-chan, I''m glad you''re feeling better this time. One of the girls was helping me with my mana. He tells me why with a look of real happiness, but I''m very jealous. But even if I held her hand like a black sound, it''s obvious that she''d have to choose between parent and child or a suspicious person, so I quiet my envy and jealousy quietly. ''''I won''t make a second attempt. ''It''s not that I don''t trust the black sound. Thanks. Hmm. You''re welcome. Hearing the words of thanks, Kuroon returned with a cheeky response with a bit of tongue. You''re happy, but you''re not honest..... ''''So?¡¡Was he able to thank Sakai-san properly? Oh. Well, you were supposed to call me by my first name but what''s with that smirk on your face? For some reason, Kuroone-she just answered normally, but for some reason, Kuroone-she started to give a warm, lukewarm look. A sense of regret is drifting in the air, despite the fact that she is such a beautiful girl. ''''Betsy~?¡¡I''m glad to see you''ve gotten a little closer~? Oh, um, Kurone?¡¡I don''t want you to tease me too much...? I''m sorry, Mr. Sakai. But can I talk to you for a second? When Kuroone-who was saying and doing things in an agitated manner-Mao, who was red-faced, called out for restraint. At the sight of this, Kuroone-sense immediately uttered words of apology, but continued to pull away from Mao''s hand and move away. ''''......... ......... "....!¡¡.......... Because of the distance and I''m not a hell-eared person, I can''t hear the conversation at all. However, Marao is returning to Kuroone-s comments while blushing every single time. What on earth is my sister talking to her colleague about? If it''s my black history or something, I''m confident I''m going to strike out of work. As soon as I do, though, I''m going to lose my place in the Umineko Transport. Onii-san?¡¡I almost squeaked by Kyu, but are you OK? ''Oh, yeah. It''s not as bad as you''re worried about, Amana-chan. I''m devastated by the state of society that literally treats anyone who is out of line with the group as a boil, and Amana-chan, as angelic as ever, calls out to me. I''m not good at this, I''ll be scolded by Amagashi if I do something that would cause her to worry. While I was regaining my composure, their conversation seemed to be over, and while Kuroone-she seemed to be having a lot of fun, I felt that Marao''s expression was somewhat contrasting, with a glimpse of fatigue on her face. What did I really talk about........ A mental image of near dismay came to mind. ''''It seems Kurone teased you quite a bit, are you okay, Maao? ''What?¡¡Yeah, well I''ve got a reassuring ally rather than being teased, but I don''t have a problem with it anyway. ''I see. Feel free to let me know if there''s anything I can do to embarrass you, okay?¡¡As your brother, I''m going to scold you as a colleague of Mao''s. Yeah, thanks. I tried to say a few words of encouragement to Mao, whose bewilderment hadn''t cooled down, but for some reason, she gave me a look that included a look of dismay. I don''t understand. Anyway, it''s a good time to dismiss the group. Maou. Once again, thank you for finding Amana-chan today. It just so happened, and you don''t have to be so awed. ''But it''s true that if it wasn''t for Sakai-san, who knows Aniki, I wouldn''t have been able to thank him so much. Thank you on my end as well. To the humble Mao, the black sound adds more gratitude to the humble Mao. And if this guy was right, if it wasn''t Maou, it would have most likely been just words and yes goodbye. ''Thank you for saving Amana, onee-san! Well, you''re welcome. And to Amana-chan''s genuine words of thanks, Mao also replied honestly without showing any modesty. I should also thank her the day after tomorrow, when we meet at work. While secretly thinking that, we parted from Mao. ===. Aniki. Look at me. Hmm? I was waiting for a traffic light when I was waiting for a traffic light and was approached by a black sound in the back seat. As I turned my face back as I was told........ "... Amana-chan, who was cheerfully talking to her sister earlier, is sleeping soundly. Her usual innocent smile is good, but seeing her innocent sleeping face like this makes me feel more juvenile. We walked and talked a lot today, and I''m sure she''s tired. Yeah. Let''s give them some privacy until we get home. Yeah. Oh, but I''ll just take a quick one. Hey, what the hell are you doing taking pictures of a little girl''s sleeping face? It''s true that she''s cute enough to want to save a picture of, but there are limits to what she can do! Well, that''s it. "Black sound. Can you send me a picture of that later? What are you going to do with it? Why do you give your brother such a quizzical look? "Even on days when you can''t see Amana-chan, I thought it would be soothing to see her sleeping face. Well, there''s no way that''s a good idea.¡¡No, no, no, I don''t want to be soothed by looking at a little girl''s sleeping face on my phone, and I don''t want to be a donkey! Hey, be quiet. You''ll wake up Amana-chan. ''Don''t make it sound like it''s my fault! Even though I replied with a perfectly sound mind, Black Sound didn''t send me the photos for what I didn''t agree with. Finally, we managed to negotiate a deal to rent a room for the summer vacation as well, and he reluctantly sent it to me. ''Okay, we''re at the apartment.'' Bye, guys. We''re here, Amana-chan. Hmm...¡¡Whew........ We made it home safely, and Amana woke up with a really cute absent-mindedness when Kuroon woke her up. I get out of the car with my luggage and open the door of room 201 that I''m renting. ''I''m home~! What? Then Amana-chan started to greet me to come home with a cheerful voice sound that I couldn''t believe she was getting out of bed. It was so sudden and unexpected that I couldn''t hide my surprise and said it out loud. Noticing my reaction, Amana-chan looks at me with an expression that doesn''t question her words. ''''Ah, Amana-chan?¡¡This isn''t just a house for Amana-chan... "?¡¡But when I get back from my outing, I have to say I''m home! .......... I can''t find the words to reply to his stagnant and straightforward argument. While I was at a loss for an answer, Black Sound, who was similarly letting loose, suddenly erupted. ''Hahaha, yes, yes. You''re right. I''m home~ I say ''I''m home'' with a smile on my face. ''See, Onii-san too! Yeah, I''m home. Then, at Amana''s urging, I said the greeting to come home. It''s nothing out of the ordinary, just an ordinary greeting. Especially since I''ve been living on my own, I''ve gradually stopped saying it. The natural behavior of the girl who''s staying with me for three days only made me aware of that fact once again. When Amana-chan heard my words, she smiled with satisfaction and.... ''''©¤©¤Welcome back!¡¡Heh. It was in this apartment, where I had come back many times, that I heard the word ''welcome home'' for the first time. 60 59 End of the second day After the delicious hamburgers that Kuroon had made as dinner, while the two of them were taking a bath, he called Amari to report on the day''s work. ''''Yes, it''s Minami,'''' Good evening, Amari. Good evening, good evening, and good luck on your second day on the road. "Thank you too, Hayakawa-san, thank you for seeing Tenna today. ''Oh, about that...'' The greetings were moderate, and the events at the shopping mall were briefly told. Amari was smilingly ministering at the crap about the game center, but the part about letting her get lost in the quicksand made her much more impatient. But she was relieved that the men who had picked up Kurone were understanding that it was wrong, and also that they had spoken words of concern for her sister. And as for the fact that Marao helped Amana-chan, she told me that if she had the chance, she would want to thank me too. Since we work in different departments, but in the same office, it''s difficult for us to meet in person. So I''m going to tell her that I''m going to tell her so we''ll just settle it. By the way, Kuroone-sensei wants me to keep the homemade cookies a secret. It''s a good idea to keep these things as a surprise, but I decided to go along with it rather than revealing them in a strange way to make people uneasy. ''Thank you again and again for treating Tenna so well. Hayakawa-san''s sister helped me a lot too. She''s an only child, so I''m sure she''s just as happy to have an older sister as she is to have one.'' He likes Amana-chan too, so he doesn''t mind. They get along like sisters, so it was a relief to watch them. ''''You''re so easy for kids to like you, you''re once again like a brother and sister. ''I wasn''t aware of it, but maybe it''s more than I thought. After such a trivial conversation, I hung up the call with Amari and finished my report for the day. As if that was my cue, I felt the urge to urinate and headed to the bathroom to do my business. The moment I took a breath........ ''Wow, your sleep is in the bath! What...? The voice of an innocent angel could be heard through the wall, and I couldn''t help but turn my head to the wall. That''s right, right next to the bathroom.......that''s why I can hear the voices all over....... I mean, eh? Do girls'' breasts really float? I listened absent-mindedly to the conversation, which was quite interesting to a virgin, if not a bit, and I listened to the conversation. ''Hey, hey, can I touch it?'' "Hmm?¡¡It''s okay. It''s not like it''s going to decrease. In this case, which is the correct answer: envying Kuroone-who is taking a bath with a young girl-or envying Amana-chan for touching those big tits? No, what am I thinking stupidly........ ''''Wow, your nipples are so fluffy! "Even your skin is very smooth~ .... ..... .........oh no. I''m going to feel weird if I stay here any longer. At any rate, thank you for the onelori feast. I thanked God for that as I left the restroom........ ====. Nyu~............................. Amana-chan, let''s get to bed. ''Yeah...'' After we finished bathing, we watched TV, but just before 10pm, Amana started rowing the boat. She nodded to me if I proceeded to go to bed, but for some reason she grabbed the hem of my nightgown and wouldn''t let go. The gesture is very cute, but unfortunately, I''m still not sleepy. "Amana-chan, what''s wrong? ''Well, you see.... When I asked the question, unable to see the true meaning of the action, Amana worked her sleepy, thoughtless mind hard to come up with a reason. ''Can''t I sleep with you and your sister in your bedrooms...? Ha.... What''s that, and I''m super welcome? No, no, no, wait. I was about to unintentionally say I''d be delighted, but even though I didn''t intend to do so, it''s probably not TPO to sleep on the same futon as my big friend (literally). It''s a request, but you have to maintain moderation as an adult here. "Let''s see, that''s not..... Yes. Will you let me sleep with you? I''d rather be with my brother... What...? What is this d*mn cute little angel? The moment I tried to refuse, you didn''t just hug me and increase the level of adhesion, but you didn''t break your demands at all.... Do you really want to be with me that badly? The black sound that''s casually revealed as being outnumbered by likability is glaring resentfully at me? You were taking a bath with Amana, weren''t you? It''s Akiko, Aiko. I did say it was okay to be lenient, but this is not right. This is the first time I''ve ever seen it so obvious, isn''t it? The moment I thought that far and suddenly realized something, I felt like punching myself for having the question just now. Because Amana-chan, who hugged me, was trembling a little. Even though it was only for a short time, this girl was lost in a large shopping mall. No matter how smart and calm she was, she was still a first-grade girl. Of course she was feeling lonely. She was trying to act like it was nothing so that she wouldn''t worry Mao or us, but I guess the fatigue and sleepiness, plus the fact that she was back safely, broke the tension. In an attempt to distract her from the loneliness she remembered from removing the plug, Amana wanted to sleep with me. For now, I stroke that little head to reassure Amana-chan. The softness of her hair, due to the fact that she has just finished bathing, is transmitted through the palm of my hand, and there is a good scent in the air that I can''t believe I used the same shampoo. I was startled by the unexpected petting, and my eyes met with the lapis lazuli eyes that had been blown out of their sleepiness. ''''Onii-san?'''' "...yeah, I guess so. Since it''s a sleepover, why don''t we sleep together? Yes! When I mentioned my agreement, Amana nodded with a big smile on her face. I hope this makes me feel a little less lonely. ''Aniki, that''s not fair!¡¡I want to sleep with Amana-chan too! Are you going to be able to join us, Onii-san? ''Oh. If that''s what you want to do, Amana-chan, that''s fine. Heh, well, that''s just what I''m talking about. Yes, of course. With a pouting black sound, they get into the futon in a line in the shape of a river with Amana between them. I felt as if it wouldn''t help if Maou misinterpreted me as family, and I smiled irresistibly. ''Onii-san, onee-chan. Good night. Good night, Amana-chan. Good night. In return for Amana''s greeting, which shows no sign of loneliness, Kuroon and I close our eyelids. Unlike usual, this day was the fastest ever for me to fall asleep, I thought later on, looking back on it.... 61 60 Making fun for the first time! Then I''ll make cookies! Oh! In the morning of the third and final day of the overnight stay. After breakfast and other things were done, Amana finally got to try her hand at making her first snack. Amana cheerfully responds to Kuroon''s call to her in her apron, and she looks super cute in her apron, what do you think? It''s an apron that looks like it was made just for her, with a red and pink checkered pattern, ruffles at the hem, and a big bow at the back. It was so cute that the photo session lasted a few minutes, so we were a little late to start, but that''s not a problem. Cute is justice. ''Butter and egg yolks?'' I''ll make a noise! Flour? You''re shaking! How do you preheat the oven? "Hundred and eighty-five! Okay. After confirming the preparations, the two of us began to make the cookies in earnest. By the way, I''m the one who will be tasting the cookies. Of course, I tried to help them at first, but Kuroone-sensei said she couldn''t take care of them both, so by a process of elimination, I did this. ''Let''s put the butter in a bowl first to loosen it up. Unravel? Then you break up the butter with these chopsticks. Okay! Without interrupting the black sound''s instructions with any unnecessary movements, Amana unravels the butter. Since it''s at room temperature, the butter crumbles easily. ''Now a little powdered sugar and a little salt. How much does it mean? That''s up to you, but I''ll just pick it up with my fingertips today. Yeah! Amana-chan''s small fingers can really only pick up a small amount, but I don''t want to talk about the wild stuff. Once you''ve added the sugar and salt, stir with this whisk until it turns white. Yes! Armed with a whisk that she seems to have bought at the mall the other day, Amana stirred with careful finesse. She mixes with all her strength and doesn''t splatter the mixture. That''s what I call Amana-chan. Then I''ll mix in some egg yolks and vanilla essence. Okay. The black sound throws the ingredients into the bowl as he gets used to it. The vanilla essence, as the name suggests, is essential to bring out the flavor of the vanilla, but it sometimes has a bitterness that you can''t imagine from the finished product. So don''t put in too much; two or three pinches is the right amount. Onie-chan, the kijiji is getting hard! ''Oh, good. Then next time, put in the flour and mix it in with this rubber spatula as you cut it. Yeah! The rubber spatula that Kurone handed her was a smaller design that she had bought for Amana. Her sister''s hand wrapped around the small hand holding the spatula to compensate for her lack of strength, and the way she chopped the dough in the bowl in a rhythmic manner while reducing the burden on her young body, and the expression on her face as she tried her best was nothing short of smiling. I''m making pastries now, but there was a time when the secret ingredient in cooking was love. Apparently, that means to imagine the person you want to make it for, and if Amana-chan is thinking of Amari and challenging herself, she must be right. Since the two of them are similar in the way they care for each other, I can understand why their cheeks naturally relax as they realize once again that they are parent and child. Okay, I''ll wrap it up in plastic wrap if you can make it that far. And it should be about 4 to 5 millimeters thick - is that hard to understand? I''ll check that part, so let''s just stretch it out with a rolling pin. I know it!¡¡You''re going to roll them over! ''Yes, yes!¡¡I can''t help but imitate you! Like the two of you said, that move certainly makes me want to imitate it in a strange way. But that requires more power than it looks. The potter''s wheel of pottery looks soft, but if you put the power in the wrong way, it can easily collapse. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. Good, good!¡¡Keep it up! So, just like before, Amana-chan, with the assistance of the black sound, rolls the rolling pin, back and front, at a tempo to stretch the dough. Maybe she is concentrating so much, she is subconsciously shouting out and keeping a rhythm. It''s very precious......... Hmm. Stretching out the dough is fine at this level. And I''ll put this in the fridge to rest. How much do we need to keep in here? ''Roughly an hour or more. You can play with your animator during that time. No. Let''s clean up this rainbow. Oh. Well, I''ll take care of it. Yes! She''s a really good girl, Amana-chan. It''s a little sad that we have less time to play together, but since she''s enlisting the help of Kuroon to fulfill her request, it''s typical of her that she doesn''t fail to be firm and polite. My heart is relieved to see how well educated Amari is, which I felt many times during this sleepover. While I was playing Baba-pull with Amana, who had finished cleaning up first, the timer I had set started to go off. It seemed to be the time for the dough to harden. It was time for the dough to harden. Can I have a go at it? I hope it''s wrapped in plastic wrap! After taking the cold dough out of the fridge, Amana-chan, wearing her apron again, asked a curious question to Kuroon, who was wearing her apron. She readily agreed on the condition that it was only the part through the wrap, and her smile glowed with visible joy. While I was stating my impressions in my head, Amana poked the edge of the dough with her fingertips, smaller than an adult''s little finger. ''''I want to choke!'''' Hmm. I''d better get started on the die-cutting. Saying that, Kuroon took out various molds, such as hearts, stars and bears, and after receiving them, Amana firmly fitted the molds into the dough one by one and pulled them out. I laid them out evenly on a cookie sheet-lined baking sheet (a microwave griddle) and put them in the preheated oven. I set them to bake in fifteen minutes and then we''ll just have to wait. Jee~.... I wonder if the explanation of the black sound is in the ears of Amana-chan, who has been gazing intently at the scene of the cookies being baked in the microwave from a distance that will not cause her to burn herself... In any case, the way she''s stamping her feet in a small way visibly conveys how much she''s looking forward to the completion of the work, and her tremendous cuteness exudes a sense of preciousness. Eventually, the range stopped as the set time was reached. Kuroon, with mittens on both hands, takes it out, wary of burns, and shows it to Amana-chan, who holds it from behind so that she can easily see the finished product. ''There you go, now it''s done. ''Wow!¡¡It smells great!¡¡Yummy! I''m sure you''ll be able to see the results of the cookies you made with your own hands, even if you have to help me, Amana-chan''s lapis lazuli eyes sparkle with the quality of the cookies. Her joy is contagious, and Kurone and I can''t help but smile, too. I realize that the best part of raising a child is watching them grow up and being able to rejoice with them. I don''t know when this will happen, but if the day comes when I have a child of my own like Amari did, I hope we can laugh together like we did today. So while secretly pining for the future that we have yet to see, I take a bite of a moderately cooled cookie as a taster. The crunchy texture and the buttery flavor of the cookie spread in my mouth. You can find a lot of people who have been waiting to hear what you think with a nervous look on their face as they lock eyes with Amana. It''s the best cookie I''ve ever eaten. ''Yay!¡¡Hey, mister!¡¡Would my mom be happy to see me? Yeah. I think you''ll be pleased with this one. Heh, good luck! At my praise, Amana embodies joy with her whole body. I drummed out that my first time baking sweets was more than a success, and the only thing left to do was wait for Amana to return. 62 61 Thank you to Mom from Amana ''Hello, Hayakawa-san. I just returned home from a business trip. Shortly after 3:00 p.m., a message was sent from Amanashi. It was a great sadness, but I had to send Amana-chan to her mother in a neat way. As she was getting ready to leave, Amana was sad about the end of the sleepover, but she was positive that it wasn''t going to be anything but this one time, and by the time she got in the car, she was back to her usual form. ''So?¡¡Why does it come with a black sound, too? Because I''m wondering what kind of person your mother is, Amana-chan. It''s for that kind of a sight-seeing reason, huh? I exhaled with a sigh of dismay at the indescribably light tone of Kurone, who didn''t need to accompany me in any way. Well, thanks to this guy''s presence, we were able to solve the problem of food during the sleepover, and most importantly, we were able to make Amana''s baked goods come true. I''m sure Amari would like to thank Kuroone-she''s probably also wanting to express her gratitude to him, so let''s just dismiss it as a crossover. Thinking positively, I drove the car to ''Mansion Everyday Smile'' where Amari was waiting for me. Forty minutes of driving with the black noise from the back seat and Amana''s banter as background music, we arrived at our destination. Getting out of the car, Amana-chan didn''t feel rushed, but instead made her way to her home, room 184. Even though it''s only been three days, she''s still full of concern for her mother, as usual, she doesn''t even bother to show her loneliness of being away from her beloved mother.... With that in mind, I press the intercom to room 184. The front door is opened shortly after a light sound is heard. Amari comes out from inside, her dark brown hair flowing over her left shoulder, dressed simply in a beige cut and sewn dress and a long, light green skirt, but it seems to enhance rather than detract from her charm. ''''Hello, Hayakawa-san, thank you for taking care of Tenna for three days. You too, thanks for the business trip. Thanks to Amana-chan, I wasn''t bored at all. He gave me a soft smile of gratitude that I hadn''t expected to be directed at when I first met him, a soft smile that showed a certain trust in him. Returning with a labored response to dispel the anxiety she was probably feeling about leaving her only daughter in her care and whether she was causing trouble, Tenashi let out a breath of relief and turned her gaze to Amana. ''Welcome home, Tenna. Looks like you''ve been a good boy.'''' Mom, we''re home! At her favorite mother''s greeting, Amana hugged her with her reply. It wasn''t that they had been apart for a long time by any means, but the reunion of father and son made her heart slightly warm. Well, I thought that the black sound was unusually quiet, so I turned my head to the back. ".... ...Black noise? What? My sister rolled her eyes and let loose. Even if that was the case, I couldn''t help but call out to her for a reaction that seemed a bit exaggerated, and after a huff, she pulled her face close to my ear. ''''Oh, Aniki!¡¡That man is Amana''s mother, right! Oh. ''Wait a minute, she''s so much younger and more beautiful than I expected!¡¡You''re younger than your brother, for all intents and purposes!¡¡So you''re married with a child, or maybe not, but you''re an amazing person, Tenri-san...! I feel the same way about that surprise, because I''ve been there myself. Considering the skill of raising Amana-chan to be such a good girl despite being a single mother, it''s not surprising that Kuroon is looking at her with respect. It''s not just your co-workers, but you''re also acquainted with a beautiful married woman.... Hey Aniki, isn''t this the time to become popular? Who cares? I don''t think I ever met you with such impure intentions. ''If you give up, it''s over!¡¡If you miss this chance, your brother might never get married! What a silly thing to say with a serious look on your face. Like you just said, Tenashi is a married man, and even if he''s dead, she''s still single-mindedly devoted to her husband. I don''t know why you think I have a chance....... Also, lifetime is an exaggeration. I decided that there was no point in saying any more to Kuroon who was passing out stupid things, so I decided to introduce her to Tenri. ''''Amanashi. This is my sister, Kurone. Don''t push me. It''s, uh, Hayakawa Kuroon!¡¡You''ve always been a big help to me, Aniki...? I feel bad about prompting the introduction out of the blue, but I think you''re a little too nervous. But as far as being indebted to me, I can''t deny it, so I''ll keep my mouth shut. ''''I''m Nantenashi, Tenna''s mother. I''ve heard from your brother that you were friendly with his daughter while he was taking care of her, No, no, no!¡¡I only cooked and stuff, and it''s not that big of a deal because it''s something I originally liked to do... I heard you are brother and sister, but you don''t look very much alike to Mr. Hayakawa, do you? I''m not going to be able to get the same thing from you, but I''m going to be able to get the same thing from you. However, she quickly changed to a smile and expressed her impressions compared to me. Well, it''s not surprising that Tenri would say that. ''''Oh, I''m sorry.......'''' ''''I''m rather proud of my sister so much that I''m glad she doesn''t look like me, so I can''t blame her for feeling that way. I''m not particularly bothered by it as I''m used to it at the earliest, but Amari has an expression of apology for saying it out loud without a second thought. If I follow up with a distant reminder not to worry about it, she received it firmly and her expression broke down as if she was relieved. Now, it''s time to give her the example thing. ''''Amana-chan. Huh?¡¡Oh, yes! Tenna? Amana''s face turned questioning as Amana remembered what she wanted to do when she called out to her, and she put her hand in her backpack and started to explore something. Eventually, she seemed to have explored the object she wanted, and once again, Amana-chan looked at her mother. ''''©¤©¤Mama, thank you for everything!¡¡I love you, Amana, I love you, Mom! Uh..... With a smile so bright it could be mistaken for the sun, I hand her a bag of cookies I made in the morning. To that surprise, Amari rolls her eyes and turns her gaze alternately to the package she received and to Amana and us. ''''Is this...?'''' Amana-chan wanted to thank Amana-san for her daily work, so she made cookies by hand. Homemade?¡¡Tenna is...? I took full responsibility for supervising them, so please don''t worry, I didn''t hurt them. Yeah, yeah... As if the shock was so great, I listened to the circumstances that Black Sound told me with a blank stare. ''''So, let''s have it...'''' Eventually, she opens the package and takes a bite of the cookie inside. We wait with bated breath to see what she thinks as she chews and savors the crunchy cookie. It''s not long before Amari finished eating the cookie and bent down to make eye contact with her daughter. ©¤ As it was, they shared an embrace. ''''........Mom?'''' "©¤©¤It''s very........delicious, Tenna....... Amana sent her honest praise to Amana, who couldn''t hide her confusion. I didn''t just tell her, she was so moved that she was crying. The tears are so beautiful that both me and Kuroone-who never expected such a reaction-feel an inexpressible warmth and shut up, and I can''t take my eyes off of them. ''''We''ve only been apart for three days and yet.......you''ve grown up, like a different person. "?¡¡Amana, I''m just a kid. Yes but I''m a little more mature. Mom, can''t you come in?¡¡Amana, I made the cookies because I wanted my mom to be happy. Unable to understand why Amari was crying, Amana couldn''t quite understand why she was crying, and Amana''s question was pure questioning to all intents and purposes. Realizing that she made him think her tears were coming out of sadness, Amari broke the embrace and put a hand on her small shoulder and answered with a smile as she cried. ''''I''m crying because I''m so happy and happy that Tenna has grown up and can''t bear to make cookies like this...'''' Really?¡¡Mom, are you happy to be here? ''''Yes ... it''s the tears that say I love Tenna so much that I want to brag about her ability to make delicious sweets. "!¡¡Heh, I love you too, Amana! Knowing that she was pleased with the cookies as delicious, Amana hugged Amari again with a big smile on her face. She gently watched the series of exchanges, but if she''s not careful for a second, she''s going to get a tear in her eye. Kuroone-that''s totally crying. Anyway, Amana-chan''s first time baking sweets was a heartwarming end to her first baking session, with Tenashi shedding tears as she surely sensed her child''s growth....... 63 62 Which is better? Hey, buddy. Hmm? As we left Mother and Child Minami and were driving to our apartment, our home, we were unexpectedly called out by the black sound in the back seat. When I asked her to continue, she looked out the window and spun out her next words without making eye contact with me. ''I''ll bring my stuff when I get to my apartment, can you give me a ride to my parents'' house? ''''Well for someone who came here after a fight with my dad, you ended up running away a lot quicker than you did before, didn''t you? That''s right, but... seeing that father and daughter together, it''s not cool to see them holding on so tight, you know... that''s how it is... "...ha ha ha ha... I couldn''t help but chuckle at the shio-like attitude of the acclaimed rebel, Kurone. ''Did I say something so funny?¡¡We had a fight, we''re just trying to make up for it. ''You''re on top of it. No, it''s just that I''m about to go home to my parents. Hmmm.... Seeing those two happy people and being inspired together makes me realize that they are brother and sister after all. I know they''re doing well because we''ve been in touch with each other from time to time, but it''s been a long time since we''ve seen each other in person. ''Are you going to stay over?'' No, I''ll just... I''m working again tomorrow, so another time. Okay. I''d really like to buy a bottle of booze and have a drink with my dad, but I can''t have a DUI or a hangover. I''m going to keep it to just a quick face to face meeting and small talk. Mom or someone around her might ask you some questions that are hard to return, like whether you found a marriage partner, but.......well, you''ll have to wait and see. ''Ah, that''s right, Kurone. As for Amari and Amana-chan... I know, I know. I know that I''m not gonna tell everybody that he''s a pedophile or that he''s a married man. Before you start blabbing about it, would you please change your mind about that? I call out to the black sound of waiting, which is a ridiculously wordy way of putting it. I don''t remember having such opposing s*xual habits sulking at the same time. ''''But actually, who do you think is better, Aniki, Amanashi-san or Sakai-san? That kind of question again... From the point of view of the current JK, Black Sound, it''s no wonder he''s interested in it, but for me, I can''t help but be disgusted. I''m not saying that I don''t want a girlfriend, but I don''t intend to get into a relationship with those two. Amanashi is a married man, and he''s a husband... Shit!¡¡I''m asking you how it''s going to be without any of those circumstances! Huh...? I know what Kurone means. I''m not talking about Amana-chan''s mother or a married woman, I''m talking about whether or not I''d want to be in a relationship with her if I thought of her as a life-size woman. She''s beautiful and has a serious personality, and yet she has no problems with her housekeeping skills, which is a perfect score. But.......... ''''What do you mean, without Amana in between, me and Amanashi might not be much different from the people we pass on the street. Yeah..... You don''t have to be so blatantly disappointed that I was honest with you.... On the contrary, I''m wondering what kind of answer you were expecting. ''Isn''t that simply because Aniki doesn''t know too much about anything other than the mother aspect of Amari-san? Maybe... I understood after being told. From the first time we met, I still recognize Amana as Amana''s mother. It''s possible that we wouldn''t even know about each other''s existence if we hadn''t been involved with that girl in the first place. If she and I were to get together, we would have no contact with each other to the point where Amana would be considered a cupid. I''ve promised Amari that I won''t interfere too much in the affairs of the Minami family, so if we started going out, I''d break that. What?¡¡What''s that promise? It''s a bit like when we first met. You''re a mother and a child and you''ve got a lot going on. ''Ahhhh....'' The black sound listened to the promise and the reason for it, which didn''t feel like a half-natural extinction, with an expression of satisfaction. Amari herself is thinking about her late husband and she said she has no interest in a new relationship for her daughter''s sake, so even if I could fall in love with her, the reverse would not be possible. ''Then what about Sakai-san?'' Matsuo?¡¡Hmmm........we''re close enough that there have been rumors that we''ve been dating at work, but not really. "What? If I had to say anything, I would say that I only accompanied my junior''s wedding... but that thing is like a number match, so there''s no need to say it. However, Kuroone-speaking still puckered her lips in frustration. So what do you expect, you. ''Wasn''t there something like, "Let''s go out with that rumor?"? I tried to joke about it and got a glare on my face. Oh.... When I revealed that it was there as it was, Kurone gave me a look that said, ''Are you okay?'' at a loss. Is it just my imagination that I seem to be looking at someone who isn''t me in a dumbfounded way? But if you''ve started calling each other by name, you''ve made some progress, haven''t you? ''Progress you know I''m friends and colleagues with that guy. It''s not what you think it is. You''re the only one who thinks that, I swear. Why are you so sure? First of all, why are you trying to connect the two of them to me? Because it''s up to me to decide which one of us is going to be my sister-in-law! Hey. You were worried about your future, not your brother''s future. Give me back the small amount of happiness I had in having a sister who cared for her brother. I stared at the black sound through the rearview mirror with that kind of gut feeling, but I was looking out the window and didn''t notice it at all. d*mn. After that, I took Kuroone-sensei back to her parents'' house, exchanging idle chatter. My father and mother, who I hadn''t seen in a while, seemed fine, but when I told them I couldn''t stay the night, they sent me off with a sad look on their faces, so I''m glad I came for that alone. So when I returned to my apartment, the room I was supposed to be used to felt large and quiet. It''s only three days, but the time spent with Amana and Kuroone-the three of us-is proof that the time we spent together was impressive. Maybe that''s why. It was the thought that if he went out with either of the two people who had been teased about their relationship so much by the black sound, he wouldn''t have to feel this way. He couldn''t dismiss it as a temporary lapse of mind, and before he knew it, he was resting in bed and silently thinking about it, and before he knew it, he was asleep. 64 63. Tighten up your delicate happiness In life, when it is easy, there is also suffering. As the theme song of the national period drama says, after the ease in the form of Amana-chan coming to stay, the bitterness in the form of black hard work came. I hate it very much. I knew it would be a little tougher since I took three days off, but it''s harder than I expected. The sentimental feeling I had the day before yesterday feels like a long time ago. I need moisture........moisture through healing.......! You''re visibly exhausted after just one day, are you okay? If I don''t get up to speed in the morning, I''ll be in trouble later. Today''s Tuesday is the day I can meet Amana-chan, which means it''s the day I can eat Amana''s homemade bento. It''s also the day I get to eat Amana''s homemade bento. It''s not an exaggeration to say that Amana''s bento is the twin pillars of Amana''s healing abilities, but it''s a shameful sight to see her with a depressed look on her face. The most important thing to remember is that it''s the heart, right?¡¡As for my body, I''m in perfect health thanks to the bento boxed lunches Amunashi made for me. .... Amanashi? Yeah? I told her not to make her feel uneasy, but for some reason she froze, so when I called out to her, she got a small surprise. However, I quickly patched it up like it was nothing, so I decided not to worry about pointing out too much of a wild thing to do. ''''Oh, well, I know it''s a bit late now, but thank you for taking care of Tenna for three days. ''There''s no need to be in awe of it. I had so much fun that both me and Black Sound had a memorable time, I''d rather be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity. No, no, no!¡¡I''m more grateful to Hayakawa-san than you are to me, so it''s not as if you can say that much... ''''No, no. I''m just grateful that Amari believed in me... .... .... The conversation stopped as both parties repeatedly conceded their gratitude to the other, and eventually they ran out of words. ''''©¤©¤Hap, hahaha........'''' ... And then I erupted almost simultaneously. Really, I''m just dumbfounded by what a good old adult is doing. ''When I first met you, I never thought I''d be able to laugh like this with Tenashi. ''I feel the same way. You''re the only man other than my family and my husband that I''ve been able to trust to this extent, Hayakawa-san? What...? The words were delivered cheerfully in an extremely natural manner, and a dumb voice leaked out as my mind went blank. Wait, wait, didn''t I just say that in a ridiculously wordy way? When she smiles at me with her beautiful face, even if it''s just a beautiful face, I''m aware of the quicksand when she speaks of such trust. Stenbaai.........calm down, be clever. The other party is a married man.........don''t expect it........ I try to calm down my heartbeat as it rises and ramps up. But perhaps because our reaction was so blatant, Amari''s cheeks are dyed thick with vermillion when she realizes her comment....... ''''Hi, as a person!¡¡I mean as a person so much that my daughter misses me!¡¡I don''t mean that kind of emotion! What, oh, oh. I know... of course... I was told the true meaning of the story that was rolled up and told, and although I was satisfied, I couldn''t shake the feeling of disappointment somehow. No, you just thought to yourself, don''t get your hopes up, this is just a relief, yes. Gohon. I think it''s time for you to get to work, don''t you? Oh, yeah. Well, thanks again for the lunch. No, you''re welcome. The embarrassment made me feel somewhat weird, but I decided to take her up on her offer to clear my cough and proceed to work, and I quickly left the place. = = = =. And so it came at 4:30pm. I came in front of room 184 of "Mansion Everyday Smile" where Amana was waiting for me. It''s another day of intense work, but as soon as that girl heals me, I won''t mind it anymore. I press the intercom as usual with my heart racing with anticipation. ''''Yes!'''' Hello. This is Umineko Transport. "I''ll just be a minute. The sound of a pretty, cheerful voice over the speakers warms my heart immediately. Yes, I can wait, I can wait as long as I want. It''s not an exaggeration to say that I''m alive for this moment. While I was thinking about this, the front door opens. It''s always good to see you. Hello, Onii-san! Hello, Amana-chan. While exchanging greetings, I asked him to stamp my receipt. It''s been two months since I met her, and I''m totally used to the process. However, today Amana-chan glanced at me and seemed fidgety and restless. However, if you turn your head to talk to her, she quickly averts her gaze. I felt uneasy as if I had done something without noticing, but that soon dissipated as well. At any rate......... ''''You know what, Onii-san! Hmm? Yes! I was presented with a wrapped bag that was placed in my small hands. You will find that it is a chocolate. But at a glance, I also understand that it''s not a commercial product... because the shape is distorted. ''What is this...?'' I''m sorry, I''m a sleepyhead!¡¡I made this with my mom to give to my brother, Kinoko! I... I couldn''t hide my surprise at the shy but cheerful thanks that was announced. Even though Amanashi was with me, I made Amana stand in the kitchen making sweets. She said that she felt she had grown up making cookies, but how quickly she acted. And most importantly........this time she made them for me. To be honest, I thought it was enough to thank you for taking on the role of tasting the cookies the other day. Yes, I didn''t say it out loud just because I thought so. If you tell her that now, and if you ask her if she''s really going to back down, I can assure you that she''ll say ''no''. I mean, this girl is that Amanashi''s daughter, and it took a small amount of courage for her to speak and act now. You can''t just put up a tatemae or a reservation and do nothing. Then, I have to accept that feeling. So, I resolve to accept that, bend my knees and make eye contact with Amana. Once again, the lapis lazuli eyes that are staring at you from the same height are extremely anxious as they wait for my reaction. I smile that I don''t need to make that kind of face, open the package and take a bite of the chocolate. The flavor of cocoa intertwines with a good amount of sweetness, and it seems to be filled with the tender feelings of Amana-chan, the creator. ''Onii-san, is it good?'' Amana, who had been watching me chew in silence, asked me that numbly. Of course, the answer is fixed. ''''©¤©¤Ah. It''s the most delicious. "~~~Yeah, yay! The generous praise revealed a joy so great that Amana-chan jumped up and down on the spot. That made me smile unbearably, and I was happy to be caught up in it too. Come to think of it, I remember the first time we met was with chocolate. You can''t help but feel happy at the coincidence of what seems like fate. And so it is today that I feel completely healed by my adorable friend, Amana-chan. 65 [Extra edition] Character introduction Part 2 Kurone, age 15 Wa''s younger sister. Big tits. She has just become a high school student, and her personality is sassy and sassy. She is aware of her own appearance and is sensitive to fashion and trends. She is popular, but there is no one she wants to go out with, so she is currently unattached. She is in the middle of her rebellious phase and fights with her father constantly, but she understands that it is out of concern for her. He pretends to be normal, but he is practically a bluesman. She comes to the apartment he lives in quite often just to see Wa, who has left home after getting a job. That''s why I''m curious as to whether he''ll choose Amari or Mao. 66 64 Is spring coming even though its summer? ''Oh no!¡¡Thanks to Mr. South, we''ve successfully closed a big deal! ''That''s good to hear. Please give the same credit to the development department for creating a system that meets the needs of our customers. ''You''re humble~. Isn''t it your own achievement that you were able to accurately convey that request? ''I appreciate your kind words enough. Now, if you''ll excuse me. I thank my manager and leave the room. I returned to my seat and was about to start working on a document to take to my next client when a person came up to me. I heard that. You''ve just completed that big deal, haven''t you?¡¡As a senior, Atai''s nose is too high. Thank you, Mayuzumi-san. It seems that my senior colleague Kaori Mayuzumi, who has helped me in some way since I started working for this company©¤©¤Hynertech Systems©¤©¤has heard about the deal that even the general manager praised. I joined the company as a temporary employee, but she taught me the know-how to build up my performance until I was hired as a full-time employee, so she is also recognized as an excellent sales representative........ ''Mmmm!¡¡Call me ''Kaori-chan'' instead of Mayuzumi-san! He has been twisting his body around somewhat and appealing to my dissatisfaction with the way he is called. Mayuzumi-san is a ''onee'' person, and although he is a large man in physique, his speech and behavior and quirks are those of a woman. With his cheerful personality and humor, he can be said to be a mood-maker in the sales department. It''s a little awkward for me to call my seniors by their nicknames. You''re really serious.... and that''s one of the things I love about you, Amani. Even though I''m not very good at socializing with people, I can''t thank her enough for allowing me to actively communicate with her like this. But Mayuzumi-san is silent and stares at me intently. Is she thinking about something? As I was thinking this, she opened her mouth and said... I''ve been thinking about this for a while now. ''Really?¡¡Not that it''s anything out of the ordinary, but... ''No, it''s not!¡¡Well, you''ve been laughing a lot, haven''t you? Laughing? I don''t quite get the point being made. ''What''s the good news?'' Well my daughter homemade cookies and gave them to me when I was returning from a business trip. Oh, boy. It''s always good to hear about a child''s growth. Yes, I''m proud to be a mother. When I mention an incident that comes to mind, Mayuzumi-san smiles and is impressed. Since then, Tenna and I have been making sweets together. When she asked me to give her some sweets as a thank you as soon as we got home, I responded to her rare selfishness by making them with her, and I''m proud to say that they turned out quite well. I''m proud of how well it turned out.¡¡I think that''s not the only thing that Atai can do. For example, the spring is here, and so on. ''Spring ... spring?¡¡It''s summer now, why is spring coming? When I questioned him about his somewhat implied manner, Mayuzumi winked at me with her right eye and said.... "To put it straight........love. What...? My head immediately refused to understand the affirmation, which seemed to get to the heart of the matter. .........What in the world is Mayuzumi-san saying? And for some reason, the staff around me seem to have become restless. I decided to disagree with Mayudzumi-san''s words first. ''No way, no way. I''m trying to manipulate my late husband and, above all, I don''t have time to be in love with my work and my daughter. Oh, you''re just going to deny it, aren''t you? Yeah, there''s no truth to it. When I respond to Mr. Mayudzumi''s answer with a denial, a breath of relief is exhaled from those around me. If you have time to listen to people''s conversations, I wish you would go ahead and make a little presentation material. As I replied to Mayuzumi-san, as Tenna''s mother, I don''t need to be in love. I just need to work hard and earn money this way and make sure that she is happy. I''ve decided that this is the best thing for me to do, even if others ridicule me for my boring life. = = = = =. On the way home from that conversation, it''s now late July and I''m halfway through the summer-like sunshine. I can''t wait to go home and cool off in the air-conditioned room. Tenna must have scraped a lot of sweat, and it would be nice to take a shower together. ''''Ah........'''' As I was thinking about this, a single truck in the parking lot of my apartment building caught my eye. It belonged to a shipping company I''d seen everywhere, but in light of today''s day of the week, I guessed who was in it. After a bit of a rush, I arrived at room 184, where my home is located, and there I saw my daughter and the person I thought was exactly who I thought it was.... ''Yes, Onii-san!¡¡Here''s your tea! Thank you, Amana-chan. Hmmm... it''s nice and cold. "Heh, that''s good. Apparently, my daughter thoughtfully offered him a cold drink as he was making a delivery. It''s been a hot day, and the risk of heat stroke is probably high in the busy delivery business, so it''s quite an attention-grabber. That''s Tenna. It''s so hot! ''Oh. That''s why it''s so hard to stop sweating. The weather forecast said that the temperature was likely to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and there was no reason for them to be like that. Hayakawa-san in particular is sweating so much that even from a distance you can see it, and her face and arms look a bit burnt. ''''Ah!¡¡I have towels wet with water!¡¡I learned how to chill out with this when I''m tired, and I learned how to do it with the health care business. ''Oh. Shall I take you up on your offer then? All right, I''ll have Amana wipe you down. Just bend over. "Ugh!¡¡Thank you! .... However, even though she doesn''t mean any offense, it''s not fair that she''s so angry with her daughter that she can''t get into her feelings. He''s so........disorganized. If it wasn''t me who witnessed it now, they would have reported it a long time ago. I wish there was more of a sense of urgency. With that disgusted thought in mind, I approach the two of them to join the conversation rather than stand around and watch them forever. ''Ah!¡¡Mom!¡¡Welcome back! I''m home, Tenna. Hi, Amari. Good job. Yes, hello, Hayakawa-san. They each return greetings to Tenna and Hayakawa-san. They both smile at me together, but Hayakawa-san is still in a position where her face is being wiped with a wet towel. Well, in this case, I''m the one who got in the way, so let''s tolerate it and not pay attention to it. Of course, if it''s too much, it''s a different story. It''s just fine. Here, thanks again for your lunch today. ''Oh, no. It''s something I like to do.... He returns the empty lunchbox I''m giving him the morning of the day he''s coming to deliver, and at the same time I feel strangely embarrassed by the casual words he''s communicated to me. It''s a heat that feels different from the heat of the temperature, and my heart beats somewhat faster....... ''To put it straight........love. Suddenly, Mayuzumi-san''s point of view crossed my mind, but I shook my head and brushed it off. ........no. This is not that kind of thing. Since Hayakawa-san helped me with the Tenna, I''m only doing what I deserve to do in return. Otherwise.......... The moment you hear the word "love", there''s no way you''ll think of him. 67 65 Summer vacation is an illusion! Ooh... Good night, Sanya. Oh... you''re sweating... I know... I can''t help but agree with Sanya''s words when she came back from her delivery. It''s such a hot f*cking day, and the amount of deliveries isn''t decreasing like it should. ''''Huh........I want to be a student again.......'''' What''s going on? To tell you the truth, I passed a couple of high school girls on my way to deliver them. Oh. He looked like he was having a great time, planning his summer vacation... I''m so jealous... ''Ahhhh....'' The content of what I heard with a face like my soul was about to float out of my mouth and I felt as if my soul was being secretly scraped away too. Summer vacation ... it''s a privilege for students. It''s a paradise, with the promise of a long vacation of about 40 days, depending on the region and school. There is the hassle of homework, but even with that, it''s an exciting time to be able to do whatever you want with your time off. There are many events such as swimming and summer festivals to match the summer season, and it is a miracle of dreams, hopes and youth. However, when a person becomes an adult, this miracle becomes an illusion, and the envy of the people becomes more intense. The reason for this is quite simple....the company and the people don''t have the time to take a summer off. ''It was good when I was a student........once the summer vacation was over, I''d come back next year.......'' ''Yeah, well...'' We''re going to confess at a fireworks show that we''re going to go to the pool, where we''re working like hell, dreaming of our youth shining brightly without knowing what''s going on. Sanya is right, when you grow up, all you do is work every day and you don''t have time to play like a student, but rather, it highlights a solid disparity. I think it''s torture, especially being a pool warden. What''s sad is that I have to be shown the happiness of couples and families whose names I don''t know in the hot sunshine. ''Kukuk but I hope you''re fluent in that too while you''re at it... The day will come when they''ll grow up anyway and understand, even if they don''t want to, that summer vacation is an illusion that they can''t get down their throats. .........That''s when one realizes very strongly how tough society is....... How many lines is this guy spouting like a mastermind from a while ago? I don''t know what you''re thinking, but.... "Don''t say something too sinister. What?¡¡Why? I heard that Amana-chan is going to hang out with her friends during the summer holidays. I''m sure you''ll be able to find some good memories and help out. So I just don''t want anything bad to happen, you know? ''You were spewing the same curse last year, and now you''re being so naive...'' Sanya comes looking at me like I''m looking at someone else, but I can''t deny it in regards to what was said. Meeting Amana-chan and being healed must have purged not only fatigue but also envy. Hey, hey, you''re invincible. Oh, so you''re both back. Oh, Mao-chan! Sannya, please don''t call me that. As I was talking with Sanya in this way, this time Marao came over. Looking at the fact that she''s in plain clothes, it looks like she''s going home. ''Good job, Kazu-kun.'' Good job, Matsuo. I started calling Amana by name to thank her for saving me when she got lost in a shopping mall, but I''ve gotten used to it over the past month. When the holidays were over, Sanya would sometimes surprise me, but she didn''t persist in pursuing me, so I continued on as normal. So what''s the matter with you that you came all the way over here? Isn''t it obvious?¡¡I''m here to talk to you about the karaoke all-nighters we have planned for next month. ''''Ahhhh...'''' We all let out a breath of resignation at the content of what was said without a care in the world. I knew we were going to do that again this year........ It''s not that it''s not fun, but it''s genuinely exhausting........ Because such feelings appeared on my face to the best of my ability, Mao came glaring at me in frustration. ''''What? You don''t have to look so blatantly disgusted. I mean... after the last one, I got a sore throat for three days and three nights. Remembering what happened back then, Sanya held his hand down to protect his throat. I''d had a hard time finding my voice for a while, too, but Mao had always been the same. I was reminded of the difference in experience. ''That''s just Miya-kun singing like he''s overworking his throat. You just need to take a proper break and improve the way you sing. I mean, come on... Just because she enjoys going to karaoke, Mao is a good singer. That''s enough to make her a singer, but... she said that even though she''s busy, she likes her current job, and that she''s not particularly talented. ''''So?¡¡When are we going to go to karaoke after all? ''We''re going to do it next Wednesday or Saturday, we''ve already worked out a schedule for the two of you, but I wonder if you have any plans?'' I don''t have one. Wednesday or Saturday.......... Looking back at next week''s schedule as far as I can remember. Those two days are definitely off......... ''Ah.'' ''What?¡¡What''s going on? Sorry, I had plans for Saturday. Really? What''s it like? Sanja asks me for my privacy as if it''s none of my business, but I don''t care about it because it''s something I can talk about with these two. Because..... "I''m going to the pool with Amana and her friend, "...and... I know the relationship he has with the little girl he meets at the delivery point. That said, the two of them were stunned as if they hadn''t expected it. What? I didn''t mean to say something so weird that you would look at me like that, but........ "Ka-zu-kun........ Oh. Amana''s friend is in the first grade? Of course. And by the way, I''ve met you and seen your homework, too. Yeah. Why are you giving me such a paranoid look, Mao-san? Can Sanya not hold up her phone in silence, too? I don''t think you''re kidding, but you didn''t turn the recording function on, did you? Amana-chan asked me to join her when she made a delivery today, and I just agreed because it was my day off. I didn''t have any guilty feelings at all! ''''It''s not safe for schoolgirls to go to leisure facilities alone, but does Kazu-kun need to buy a guardian?'''' Hmm? Oh, maybe you think I''m the only adult companion! You think I accepted to go with you because of a schoolgirl in a swimsuit? I don''t have any such intentions, but I feel lightly disappointed. ''''No, no, Amana-chan''s mother and sister are with her! Yeah, you''re gonna have to... what?¡¡Kurone-chan, but Amana-chan''s mother too? Huh? I mean, for a second, it almost made sense, but why are you being so paranoid? And I feel a vindictiveness that wasn''t there earlier! "Was it Amani-san........you''re not planning to molest a married woman and a single summer''s avant-garde....... ''Hey guys. Why did you think I''d be thinking that with my sister and the school kids with me? I don''t deny that Amari is an attractive woman, but if you ask me if that''s why I want to go out with her, that''s a different story. Am I that untrustworthy? Aside from Mao, Sanya is just getting a bad ride, but I don''t want her to do anything to add fuel to the fire. ''Is the pool you''re going to that day on Everlasting Summer Island? ''Oh, yes!¡¡I''m going to teach her to swim and stuff. Hmm.... It''s only a healthy relationship~, I explain that with an appeal as well. I was relieved when Mao, who had finished listening, showed a pretense of being convinced, and I was relieved that this was okay. ''''It''s Saturday, Everlasting Summer Island........'''' I thought I heard something, but I didn''t have time left to pay attention to it. 68 [Extra edition] Trick or treat! October 31. It''s November from tomorrow, and the cold wind is freezing our bodies. Especially in the morning, my breath turns white. I''ve been working at Umineko Transport, and I''ve been working on a delivery job today. Some people might say that the cold is better than the heat of summer, but in a job that requires you to be outside all year round, it makes no difference. Either way, it''s still hard work. Anyway, that''s beside the point. I''m supposed to deliver a package to the Minamis'' house today, and I''m wondering why it''s a Thursday. I can''t help but wonder why it''s Thursday, but I''ll consider myself lucky if I get to see Amana-chan. With that expectation, I braved the cold and worked hard, and at 5pm it was finally my turn to deliver the package to the Minami family. As usual, I pressed the intercom to room 184 of the Avery Smile apartment building. ''''Yes!'''' Hello. This is Umineko Transport. "I''m coming! As I was immediately relieved to hear Amana''s cute voice through the speakers, the front door was opened. ''Always a pleasure, Onii-san! Thank you for... The moment I saw Amana-chan greeting me, the words I was about to tell her disappeared. That''s the reason why my eyes were drawn to her outfit, among other things. She was wearing an all-white, fuzzy, sheep-like hood with swirling brown horn-like projections. If you look closely, you can see that underneath the hood is a white blouse and pumpkin pants with black suspenders, and the cotton candy-like footwear seems to be a substitute for shoes. Moreover, there is even a tail on the back of the hood. Where do they sell these cute little things? ''Oh, Amana?¡¡How do you dress? This?¡¡It''s the sheep!¡¡Kyou is a ''Harouin''! Oh! The reason for the costume, announced with a shining smile behind the hood, makes me remember something I had forgotten. Halloween is a time when children dress up as ghosts and receive candy from their neighbors. It''s become a hot topic in Japan in recent years, but in other countries, it''s the same old familiarity with the idea of cherry blossom viewing. But...........there are cases where foreign countries have perverted Japanese culture, but you can''t really speak for them, can you? Christmas, Valentine''s Day, etc.... Halloween is all about dressing up in costumes and having fun, and it doesn''t have the community interaction aspect to it. Well, if you can see Amana-chan dressed as a sheep, it''s probably not something you need to worry about. ''That''s a cute little sheep hood,'' Hehehe!¡¡Thanks. When I praised her for her fancy dress, Amana-chan beamed happily. While thinking like that, I finished receiving it and was about to put my luggage down, but....... Oh, Onii-san. Please take Kyou to the living room! ''Oh?¡¡Okay. It''s rare again to have luggage that is usually left at the front door to the living room. When I took the luggage I was carrying as I was told, Amana carefully opened the door for me. Sweet.......... The moment I thought......... ''Ah, Onii-san is here! ''You''re here at last!¡¡I''m tired of this! Hi, Onii-chan.... Hasumi-chan in the Inu-mimi hood, Yuri-chan in the Nekomimi hood, and Kana-chan in the Usamimi hood were all there. Not only Amana-chan, but all of them in matching outfits, I''m afraid to say. They all look good together........is this a new kind of animal cosplay cafe? Anyway, I can''t find any other words to describe it other than eye-opening.... We were all having a blast! ''Is that... hmm?¡¡What about Amani then? ''Kaimochu!¡¡Maybe he''ll be back in a little while! I see... There''s plenty of time before the next delivery, so I''ll have no problem at all saying hello. I decided to put the package down for now and ask Amana a question. ''But are you sure it was a good idea for me to come?'' It would have been fun with the kids, but inviting an adult male, even if he was a friend, would seem to be an intrusion. However, when asked, Amana looked at him curiously and opened her mouth. ''''Yes!¡¡I told my mom I wanted to be with my brother! What.... I was so stunned by the answer that I couldn''t keep my mouth open at the answer that came back. Dumbfounded? It''s the opposite, I can''t close my jaw because the preciousness is so penetrating. Amana, who''s just so heavenly in her cuteness, dressed up in a sheep hood and told Amana she wanted to have a Halloween party with me? I want to clap my hands together and say a prayer of thanks to God and Buddha. So the fact that it''s Thursday and I''m delivering to the South family is a result of taking into account the fact that I was at work? Indeed, Tenashi asked me if I was going to work, and I realized that this was for this reason. Then I should offer a prayer of thanks to Amari. ©¤ Thank you, Tenashi........ ''Amachi!¡¡I have to say it, because it''s a baloney! Oh, okay. In the midst of her excitement, Amana-chan remembered something from Sumi-chan''s pointing out, and she smiled victoriously, showing a winning smile with a niggle so big that you could see her teeth, and then held her hands up........ ''''Torikku-o-a-torito!¡¡Okay, give me a snack or I''ll do something naughty!¡¡Meh! ! Ehhh...... Wait, wait, wait, wait... I can''t process all my thoughts! What''s wrong with that? ''Meh! You know what? "Meh! ! You''re dressed as a sheep, though, so the bleating isn''t wrong! She''s so cute, it''s like she''s been brought back to life after one ascension! Just witnessing this made me feel so happy that I could even say I was energized for the week. ''We''re going to do the same thing.¡¡Wow! And then, of course, there''s the question.¡¡Meow! That''s right. As Amana imitated the sounds of the animals, Hasumi and the others got caught in the act and started to imitate the sounds of the animals. Is this Eden? I, who get to see the cute little girls like this, may have exhausted my lifetime''s worth of luck. However, sweets.........I don''t have any right now....... But I don''t mind being pranked by Amana-chan and the others, not to mention I don''t mind being welcomed. I''m sorry, okay?¡¡I don''t have any candy. You''re safe!¡¡Your brother brought me a snack! What? I apologize and tell her that I don''t have any sweets, but Amana-chan gives me a puzzled look in return. But I really don''t have any sweets with me. I don''t even have any in the delivery truck and that''s completely out of line. I''m not sure what to say, but Amana-chan is not the kind of girl to make a joke, and... Oh, I see. I''ll be there in a minute! Eventually, Amana-chan noticed something and said so, taking a pair of scissors, she cut out the seal of the package I had just delivered to her. Eh, hey, no way........ With that action, I finally realized the true meaning of her words, and at the same time, the exposed package was filled with various types of sweets. Chocolates, cookies, potato chips, etc., there was a wide variety of varieties that could be described as a treasure chest of sweets. ''Wow!¡¡That''s awesome! That''s a lot of snacks! Yum.... You know?¡¡You don''t have to do anything naughty because your brother put this in there for you! ©¤ Yes, the package that Amanashi ordered for today was the reason for Amana''s confidence. I can''t help but admire how well prepared she is. I''ve got more words to tell her, who will be coming back soon. ''Onii-san! Hmm? Crazy! Oh, thank you. Nihehe..... Yeah. When I thanked Amana for handing me the candy she held in both hands, she gave me a big smile. It''s a pity in a way that they no longer play tricks on me, but it''s more than enough of a price to pay for being able to see the kids happy up close and personal. With such happy smiles on my face, I was able to carry out my later deliveries in good shape. 69 66 Its summer! Its a pool! Its a swimsuit! It''s terribly disappointing that Mao and Sanya have raised new suspicions, but time still moves on. It''s late July, an irreplaceable summer vacation time for students. Amana has helped me get through my busy days, and the day of the pool finally arrives. The island has not only a regular pool, but also a flowing pool, a waterslide and a water athletic facility, and it is a popular leisure facility that is visited every season not only by people who live in the area, but also by people who live in distant prefectures. It''s been 7 years since I went there as a student... it''s been a long time since I''ve played in a bathing suit. To be honest, I''m excited for my age. "Wow!¡¡The pool is big! There''s a waterslide! Wow, there are so many people... Oh, wait, guys!¡¡That''s the first thing that comes to mind! The excitement of the elementary school kids must be even greater, since even I am like that. So, besides Amana, her three friends, the energetic Hasumi-chan, the quiet Kana-chan, and the serious Chiyuri-chan, are also with her. The way they started to do their warm-up exercises before getting into the pool is the ultimate in smiles and eye candy. ''Oh, Onii-san!¡¡Is that right for you, Mizugi? ''Oh. Amana-chan and Hasumi-chan and the others are cute. "Heh, heh, yay! I''ve turned your sister upside down! Hmmm!¡¡I don''t really care if you praise me, but since I''m here for the sake of it, I''ll forgive you! Oh, thank you, Onii-chan... When I complimented Amana and her friends on their swimsuits while they were getting ready for gymnastics, they responded in a very appropriate way. But Hasumi-chan, if you talk like that, you''ll think I''m a pedophile, so don''t do that, okay? The elementary school kids'' swimsuits were a polar opposite to the cuteness of the pink halter-neck type top and skirt-like pants that Amana showed me at the mall. Hassumi-chan wore a salopette, an overalls-like design with the back open. Chiyuri''s was a blue and white polka-dotted one-piece. And Kana-chan''s was wearing a school swimsuit. I''ll say it again, it was a school swimsuit. The fact that her name was written on her chest in oil-based pen as "Higashi-no" made me think that she was aiming for the perfect "schoolsukumizu". The simple design makes it stand out even more... it''s fine because it looks good on you. It''s a very picture-perfect scene of an adult male and four schoolgirls, but there are other people accompanying them. The fact that those girls came out means..... ''''Ughhhhh........the little ones'' swimsuits are cute too, but Tenri-san has a good style like a model, right? ''''I''m not so much...Kuroone-san is bigger than me, and...'''' Hmmm........but it makes my shoulders stiff and seems to get in the way when I''m cooking.... ''Oh, that''s certainly troubling...'' I heard Amari and Kurone talking as they came out as well. Kurone was supposed to come stay over for the summer vacation, and when I told her about the pool, she said she was going too, so I''m bringing her here like this. The younger sister is wearing a white floral bikini with a black background, as if to boldly show off her large breasts. It''s not only attracting the gaze of many men, but you can see that even women are looking at her breasts that sway with every step forward and are looking at her with envy. That seems to be the case with Amanashi standing in line next to me as well. But her swimsuit outfit in a green shell-like patterned top shaped like a scallop and a pale light blue pareo was so elegant that it seemed like she was really a menstrual woman, just like Kuroone-said. If it had been just the two of us, I think I would have been at a level where I would have fawned over her at a stunning rate. ''Ah, Aniki found~! Mr. Hayakawa-san, I look forward to working with you today. Hey, you two look good together. ''Oh, thank you...'' So you can have a little over 10,000 for the privilege of reading. That''s a tough one! Don''t try to rip me off for a compliment! Take a lesson from the teasing Amari''s reaction........ But even though Amana-chan and her sister are with her, I can''t help but feel a sense of superiority to be able to go out like this with a beautiful woman like Tenashi. Well, the men around me have been directing jealousy vindictiveness at me as if to say that it''s the price to pay. One of them is my sister, and when it comes to the other, she''s a married woman with a child! How can you know at a glance that two of them are like that? As I was thinking this, I suddenly noticed my right hand being pulled downward. "Onii-san. Amana and the others, I''m done with the sequencing. Oh, okay. Where do we go first? When it''s time to play, I ask them which one to start with because there are different kinds of amusement park attractions. If you respect the children''s opinion, this should be a good choice. I have a plaything I want to do! Hmm?¡¡What''s it like? I have a quick idea and I ask Yuri what it is. She looked so confident that she pointed her index finger at a certain point and said I saw an episode of ''Sabagee'' on TV, and I want to try it! He pointed to the rental shop that rents out the playground equipment used in the pool and claimed so highly. I see, with a water gun, it''s less dangerous than the original. I agree with the choice itself. ''''What''s a saba-gee...?'''' Isn''t it a game of mackerel? Mackerel, like fish mackerel?¡¡Are you in the pool? ''Chiggah!¡¡We''re going to play water games with water! The other three didn''t seem to understand the meaning of savage game, and it was very funny to see them going off on a tangent at great speed. Chiyuri quickly explained the meaning of the game, but all she seemed to know was that it was done with water guns, and she didn''t seem to have any understanding of the original idea of using air guns. Well, it''s better than being lazily used with an air gun, so let''s keep it quiet for now. By the way, we can rent a water gun at the rental shop, so how shall we find a place for it? Well, I think you can get a little space in that building over there. The water pistol rental fee is extra, but it''s 300 yen for 30 minutes. Oh. I am amazed at how well leisure facilities have adopted the latest trends. Thus, we started out playing mackerel game with water guns. 70 67 Water game and attraction greedy set At first I thought it would be more of a cackling, cackling, smiling kind of thing. I thought I would be able to watch the four little girls, the beautiful Amari and the lively Kuroon, playing together in harmony. But the reality is very different. "©¤©¤Bu! ''Yes!¡¡Ganmen hit! The water from the pool, released from the rifle-type water pistol held by Hassumi, came into my nose and mouth and into my eyes. Sinking in! The chlorine is really sinking in! Even though it''s a harmless amount to get into your body, it''s a tight fit once it''s in! Especially my nose! I''m so glad I did. My back? While I was sullen, I received a merciless attack on my back from Chiuri this time. If it was a normal water pistol, I wouldn''t have minded it so much, but she was using a launcher-type gun with a tank on her back. Naturally, the amount of water in one shot is dramatically different, so it boasts a power that would not be able to make a grown man lie on his back. How can you move with such a thing on your back? The infinite vitality of a child is amazing. I tried to fight back, but Hassumi''s accurate head shots prevented me from seeing, and Chiyuri''s gunfire threw me off balance, so I couldn''t even hold my own water pistol. It''s like I don''t care about fair play, but it''s a clever technique to show how well they get along. It''s just like the monster in the B part of the anime where the two magical girls beat him to a pulp. ''Ei!¡¡Ei! Yikes, we did it! ''Ugh!¡¡I''ve hit it.... Kana-chan is very good at it. Unlike me, who is such a full-on bastard, the rest of the four of us are really peaceful. It''s different from the prey they''re using in the first place. The two guys over here are the rugged ones that boys carry, while everyone over there is handgun shaped! There''s no way we can win.... "Gee, I''m sorry, little Tammas... Oh, man, you''re too good-looking! It hasn''t even been ten minutes since we started. I guess I was bombarded with a level of water that gave me the illusion that I was going to drown in that mere 10 minutes.... Giving up and finally escaping the onslaught, I caught my breath, but the two of them let go of the retired adults and began to play with the tycoon. At least, ''Are you okay?'' I moved to the edge of the court, watching everyone else play and taking a breather, saying to myself, "That''s creepy, even for me. It''s been a long time since I''ve used up this much energy outside of work. But since I''m here to play with Amana and the others in private, I have a sunny heart as the clouds dissipate. It''s not so much that it''s a holiday as that it''s a time to sleep. ''Onii-san, are you OK?'' ''What?¡¡Amana-chan? As I was lost in my thoughts, before I knew it, Amana was sitting next to me. When I looked at Amari and her friends, I saw that they were playing ball together, but I couldn''t understand why they came over here. I thought maybe you were just tired of sitting by yourself. Oh, I''m sorry I worried you. I''ll be fine once I get some rest. I see. I wanted to have a little juke with you, so I''m with my brother! "Haha, thank you. She''s still very attentive and gentle as ever. Thanks to that, I don''t have to be bored alone. When I stroke her head in appreciation, she smiles with happy eyes. The innocent expression on her face catches me and makes me smile too........Amana''s healing process is in great shape again today. ===. And so, having finished our sabbatical with water guns, we talked about what to do next. ''Yes!¡¡I want to go on the water slide. ''What?¡¡But you can hear the ''squeal'' coming from over there.¡¡Is it scary...? I think it''s it!¡¡It''s got to be like a roller coaster! Kanachan and Chiyuri had difficulty with the waterslide that Hasumi had mentioned. Kana-chan''s voice was the same as Chiyuri-chan''s when the roller coaster started to descend, but Chiyuri-chan''s knees were laughing so hard that I realized she must have been scared. You can ride this waterslide with several people on a big rubber boat. It''s not as dangerous as you might imagine, don''t worry? There is no height limit, but I understand that children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. ''Then why don''t you go with him, Amani?¡¡Me and Kuroon are looking at our stuff... It would be suspicious if I, as a man, went with him, and I thought it wouldn''t be a problem for Tenashi....... ''''........'''' ''........Um, Tenashi-san?¡¡Why are you coming by? Well, you see... She silently approached us. It is the sad nature of a man that he cannot help but be aware of when he is confronted by a beautiful woman in a swimsuit, but when asked why, she blushed and slowly opened her mouth while moistening her lapis lazuli eyes. ''''Wow, I''m actually a canazuchi, so I''m not a good swimmer...To begin with, I''m not very familiar with these leisure facilities themselves, so I don''t really understand how to use them...'''' ...What do you mean? I''d like to ride with you, but I don''t feel comfortable riding alone with my children, so I think I''ll feel more comfortable if Hayakawa-san can join us. I... Wow, wait, is that a cute thing to say? Come to think of it, I didn''t know that Amari wasn''t aware of her own good looks.... It seems like he''s aiming for it, but it''s actually completely unconscious. ''''Ku, black sound.'''' Oh, sorry, my brother. I''m having a conversation with a friend right now on a text message, so I''m stuck here. Huh! I tried to rely on the black sound to do that while suppressing my expectations, but an airy remark came out. What, you''re playing with your phone when you''re here to play! What is it? You want me to follow you? You''re going to come with me?¡¡Amana, happy! It''s exciting for us too! Well, now that you''re here, I can give you a ride! Maybe it''s not so scary when you''re with your brother... ''I''m sorry, I''m going to have to take advantage of Hayakawa-san, but...'' Oh, this is the one I can''t refuse now. This is the kind of trust that comes from trusting someone, and if they look at you with that kind of expectation and relief, you can''t say no, they''re not human. "Oh...oh. I''ll do it... I can''t help but feel like I''ve become the first person to do so, but I can''t betray the five of them, and that''s what I said. 71 68 Do you get excited with the waterslide? We made our way through the long line and finally it was our turn. On the road, I felt tired before we even got on the train because I kept getting jealous looks from Amanashi and the kids, as if I was too foreign to them. However, I pretended to be calm because I couldn''t afford to offend Amana and the others, and fortunately, they didn''t notice me. ''''How many people are there?'''' Six, please. Yes, I guess that''s six people... "...what? When I answered the attendant''s question, he treated me like family, as it should be, and so he and Amanashi raised their voices together. No, no, no, the three of us except for Amana-chan are friends, it would be rude to call me Amanashi''s husband or something....... But if I try to make a joke here, it might look suspicious, so I keep my mouth shut for now©¤©¤. "Onie-san, we don''t have any family members. What? Hasumi! This Kylee is Amana''s mother! Hmm? Chiuri-chan too! Why are you so proud of yourself for talking like that.... You''re a friend of Amana''s. Yes? Even Amana-chan! It''s good that we''re all honest, but I wish I could have kept my mouth shut now if I could! But it''ll be so much fun when we''re all under the age of... .......... Hi! Kana-chan''s words completely set the attendant''s eyes on the criminal. I understand that you don''t mean any harm, but........how could you be cornered at such a speed that makes me suspect a conspiracy? What did I do? The joyful mood has been thrown down to the bottom in the blink of an eye, and frankly, I just want to cry.... If you still have time to cry, you should do something about it, and the moment you were about to do so, Amari suddenly hugged your left arm and said... ''''And I''m planning to do that in the future!¡¡Anyway, he''s not the kind of person to think about such an empty hole in the ground!¡¡Right?¡¡Wa-san! " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " Ta-tenashi! She came with a shocking statement that blew away the soft feeling on her left arm. Perhaps because of the boldness of her words even though her face is red, not only Amana-chan and the attendants, but also the other people lined up behind her seem to have been shocked. But I''m the one who''s most surprised. That''s right, he practically proposed to a beautiful woman like Amanashi! But I know what I''m getting at. This is her own way of trying to protect me, and she''s lying on the spur of the moment. I know that, but I still can''t help but be upset. After all, you just casually called me by my name, right? It made me understand why Mao was so happy to see him, it made me understand why he was so happy. This is inevitably going to make me giggle........ ''''That''s right, that''s what it was~.......in front of your child, I''m sorry.......'''' No, no... The attendant blushes and apologizes, but the person in question, Amanashi, seems to have belatedly realized how outrageous he said it, and his face is even redder than before. It''s already so red that I could have mistaken it for an apple. I''m probably just as red as I am. Because my face is getting hot for reasons other than the sunshine. Then I managed to get on a special rubber boat while dodging the reminder to "explode the rear" from the people around me and the pursuit from Amana and the others. The boat was circular in shape, and we were seated facing each other in the center of the boat. It''s a bit small, but there are four elementary school students in it, so the space is free. Amanashi is sitting on the left, but it''s very awkward, partly because of the exchange we had earlier. She''s not making eye contact with me at all. ''Onii-san, is Shorai going to be a father to you? Sh!¡¡That''s up to you two adults to decide, and all we can do is look after you! Kana, your head is still pounding from that story you just told me... I''m so glad you and Mom are such good friends. And I can hear the really silly conversations of Amana-chan and the others, regardless of how I feel. No, only Amana-chan, who sits on my right hand side, is a pure thought. Even if we don''t meet face to face, Amana''s ears are red, so it seems she can hear them as well. ''''Then please hold on tight! " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " In the meantime, the rubber boat was finally sliding down the slider. Because we were following the flow of the water, the speed of the boat quickly increased. The strong G''s we felt as we rounded the curve to the right and left made us feel like we were being thrown out of the boat without the handles. The five of them are screaming too loudly. I''m too busy listening to their voices, so I don''t know what kind of expressions Amari and the others have on their faces. However, I can only tell that their hands are being held on either side. I''ve decided that the only thing I can do now is to grip it back in the same way without letting go of it, so I continued to grab it. ©¤ ©¤ Zappaaaaaaaaaaan! Wah, pfft! As we slid down the slider, a splash of water suddenly splashed in our faces. The momentum of the rubber boat had stopped, and it seemed that we had reached the finish line. It may have been long or short... either way, I let out a breath of relief at the fact that I made it to the finish line safely. ''Peh, peh!¡¡The water is in my mouth! Haha, my head is spinning... but it was fun... Oh, my God, it''s scary! Hasumichi-chan and Nana-chan seemed to be fine, but Chiuri-chan was completely whimpering. I''ll buy her something to drink later. For now, I tried to wipe the water on my face, but I couldn''t lift my arm. Come to think of it, I remember that he was holding my hand. But I''m pretty sure the one next to me is..... Kehot, Tenna. Are you okay? Yeah, you''re not a problem. What about you? I''ll be fine too. That''s right, it was Amari and Amana. When I managed to open my eyes, I just met my eyes with Amari. ''''Ah........'''' It''s hard to tell because it''s blurry, but I hear a thin breath. It looks like she tried to pull her hand away as soon as she could, but she couldn''t move because I was holding her hand firmly. "Bad... I mean...¡¡I apologize for my misleading remarks earlier, even if it was to defend Hayakawa-san! What? Before I let go of my hand, Tenashi apologized to me for doing so. I was dumbfounded for a moment, but I instantly realized that it was now or never....... ''''Um, I''m the one who''s sorry.'''' Oh no... But it was nice to hear you say that, even if you were lying. I... I told her that. .........Hey, why are you thanking me, you shouldn''t add something unnecessary when you were just apologizing, right? While I''m dumbfounded by my own words that came out so quickly, I admire Amari''s slightly soft smile. And so, although I''ve become aware of the other party in a different way than I was a moment ago, I tried to pull the rubber boat to the side of the pool so that the children wouldn''t fall in for a moment....... ''Ick yaaaaahhhhhh!¡¡It''s not a lovey-dovey story! ".... I turned my head in surprise at the somewhat mousy voice. And it didn''t take me more than a few moments to regret looking at her. She''s tall enough for me to look up at her 177cm height, she wears a swimsuit with boomerang pants as if to show off her muscularity, and she wears a lot of IKO-like makeup and hair. People call her "Oneee" as if she doesn''t give a d*mn about the eyes around her. We''ve come across such a monster. 72 69 One difficulty is gone and another is difficult! !! Mwahhhh........pool with a bunch of cute girls......you''re not as carnivorous as you look, are you? An IKO-style make-up girl with boomerang pants and muscular muscles suddenly got involved. How could I have multiplied the muscle and the girl of all people? He(?) is how dissimilar the others are to her (?). I''m so far away that I''d like to be about five meters from the center of the To be honest, I''d like to be as far away from it as possible. But there are circumstances that make it impossible to do so. The only thing that matters is the fact that this guy is a man. ''Gaaaaaaaah!¡¡I''m sorry, this girl didn''t mean any harm!¡¡Please forgive me! I apologize for interrupting Hasumi''s overly straightforward question with a loud voice that sounds like a half scream. It may be too late, but I can''t let her continue to piss off and make the school kids cry. Anyway, I apologize, insisting that I didn''t mean any offense. ''Huh, you''ll understand when you''re a fine lady too...'' Oh, this guy is so mature. The enigmatic muscle oneeee didn''t seem to be bothered in the least and politely answered Hasumi''s question. ''Mayuzumi-san!¡¡Odd! ''What?¡¡You know Amani?! Oh, yes. I''m a senior colleague at work. Senpai! I know it''s too late now, but I don''t know at all what kind of workplace Amari works at.... All I know is that at least it wouldn''t be a black job or company like ours. "You''ve never heard of ''Heinertec Systems''? ''What?¡¡What''s wrong with one of the best IT companies in the industry? That''s where you and Tenri are working. ''Come to think of it, I''ve never talked to Hayakawa-san about my workplace. Mayuzumi-san and I are in the same sales department. Oh, my God! Doesn''t Tenashi make more money than me? When I think about it for Amana-chan''s sake, I don''t mind that I''m losing out on income to someone younger than me... or at least not at all! Is it hard for you to do the same job as your mother? Aaah~. Are they concerned about us?¡¡But no problem!¡¡I haven''t been doing this for ten years. Wow! Mayuzumi replied to Amana''s question with a relaxed attitude, as she sensitively sensed that she shouldn''t be treated like a man. When we got up to the poolside, she took turns looking at me and Amanashi. The expression on her face was a grin. I didn''t think you were going out with a boy, even though you have a child with you. What? I... I was given a surprising impression, and as soon as I turned my head towards Amari, my eyes met perfectly. Although her lapis lazuli eyes were round and wide open, her cheeks were dyed in bright vermillion, and the words ''a good woman who also drips water'' from her hair and skin, which were wet from being covered with water at the finish line of the waterslide, seemed to describe her exactly. I mean, what the hell were you thinking! Forgetting that the other person is married and fawning over her, she takes a life of her own and removes her gaze to ward off the evil thoughts. However, once I became aware of it, I couldn''t get Amari''s face burned into my memory out of my mind. My heart was racing and I felt myself thinking that it wasn''t bad, even though it should be depressing. I don''t know what kind of face Amari has, but I wonder if she doesn''t think it''s strange? Hmmmm... Hmmm.... What is it? Mayuzumi-san''s meaningful response to me as she slowly observes me, and I ask her while suppressing my fears. ''''.........What is your name, dear?'''' This is Kazu Hayakawa. All right, Kazuki. A chirp! Will you stop calling me that! Would you mind coming up here for a minute? Oh no, wait, I''m scared, I''m scared enough to protect my buttocks with my hands without a second thought! I was frightened by the fearlessness of something rather unfunny, and was whisked away as I was told. But when Mayuzumi came across her, she smiled a soft, adult smile. "Tenri-chan, I''ve been so busy with my daughter for so long that I never expected to go out with someone like this. ''What?¡¡Uh..... I can only agree with that. When I first met her, Amari really hated me approaching Amana-chan. She has softened since her class visit, but the change must have been drastic from Mayuzumi-san''s point of view, who has seen her more than me. ''She''s raising a child at that young age, isn''t she?¡¡So when the time comes, I''ve been helping you out," he said. Well you don''t have to tell me that. Just as I want Amana to laugh, I want Amari to laugh as well. If there''s anything I can do to make that happen, I''m going to help. I don''t need Mayuzumi-san to tell me that now. "Yes.........you''re such a good guy that you''d fall in love with him by accident if you were younger. Hee.... It''s not as if that feeling was conveyed to him, or that Mayuzumi-san pretended to be convinced, but he didn''t seem to be able to accept the praise he continued to receive. Anyway, he (?) was going to meet up with Amari and the others who had returned to Kuroone-san''s place a step ahead of him after finishing their talk with Mayuzumi-san. I parted with him. When we parted, he told me to tell Amani to ''hang in there''. You must have been blessed with a great senior that never fails to inspire you to raise your children. It''s almost as if I met Amana-chan thanks to her, so we''re both in each other''s company in that regard. When I was feeling deeply moved by that, I found Amari and her friends. The moment I opened my mouth to call out to them for making them wait. "Ah, Kazu-kun! Hayakawa-san! I''m sorry? They were interrupted by angry voices emanating from the two women earlier. One of them is Amari, and she has some kind of grumpy expression on her face. And the other one is........eh~, hasn''t this pattern happened before? The majority of my thoughts were taken up with such deja vu. There was Mao in a bathing suit with her reddish-brown hair bunched up short, a camisole-like top that hid her figure and a bottom that looked like a pair of shorts. However, the expression on her face was revealing, not hiding her frustration. Judging from the situation, she was arguing with Amari. No, but why are you here? What are the odds with Mayuzumi-san earlier? And I can''t stop wondering why we''re fighting, but I thought I''d just say this for now. ''I''m tired...'' 73 70 Ah, have you finally met? Oh, it''s Kuroone-chan. What a surprise. Huh? I was waiting for Aniki and the others who went to the waterslide to return, fiddling with my phone, when I was unexpectedly called out to them and turned my head in the direction I heard their voices. Then, there was Sakai-san, a colleague of Aniki''s at work, who rescued Amana-chan who had gotten lost at the mall. I thought about the fact that he''s as racy as ever, or that his timing might be a little bad, but I decided to say hello first. Hello, Sakai-san. It''s really a coincidence! Yes, really. The bathing suit looks great on you........ Thank you. Sakai-san''s looks good too! I can feel the envy in my eyes as they turn to my chest. It''s not a good thing to have this kind of thing, because your shoulders are stiff and people look at you all the time, but it''s obvious that you''ll get some backlash if you say it, so I won''t say anything. But it''s not flattering or anything, Sakai-san looks good in her swimsuit. She is not too revealing because she is worried about her lack of breasts, but I envy her slender body because she looks good in many different outfits. Well, I guess it''s a matter of one or the other. But I''m glad Aniki and the others are going to the waterslide now........ I took on the role of baggage guard in the hope that he and Amari would make some progress, but this isn''t very good. Sakai-san clearly likes Aniki, so even though Amana-chan and the others are with her, she can''t let it be known that she''s coming with Tenashi-san, can she? ''Kurone-chan, where is Kazu-kun now?'' Ew! Eh, wait, Sakai-san. Why are you asking me on the premise of having such an animator! I made a funny sound, but Sakai-san continued with a cheerful smile Oh, I''m sorry to surprise you. Actually, I heard from Kazu-kun that he was going to be here today, so I had some time on my hands, and I felt bad about it, but I thought I''d be happy to entertain you. ''Oh, I see...'' You''re the big brother! Just because you don''t realize how much Sakai-san is feeling, don''t do anything to call a shura on yourself! That means there''s a good chance he knows that Amana-chan and the others and Tenashi-san are together. Oh wait, isn''t this unavoidable... No, there''s no proof that Amari-san likes you, but there''s no way Sakai-san won''t feel anything about it. The moment my thoughts caught up to that point........ ''''Onee-chan!¡¡I loved the waterslide! It went down with a whimper, then a pop, and then a crash. That was scary, but I had fun... Oh, I''m going to swim, so you can all go next time. ''''Thank you for looking at my luggage, Kuroone-san. Wow.... As if the timing was well-aimed, Amari-san and the others came back. Glancing sideways at Sakai-san''s reaction, I could see that she was surprised by Amari-san''s beauty, as expected. Even though she''s so beautiful, she''s married with a child, which may seem unfair to high school students like me, but to Sakai-san, who is the same age as me, it seems unfair. ''''Ah!¡¡Hey, lady!¡¡It''s been a long time! ''What?¡¡Ah, long time no see, Amana-chan.... Amana-chan, with whom she was acquainted, noticed Sakai-san and greeted her prettily. With that, the other kids and Amari-san turned their heads towards her. ''''You are...?'''' Amanashi-san. The man is Marao Sakai, a colleague of mine at work. You see, she''s the one who found Amana-chan who got lost at the shopping mall. ''''I see........I''m Tianna''s mother, Nantenashi. Thank you for saving my daughter. ''No, no. Kazu-kun thanked me as well, but I just happened to be passing by, so... When I introduced Ms. Sakai to Ms. Amanashi, she responded in a polite manner that made me feel like Amana''s mother. I want to be this kind of adult. However, even though it looks like Shura is about to happen, the sight of beautiful women talking to each other face to face stands out~.... The guys who seem to be going to pick up on you are so bashful that they don''t come up to you, which is pretty impressive. "Onii-san''s Dorryo-san, that''s so racy! It''s so cool. Hassumi and Kana-chan give a glittering look at Sakai-san. It''s just like a woman who can do her job, isn''t it? It''s no wonder that I admire it. The best thing about this is that it''s not just a matter of time. Hmm? As I was feeling such a smile, Chiyuri blushed and called out to Sakai-san. I''m sure she''ll ask a question like, "How can I become like that? You know, she''s going to open her mouth any minute now and say... Is onee-san, could it be that she is Yamato-oni-san''s cousin? What? Boo? At Chiyuri''s unreserved question, Sakai-san''s face turned red and disconcerted. Wait a minute........that''s a Shuraba mine! How did I know that...? Because just now the lady called you "Kazu-kun"!¡¡So I wonder if it''s a good person... Ah, Sakai-san looks a little happy. Is it because you think of me as a lover with someone you like? But I''m sorry, Chiuri-chan........my brother is too insensitive and we''ve only recently made progress, so our relationship doesn''t live up to your expectations yet....... ''Oh, that''s a nickname, isn''t it?¡¡Look, I don''t think of Kazu-kun as a... ''What?¡¡When you come back, I''ll ask you what you think of her. ''Stay, wait!¡¡That''s a bit of a stretch... Then he uttered a tremendous amount of gratitude. He''s a good kid, but he''s clearly not acting like a good kid! I''m taken aback and can''t stop thinking about what''s going on. Sakai-san, on the other hand, looks like she''s about to cry from embarrassment. She came all the way to see Aniki and I''m sorry if I made her look like that. Thinking that, I tried to stop Chiyuri-chan, but.... ''''Chiyuri-chan. Hayakawa-san won''t feel good if you embarrass Sakai-san. ''Oh, I''m sorry...'' Uh, no, I''m fine... Amanashi-san stopped her quickly. But what is it........I''m in a bad mood.......? His expression should have been blissfully calm, but there was something in the air. ''''Well, thank you.'''' No. I''ve had to deal with rumors from my own experience. That''s right.... Oh...? Didn''t Amanashi-san''s words just now have a very sharp thorn in her side? I didn''t mean for it to be said to me, but I felt a cold sweat running down my back that had nothing to do with the heat of the sun? As for Sakai-san, her brows are wrinkled as if she is annoyed. Oh.........I heard that you were rumored to be dating your brother. From what I''ve heard, it seems like you missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and even I thought what the hell is he doing? You''ve been bothering about it, Mr. Sakai..... ".........And yet, it''s tough for Minami-san too, isn''t it? What''s that? ''Cuz you''re so close to your kids, I''m sure you''re having a hard time keeping up with them at the pool. It seems that my daughter wants me to be good friends with Ms. Hayakawa. It''s only natural for a parent to respond to their child''s wishes. Hee........Sakai-san fought back! Amanashi-san''s smile wavered for a moment as she received that counter, but she returned it to say that she was only acting as a matter of course. Eh, yada wait......... If I was jokingly comparing it to a shura, is this really not happening? More importantly, Tenri-san........ The two continued to argue without hesitation until Aniki came back, leaving the children, who were unable to say anything due to Atashi''s unsettled and swashbuckling atmosphere, alone........ 74 71. The flowers in both hands stab the thorns. When I came back after talking to Mayuzumi, I found my co-worker and my friend''s (1st grade) mother fighting with each other. When you hear all this, you''d think I just happened to witness the scene, but the real situation is more complicated. At any rate......... ''''Kazu-kun! Hayakawa-san! Dada dada dada! He puts me in between and pulls me so hard I think we''re both going to tear our arms to shreds. Isn''t that a flower in both hands? Normally that would be true, but wait. They both look angry, and what the hell happened to them? Hayakawa-san is in pain.¡¡Wouldn''t it be wise to let go if you are a kind colleague? ''Then I''m sure it''s your daughter''s dearest friend, right?¡¡If you''re too mean to me, I''ll make you cry, won''t I? What is it? What? Calm down!¡¡Why are both Tenri and Mao fighting with each other for the most part! It''s because of Kazu-kun (Hayakawa-san), isn''t it! ''Well....'' I don''t get it.... If this is actually a two-timing thing - I''m not in that kind of relationship with two people, though? How is that possible? Have you noticed that you''re getting so much attention from people because you''re making so much noise? Is it my imagination that you''re looking at me in particular with contempt? Oh, does this make me look like I''m cheating on you? That''s not true at all! Uh, help! I don''t care who you are, just get me out of here! I gave up trying to convince them to back down no matter what I said and prayed desperately in my heart, though pathetically. ''Already!¡¡Mommy and lady, no fighting!¡¡Poor old man! "...what? Their prayers were answered. The two finally came to their senses and let go of their arms, thanks to a crane call from an angel. Amana, the angel who led them to that result, puffed up her cheeks and made a cute but angry appeal. Combined with the fact that Amari and Mao were attracting gazes from the surroundings for being interrupted in their fight by a child, their faces were all red. Well, it would be embarrassing if they made that much noise....... Even though I was in the center, I can''t help but think of it as someone else''s business. Amana-chan, who has successfully stopped the fight, comes up to my side and lays her small palm on my wrist, which is red from being grabbed earlier. ''Onii-san, are you OK?¡¡Would you stop hurting yourself if you wanted to be a pain in the ass? Yes. Well, that''s a real pain in the ass. As soon as I accepted the proposal without rejecting it, Amana gently stroked the red spot on my wrist. What is this, an angel? No, she''s more than an angel, she''s a goddess. I can believe it when people say she''s a goddess of healing and kindness. I''m going to join the Amana-chan religion, I can call myself believer number one, right? The summer sunshine even seems like a halo. ''''........Could it be that Amana-chan is the one I need to be most vigilant about?'''' I thought someone might call the cops after seeing that, but for some reason you''re looking up at the heavens and giving a thumbs up... I can hear someone muttering ''precious...'' I hope you don''t look at people''s daughters too strangely. The ladies who had cooled down seemed to be saying something, but it didn''t seem to bother me as if I was recovering immensely by the work of the Goddess. = = = = =. ''Oh no, I''m glad I managed to get it under control, thank goodness! You''ve only been watching from afar, so why do you have to be such a contributor? I complained about the words the black sound that had gone somewhere told me when it returned. Once we''ve calmed down for the moment, we decide to sit down on the chairs in the food court and have our lunch. I feel like I''m the only guy in the room, and I feel like my shoulders are even narrower when even Mao joins me, but I guess I''m just tired of worrying about it now. ''Don''t get my sister Atashi involved in something caused by Aniki~. I was trying not to scare Sumi and the others over here, you know? ''Oh, oh, I didn''t know...'' Was it the result of his own considerations........ If that''s the case, I feel a little sorry for him. Your bum is shaking so hard it''s like a va*in*! Oh, I''m going to be that big! It was so smooth and fluffy... The only thing those kids mentioned was your breasts, what the hell were they doing? Ah, Mao has a sober, resentful look in her eyes........ Still, it doesn''t change the fact that I was saved, so it doesn''t bother me at all. ''''Um, Hayakawa-san.......I''m sorry for being so distraught earlier. ''I''m sorry on my part too. I just ... well, I didn''t quite have time to spare. It''s fine, they weren''t hurt, and their arms don''t hurt anymore, so there''s no need to be so awed. I''m confused, but it''s not something to root for. When I encouraged the depressed Tenashi and Mao with their faces down, the two came to look at each other with a small shake of their shoulders. ''''Is that so........'''' I can''t... But soon enough, his cheeks turn red and he looks away. Did I surprise you because you didn''t think you''d be forgiven? ''Wow... that''s about it, Aniki. What''s the...? And for some reason, the black sound gave me a dumbfounded jit eye. ''Tell me clearly what kind of place that is. ''Anyway, Marao''s side has had fights with Sannya before, but it''s rare for Tenri to be so emotional. I... There was a time when she was so thoughtful that she shed tears, but her emotions seemed strangely different from that time. Even if he was angry, he would normally be able to come at the painful parts in a logical manner, but it seems that only his feelings were preoccupied and his logic had slipped away. ''''........I''ll be excused from my seat for a bit. What, Amanashi? I''ll be right back. I''ll be fine on my own. Oh, well... As fast as I could say it, Amanashi got up from her seat and quickly blended in with the crowd. And then I let out a pathetic voice. ''What are you doing, Maao! Just go after her. What? I wonder if he noticed something strange about Amari''s condition, Marao tells him so, but he tilts his head without understanding the reason. It''s because the expression on his face looks reluctant, not convinced, but before he can say anything, he is pulled back by his right hand. "Onii-san, can Amana go with you too? Yeah, okay, but... Not only Marao, but Amana was also worried about her mother''s condition. After holding hands to prevent them from getting separated, the two of them followed Amari. 75 72 Reason why Tennashi is confused Holding hands to avoid getting separated from Amana-chan, I looked for Amanashi, who was probably in the crowd. I went to the restroom first and asked Amana to check inside, but I couldn''t find her. Since then, I''ve been looking for her all over the facility, but I haven''t been able to find her at all. I wonder where she''s gone, Mom. Don''t worry. We''ll find out soon enough. The anxious murmurings that Amana spilled are the best I can do to encourage her to do so, even if there is no basis for it. I wish I could say something more effective at a time like this, but it would be useless to ask for something that isn''t there right now. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to be able to tell that he or she has a child at first sight with a face as young as Amari''s, so it''s not surprising that he or she would be entangled in a pickup like Kuroon. Hopefully she can find it before she gets strangely entangled and gets into trouble, but it''s the middle of the season and there are too many people in the middle of the season anyway. She wouldn''t leave her daughter alone, but if she couldn''t find her, Amana might end up with heat stroke. I walked by the playground equipment rental shop, thinking that I might consider returning this girl alone to Kurone and the others.... ''Hey, it''s good~ You''re bored, right? ''I thought you said you were coming with your children?'' I don''t want to see that obvious lie. Don''t be ashamed of it. I don''t feel a shred of shame about it. I heard a familiar voice with a hint of irritation. The content of the conversation I heard made me want to hold my head in my hands, but I turned my attention to it. There was Amari, who had an expression that clearly showed she was in a bad mood, and the stranger with a positive mindset who took it as a sign of embarrassment. Don''t look at him sarcastically, wondering what a brave man he is, including his inability to read the air, to call out to Tenashi, who is probably a high priestess to look at. The fact that her own mother was with a man she didn''t know, Amana didn''t even make a sound as she hid herself against me. She''s similarly light as Miya, but that was apparently a correction for being my colleague. I''m sure it''s also because I saw the look on Amari''s face and realized that she''s not someone I can easily let my heart go to. Anyway, I can''t just stay on the sidelines and watch. As I looked at Amana and her eyes, she shook my hand anxiously. I want to admire her for her uncharacteristic bravery, just as she once got angry with the kid master in the park. ''Amari, there you are in this place. "©¤©¤Hayakawa-san........ When I deliberately called out loud enough for the pickup man to hear me, Amari came to me with her eyes round with astonishment. I miss the slightest bit of doubt as to whether I''m that surprised, but I quickly flush it away. ''''What?¡¡What are you interrupting me for, old man? Who''s an old man, I''m only 25 years old! The words of the guy who came to pick up the gun inwardly poisoned me, but I kept my composure on the surface. It''s the emotional side that loses in this kind of situation. "Don''t bother me, I just brought this girl to her mother. Momma! Tenna..... What? Seeing Amana-chan embraced to Amanashi, the pick-up guy started to be surprised as if he had lost his nerve. The declaration of having a child, which I thought was a tough sell, was true. And he looked at me for a moment, probably mistaking me for the father. If I had such a beautiful wife and a lovely daughter, I wouldn''t have been scared that he''d ever call the cops on me. ''So?¡¡What can I do for my friend? ...it''s nothing........heh, excuse me.... However, since we are here, we took advantage of the misunderstanding and questioned him, and the pick-up guy easily withdrew as if his earlier brazenness was a lie. You should have directed your brazenness in a different direction, and faced the stunned Amanashi. ''''Yo. You''re a quintessential motormouth.'''' ''It''s just annoying to have strangers wooing you...'' His tone was harsh, but his spines were dull, as if he wasn''t in his element yet. Honestly, if Tenashi continues like this, I''ll be out of shape too. Hmm, let''s take the plunge here. ''''Hey, did I do something?'''' I''m sorry? ''''I''ve often been told by Kurone and Mao that women''s minds are not always so easy to understand, and I apologize if I''ve said or done something that would have upset Tenashi without my knowledge. So, you know, could you please change your mood? It''s... Because he had never been in love with anything romantic, he could be displeased with something. I asked her if that was the case this time as well, but Amari just lowered her eyes in annoyance and seemed to be lost for words even if she wanted to talk beyond that. Even though Amana looked at Amana anxiously at Amari, she remained silent, perhaps because she sensed that she couldn''t interfere and interfere with her own side. ''''©¤©¤I don''t know.'''' Eventually, Amari cut in with a bewilderment in her lapis lazuli eyes. ''As well as the reason why I was irritated with Hayakawa-san, I don''t understand why I competed with Sakai-san like that, I just don''t understand the meaning of my actions myself. .... No, I''m sorry... ''It''s not something for Hayakawa-san to apologize for.......it''s just me getting annoyed and bothered on my own. I''ve never felt like this before, and there are so many things I don''t know what to do... How can I answer the hesitation Amari is having? Most of the time people don''t understand themselves as well as they think they do. I''m no exception. To be honest, I thought that Amanashi was one who was able to analyze himself. It''s not surprising that she''s talking about her confusion like this, or maybe it''s just too much trouble. ''''©¤After I talked about it, it became a little easier. This is the pool, but if it''s like this, I''m going to regret enjoying it more. Let''s go back. ''Oh, ah...'' Eventually, while she was trying to figure out how to answer, Amari cut the conversation short. With an unexplained feeling like a small bone had been caught in her throat, she went back to Kuroon and the others and tried hard to enjoy the pool. He looked at Amari, who smiled as if her earlier pretense of distress was a lie, and patted his chest, but he still couldn''t get that anxious expression out of his head. 76 73 You have a good status! The day after I was able to frolic in the pool and confide in Amari''s worries, I went to work today with a melancholy feeling that yesterday''s fun was just a dream. ''Oh. You look like a dead man again today. As for the deaths... well, there were four absences. Wow. When I briefly explained the reason why this happened to Sanya, who had returned earlier, he gave me a sorry look. When you are in the delivery business, absence is not unusual, but it is something that you don''t want to happen if you can. First of all, it''s simply unbearable. When I went to deliver a package, I felt that I had to shrug my shoulders and surrender, saying ''There is no one inside. Then, on the way to the next delivery, a customer sees the delivery note and calls me on my work phone. But the reality is that it means the courier will be pompous. I can''t help but feel my face twitch when I''m on the move, whether it''s close by or far away from the address where I left the delivery note. Still, it''s a painful thing for the delivery company to have to go, and you''re running late for a delivery that you were supposed to go to later. Recently, there have been some attempts to reduce the burden of carrying unattended packages, such as by building special lockers and mailboxes at stations, but I heard that Umineko Transport has not yet entered the implementation stage. d*mn. Anyway, because of such a situation, we don''t want to send a notice of absence if possible, and we don''t want it to happen. ''Four absences, that''s torture, isn''t it? ''Oh, especially the last one, where they complained, ''Why didn''t you come when you were at home? It''s too unreasonable.'' ''Then just ask for a package with a specific time when you''re at home, all I can think of is...'' That''s the one. I let out a sigh of agreement. I can''t wait to get rid of this tiredness, but unfortunately, there are still 2 more days until I can see Amana next. I''m not kidding, the two days a week I get to see her are my reason for living, so I''ve made a habit of living based on that. It should be no different than a reader who reads Jaapu every week or a fan who watches anime without fail, but it''s just my imagination that there''s a huge difference between the two because the target audience is elementary school students, right? Well, you need to give yourself up after you went to the pool with your wife and a bunch of little girls yesterday. ''The way you say it. Why would you say something like that to make me feel more criminal? Nothing?¡¡I don''t envy Amana-chan''s mother for playing with her, who I''ve only heard of as a beautiful woman, and I don''t think I''m jealous of her at all~? No, I''m pretty sure that''s why. Sure, the pool we all went to was fun, but what am I supposed to do with you being so jealous? You mean, if you invite me too? You had to work yesterday, of course you couldn''t. It''s disgraceful that you''re so jealous. Good job, Mao. ''Mao-chan!¡¡I''m jealous of Wa~! No, don''t call me that, good job, you two. He hears her talking and greets Mao as she comes over. As usual, Sanya''s words and actions are through, but I don''t feel much pity for her because the content is full of jealousy. ''Mao, I''m sorry about yesterday,'' ''I don''t mind talking about it. I''ve done a disgusting job of imitating you, but you''ve all been good to me and you''re going to make it up to me, right? Yeah. I''m a man of my word. Mao had unexpectedly barged into the pool, but she seemed to have gotten to know Sumi and the others while she was rescuing Amari from being picked up, and when she returned, she was swimming happily. I was especially impressed by the respectful looks she was getting from Chiyuri. That girl, she would give the same look to Amari and Kurone, so she must be admiring the beautiful woman herself. She has a good-looking face and can study, so she has high potential, but she''s a bit of a screw-up.... That''s the charm of Yuri-chan, but it''s hard to evaluate her because she has her own merits and demerits. Well, I''ll be cheering her on, but as an example of how Maou helped me save Tenashi from being picked up at an early stage, I''ll be going with her to the upcoming holiday.......next week''s summer festival. Kurone, who is staying over, said she was going with her friends and since she didn''t have any plans, I was a bit surprised to see that she was extremely happy when I immediately agreed to go. "Eh, wait a minute. You were at the pool with Amana and her friends yesterday, but you went somewhere with Maou? ''Oh, when I found out Kazu-kun was going to the pool, I asked him where it was. So I went there just to be lucky if I could see you that day... ''You met with Mao. I knew Amana and Kurone, so I got along with everyone else pretty quickly. He and Marao explain the situation to Saniya, who doesn''t know what''s going on, but the person who was told about it rolled his eyes and was dumbfounded for a few seconds before....... ''''Haaaaaaaah!¡¡What''s that?¡¡Why are you having fun in the pool while I''m working on my hijinks? I was screaming at him as if to say it was out of his mind that he was out of his league. But I''ve never been so ugly and jealous before. ''It''s not like you were the only one who worked there...'' Come on!¡¡Aside from the kids, I don''t want the guy who was playing in the pool with Mao and Amana''s mother to give me a good argument! Do you realize you''re being preached a good argument? It''s not like it''s going to fall to you to talk about it, but if you say it, that complaint is not worth listening to. I''m sure you''re not the only one who is inwardly stunned by this, but Miya continues with his vindictiveness. ''I can''t believe that Kuroone-chan was with you casually in general!¡¡I wish I could have seen those tits in a swimsuit! Hey, man. Frankly, that sucks. The fact that he''s after someone''s sister''s body and the fact that he says it in front of his brother and the woman of all people. That''s why I can''t have a girlfriend. ''Oh, I''m sorry, don''t look at me like I''m even a person like that...'' He hinted at a statement that couldn''t be overlooked for a bit, so I lightly glared at him and confronted him as a reason why he wasn''t popular. As an older brother, there was no way he could miss looking at his sister with an insolent eye. Helped by Marao''s cold-eyed gaze as a same-s*x man, Sannya quelled his jealousy harshly and easily. Seeing the situation, it''s not surprising that he secretly doesn''t want to let her see Amari too much. 77 74 The punishment is sudden It''s another good day for delivery. It''s August and I feel like the gap between me and the students is clearer now. I have an enviable desire to play out like that, but that''s okay because I have a purpose in life that embodies the healing concept of Amana-chan. The situation is still as inevitable as ever if you are found out, but you should be able to build a solid relationship of trust, just like Amari covered for me on the water slide. With that in mind, it was my turn to deliver a package to the Minami family. Filled with the joy of meeting Amana-chan.............in fact, there is something that has been bothering me since this morning. That''s because, as usual, when I received my bento from Amanashi, she asked me for a favor. ''''I want you to spend less time being healed by Amana during this week, or........'''' She must have something to do. Because I saw the look on her face as if she wanted to say she was sorry, I agreed without asking her what it was, but was it too rash? But even though I''m dismayed by Amana-chan''s touch, it doesn''t seem like she''s thinking of stopping me like she did when we first met. In the first place, I''ve promised Tenashi that I won''t get into the affairs of the Minami family in depth. I can''t help but think it''s half aired out now, but a promise is still a promise. If I stepped in too far just because I''m Amana''s friend, I''d make her feel uncomfortable. It''s fine if we continue our relationship with that father and daughter like we have been doing so far, 80% at the front door and 20% in the rest of the house. It''s quite a luxury to see Amana-chan, who was in elementary school, become a junior high school student and then a high school student every time you meet her at the door, but I mean it''s good to keep the distance between us at that level. Anyway, even if it''s only for a short period of time, Amana-chan''s healing is more than enough for me, so I reckoned it wasn''t so much of a strain, and unloaded the luggage in the back of the truck. I rang the intercom of room 184, the Minami family''s residence, and there was an immediate response. ''''Yes!'''' Hello. This is Umineko Transport. ''Oh, man!¡¡I''ll be right there! Hahhhh, she''s so cute. Shortly afterwards, the front door is opened..... ©¤ A person who looks like a middle-aged, large man comes out from inside. "....Harare? ...Isn''t it funny? I didn''t push the intercom wrong or make any other ordinary mistakes. In fact, it was Amana''s voice that I heard over the speakers earlier. I can assure you that there is no doubt about it. Then why do you think this old man is coming out? Thank you for delivering the package. Here''s the seal. Oh, yes.... While I''m stunned, a rather dull and low voice sound prompts me to complete the receiving procedure, though awkwardly. I''m scared that he''s pressuring me so much! I was tempted to leave now due to the intimidation that was different from that of Chief Hinomoto and pregnant with obvious hostility, but before I could take that action, my legs were easily sewn up. At any rate......... ''''Well, Onii-san........'''' Yes? I''ve heard that you''re getting along quite well with my daughter and grandson... hmm? ... Because I was sentenced to jammed (checkmate). The sin, right? Yeah, it''s not much different, is it? I mean, now I know who this person is by what he just said. When it comes to that person Amari can get into the house, especially a man, there are no more candidates at once... but as far as I know, other than her husband, there''s only one person other than her husband. ''''©¤©¤Could it be Amanashi''s father and Amana-chan''s grandfather?'''' Oh... As soon as I asked that question, the wrinkles between the old man''s eyebrows seemed to soften a bit. Apparently it was a correct answer. At the same time, Amari''s attitude this morning made sense. That was her own family coming, so she was trying to reduce the chances of seeing me as much as possible. Once I realized that, her concern for me was heartbreaking, but at the same time I wanted to punch myself for ruining it so quickly. Uh..... Correction I think I just made one more mistake. ''Oh, no, I didn''t!¡¡I''m just an acquaintance of your daughter! ''Don''t lie to me!¡¡It''s just like the flies that gather around my daughter''s beauty anyway! ''No, no, no, I''m not trying to do anything about her! ''What?¡¡Are you trying to tell me that my Amanashi is not attractive! That''s not what I said! Shit, he''s an idiot! Amana is so cute, maybe even Amana was similar when she was a little girl, but this religiosity towards her adult daughter is the real deal! I can''t think of a way out of this situation due to the chest hold and the shaking of my shoulders. I managed to think my way out of my impatience, but........ ''''Ha!¡¡You''re not going to give your grandson a...? "If you''re not interested in my daughter, then my grandchildren are?¡¡And don''t worry, I''m friends with Amana... Shut up, you pedophile!¡¡Don''t you feel ashamed of being a good adult! ''Good argument hurts!¡¡But it''s true!¡¡I wouldn''t want to be in love with your granddaughter. You can''t be serious!¡¡Don''t you feel anything when you look at that pretty tenna! ''That''s not what I said!¡¡I always thought she was pretty as an angel. ''You transgressor!¡¡You can''t plot to spit on me while I''m young! Godd*mn, the old fool was sulking, too! No matter how you answer, it''s just super annoying to pour oil on the fire! I''m in a state of helplessness, and I can''t help but shake my head. Dad!¡¡Please don''t bother Hayakawa-san while she''s working! Grandpa, meh! A goddess and an angel descended. Well, if they made that much noise, it''s only natural that the two people inside the house would hear it too. I was worried about the two of them......... ''Hayakawa-san is a trustworthy person. I appreciate your father''s concern, but there''s no need to bother him with it. You''re her friend!¡¡You can''t bully me, even grandpa! Uhhhh... The two people who would love him as if they were their own blame him, and the old man''s momentum from earlier began to weaken as if it were a lie. When the chest that had been grabbed in this way was released, Amana, who came close to him, stretched out and started to fix the wrinkles in her uniform. Of course, it was within her reach because of the height difference. Still, she smiled with satisfaction at being able to straighten it out nicely.... ''''Onii-san, I''m sorry for bothering you with oshikomi-chu. Oh. Thank you. I''m fine. It''s the same words as when I was there one day, but I didn''t feel any loneliness in the sound of her voice. I''m sorry to say that I''ve stopped walking for so long because of the old man, but I have to get back to delivering soon, so I think Amana''s words were very helpful in that sense as well. ''''Well then, I''ll take my leave...'''' We''ll have many more stories this time. Hm, get the f*ck out of here. You say goodbye and walk away, but what is it with grandchildren and grandfathers who respond 180 degrees differently? We''re related by blood, right? Maybe the old man''s stubborn genes were neutralized thanks to Amanashi and her husband. He concluded that in his mind, though extreme, and drove the delivery truck to the next delivery destination. 78 75 I hate it, I dont want to go! "Don''t laugh like that we''re all cringing as if we''re going to be called in at any moment....... When I returned to the head office after finishing today''s delivery and told Miya, who was just there, that I had met Amana''s grandfather and Amana-chan''s father and he had snapped at me to the hilt, he laughed uproariously, as you can see. Although I''m prepared to report the incident, I''m sure Amari is following up with some sort of follow-up, but I haven''t heard from her yet, so I''m not ready to let go of the situation. Anyway, the best thing to do for a while is to wait for action from them. But this guy is laughing too hard.... But he''s just a picture-perfect parent and old man with a lot of problems. ''Amari and Amana-chan are easy to attract attention. To be honest, I can understand the concern itself. ''I''m rather surprised you''ve allowed me to marry your husband in such a situation. ''Oh, ah...'' Sanya was right, that was the one time he approved of Amari''s marriage. She was still a student at the time, and the man who was her tutor had a decedent marriage, and Amana was born as a result. That must have been her own way of worrying about Amari so that she wouldn''t be sad to lose someone she loved again. But that doesn''t mean that she can''t be pestered by me, a mere delivery person, in a combative manner... No, I''m aware that I''m in a gray area. ''So?¡¡What about harmony? I''m waiting to hear from Amari. I''m sure he''s explaining himself in his own way. I sent a message to look at it when the last delivery was done, but still no reply. I can''t relax until I get a reply, but there''s no point in getting impatient there. However, I wonder if my reply is funny or not, Sanya smirks and gives me an angry smile. ''''.......What''s with that face?'''' ''Yes?¡¡I just wondered how close you and Amana''s mother are. ''''Tenashi''s dad said something similar to that, but we don''t have that kind of relationship at all, do we? Again. This guy and Kuro-One, why is it that they try to associate people with love affairs without permission? Good job, you two. Hey, Matsuo. Yo, yo. Mao. As I was lightly dumbfounded by Sanya, Maou came over, who had also finished her work. ''What were you two talking about?'' ''Well...'' Kazu bumped into Nanny''s grandfather. Hey! Hmm.... I was about to say it, but Sanya revealed it before I did, so I blame her, but Marao''s reaction was far calmer than I expected. I had a momentary hiccup wondering if I hadn''t offended him like I did at the pool, but I was relieved to hear that it seemed to be unfounded. When I told you about the incident with Amari''s father, I got a dumbfounded stare from Mao. ''''I know you and Amana are good friends, but you should still be a little more vigilant, right? Ugh.... Since this was pointed out to me by Amari as well, I was stuck for a reply and couldn''t make a sound. It''s true that I mentioned the names of Amari and Amana-chan when I received them, so that old man revealed his hostility to that extent, so let''s act with a little more thought. As I was reflecting on the fact that it''s been eight years since I became a member of society, a ringtone started to ring from my phone. The sender......... ''Oh, it''s from Amari?'' "...what? I must have mumbled to the point where they wouldn''t hear me, but it seems that Sanya and Mao heard me loud and clear. That''s because I''m peeking in on people''s phones from behind right now. I work for a delivery company and you have no regard for privacy. I have many things I want to say, but for the time being I look over the message Amashi sent me. It''s a good evening, Hayakawa-san. I''m sorry my father has caused you trouble today. ''Wow, your writing is so polite. That''s the only thing that tells me you''re a classy guy. Hey, hey, I''m in the middle of something, all right? It''s only the beginning, and Sanya says something obvious. Mao quickly complained, but isn''t there an option for you guys to not look in? After talking to my father about his relationship with Mr. Hayakawa, he feels badly enough and wants to apologize to me. Good night. "...and... A good day for you... or the day after tomorrow is my day off, so that''s fine. For some reason, the two of them started to shut up, and when I replied to the others that they could go the day after tomorrow, they immediately replied, ''Yes, sir. It''s a relief to know that my concern about reporting the incident has been cleared up. No worries..... "To the South family...?¡¡Meeting your parents...? Oh man, Mao-chan......... This guy is steadily going to fill in the outer moat........ Sanya is that of jealousy and envy, but for some reason, Mao has a look of despair on her face. Was there an element of that kind of expression anywhere in the message just now? I''m not even sure if I''m thinking about it. He wants to apologize, and that''s all he''s got. I mean, is that why you''re upset, like, ''I want my daughter for me'' kind of thing? What''s that leap of faith? Hypothetically, say that to that old man who is a hybrid of a parent idiot and an old idiot? I''m supposed to be gone by now. No, no. No, no, no, no. He just said, "What''s the relationship between my daughter and my grandson? Well, that''s good. Well, since Marao seems to have cooled down, let''s let it go. ''Daughter or not, grandchildren are a rare case that you don''t hear about very often. In today''s society, unless you''re a civil servant or volunteer for community relations, it''s not legal to get close to someone''s children. It''s a bit of a stretch, but I can understand how you feel about it. Yes, I feel very humbled, sir... Why do I have to feel this way when I didn''t do anything wrong? ''Either way, I hope it doesn''t come to pass that the police are waiting for me when I go to the south house! "I don''t need that ominous prayer!¡¡You won''t stop me from going as soon as you say that! I believe he won''t do it, but if he does that to Tenashi, I''ll distrust him for life. What should I do, I might just say no after all.... In the midst of all this anxiety, the day of the appointment has come inexorably... 79 76 I am very close to my daughter The day has come for me to go to the Minami family to receive an apology from the old man, Amanashi''s father and Amana''s grandfather. It''s really depressing. Isn''t it strange that he apologized for feeling sorry for being lectured by his daughter, when he was so furious when they first encountered each other the day before yesterday that he was about to kill her? If it were true, though, it would only mean that that man has none of the dignity of a father and grandfather. I''ve bought some candy bars just in case.......but it''s not even a comforting thought. Such an escape from reality as best I could, in vain, I came to room 184 of the Minami family''s apartment building. My fingers feel heavy as I press the intercom from an unprecedented sense of urgency. I''ve never felt anything like this before. But if you don''t push it, nothing will start.......so I decided to press the intercom with all my might. I press the intercom. "Yes, this is South. ''Oh, Amani?¡¡I''m here as promised, but.... "Okay. Give me a moment. Not long after the light sound effect sounded, the door was opened after Amari responded. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a bun over her right shoulder, and she was dressed in an above the knee length dress with green leaves embroidered on a white base and navy blue denim, an outfit that, because of its simplicity, exposed her charm without hiding it. Those who see her in this outfit would never think that the person they are looking at is a woman with a child. The more you look at them, the more you are convinced of that, the more you admire Amari in her civilian clothes. It''s too late now, but which of the two of them am I supposed to call that person based on? Honestly, no matter which one I call you, I can only see a future where you''ll be as angry as you were the day before yesterday. ''Hayakawa-san?'' ''Yeah, oh, sorry. It was the first time I''ve ever been in your house when Amari was there, and I was nervous. "©¤©¤Oh, just like when you looked at Tenna''s homework, nothing has changed, so don''t worry about it, please come in. The words I returned as quickly as I could, prompting Amari to speak strangely quickly. ''''I see. Well, I''m sorry to bother you.'''' Hi, welcome. And so, under her guidance, when I went to the living room of the South family, there is certainly no change in the position of the furniture from the time I interrupted her when I saw Amana and her friends'' homework. ©¤ ©¤ Except that there is an old man sitting on a chair at the dining room table with his arms crossed and a woman with a warm atmosphere with a smile on her face next to him. Waka. Quintessential Amanashi''s mother, she must be at least past the age of alafore-but she doesn''t look like she has any grandchildren? I can believe it when they say Alaska. And, after all, the intimidation that is directed at you by the old man is not so much. It doesn''t look like I''m sorry at all. I''m concerned about many things, but I have to say hello first. It''s nice to meet you. I''m Kazu Hayakawa. I was wondering if you would like to have this for your family to enjoy... Oh, well, that''s very polite of you. It''s not the old man, who is obviously hostile to you, but the kind-looking mother of Amari, to whom you handed a package of sweets with your greetings. When you are relieved by the very soft-spoken response, the pressure seems to have increased for some reason. When I turned my head in fear, I found out that the person releasing the pressure was Amari''s father. Most likely, it''s a big mistake to think that you can bribe him with a small amount of candy bars. That''s an outrageous accusation, and I chose fruit jellies for Amana-chan to enjoy. What in the world do you mean by that, Amari-san? ''''I''m Mayumi Minami, Amari''s mother, Mayumi. See, you too. This is Kohei Minami. Hi, how are you? Prompted by Amari''s mother - Mayumi-san, her father - Watahira-san reluctantly said his name after his father - Watahira-san clicked his tongue. ''''I''m sorry~?¡¡He''s just rooted in the fact that his daughter and grandson are angry at him~ Do you need to tell me that? Your father will have to prepare his own dinner tonight. ! The bottom line is that he doesn''t feel the slightest bit sorry and has no intention of apologizing. And because of that, he''s self-destructing again. This was the moment I witnessed a scene where hatred produced nothing. ''''I''m totally....sorry. My father''s stubbornness has caused trouble for Hayakawa-san again........ ''It''s nothing for Tenri to apologize for. Yeah, yeah, yeah!¡¡You''re out of here! "You? Oh, yes. I''m digging my grave again for overreacting to your words to Amanashi........ Your current exchange has revealed Watei-san''s low position in the South family. He smiles, deciding that there''s no end to dealing with each and every one of them, and he doesn''t care. ''It''s more than annoying, it''s just that the stubbornness is so similar that it makes me smile. Wow, I''m not that stubborn. No, no, you''re just like the guy who can be tough for his kid, even if he''s never met you before. Ugh.... I''m at a loss for words when confronted with the facts. Compared to that time, we''re getting along surprisingly well, and if I could, I''d be able to get along with Watei-san - or maybe not. I''m just talking to Amari and she''s staring at me with a level of willingness to kill me. I''m only 25 years old and I don''t want to die. "Oh my goodness. You''re so close~ Well, it''s been good to me, that''s for sure. ''Oh no, that''s our line. It''s not only Tenna who has helped me, but also me. No, no, no, I''m the one who... No, no, no, no. I''m the one who... "Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness~! Mayumi''s voice trembles with even more glee as they are straining against each other in a stubborn way. It doesn''t look like we''re having a conversation that will get that kind of reaction... Watei-san''s glare is getting stronger and stronger, so I guess I should cut it short. ''''Um, it''s like we''re helping each other out like this. ''Oh, I see.'' Even so, Mayumi does not stop looking at me with a smile on her face. I can''t help but feel like I''m being misled, but I think it''s a waste of time to try to talk to her. However, the reason I came here today was because Watohira-san was going to apologize, so when in the world are we going to get down to business? Since it turned out that the person in question had no intention of apologizing, it seemed that there was no point in coming. Well, then, I was thinking that there was no need to be too long, when the living room door was slowly opened. ''''Ah!¡¡Onii! Amana-chan! The one who came over was Amana-chan, dressed in a cool light blue camisole with a rabbit printed on the chest and a pink and white heart-patterned frilled skirt, a very pretty outfit again today. As soon as I saw her, I couldn''t help but smile and think, "Oh, I might have to stay here for a while. 80 77 I am very close to my grandchildren. As soon as Amana came to the living room, she jumped in at once with a happy smile on her face as soon as she saw me. As soon as she bends down to catch it, her arms, soft as rice cakes, are wrapped around my neck along with a sweet, childlike scent. When I let go of my body slightly and met her eyes, I saw her lapis lazuli eyes shining brightly. ''''Why are you home, Onii-san?¡¡Do you have a good night''s sleep, Kyuu? ''Something like that. I''m here for a minute, but I was sent here by Amana''s grandfather to talk to you. How am I supposed to talk to a pedophile like you? Even if it''s because my grandson was the first to hug me, not you, you should still keep up the appearance of being a bit remorseful. How can you act like that when you''re at the bottom of the family caste? Dad, that''s enough. Hayakawa-san even took time out of his precious vacation to come here, and you are not very popular with us. "And when on earth will they apologize to Hayakawa-san~?¡¡You''re not going to say that I''m just running my mouth to get you to forgive me on the spot, are you~? ''What?¡¡Grandpa, you''re not sorry for what you had to apologize for, and you''re not sorry for what you did to Onii?¡¡How can you mess with me like that? Ggggghhh...! See, you''re being blamed by your wife, daughter and grandchildren who are higher in caste than you are. The words from Amana are especially sharp. Because of his purity, it''s very straightforward and strikes a chord with me....... After being blamed by the women, Watahira-san got up from his seat and turned his face to me - Wow, he''s clenching his teeth like he''s really unhappy. How much she hates me! But even so, in the midst of his desperation, he slowly bowed his head and........ ''''Forgive me.........'''' "You? ''Oh, I''m sorry. I''m very sorry for this.... No, no... When I thought I gave a rather superior apology for hanging my head, it was immediately corrected by Mayumi. It was a really tight apology, but I guess I could say that this finally accomplished the purpose of today''s visit. Well, I guess that''s the end of the story. You''d better get away from your grandson at once. Yeah, that''s better. I''m absolutely sure of it. He''s really blatant about every single one of them. As expected, both Tenashi and Mayumi are dumbfounded and unable to say anything. ''''Eh~?¡¡I want to talk more with you, Amana, Onii-san! Tenna! But Mr. Watei''s plan was easily destroyed by his grandson''s innocent request. What a delightful thing to say. Maybe it''s just as well, since he couldn''t heal the day before yesterday. But Watei-san, revived from his surprise, grinned and smiled suspiciously, sat down on the living room mat and began to blatantly roll his shoulders. ''''Ah, ah~. I haven''t tensed up in a long time, so my shoulders are stiff~. Can someone tap my shoulders for me~? Grandpa, are you sulking?¡¡Amana will tap you! What? What, you think...? Unquestionably reacting to my grandfather''s discomfort, Amana moved away from me and walked behind Watei-san and started tapping him on the shoulder. ''Thump, thump, thump!'' ''''Oh~ this is it. Tenna''s shoulder tapping is as good as ever~ Really?¡¡Thanks, Grandpa! (grin) What...? The first thing you need to know is that you have to be able to get your hands dirty. There''s no doubt.......this guy is showing me the exchange with Amana-chan! No, that''s normal if you think about it calmly. Thanks to Tenashi''s tolerance, I''m loosening my awareness of that. Anyway, I can''t help but feel jealous of Watpei-san, who is in a position to receive Amana''s healing without any hesitation. ''''Phew~. Thanks Amana. You''re welcome! That''s how Amana finished the tap on her shoulder, and she was proud of her grandfather for thanking her. Just seeing the cute expression on her face was enough to soothe her heart, but she was easily blown away by the next action she took. ''Now it''s Onii-san''s ban! What? What? I, of course, can''t hide my surprise at the words announced without any hesitation, not to mention Watahira-san''s. Amanashi and Mayumi seem to do the same, but they seem to be smiling somewhat. ''You''re going to tap me on the shoulder?'' ''No!¡¡Just slam on the front here for a minute! Do you want me to lie face down on the floor in front of you? When I turned my gaze lightly to Tenri to see if it was okay to be in such a position in someone else''s house, she gave me a wry smile as if to say ''no problem''. If that''s the case, then I''ll take you up on your offer. ''''I''m on my face, what are you going to do about it?'''' This way! "Whoa! ""What?!" When I fell on my face as I was told, Amana came stomping on that back! I''m light in weight, so I don''t feel any pain but... no, wait. I don''t have any weird hobbies like that. So please don''t look at me like that, folks! You were clearly innocent! ''Amana-chan?¡¡Why am I stepping on your back? You know, the guy on TV said it''s good for a massage if you do this. Well, I see... ''Come to think of it, you''ve done it...'' If you ask me, I think the light body of the first grader became a moderate weight, and the stiffness of the waist was relieved. If I meditate on the composition of being stepped on by an elementary school student, the person who doesn''t know the situation will get a high massage effect if he or she sees it. It is a frame of mind to bear the huge price literally. Anyway, the three of them seemed to have released their tensions after learning of Amana''s intentions. Although they are still stepping on my back, I feel relieved inside. ''Let''s go!¡¡Come on!¡¡One, one! ''Oh!¡¡Oh! While I was thinking that, she stomped on my back with a cute voice at a good tempo, and my stiffness was stimulated each time. It''s a high point that she adjusts it so that it doesn''t hurt. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Suddenly, I noticed Watahira-san was looking at me with a bloody look of resentment. I didn''t expect my grandson to voluntarily offer me a massage, and I wondered if the reason was that it was the kind of massage I had never had done before. What? I gave him a smug look in return. Hahahaha...............You understand how I feel just now~? ''Oh, Tenna?¡¡Can you do that for your grandfather next time? Grandpa is done for now! ''We''re early! This was the moment when the tap on my shoulder that I had been given to show me off was avenged. Even if it wasn''t, if I used the wrong amount of force, I could hurt my lower back, and I feel like it couldn''t be helped that I, who was sturdier than Watei-san, was the target. That''s how I was healed, not just a little, but quite special. 81 78 Nanke I dont know I was about to leave after receiving an apology from Watahira-san and a healing from Amana-chan, but I didn''t want to interrupt the family reunion.... "Since you''ve come all this way, please have lunch with us. I couldn''t refuse Mayumi''s enthusiastic recommendation to let me share the table with her, saying that I was sorry if I asked her to come just to hear her apology. Watahira-san looked unhappy, Amari smiled bitterly and Amana-chan laughed happily, but I felt grateful and indescribable. Amari and Mayumi are all together in the kitchen, Amana has gone back to her room to do her summer vacation homework, and Watahira is next to me at the moment. But that doesn''t mean I''m going to do anything, I''m just silently watching the TV. I don''t know why he didn''t say anything when he came at me a while ago to the point of hating me. It''s just that kind of eerie feeling, like a cat that has been whining and screaming all the time suddenly becoming silent. "...Oi. Yes? So I was a little freaked out when he spoke to me out of the blue. Not long after I felt shameful, Watei-san continued. ''How much do you.......know about us? Ehhhh, I see. For a moment I didn''t know what she was talking about, but I guessed it was Amari''s husband.......or even Amana''s father. Come to think of it, it''s already been four months since I talked to Amari at that time. Unlike until now, when I didn''t have many memories of anything other than work, since I met Amana-chan, my days haven''t been boring, which makes me feel very emotional. I have to answer Watahira-san''s question, putting off getting lost in my thoughts. As I recall, your husband passed away soon after Amana was born, didn''t he? I heard that after that, she spent her time as a single mother with the help of Watahira-san and others. .... I told him as much as I knew, but Watei-san wrinkled his brow and fell silent again. What a feeling of being overwhelmed by the fact that I was expecting a reply right away. ''''I see...'''' Watei-san? When I found out that my daughter was in high school and pregnant, I was too surprised to say anything. Of course I wanted to blame him for trusting me, but my determination to be with him, even to the point of abandoning my family''s relationship with them, overwhelmed me. That''s kind of awesome... I can''t help but be dismayed at my own lack of vocabulary from my impressions, which are far from understanding. It''s not that I don''t have something to think about for narrowing the future of the still-young Amari, but if I say that, I''ll deny Amana''s existence. I mustn''t say that, so I exercise restraint and listen to the rest of the story. ''She became a mother at a young age, and her surroundings were always full of enemies. She was cut off from her family and we couldn''t always be there for her. The fact that she was able to continue raising her child in such an environment is nothing short of a miracle. That''s why," Watahira said, breaking off his words once and continuing. I can''t help wondering why they trust you so much. I heard that you only delivered food to the restaurant two days a week. "...I haven''t done anything special. If you''re going to say what happened, I''m sure it was Amana-chan who triggered it. That first day I met her, I was saved by the pure kindness of Amana-chan. I never thought that a girl who had just entered the first year of elementary school would behave in such a way towards an adult who had never met her before. That was probably the result of a combination of Tenashi''s upbringing, but more importantly, that girl''s own temperament as well. ''Isn''t Tenna a good girl?¡¡He listens well, doesn''t say anything selfish, and is kind and caring. He''s not even seven years old yet. ''He''s losing his face as an adult, isn''t he? But I think she''s been expressing herself well in her own way lately. ''Oh. Especially when you''re with someone who doesn''t like it. Ha ha ha.... I had to chuckle at the spikes of words that came in subtle stabs. I can''t say that she even gave me a kiss, even if it was on the cheek, to me, a friend of a year apart. Even without that, Amana has missed me very much. Our relationship would be quite special in the current society, where we often feel barriers in the way we interact with each other in the midst of the constant incidents of children being victims on a daily basis. I''m aware that this is not something to be admired, but Amana easily broke down that wall of reservation. There''s no plan, no ulterior motive, just a tired adult. If it had been a matter of a grudge against me, I wouldn''t have been able to form a bond with Amana. As a result, I''m glad that we agreed to allow them to get married and give birth to Tenna. Her happiness is our wish, too. That''s right, all the people in the world are people who could have become a different person, not only in terms of personality, but also in terms of gender, appearance and ability, with a difference of only 0.1 second. It is only natural to wish such a miraculous birth into this world to be happy. In fact, the people of the South family are working hard for that purpose even if their father isn''t there. It may be presumptuous of them, but it makes me proud to be a part of that effort, even if it''s just a small part. Momma, I''m done with Kyou no Shukudai! Thanks for your help, Tenna. I even had a little fight before sunrise! Oh, my God, you''re good. It''s almost time for lunch, so please wait at the table. Yes! When the conversation was settled, Amana came back into the living room after finishing her homework quota. Just as Amanashi and the others are about to finish the dishes they are preparing. So the grilled salmon set meal for lunch was as delicious as ever, as Amanashi had made it. Although Amana-chan seemed sad as we were leaving, I patted her on the head and encouraged her that we would meet again at the next job, and it warmed my heart to know that we were able to exchange goodbyes with bright smiles on our faces. ........Furthermore, it was a different story when she was sulking about how she wanted to eat Amari''s food from Kuroone when she returned home. 82 79 Speaking of summer! The second delivery day in August came. The summer sun is still strong, and I''m sweating as soon as I leave the air-conditioned car. I think my arms are starting to get a little sunburned. I''ve been looking forward to Amana''s healing as an oasis for my depressed mind. I heard from Amanashi that Watahira-san and Mayumi-san were going out this morning, so I wouldn''t have to worry about being disturbed like last time. As usual, I arrived at room 184, pressed the intercom and received an immediate response. ''Yes!'' Hello, this is Umineko Transport. "I''ll just be a minute! Amana answered in a light-hearted tone, and soon after, she opened the front door and came out. Today she''s wearing a simple white dress. Cute. ''''Hello, Onii-san!¡¡Always a very good time! Hi, Amana-chan. Thanks for staying at home today. We work so hard at each other. There''s no question of who''s better or anything like that, they just exchange that. While exchanging such an exchange, we are given a seal of receipt. When I put my luggage down and was wiping off my sweat, I was offered a wet towel. ''Yes, Onii-san!'' Thank you, Amana-chan. When summer was in full swing, Amana started handing me the wet towel she had prepared beforehand. I never expected a young girl to act like a club manager. ........I was a homecoming club member, so I never had that kind of youthful event. Thinking back to those gray days of high school life and feeling nervous, I wipe my sweat away with a cold towel. At first I had her wipe it off for me, but since Tenashi once warned me that the picture plane was dangerous, I kept it to this way until I received it. It was certainly not a good idea to have a child wipe my own sweat or something that even a parent would be dubious about doing, and I, who looked like a stranger from the side, was certainly not allowed to do it. I''m just sorry for my lack of self-control. What a thought, I decided to start interacting as usual until the next delivery time. ''How''s your summer homework going, Amana-chan?'' ''Yes!¡¡I''ll be done for the day! I''m so smart. Since I was the type of person to accumulate until the very last minute, I can''t help but admire an even more honorable young girl. I think so because of the fact that the black sound is also slow paced, but it is done well. "My mom, grandpa and auntie all praised me for being so wise! That''s how hard Amana-chan worked to get her homework done. It was easy to picture the scene of those three people praising her unreservedly. It''s easy to understand how Amana-chan is loved, or how she would want to praise them no matter how trivial the matter is. That''s because when you praise her, she reacts in a super cute way. That cuteness is a feast for the eyes and the mind, so I want to praise her even more...what is this endless loop? This little girl is so invincible, isn''t she? Hey, hey, guys!¡¡I want to ask you something, Amana! Hmm?¡¡What is it? Once again, I''m acutely aware of Amana''s charm, and she asks me a question as she bounces around with some kind of twitching. Without a care in the world, she urges me to go ahead and she opens her mouth with anticipation in her lapis lazuli eyes. ''Sarashu no Matsuri no Hitte, is it good night for a good night''s sleep?'' ''A festival...?¡¡Oh, I had that. I''m pretty sure it was off that day. Really?¡¡Thank God! Every year towards the end of August, a summer festival is held at the nature park. Well, I''ve never been there before because I''ve been working or sleeping at home when I was on vacation. I replied, thinking there must be a reason for her to mention this event, and she smiled, visibly pleased. ''What''s wrong with you?'' You know, we all play together during the festival, and I thought it would be great if my brother could come along too! I see... When I was informed that I was being invited to the festival that I was going to go to with Hasumi and the others because of the holidays, I was a bit puzzled. It would be impossible for the schoolgirls to be alone, and certainly their parents will be with them. You can agree here, but........ ''''Did you ask Amari about that? Mom said it would be fine if you were okay with it. Apparently, they''ve been given permission first. So that''s how this is connected to the ''thank goodness'' I just heard. I don''t want to make light of your kindness, so....... In that case, I''d like to join you on the day of the festival. "Heh, thank you! When I showed my approval, Amana smiled cheerfully at me. I''m willing to spend a little bit of money for this smile. This is the time to invite Kurone too. If you do so, I''m sure both Amana and Hasumi will be happy to see you. It''s a good idea to have a good time at the festival, too. "Yukata? Wait a minute. I wonder if it didn''t make sense to her, but she tilts her head back and has a questioning look on her face. Thinking it would be quicker to look at it than to explain it in words, I pull my phone out of my pocket, do a random image search, and hold up the displayed image to Amana-chan. Here''s what you wear to a fair, just like this. Oh, I''ve seen that!¡¡I want to come to Amana too! At first glance, he likes it. The dazzling expression on her face as if she wanted a toy makes me want to indulge her, but I can''t buy it for her. If you tell Amari, I''m sure she''ll be happy to prepare it for you. Really? Yeah. I''m gonna ask my mom for a favor. If you want to know what it is, it''s not just Amari, Wataira-san will be in the mood to get it ready for you. He''s a first grader, so he''ll probably grow up and not be able to wear the same thing next year, but on the other hand, he can only wear it now, so I think it''s very valuable. I''ll get back to work then. Oh, hang on, man. Hmm? When I called out to her to go back to the delivery when the conversation had died down, Amana-chan came waiting for me with a serious look on her face. I asked her if there was something she had forgotten to tell me about the festival. Then she held out her small right pinky finger to me. ''Let''s play at the festival, Yakusoku!¡¡I''m going to yank your fingers! Oh, wow. That''s true. It''s so cute, I choke for a moment. I immediately tried to remain calm and gently offered my pinky finger to him. Their pinkies were different in size by one joint, but they were tied tightly together so they wouldn''t separate. ''''Yubiki-ri-gen-maan, woosotsutita-ra, harisenbon no-mau, yubiki-ta!'''' After making a promise like that, I head to the next delivery location. The next day, without the slightest idea that something like that is going to happen. 83 80 tears Today is a Saturday when there is no delivery for the Nanka family. And according to Tenashi, it''s the day that Watahira-san and the others are leaving. I can only count on one hand the number of times we''ve seen each other, but I can''t help but feel a little lonely. I''ve sent a message to Amari asking her to send her best wishes, and that''s about the extent of my sentimentality. So, I switched my mind and drove the delivery truck to the first destination. The first and second deliveries went smoothly...probably because I was away a lot on vacation or something, the number of absences exceeded 30...but I completed the deliveries and it was the last delivery before noon. Next stop, Higashino-san''s house. I looked over the address while thinking casually that she has the same surname as Kana-chan, Amana-chan''s friend, and found out that it wasn''t far from the apartment where the Minami family is located. No way........no, they go to the same elementary school, so it''s not at all unthinkable. In fact, it''s so good that I''m surprised I didn''t have a chance to see it before. As we arrived at Higashino''s house with such subtle feelings that cannot be described as admiration, we unloaded our luggage from the truck and pressed the intercom to announce our arrival. Please, please don''t be absent here either........! In the time it takes for a response, I desperately plead with it as if I were praying to God. ''''Yes........'''' As soon as I heard the pretty soprano voice coming out of the speakers, I made a gut punch in my heart. I won the bet. I won the bet, because the Higashino family had a housekeeper. ''Hi, this is Umineko Transport. I''m here to deliver a package~ "Oh, thank you. I''ll go get it now... I desperately suppress my state of mind so that I don''t show my face as I continue to scream with joy and begin to respond calmly. As soon as the answer is given, the front door is opened and a girl with trademark blonde hair and blue eyes comes out from inside. It''s one of Amana''s friends, Higashino Kana-chan. ''Hello, Kana-chan,'' Oh, Onii-chan. Hello..... He was visibly relieved to see that the courier who came to make the delivery recognized me as a familiar face. He must have been scared because he''s a shy kid, and I''m glad to hear that he was relieved. ''Can you stamp your seal here, please? ''Yeah...'' I lower the package to a lower position so that she can easily stamp the seal and make sure it is firmly stamped. The package is a light parcel, so Kana-chan should be able to carry it. With that in mind, I handed her the package and she accepted it with both hands so as not to drop it. Onii-chan, I''m here to do your chores.... Thank you, Kana-chan. Are you staying at home? Yes, he''s a treadmill, and Mommy likes to do his chores. Okay. As a friend of Amana-chan''s, her carefree words of sympathy and appreciation touched my heart. It''s certainly encouraging to work when you can communicate even in a small way like this.... ''Are you looking forward to next week''s festival?'' I''m excited because we''re all going together and you''re coming too? ''Oh. It''s my day off and Amana-chan invited me yesterday, so I thought it would be perfect. Wow, Hasumi and Chiuri would be happy to see you... I''m glad you said that. Kana-chan''s expression was adorable as she got excited about the summer festival and couldn''t wait for it to start. And the day of the festival is Amana-chan''s birthday. What, really? And here''s an unexpected revelation.......it''s Amana''s birthday. I didn''t know that.......what a blunder, even though we''re friends. No, rather than being informed on the same day, it''s better than being informed on the same day. If you think about it that way, it''s lucky that I found out at this time. I''d like to discuss the present with you, but unfortunately I''m still at work. I have to get lunch and go to my next delivery address soon. It''s my birthday, we should celebrate something. Well then, I''ll see you at the festival. Yeah, good luck with the pee-pee... I was given a smile and a full-bodied cheer. After all, it''s easy for people to change their minds depending on whether or not they receive a cheer. I''ll talk to Kuroon about the present on my next day off. Then we left Higashino''s house and bought a convenience store bento box, which we stopped at on the way to eat in the driver''s seat. It''s a lot more satisfying than the bento Tenri made for me. She''s completely grabbed my stomach but I''m starting to wonder if this is going to be okay in the future. It''s not possible to eat her bento forever, so I''ll have to learn how to cook from Kuroone-sensei and improve my eating habits. But I''m convinced that I won''t be able to reach that taste, even if I spent my whole life trying. And if I think about such a sad thing, my will to improve is about to break, so let''s not make it a goal. Hm...? I resumed driving and was on my way to my next delivery destination when my eyes were suddenly stopped by the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road while waiting for the traffic light. A girl with light brown hair in pigtails and a simple dress... Even from the back, I recognized Amana-chan as the one there, but at the same time, I could sense a strange feeling. Her footsteps are heavy and slow. He wasn''t that slow at the mall or at the pool. Maybe it''s a carefree walk, but then again, her face looks like she''s down... oh no. I can''t just overlook it if I''m this concerned. Making that decision, I drive the delivery truck a little bit when the light turns green, stop it on the side of the road, get out and run over to her. ''Amana-chan?'' Onii-san...? What the hell are you doing here? As soon as I see the expression on Amana''s face as she responds to the call, I feel like I''m choking up. Even though she''s only been with me for about four months, I''ve seen all kinds of expressions on her face. I''ve seen her smile, her angry face and her sad face. And yet, this..... I''ve never seen her cry with her eyes swollen red like this before. While suppressing the frustration rushing through my chest, I bend down to look at him and call out to him again, "What''s the matter with you, Amano? "What''s the matter with you, Amana-chan!¡¡Did you fall down?¡¡He doesn''t seem to be hurt, but... Da-boo... That being said, it doesn''t look very okay. What in the world is going to make Amana cry? It''s not as if I can imagine it, but it''s not a good idea to let him stay alone. I mean. What is Amari doing? I don''t blame her in any way, but she shouldn''t be so white as to leave her heartbroken daughter in the dark. Is it possible that maybe she doesn''t know? I''ll just call Tenashi... Hey, man! What? The moment I was about to attempt to contact the first guardian I could think of, I was stopped by Amana''s hug. I was forced to stop her, but I couldn''t help but be silent at the sound of her voice as she continued. ''''Ugh, hiccup........................... .... The tear glands I had been holding back collapsed, because I just started crying, killing my voice. It didn''t seem to be able to stop, and many questions came and went. For better or worse, there was no one around. But if this is the case, it could lead to a misunderstanding. If that happens, I might be reported to the police. Still, I couldn''t leave Amana-chan, who continued to cry like this, so I didn''t do anything more than lend my heart to her until she stopped crying, and time passed. 84 81 Suspicion of piercing After she stopped crying, Amana, who had stopped crying for about five minutes, had a complicated look on her face that was a mixture of apology and embarrassment. Although the corners of her lapis lazuli eyes were red, she seemed to have regained her composure to the extent that she could look at her actions objectively. ''''I''m sorry for...........'''' I don''t care, I just need to wash it. Although there are tear marks on the chest of my work clothes, I can only fool myself into thinking it''s sweat if it''s mentioned. Even though I only lent my chest to him, it''s a small price to pay if that''s all it took to make him stop crying. ''So, Amana-chan. Why were you crying? I... Maybe I shouldn''t really step in, I don''t know. But I don''t intend to be so heartless as to be able to say ''yes goodbye'' without knowing why I was crying. And when questioned, Amana-chan only shook her shoulders and looked down at her face, not trying to say anything. Well, it''s not surprising. ''If you can''t talk, that''s fine. Shall I contact Amari for now? ''¡¡No, no!¡¡Don''t tell mom! What...? I thought it was a natural course of action, but the suggestion was returned with a clear refusal. The look in his eyes is a dark one that can be taken as both fear and sadness, and makes you feel a guilt that cannot be wiped away. What do you mean by that? From the side, Amana must have seen Amana as her favorite person in the world. How did that lead to this reaction? For a moment, the negative word ''abuse'' crosses my mind, but I shake my head and deny it''s impossible. I can''t believe that Amana would be violent to her beloved daughter. In any case, are you saying that she had something to do with why Amana was crying? ''''........Nothing, I''m not going to bring her back or anything like that. If Amana-chan is alone, Amana is probably desperately looking for her by now, and if I don''t contact her, she''ll keep worrying about me, right? Yes. Anyway, all we know now is that Amana-chan doesn''t want to return to Amanashi. Normally, it would be appropriate to take her back to her guardian, but by the looks of things, I don''t think that''s justified either. I told him carefully that it was only to let him know I was safe, and he backed off honestly. Once again, I call Amari on my phone. ''Hello, are you okay now?'' ''Hayakawa-san!¡¡Excuse me!¡¡I''m on an urgent errand... After a few calls, she answered the phone. The sound of her voice that I heard was uncommonly frustrating. And when I heard that she was in the middle of an errand, I could tell that the situation was more serious than I thought. "You''re looking for Amana, right?¡¡I saw him on a delivery, and he''s with me now. ''Really?¡¡Which way now! ''Ahhhh I''d love to teach you, but...'' Glancing sideways at Amana-chan, she shook her head and said, ''''No! He revealed his refusal aloud. ''It was like ... and he didn''t want to go back. I''m glad that Hayakawa-san was the one who found me. Thank you for protecting Tenna in spite of being on duty. I can''t afford to feel sorry for myself when my friends are crying in the street. They seemed to have heard her voice and she seemed to have calmed down for now. Well, although I was able to tell them that Amana is safe, what do we do after this? The Minami family doesn''t want to go back home like before, so we can''t go there.... The actuality of the situation is that it''s not a good idea to have your daughter stay at Hayakawa-san''s house until the heat of the moment has died down. ''What?¡¡Are you sure? ''''If it''s a place I''ve stayed once, both Tianna and I would feel at ease...'''' You''re not going to rely on Watei-san and Mayumi-san? ''''Well, well, the reason why Tenna is alone has to do with my parents too, and I''m not sure I can rely on them since they''ve gone home today...'''' I''m sorry to put a damper on the trust I''ve placed in them, but I thought those family-oriented people would not refuse Tenri''s request, but the words that came back showed that this was not the case. "Amana-chan, do you want to stay at my house for a while? Well I can go to my brother''s place... I asked Amana just to be sure, but she replied in a tone that said she didn''t mind if I could leave Amari. What in the world would make her avoid the mother she was supposed to love so much? I couldn''t help but think so, but I actually had only one thing in mind. That was the promise that Amanashi had told me when we first met, ''I don''t want you to step in any further than necessary''. I couldn''t believe that the true intention behind those words was irrelevant. But I''m only a stranger. I''m curious about it, but it''s not a good thing to delve into for some strange reason. For now, I decided to stop thinking about it and give an acknowledgment reply to Amari''s request. ''Alright.'' "Thank you. ''I''ll take Amana-chan home and have Kuroon take a look at her, and then I''ll go over there to get my stuff after work. "Yes, I''m sorry for the pile up. Don''t worry about it because it''s just the usual courtesy. If we have a policy in place, we act immediately. Since I can''t bear to use the delivery truck for personal business, I''ll put Amana in my car once I get back to the headquarters. I''ll leave the car''s air conditioning on as a measure against heat stroke. I briefly explained to Mao that Amana had run away from home and that I would be sending her home and asked her to review the delivery schedule. It was a form of getting acquainted with her at the mall that paid off. While she was working on the schedule, I sent Amana home. In fact, we didn''t talk to each other at all during this time. I was hesitant to talk to Amana, who looked shocked to the point of tears, as she was hesitant to talk to me as usual, even though she had calmed down. She was also silent and just looked out the window as if she didn''t want to interrupt me while I was driving. I arrived at home with that kind of air in my head, left Amana in charge of her, and went back to work. Although I''m still busy with the absenteeism that existed in the morning, what happened between Amana and Amari has been bothering me, and although I didn''t make any mistakes, I''ve been lacking in concentration. ===. 10:30 PM. After finally finishing my work, I immediately head to the south house. I go to pick up Amana''s things, but it''s because I can''t wait to question Amana after seeing the message sent by Kuroone-who seems to have heard what''s going on. How nice it would have been to be able to flush out what the child said, how nice it would have been. But otherwise, she couldn''t imagine that Amana-chan wandering around alone and crying. While suppressing my distraction, I arrived at the Mansion Every Smile and pressed the intercom of room 184. "...Good evening, Hayakawa-san. ...Good evening. Shortly after, he opened the front door and exchanged greetings with Tenri, who came out. She was quite worried, but she looked exhausted and listless. ''''Well, where''s Tenna?'''' I just checked with Blackburn and he''s crying himself to sleep. Oh. I''m lucky to have my sister there and pick up my overnight package. In fact, I was going to leave here until I saw that message. Even if I don''t mention my promise not to get too deeply into the matter, it''s unthinkable for me to interfere in a father-son quarrel. But..... "Amari. Yes? What''s this all about? What...? Once he called out to her, he took out his phone and showed her the message sent by Kuroon. A moment later, Amari''s eyes widened into a pair of lapis lazuli eyes and exclaimed. I''ve been hiding it from her for a long time, and I don''t think that reaction is unreasonable. I still can''t believe it either. I know how close those two are to each other, and I know how close their family is. I know how close they are to each other, but I can''t just ignore them. So I''m going to ask you straight to the point... He breaks his words once, takes a deep breath and then tells Amari the crux of the matter. "©¤©¤What do you mean by Amari not being a mother or a parent? .... ©¤ Mom was not Amana''s mom. That was what was written in the message from the black sound. 85 82 Liar Today was the day Tenna''s grandfather, Watpei, and her grandmother, Mayumi, would be returning home. Even though it was only a week, the time they spent with their grandparents was a pleasant memory for Tenna. ''See you later, grandpa and grandma! Ummm ... still a little more... ''No! What if you leave the house too long and someone gets in? G......... Even though he was coming home soon, Watei was reluctant to leave Tenna. Not only can Tenna, but also her grandmother and Tenri can''t hide a wry smile at her grandfather''s disgusting appearance. But even after we return, that man will still be there, right?¡¡I''m messing around with Amari and Tenna under the pretense of making deliveries... He''s not the kind of person who would let you out~ Hayakawa-san is someone you can bring home, so don''t be mean to him~. But you know what? ''Already, father. You are free to think what you think of Mr. Hayakawa personally, but please don''t force it on us. Even after meeting Wa, Watohira dislikes him completely. I understand that this is a reaction to the fact that he cares about me, but even so, it doesn''t feel good to have someone you love speak ill of you, even if it''s your grandfather. I don''t want to say anything bad about him! Ugh.... When Tenna, who has been taught by Tenashi not to speak ill of him, tells him so, Watpei wrinkles his brow and falls silent, as if he''s biting down on a bitter worm. Tenashi and Mayumi giggle at the sight of a grandfather being pissed off at his grandson. But when they were about to go to the front door, Tenna told Tenashi something. ''Mum, I have to go to the toilet for a while.'' ''Take your time, don''t be in a hurry. I''ll be waiting for you in the parking lot. Yes! Feeling sorry for her grandparents who were about to leave, Tenna headed to the bathroom. When she finished soon, she was walking to the parking lot of the apartment building where the three of them were, she was thinking about something. Tenna doesn''t have a father. Still, she feels that she receives lavish love from her family. So he also understands that he is a lucky man. Even if he is a single parent, that doesn''t change. But the moment you see your friend''s family or go out with your child, you can''t help but think about it. I''m not going to be able to tell you what it would be like if my father was alive. Even the young Amana realizes that it''s useless to think about such drivel. Nevertheless, once you become aware of it, cloud-grabbing imaginations float incessantly. I''ve seen my father''s face in pictures. He must have heard his voice when he was a baby, but he doesn''t remember it, and he doesn''t know what it feels like to be held in his arms. As he interacted with Wa, he couldn''t help but wonder if this is what it would be like with his father. From his point of view, it would be annoying, and he would feel guilty about it. Still, I had a feeling that he would probably laugh and pat me on the head. ''''©¤©¤Hmph.'''' Just picturing that scene naturally brought a smile to her face. Thinking of how she can''t wait for the next delivery date, Tenna spotted Tenri and the others in the rear. Suddenly, a little mischievous feeling of ''let''s sneak up on them'' springs up. It was a child''s own way of wondering about the ''Otona Doji Kaiwa''. As I approached slowly, hiding in the shadows of the car so that Amari and the others wouldn''t see me, I could hear them talking. ''''Amari is totally becoming like a mother, isn''t she~'''' Oh no, I''m not as good as your mother yet. ''No, no, no, there''s no need to be modest,'' It seemed that Tenashi was being praised. Tenna, who listened in the shadows and understood that, was as happy as she was. Since her favorite mother was being praised, it was an extremely natural recognition for her. You are a good person, Hayakawa-san, isn''t it? I don''t like it. You''ve already told me you don''t have that kind of relationship with him. What do you think?¡¡I''m sure he''ll take care of both of you~? ''No way. A woman with a child like me is not a love interest. Even Tenna, a first-grade student, guesses that the conversation is the kind that prompts her to wonder if Tenashi and Wa are dating. If they become lovers, will Wa be his father? It was a topic that Tenna couldn''t miss out on just because of her earlier fantasy, but it seems that Tenashi doesn''t intend to do so. I can''t help but feel a little disappointed. And the words that continued pierced her ears deeply and profoundly as she was completely listening to the conversation. ''''Besides, I''m not the one who is (s)heaven(s)nana(s)''s (s)real(s) mother(s) and parent(s) and I don''t(s) know(s) this(s) and(s)...'''' What...? I couldn''t understand what on earth Amari had said. It''s not that I didn''t understand the meaning, it''s because I had a strong feeling that I didn''t want to understand. However, no matter how many times I ruminate in my head, it''s not a mishearing. ''''Well.......it''s already been seven years since then.......'''' I still don''t forgive the man who caused that accident. ''''... me too. I deprived Tenna of her parents and the opportunity to see her grow up, which those two should have wanted to see. I will never forgive them. My grandparents seemed to know what was going on, and unlike Tenna, they didn''t seem surprised and nodded at Tenashi''s words. ©¤ Why don''t your grandfather and auntie say anything? You''re not your mother''s kid? ''''©¤©¤Mama,'''' What''s the faintest thing about it? Unable to stay, Tenna stepped out of the shadow of the car to question the three of them and called out to them. Tenna, who didn''t think she was being listened to, rolls her eyes and shudders, and her grandparents are all in disbelief, but Tenna opens her mouth without a care in the world. ''''What do you mean my mom isn''t Amana''s mom? That''s not... Her face turned blue and from a strong sense of frustration and guilt, Amari seemed unable to spin her words well. ''''©¤©¤Why don''t you tell me it''s not?¡¡Did she lie to you about that? I... But from Tenna''s point of view, what wasn''t instantly denied was like an answer to a question. Even when she turned her gaze to Watei and Mayumi, who knew the same secret, the two of them just fell silent without saying a word. Not knowing what to believe anymore, Tenna slowly retreated with tears in the corners of her eyes. No, no!¡¡I didn''t want to hate you... At the words that spilled out with the thought of being betrayed, Tenashi quickly denies it and reaches out a trembling hand to Tenna. ''''No!¡¡I don''t like the idea of a liar''s mommy! What...? However, Tianna paid off his hands and ran off. It was already too late for Tenashi''s excuse. Even though she ran out to chase after Tenna alone, Tenri was stunned and cowered as she lost the words to call her due to her rejection. ''''Tenri!¡¡Hurry up and get after the tenna! Let''s go! We''ll find him. Okay, yes! She was reprimanded by her parents who couldn''t bear to see her go. Once she recovers from her shock, she rushes after Tenna, but she loses sight of her. Watahira and Mayumi extend their stay to search for her, but due to the difference in their physical strength, they are unable to find her and time passes. It was about 30 minutes after Tenna had gone missing when they received a call from Wa. 86 83 Gentle lies Amari is not Amana''s mother. When I saw this content written in the message sent by Kuroone-sent, the first thing I felt was the suspicion that it was ''impossible''. But it was the most convincing reason for Amari''s decision to not get deeply involved with them. Still, I know how much that father and son care for each other. That''s why when I asked him about the truth of the situation that couldn''t be ignored, Amari covered her mouth with both hands, turned her face down and fell silent. The moment I confronted her with the message, I couldn''t get the unshapely, sorrowful expression out of my head. I feel sorry for making him look like that. But more than anything else, there is no time to stop in this situation that threatens to destroy the bond between the two of us. Even as I write this, Amana-chan may be crying in her dreams. ''''........The reason why Amari cut out that promise was to avoid having this exposed, right? Yes, yes.... I can''t see her expression, but she affirmed it under her breath. Honestly, it''s not hard to understand Amari''s thoughts. She wouldn''t want to tell the truth and hurt her daughter, who adored her as a mother even if they weren''t related by blood. In particular, Tenashi and Amana were quite good friends, and there was nothing uncomfortable about that that didn''t feel like a family at all. That''s why I couldn''t hide my surprise because I couldn''t imagine that the two of them weren''t a real parent and child. ''What about Watahira-san and Mayumi-san?'' I see. I look up and am relieved at what I was told. Because it wasn''t the worst possible pattern to hear that those people knew about it, too. Besides.......... ''''How much do you........know about us?'''' Yesterday, Watei-san spoke to me about it. That was because he knew this secret. The photo... What? ''That picture you showed me the first day we met... was that a lie too? The next question that came to mind. It was the existence of a photo I''d seen before of Amana and her husband. If Amana''s mother was someone else, then who was the man in the photo? I can''t help but wonder if the story he told me in the past was also a mixture of the truth. Perhaps sensing this, Tenashi shook his head and continued. ''''It''s an undeniable fact that that man is Tenna''s father. ........I swear, it''s true. Well you''re going to have to do better than that. He reminded me with such a mysterious expression that there was no room for a single thought. I showed my agreement with that decisive attitude for the moment. ''''But I........'''' Then Amari turned out the back of her left hand. When I wondered what was wrong, she smiled at me with a self-mocking smile on her mouth. ''''The ring finger on my left hand.......you''re not wearing a ring, are you? ''Oh....'' ''It''s not that I haven''t, it''s that I don''t have the ring to do it. This means nothing more than that the marriage does not exist between that man and I. When she told me that, I was angry at my own stupidity, wondering why I hadn''t noticed. It''s unbearably frustrating that I didn''t think deeply about it, assuming on my own that I didn''t want to lose the memorabilia I had with my husband. But then, this time, she was worried about his original relationship with Amari. Amana''s mother was in the same picture as her father, even though she was in a different one. I don''t think she would falsely claim someone she has no connection to as her husband, even if it was to hide a secret. By extension, it leads to the question of why she was taking in and raising Amana-chan. ''''........I won''t hide it at this point in time. I will tell Hayakawa-san the truth. No, no, I''ll see you later. What? She wrinkles her brow and waits for me to give her a glimpse of guilt. Tenri, who didn''t expect to be able to stop, has a dumbfounded expression on her face, but I didn''t stop her with the intention of fooling around with anything. .........To tell the truth, I have a desire to know. But I don''t want to hear it now. "The real mother, how Tenashi took her in........I think this is the first thing Amana-chan has to know about, of all people. "...¡¡That''s true, but.... I don''t know what Amana-chan said to Amana when the secret was revealed, but I do know that she was shocked enough to cry like that. .... I was so surprised that I went blank. For Amana-chan, who had been convinced that Amari was her mother, I can imagine that she must have been saddened to the point of betrayal. But that''s as far as it goes. It''s as far as someone who isn''t a party can imagine, and I don''t know what''s going on. After being told in a roundabout way if they couldn''t make up, Amari lowered her eyes and started shaking her shoulders. It was my ego that hid it because I didn''t want to hurt him. His voice sounded very weak. If you look closely, you can see that he had tears in the corners of his eyes, and you can tell that he''s had a lot to endure. It reminds me of the time when I was devastated that I couldn''t go to class. ''I understood that I couldn''t hide it all the time. However, the more I was in contact with that child who called me Mom and loved me, the more I was afraid to tell her the truth and ruin our current relationship... So much so that he said he was plagued by the dilemma of having a secret. I don''t need to think back to how much Amana loves Amari, it''s so strong. I thought she was obsessed with being a mother for the most part, but nothing like that. It was a suggestion to myself that it was nothing more than that. The best thing about this is that you have to tell her the truth with your own mouth. ''But!¡¡I lied to that boy about being his mother and lied to him about it, and that doesn''t change the fact that... "©¤©¤Amanashi told you a ''gentle lie'' for Amana-chan, right? I... There''s no way Amana can forgive me, she assures me, interrupting the earnest words that are typical of Amari, who has been thinking about that girl more than anything else. He places his hand on her shoulder as she exhales in the air and opens her mouth to continue with a smile. ''If you were going to tell me at some point, isn''t this the time?'' I... I could see her tear-stained lapis lazuli eyes widen. The longer these things are hidden, the harder it is to reveal them, and in most cases, the greater the shock they receive when they are finally revealed. If it had become public knowledge when she was still in her first year of elementary school, the cracks would have widened to a level that was impossible to fix. If you think about it that way, the timing is terrible, but if you want to take advantage of this adversity, now is the time to do it. I understand. Wiping away the tears around her eyes, Amari showed her usual stout expression. Seeing that, I decided it would be okay for now and offered her a proposal. ''''........I''ll call you after work next Monday, so come home (home). I''ll take care of Amana-chan responsibly until then. Please.........and Hayakawa-san. Thank you. ...Oh. I told her when to talk to Amana, and with a sigh of relief at the words of gratitude that were announced with my approval, I received a package with a change of clothes and other items once again, said goodbye, and drove home, hoping that the two of us would make up. 87 [Extra edition] What I want to tell Santa ~ Dec. 24, after 11 p.m. Coupled with the freezing full-moon night, there was silence around the apartment building. ''''Then, please,'''' Oh, I''m on it. On such a night, I was visiting the Minami family. It''s not a purpose for me to meet with Amari. Rather, it was for a purpose related to the Christmas that will be coming soon. No, I''ve always had the perception that Christmas is a meeting between a man and a woman... the holy night is a s*xual night, and that''s noisy. Anyway, I want you to understand that we''re not here for that kind of romance reason, even if it''s just for one night. Then what is the reason......... ''''Kuh...........'''' When you''re a kid, everyone has to expect, ''I woke up this morning and Santa sent me a present! It''s all about making it happen! The subject is Amana-chan, who is still resting soundly in her lovely sleep. Naturally, the trespassing doesn''t apply since I got permission from Amanashi. She was rather flippant and agreed with me. At first I was thinking of having her give it to me, but it seems that I''m going to give mine to her on Christmas day, and because of this, I was given the role of Santa Claus. The first step in the process, ''entering the room'', was a success for now, and I didn''t hear anything but calm, sleeping breaths. You''re still cute as always in your sleep........ It''s not that this is the first time, but just looking at her innocent, lovable expression is enough to heal me....... I would look at them endlessly if I could, but if I did, the sun would rise. It''s still too early for Amana to know the cruel truth that Santa isn''t there. I don''t feel like this situation is already ruining her longing, but if she doesn''t find out, nothing will matter. However, there is one thing that bothers me. It''s the bug net that I keep under my pillow. I''m pretty sure this was an attempt to reveal Santa''s identity, right? I''m really wondering what you were going to do with it? I mean, aren''t you falling asleep while you''re waiting, or has your cuteness turned into violence? Things that are on my mind keep coming up, but if I don''t get it done soon, I''m going to wake them up. Shaking off my thoughts and trying not to wake them up, I slowly place the box of gifts under my pillow. Inside is a sewing kit for kids. Tenashi told me that he had recently taken an interest in it, so I prepared something for beginners. I''m sure Amana-chan will improve as she goes along. With such hopes in mind, the only thing left to do was to leave.... ''''©¤©¤Onii-san~........'''' I... The voice I heard suddenly startled me and I shook my shoulder. Did I wake you up...? I turned my head towards Amana-chan fearfully, but she was still the same cute sleeping face as before. ''''Always, Gokuro-sama........'''' ! Apparently I''m talking in my sleep, but I honestly can''t afford to take any relief from that. The fact that I''m aware of Amana''s working in her dreams makes me more than a little sad, but I''m moved by her bottomless kindness that never forgets to work for others, even in her dreams. Is this girl really an angel already..... Isn''t this the Santa Claus that brings healing? I don''t know what it means that I came here to give you a gift, but I''m supposed to get a gift of healing. Oh, but there''s a story that Santa Claus is motivated by the smiles of children, so it''s not necessarily wrong, right? I managed to calm myself down with various thoughts. But as I was staring at it, trying to get a perfect view of the sleeping face in my eyes at the end, I saw what looked like a letter with ''Dear Santa Claus'' written on the pillow. I didn''t notice it at all as my gaze fell on the insect net... could it be that I was trying to catch it to give it to you? I would like to say that we couldn''t catch them with the insect net, but we might ruin our Christmas spirit if we didn''t receive the letter. For now, I''ll receive the letter. I''ll look at the contents later, but I''d better get out of Amana-chan''s room. With a slight sense of regret, I carefully leave the room so as not to wake her up.... ===. ¡«Next morning... Hey, man, good morning! Good morning, Amana-chan. Good morning, Tenna. Amana and I returned the greeting to Amana-chan, who was greeting us cheerfully from the morning, pretending to be calm. Hmm....when I look at the expressions of joy on her face, a sense of guilt surges through me...I wonder how many times the parents of the world have overcome this.... Once again, I feel a renewed sense of respect for how hard it is to be the parent of a child. I want to slap myself in the past for saying ''there is no Santa Claus'' because it wasn''t what I wanted, and I want to make my parents apologize. ''You know what, when I woke up earlier, I got a present from Santa! ''Oh, good for you! It''s your reward for being a good boy this year. As I was feeling a bit of regret, Amana, with a twinkle in her eye, came over to show me her gift proudly. As soon as I saw her expression, I felt a warmth in my chest. It''s quite natural that any guilt would be easily erased by showing such a good smile. "So, you see, Santa Claus gave me a handkerchief that he drew for me, too! A letter, sir? ''Yes!¡¡Did you read it? ''''Well yes, I''m sure he would have been happy to receive it. After hearing about that letter from Amana-chan, Amana glanced back at me with a sideways glance. Well, I''m the only one who can take it in a situation. I can''t blame her for the look she gives me, so I can''t help but return it with a bitter smile from a complicated state of mind, both grateful and apologetic. ''''Presents are good, but please go brush your teeth before breakfast. Yes! Amana-chan went to the washroom with a reply full of childlike vitality, saying that she''s in good spirits since morning, even without the presents. As if to replace her, Amanashi laid out the breakfast, took a seat and came over to look at me. I knew what she was going to say, so I silently took out the letter that Amana had written. ''''It''s a letter to Santa, and you''ve got a pretty mean thief in you. ''Don''t make it sound so unsavory. Even though it''s not real, it''s better than being sad that you didn''t get it. ''I don''t blame you, I''m just teasing you. ...Have you seen what''s in it yet? Before you go to bed. So, taking a break from the conversation, Amari looked through the letter. She finished reading it in less than 10 seconds, and slowly covered her face with her hands. ''''~~, haha~.......I am proud of you for being such a sweet child to all intents and purposes.......'''' I was visibly writhing, which was unusual. In fact, I had a similar reaction, so I know that feeling very well. What a shame it would be for an adult to think that Santa Claus is real. After all..... "©¤©¤To Santa Claus. I thank you for leaving presents for everyone. I''m sure that he''s trying his best, so I''m sure he''s getting caught. I''d like to say "Thank you" to him, but I''m too lazy to say it because I''m a heavy drinker. That''s why I''ve scratched his handwriting like this. Thank you very much. After receiving a present, please take a good night''s sleep. Minami Amanayori It''s not very often you get a letter from such a good boy. 88 84 Promised day It was Monday morning, the third day since Tenna found out that Tenashi wasn''t her real mother, and it was the third day since Tenna had moved into the Wa house. When Tenna woke up, she got out of bed and headed to the living room to see Kuroone-san in the kitchen making breakfast. ''''O-neechan, good morning........'''' Oh, good morning. Good morning, Amana-chan. Rice will take a little longer to eat, so go ahead and wash your face and brush your teeth. ''Yeah...'' Kuroone-san greeted me with a smile when she noticed me getting up, but Tenna''s expression was hard and not excellent. ''''Where''s Onii-san?'''' ''My brother?¡¡I left early today. I see... When I ask where Wa was when I woke up and couldn''t find him, I feel a little sad when I''m informed that he''s already headed off to work. Shaking her head to dispel the evil thoughts, she heads to the sink to finish washing her face and brushing her teeth as Kuroone-said earlier. In the meantime, Tenna silently goes through her thoughts. After taking some time to cool down, she came to the conclusion that that Tenashi was lying to her, and that it was for her own good. But Tenna was so shocked that he told her that she was a liar and that he hated her. I want to apologize. But I''m sure Tenri would be angry, she might not forgive me. The person who has taken such good care of me, I don''t think I could ever say I hate him. I''m going to be able to say that I really dislike Amana, Mom, do you really hate her? It''s possible that we won''t be able to eat or live together anymore. Thinking about that made my heart ache. Once again, I can see that Tenna loves Tenri more than she realizes. Because I understand, it can be so painful. However, I can''t bring this feeling out in front of Wa and the others, so I wash my face again and bring my expression back to life. So when Tenna, who had finished the whole process, returned to the living room, just as Kuroonne had also finished preparing the meal. He takes a seat and turns his attention to the food that was laid out on the table. The hot white rice and miso soup, the grilled salmon fish was cut into small pieces so that Tenna could easily eat it, and the cabbage strips looked delicious with the dressing on them. ''Let''s eat then,'' Yes, thank you. I had eaten Kuroon''s food like this before when I stayed at Wa''s house, and the food she made was as good as ever. I can''t help but feel grateful to Kuroone-she accepted me when I arrived unexpectedly without a disapproving look on her face. ''Onie-chan, the rice is delicious! Yeah, thanks. When I told her what I thought with a smile as best I could, Kuroon answered with a sly smile. And so the breakfast for just the two of us passes gently........ ====. Meanwhile, Wa, who came to work early in the morning to take care of the adjusted deliveries, was working with Mao, who also came in from the morning. As a result of yesterday''s schedule adjustment, you have been asked to come in early in the morning, so at least let me help you bring in the delivery truck. So, in response to his own assertions, Wa smiled bitterly, wondering why he was looking at it from above, but he was willing to accept his words. As we worked together, we had plenty of time to spare before the first delivery, so once we were taking a break in the resting area, Mao asked us another question. ''So?¡¡Even though we met at the pool, it''s hard to imagine that Amana and Minami-san would ever have a fight, but what happened? Well I''m sorry, I can''t tell you that. Mao''s question was the most important one. He had forced her to adjust her delivery schedule yesterday, even though she hadn''t had time to do so, at a half-hearted pace. For a moment, Wa wondered if he should explain the situation to her as well as to her as compensation, but since he understood Amari''s desire to hide it as much as possible, he decided to keep his mouth shut as a result. ''''Mm........'''' In response to that choice, Mao doesn''t even try to hide her frustration and reveals it. ''''So I''m sorry. I''ll buy you something to eat next time........ I don''t really want to buy anything, but I''ll find a nice place to eat. I''m asking for the cheapest price possible... Since Mao also sensed that she had avoided mentioning it, she stopped pursuing it for the moment. However, she still hasn''t settled her dissatisfaction, and Wa continues to feel that she can''t stand to stay. ''''Um~Mao-san?¡¡What is it yet? I can still understand that you and Amana-chan get along well with each other. But what''s the point of going as far as to mediate in a parent-child quarrel? .... At Mao''s somewhat far-fetched words, Wa silently ponders the question. The question is meant to be, if you are going to break the ostracism that has been wrapped up with so much effort, is there a reason for Wa himself to break his heart to that extent? It is true that he is only a mere courier, but there is no way he would bother to get involved in someone else''s family affairs. It''s a stupid question. That''s what I felt right away. But without being flustered, Wa speaks out his answer. "That''s because I''m a friend of Amana-chan''s. I know, I know, but... ''I want that father and son to be laughing. There''s nothing wrong with trying to do what you can to make that happen. That''s right.... It''s true........because of that kind of Kazu-kun, I will....... ''Matsuo?¡¡What was the last thing you said? I... Hearing the reply, Mao let out a whispered mutter. When Kazu, who couldn''t hear her well, asks, a surprised expression appeared on her face as she huffed, but quickly changed to a smile and faced her. ''''Nah, it''s nothing. Anyway, since you''re going to do it, make up for it properly, okay? Oh, sure. With that, the conversation was cut short and Wa headed for the delivery while Mao saw him off. ===. Tenri-chan. Mayuzumi-san.......did you make a mistake? No, you look great as always, but you don''t have any energy, do you? .... When it was almost time for the regular time to arrive, Amari couldn''t reply to Mayuzumi''s suggestion on the spur of the moment. Although he had calmed down somewhat after Sunday after talking with Kazu, he had to laugh at the fact that he couldn''t help but wonder if Mayuzumi''s eyes couldn''t deceive him as a senior who had known him for a long time. ''''©¤©¤I had a bit of a fight with my daughter........'''' What?¡¡Tenri-chan''s kids are pretty good, but they''re also pretty rare. Since she didn''t tell Mayuzumi that Tenna wasn''t her own daughter, Tenashi had to brush it off for now. Mayuzumi believed that argument honestly, but she couldn''t hide her surprise and rolled her eyes as she thought the two were far from having a parent-child quarrel. ''''It''s my fault.......I''m sorry for causing you to worry, Mayuzumi-san. Aan, father-son fights are common. Don''t think about it too much. ''Yes, thank you...'' Mayuzumi hurriedly encouraged Amari with an apology that was stated in a self-mocking manner. He chuckled at the frustration of not being able to talk about the situation and the kindness with which he was cared for, but expressed his gratitude. ''''Did you talk to Kazuki-ni about it? For Hayakawa-san?¡¡Yeah. Rather, since you were able to protect Tenna, who ran out of the house after the fight, I was able to get her out of the house without a break....... That''s the least of our worries. When the name of the man she had met at the pool was mentioned, Tenashi returned it honestly without mending. The same goes for Mayuzumi, who knows how much Tenna misses her for her harmony. ''''........If it was before I met him, I might not have been able to go to work like this. What do you mean? Well, when I first met him, I thought he was up to something and looked at him as an enemy. Hmmm... that''s just the way it is in this day and age. He now regrets that he may have been a little rude, but Mayuzumi agreed that it was not unreasonable. Even though it was a consequence, Amari had forgiven him to the extent that it was hard to imagine her days without Kazu now. That''s why there was no hesitation in saying the words to continue. ''''©¤©¤But still, if it was anyone other than Hayakawa-san, I''m sure I wouldn''t have been able to rely on you to this extent. Thinking about it, it could be said that Tenna''s eyes looking at people had a tremendous accuracy. ''''Tenri-chan........'''' Oh, it''s getting late. I''m going to leave you to it. Yeah. I won''t see you tomorrow. As it was past the regular time while they were talking, Tenashi left the workplace in a hurry. All that remained was for Wa to finish his shift and finally make up with Tenna. He was already prepared to tell the secret he had been hiding to avoid grief.... 89 85 The truth It was after 7 p.m. when Wa finished work. He was able to finish early because he had been engaged in the early morning shift. We quickly finished dinner with onigiri (rice balls) that we bought at a convenience store and headed to pick up Tenri. Partly because I had contacted her in advance, Tenashi was waiting for me in the parking lot of her apartment. "...Good evening, Hayakawa-san. Good evening, Amani. You look like you''re ready to go? Yes. I''m ready to go. Between Saturday''s talk and Sunday, Tenashi was determined to tell Tenna everything without hiding it. Wa could tell that from her expression and urged her to get into the passenger seat of the car without stepping in further. She complied without refusal, and after making sure her seatbelt was fastened, Wa stepped on the accelerator to start the car. ''How''s Tenna?'' ''As I reported in my message on Sunday, I''m cool with it, for one thing. I asked the black sound at noon how he was doing and it was the same. Well.... Wa returned Amari''s question politely, as if to reassure her. She heard those words and let out a breath of relief. She was worried about Tenna''s condition even while she was at work, but from Wa''s point of view, she felt the same way about Tenri. She was greatly distraught on Saturday, and she had confirmed that she had recovered somewhat from the conversation with herself. However, I was worried that she would get herself into a corner with her thoughts afterwards, but I was relieved to learn that she was able to handle the blurriness in her mind well. The conversation was in moderation when the car arrived at the apartment where Wa was renting a room. From now on, Tenashi is going to meet and talk with Tenna inside the room, but when she puts her hand on the doorknob at the entrance to the room, she stops moving. Her mouth was cupped shut tightly and her hand seemed to be trembling slightly as well. ''''........'''' Are you nervous? ''Of course I don''t like the thought of being rejected again. I''m not going to tell you what to do, but I''m not going to tell you what to do. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re going to do with it. In other words, the reason why she is hesitant to talk about it in such a situation is that she is not sure if it is right to start a unilateral conversation. Of course, Naturally, Kazu also sensed that concern. ''''It''s okay. Amana-chan will listen to Amari properly.'''' ..... That''s why I push Amari back. It was a word because he believed in the bond the two had spent as parents and children. At his words, which were not anyone else''s, Amari opens the door with a sure heart that had been wavering. ''''Ah, it looks like Aniki is back.'''' "I''m going to see my brother back in town. Along with the faint sound of talking from the living room, Tenna came out into the hallway. As soon as she turned her gaze to the doorway to greet Wa and saw Tenashi''s figure, her eyes widened for a moment and she stiffened. ''''Tenna........'''' Ma..........ah...... In response to Tenashi''s call, she said ''Mama'' as usual, and Tenna held her tongue. She was unsure if she should call them that because she knew that they weren''t really father and son. At least he doesn''t seem to be unable to listen to her as he doesn''t try to run away from this place. For that reason alone, Amari let out a breath of relief. ===. Since they couldn''t talk in the entrance or hallway, they decided to move the place to the living room to start talking. The seating arrangement was that Kazu would sit next to Tenna, with Tenashi and Kuroone-sitting across from her. ''''©¤©¤I''m sorry.'''' Eh.... The apology made Tenna''s rurid eyes widen and she was immensely disappointed by the apology. She hadn''t the faintest idea that Tenashi would apologize to her. ''''While I told you that lying is wrong, it is true that I myself lied to Tenna that I was her mother. I... Tenna''s expression is distorted with sadness at the fact that she is once again confronted with this fact. ''''Hey...'''' As soon as she did, Kurone tried to open her mouth, but Wa stopped her from doing so by pointing his palm at her. When her sister glares at her, wondering why she doesn''t stop, Wa just shakes her head silently and doesn''t try to say anything. In the meantime, Tenashi''s words continued unhurriedly. ''From Tenna''s point of view, it''s as good as a betrayal. It''s only natural for you to blame me for such a thing and hate me.'''' .... In contrast, Tenna was unable to say anything. She has the same desire to apologize. But what Tenna said is also her own unmistakable state of mind, so she can''t deny it. Tenna''s stagnant state of mind makes Tenashi continue with a painful feeling in her heart. ''''So........'''' ? I''ll at least tell you the truth. As she said this, Amari took something out of her bag and gently placed it on the table. The three of them leaned forward to check it so they could see it better. ''''This is........'''' Photo? It was a single picture, as Blacktone muttered. ''My dad and...eh?'' The number of people in the picture was three, with two women standing between one man - Tenna''s father. And the moment they saw the latter two, all of them, except Tenashi, were speechless. One of the women in the picture was Tenashi. And the person on the other side of her was Tenna''s real mother........ ''''©¤©¤So that''s what you mean........'''' Wa frowns and utters an inexplicable conviction. Not only who was Tenna''s real mother, but why did she interact with her father? Why was Tenashi taking her in and raising her... because the answer to that question was shown in this one picture. "...I''m not Tenna''s real mother, but I don''t have a blood connection... To the three who could not hide their uneasiness, Amanashi slowly tells them the details of the photo. ''''©¤©¤Heart(©¤©¤)mother(©¤©¤)and(©¤©¤niece(©¤©¤)and (©¤©¤)niece(©¤©¤)and (©¤©¤)niece(©¤©¤)and (©¤©¤...) The aunt - in other words, Amari is the other woman''s sister. However, that''s not the only thing that surprised Wa and the others. They couldn''t hide their astonishment at the woman''s appearance. After all..... It''s a good thing that you can''t get away from the fact that you can''t get away from the fact that you can''t get away from the fact that you can''t get away from the fact that you can''t get away from the fact that you can''t get away with it. 90 [Extra edition] Happy New Year! January 1, 2020. It''s the first New Year''s Day since the year was changed. Even though it''s the beginning of the year, there are many people, young and old, men and women alike, visiting the nearby shrines, and the priests who work at the temple are busy organizing the procession. Of course, I should say, I''m here for my first visit, along with Amana and Amanashi. ''So many people!'' ''Yes. Let''s keep our hands firmly together so we don''t get separated. ''Yes!¡¡Your brother''s with me! Yeah, here. The three of us hold hands in the shape of a river with Amana in between us. Even though it''s through the gloves, I can feel their little hands trying their best to hold them. Last year wasn''t my first visit to work, but I never thought my life would change like this in a year. Would you believe me if I said to myself in the past, ''You''ve gone from being bored just by working to having one girl in your life to having more fun than when you were a student? ........I don''t feel like I''m going to get called out on myself for not being a pedophile. While I was thinking what a ridiculous thing to do, the line went on and the torii gate came into view. ''Well, Tenna. I''m going to show you the steps to take when you perform the worship service, so please imitate me. Yeah! Yes, sir. Kazu-san.... As I replied after Amana, Amari found out that I didn''t know the etiquette of worship. I''ve been doing it somehow until now, so I thought I''d take this opportunity to learn it, but I think she was taken aback. I''ll make sure this won''t happen again, so please teach me how to do it. Anyway, I cleansed my hands in order at the chouzuya and was about to throw money into the donation box in the hall of worship when Amanashi suddenly stopped my arm. ''The money is an offering to the gods. Please don''t throw it in, but put it in gently so that you can purge the bad luck from your body. ...I''ve been a bit of a curse, haven''t I? The reason for the manners told to me with a serious look in my eyes was nothing short of disgusting. It''s no wonder that no matter how much you increase the amount, the person who is disrespectful is not only exorcised of bad luck, but does not bring good luck. I''m going to be able to hold it in my arms so that Amana-chan can easily put the money into the offering. I''m not sure if it''s because of the fact that I''ve never experienced being held high and high, but she looks very happy. It''s time to pray, but before that, I ring the bell. And then we say two prayers, two claps and one prayer. I carefully perform each step of the prayer and give thanks for having been able to welcome the New Year safely before praying. Certainly if you suddenly say your wish without saying thank you, even if you''re not a god, you''re bound to feel uncomfortable. It seems to be a basic rule to keep your wishes to only one. When I heard that from Amari, I settled on what I wanted to pray for. I wish for Amana-chan to live a healthy life. Unlike until now, when it was all about me, I can think of this without any evil thoughts at all. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to have to worry about it, because it''s Amana-chan, and she''s going to be praying for the health of the people she knows. Once the prayers were over, we returned to the path we had come on and finished our visit. ''Thank you for your help,'' I''d be surprised how much work it takes to get it right. Mom!¡¡Amana, did you get it right? Yeah, it''s perfect. Wow! Even from my point of view, Amana was doing well. When I patted her head to praise her efforts, she smiled happily at me. Cute. ''Huh?¡¡Does it smell kind of nice? This is like selling Zenzai, isn''t it? Out of the corner of her eye that Amari turned to, the maidens were selling zenzai. Just right to warm up my cold body in this cold. I bought a portion for three people and sipped the juice, being careful not to burn myself. The sweetness and flavor of the azuki beans spread in my mouth and warmed me from the inside out. Delicious! Yeah. It''s tasteful, and it''s even better. You could try adding rice cakes to it. Oh, that''s nice. When it comes to Amashi''s homemade food, you can expect more deliciousness than this Zenzai. As a person whose stomach is gripped by her, I feel like my New Year''s pleasure will increase. Onii-san!¡¡Bend over a bit! ''Hmmm?¡¡Good. Suddenly Amana called out to me and I crouched down to make eye contact with her as she said. Then Amana took off her gloves and put her hands on my cheeks. I can feel the soft warmth of a child in her small palms. That warmth is extremely comforting, helped by the fact that my cheeks are cold from the cold. ''Amana-chan?'' When I asked her about it, she gave me a big smile and said, "I''m happy to see you, but I can''t see the true meaning of your actions. ''The Zenzai has warmed me up, so I''m going to share my pokapoka with you, Onii-san! I... The cold blew out of my body with an overwhelmingly fast pace that couldn''t be compared to zenzai. It was at a level where I thought I didn''t need to wear a coat. What, isn''t this great? What could be happier in the New Year than this? I''ll give you all the money you want for your New Year''s gift. And some for Mom! ''''~~? And Amana put her hands on Amanashi''s cheeks as well. From the way her face turned bright red in an instant, I guess she''s probably in the same state as me. Eventually she calmed down or became calm and Tenashi looked straight at Amana........ ''''Amana........let''s give you a New Year''s gift. If you tell me what you want on the way home, I''ll buy that too. Amari-san has gone into doting mode........ ''Yes, I''ll give you a New Year''s gift, too. ''Wow!¡¡Mom, man, thank you!¡¡I''ll pay you back in gold! It was just the right flow, so I took advantage and gave her the New Year''s gift, but the return was dazzling without being coated in greed. Amana-chan, who received the money, did not hide her happiness as she returned the thanks, and the amount of money was up to 10,000. If it''s this amount of money from us alone, if you add up the amount you get from Watahira-san and the others, it''s twice as much, isn''t it? In fact, Watei-san alone could hand over Yukichi-san to me. With an easily imaginable scene in mind, we decided to draw a final fortune. As soon as I looked at the result, I found out that the fortune was written as "Daikichi". It''s a good omen for the new year.... Money luck is "Maintain the status quo", work luck is "Sharpen your skills"... and love luck is "Never let go of a good relationship".... Regardless of whether or not they''re tied together, the bond between Amana and Amari is something that''s bound to be treasured without a fortune telling you otherwise. It''s no exaggeration to say that it''s more important than your own flesh and blood. ........but the health fortune said, ''Don''t overdo it and put your body first''. It''s a bit of a twitch in my cheeks to be nailed down by a fortune teller before anyone else. ''Mum, what do you read this?'' ''Great luck. Same for me. I''m with my mom! Oh, it''s my lucky day too. ''You too, man!¡¡We''re all together! Knowing that the three of us are all Daikichi, Amana rolls her eyes adorably, as if she can''t bear to be happy. Then she takes our hands in hers, and they walk side by side again in the shape of a river. My footsteps are light, as if I were standing on my feet, but I step firmly and dangerously close to them. ''Mommy, Onii-san!¡¡Good luck in the new year! As Amana smiles cheerfully, I realize the beginning of a new year. 91 86 Recallâ‘  ~ About 8 years ago, during the winter months ''Tenri~!¡¡Let''s get going! ''Wait, there''s no need to be in such a hurry! One day in the evening, two girls were chatting on their way home from school. One of them - Nantenashi, ever since she could remember, had a family that could be described as one and the same. It''s the same with her younger sister, who is a twin, so she''s a perfect match, but her personality is the opposite - Minami Yuna. It''s not just the fact that the person you are looking for is a very serious person, but also the fact that Yuna is an active girl, and the difference is so great that it''s easy to distinguish her from someone else, except when you meet her for the first time. But that doesn''t mean they don''t get along, and even in their third year of high school, the two are still very close. ''Because you want to be with the person you love, even if it''s just for a second longer, right?'' ''Certainly in general, and I''m sure the two of you would be a good match, but he''s also my tutor, in case you''re wondering.¡¡I don''t want you to flirt with me too much beside me... ''Then why don''t you get a boyfriend soon, Amani? ''Don''t say it so easily...'' In response to Yuna''s light-hearted tone, Tenri muttered in dismay. Yuna had a man she was in a relationship with, and Tenri knew him well. Moreover, it was also the reason why the two of them would be hurrying home from now on. In the meantime, they arrived at home, opened the door and went in. ''''Tadaima!'''' I''m home. Welcome home - Yuna, Tenri. When the two daughters returned home, their mother - Mayumi - welcomed them with open arms. ''The doctor is already here. Wow, I knew it!¡¡Amani, hurry up, hurry up! Oh, God!¡¡Please line up your shoes properly! Knowing that the person she''s looking for is already waiting for her, Yuna goes to the back room at once. Tenri rushes after her. One man was sitting in the room that wasn''t their own room, the one used for classes with the tutor. He had light brown hair, bright green eyes reminiscent of emeralds, and black bruised glasses that gave him a mild impression. ''Hello, both of you.'' ''Hello, sir!¡¡I''ve missed you so much! Yuna!¡¡Don''t try to hug me too soon when I haven''t even started studying! ''Hahaha...'' In order to make sure that Tenashi and Yuna take their high school exams, her parents hired a tutor - Tatsuto Manaka, who would later become Tenna''s father. In addition, Yuna, who became involved with him when he was taking the entrance exam for high school, confessed her feelings to him when he announced his acceptance, and they had been dating ever since, so he was like family to Tenashi. ''I''m sorry, Tatsuto-san. No matter how much you''re my girlfriend, Yuna is causing me trouble... I don''t mind. It''s that positive attitude that attracted me, so I''m just grateful that you''ve been so patient with me, Amari. ''Well, if you''re going to be my brother-in-law eventually, it would be helpful if you could be a little more modest. ''Oh, hahaha...'' Tatsunin, who is supposed to be a good enough adult, is overwhelmed by his sister-in-law, who tells him she wants him to get his act together. Anyway, when Watahira finds out that Yuna and Tatsunin have started dating, the father-to-be is very upset. The age difference between the two is six years, Yuna was still in high school and Tatsunto was about to graduate from college, so the problems piled up between them are hard to ignore, even without the hassle of dealing with a foolish parent. In fact, Watahira had given him a hard time for breaking up with him so many times that he almost forced Tatsuhito to quit his job as a tutor. Nevertheless, the two vowed to continue their relationship. Up until now, he''s been earning money by working as a part-time tutor and cramming tutor, but he''s passed the exam to become a teacher at a public high school, and he''ll be able to start teaching next year, so he won''t be lacking in income. As for Yuna, Tenashi had heard that she was planning to get married upon graduation from high school, so it was only a matter of time before Tatsunin became her brother-in-law at the earliest. Even his father, that idiot of a father, had approved of the marriage. ''''You''re the one who should tell Tenri~. He''s so beautiful like me, but he doesn''t have a single flirtatious story to tell!¡¡I don''t want my sister to go back to school late or anything... Yuna~...? ''Hee!¡¡Gosh, I''m sorry! Since they are twins, Tenri and Yuna have good looks without an inch of difference in their faces, and they were even rumored to be two great angels at the time. Yuna already had a boyfriend, Tatsuhito, so even though she may have attracted attention, she didn''t make advances to him early on, but Amari, who didn''t even have her own love interest yet, was being pushed around like a horde of people. But the real Amari cut them all off. ''''How should I put it.......it''s because I don''t have anyone I''m on the same page with like you, Tatsunin-san. What?¡¡So Amari had a hobby that involved sleeping with her sister''s boyfriend? ''Hey I don''t have such a harried and unpleasant hobby!¡¡I think you''re a good person, Mr. Tatsunin, but only as family!¡¡Even I''m worried that I''m not ready for my first love in my senior year of high school! ''Well, well. We''re twins, but we have different romantic values... As if to say that if you hit it, it will resonate, Tatsunin stops Tenri from going along with Yuna''s mischievous words and actions every time. Anyway, when it was time for study in moderation, the two of them showed amazing concentration and devoted themselves to it. Yuna, who tends to be seen as being bad at studying by nature, works diligently in this aspect, just like Amari''s twin sister. So after concentrating for about two hours, I finished today''s class. I''m so tired~!¡¡Sensei~ Chu and share your energy~ ''Yuna you were so adamant about not making out when I''m around...'' ''''It''s embarrassing to kiss in the presence of Amari-chan...'''' Mmm~.... Yuna casually begged for a kiss while standing tall, and was accused by Tenashi and Tatsuto, albeit in a different vector. After being told by her lover, Yuna couldn''t help but puff out her cheeks and reluctantly agree. ''''For now, my mother has asked me to join her for dinner as well, so would you like to join us, Tatsuto-san?'''' Thank you. ''Yay!¡¡You and your teacher... The moment Yuna stood up vigorously with glee because Tatsujin was also with her for dinner, her face suddenly turned pale and she started to suppress her mouth with both hands. That sudden change, which was not just a matter of time, made Amari and Tatsujin unable to hide their confusion. ''''Yuna! And take him to the bathroom! Yes! On the spur of the moment, Tenri runs to the toilet and rubs Yuna''s back with a grim expression as she gapes at the toilet bowl. There is no indication that Yuna has a pre-existing condition from birth. But the fact that the situation happened in spite of that, Tenri couldn''t help but wonder what had happened to her sister. After that, she calmed down, and Tatsuhito heard the commotion and gave an explanation to Mayumi. Then Mayumi finished listening to the situation and faced Yuna with a face that didn''t allow any jokes. Since she is usually so carefree, both Tenashi and Yuna are nervous and prepared in an unusually serious atmosphere. ''''........Mom?'''' Yuna. Be honest. ...what? Amidst the swordswept air, Mayumi asks her daughter one thing. That is.......... "©¤©¤the most important thing is that the reason for the coming of the most important thing is........? Huh! What...? It was about the inevitable physiological phenomena of women''s lives. Yuna''s shoulders trembled a little, and Amari was astonished to find out what the question was about. It wasn''t just the two of them, but also Tatsuto as well. ''''About two months ago, but........'''' Yeah. In response to Yuna, who replied while stumbling, Mayumi only quietly lowered her eyes. Amari and Tatsuto, who were listening to the conversation up close, were speechless with surprise. That''s no wonder, there''s only one reason why Yuna''s body, which is supposed to be in good health, doesn''t have a menstruation.... The only reason is that Yuna is pregnant. 92 87 Recall â‘¡ How the hell are you going to take responsibility for this? .... As soon as Kouhei came back home and asked about the situation, the first thing he did was to shout at Tatsuhito. It''s a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. I''m not going to blame Watei for that point. The problem is........the pregnant Yuna is still in high school. If you compare it to the time when she stopped having her period, nearly two months have passed since she became pregnant. With about four months to go before she graduates from high school, she won''t be able to make physical education classes or marathons or other strenuous activities very much a part of her life. She should be able to take maternity leave at her employer, which had already received a job offer, but she could easily imagine that the combination of maternity harassment, interpersonal relationships after returning to work, and the hardships of raising a child would be a hindrance to her physical and mental health. And it''s not limited to Yuna, the father-to-be Tatsunto would not be able to escape the same or even more blame. That''s why......... ''''Yuna. It''s a pity that it''s only this time, but give up. I... Watahira told Yuna to abort the baby. Of course, he was just being ruthless for his daughter, and to tell the truth, he''s happy that Yuna is carrying Tatsunin''s child. However, that''s only if the two of them were firmly nurturing their relationship as a couple. Early pregnancies do not always lead to good results. That''s why I''m advocating abortion as premature. "I want to have... this baby. Yuna! Doesn''t have to be anything now, does it? However, Yuna''s reply was ''no''. Watahira yells at her youthful indiscretion and Mayumi complains in a roundabout way that it''s too early. However, Yuna looked at her parents with a resolute expression without changing her complexion. ''Mum''s right, it certainly might not be the right time. But that would be like killing the big sister or big brother who was supposed to be born for the next child, right?¡¡I don''t want to be a part of it. I know what you mean!¡¡But Yuna''s still in high school, any amount of time is too soon! ''No matter how much I love my next child, I''m never going to give up if I''m going to regret for the rest of my life that I wanted to do the same thing to this one! Yuna never shakes her head, even when persuasion is thrown at her to avoid any imaginable hardship. As the argument between her parents and Yuna becomes more and more extreme, Tenashi is unable to keep up with the situation and is at a loss. Both sides of the argument are in the boardroom, never able to be dismissed by her. ''''©¤©¤I''m sorry.'''' In the midst of such an acrimonious atmosphere, Tatsuhito, who had been silent, raised his voice. Although he didn''t utter it in a very loud voice, the three who had been arguing with him mysteriously kept their mouths shut. After confirming that his own voice had been heard, Tatsuto looked at Watei with a serious expression. ''''It''s my fault for committing the act despite the fact that there was this kind of possibility. It''s not that I didn''t think about it, but it''s true that I was naive in thinking that since I was using contraception it would be okay. Coldly, he uttered a reflection on his own conduct. However, contrary to his words, his face was positive..... ''''So, at a time like this, I''m sorry, but please give me your daughter©¤©¤Yuna-san. What...? He blurted out a marriage greeting that was not terribly appropriate for the occasion. Not only Watohira, but also Mayumi and Amari are dismayed by the remark, which is too airless. Yuna''s cheeks are bright red, although she is rolling her eyes, and her mouth is covered in a smile from the overflow of happiness. ''''I''m sure you''ll disagree with me about my family, but we''ll work that out. No, no, Tatsujin-kun...? I''ll take care of her. I will make her happy. So, will you admit to the child in Yuna''s belly? Mmm.... Watahira wrinkles his brow at Tatsuto''s bold proposal and gives him a swallowing look. Although he was opposed to it at the beginning of their relationship, he trusts Tatsuhito as if he were his son. When you think about it, his words were rather crossed. However, she still can''t give her parental approval. When Watei is conflicted about this, Amari insists. ''''I, too, will support the two of you. I think that''s what a family should do, so........ Tenri..... Yuna thanks her twin sister from the bottom of her heart for telling her that she will support them as much as she can. The determination of the three young people is firm, and no matter how many words they try to say, it makes them feel that they will not be broken. ''''I see........I understand. If you''re going to say that much, I won''t oppose you anymore. I never thought I''d see my grandchildren''s faces at my age....... ''Parenting is hundreds of times harder than Yuna thinks~. So, we''ll help you too. Yeah. Thank you, mommy...! When her parents finally broke, Yuna thanked them with tears in her eyes. Then Watahira turned his gaze to Tatsuhito again. ''''Tatsuto-kun.'''' Yes..... Take good care of Yuna. Thank you very much. Not only was the child conceived, but the marriage was approved. The Minami family welcomed the new two(...) people(...) into their family, and the Minami family was surrounded by warmth and happiness. Later, Tatsunin broke off his relationship with his parents, who saw his marriage to an underage girl as problematic, and married into the Minami family as his son-in-law. Watahira apologized, but as Tatsuto, he felt it was a cheap price to pay for marrying Yuna, so he had no regrets on his face. He was able to get the teaching job he had longed for without any hindrance. As for the wedding ceremony, after considering the financial aspect and Yuna''s burden, it was decided to hold it after the baby was born. When Yuna told the school that she was pregnant, she attended school in the nurse''s office as a precaution, and graduated from the high school without any trouble, thanks to the cooperation of Tenashi. Her boss at work is also a caring person, so she is able to take maternity leave without any problems, and with the support of the people around her, Yuna''s last month of pregnancy arrives. The moment when everyone can''t help but get nervous is just around the corner. 93 88 Recall â‘¢ In late August, a little later than the expected delivery date, Yuna''s water broke and she was rushed to the delivery room. Yuna''s water broke with severe contractions, and she was rushed to the delivery room. As it was a holiday, when the Minamikas arrived at the hospital, Yuna was already in the middle of delivery on the delivery table. Cowering at the screams of anguish that came from Yuna''s mouth, which she had never heard before, Tenri watched her sister and the baby''s struggles from close quarters. If she could change, she would, but all she can do is hold Yuna''s hand and encourage her. Meanwhile, Tatsuhito and Kohei are waiting outside, praying in earnest that both mother and child are safe. Tatsuto complains to himself that men are useless at times like this, and Watahira tells him that Mayumi once told him that this feeling alone is powerful enough to help him. Although not optimistic, Tatsunto''s heart is lightened somewhat, and he waits for the moment of the baby''s birth to come. ©¤ ©¤ Oh my God!¡¡Oh, my God! I... The first birth cry heard from the delivery room. A moment later, Tatsujin stood up vigorously and stood in front of the room with his head blank. Not long after that, the door was opened and he was met by an obstetrician who came out from inside. ''''Um, my wife........the child.......?'''' ''Your husband!¡¡Yes, both mother and child are safe. We had a healthy baby girl. I... Starting with those words, Tatsujin''s tear glands broke down and he burst into tears all at once. Tenashi and Mayumi, who came out of the delivery room, were also very emotional, but most of all, Yuna was crying and laughing with happiness while showing her fatigue. ''''Tatsuhi, Toh-san.......ehehe, I''m finally a mom.......'''' ''I''m a dad when I say that, right?¡¡Thank you ... thank you so much Yuna ... Well, that''s a big compliment. It was so hard, but I''m so happy for you, aren''t you? The couple''s heartwarming conversation leaves not only the Nanke family in tears, but also the obstetrician and the midwife in tears. In the midst of all this, Amari suddenly asked the couple, in tears, about something. ''Speaking of which, have you decided on a name for your child? ''Oh, yeah, that''s important,'' Yuna was supposed to think about it, but are you okay? ''Hmm, heck. Actually, I''ve already decided from the moment I decided to have the baby. ''Oh, you''re so ready! What''s your name? All right, I''ll teach you. Yuna, who hasn''t changed her tune even after becoming a mother, says she will tell me the name of her child after saying it in a way that is not worth it. She slowly utters the name while giving a compassionate look to her daughter who has her eyes closed in her arms. The name of the cat''s child is......... It''s Amana. Amana...? ''''Son. Tenashi''s heaven and Yuna''s na is ''Tenna''. Isn''t it cute! ''''It''s cute, but why do you take my name instead of Tatsunin-san?'''' Although Amari''s happiness outweighed her dismay regarding the use of her name, she felt embarrassed by the quicksilver, so she hid her embarrassment and asked why at the same time. In response to that question, Yuna opened her mouth with a big smile on her face. ''''©¤©¤When you got pregnant with Tenna, didn''t Tenashi say that she would support you too?¡¡That made me so happy. Is that why? ''I didn''t mean to say that, but if it was Tenashi, I thought you would object to it like your dads did?¡¡But he actually says he''s going to support me... and I''m sure he''s happy about that! Amari was stunned by the reasons her sister had told her. Because she was told that her choice at that time was not a mistake. ''''Kyakka!'''' ''See, Tenna is happy to get her aunt''s name too~'' ''Keh, it''s true that I''m related by blood, but I''m still a teenager! I don''t care, I don''t care. If Amanashi had a baby like this, I''d be the same way. The conversation between the sisters remains the same even though one of them has become a mother. Watahira and the others looked at Tenna''s quiet face. ''''Tenna, huh.......yes, that''s a good name. ''''Well as it turns out, if I hadn''t admitted it then, I wouldn''t have been able to see my grandson''s face like this...'''' Yes, she''s very pretty. Without any opposition, the name of Yuna and Tatsunin''s child was unanimously decided to be Tenna. As if rejoicing at that, Tenna, whose eyelids were closed, seemed to smile....... ===. It had been a month since Tenna was born, but Yuna''s first time raising a child had been full of turmoil. Anyway, it was because Tenna was crying all day and night. It took me a long time to figure out why she was crying, and I wanted to bite my teeth at my inadequacy because I woke up Tenashi and my parents. They say it''s a baby''s job to cry, but Yuna is inwardly disgusted that she cries too much, no matter what. But even so, she still felt so much love for her cute little child, Tenna, who doesn''t hurt her eyes, that she records her every move with video recording on her phone. She frequently says, ''My daughter is so cute! Amari is disgusted and even annoyed by her sister''s fatherly foolishness, saying, "I''m just like my father," but she''s just as annoyed. In the midst of all this, Tenashi suggests to Yuna to go out with Tatsunto on her day off from work. Since she was also taking care of Tenna when she had free time on her hands, she had unintentionally come with the board as her mother''s replacement, so the two readily agreed to the proposal and went out. ''''Mmm~........'''' "Hmm. Tenashi looks at Tenna smilingly as she sits on the bed with a pacifier in her mouth. If she was this loving at the time of her niece, what would happen with her own child that might be born one day? Maybe it will be as hectic and fun as Yuna''s. I was vaguely hoping for that. As I poked Tenna''s cheek while secretly keeping that thought to myself........ ''''Whew........beeeeeee! ''''Oh, I made you cry........'''' I held and soothed Tenna who started crying loudly. However, the frequency of crying is high, but it is unusual for Tenna to stop crying immediately, and at this time she did not seem to stop at all. You can''t hide your doubts as to why, since it was still early in the mealtime and the diapers had just been changed. As I was doing so, the landline phone at home started to ring. ''Oh my God!¡¡Mother, please pick up the phone because Tenna is crying and can''t keep her hands off the phone. "Okay, okay. Frustrated, she asked Mayumi to help her deal with the situation, and Tenashi continued to soothe Tenna, but she still wouldn''t stop crying. Just as she began to suspect that she was sick or injured, Mayumi, who was answering the phone, suddenly fell to her knees. ''Mother!¡¡Who was that call from? "...Amanashi..... ...Mother? For some reason, Tenashi felt a tremendous chill in the face of her mother, whose calm atmosphere had vanished and who looked as if she was about to choke now. Even when Yuna was pregnant with Tenna, she hadn''t been in such a panic, so she felt uneasy about what she had been told on the phone. Leaving Tenna, who was still crying, to her mother, she picked up the receiver she had dropped and took over the handling of the call. ''''Excuse me, my mother seemed to have made some kind of crude mistake...'''' ''Is that your daughter?¡¡No, it''s not surprising when you suddenly hear something like that.'' That?¡¡Excuse me, but who the hell are you? The caller was a man and his voice sounded extremely heavy. It''s not that the other side is intimidating, but rather, it seems to be a painful one, as if they are considering us. While holding the realization that her heart beats faster from anxiety and confusion, Amanashi asked for the other party''s details. Then, after an apology was heard, ''''Oh I''m sorry''''....... ''''©¤©¤I''m a police officer. Please call me from the ID cards of Ms. Minami Yuna and Mr. Minami Tatsuhito, who are the victims of the events that took place just a few minutes ago. ...what? It was all too sudden. The news was that Yuna and Tatsuhito, who were out, had been hit by an overturned truck after jaywalking, and their deaths had been confirmed. She was so shocked that her mind went blank, and the only thing she could hear was Tenna''s voice still crying and screaming in her ears. 94 89 Recall â‘£ Yuna and Tatsuhito were involved in an accident and died. When the Minamis hear the news, they can''t help but be devastated. They were still so young, they had just started their journey as a couple, and Tenna had only just been born. There was no end to such regrets. In particular, Tenri''s regret for suggesting Yuna and the others to go out was fierce. She felt guilty that she had just made that suggestion and caused the deaths of the two of them. Watahira and the others encourage her to be self-punishing in this way, but she feels she''s been made to feel sorry for herself, and they only push her further into a corner. Nevertheless, the aftermath of the accident goes on. The driver of the truck that caused the accident sent a letter of apology, but Watei tore it up, saying he couldn''t let Tenashi read it. He can''t forgive her for apologizing now, and he wants to erase it from his memory as soon as he''s done paying the fee. Preparations for the funeral proceeded, but there was one issue that would become paramount. It was the two daughters of the deceased, Tenna. First of all, the relatives on the catsuit''s side could not be relied upon. They refused to attend the funeral, saying that they didn''t know anything about their disowned son, and refused to attend the funeral. Watahira is angered by the fact that his son is his blood relative, but the other side is oblivious to the fact. Then, the Minamis will raise him, but Tenashi is the first to speak out. ''I''ll raise Tenna,'' That was the atonement I could make for having been the remote cause of their deaths. Even though Amashi is a high school graduate and a temporary worker, she works for a well-known IT company, so she should be able to clear her income. But it would be difficult to balance the demands of raising a child with her work. Raising Tenna, who is less than a year old, would mean cutting off her own time as an unmarried woman. As a result, when she was busy with work, Watei and the others lent a hand and Tenna took her in. = = = = =. Raising a child that was not part of the full commitment was a struggle. While Yuna was an infant, she asked a friend of her mother''s who she met while she was in the hospital to breastfeed her, and as before, she suffered from crying at night. Even so, Tenashi did her best to raise Tenna with the help of her parents as a mother figure. When Tenna turned 3 years old, they moved to "Mansion Everyday Smile" as a result of considering the nursery school to take care of her and the commute to work. Since she started going to the nursery school, Tenashi has started to cut back on relying on her parents for anything but work-related reasons, and has started using a food delivery service to reduce the amount of time she has to go shopping. However, that luxury soon disappears as she is too busy to do anything else. In addition, many men begin to make advances to the beautiful Tenashi, but she refuses them all because she wants to concentrate on raising her child. However, when she was pressed by someone who refused to leave her, she had to resort to a desperate measure to disguise herself as a married woman by using a photo of Tatsuhito and Yuna. It would have been a different story if there had been one person of the opposite s*x to consider her at this time. In reality, everyone was just forcing their selfishness on her, even telling her to put off picking up Tenna from the nursery school. The lack of sleep and stress accumulated under such circumstances steadily wore down Tenashi''s spirit, and one day he fell ill and fell asleep. This is not the time to stumble into a situation like this. He tried to rouse himself, but his once screaming body would not respond. The office told her to take a break from her usual work, but she was adamant that this was no reason to take a break from raising her children, and Tenna looked worried. ''Mamma, are you OK?'' I... He slowly started stroking her head as she lay there. Tenna hadn''t been informed of Yuna and Tatsujin''s deaths. This was because he and Watpei and the others had decided to talk about it at the right time, as they wouldn''t be able to understand it yet. With that in mind, Tenashi had let Tenna call herself by name without once calling herself ''Mama''. And yet, Tenna just now called her ''Mama'' in reference to Tenri. ''''........Tenna, why do you call me ''Mama''?'''' I found myself asking such questions. I couldn''t make up words as quickly as I could with my exhausted and dulled mind. The nursery school teacher said that you shouldn''t call your mother by her name. It''s unnecessary, she complained inwardly. Of course, she could at least guess that the nursery teacher had good intentions to warn her, but she honestly felt that it was annoying for her to do something so selfish. In the first place, Tenashi doesn''t think that Tenna is qualified to be treated as a mother. But before she couldn''t tell the truth, it''s not as if she could figure out how to stop him. ''''Do you like me, Tenna?'''' Once again, words were uttered that I hadn''t expected. I know this is just a temporary fancy, but I can''t undo the words that have already come out. ''Yes!¡¡I love you, Amana, you always work so hard and are so kind! I... She didn''t mind her, Tenna told her with a big smile on her face. Tenna hugged her small body, not caring about the sluggishness of her body, and tears never stopped flowing from her eyes. It''s a good thing that you can''t get away with it. The innate care that a young girl possesses, the heart that has been tense and overwhelmed for so long, has been wonderfully released. ''''Thank you, Tenna. I too........my mom loves Tenna too. "Heh-heh-heh. I have to take the place of the mother, not only for the sake of atonement, but also for the sake of Tenna herself. That''s why I''m afraid to imagine the time when the truth is known to me. Not wanting to make her niece sad, Tenashi didn''t let Tenna stop her from calling her mom... that was the beginning of the gentle lie she had told. She would have to tell the truth at some point. She didn''t know when that would be, but it didn''t change the fact that the two of them were now as good as a real father and son after this event. While secretly praying that the day would not come forever, Tenashi raised Tenna as her daughter. Little did she know that she would eventually get to interact with one of the delivery men.... 95 90 Im sorry As for what happens after that, as you know, Tenna and Hayakawa-san are aware. Tenri, who told the whole story, concludes the story. In the meantime, Yamato, Kuroon and Tenna were all listening to the story to the point where they could not speak. It''s a good thing that you can''t get away with it. It would be a surprise for the first time for Kuroon to see this. But what surprised the three of them more than anything else was that Tenashi was Tenna''s aunt, and they hadn''t expected that their own mother was her twin sister. ''I was honestly surprised when I saw the uncomfortable conversation between Hayakawa-san and Kuroone-san. Because I felt like Yuna was there, despite the fact that they were supposedly different in appearance and age. Oh, am I? ''I''m sorry, it''s just my selfish sentimentality, so don''t worry about it. Huh, huh... You''re going to be able to find out more about the fact that you''ll be able to find out more about this. When listening to the persona of Yuna, Tenashi''s twin sister, the dynamic and family-oriented aspects of her personality, Kazu secretly felt that she was similar to Kuroone-sense. Tenna is the only one who doesn''t seem to understand the meaning and is tilting her head. So Tenashi coughed and opened her mouth. As Amari says this, she laughs at her self-deprecating manner. This is evidence that she blames herself as one of the causes of the accident that Yuna and Tatsuhito were involved in. It''s true that if Tenashi hadn''t suggested going out on the day of the accident, at least they might not have been hit by the overturned truck. ''But that can''t be helped, can it?¡¡No one can predict this, and if it''s something Amari proposed purely out of concern for the two of them... Still, I don''t forgive myself the most. Of course, Amanashi is aware that it''s an expansion. But the fact that she is not completely unconnected with it is the reason for her to reach that self-punishing thought. While both Wa and Kuroone-speaking to her, Tenashi turns her head to Tenna. When their eyes met, Tenna shook her shoulders in a small way, but she didn''t look straight ahead without looking away. ''''Tenna, I''m sorry for being selfish and hiding the truth from you. .... Tenna closes her mouth and doesn''t answer anything. It''s because she has mixed emotions about her real mother, about Tenri, and about the fact that she said she was a liar and hated him, and she has mixed emotions about them. ''I know it''s not something I''m allowed to apologize for. You can keep hating me, you don''t have to call me Mom... but can you at least let me raise you until you''re an adult? Realizing the conflict, Tenashi still pushed down the pain in her chest and continued. Tenna''s eyes widened at the words that were told to her after she was prepared to not be able to stay as she was before anymore. Wa and Kuroone-she couldn''t interrupt him, she couldn''t interrupt him. The only person who could answer the questions posed by Tenashi was Tenna, who was still in the first grade. It''s a situation that poses a very harsh choice to a young girl, but the two of them can only watch with bated breath. Eventually, Tenna gets down from her chair and walks over to Tenashi''s side........ ''''©¤©¤I don''t know.'''' What? She said with a sad face as if she was about to cry. ''I don''t know what Hondo''s mama is like, I don''t know what she''s like. It was a cruel but natural word. Since Yuna died a month after Tenna was born, it would be rare for her to be remembered. As it is, she plucks at the hem of Tenashi''s clothes and Tenna continues with tears in the corners of her eyes. ''''The only person Amana knows about is Ma(?)ma(?)ma here.'''' But I''m not your mother, I mean. I''m a mom!¡¡Even if you''re not Honto''s mom, Amana''s mom is the only mom you''ll ever have! I... At those words, Amari''s eyes widened in astonishment. No matter how much she was told about Yuna, it was only the persona of ''Minami Yuna'' that she knew, and it was far from the realization that she was her own mother. ''I lied, you know?¡¡You said you hated it.¡¡Is it still okay for me to be Tenna''s mother...? Even if Honto''s momma wants you to come to her, Amana''s momma is better........giggles, giggles, giggles.... .... When Tenna finally bursts into polo tears, Tenashi can''t hide her confusion, wondering if she''s really good at this. Nevertheless, Tenna continues. ''''©¤©¤I''m sorry.'''' What? I''m sorry for calling you a liar when I was doing this for you!¡¡I''m sorry for saying I don''t like you, even though you treated me like an idiot! ''''Oh no, Tenna can''t be sorry.......I''d rather not.......'''' As Tenna repeated incessantly that she was sorry, Tenashi also had tears in her lapis lazuli eyes. However, inevitably, the guilt towards Yuna and Tatsujin seemed to make her stay one step behind. ''''Tenashi,'''' ...Hayakawa-san? To push back that step, Wa softly called out to her. ''You know, Amari thinks she doesn''t deserve to be liked by Amana because she''s not her real mother, right? Yes. That''s not even close. What? Unable to understand what Wa was trying to say, Tenashi tilted her head. With an awfully confident look on her face, Wa spoke for Tenna''s feelings. ''''Amana-chan, you know, it''s not that she likes Tenashi because she''s her mother, it''s that she likes Tenashi herself. .... Otherwise, you wouldn''t be calling me ''Mom'' like this, would you? I... Those words confronted Tenashi with the fact that she had made a terrible mistake. What made Tenna sad was not the fact that her own mother, Yuna, was already dead, but the fact that Tenashi, who was nothing else, was not her mother was more painful. When he realized that, he had already hugged Tenna back. ''''©¤©¤Thank you........Tenna. Thank you for loving me........for liking me.......for liking my mom.... I don''t hate you in any way, shape or form. ''''Yes........I don''t hate Tenna either and I''ll always love her.......'''' Amani and Tenna were both crying big tears as they exchanged their feelings about the importance of each other. It was a warm moment when they couldn''t help but feel that they had become parents and children from the heart. 96 91 What I want to tell you someday Tenna and I hugged each other with tears in our eyes, but we were able to make up for it. The nail of regret that had been stuck in the back of my mind seems to have loosened considerably. I left my daughter, who was completely exhausted from crying and had fallen asleep, in charge of Kuroone-san, while Hayakawa-san and I stood alone in the corridor, thanking her and apologizing to her. ''''Thank you. And I''m sorry for causing you all kinds of trouble. ''Don''t worry about it. If you''ve made it up to me, you don''t have to apologize or thank me. Still, I''m not sure I''d appreciate it if you didn''t let me tell you. ...Is it the same? As expected, Mr. Hayakawa returned the favor without any gratitude. However, that is not going to happen. He not only protected Tenna, who had run away from him, and set up a place for us to solve the problem, but he also contributed to the solution, and this time he was especially helpful. I am comfortable with the fact that they treat me in a natural way without asking for anything in return. Now, I want to thank him, but I also want to ask him some questions. ''''Then how did you know how Tenna felt?¡¡I''m a little jealous that you could be so precise and clear when even I''ve been around for so long and couldn''t get it out of my system. ''Hmmm?¡¡Was that so hard? Tenna fell in love with me not as a mother, but as an individual. He was the only one who reported that fact to me. But the person in question has a painless expression on his face, so perhaps I''m just not good enough? What a joke, but when I urged Hayakawa-san to answer, she didn''t even pretend to hesitate much....... ''''There''s no way Amana-chan would dislike Amari, right? What...? That''s it? I was stunned by his answer, which I took for granted. However, Hayakawa-san seemed to be supremely serious. I have a feeling that he is losing his trust in Tenna without saying it, but.......it''s just my imagination, right? ''I''m sure he was shocked and confused when he found out the truth, and if he was really angry, he wouldn''t be depressed while he was at our house. Nah, I see... It''s understandable if you ask me. Looking back, I wasn''t very calm at the time either, so maybe it''s no wonder I took it at face value. So it was only because I was a third party that I was able to realize exactly what was going on. ''''But if Amana-chan was my niece, then Tenashi was a bachelor? ''''Yes. I have never been very active in love to begin with, and before I met Mr. Hayakawa, I didn''t want to let any element of secrecy get close to me. ''Yeah, that''s true but somehow me and Kuroone-she knows all about it, so I think you''ve relaxed your shoulders a little bit. Yes, thanks to some meddlesome someone. Hey, yeah. When I returned it without any particular mending, Hayakawa-san replied in a light tone. But I can''t thank him enough for what he has done for us. It was without a doubt because of him that we were able to move forward as a family. When I first met him, I was a bit of a wicked person, but when it comes to the way he looks at people, I think Tenna is much better than him. ''''Well, it''s time for me to go home.'''' Even though it was to talk, I stayed for a long time. Tenna has already fallen asleep, so I was thinking of picking her up as early as tomorrow....... ''''Eh?¡¡Now that you''ve made up with him, you should stay the night. Yes...? The unexpected suggestion makes me roll my eyes and let out a bare voice. Staying at Hayakawa-san''s house...? I''m sure I''ll have to borrow a change of clothes from the black sound, is that okay? No, that''s not what I''m talking about... Oh, you know what I mean. I''m not trying to be weird, okay?¡¡I simply thought it would be better if you and Amana were together tonight, okay? ''Yes, oh, I don''t doubt that part, but... yes, if that''s what you mean...'' I was surprised, but I could at least tell that his proposal was coming from good intentions. It''s true that if I wasn''t there when Tenna woke up, she would be in a bad mood even though she made up with me. I can understand that logic, but I feel somewhat disappointed........ There is no denying that today''s event has made me feel even stronger again. I am in love with Mr. Hayakawa. It took me this long to develop romantic feelings for a man for the first time. If I told Yuna, I''m sure she would give me a dumbfounded look. And she might say happily, ''Thank God,'' as if it were her. If there is a concern, is it Sakai-san, Hayakawa-san''s colleague? We only met at the pool, but she definitely has romantic feelings for Mr. Hayakawa. Oh, at a time like this, it''s so easy to change the way you look at things with a single thought. But fortunately, Mr. Hayakawa-san and Tenna are on close terms. As far as this contact is concerned, it''s an advantage for me. ...hypothetically...hypothetically. If you go into a relationship with Hayakawa-san and even get married, you will formally become Tenna''s father. It''s not a bad thing for that child who doesn''t have a father, and it''s because he''s Mr. Hayakawa that he might be willing to accept it. "©¤©¤So, I think we should tell Watahira-san and the others that we know about Yuna-san.......are you listening to me? ''What?¡¡Oh, you know, sorry. I''m just a little tired... I shouldn''t........I was so lost in thought that it was as if I wasn''t listening to the conversation....... I quickly blamed fatigue for it, but Hayakawa-san replied without a doubt, ''I see''. .........You can pay a little more attention to it....... I can''t help but think a little outrageously. From the exchange with Sakai-san, it seems that Hayakawa-san is still insensitive. ''''Then I''ll borrow your pajamas from Kuroone-san. Yeah, I''ll get you a place to sleep. The situation of staying at the house of a man who is looking for favors is exciting, but today was about Tenna, so let''s leave the approach to a later date and rest. Afterwards, I changed into the pajamas I borrowed from Kuroone-san, and for some reason they fit perfectly. Considering the difference in height between me and her, it should be a little tight.......I wonder if this subtle feeling is....... Anyway, Tenna and I rested on the bed that Hayakawa-san was using. We felt very warm, and combined with our fatigue, we fell asleep in no time. 97 92 Festival day Numerous stalls were lined up along the riverbed, surrounded by lights so bright that you couldn''t see the starry sky, and the hustle and bustle of people made it very crowded. That''s right, this is where the summer festival that Amana-chan had promised to go to is being held. I felt a little cramped by the sheer number of people, but it''s also true that I was looking forward to today''s day so much that I could bear it. Just a few days ago, the shocking fact was revealed that it wouldn''t be surprising if the promise was lost, but Amana and Amari were able to make up for it safely. I was relieved that both me and Kurone were able to welcome the day of the promise. ''Onii-san!¡¡Hey, girl! At about the same time that the meeting place came into view, Amana-chan noticed and called out to me. Her light brown hair was tied up in a small ponytail, and her red yukata, with its rabbit-patterned pattern, was designed as a yukata for children. The charming figure of Amana-chan''s cuteness is soaring, it naturally makes me smile. Good evening, Amana-chan. Yoo-hoo, Amana-chan. Your yukata is so cute!¡¡I should have worn it too! We''ve got your clothes on, too! Thank you. The lightly-dressed Kuroone-who was wearing a t-shirt and shorts out of annoyance-mumbled in envy, but Amana-chan sent him a compliment without any flattery at all. To her straightforward words, Kuroon returned the thanks without modesty. Then, she turned her eyes to Amanashi next to Amana-chan........and gasped. Her dark, glossy brown hair was not down, and the nape of her neck, which is usually hidden from view, was exposed as it was wrapped around a red ornamented hairpin, and combined with the yukata with its dark blue fabric embroidered with gold osmanthus (Kinmokusei) flowers, it was a beauty that could not be easily described. ''Good evening, Washi-san. Oh. Oh.... I was greeted by Amari with a smile, but my embarrassment and nervousness took precedence and my response was a bit blunt. To be honest, I thought she didn''t like to dress up too much, so I feel betrayed in a good way. As much as I was used to her original look, it seemed like what kind of a miracle it was that she was able to accompany me like this, even with Amana-chan and Kuroone-she was with me. Before, they used to call me by my last name, but on the next day of delivery, they would call me by my name. Well, Tenashi found out a secret that she had been hiding not only from the people around her, but even from Amana-chan, and the fact that she had prepared a place for the two of them to make up with each other is proof that she had gained that much trust. In addition, I''ve started receiving home-made lunches on non-delivery days as well, and my dining environment is improving drastically. It''s impossible for me to be dissatisfied since I can eat Tenri''s food every day. Hmm, he''s completely grabbed my stomach..... Incidentally, when I mentioned this to Kuroone-sensei, he grinned something like that and muttered, ''So that''s how it came to be. Even if I asked, he would be distracted, so no details are known at all. While I was lost in thought like that, Amari started to send and deflect her gaze to me again and again with her face down. Ah, shucks......... I was so upset that I forgot what I had to say. ''''Ahhhh........well, you look good in it. I suppose it would be better if I could say it smarter, but for me, this is the limit. In all likelihood, after hearing her impressions, Tenashi was a little stunned and then........ He smiled like a fluttering feather. I can''t help but admire that expression. It''s crazy not to be aware of it, because you can tell it''s directed only at me. Anyway, the time to meet up with Hasumi and the others is a few minutes before the fireworks go off. Since the place seems to be known by Amari, the four of us are going to act tightly together until then. Just.......... ''''Hey Kuroon.'''' What? Are you sure you''re okay with this? Of course! Kuroon, who has a confident look on his face, which is the opposite of this one''s anxiety, drummed up no problems and then continued, "Because. ''For all intents and purposes, Aniki and the others are like family! That''s right, in order to avoid misunderstandings around us, we''re walking side by side in the shape of a river, with me holding Amana''s right hand and Tenashi holding her left. Amana looks very happy to be sandwiched between the two people she loves, but Amanashi and I are both terrified from start to finish. I''m sure Tenashi is worried about bothering me, but that''s not the case. The fact that the two of us are family-like means that I''m Tenashi''s husband and Amana''s father. I can say I''m happy to be seen as having a beautiful wife and an angelic daughter, but I''m even more fearful...I guess I''m not playing too much of a role. The Amana-chan''s father I saw in the picture was a refreshingly handsome man, and even more so, I couldn''t stop wondering if he was good enough for me. ''Sorry, Amana. Kuroone-said something strange........ ''''No, no, it''s only logical to avoid straying... I may be a nuisance to Wa-san with me, but...'''' ''No, no, that''s my line. He said it feels like a blessing just to be able to walk alongside a beauty like Amari. "...¡¡Why, why do you say such unfair things........! As soon as she confided her honest feelings, Amari turned away, red to her ears. He seemed to have muttered something, but he couldn''t hear it due to the hustle and bustle of the other people, unfortunately. ''''What did you say?'''' It''s nothing! I asked him about it, but he denied it in a strong tone of voice, so I decided to let it slide for now. I wonder if it''s something he doesn''t want me to know about.... That''s what I stopped pursuing, but I feel like I''m getting a dumbfounded look from the black sound behind me. Why.......... ''Amana is happy to be with her mom and onii-san! Amana spoke her own thoughts to us. The expression on her face was a smile filled with happiness, and I could tell that it was a straightforward impression. I''m glad to hear that. I''m happy to be able to walk with Amana-chan. ''''Well yes. I''m glad to be here for the festival like this. "Heh. Me and Tenashi were so easily poisoned that it seemed ridiculous to repeat such humility about which one of us was annoying the other, and so easily. This was the moment when it became clear that the two adults were no match for one child together. We started strolling through the stalls, feeling a different heat from the summer heat, with a smiling look in our eyes from the black sound. 98 93 Stall tour Always. Among the many stalls that adorned the festival, Amana-chan bought some cotton candy at her own request. The man who made it was a strict man who looked like he was a fisherman, but the cotton candy he made was in the shape of a cute handball-sized bear. He is more handy than he looks. The bear''s cotton candy is so cute! Amana stared at the bear-shaped cotton candy with her lapis lazuli eyes shining. It''s almost too good to lose the shape of something like this, so I almost refrain from doing so, but perhaps because Kurone took a picture of it with her phone, she ate it out without showing any pretense of thinking about it too much. I feel like I''ve been lightly affected by a generation gap. ''So sweet and fluffy!'' It makes me smile when I see Amana-chan say what a straightforward impression she has. I want to buy her more things to see her smile, but I don''t want to buy too many things for her to carry around. I gingerly hold back and squeeze the strap of my purse. It''s a good idea, isn''t it? Hmm? As I was choosing the next stall, I found a shop that I was interested in, holding hands with Amana, who was licking cotton candy with her little tongue and trying not to get separated from me. The rule seems to be that it''s a ring toss shop, and from the looks of the kids playing ahead of me, the rule is that you get a prize if you get caught on the target you''ve attached to the prize. At 100 yen per throw, I wondered if they were making a profit, but they seemed to be making adjustments by increasing the number of targets. Which one would you like to have?¡¡I''ll go get it for you. Are you sure? "Of course. It''s Amana-chan''s birthday today, so I''m going to do my best, onee-chan! ''Thanks!¡¡Um, the box over there! While thanking Kuro-One for taking the initiative to come forward, Amana pointed to the "mini printer camera set" that is the second prize in this ring toss shop. Is it the kind of item that can be offered at a fair? Amana-chan would have bitten it, but other kids would have gone through with it, and considering the approximate price, I think it''s in the class of a hit-and-run lottery string store game console.... And if you can hook the ring to two targets, it looks like you''re okay. I''m more worried about the deficit than I am about whether or not I''ll be able to get it. ''Huh?¡¡Shouldn''t it be a stuffed animal or something? I wanted to take lots of pictures so that I could tell my mom and dad that I had lots of fun! Tenna..... Tenri smiles as if she is overcome with emotion at the reason for her adult face. I got a little jittery too. Amana-chan, who had come to terms with her own family, probably chose the means of capturing and preserving the memories of the people she loved, including Amari, in photographs. That spirit seemed to be more than enough to get through to me, and there seemed to be a strong sense of motivation in Kurone''s eyes that even I rarely see in her. ''''Don''t mess with me! After deciding on the thumbs up, my sister gives the shopkeeper 100 yen and receives three rings to throw. To get the camera set with the mini-printer I''m aiming for, I have to hook it to two targets, so I can only remove it once. The black sound is so concentrated that the hustle and bustle around us is deafening, and as if caught in the act, we are also silent. ''''©¤©¤hoi! As she took aim, she swung her right arm and the ring was sucked into the first target. ''One more!'' Before we can cheer, the next ring goes into the second target. Apparently, the first one got the distance. He was able to get the second prize more easily than I had expected. The people who were watching the brilliant Kuroone-sensei''s skill looked at him with admiration, and the owner of the store bowed his head as if to say that he hadn''t seen it coming. He also took a caramel as a gesture of thanks. When I played at the arcade, I thought she was strangely good at it too.... Thank you, Onee-chan! It''s a small price to pay if you can make Amana-chan laugh! After receiving the item she wanted, Amana revealed her overflowing gratitude. The praise from her lovely sisterhood made Kuroone-a proud heart. The box in her hand was a bit bulky to carry as it was, so she borrowed the eco-bag that Amari was carrying. It''s a good preparation for the sudden increase in luggage.......I''ll do the same from now on. ''I haven''t concentrated in a long time~!¡¡Are you going to be hungry soon? Yeah. How about Amana and Amari? "We''re all good at this! We still have some time before we meet up with Nishiyama-san and the others, that''s fine with me. At Kuroone-s suggestion, we decided to have dinner. If there were so many food stalls, we wouldn''t be troubled to choose one, but we wouldn''t have to worry about our hunger. So me and Amana-chan had yakisoba, Kurone had okonomiyaki and Amanashi had takoyaki. We sat down on a bench in a nearby resting area and the thick sauce was tasty and well mixed with the noodles. ''Yummy, Onii-san! ''Oh. It''s good to eat on a festival day! But I like my mom''s curiosity more than yours. ''Yeah. All of Amanashi''s food is delicious~ I feel bad for the owner who made the yakisoba for me, but it''s not going to be so easy to overturn since the bento alone has grabbed my stomach. If I get a chance, I might ask Amari to make me some yakisoba. ''''........'''' Tenri-san? It''s nothing... When I suddenly became curious and looked to the side, I saw that Amanashi was proceeding to eat the takoyaki at a tremendous pace for some reason. What on earth was the element of the current conversation that gave me such a look? ''What?'' Nothing?¡¡I just knew it was going to be sooner or later and it was finally paying off~ What''s that...? I don''t know what that means. I can''t get a grip on what the black sound is trying to say. Well, there was a time before when you were making an evil guess as to whether I was going to choose Amari or Mao. Is it related to that by any chance? If you look at it objectively, there is certainly no small amount of feeling that he would be the most trusted person of the opposite s*x outside of his family from Tenashi. But that doesn''t mean it''s forced or premature to immediately link that to romantic feelings.... It''s not very pleasant. But strangely enough, I felt it would be inappropriate to deny it, so I finished my yakisoba without delving any further into the story. 99 94 Together again! ''Ah!¡¡They''re here! Come on, come on!¡¡The fireworks are going to start! Hey, good evening... Since the time for the fireworks was approaching, we managed to join Hassumi and the others without getting lost in the sea of people. Like Amana, the three of us were all wearing yukatas that suited us. If you look behind them, there were two women who were probably their parents. Nishiyama-san and Kitatani-san. Thank you for inviting my daughter and I to the festival today. Good evening, Minami-san. The yukata looks good on you!¡¡Should I have worn it too? Well, I''m sure Nishiyama-san would look good, just like Hasumi-chan. The first to reply to Amari''s greeting seemed to be Hasumi''s mother. The dynamic look is definitely similar........ It''s not too much to say to the person in question, but it''s no exaggeration to say that she''s a picture-perfect mother. As I was thinking this, I noticed a mature-looking woman wearing glasses coming up to me. It''s a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them. ''Eh....'' ''''Oh excuse me........my name is Izumi Kitatani, Tomoyuri''s mother. I heard from my daughter that there is a man who is a good friend of her and Tenna, and since we''re together, I thought that was true... Oh, that kind of....well, I''m Kazu Hayakawa. Chiyuri-chan''s energetic appearance always encourages me. ''She''s a bit of a screw-up like me, but nice to meet you. Embarrassed, Izumi bowed her head and bailed. But her character is not similar to her mother. Maybe she has the same personality as her father. ''Huh?¡¡Are Kana''s fathers gone? Well, my mom and dad had to do a lot of work on Kyu, so we came with Hasumi-chan''s mom. Oh, my goodness. Well, why don''t you sit next to me and watch the fireworks? Thanks, lady... And so everyone is here, but there''s still some time before the fireworks. So......... ''''Yes, Amana-chan. Happy birthday. ''What? You sure? When I handed her a small palm-sized box that I had in my pocket, Amana-chan rolled her eyes in surprise. That''s right, today is not only the Summer Festival, but also Amana''s birthday, and I''ve already bought her a gift for this day. I''ve already purchased a gift for this day in advance. Well, it''s not too big, so it''s a hairpin set that the girls would love. The place I bought it was a place, so I''m glad Kuroone-sensei was there so I didn''t feel so cramped.... By the way, my sister''s advice was also very helpful when choosing the hairpin and its design. ''That''s right!¡¡We''ll give you a gift for your birthday too! We were all three of us! Will you accept...? ''Wow!¡¡Thanks, guys! After receiving the diary from Hasumi and the others, Amana thanked them while holding it with both hands as if it were a precious gift. Just like the camera set with a mini printer that she had taken at the ring toss shop earlier, choosing a necessity for Amana-chan to engrave her memories.... I could see her smile naturally break out at the good timing, even if it was a coincidence. ''Good for you, Amana.'' Yes, I''m so happy! ''I''ll give you a present from your mum when you get home. Really?¡¡Ehehe, I''m so excited! Perhaps because she was able to celebrate her daughter''s birthday, Amari''s tone feels much softer. Even if the facts about her real mother are known, the fact that they have become a closer family than ever before is probably a big part of the reason why the wall in her mind that existed inside her has disappeared. Just being able to see them laughing at each other was extremely satisfying for me. ........that''s when I felt it. I''m going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. With a loud sound that shook the summer sky to the core of my body, a large brightly colored flower bloomed. It disappears in less than 10 seconds, but in the blink of an eye, the next large flower blooms. ''''Ooh~tama~! The brilliance of the fireworks, which shot up one after another, made Kuro-One scream in admiration in an unbearable tone. Not only my sister, Amari and the other adults were also looking up at the sky in silence. ''''Whoa!¡¡It''s huge! I was surprised when I suddenly heard a loud noise, but it was amazing! It''s beautiful... It''s so sparkly! Children are especially excited. Their adorable eyes are wide open, and the sky of fireworks is burned into their memories for as long as a second. ......... ........I haven''t seen fireworks in a long time. When was the last time I saw them.......was it when I was in high school? I can''t remember it clearly because I''ve been so busy with my daily deliveries that I don''t have the chance to come to the festival like this anymore, even though I''m a working man. Nevertheless, every time the sound of the fireworks echoed in my brain, my heart was certainly moved by it. Even though it''s not the first time I''ve seen them, today''s fireworks were particularly beautiful and I felt like crying. For some reason, I don''t think I can put the reason for that feeling into words, even if I want to. However, if you just watched ordinary fireworks, your heart would not be shaken to this extent, but I understand the reason naturally. "Onii-san, that''s a beautiful fireworks display! I suppose... I return the words of a girl who has much smaller hands than I do, with an unmistakable sincerity. It may be because Amana-chan is with you, who has no pretensions or pride, or any of that stuff, just pure admiration for the scenery in front of you. I wonder if it''s because just by being next to her like this, I can stop stretching myself unnecessarily and just be myself, that I feel so much lighter. If possible, I hope she doesn''t lose her innocence, even when she becomes an adult. I thought to myself, "Hey, Amana-chan, why don''t you go up a little higher and watch the fireworks? Shall we go a little higher to watch the fireworks? "?¡¡How are we going to do this? ''I''ll just hold Amana-chan in my arms. Of course, I''m not going to force you if you don''t want to, but... ''You sure?¡¡I want to see it! Oh, I''ve got it. Amana accepted the suggestion that came to her on the spur of the moment with no time to spare. I wondered if she had heard the conversation or not, but Amari, who looked at me sideways, smiled at me, so I didn''t hesitate to hold her small body as she sat on my arm. ''''Whew!¡¡Sparkles!¡¡Oh, man, don''t you feel better? ''It''s not much lighter than my usual luggage. Won''t it be scary for you too, because it''s suddenly too expensive?¡¡Hold on tight so I don''t get distracted by the fireworks and fall off, okay? ''Yes!¡¡You''re not scary because your brother is with you! Amana-chan, who is now in the same line of sight, smiles brightly as if she couldn''t be happier. Seeing that smile, even more than the fireworks, made me smile as I was caught up in it. ''Hey, Onii-san,'' Hmm? Can you just go ahead and do something else like you did with your girlfriend? I... I don''t know if it was the heat or the light from the fireworks, but her soft cheeks were tinted red, and she held up the little finger of her left hand with a shy look in her eyes. I don''t have to tell you how cute she is, but most importantly, Amana wants me to come back next year. The difference in size is such that it could be broken if touched, but it was tied tightly together as if not to let go. "©¤©¤Ah. Let''s watch fireworks together next year. I promise. "...¡¡Heh, heh, hell no! Amana gave me a big smile at being able to make a promise. Even though it''s only been a year, kids grow up so fast. Will I still be able to hold her like this next year? Maybe I should call it parental love, just thinking that makes me feel sad and happy at the same time. ''''Ahhhh!¡¡You''re being harassed by your brother!¡¡Next time I want you to hold me in your arms too! It''s not fair!¡¡I want to see the fireworks even closer! I wish Kana could hold you in her arms... ''Oops!¡¡Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I get it, just calm down! "Dame!¡¡It''s Amana''s banquet now! Starting with Hasumi noticing our outfits, Chiyuri and Kana-chan are pestered by us as well. I could tell they were very jealous of us by the way they tugged on the hem of our clothes to express their selfishness. It''s like being crowded by a bunch of hungry kittens. Amana proudly wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me as if she doesn''t want to give me her treasured stuffed animal. I can''t put into words how happy I am... Maybe I was a stuffed animal in a previous life. No, that can''t be it. The first thing to say is, "Oh my goodness! Ms. Hayakawa-san is easily taken in by children, isn''t she~ My husband would be so jealous if he knew. ''''(It''s not very popular to be envious of a child''s partner, but if I could, I''d want Kaz-san to hold me too...)'''' ''Awesome~ Aniki. It''s totally a Lori harem. The two parents are coming to look at me with some kind of smiling gaze, and Amari seems to be complicated, for what it''s worth. Or rather, I want to stop the black sound from talking about something tremendously disturbing. The gazes of the people around you are not strangely disconcerting, but are gentle, as if they were witnessing a precious scenery. It''s extremely embarrassing to attract attention in this way, but...! I can''t even think about fireworks anymore because of the way the kids beat me up, but I''ll never forget the summer festival I had with Amana and her friends today. 100 [Extra edition] Character introduction Part 3 Yuna Minami Tenashi''s twin sister and Tenna''s own mother. Deceased. She is the complete opposite of the picture-perfect, earnest Tenashi in that she is very active and emotional. Similar to Kuroone-sensei, according to Tenashi. She''s been in love with Tatsuhito at first sight since the beginning, and has been approaching him quite a bit from the beginning. He passed the test under the condition that he wanted her to go out with him if he passed the school he wanted to attend, and they became lovers. When she became pregnant with Tenna at the age of graduating from high school, she had no regrets or impatience, in fact, she felt happy. She becomes married to Tatsunin and Tenna is born, and just as they are about to build their happiness, she dies in an accident. If he were alive, he would have shown his fatherly foolishness by praising Tenna to the hilt. Manaka Tatsuhito Yuna''s husband and Tenna''s father. Deceased. He has a mild and caring nature. Tenna''s personality is similar to his. He is hired as a tutor for the Minami Sisters when they are preparing for their high school entrance exams, and after Yuna repeatedly approaches him, they gradually become aware of each other''s feelings for each other. When she found out she was pregnant with Yuna, she broke off her relationship with her parents, but since they are a family with a strong sense of public opinion, she would have been kicked out of their home even if he hadn''t told her. It''s utter bullshit. Like Yuna, he died in an accident while holding happiness in his heart for the future. If she had lived, Tenna would have been more selfish than she is now. Mayuzumi Keiori (Mayuzumi) Tenri''s senior at work. Oneeee. She wears a lot of make-up in the office and in her private life, but she takes off her make-up for meetings and sales. She has a very dandy look on her face at that time. She trusts him because of his kindness and dependability in caring for Amari, who is busy raising her children. She gives her junior colleague a warm look when he visits her. Incidentally, he''s not a manly man at all. Kohei Minami Father of Tenashi and Yuna, and grandfather of Tenna. He is the lowest caste in the family. He is a stubborn and stubborn character, but he is a typical parent and grandfather idiot. Yuna knows that he has a soft spot for her, so he is selfish. Although she was strongly opposed to Tatsuhito and Yuna''s relationship, after their strong feelings for each other and the pregnancy scandal, she accepts him as a member of the family. After the accident, her worrying about Tenashi and Tenna has increased, and she dislikes Wa, who gets along well with them. Mayumi Minami (Mayumi) Mother of Tenashi and Yuna and grandmother of Tenna. She is the top caste in the family. In contrast to the stern Watahira, she has a calm personality. Basically tolerant of her two daughters'' love lives, but she had a hard time getting pregnant as a high school student. She is worried about Tenashi, who is trying to make amends to Yuna and Tatsuhito for raising Tenna, but she secretly admits that he can take care of them when she finds out that Wa is helping her. Natsuzumi Nishiyama (Kasumi) Hasumi''s mother. She has a dynamic personality like her daughter, and is a mother figure at home. She feels that a wife like Izumi is the ideal wife for her, so she is concerned about her husband. She met her husband at his father''s dojo and they had a rivalry that led to their marriage after they had teamed up several times. She is a black belt in karate. The golden right that Rensui once unleashed on Kazu is hereditary. Izumi Kitaya Chiyuri''s mother. She is a quiet woman who wears glasses. She was called "the literary girl by the window" for her ladylike nature when she was young. She was born with a clumsy temperament, and if she did her housework, she would mess up once every three days. Ironically, she inherited it from her daughter. She is a librarian, and if she knows anything about books, she''s good at it. He had never been involved with books in his life, but he went to the library many times to try to get her attention. 101 [Extra edition] A sweet healing time! On the fourteenth of February, the day of Valentine''s Day came in the midst of the stinging cold. Tenna and Amana made the chocolate for this day with Tenri. They received great praise from Rensui and others who gave them to her as friend chocolates. One boy in particular, who had a special fondness for Tenna, even shed tears at the fact that he had received the chocolate even though he knew it was in-law. Tenna carefully tasted the chocolate she received in exchange for her friends and laughed at each other. Tomoyuri muttered something to herself, "Amana-chan, you''re raising your girl power to Junchou..." but as for Tenna, she wanted to be as good at cooking and making sweets as Kurone and Tenashi. Rather than for the sake of the future, it comes from the desire to see Wa eating the food the two of them have prepared with such delicacy, and to make them smile with their own creations as well. You could say that Valentine''s Day chocolates are the first step. When I gave homemade chocolates before and the ones I gave to Rensui and the others, I made them with Amari, but as for the ones I gave to Wa, I made them from scratch with my own hands only. I wonder if you would say the chocolates you made are delicious, Mana-san? ''Of course. There''s no mistaking the mama who tasted it. Amanashi also makes them as she passes them to herself in Amanashi, and they taste each other''s work to perfect them. As expected, there was a difference in skill due to experience, and the chocolates were not as good as the ones she made. Still, her kind mother praised Tenna''s chocolate as the best in the world. If Wa also said the same thing about the deliciousness of the chocolates, the young girl''s heart couldn''t stop expecting how happy she would be. With her heart racing, Tenna runs out to Wa, who is waiting in another room. ''''Onii-san, welcome back! "Oh. Finally. I called out loudly so that he could hear me on the other side of the door, and I heard Wa''s reply in a voice sounding somewhat amused. Not long after, Tenna came out of the room and laughed at Wa, a little nervously. ''''Onii-san, hurry up, hurry up!'''' No need to rush, I''ll be there. Although Tenna, who wants to ask what you think of the chocolate, smiles bitterly as she is pulled away by Tenna''s hand, she is smiling because she can tell that it is an extraordinarily confident work. It''s a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it. ''So what kind of chocolate did you make, Amana-chan? Um, do you mind sitting on the couch? I''m sorry. After making sure that Wa sat down on the couch as she was told, Tenna ran to the kitchen, shaking her bright brown hair. She came back with her hands hidden behind her back and slowly went to approach Wa, a change from her earlier hectic appearance. However, her face does not hide her expectations, and her mouth is curved with Nimanima. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re hiding, but it''s not so wild that you need to be able to talk about it. Rather, she is writhing in agony at the cuteness of Tenna, who is trying to at least succeed with her surprise while suppressing her deviating feelings. Unaware of such inner thoughts of Wa, Tenna stopped when she reached her own reach. ''''Ah, um, you know what........'''' I thought he was going to give it to me as it was, but when it came time to hand it over, my cheeks were stained with nervousness that seemed to overwhelm me. His little legs are also restless, and his gaze is unsettled as he looks to the right and left. ''''This!¡¡I worked so hard to make it so that you could eat it! But after a short time, Tenna seemed to have decided, and she presented the chocolate in both hands to Wa. It''s not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you''ll be able to get a good idea of what you''re looking for. The actuality of this is that it''s a very good thing. Can I eat it right away? Uh, yeah... Asked that by Wa, who received the homemade chocolates, Tenna nodded with a nervous and tense face. After receiving permission, he takes out one of the chocolates from the package. It was chocolate hardened in the shape of a rabbit and decorated with colorful chocolate pens. It is a cute little piece of workmanship that makes even a male Wa unintentionally hesitate to eat it, and it shows just how much enthusiasm Tenna put into making it. While suppressing a sense of regret, Wa chews on the rabbit-shaped chocolate. Tenna and Tenashi wait with bated breath for Wa to taste and chew her impressions well. In particular, Tenna''s heart is pounding to the point that she feels as if her heart is about to burst at any moment. Eventually, when Wa swallowed the chocolate and took a breath.... ''''I''m surprised that you''re better at it than the last time you got it. It was delicious. You sure? I''m not going to lie. Thank you, Amana-chan. ''''~~ Heh, heh........'''' Wa strokes his head with lavish praise, and Tenna smiles with a big smile from the joy that comes overflowing in two ways. Tenna loves to be patted by Wa in this way. There are various situations, such as when he has worked hard or simply cares for me, but when he is stroked by this big hand, it warms his heart. ''''That''s good, Tenna.'''' ''Yes!¡¡The next one is yours to give to your brother. ''What?¡¡Can you give me Amanashi too? ''There''s no reason why I shouldn''t be the only one to give it to Tianna. Following her daughter, Amanashi hands the chocolate to Wa. She doesn''t look nervous, but on the contrary, she shows no shame in handing it to her. What she made was a chocolate muffin. The glossy surface was mixed with crushed nuts, and it was clear that the flavor was not too sweet. Naturally, they got full marks from the Wa who ate them. There was also a strawberry muffin made for Tenna, which made her realize once again that her goal was high. ©¤ ©¤ So......... ''Onii-san. Hmm? Amanae, I''m going to make more delicious chocolate for you. Can you eat it again? ''''Ah. Amana-chan is Amanashi''s daughter, so she can still be good at it. Yeah, I''ll do my best! Tenna speaks of her excitement and makes a promise. Wa and Tenri, who had seen that determination up close, both let out a smile and thought about the young girl''s future. ''''Hmph. Well then, I''ll do my best not to be overtaken by Tenna too.'''' ''Oh, mommy''s a tease! ''''It''s not just Tenashi, you have to work harder than Black Sound~? If you give me a bunch of compliments, I''ll be fine! ''''Ahahahaha. Tenna is to keep up with her two goals. Tenri is to be a mother who will continue to be respected by her beloved daughter. Wa is to create a body that can meet the girl''s expectations. There is no point in missing any of them, they spend the day peacefully with a warm future in mind.... 102 95 Delivery after summer vacation Even though we are in September, the light pouring from the sun is so hot that it burns your skin. In this heat, it''s no wonder that the students I saw on their way to work were very depressed because it was the end of their summer vacation. Of course, it''s no different for students and working people alike. Of course, it''s no different for students and workers alike, and since there''s no such thing as a summer vacation for working people, the pressure on the mind and the backbone of the office is far greater. I work as a courier, and every year I get fed up with the lingering summer sunshine. It''s not the same this year. Onii-san, thank you for always being a very good sport! Thank you for receiving it, too, Amana-chan. The bright voice and smiling face that can''t be defeated by the lingering summer heat, and it''s easy to feel the tension in your heart gently fade away. The interaction with Minami Amana-chan, a beautiful first-grade girl I meet on my twice-weekly deliveries, is like an oasis in the desert for me. Not to mention the cuteness of the person in question, the thing that helps me the most is....... ''''Yes!¡¡A cold tea, please! Oh, that''s cold. Thank you. This Amana''s thoughtfulness and kindness. As soon as I pressed the intercom, she handed me a cup of chilled tea with ice, which she had probably prepared for me, and I drank it immediately, and I could actually feel the chilled tea cooling my esophagus from the inside out. I can work hard until the next delivery again~........ I can''t believe I said that to myself until last year, but I feel that my life is so much more fulfilling these days. This is also because of the meeting with Amana-chan. ''''Summer vacation is over, how was school for the first time in a while?'''' ''I''m glad I got to meet everyone in class!¡¡There was a boy who went to the beach and got burned! Ha-ha-ha, that''s it. Yeah, I''ll tell you what... With a big smile on her face, Amana told me what happened at school and politely told me about it. When we all went to the pool together, the skin of the elementary school students was still white as Amari and Kuroon had given them a thorough anti-aging treatment. The careful preparation and persistence of the girls in their UV protection was fresh in my mind. But I''m glad to see everyone in the class...I can see how pure Amana-chan is, unlike the students who were crying about it earlier. As a matter of course I''m a natural, the day before I went back to my parents'' house, Kuroone-she was complaining about the fact that summer vacation was coming to an end. Still, I couldn''t skip school and went home, albeit reluctantly. In the room where I was alone, I felt a loneliness that I couldn''t put into words again, but needless to say, I got busy in the blink of an eye, regardless of such sentimentality. Well, that too has completely disappeared after meeting and healing Amana. As I was concluding that, I heard the sound of someone''s footsteps coming in my ears. ''''©¤©¤!¡¡Konnichiwa, Kazu-san........ Oh, Amanashi. Good job. Mom, welcome back. The owner of the footsteps was Amana''s mother, Amari. As soon as they met face to face, for some reason she blushed, but was she tired? While I was thinking this, Amana was the first to jump on Amana when she returned home, and she accepted the jump and gave her beloved daughter a smile filled with compassion. I think they''re the closest of all of us, even though I learned during summer vacation that they''re not really parent and child. It''s probably because of this commotion that the bond that was so strong in the first place has turned into a solid one. I''ll give you your lunchbox back. It was delicious again today. I''m glad to hear that. When I handed back the bento box I had received this morning for lunch, Amanashi smiled as if she couldn''t hide her happiness. It''s a good thing that you have a beautiful face, because it makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable to have that smile on your face. It''s a good thing that you''re able to do that, but it''s too much for you if you''re making it in time for me to go to work. It''s something I like to do, so there''s no need for you to get worked up about it. After the earlier commotion, I can now eat my bento on non-holidays, which I used to receive only on delivery days. I''m grateful to be able to eat Amari''s food, but I''m concerned that I''m not putting a burden on her to make it. However, the person in question doesn''t show any such pretense and says something tricky. The way you say it, you might think you have special feelings for me, but.... It''s not possible for a beautiful woman like Amari to say that she is too smug to have romantic feelings for me, so I look at her helplessly and with a painful feeling I decide to reply with other words. ''''Well, the food made by Tenashi is better than cooking for myself, so I''m not complaining about it...'''' Just take it in stride, then. It''s better for you. What did you say? What did you say? No, no!¡¡I''m just talking to myself! Okay, okay.... It''s rare for Amari to talk to herself........ I was curious about what she said, but I decided to back down, thinking it would be rude to go any further if she said so. That being the case, why is she coming to glare at us? I should have read the air, but it seems I made the wrong choice... I don''t understand. Kohon. Speaking of which, if it''s in line with the duty roster that you taught me, it looks like your next day off is tomorrow. Oh, yeah. Actually, Mayuzumi-san gave me a discount coupon for an amusement park that I could go to with two (2) people... how''s that? I don''t think... Amari asked that with some nervousness. Then we won''t be able to see each other on Saturday, and we''ll have no choice but to send them off here without a second thought. Isn''t that nice? "...¡¡Now.... It''s an amusement park. I hope you can have fun with a few people. H..........? Just when I thought I had opened my eyes and had a happy expression on my face, I was instantly stared at by a gaze so cold that it was no more than absolute zero. Why does your expression change so quickly? Mom, are you going to take Amana to the amusement park? Yes, it''s for your sake.... But that was also easily broken by the innocent and innocent Amana-chan. But Amari has a delicate expression on her face. What is she complaining about when she can spend time at the amusement park with her daughter? Why can''t you come with me then? ''¡¡How is it?! ''What?¡¡Well, if you''ll let me join you, I''d love to...? Amana-chan''s unexpected suggestion, Amanashi also came on board with great vigor. I thought the conversation ended right there, so I couldn''t hide my confusion as I spoke out my response. However, Amari brought the bright reds closer to each other until they seemed to be breathing down on each other. ''''Why are you in question form!¡¡We won''t know until you make it clear which one you are! I''m coming!¡¡If you''re good with Amari and Amana, I''ll let you go! I... To refuse after being crowded to this point©¤©¤originally when you were invited©¤©¤that''s no longer an option. The moment it was decided to accompany me, Tenashi seemed to have joy in her lapis lazuli eyes, but when she realized there was no space between them, she hurriedly retreated in a hurry. ''''I''m sorry to interrupt your parent-child time, but I''ll see you tomorrow, okay? Yeah, I mean, it''s Kazu-san, you don''t have to hate it... ''Rather?¡¡Why would you... ''''~~~!¡¡And anyway, the park opens at 10:00 a.m., so please pick me up here tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.! When I heard back what Amari, who is blushing as if she is about to cry, muttered, she hurriedly went into her house as if to say that she had reached her limit. Amana-chan and I could not help but be stunned by the hurry. It''s time for me to get back to work. Yeah ... oh, man. Hmm? At any rate, as I was about to head to my next delivery, I was stopped by Amana-chan. With her hands behind her back and a smile that was as bright as the lingering summer sun, she smiled.... ''Tomorrow, we''re looking forward to it! I don''t know if it''s because she''s happy to be able to go to the amusement park or if it''s because Amana and I are there together, but that one word was more than enough to tell me how much Amana is looking forward to tomorrow. ''''©¤©¤Ah. I''ll see you tomorrow. "Heh, heh, bye-bye! While waving my hand and thanking Amana for sending me off, I drove the deliverer to the next delivery.... 103 96 Awkward changes "Can''t we have a guerrilla rain tomorrow? ''Stop praying sinister prayers that don''t try to hide the slightest bit of jealousy. When I came back to work after finishing today''s delivery, Miya asked me if I wanted to go out for a drink. But when I told him that I couldn''t drink because Amanashi and Amana would be going to an amusement park tomorrow, he began to complain to me like this, cursing me to death. I can only say it''s disgraceful, frankly speaking. "No, really, what is it with you?¡¡Is this an insinuation against me, like an amusement park date with Amani-san? That''s an accusation. First of all, Amana is with you, so it''s not just the two of you, and it''s not a date. "With kids together, that''s completely like a family member, isn''t it?¡¡I hate you so much, but Tenri-san says she loves you for sure! What?¡¡No way. I was originally going to go with my father and son, and I just got lucky and got invited. I can''t help but envy your luck, d*mn it! He was uncompromising in his defense, but Sanya only repeated his resentment with bloodshot eyes. If only he could stop that jealousy and shame, he''d be a little more popular, but doesn''t he think anything of it when he looks at himself objectively now? Well, the situation of being able to go to an amusement park with Amanashi and Amana is pretty blessed, as Sanaya''s reaction suggests....... I''m almost bragging to myself that they''ve been able to build a trusting relationship to this point, despite the fact that they met in that way. It''s not impossible to think that there really is a favoritism, but the possibility of it becoming reality is infinitesimal. Before that, it''s unclear what I myself think of Amari. I tend to focus on her well-formed style and good looks, but her politeness and seriousness in not skimping on anything is likeable, and despite her difficulty in getting to know you, she also shows a softness when you get to know her. Her cooking skills are top-notch, judging by the bento boxes she kindly prepares for you, and her other domestic skills are also of a high standard, judging by her appearance. Although she''s not my daughter, I don''t need to tell you how well she has raised her child to that level of excellence. I think she is a woman full of rare charms that you won''t find anywhere else in the country, let alone in your neighborhood. It is clear that he has placed his trust in her. However, if you ask me if that trust comes from romantic feelings, I''m not sure. Well.........even if I am aware of my feelings, it is impossible for them to be the same. I concluded that for now. "If it doesn''t rain tomorrow, I''ll just report the summons and... ''Hey, idiot!¡¡That''s not a joke, so stop it! While the people are thinking, Miya says something heartbreaking without a joke, and I hurriedly stop her. Now that I''ve compared it to when I just met Amana-chan, it wouldn''t be the worst thing to be called in, but it''s still something I''m still wary of. I''m so surprised that the goosebumps won''t seem to subside for a while....... As I felt a cold sweat run down my spine, I heard footsteps approaching towards us. ''''When I thought it was noisy, it was you guys........'''' Mao. Thanks for your help. Good night, Mao. Good night. It was Marao, who had finished her work and had changed into her civilian clothes. As far as coming all the way over here, it seems that we.........or rather, Miya, were quite loud. Although not the direct cause of the problem, I feel slightly sorry for it. ''''Hey, hey, Mao, listen to me~!¡¡Kazu is going on an amusement park date with Tenri-san tomorrow~! I... ''Oh, why are you telling Maou that?¡¡Because it''s not!¡¡Amana-chan is with me, so I don''t have that intention! The three of us, including Amana-chan, desperately try to excuse ourselves for going together, even though we didn''t have time to catch our breath and stop Miya from spewing her complaints to Mao. Marao was aghast at Marao, so there was no reason to be in a hurry. I don''t know why it''s like they''re trying to cover up such a hidden thing.... It''s not that Kazu-kun goes anywhere with anyone, it''s not for me or Miya-kun to interfere. That''s why you''ll never get a girlfriend because of that attitude. Gahhhhh... Wow.........I said clearly what I didn''t dare to say....... Sanya, who was directly sprayed with poison, winces, but I''ll have her accept it as she deserves it. ''''I''m sorry about that. I was simply annoyed with Miya-kun. Bye. ''Oh, ah...'' Even though I thanked her, Marao hurriedly left without a single change in color. Hey, Kazu. Did you get into a fight with Maou?¡¡I don''t know, it seems colder than usual? I don''t know what I''m talking about either... Amidst the commotion in the Minami family during the summer holidays, I had only told her and Sanya that I had protected Amana, who ran out of the house after a fight while hiding it. Since that time, as Sanya says, the response from Mao has become strangely distant. If they met face to face, they would exchange greetings and words on business matters, but conversations other than that, conversations didn''t last long. In the past, he used to talk to me frequently, but the sudden change in his attitude is just baffling. I''d like to get rid of it as soon as possible, but I have no clue what to do about it. It''s good to know the reason at least.... I thought about discussing it with Amari or Kurone, but I can''t bear to get them involved in my relationship situation, so I''d rather refrain from doing so if possible. When I was hesitating, Miya made a huffy expression and seemed to have figured out something... ''''Could it be.........your period or menopause?'''' Well if you''re serious about it, why don''t you ask him? I''m sorry. Look what he says with a serious face........ I was an idiot for trying to get this guy to understand women''s hearts. Well, I''m aware that I can''t speak for others, but I''d like to think that I''m better than Miya at least. "All jokes aside, if the crunch continues for too long, I''m in a bad mood too, so do something about it, okay? I know you don''t have to... It''s too late to do anything about it now. I''ve known Mao for a long time since I started working at Umineko Transport, and I''m not going to disparage her in any way. I don''t know what she''s thinking about avoiding me, but I don''t want the relationship to be cut off like this. It was with these feelings that I made my way back home.... 104 97 Treated as a father who does not know if he is happy to be Saturday. ''Wow!¡¡Okki! We arrived at our destination, the Tsukunomiya Amusement Park, and we were able to enter the park at a discounted rate. It was beyond a 100 yen discount or any other kind of detail. As soon as she passed through the entrance gate, Amana saw the Ferris wheel and the roller coaster and began to get excited, her lapis lazuli eyes shining brightly. She was wearing a pink tank top, green half-pants, and a light blue cassock over her light brown hair that was tied in a single knot, and she seemed to be very cute today. ''''Tenna. Don''t get too excited and stray. While I''m glad to see her excitement, Amari looks like she''s worried about getting lost at any moment. She is dressed neatly in a white lace-patterned see-through short-sleeved shirt and denim shorts, while maintaining ease of movement, and she also holds a parasol to prevent heat stroke. ''''Then let''s hold hands tightly so we don''t separate, okay? ''Yes!¡¡Connect with Momma! Hmmm, shall we? When I held hands with Amanashi to nip her worry in the bud, she stood on the other side of it. Ah. "©¤©¤is this the same as the river at the summer festival? What? What''s up, Amanashi?¡¡Did I scare you in any way? No, no it''s nothing... For some reason, I was overreacted to the muttering that suddenly leaked out. And as expected, I should say, the gazes of people passing by were focused on Amari. They looked at the beautiful Tenashi and fawned over her, looked at Amana and were disappointed, looked at me and glared resentfully............................and then pointed at me and said, ''Is that your father? You whispered to me. You see, you got pissed off for treating me like a father........ ''''I feel like this amusement park is ruined by people who only judge people by their looks.......'''' "...I''m sorry. I feel like I bothered you to ask me out, I apologize to Tenashi, who is complaining with her jit eyes, but this time she gives me a dumbfounded look with her kyoton and a roll of her lapis lazuli eyes. ''''Why are you apologizing, Wa-san?¡¡What I''m complaining about are the people who say you don''t look like your Heavenly Father?¡¡It''s something I wish you could have guessed when you''re holding hands with me and Tenna like this. I see. So you''d better... I was normally satisfied with the reason for my grumpiness, but when I thought about it, I realized that I was saying something quite meaningful, and I let out a groan with a questioning mix of astonishment. ''''What''s going on©¤©¤aah! Belatedly, Amari also seemed to realize that she had run her mouth, and her face turned bright red again in the blink of an eye with surprise. What a time like this, but today she can''t help but think it''s cute to see her expression change from one to the next. ......... It''s so hot........why is the inside of my body so hot...... Especially my face is hot. It''s not just the heat, but also the rapid heartbeat and the difficulty in turning your face toward Amari because of the lingering summer sunshine. So don''t be silent, can you say something, Tenri? He says he''s too nervous to say anything, even if I try! "?¡¡How are you and your mom doing?¡¡Aren''t you excited about Yuenchi? "Of course it''s going to be a lot of fun!¡¡Hey, Amanashi! Yes, that''s right, Kazu!¡¡It''s so hard to decide which attraction to ride first! ''They all look interesting!¡¡We''re all in this together! Luckily, Amana brought up the subject, so we both went along for the ride as best we could. Feeling relieved that we were able to dispel some of the awkwardness, we moved out of the entrance gate and headed to the center of the park, where there was a map of the park. I''m going to look through the introduction column of a wide variety of attractions, but all of them seem to be interesting, and like Amari said earlier, I''m going to be seriously confused about what to start riding. However.......... ''Nah, not something as intense as a roller coaster or a free fall. ''''There''s a limit of 120 cm in height across the board, and Tianna''s height is about 114 cm to begin with, so it''s not enough. I''ll ride it when I''m big enough! The fact that she can''t get on the train doesn''t mean she''s selfish, but she''s positive about it, Amana-chan said. It''s just like the summer festival, she thinks it''s okay to come back, and she''ll be happy if she can go with you then as she did today. ''Oh. It''s a good idea to go to the roller coaster for kids as long as you''re over 90 cm tall, so why don''t we go to that one? Yeah! Okay. The first attraction was decided to be a roller coaster for children as a preparation for the real event. There were already several parents and their children lined up at the coaster, most of them not much older than Amana and I. Tenashi lined up with them as an escort, while I waited to photograph them with my digital camera. However, since both of them are eye-catching in appearance, they even seem to glow just there. Oh, the boy in line behind her is admiring Amana-chan. If you look closely, the father of the boy has his eyes fixed on Amari. They don''t seem to be in line together, but how is it possible to stretch your nose to a woman other than your wife? As I was feeling a bit dumbfounded, it was Amana and her friends'' turn to get the coasters. The coasters were made of logs and designed to look like a train, and they certainly looked like something a child would like. While the attendant was putting on my safety belt, Amana-chan noticed me and gave me a big wave. I smiled at her cuteness as I took a picture of her, and as I waved my hand back, I saw Amana smiling this time. My heart raced a bit, but I kept my composure and took a quick shot of her smile. The coaster finally starts to move, and although it''s slower than a full-blown one, it still runs along the rails at a fast pace, just like a roller coaster. The children''s high-pitched voices rang out, with some crying mixed in. I couldn''t help but chuckle at the fact that it would take some getting used to, but the little I could see of Amana''s expression seemed to be very happy. Rather, I didn''t think Amari was slightly more teary-eyed, but I respected my mother''s dignity and decided not to see anything. Anyway, the first roller coaster ended up being a good feeling for Amana-chan.... 105 98 A haunted house tour with both hands After finishing her first roller coaster, even though it was for children, Amana''s excitement continued to be at its peak even after a while after she got off. Kuroon also likes thrilling attractions, and this kind of preference might be inherited from her own mother, Yuna. On the other hand, Amari seemed to be a little groggy and strong with a bitter smile on her face. When I praised her for doing a good job for her daughter even though she is not good at coasters, she regained her energy in a matter of seconds, which is strange, but I guess the result is okay. We pulled ourselves together again and decided to go to the next attraction. We''re looking around by choosing the attraction we see, but the hustle and bustle of the previous guests is so enjoyable that it''s very annoying and makes us lose our focus. ''Tenna. How do you like the Mirror House over there? Hmmm... I want to see more. How about a splash coaster then? It''s cool, but I don''t want to get my clothes wet. In addition, the attraction we recommended had been rejected, so we had to walk around the park for 20 minutes. When I ruminate over Amana''s opinion, she seems to be choosing in her own way what she can enjoy, not just for herself, but also for us to enjoy together. I''m happy to see that she''s as thoughtful and considerate as ever, but I think it''s okay to be self-centered for once today. I''m not sure if I''ll be able to get through to her, but when I was thinking about it, an attraction caught my eye. Hey, you two. Why don''t we go to that haunted house? It''s an old wooden mansion type attraction with a frightening atmosphere that is largely unsuitable for a glamorous amusement park. There was a faint scream from there that stood out due to its floating nature, though the age and gender were unknown. Personally, I''m quite interested in it, but I''m going to stop if the two of them refuse to go. ''''Haunted........'''' You don''t have to do it if you''re afraid. It''s scary, but I''m sure you''d be okay if Mommy and Daddy were together. "Hmmm... I grit my teeth and resist writhing in agony as Amana grasps my hands tightly together. This girl is super healthy. How noble of her to choose to go with me, knowing that I''m interested in her. I felt both grateful and cute at the same time as a punch to my heart. ''''Oooh, haunted, mansion?¡¡It''s a good idea to have a good time with them, and if they want to go with you, I''ll go with them. You don''t have to visibly push yourself. In contrast to the healthy Amana-chan, Amanashi was greatly shaken up. I''m sure she would have thought that a haunted house at an amusement park would be a child''s trick or something logical, so this reaction was so unexpected that it felt like I was getting a glimpse of an unexpected side to her. But since he''s this scared, it might be a good idea to ask him to wait outside alone. "Just me and Amana-chan can go inside, if it''s too scary, you can wait outside... "?¡¡Oh, no, you can''t do that!¡¡If you''re alone in a haunted house, that''s exactly what might come out of it! ''I''m not even in there yet! "...?¡¡Yes, yes, I''m going.... I suggest that to Amari, who is too tentative and running around talking about things that I don''t understand. Then, her complexion, which was pale with fear, turned red, and she came with teary eyes and replied to accompany me. I walked into the haunted house with the two men who were ready to go. The inside is hard to see due to the slight light source from the dim lights, but with every step you take, you hear the sound of the wooden floor creaking. There were blood handprints and bills on the walls, and the fear-inducing BGM helped me to immediately immerse myself in the world. Unlike me, who had the time to look around me like that, Amari and Amana were desperately hugging me, trying not to leave my side. Amana still has the energy to open her eyes and look forward, but Amana doesn''t look forward at all, as if she''s nearing her limit. Or rather, there''s a soft object against her right arm........no, let''s just focus on moving forward now. When I was secretly pushing my cares to the back of my mind. I''m going to have to do something. ""Cah!" The moment Sadah0 comes out of the well, the two of them let out a loud scream. There''s no way they can hold their ears back because their arms are blocked up, and that''s more of a surprise to me. Hi~, honey.... You''re gonna be okay. Hold on tight. ''Yeah...'' I''m barely able to hold back my fears, and I''m barely not crying, but I hush Amana-chan, whose voice is shaking. ''''How is it that both Kazu and Yuna are able to walk in the middle of something like this without a care in the world.......'''' Even more than such a daughter, Tenashi was crying. While I missed the strange admiration, we went on without stopping our steps. Pecho. Pecho.¡¡Nah, nah, something cold on my cheeks! Isn''t that konjak? ''Why are you acting like such a waste of food?¡¡How are you going to be responsible if you can''t eat konjak from today! ''No one thinks that much of it, or even asks for it...'' It''s true that it''s a waste of konjak and I don''t understand how traumatic it would be, but there''s no point in complaining about this kind of standard. I suppose you could do something similar with water balloons, but in case they break, they''d get wet....... By the way, I''m going to suppress my desire to hear that cute scream just now and let it pass, because I want to hear it again. After that, the two of them were repeatedly attacked by the many tricks that attacked them.......especially Amari screamed. Amana was also scared at first, but after seeing her mother''s fear, she gradually got used to it. That''s right, she''d be cooler if there was someone next to her who was more scared than she was. About the time I was starting to worry about Amari''s throat, we reached the goal. ''''Good job~'''' Needless to say, as soon as she heard the attendant''s cheerful voice, which had no lingering effects, the tension was broken and Amari sat up on the spot. 106 99 Thus, the rabbit snuggles up to the girl After Tenri recovered from her complete limp in the haunted house, we decided to have lunch in the park''s food court. The food was delicious and filled my stomach, but I couldn''t help but feel a little unsatisfied with the food that Tenashi was cooking for me. I put that little bit of disappointment in a corner of my mind and headed to the next attraction once again. Since it was after lunch, we put off the fast-moving attractions until later, and went to a place called "Rabbit House", where you can feed and pet rabbits and interact with them. Incidentally, this was Amashi''s request. As soon as I entered, I found all kinds of rabbits in the room, spending their time at their leisure. "Wahhhhh, Bunny is so cute! Yes.... just looking at it like this is very comforting. Just the sight of them alone is enough to get them both excited. Of course, I was also excited to have the opportunity to meet them, as I rarely get to see them. "Usa-chan, come here, come here~ Sigh. As Amana stood on her knees and called out to the rabbit, a rabbit with a round body and fluffy fur slowly walked up to her. According to the explanatory chart on the wall of the room, it seems to be a Jersey Woolly. It seems that many of the rabbits are friendly, as they are kept in this kind of place. The fact that Amana-chan doesn''t show any signs of reluctance when she cuddles a rabbit that comes close to her is proof of that. "Ehehehe, they''re fluffy! Sigh. The expression on Amana''s face as she admires the rabbit''s neatly trimmed fur is so happy, and the rabbit in her arms seems to have a heartfelt gesture of pampering. Since she lives in an apartment building, she can''t afford a pet, so she may be thrilled to be able to interact with an animal in this way. I silently took a picture of the scene with my digital camera. This will be a spectacular view that I''ll have to make into an heirloom when I get home. Squeak, squeak, squeak... Wow, wow, wow, there are so many bunnies here! Perhaps it''s because they saw their friends in the same room being held, but the other rabbits, who had seemed to ignore her, come up to her one by one. They were so numerous that she couldn''t even stand up to move. Within a minute of entering, Amana-chan seemed to have captured the hearts of the rabbits. I honestly think it''s amazing. I''m not sure if I''m right. The food I offered you in front of me was ignored, but........ Never mind that mine is being ignored too. I don''t care if it''s me or not, even Tenashi was ignored. It seems that her charms can be displayed even when dealing with animals. How are you doing? Could it be that those rabbits are actually pedophiles inside? It''s just that there are so many of them that I can''t help but think that it''s impossible. The daughter is very popular. Even I, as a keeper, have never seen rabbits come that close to me before. Do your parents also have high noses? ''What?¡¡Eh, yeah. Well......... At the words of the male keeper who was also watching the situation, Amari returned the words vaguely with a red face. Apparently, she was really surprised that she was recognized as a married couple in a salacious manner. Are we that easily misunderstood, we...? Thinking back on it alone is not going to give you an answer, so let''s just smile at Amana-chan, who is still being swarmed by rabbits. ''Your husband is amazing too! He must be so happy to have such a beautiful wife and lovely daughter, right? Ahhhhhh well I feel blessed. Oops, are you going to come over here this time to talk about the topic........ I was slightly surprised at the unexpected, but I answered the question with an air of equanimity. If I deny that we''re not a married couple here, she might ask me what kind of relationship we have then, and I''m worried that I''m not going to offend Amari, but I''m not sure I''m going to be able to explain. Feeling a bit of disquiet, I looked at her with a sideways glance....... ''''©¤©¤~~, idiot........'''' He had a strangely tense expression around his mouth as his face turned bright red. She also mouthed curses in an even smaller voice, as if embarrassed. ........I''ll apologize later. ''''Ooh........this might be the day when she becomes a big sister.......'''' What are you talking about? Where do you look to find words that would win you a lawsuit for s*xual harassment like that? The admiration on your face is even more annoying.......and I''m the one apologizing to Tenashi, so can you stop that? While the keeper was dumbfounded by the incomprehensible things she was saying, a rabbit that had left Amana-chan''s side approached Amari. ''''Kyu!'''' Oh, bait?¡¡Go ahead. The rabbit, which is making a supercilious noise that is almost like a ''stance'', doesn''t make a disagreeable face and offers the rabbit food that was handed to it before it entered. The rabbit, in contrast, doesn''t particularly reject the food, and begins to munch on it. At being accepted, Tenashi''s expression naturally relaxed. ''''Fufu, that''s cute...'''' ... Her usual earnestness eases and I admire her face with a sincere smile on it. It''s weird to compare her with a human and an animal, but the only person in my sight right now that I find cute is Amari. When I think about it, I really think the expression on her face that is directed at me has softened. That''s how much he was transfixed. ''Onii-san. What''s wrong with you for being absent-minded? ''What?¡¡Oh, it''s nothing. Or rather, the rabbits are with you... Yes, they all follow the blacksmith. It''s just like Mr. Hetai! Before she knew it, she was free of the swarming rabbits, and she was slow to react to Amana''s call. The rabbits were following at her feet, not wanting to leave, and as she said, it was like a soldier''s march. If it was such a pretty march, everyone would be paying attention. It''s a foul combination that convinces me so. Earlier, I was thinking in a somewhat unlikely way. I''ll pull myself together and take a picture of this scene too. And so we continued to interact with the rabbits until the time came. 107 100 Scenery seen from the Ferris wheel I had mixed feelings about being deodorized and disinfected at the exit after I''d fully interacted with the rabbits. It was like going in and out of a sterile room. I was not happy at all. Well, I know there may be people who care about the smell or something, and I know it can''t be helped. We decided to go to the next attraction while nostalgic for such a little complicated feelings. It will be the next to last in time. The time has passed unexpectedly in the interaction with the rabbits, Amana was also surprised. The last attraction was to follow Amana''s wishes, and as a result she chose.... ''''Ferris wheel, huh........'''' It was a classic attraction with several large circular gondolas slowly spinning around, a classic as well. They were of medium size, so big that you had to lift your head to the limit to finally see the top. ''Yeah!¡¡Chiyuri-chan said that if you want to ride last in the Yuenchi, this is it! You don''t think that''s a rip-off of a shoujo manga or something...? It''s not impossible for her to say that she is easily influenced by something. I can see her face turning red, but her eyes are sparkling with curiosity, and she is reading each frame carefully. I''d like to see what Chiyuri''s future holds for her in many ways. Anyway, we stand in line to get on the Ferris wheel and wait for our turn to ride it. Meanwhile, Amana told us about the events at school, so we didn''t feel bored. Hasumi-chan came first in the 50-meter run, Kana-chan''s picture was appreciated by the class, Chiyuri-chan solved a difficult problem with ease, and the teacher praised her for delivering a lost and found item she had found. While we were listening to the stories that we never got tired of hearing, it was our turn to ride. ''Amana is over here!'' Then I''ll sit next to you. With the quickest of hands, Amanashi sat down next to Amana. I could feel that the infinitely close distance between the two of them was nothing short of proof that they were a close parent and child. I didn''t need to be the one sitting across from her to know that. ''Are we to the highest point yet~? ''We''re only just getting in. It''s going to take a little longer to get to the top, so let''s just be quiet. Yes, sir. Amana, who is staring out of the glass, is warned by Amanashi with a wry smile. I smile at her honesty in accepting it without any pretense of feeling slighted. ''''But the amusement park itself, as well as the Ferris wheel, I haven''t ridden one in over 10 years, so it''s exciting beyond my years.'''' Does that mean you''re not good at heights? No, I simply haven''t had the chance. Rather, I even avoided the idea that only children could get excited when they were just slowly going up high. Well, looking at Amana-chan, who is excited with anticipation right in front of me, I have no intention of thinking the same thing. Children have their own way of enjoying themselves, and there is no reason to disparage them by making them look like adults or anything else. Everyone goes from being a child to becoming an adult, so why not? ''Well I haven''t ridden one since I was a kid. Huh?¡¡I thought you had ridden with Amana-chan before, so I''m surprised. As much as it didn''t seem like she had never been to an amusement park before, judging by Amana''s reaction, I didn''t think Amari had never ridden with her. ''Surprisingly...'' As if for a very embarrassing reason, she tells me with a bitter smile and scratches her cheeks. ''''©¤©¤It''s simply that I''m afraid of heights. .... There was certainly nothing I could do about it. That said, it was a reason why I was too dumbfounded to go through with it. ''I''ve been thinking since the roller coaster.......why is it that Amanashi is so incompatible with amusement parks.......'' Wow, I didn''t get into this constitution by choice... He turned his face away blatantly, probably because he was hit in a sore spot, but I can tell he''s just embarrassed because his ears are red. At least I don''t think it''s a bad thing. I think it''s a big deal when you''re riding like this for the sake of your daughter. ''It''s just like in the haunted house, with Kazu-san.......so.......'' I see... Yeah, well... He cut me off halfway through, even though he realized he was using a very poorly worded phrase, and I could feel my face heat up as if it was contagious. What the hell is wrong with me today? It''s not like him to make me blush so many times.... It must be that, because people tend to think that amusement parks are for parents and their children or couples, my thoughts are drawn to that. If that is not the case, I might be mistaken. You''re going to be able to find out that Amari has a fondness for you. That''s no way to be conceited. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. The only reason I am able to do this with her is because I am indulging in her kindness. If I''m wrong, it''s not right to have such expectations. But..... "Wow, look at you!¡¡I''m at the highest point! Oh.... Suddenly, I hear Amana''s voice, which prompts me to look out the window, and I can''t help but shout at the scene in my field of vision. The attractions that had been in view so many times are now in a position to look down on them all. The people on the ground were no bigger than ants. I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t worried about falling down, but the view from the highest point is indescribably exciting. ''Onii-san,'' Yeah? Thank you for bringing me to Yuenchi. You''re welcome. If it comes true, it would be nice if we could spend a peaceful time together like this. With such a deep emotion in my heart, today''s day at the amusement park comes to a close.... 108 101 Tennas school life ~Monday~. Hasumi-chan, Chiyuri-chan and Kana-chan, good morning! ''Oh, boy!¡¡Good morning! Good morning, Amana-chan. ''Oh, good morning...'' It''s the first day of school, two days after going to the amusement park with Tenashi and Kazu. Tenna finds her friend Rensui and her friends in the classroom, and she greets them cheerfully. After the three of them responded in different ways, Rensui was the first to talk to her when she sat down in her own seat. ''''Amachi, you went to Yuenchi with your mother and Onii-san, right? Yes, it was very fun! I have a gift for everyone at home! "Whoa, we did it! I''m so happy for you! Oh, thanks... The three of them are delighted by the presence of the souvenirs, and once their after-school plans are set, Tenna tells them about the events at the amusement park. When they talk about the roller coaster and the haunted house, Chiyuri and Kana''s faces turn pale, but when they hear about their interaction with the rabbits, their eyes light up, which is a fun reaction for the speaker. Rensui was even excited from start to finish. When Tenna had finished speaking, Tomoyuri asked her about something. ''''Hey, hey, Amana. Can I ask you one question? Okay. What''s going on? Are Amana-chan''s mom and Yamato Onii-san dating? I''m going to go out with you and your brother, you know. My little...? It''s an innocuous question for an adult, but the tenna who was asked only tilted her head. It''s not that she didn''t understand the meaning of the words, it''s that she didn''t understand how it was different from her friends. But from the point of view of Tomoyuri, who has developed an interest in shoujo manga, the two men and women in question are adults, and therefore they are men and women who are anxious about the future. If they''ve been on the Ferris wheel, I''m expecting some kind of progress to come out of it. ''''Hmm........I''m not sure. Mmm... Maybe I''ll draw a comic for Amana next time... However, there was no way for Tenna, who was engrossed in looking at the scenery, to know what the two of them were talking about, and as a result, it could be said that Chiyuri''s plans were destroyed. Even so, she still had a toughness in her eyes that didn''t give up. ''But if Onii-san were to become Amaechi''s dad, I''d dare to dare her anytime. Yeah. Onii-chan is a kind person, so I''m sure she and Amana-chan''s mother will be good to her. You''re her father. At the words of Rensui and Kana, Tenna felt as if a small bone had been pricked in her heart. She hadn''t had a father since she could remember, and a life with him was nothing but an unknown to her. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you''re in a position to do something about it. It''s a good idea to have a good time with them. I don''t want to be... I couldn''t help but feel an inexpressible loneliness in the vaguely floated future, and a murmur escaped me. Fortunately, Rensui and the others didn''t seem to hear her, and Tenna patted her chest. Without knowing her feelings, one of the boys approached her. "Yo.........Minami. Good morning. The boy who called out to him, "Daichi Onokura", was the most fit boy in his class, and he was a brat who Tenna had met at the park when she was sent to live with Wa. He moved with his parents during the summer holidays, and when he transferred to Tenna''s school, they met again, as promised. His joy was especially tremendous; after all, he had a fondness for Tenna as the opposite s*x. The reason for this is that when they met in the park, he was not afraid to pay attention to the size difference between them, and he didn''t dislike her and played with her. Being able to go to the same school as the girl he likes, it goes without saying that Daichi boy''s heart was lifted up, even though he had been feeling depressed about his new school. Anyway, he tries to get Tenna''s attention by talking to her like this every morning. ''''Shukudouji has come? Yeah. Where''s your kun? Oh, I can help you with that. Wow, that''s amazing! Even though his face was bright red, his desperate efforts to spin his words were filled with a sense of primness. Even so, Tenna politely countered without making fun of him. The sight of him talking to her face to face made Daichi''s heart skip a beat as he continued the conversation. But sadly, the actual Tenna is unaware of the favor that is directed at her. Not only that..... "Amacci is like that for anyone, isn''t it~ ''Shh!¡¡Even Orokunun is working hard! "I''m a little nervous about what''s happening to me... Rensui and the others had found out about his fondness for them. The three of them are not in the nature to blow it off, so it hasn''t become a big deal, but the point is that his attitude is that much more blatant. Since the two classmates are in love with each other, Tomoyuri was particularly keen to watch their fate as if she could see it clearly. ''''And then...'''' Khan Khan Khan Khan Khan. Oh, the chime. It''s all over now. In the meantime, the pre-bell of the first period rings, and I will have to finish my talk without a second thought. It''s a good idea to have a smile on the face of the earth that says, "I''d rather talk to the girl I like more, but how ruthless", and Tenna smiles at the earth. Let''s talk about the night time again! "...¡¡Oh, oh! They made a small promise. Although it''s very unfortunate that there is no other intention, Daichi''s depressed heart revives with the momentum of rising to the heavens. Oh my God that''s the ''girl'' in you! The three of them gasped in admiration at their friend''s natural but misunderstood behavior. And so the first period class that began was about the sports day that was coming up in a month. After choosing a competition, Tenna and her friends are chosen to participate in the relay, and everyone is eager to do their best. However, one event stuck in Tenna''s mind. Father''s relay]. I shouldn''t have been able to relate to myself without my father, but for some reason, I was irresistibly curious about it. 109 102 Do you want a dad? After school. Tenna was dismissed after giving Rensui and the others their souvenirs and was putting away her homework while she was away, when she heard the front door being opened in her ears. As I stepped out into the hallway to greet her, I saw Tenashi taking off her shoes after she finished her work. She opens her mouth with a smile on her face as best she can to say welcome back. ''Welcome back, mama.'' I''m home... what''s going on?¡¡You don''t seem to be feeling well... What? When her daughter rolled her eyes, wondering how she knew, Amari replied with a chuckle. ''You can pretend to laugh, but mommy can see that, can''t you? That''s not fair! ''It''s not cheating. That''s how much I''m looking at Tianna. Nyu... Even if she wasn''t her own mother, her words and actions were really motherly, Tenna couldn''t argue with her and kept her mouth shut. It''s a very good idea to have a few deceptions because it is known that Tenna is not good at lying in the first place, so a few deceptions are completely useless. Anyway, having been discovered, I decided that I had no choice but to speak honestly, and Tenna opened her small mouth. ''''Well, I was just feeling a bit Kangaego...'''' Are you thinking about this? Yeah. You don''t have a dad at your house, do you? ''''Well this is not something I can handle on my own,'''' Tenna''s father died in an accident with his own mother shortly after she was born. She accepts that in itself, and telling Tenashi was something of a confirmation of the fact that he had told her. In contrast, Amagashi feels a little guilty as if she misses her father, but then she looks at the printout Tenna gave her and guesses what she''s thinking about. ''I see, it''s your father''s relay?'' Yeah. Sensei says only the people who can get out. ''It''s not uncommon for families to have two working families. But then, what on earth is your concern? If they were to force everyone to participate, it would have been an extremely inappropriate competition. Even from the explanations on the printouts, the results of the competition did not seem to be included in the scores, and that''s why the question of what Tenna is concerned about arises in Tenashi. Prompted to go ahead, Tenna fidgeted and twisted her fingers together and slowly told her own thoughts. ''''Let''s see.......if I asked Onii-san to appear in the show, would I make it harder for her?'''' Ms. Kazu?¡¡I''d be happy to play the father if you asked me to... what? In the midst of telling her that she wouldn''t refuse if it was Kazu, she looked again at the name of the competition that Tenna wanted her to participate in. Otosan relay is an athletic event in which only fathers can participate. The fact that Kazu would participate in it means that he would not only be Tenna''s father, but also Tenashi''s husband. Since he is also the person she is romantically attracted to, it is not surprising that she would blush and stiffen. ''Chiyuri-chan and the others said that if Mommy and Onii-san get married, Onii-san might become Amana''s father. ''Oh, well - I''m not so sure about that!¡¡It''s not like my mom can''t know what the future holds.... It''s a good thing that Amashi was just being silly, but she was very upset inside. The cold sweat on your back feels like it''s not something to be taken lightly, even if it''s just a schoolboy''s sloppy words and actions. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to be able to get your hands on any of this stuff. ''I can''t rather picture you crying and rejoicing but it''s a difficult request to make. Hmmm, I see... Tenna''s shoulders slumped as she didn''t get the answer she wanted. As for Tenri, she could pat her heart down with relief, but she felt bad for not being able to respond to her beloved daughter''s wishes. And then one idea came to her. ''Wa-san is difficult to do, but should I ask my grandfather for help?'' If you run with Amana, you''ll get caught easily. Yeah, that''s right... The idea of relying on Watei, Amari''s father, was immediately rejected. There was a difference in athletic ability due to his age, but above all, he lacked physical strength. As a result, I had to agree with Tenna''s decision to rely on Wa. ''As for Otosan''s relay, it''s not an absolute participation, and we''ll think about it slowly in the future. Come to think of it, did you get along with the new student who taught you before? ''Yes!¡¡I''m talking to Onokukun and I''m talking to you all day long! ''As I recall, we met at the park where we played when I stayed at Kaz-san''s house. I''m glad we got along so well. To change the subject, I cut to the subject of the new student, and he seemed to be on good terms with Tenna. I was worried when I was told that he had the swing set all to himself, but I was relieved to see that we had built a friendship without a trace. However, Amana seemed to have a few doubts... ''When I''m on the ground with Amana, I feel that Onokuraku-kun''s face is getting redder. Are you blushing? Yeah. Just like your mother does when she talks to you. ''If you don''t have a cold, there''s no problem. I think it''s time for dinner. Yes! Before the topic he thought he had deflected was completely dug up, Amari forced him to end the conversation. I let out a long breath from relief, knowing that he agreed with me without a doubt and that I would not be caught off guard or off guard. It never occurred to her that her daughter was the first love of a boy named Onokura. It seems that Tenna is not only unaware of it, but is rather lax in her perception of romantic feelings, so it doesn''t seem to be something that can be done immediately. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re going to do with it, because even your own love is often perplexing, so even if you''re on the receiving end, it''s unlikely that you''ll be able to honestly rejoice in the spring that seems to be coming to Tenna. There is only one thing I can understand even with such a heart. ''''©¤©¤Yuna has been popular for a long time too.......'''' She mentions the name of the now deceased woman who was Tenna''s real mother and twin sister. Unlike her earnest and unfriendly self, Yuna, with her dynamic smile, was often confessed to by boys. When she was in elementary school, she was more of a dango than a flower, so she didn''t go into a relationship with them, but by junior high school, she thinks back to the time when she was asked many times how she should respond to them. Then Yuna fell in love at first sight with her tutor, Tatsunto, who was Tenna''s father, and they got married. If she grows up in the future, Tenna will become a beautiful girl just like Yuna and herself. If that''s the case, one can only laugh at the glimpse that makes you think she''s quite popular. ''''©¤©¤I wonder what would have happened if I had met Kazu-san earlier...? She spills that unexpectedly. But she concludes that they wouldn''t have even recognized each other if Tenna hadn''t been in between. He decided to ask Kazu about Dad''s relay, even if it was a bad idea, and Tenashi started to prepare dinner. 110 103 Please Good morning, Kazu. It''s for today. Good morning, Amari. Thanks for everything. Tuesday morning I pick up my lunchbox with greetings from Tenashi before I go to work. She smiles back at me when I thank her for making it every day before going to work, including her labor. It''s not much work, so I guess you don''t have to worry about it. Um, Ms. Kazu. Do you mind if I take a few minutes of your time? Hmm?¡¡Good, but what''s the matter? Normally I would make light small talk and part ways, but for some reason, I''m confused by that upfront, but it prompts me to continue. I''m genuinely curious, and if you''re having trouble, I''d like to help you to the extent I can. With such a mind-set, I wait for Amari''s words, but she turns her reddened face down and doesn''t speak for a while. Is it the kind of content that makes you keep your mouth shut that much? Um, well, there''s a field day at Tenna''s school next month. ''Oh, it''s that time of year. I''ll take a paid day off that day if I''m allowed to go to support you? ''''I''d love to ask for your support. I''m sure Tenna, Nishiyama-san and the others will all be very happy. Then I''ll take you up on your offer. That''s exactly what I''m asking for. The last time I went to watch a sports day was when I was in elementary school, but if I can cheer on Amana and her friends as they do their best, I don''t need to worry about the blanks. But if that''s the case, I don''t think it''s that stagnant, but does that mean the main issue is separate? And so........well, besides coming to support you, there''s one more thing I''d like to ask of you, Kaz-san....... ''''You don''t have to be so reserved, if you''re asking for Tenashi''s help, you can say whatever you want, thanks for your lunch. What is it? Oh, uh, well, I mean... I tell her that there''s no need to hesitate about anything, but Amari is restless with a bright red face and her gaze wandering right and left. Still, she made up her mind and squeezed her eyelids shut.... ''''Ah, will you be a father for Tenna! He told this in a voice so loud that it seemed like even the neighbors could hear it. ''''©¤©¤..............................ahh? Hmmmmm................... What ... no, no, what, seriously? That''s because of the thanks for the bento, so I said I''d listen to your request, but there''s no way I could have predicted that. So what Kuroon and Sanya said was not a joke or a tease, but the truth? I''m so surprised that I have no idea if I''m happy or troubled right now. Even if you try to respond somehow, the words don''t come out of your mouth. "Ho, are you sure it''s me...? It was such a shameful question that finally came out. The reason is that it is the first time to be confessed by a woman, albeit in a roundabout way, much less by a beautiful woman like Tenri, and the embarrassment was overwhelming. It''s a very good idea to have a good idea of what you''re going to do with it. The only way I could say such an unreasonable request is if it wasn''t for Kazu-san... Oh.... ........I thought my heart was going to stop. It seems that he has built up enough trust to be told that by Amari, and I think that''s the only thing that came through clearly. ''''Well, umm..........'''' It''s hard to reply because I know that the feeling isn''t false. Due to my lack of experience, no matter how much I use my head, I can''t seem to get an answer. Don''t bother me!¡¡I''m actually more than happy to... ''''It''s fine. No matter how kind you are, no matter how many times Kazu-san is kind to you, the impossible is the impossible.... While she is troubled in this way, Amari tries to pull back with a self-deprecating smile on her face. Just because she was confused by the suddenly imminent option of marriage, she was annoyed with herself for making a woman...forcing Amari to look at her like that. Even if it''s not settled, I''m trying to open my mouth with the thought that I want my feelings to be conveyed as much as possible.... ''''Asking you to participate in the relays of the sports day as Tenna''s father(s) and parent(s) is a bit too reckless, isn''t it? What...? The heat that had been building up quickly receded. ''Relay?'' Ha, yes. There is a program for the sports day called ''Otosan Relay'' and Tenna asked me if you would participate in it, so I actually asked her to do so. ''Ahhhhhh, yeah, I see........'' I''m not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. I''m a ridiculous clown, aren''t I! I''m super embarrassed that the other side is genuinely asking for my daughter''s wishes to be fulfilled, but I''m super embarrassed that I got up there on my own! I listened to the story, desperately stitching up my legs that were about to run away right now. I hadn''t the faintest idea that I would create a new black history at my age. ''''But if the school is okay with it, I''m fine with it...'''' ''Really?¡¡Thank you! When I managed to reply back with my approval, Tenri bowed her head with a happy smile on her face. I can''t help but wonder if it''s really okay for an entity like me to participate in school behavior, but I guess I''ll have to leave that up to Tenashi. But did Amana want me to attend........ I''m very glad to see that she''s relying on me. ''''Jeez, I''d better get to work then. ''''Yes. Let''s try to live up to Tenna''s expectations for each other! Perhaps it was because he listened to my request, which I thought would be refused, but Tenri sent me off in a cheerful tone. If the confession I just made is true, then this is going to be every day.... When I think of that, even though it was a misunderstanding, I feel disappointed. 111 104 Aim for the best! Although Amari has been asking me to propose to her since morning, my work comes flooding in like I don''t care about that. In the blink of an eye, the thrill of the morning''s romance drama has vanished. Personally, I''m thankful for that because it helps me forget my black history... but I don''t want to be thankful because I''m busy and it''s hard. Isn''t it totally a workaholic''s idea that working helps me not think about bad things? I was beginning to feel that it was no wonder that people were calling me a social animal. With a hint of trepidation, I decided to eat the bento that Amanashi had prepared to change my mood. The food is still well-balanced and delicious even if it''s cold. ©¤ ©¤ If I marry Tenashi, I''ll be able to eat all three meals, not just lunch........ ''''No, no, no, no, what am I thinking!¡¡You''re grabbing my stomach too much for any number of reasons... While brushing away the evil thoughts that suddenly came to mind, I chewed on the egg rolls with the broth. It''s delicious. After finishing my bento, I continued to work on my delivery. Around 4 p.m., it was my turn to deliver a package to the Minami family. When I press the intercom, I hear a familiar light sound. ''Yes!'' This is Umineko Transport. I''m here to deliver your package. "I''m coming, sir! I hear Amana''s cheerful voice through the speakers, and while I''m relieved, the front door opens. Her light brown hair is in two pigtails and her crisp, round, lapis lazuli eyes are a sight to behold. She looks very pretty today. ''Hello, Onii-san! Hello, Amana-chan. After the greeting, I had my receipt stamp stamped and placed the package on the edge of the doorway. Amana-chan''s expression is very smiling, probably because Amari has given her a reply of approval. ''Did you hear about Dad''s relay from Tenashi?'' ''Yes!¡¡Thank you for asking me to do this! It''s a small price to pay. I''ll come first and help you win your class, Amana! Although Amari''s way of saying it was the kind of thing that would lead to a misnomer, there''s no reason to refuse if she wanted me to be in it. Well, whether or not I, who is not related to Amana and her family, can participate or not is up to them. Anyway, when I promise to contribute to the cause, she tilts her head back and looks at me curiously. It''s not a big deal," she says. Huh? I can''t hide my surprise at the fact that Amana''s mouth revealed the fact that there were no points to be scored, and that she was exposed in the most hapless way possible. So it''s completely just an exhibition match, right? No, if you think about it, it''s strange that the competition that my parents came up with would affect the competition for the championship of the sports day... but where should I direct the motivation that has just popped up? ''Well, well, I''ll do my best to be the best in front of Amana and the others. You''ll be first in the relay! Are you going to run, Amana-chan? Yes. With Hasumichi and Chiyuri and Kana-chan as the girls! ''Oh. Then we''ll have to practice a lot. I know it''s probably unfounded, but I should probably get some exercise too. I don''t care if it''s arm strength and stamina, I''m aware that my running ability has declined since my school days....... Oh, that''s right, Onii-san! Hmm? Can you go to sleep with your mama and your friends at the end of the day? He wouldn''t have realized such an idea, but Amana suggested it. As if she was sorry about letting them use their hard-earned holiday to spend it with us, her expression is a little cloudy and even exudes a sense of guilt. He''s still the same caring, kind boy I guess, but that''s too much to worry about. ''You''re worried about me because I always seem to be too busy. But still, Amana-chan. Huh? She bends her knees and pats the little head, keeping her eyes on Amana-chan. The feel of the fine hair from the palm of my hand is almost addictive, but I decide to put my hand down for now and throw in a few words. ''I was just thinking that I need to practice, too, and I don''t mind at all, since it looks like we''ll have fun doing it together. Are you sure? Of course. If you like, Amana-chan. I... Yeah!¡¡I''m going to be a bridesmaid with my brother! So that''s a promise. She smiles happily and makes a promise with her little finger on top of Amana''s, who smiles happily and makes a promise with her finger clipping. Since I met her, I''ve made promises like this many times, and the fact that I''ve never broken a single one of them makes me want to praise her for her discipline. I think it''s not just common sense that promises should be kept, it''s also the fact that I don''t want to make Amana feel sad. I''m sure you''re right. I''ll return your lunchbox for you today. Okay. Did you enjoy your mommy''s lunch box? I''m very happy with it, sir. Gathering my hands together, I give my personal best class impressions. I just realized that on the day I practice with Amana and the others, maybe there''s a chance I could eat the food Amari makes? If that''s the case, then I''m going to be even more filled with vitality. ...Since everything related to Amana-chan comes with her, it''s starting to feel like this kind of thinking can''t be helped. While thinking about this, I parted ways with Amana and returned to the delivery truck. ''''Hey, Kaz-san! Huh?¡¡Amanashi? I ran into Amari who had just returned from work. But I don''t know if she didn''t expect to see me here or not, but she''s very upset with her face turning bright red. I''m aware of this morning''s proposal-like behavior........ ''''Eh, right?¡¡Well, you know, about this morning... ''Huh?¡¡But.........no, I''m grateful that you''re the one who listens to Tenna''s selfishness. ''Also, I''m going to practice with Amana and the others on my day off from work. I''m sorry for deciding without consulting with Amana. ''If that''s what Tenna wants to do, then I have nothing to say to you. Before things get complicated, I dare to pretend to be normal and interrupt Amari''s words. She rolled her eyes for a moment, but seemed to understand our intentions, and although her face was faintly red, she returned it as usual. In addition, when I mention the matter of the practice, the trust I''ve cultivated in her will easily allow me to do so. For now, we let this morning''s events go by the wayside. It''s hard to say that it didn''t happen, but if we don''t do this, it will be awkward in the future. I want to avoid that in front of Amana-chan, and even if not, I don''t want to break the rapport with Amana. After a brief compromise, we part ways with her and I return to work. 112 105 Request to Sanya and quarrel with Mao I returned to the head office after finishing today''s delivery without incident. When I went into the changing room to change from my work clothes into my civilian clothes, I found that Sanya, who had returned before me, had changed. ''''Osssssssss good job. Oh, good job. I gave her a quick word of thanks and relaxed in the resting area after getting dressed. ''It looks like Amana-chan has healed you again today. Thanks to you. And actually... He talks to Miya about the relay of parents participating in the school''s sports day at Amana''s school. Of course, Amana''s gaffe is a secret. After we parted ways with Amana and the others, I''ve been thinking about the future of practice in my own way. If you practice in the dark without any concrete methods, you won''t learn anything and it would be a waste of time. It''s a waste of time. It''s a shame for those girls to practice with such an inefficient method. But then I remembered Miya''s career and decided to ask her to do a favor at the same time as telling her about the sports day. ''Aren''t you already asking me to marry that! What''s the point?¡¡They only trust me as a person! After listening to the story, I deny Sanya''s too straightforward impressions. Even though it wasn''t my intention, I was slightly pissed off at being dug up for this morning''s misunderstanding....... ''''No, no, it''s normal?¡¡I mean, do you want to be in an elementary school parent-teacher relay just because you don''t know each other?¡¡Isn''t that what you mean when you nominate Wa in such common sense? It was Amana-chan who nominated me for the job, remember? But it was you who asked directly for help, right? It''s not a good idea to listen to a guy who seems to be having a hard time with it, but don''t just ask him about a fling. So no, I''m not... What you''re saying seems reasonable, but it''s unexpected that you''re in love with him. I don''t know, I''ve been getting this kind of reaction lately....... Well, you won''t have the opportunity to get to know a beautiful woman like Amanashi anytime soon, so I don''t understand why you''re jealous, but it''s so obvious that you lose your sense of guilt. If this is the case, there''s no end to it, so let''s get down to business. ''Didn''t I tell you that Miya is a former track and field team member?¡¡I thought it would be better for Amana and the others to hear an efficient method from an experienced person than for me to teach them with my amateur knowledge... That''s not wrong in a way, but you do know why I did it, right? I thought it was a good idea, but it doesn''t look good around the reluctant expression on my face. As I recall, the reason why Miya joined the track and field club is........ I''m not sure if it''s for the sake of being popular........ That''s right! "Wow, that''s so stupid. It''s so annoying. I was unintentionally annoyed. Well, in essence, I understood what he was trying to say, ''Don''t expect it just because you''re a former track and field guy. '' "Still, the difference in experience is invaluable. I feel bad about asking you to go out on your day off, but I''ll make it up to you, please. Mmm~.... Further, in response to his plea to bow his head, Miya crossed his arms and groaned. When I saw that, I felt the opposite of anxiety, a sense of relief. I''ve been with this guy for a long time, so I know that if I can get this pretense out of him, he''ll practically accept it on my terms. Eventually, the untied hands were placed on his waist, and Sanya exaggeratedly let out a sigh.... ''''©¤©¤I want to see Amari-san at a glance. If you''re willing to accept on those terms, I''ll take it. What...? As a rule of thumb, he told me the terms. The reason I was so disappointed was because it was so simple. ''Do you just want to meet Amari?¡¡Not buying you a drink or anything like that? I thought about it, but I''ve never met Maou-chan and I''ve never met her, right?¡¡And yet both of you are talking about Amari-san, and I can''t help but be curious about it already. ''So you want to take the opportunity to meet him...'' If you put it that way, does it make sense...? It would be up to Tenashi whether or not to meet with him, but as for me, I have no reason to say no if all I have to do is mediate. I''m not going to let you do that. I won''t forgive you if you try to seduce Kazu just because she''s Amana-chan''s mother! ''Who do you think you''re talking to? First of all, if you look at Amana, you''ll know how good a woman Amana is. Don''t crush the blurbs with a more convincing tweak than this... It seems that since he''s acquainted with Amana-chan, there''s no way for Miya to deny it. If Amana''s character was bad, Amana wouldn''t have grown up to be such a good kid. There''s no way that''s possible, even on a particulate level, though. "So what are you going to do? ''It''s up to Tenashi, I guess.¡¡I''ll ask him when I see him tomorrow. Then it''s decided. I''ll ask Mao to coordinate my schedule tomorrow. And so the negotiations became a tentative decision for the time being. Even though it hasn''t been confirmed yet, it seems to have already been decided in Sannya''s mind. He''s not a bad guy and Amana-chan has met him before, so it''s unlikely that Amana will refuse. Now I can work on my practice without worrying.......that was when I thought that. ''Marao?'' Wha, Kazu-kun... Mao was standing at the entrance of the rest area. If he had just listened, he would have only had to lightly tell her what was going on. What didn''t happen was..... ''''©¤Why are you crying? I''m just tired, that''s all. Oh, hey! It was because she had tears in her eyes behind her glasses. I asked her on the spur of the moment, not knowing why, but Mao turned on her heel and tried to leave. Although she continued to be blatantly avoided, I grabbed her arm to stop her from feeling like I couldn''t leave her crying in a quandary. Let go of me. Well, at least tell me why you''re crying. If there''s something wrong with me, I apologize... She stares at me with a look I''ve never had directed at me before, and my whole body cowers for a moment, but I still don''t let go of Marao''s arm and ask her a question. However, she still refuses to make eye contact, and I can''t read what she''s planning at all. ''''Well there''s nothing for you to apologize for, Kazu-kun. I''m just defending my position-- Don''t avoid me as a colleague if you know what I''m talking about. I''m here to listen to your problems, and I''m not that dependable. ''That''s not true. There''s no one as kind as Kazu-kun but that''s why I can''t just say that to you, Kazu-kun. ''''~~ What''s that, don''t be so stubborn! I... I don''t understand what Mao means, and I yell out loudly beyond my patience. What the hell, really........ I can''t help but be worried that I''ve done something because of the sudden distantness, but I don''t even try to say why. ''What''s the position of being able to plead between us?¡¡I don''t understand why you can talk to Miya about it, but you can''t talk to me alone... Once the cork is turned off, all the complaints that have been pent up deep inside come out one after another. This is not something that can be endured, no matter how much Amana-chan soothes you. Mao may not be able to ignore the shouting that carried such inadequate feelings. ''''Because we''re colleagues!¡¡It''s not like I''m bringing my personal feelings into my work, cuz it''s none of your business! "I don''t think we''re shallow enough to say ''yes, that''s right!'' ''On the contrary, it''s not even deep!¡¡Why don''t you just leave me alone and get along with Amana and Amari! Oh, I''ll let you! You should have done that in the first place... After a lot of selling and buying words, she let go of Marao''s arm and broke free, and this time she walked away. Perhaps because she hadn''t snapped out of her emotions in a long time, her anger didn''t seem to subside even when she was out of sight. I especially didn''t like the fact that she said ''not a deep relationship'', which I didn''t like the most. It''s because it reminded me that we were at odds with each other''s perceptions to the extent that we could put it away with just one word like that. ''''Hey, hey, what are you going to do to make me sulk even more........'''' I don''t know. It''ll happen when it happens. I''m going to go now, but you better keep your head on straight.¡¡Bye. Oh... You can''t blame Sanya for being dismayed as she watched the argument go down. But I''m grateful that he didn''t get too deep into the matter and remained neutral. I''m thinking of buying myself a drink next time as I head home. 113 106 Dont call me Charakin The promised day off arrived without any reduction in delivery volume after arguing with Mao. The riverbed where the summer festival was held was chosen as the location for practice, and according to the person who chose it, Miya - ''because even if you fall down, you can get away with just a scratch on the grass''. I''m not going to be the only one who can do that. I''ve been waiting for Amana and her friends to arrive, wearing a t-shirt and half-pants to do some flexibility. We were waiting for Amana and her friends to arrive. I can''t do it, I can''t do it, I can''t do it!¡¡I''m not going any further! "Hahaha, this guy''s not getting any exercise. It''s been a long time since I was a student, so I''ve been working on my flexibility, but it''s a mess. I can''t do long sit-ups and forward bends any more than I used to. It was obvious that my entire body had an accent, if not my physical strength and arm strength. You should take this opportunity to do some moderate exercise~ Oh, oh... I went through the entire flexibility menu, but I was completely exhausted before I even started practicing. No, really, I''m going to exercise properly as Sanya said. As I was making up my mind to do so, I heard a cheerful voice speaking. When I turned my attention, I saw girls dressed in the school''s designated gym clothes - or rather, Amana and her friends. Soon, the other side seemed to notice our presence and came running up to us with a big wave of their hand. Hello, Onii-san! Hello, Amana-chan. Yo-amana-chan. It''s been a while. ''Oh!¡¡It''s Mr. Chalakin! Oh. You''re still going on with that call... Come to think of it, they used to call me Charakin because I looked like an anime villain.... The last time they met was back in April, and I''m secretly impressed that Amana remembers it so well. I''m impressed that you remember it so well, Amachi. Do you know your counterpart over there? Pretend!¡¡My dad says you shouldn''t go down on people like this! It''s okay. He''s a worker just like you. You''re your friend, aren''t you? But Hassumi and the others, who had never met Miya before, could be seen to be wary. It''s not unreasonable for an adult with blonde hair and slightly bad eyes, but Chiyuri in particular is tough on them. ........Come to think of it, I was called a pedophile when we first met. Yes, that''s right. That''s right, his name is Miya Arikuma~ Well, Sanya introduced herself with a cool head, not showing any signs of being upset, as if she was used to it. The reaction of the three of them is..... "Okay, I understand, Charakin! Hmm? Hey, nice to meet you, Mr. Churrakin. What? I don''t mind being friendly, Chalakin! ''Huh?¡¡Hey, hey, hey, I can call you ''handsome'' to help you relax, too, you know? Amana-chan''s way of calling her was adopted. Apparently, Hasumi and the others thought that Miya looked like an anime character. Chalakin is not happy about it or wants to change his name, but.... ''''Hmmm... That makes it hard to tell which way they went, don''t you think? Charakin''s easier to understand. I mean, Mr. Chalakin looks exactly like... All right, let''s get on with the exercise, Chalakin! Why are you being so blatantly disrespectful to me earlier, Glasses? Dare to break balls......... Chiyuri''s attitude towards her servant is also awful. If you ask me if Miya has the dignity of an adult, I can''t shake my head. Maybe it''s easier to be compared to Amari because she''s more experienced in raising children, or if anything, she''s Chiyuri''s ideal. After such an exchange, we began with preparatory exercises first. As Amana and the others carefully stretched their arms and legs in time with our movements, I could see how full of motivation they were. Then, let''s try running 50 meters to see how well you can run. ""Yes!" So the first thing we did was to measure the current time. The result of running out at once to the signal........ Hasumi-chan is the fastest and Kana-chan is the last.......is it possible? Hmmm... aside from Hasumi-chan, Amana and Chiuri-chan are about average, and if they''re of this age, they have a good chance of winning in the running order. I see... In a way, it was an appropriate result. However, Kana-chan''s expression is a bit gloomy, as she is the only one who didn''t do so well. Amana-chan and the others are encouraging her to practice and get faster, but I don''t think they''re having much effect. "Nah, Sanya........ I know. Hey, Kana-chan, do you have a minute? Miya seemed to sense Kana-chan''s emotions as well, and he walked over to her faster than she could tell him where she called out to him. They bent down, folding their knees to meet their eyes, and they looked at each other. ''''Um, Kana, I''m sorry I''m late...'''' Kana-chan is still small, so don''t worry about it. As for her speed, her form is just as beautiful as Hasumi''s. Whoom? Kana-chan, who doesn''t know the meaning of the form as if she had never heard of it before, tilts her anxious face in a cotentuous manner. On the other hand, Miya on the other hand doesn''t seem particularly bothered by it and starts to hesitate a little. That''s probably chewing up the words so that even a schoolboy can understand them. I''ve done it a lot myself, so I guessed it right away. ''Ahhh, the way you move your arms and legs when you run.......do you understand?¡¡If you don''t do that properly, you''re wasting energy and not being able to run fast enough. Are you able to do that? ''Oh, that''s right, I''m perfect. So Kana-chan needs to work on her legs and feet. Is it a big deal? According to Amana-chan, Kana-chan isn''t very good at exercise, so she''s not very good at working out. That feeling seems to have been factored into the mix, and Miya smiles at her with a toothy grin. ''Hmm... Well, it''s tough. But because it''s hard work, you''re happy when you get it right.¡¡We all want to win the relay, so that''s why you come to practice like this, right? ''Yeah...'' ''Then Kana-chan would be invincible if she could run fast with everyone else!¡¡Don''t worry, that''s what I''m here to teach you! ...yes! At Miya''s confident manner, Kana-chan''s dark expression brightened. It''s true, it''s not just a matter of Kana-chan getting faster, is it? If you''re with Amana-chan and the others, you''ll be fine. As I was admiring that, Kana-chan grabbed the hem of Miya''s clothes with her small right hand as she stood up. She looked up and kept eye contact with Miya........ ''''Ah, thanks........'''' ...oh, hey... So firmly I expressed my gratitude. Sanya too, having been told straightforwardly, is returning it even as she opens her eyes. The smiling scene naturally loosens my cheeks. I''m sure you''ll be able to teach me a lot of things so that I can get up and running quickly, won''t you? Chalakin. You don''t change your name there! But the chitin seems to have existed. 114 107 Detective? When it was getting close to lunchtime after starting practice, Sanya gave the signal for a break. The progress is going well. After all, the way experienced people teach is efficient, and not only Kana-chan, but the other three also beat the time. It''s amazing, everyone. If this is it, we can be the best! Yay! Oh, thank you, Onii-chan... We are the best. I''m serious about this.¡¡But you got a bit of a hold on me... I gave them generous praise, and the four of them responded happily. So, as Mochiyuri says, even though they took a moderate break, fatigue is still visible. In addition to that, their stomachs are starting to get hungry, so that''s even more so. ''In a little while, Amanashi will bring me a lunch, so let''s eat a lot of food and work hard in the afternoon. The children''s shouting also brought Sanya in line. Maybe it''s just that guy for a different reason........ I''ve told Tenri that Miya will be at today''s practice, so we should be able to avoid a situation where the amount is not enough. It''s also a good idea to make sure that you have a good idea of what you''re looking for. I''ve told her about Miya''s personality beforehand, but her general assessment seems to be that ''If she''s a colleague of Mr. Wa''s, she won''t be worried. How much she trusts me. When someone says something like that to you, you''re going to get carried away. I''m not saying that I want you to stop or anything, but. "Ah!¡¡It''s my mom! As I was thinking back to my mind, Amana seemed to have found Amari. If you look out of the corner of your eye as well, you will see Tenashi, dressed in a white tunic and jeans, coming towards you while carrying a decent sized package. ''''Eh...?¡¡Ha, what? ...Miya? No, is that Amana-chan''s mother, Amana-san? Yeah? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, you''re even more beautiful than I thought you were! When Miya saw Amari for the first time, she was greatly astonished. Well, I can understand that feeling. When I first met her, I couldn''t help but stiffen up and admire her, too. ''''Hello, Wa-san. Oh, hello. She seems to have noticed Sannya''s presence, but she seems to greet him first. I just returned the greeting in a familiar tone, but Amari''s expression seemed happy there. Really, you''ve come to smile a lot........ ''''Hello everyone...'''' ""Hello!" The children who are greeted by the continued greetings return the greetings with such energy that it''s hard to believe it''s after a workout. After smiling at Hasumi and the others, Tenri turns to face Sanaya. ''''It''s nice to meet you, I''m Minami Tenri. Thank you for taking care of my daughter and her friends today. No, no, not really... It''s a good thing that you''re able to get the most out of this article. I''ve never seen him so hesitant. It''s more like, ''I''m getting to know a beautiful woman! I honestly didn''t expect this reaction, as I was expecting her to react like that. Does it mean that Amanashi is that much of an outcast? So, with a stubbornly nervous Sanya and the kids, we were going to eat lunch. ''Whoa!¡¡I love these eggs made by your mama! Oh, yummy. Amana-chan, I''m so jealous that you always eat such a good meal! ''Mmmm, you''re amazing, Amana''s mom! Hasumi and the others who have eaten Amari''s home-cooked food seem to have a good reaction to it. I can empathize with Chiyuri''s feelings of envy towards Amana-chan, knowing that she grew up eating such delicious food. In particular, Miya even gave a thumbs-up without saying a word. I wanted to complain to her about how happy she was to be eating. How do you like it, Kazu-san? Oh yeah, it''s also very beautiful. You''re the best. Well, that makes it all worth it. She says the same thing when she returns her lunch, but she doesn''t get many chances to say it when she''s eating directly. After being told her ongoing impressions, Amanashi smiles a beautiful smile that even Hua is ashamed of. That smile burns into my brain to the point where I can''t even taste the pork I just ate. What is it with Tenri these days! Why is my heart so noisy? While I didn''t understand the reason and couldn''t stop being upset, someone''s hand was suddenly placed on my right shoulder. When I turned around to see what the hell was going on, my eyes met with Miya, who was looking at me with a blank stare. Eh, what''s this? While feeling fearful, following the silent pressure of Sanya, I followed the silent pressure of Sanya and came a bit away from Amari and the children, and squared my shoulders. That''s an awfully intimidating position to be in. ''''You ... what did you say?'''' ''What?¡¡I''ve heard that Amanashi''s food is delicious... I know that. Before that, before that. Before...? Did I say something that would offend Sannya? Ummmmm... no, I can''t even think about it, but it doesn''t come out. "I didn''t mean to say anything stupid, but... Really?¡¡Well, I have to ask you. Why did you talk about Tenashi-san''s cooking as if you were eating it on a regular basis~? Yeah. Oh man, I sure did say that. I said it in the same vein as my thoughts on the bento, so I was late to notice. ''Yes that reaction duh~!¡¡The guy who smells like a shallow relationship by all accounts~! Before I can correct him further, Sanya utters his conviction out loud. Also, the way he says it is slightly annoying. ''''Shallow... well, the three of us, including Amana-chan, went to an amusement park and all that...'''' "That''s not what I meant!¡¡No, if you think of it as child-approved, it might not be wrong, but at least that''s not what I''m saying! What do you mean? ''''No signs of living together... there aren''t many opportunities to go to the Minami family except on delivery days... under those conditions, there''s only one time when you can usually eat the food Tenashi-san has prepared for you!¡¡Wahteme, well, you''re getting your lunch from that guy! "You''re awesome!¡¡You''re a detective! ''Shaaraap!¡¡Don''t change the subject! How did you get to the truth from such a few sources! Although she unintentionally praised him honestly, Sanya''s excitement didn''t seem to diminish. ''''Eating the bento of someone who can make such good food every day, you''re already a total lover! That''s no way to be disrespectful to Tenashi, right?¡¡It''s just a thank you gift... ''The proposer is over there!¡¡If that''s the case, you''re the one who''s rude, baaaack! ''Huh!¡¡Why would that be? It''s as if it doesn''t make sense. Then I would solemnly go through the afternoon''s practice, despite the constant jealous glances I would receive. It''s weirdly disciplined when it comes to teaching properly. 115 108 something increased .... .... The next practice day, four days had passed since the practice with Miya. Unlike last time, it was a weekday, so I was supposed to join Amana and the others after school. By the way, it''s my day off, but Miya will not be there because it''s a workday. I''ve been informed of the practice menu, so I can at least keep an eye on it. It''s not a good idea to neglect your own practice, of course. ...Hey old man, are you listening to me? I''m not an old man. I''m listening to you, yes... How lightly I was reminiscing, and then the other side broke the silence, but this girl has a rude way of cutting it off. Yes, there is a different person in front of me right now than Amana-chan and her friends. It''s a good physique for a first grade boy, black hair that''s cut short and twisted upright, a sharp look in his eyes that makes you feel as if he''s about to attack you at any moment ... why do I have a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu? For some reason, this boy has a hostile attitude towards me, a first meeting. Let me tell you, less than a minute has passed since we introduced ourselves. ''Onokurun. Why are you upset with your brother? What, no, because it''s, like, crazy, right? What? When Amana-chan asks the boy - Daichi-kun a frank question, the sharpness of his eyes from earlier is nowhere to be found, his face turns red and his gaze wanders. "What... that person isn''t Minami''s father, is he? Yeah. You''re not Amana''s father. Why are you being so persistent then? Ahhhh, that''s what I mean. Indeed, in the present, Amana is hugging my waist perfectly. At the same time, she reaches out to me in just the right place and is stroking me. Even Hasumi and the others didn''t say anything, so I was completely caught off guard. I should be able to be more objective about myself..... When I was secretly reflecting on that, Amana smiled with a smile and said.... "Because, Amana, I''m so proud of you! What? I was relieved at the usual declaration of friendship, but Daichi-kun''s face turned pale. Could this be the one where I get certified as a pedophile? I didn''t think we''d end up being reported to the school kids! I quickly prepared myself, but Daichi-kun remained stunned and showed no signs of moving. Was it an unnecessary fear? Even though Amana-chan is coming from a place of affection, just saying that she loves me is such a reaction.... Ah. There it is. There was only one reason for me to react like this. Does Daichi-kun possibly like Amana-chan? If that''s the case, then the hostility and the look of shock on her face makes sense. Of course, if the girl you love says she loves a much older man, anyone would be shocked.... ''Oh, Onii-chan. I''ll take care of Onokurankun with Kana and the others, so just stay tuned, okay? Oh, yeah. If that''s the case, then do me a favor. Just as I was about to apologize, Kana-chan, who was watching the whole thing, told me so, and I decided to practice with Amana alone. I''ll leave the matter of Daichi to Sumi and the others for now and apologize to them later. With that in mind, Amana and I practiced preparatory exercises and flexibility. I''m sure she practiced for the sports day at school, but she''s still as energetic as ever, even after school. Watching her after school gets me fired up, too. Amana-chan. Daichi-kun, you''re a friend of the class? ''Yes!¡¡After a good night''s sleep, I went to the school for all the name-dropping! ''Oh yeah...'' When I was feeling anxious and lonely after transferring to a new school, Amana-chan was kind to me, so I fell in love with her. When I think about it, it''s so primitive and makes me smile. You must have been surprised to see that Onokukuran had an oni-san once, so you must have been surprised to see her and Amana''s friends in the same class. ''What?¡¡No, no, I''ve never met Daichi-kun before today, but... "?¡¡It was the first time Amana stopped at your house, at the park. Park on the day Amana-chan stayed at home... ahhh! I remember when you told me. You''re the little brat who was hogging the swings in the park back then! I thought I''d seen it on the street! Or rather, the fact that she mentioned that incident so clearly, did Amana-chan remember someone she had only been involved with for less than half a day? If you know that they are the same person, it''s natural that Daichi-kun remembers his first love, Amana-chan. ''I see........that girl at that time was Daichi-kun.......'' You''ve become a lot more rounded in the intervening time... I was hostile to them to the hilt just now. The fact that you can''t get away with it, it''s a good thing that the arrogant side of him has improved as a result of the fact that he seems to be on good terms with Hasumi and the others. When I told him that Amana and the others were in a rensyuu, he said he''d like to join in with Onokuraku-kun. That''s a very brave thing to do again. I didn''t know I was going to participate in a practice where there were only girls except for me and Miya to be with the girl I liked for a little while. I was worried that the boys in my class would make fun of me, but according to Amana, I''m usually good friends with the boys as well. Anyway, it''s a fact that Amana is liked by the opposite s*x. It''s so sad that she doesn''t realize it. I don''t know why I don''t think it''s someone else''s problem, but I''m sure it''s just my imagination. Anyway, in any case... I''m glad to be your friend, Amana-chan. Yeah! The promise of a reunion was unintentionally fulfilled, and regardless of how Daichi-kun''s love life turns out, let''s be happy that Amana-chan now has more friends. So when I returned to Hassumi and her friends, I found Daichi-kun sitting in a physical education seat with his head down. And if you listen carefully, you can hear them crying. Hasumi and Kana-chan are cringing, and Chiuri-chan has a troubled look on her face. ''Well, Daichi-kun, why are you like that? When I ask Chiyuri, who seems to be the most talkative person in the current situation, she slowly opens her mouth, spreading her arms as if to say, "Oh dear... ''I was just showing Onokurun how good friends Amana and Onii-san are with each other. Why are you toddling when you''re supposed to be following up! I''m sure Daichi-kun heard about my relationship with Amana-chan, but I don''t want her to show off the natural screw-up she inherited from her mother here. You could have just told him that we were normal friends, but why did I have to push him to this point? After that, we had to stop practicing until Daichi-kun recovered... 116 109 Two men on the riverbed Daichi-kun, who managed to recover, apologized for interrupting our practice as a result. Seeing his auspicious attitude, I wondered if he was really the same brat at the time, but seeing how easily he forgave Amana-chan, I was convinced that first love can change a person. At any rate, at the resumed practice, Amana-chan and the rest of the girls were divided into the girls'' group and the guys'' group of me and Daichi-kun. The girls have been working hard based on the practice menu that Miya gave them, but I wanted to know how athletic Daichi-kun is. However, I''m not that worried about it. The boy named Daichi Onokura was in the first year of elementary school, but he had a physique that was no less than that of an older student. With an athletic sense and ability befitting his body, there was not the slightest hint of unnecessary fear. ''''How do you think, Nii-chan........! No, no one his age could match that record. I send my heartfelt praise to Daichi, who is proud of himself as he catches his breath with his hands on his knees. Like Hasumi, he may be able to aim for a medal as a future Olympic athlete. ''''Heh.'''' Perhaps because he sent me such an impression, Daichi-kun rubbed his nose with his index finger and smiled proudly. It''s only for a short time, but I''ve come to be comfortable enough with him to call him ''Nii-chan''. ''I hope I can get Amana-chan''s attention at that rate. Ha, ha! Daichi-kun''s face turned bright red at the words he uttered in addition, and he was greatly surprised. If you don''t get a little better at hiding it, the other boys will probably tease you about it. It''s not a surprise that the class is already aware of this, though. It''s not that I don''t... When you can get all this exercise and you go out of your way to join the girls in practice after school? Ugh.... Daichi-kun choked up when he received the figure. It''s very easy to understand his fondness for Amana, even if he''s been called dull by the black sound and forgot about the whole thing in the park. That''s why it''s so sad that he doesn''t think of you as more than a friend.... It''s not like me, you''re young enough to be able to do your best. Oh, well... First love in the first grade there''s no need to rush. I won''t be able to give you good advice, but let''s at least pray that it will come true. As I was thinking this, Daichi-kun starts to stare at me with a worried look. "You know, can I ask you something? What? Is there anyone you like, Nii-chan? Probably, from Daichi-kun''s point of view, I''m the only adult male acquaintance aside from his father and school teacher, and since he knows how much I like Amana-chan, he''s probably someone I can talk to in a way, which makes him easy to talk to. If that''s the case, I can''t afford to ignore this question. ''Unfortunately, I haven''t fallen in love with anyone in particular, nor have I ever had a lover. What the hell is that... There''s no way I can do this on my own, you know. When Daichi-kun finally found out that the person he was consulting with had no experience with love, he began to tease her outright. I can''t help but smile and apologize for being an adult who doesn''t live up to his expectations. Although he has a desire to marry like any other human being, there has been no change since he attended the wedding ceremony of Mao and his junior colleague. The girlfriend and I are currently at odds with each other, too. I want to make up with her. But I don''t understand why she''s acting this way, that''s why she''s doing this. The reason for this is supposed to be my fault, but when she insists on saying it''s none of my business, I get irritated. You''re going to be able to get your hands on a few of these.¡¡Cousin? Oh, oh, sorry. What did you say? This is not good. I''m in the middle of a conversation and I''m thinking about it. Daichi-kun looked at me and asked me again, "So, what can I do to get you to like me? So, what can I do to get you to like me? He speaks the purest thoughts that anyone in love would have. As far as I know, but from Amana-chan''s point of view, Daichi-kun is definitely a favorite of mine. I slowly answer, rearranging the words in my head, wondering how I should answer. ''First of all, as a basic premise, I think Amana-chan still doesn''t know the difference between ''like'' Sukiyaki no kubi...? I know. The love you feel for your family and friends is completely different from the love you feel for Amana-chan, right? Uh, yeah... Perhaps because he once again mentioned his fondness for Amana, Daichi-kun nodded awkwardly with a strong face. Well, it''s because he realized his first love early on, and he shouldn''t think that everyone is the same. First grade is a time when the line between right and wrong is blurred. Learning that line is one of the purposes of going to school, but I''m not an educator, so let''s leave school out of it. Anyway. Anyway, Amana-chan can''t tell the difference. I can''t understand it either, but it''s a shame. ...and you too, Nii-chan? As for me I never met anyone in the first place. Aside from Mom and her sister, the only people I have interacted with are Mao and Tenri. However, at this point, the number of people doesn''t really matter. ''So I can''t give you any witty advice but I can say this...'' He breaks it off there, takes a breath, and tells her. "Don''t make the girl you love sad. If you can''t do that, it''s impossible to get her to like you. .... If you do something that makes you sad, you won''t like it. From the point of view of the person you want to be liked, it''s the end of the world. Of course, it''s difficult not to make people sad. There are times when you step through a land mine without even realizing it. But that doesn''t mean it''s better than not trying at all. At least stop acting like you have the swings in the park all to yourself. ''What?¡¡How do you know?! I wonder why... As I thought, or rather, Daichi-kun at that time didn''t seem to be paying attention to anyone but Amana-chan. He would never have thought in his wildest dreams that I was witnessing the entire meeting between the two of them. With a different little friend than Amana-chan and her friends, I worked hard today to practice for the sports day. 117 110 The identity of the person you care about Oh, you''re Amana''s boyfriend... After the delivery of today''s batch is finished, I''m sitting in a tavern having a drink with Miya when I tell him about Daichi''s participation in yesterday''s practice, and he gives me a look of admiration as he listens to me. Daichi is a good kid. Daichi-kun is a good kid, with outstanding athletic ability, and since we''re in the same class, we have high expectations for him. Oh, she''s that amazing... the power of love. See, they already knew. He was supposed to have avoided direct reference, but they knew when he was participating in the girls'' practice even though he could exercise. At this rate, it''s possible that they''ve even gotten the message of who the target is. At any rate, he''s still grinning and smiling a small, hateful smile. I''m going to give that primitive boy the secret to attracting girls. "If it makes you feel any better, you don''t need a guy who isn''t popular to give you tips. ''Don''t do it with you. Anyway, just tell him this. With a denial that somehow doesn''t sound like the meaning of the words, Sanya takes a breath and speaks of the secret to it. "...I heard that boys who can run fast are more popular. When did this happen? Don''t say that information is so old that it''s not just analog, it''s retro, with a determined look on your face. If that''s how you''re going to be popular, your average physical fitness test is still in question. Don''t make fun of me too much. Daichi''s in a quandary because he''s never done it before. That''s pretty aggressive for a guy like you. Do you feel like it''s actually happening? ''''Well as long as Amana doesn''t know the distinction between likes and dislikes, what a tough one. Oh, Daichi-kun is an early learner, but that part varies from person to person. I''ve heard stories of people experiencing their first love when they were in nursery school or kindergarten, and if you''re aware of it early on, like Daichi-kun, there are examples of people like me and Tenashi who have never experienced it. .........To be honest, I was surprised to hear her think that. "My first love was a girl in my oldest kindergarten class," she said. When I didn''t have anyone to play with, she used to play with me a lot. ''Wow. What did you think of the results? "I tried to tell her before she graduated, but she was engaged to be married to a boy who looked like a childhood friend of mine. ''Wow....'' He treated me like a brother completely........ I feel like I''m going to cry when I think about how my childhood heartbreak made me have a temperamental personality for such a woman. I can''t, though. At any rate, the whereabouts of his love life are still in Amana''s hands. We''ll just watch and see what happens without doing anything unnecessary. After concluding that, Sanya asked me something. ''''So?¡¡It''s been a week now, but have you made up with Mao? Not at all. I haven''t spoken to him outside of work since that fight. Seriously.... It''s better if I don''t get personal in my work, but the current situation doesn''t seem so good for that. I know I''m the cause, but I understand that apologizing without having any idea what I''ve done will only get on their nerves. ''''In case you''re wondering, does Miya have any idea what happened?'''' There are some, but... Is this hard to say? Well, you know... It helped that he was as perceptive as ever, but he''s clearly not very crisp. It looks like he did something really bad.... But.......... ''But still, tell me. I don''t want to be in this kind of awkward situation with my coworkers. I understand. At such a firm intention, Sanya exhaled heavily before nodding to me. ''''Okay?¡¡What I''m going to say from now on is just what I guessed based on what Mao-chan said and did. There''s no guarantee of certainty, you know? Yeah, I know. Let me tell you something... I waited with bated breath for the next words from Sanya, who had prefaced it with such a preamble and collected it. What kind of speculation is he going to make..... In the midst of missing the illusion that even one second is too much, Sanya''s mouth begins to move. ''''©¤©¤I think Mao-chan likes Wa.'''' What...? But the words that came out were the same as what Kuroone-said before. He was about to kick it off as just that again, but when he saw Miya''s unprecedentedly serious expression, he kept his mouth shut. Mao had said that there was someone he was interested in. I haven''t heard any particular progress since then, but what if the person in question is me, as Miya says? ''I know it''s too abrupt to believe, but otherwise it wouldn''t add up to Maou''s grumpy attitude. ''''........even if that was the case, then why are you acting like that all the more so? ''Naturally. It''s because while Kazu is getting closer and closer to Tenri-san, Marao''s love life isn''t progressing at all. .... What''s that? The first thing I thought was that feeling. Even though it''s a matter of speculation, to be honest, it''s up to me to decide who I interact with. But that''s just my opinion. It''s natural that Maou doesn''t like the fact that the person she likes is friendly with a woman other than herself. If that''s the case, she should do something in her own way... What if your love life is so hopeless that you can''t take that action? ''Desperate...?¡¡I''m not going out with Tenri, okay? The success or failure of a confession is not the only thing you lose in a relationship. It''s also when the person who likes you is someone you don''t like. No, no, no, so I don''t miss Amari romantically. I wave my hand to deny what Miya has to say. It''s true that I''ve been close to Amari out of all the heteros*xuals I''ve been involved with, but that''s just because my daughter, Amana, and I are friends and I happened to help her. There should be nothing special about it. ''''At this point, I don''t care about the relationship between Wa and Amari-san. What is important is that there was an event in your life that determined your heartbreak. You probably unconsciously confronted her with it, and she''s wondering how to deal with the feelings she''s been holding onto... this is the reason for her unhappiness, isn''t it? With that, Sanya finished his speculation. If you can''t prove that Mao likes me, it''s a wild speculation that can easily be torn down. So why is it that........I''m now convinced that there is no other reason. It''s a strange feeling of calmness deep inside my heart, even though my head is bewildered. You can choose who you care about, but still, a woman wants you to care about her, while a man is a bother. There is no end to worrying about it, so just make up with them as soon as possible. Finally concluding that, Miya munches on the leftover yakitori on her plate. Although I''m also trying to pick up a handful of it, because I was devoting my thoughts to how I should make up with Mao, I can''t help but feel that the taste is not very good....... 118 111 I consulted with Kurone Thursday night. The fact that ''Mao misses me'', which San''ya told me about, flickers in my thoughts like ink stuck to my fingers. Although I didn''t make any mistakes at work, I was aware that I wasn''t able to concentrate fully on my work. I tried to talk with Mao after work, but he had already left the office and we passed each other brilliantly, so it was a waste of time, and I''m now in a state of confusion. I''m not able to sleep at all because I''ve been in a daze both on my way home and after I''ve returned home. It''s a normal thing to be happy about. But when I found out she likes me, I was more confused than delighted. I don''t know why I thought that.... Again, I''m not sure. That''s why the bewilderment in my chest keeps smoldering. It''s not good ... very bad. If I don''t solve it soon, I''ll be in trouble at work this time. With that kind of anxiety, I send a message to that guy on my phone for the first time in a long time to discuss the matter. The reply comes right away. It''s been a while. Are you okay now? I''m fine. What''s going on? "I need to talk to you about something. "Yee-hah! The person on the other end of the message©¤©¤Kuroone-even though she''s at school again tomorrow, she seems to be able to consult with me without letting out any particular complaints, and I naturally smile at her. The reason why I decided to consult with Kurone is because she is my relatives, and also because I had come to intuit her feelings about her relationship with Mao in a strange way, so I stepped on her feelings. Because the content is the content, I don''t make a strange preamble to the question, I just type a direct question and send it. ''Do you know that Marao might like me?'' ......... Huh? I got a read right away, but three minutes later, I still didn''t get a reply. Did you fall asleep or something? Piri-piri-piri! ''Whoa!¡¡Oh, is that a black voice calling? I pick up the phone, wishing I could message him if I had something to say. ''Hello?'' "Big brother!¡¡What do you mean by that message!¡¡Sakai-san finally confessed to me!'''' The black sound that came through the speakers was so aroused that I could tell from the sound of her voice alone. I couldn''t help but move the phone away from my ears, but I could still hear my sister''s voice clearly. I mean, what I was asking about was the truth of Marao''s favoritism, so why do you think she suddenly confessed to me? I''m not being healed. A few things happened and I found out about her feelings, albeit tentatively, like...? What do you mean by ''a lot''? ''''Ah~ I''m having a fight with that guy right now...'''' ''A fight!¡¡''Aniki, what did you do to upset Sakai-san!'' Hey, man. Why are you acting so unilaterally like it''s my fault? I don''t trust you, and you''re gonna get teary eyed. .........Well, what Kurone says is not wrong either, but.... For some reason, he''s been distant lately... and when I asked him about it, we argued. ''''Yes~.......and why did you say that Sakai-san might like Aniki?'''' "I talked to Miya about it and she said it might be so... "...that''s not necessary... Did you say something? ''It''s nothing. Well, I understand most of what you''re trying to say. Thank God you''re a perceptive sister. I listen to the rest of the story with a grateful heart. ''I''m sorry, but I can''t say it out loud. What? I didn''t expect to be refused an answer and let out a dumbfounded voice. Regardless of our reaction, Kurone continues. ''''In the first place, if Sakai-san''s feelings are true, what are you going to do, Aniki?'''' What''s the... Suddenly confronted with a choice, I can''t spin the words from it. ''Are you going out with Sakai-san?¡¡Or do you refuse?¡¡It''s just arrogance or a spirit of trying to lighten the hurt you''re going to get when you haven''t even settled on your own feelings, to know how people feel before you do.'''' .... I finally cringe at the words that were continued. I was trying to add her feelings about Marao to my own judgment of how I felt about her, among other things. In other words, because I was reminded that what my sister told me wasn''t far off. ''Sorry I didn''t think that far ahead. ''I think it''s better to be aware of it than to be pointed out and not admit it. Also, it''s not like I''m the one you''re apologizing to for that. I think... I can only laugh at myself for being such a disappointment. But I''m really glad I talked to Kuroone-sensei about it and realized what was going on. ''''.......What do you think I should do?'''' ''This is your one and only chance of a lifetime to have a girlfriend, okay?¡¡Why don''t we just go out and think about it for now?'' How could you be so irresponsible? I mean, there''s no law against marrying someone you''ve been with. You can''t just make them feel like they''re wetting themselves, not with the law or anything. "Depressingly stubborn in a needlessly insensitive way!¡¡You''ll miss your marriage if you think like that, huh? ''Why do I have to be undermined when we''re talking about something serious...! Try to stand up for your brother a little bit. You''ll lose the innate confidence that people like you when you talk to me like that kind of shit. When puberty and rebellion arrive, Amana-chan may be disliked because of the harsh smell of aging, and if that happens, she will lose her confidence in her ability to live. God, Buddha, Tenri-sama, I beg you, please let her grow up innocent.......! Anyway, you must make up your mind about Sakai-san. At the very least, don''t dump him before he confesses his feelings to you, or do something so saucy! Oh... In fact, as for the reason why I became distant, I''ll keep quiet about the fact that I may have done something similar to that. In the end, although there was no proof of Mao''s feelings or an answer from me, the consultation with Kuroone-san was not in vain. Perhaps because I was able to let out some of my pent up feelings, I quickly sank into the depths of slumber after ending the call, perhaps because I was able to sleep well....... 119 112 I consulted with Tennashi It''s Friday. Today is the day of delivery to the Minami family. It''s a day to be healed by Amana-chan, and although I would normally be excited about it, in my heart I was troubled by the return of the favor that seems to be directed at Maou. It''s somewhat better after consulting with Kurone, but it''s a serious choice that will affect not only your own life, but theirs as well... it''s never a good thing to take lightly. After all this time, when on earth did Marao fall in love with me? At least it''s later than when the rumors of a relationship started before. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have reacted so coldly to the question of going out with him, even if it was just a joke. Regardless of the time of year, if I accept their feelings, will that guy become my girlfriend....... If that''s the case, then he''s the first person I''ve dated since I turned 26. ........It''s no good to think about the future when you haven''t even confirmed whether the favor is real or not. I finally realized how greedy human beings are, and I sighed from dismay at my simplicity. ''Onii-san. Is Kyoumo being haunted? ''What?¡¡Oh, I''m sorry, okay?¡¡I couldn''t help but sigh. As I was thinking about this, I worried about Amana, who came out to pick up my luggage. This is not good. I have to concentrate on my work right now. However, I can''t help but relax when I see Amana in front of me. "If you''re tired, I''ll help you! Oh, thanks. I take advantage of the most delightful suggestion and bend my knees down so that I can easily reach her. Soon after, Amana''s small, soft palms are placed on my head and stroked with a slow, gentle hand from side to side. ''Alright~. I''m always very happy to see you, Gokurosama.'''' Aaahhhhh~ I feel soothed~. With just this, I feel as if the fatigue and worries that had been piling up in the back of my mind are being melted away. In the past few days, I was troubled by my relationship with Mao, and the effect of this is immense. As usual, Amana-chan is amazing. ''''Dere-dere to another person''s daughter.......were you really tired this time? As I was feeling such admiration, Amari came out of the door leading to the living room. She was dressed in a suit, as if she hadn''t just returned from work in a short while, and was directing a dumbfounded gaze at me. ''''Wah, evil...'''' I''m not done with you yet. Oh, yes. I tried to get up in a hurry, but Amana stopped me. This is good, there was a proper time limit........ How much time is up to Amana-chan. Amanashi, who was jittery-eyed until a moment ago, also looks apologetic and lowers her eyes when she sees her daughter going along with her selfishness. I got her mother''s permission, so I was able to pet her until she was satisfied. I can''t help but feel that she was treated like my favorite stuffed animal. After a while, Amana-chan finished stroking me and, perhaps satisfied, she said proudly, "See you later, Onii-san! I told him and then went back to the living room to do my homework. I looked off my little back, wanting to watch her grow up from now on, and met up with Amari again. ''''So ... what happened at work?'''' "Huh? Just because I was expecting my frustration to be blown away by the exchange with Amana-chan, I couldn''t help but roll my eyes at the words that came out of Amari''s mouth. ''There''s no point in playing dumb. It''s obvious that you''re less energetic than usual, I can tell by looking at you.'''' Oh, oh... I feel like he said something salacious and outrageous. I''m sure it was just in my face. Yeah, I''m sure it probably was. ''If you have any problems, I''ll listen to you. I''m always helping you with Tenna, and please don''t hesitate to talk to me. What? Without any room to reply, I was in the form of talking to Tenashi about my problems! My body shakes with the intimidation of not being allowed to say no, even though I have a beautiful smile on my face that would make anyone''s eyes glaze over. I decided to confide in him, giving up on the idea that there''s no other choice but to talk about this. However, the concern that Amari pointed out to me is what kind of relationship I want to have with Marao. It''s also about the privacy of people who aren''t here, and it''s necessary to muddy the waters to some extent. ''''Well before I tell you what''s troubling me, there''s something I want to ask you, Tenashi. What is it? Well, you see... What would you do if you found out that you were being favored by the opposite s*x you''re close to at work? What...? After hearing my question, Tenashi had a dumbfounded expression on her face for a moment....... ''''Yes!'''' I started to get red in the face and greatly upset. I think I should have told him to talk to me, but honestly, I let it slide that I would have a similar reaction if he asked me the same thing. I won''t bore you with the details, but I just found out about their feelings in an unintentional way. Oh, but I''m not sure, just because I was told by people around me, rather than by myself, that it was like that....... Oh, really, I don''t understand... It''s kind of awkward... well, it''s like a roundabout way of asking for relationship advice, and it''s hard to tell me to understand the situation right away. From there, I explained what happened, and also told him that we currently have no contact outside of business contact. After I finished speaking, I crossed my arms and waited for Amari''s hesitant response, and she gave me a somewhat uneasy look. ''''Wa-san........are you thinking of dating that person?'''' ''''Well I don''t know. Honestly, I''ve never done anything like this before, so I don''t know what to do. Amanashi''s question is probably a reasonable one. In fact, Kurone asked me what I wanted to do, and no matter how much I consulted with her, it was me who would give the answer. But in the end, it''s hard to shake the hesitation. If this is the case, I should have regretted that I should have been more proactive in becoming romantically involved when I was a student. I''m sure he doesn''t know what to do about it either. What...? I couldn''t help but ask back at the answer that was unexpectedly announced. Me and Marao are the same...? Why bother with a relationship when the other side might like me? But the reason I was strangely convinced by that single word was because the speaker, Amari, was wearing an expression of almost sympathy. It''s as if she was overlapping with herself.......I felt such a strong persuasive power. ''''Knowing that the person you love has someone else important to you, then it''s just hard to love them any more. And so to give up, you''re trying to treat them as you normally would, but on the contrary, you''re being too conscious of it. .... I''m afraid that because of that, things became even more awkward and uncomfortable for me... and if we fought, I didn''t want to return to our previous relationship... instead of expressing my feelings, we became insulated. I think it would be much, much more painful than confessing and being rejected. I don''t have a definite proof. However, that being said, what I remembered was the tears I saw when I argued with Mao. At that time.........do you mean to say that Maou realized her broken heart? I don''t know. Still......... ''As long as you''re involved with someone, all sorts of problems in relationships will always accompany you, but if it really doesn''t matter, you won''t care if it''s awkward. In the first place, the act of ''worrying'' is an indication that you are dealing with the subject, and whether it is friendship or love, as long as you are worried, you are thinking seriously about your relationship with your partner. Yeah, I hope so... ''Absolutely. Because I believe it is. ...the "three trees". Amari told me that it wasn''t wrong to keep worrying. Just that much is enough for me to see a glimmer of light in the dark cloud that spreads before me. What I should be thinking about right now is not going out with Marou or anything like that. ''Thanks, Amari. ''''If it''s okay with me, I''ll talk to you again. It''s kind of dangerous since you seem to hold it in your arms and hide it. Ha ha. I''ll keep that in mind. Together with a thank you for the consultation. I made up my mind to do so, and I went back to the rest of my deliveries.... 120 113 Reconciliation and invitation to the best It was past the middle of October. I had come to the Kukushi Outlet Mall for a specific purpose. The weather was fine, the sun was shining and the blue sky was dazzling. I was looking out at the coffee shop near the gate alone amidst the crowd of young people and families who had come there for shopping. Don''t get me wrong, I came here for a reason other than shopping. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have bothered to come to the mall alone on my day off. If all goes according to plan, that guy should be here by now.... As soon as I said it, the person I wanted came to the gate. I leave the coffee shop and approach her to go to her. A beige tunic with a lace hem is a subdued shade, including dark green baker''s pants and brown hooded sandals. Maybe it''s the fact that the other person is me that''s mindlessly casual... but I''m glad they''re here anyway, including that. ''''Yo. Mao. Hello, Mr. Caz. That''s how I greeted the person I was meeting with - Sakai Mao. It''s a very short conversation, but I''m relieved to be able to talk with Mao. There is still some awkwardness, but the purpose remains the same. That''s why I''m going out with her like this. ====. To tell the story of how this happened, I first go back a week ago. The day after I consulted with Amari, I had finished my delivery and was heading to the changing room to change out of my work clothes. Of course, the delivery was hard that day as well... and when the number of absences started to exceed 30, I was even thinking of leaving the packages at the front door. I don''t have the guts to do such a thing, though. In the past, when footage of a courier kicking a package that was supposed to be delivered appeared on social media or in the news, our company''s top management called for a very serious warning. I very much understand the feelings of the person who caused the incident, but don''t take it out on them in the wrong direction. Nevertheless, the last six months have been full of life, both physically and mentally, thanks to Amana''s healing and Amanashi''s lunches. The chances of me doing a similar imitation would be infinitesimally low. As I was walking around thinking about this........ ''''Ah........'''' Oh.... Accidentally. I ran into Marao in the hallway. ''''........'''' .... They both roll their eyes and fall silent at the unexpected timing of their meeting. I manage to restart my thoughts that stopped for a moment due to the suddenness of the situation, but Marao moved about a tenth of a second earlier than that. ©¤ ©¤ Oh no, we can escape again! In the instant that I realized that in the blink of an eye, my body moved before I could think. ''''©¤©¤Cack! I... He quickly grabbed Mao''s left hand as he tried to turn himself around and escape in the opposite direction. Perhaps because of the arm strength trained in delivery, the movement itself was easily stopped. But, as if in a great hurry, Marao, who was suddenly pulled by her arm, lost her balance. I hurriedly supported her right shoulder to prevent her from falling over. ''''Ah ... thanks.'''' Well, you''re welcome... I patted my chest, glad that I didn''t get hurt, and Marao returned my thanks. ''''........'''' .... When they finally exchanged a few words, they were silent again. It''s frustrating that Sanya isn''t on holiday at a time like this. It''s been a long time since we''ve spoken face to face in the first place. I thought back to that, but at the same time I chuckled at how strange it was. The reason is that before we fought, there was never a day that we didn''t talk at work, except on one of our days off. We''d start off with a light greeting, then move on from complaining about each other''s departments to making plans to go out for drinks on our free days. It was even more lively when Miya was also involved. That''s why I felt an indescribable sense of inadequacy while I kept crossing paths with Mao. Even without the romantic feelings, which are still unknown, her presence was certainly rooted in my heart. It''s impossible for me to convince Marao to live a different life while still in conflict with her. I want to remain a casual colleague and friend. That''s the only thing I seek first and foremost in my relationship with her. For that reason, I can''t pass up the chance to face her like this, and that inspires my weak self, who seems to be at ease with the situation. "...Nna Mao. What...? When her name is called, she comes with a quizzical look in her eyes, with some vermilion on her cheeks. That''s all it is, but I can''t help but feel that my heart is going to be buoyant. But you can''t be satisfied here. I have to step forward and open my mouth. ''I''m sorry for yelling at you the other day,'' What...? First of all, I apologize. I thought about many things and asked for advice, but in the end I don''t know what caused Marao to start avoiding me. However, it was clearly too much to yell at her for venting the frustration that had been secretly building up over her attitude. At least that''s where my fault lies. So I bowed my head like this and apologized to her. I can''t see her face, so I have no idea how she''s reacting. Anyway, I want to go back to our previous, easygoing relationship. While I apologized while hoping so, Maou said..... I''m sorry too. I didn''t want to hit Kazu-kun, who was worried about me, and........ I apologized back with a wry smile, even though I didn''t look at him. It''s easy to say that I''m the one to blame here, but it''s a stubborn Maou, it''s obvious that I''m probably going to be the one to bear the blame. ''''........Then it''s mutual. Yes.... So, if we stated a compromise early on, it wouldn''t be like that. Since she also accepted that, I patted my heart that we were finally able to make up. Just as I was thinking that, Marao, who once again faced me, asked me a question. ''''Kazu-kun. You''re off the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, right? ''Oh. Right. Do you have any plans? No, not really... I see. He answers Mao''s question without any hesitation. Oh, didn''t we have an exchange like this before? Before she can nod her head at the sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu that has suddenly flashed through her brain, she begins to reveal her true intentions. ''Then we''ll go shopping that day. Shopping? That''s right. You''re going to run in your school''s sports day, right?¡¡You''d be embarrassed if you didn''t have proper athletic shoes. ''Yeah, that''s true but it''s like an exhibition match and no one is that serious, right? ''What?¡¡The fathers of the world try to live up to their children''s expectations, and they really want to be number one. And that''s what happened to my father. Ummmmm... When you say that, including your experience, it makes sense. I''m the one who declared to Amana that I''m going to be number one... should I really challenge her, shoes and all? I hesitated for a moment, but immediately shook my head that I should do so. There is no need to hesitate in choosing the best that can be done in order to meet the expectations of that girl who went out of her way to ask me to run in a competition in which there is no obligation to participate. ''''- In that case, I''d like to ask you to do this for me. I hope you''re right. I shook off my hesitation and took Mao''s suggestion. Even though it was a suggestion I made myself, although her expression was somewhat unexpected, I missed the timing to ask her while deciding on a meeting place. And........it was as if this was the last time I would be going out alone with Mao....... 121 114 Is this a date? By the way, does this fall into the category of dating? I came to the outlet mall for the purpose of buying shoes while I was making up with Maou, but I couldn''t help but think about it. It''s not a very s*xy thing to say from the point of view of the purpose. However, this kind of pseudo-deal with the pretense is often seen in dramas and manga. There''s a possibility that Maou is fond of me. For that reason, once I became curious about it, a frustration came out in the corner of my mind that I couldn''t shake off. ........It seems that I''m the only one thinking about this, and Mao next to me is operating her phone with a serious expression on her face. ''''I''ve done some research before today, and I think the new thick-soled shoes from Nice are the best. Why? As a result of the marathon and relay race athletes who wore the shoes set new records at competitions, their future use is being discussed. In other words, they have a proven track record of high performance, so there''s no reason not to choose them. You sure that''s... I mean, are you going to buy a pair of shoes that you''re going to use for a marathon? It''s an elementary school field day I''m attending. Even if you say you''re going to be serious for the kids, do you really need to pick out such a stiff pair of shoes? It''s not like there''s a spring in the back of the shoe or anything, so there''s no harm in buying them because they''ll reduce the burden on your feet. Well, it''s true, I do. Come to think of it, how much do nice shoes cost.......so much! Well, if it''s as good as Marao said, this price might be justified, but I''m a bit torn. Can I look at the others? Yes. You''re the one who buys it, Kazu, and I won''t force you to. I was slightly worried that he would be offended by my distant rejection of the shoes I recommended, but I was relieved inwardly when he smiled back at me. To be honest, I''m going to choose functionality over design, so the shoes that Maou chose make sense. If the price was a little more affordable, I could have made an immediate decision, but since this is a great opportunity, let''s take a look at various things. In this way, I looked at various athletic shoes for nearly 10 minutes, but in the end, the first nice shoes that Mao recommended were the best in terms of comfort and ease of use, so I bought them, although they were quite an expense. ''''Admonition has gone for two........'''' Well, that''s why you can see Amana-chan''s smile, so it''s a bargain, right? That too, I suppose. ''''Well I dumped you, but I''m afraid you''re recovering too quickly. What did I say to you that would make you give me such a stink-eye? I''m here to buy shoes to make sure I get the first place originally. There''s plenty of money that I don''t have the opportunity to spend on anything other than living expenses due to my daily hard work, and that''s only a couple of mosquito bites for Yukichi-san. At any rate........ ''''Thanks to you, Maao. You''re welcome. You''ve done so much for us that if you''re not number one, you''ll be excommunicated this time. What? Don''t be so quick to say something scary! That awkward, awkward, awkward feeling you get when you go backwards, that''s when you get sick to your stomach! In response to me, who was blatantly upset, Mao smiles with a really enjoyable smile. ''''©¤I''m just kidding. But since we''re going to do it, we''re going to be serious.......right? ''....Oh. I''ll do my best. I was relieved to hear his words as he continued. I''m glad to see that a grown man is not fooling around with the idea that he''s getting serious about a sporting event at a mere elementary school, a competition that won''t have any impact on the competition for the championship, and that he''s pushing back like this. ''Yes. I''ll give you a shoe thank you like the other day and I''ll give you something to help you out. ''Last time... you mean when you rescued Amana-chan who was lost? Yeah, yeah. It was four months ago, but I can still remember it vividly. I was very upset when I found out that Amana-chan, who was supposed to be with Kuroone-she was separated from me. However, Kuroone-she was in even more of a hurry than I was, so I was barely able to keep my cool. When I was at my wits'' end after searching around the mall for her, we were able to get out of this mess thanks to Mao, who happened to be visiting us and took care of Amana. But what was particularly impressive......... ''At that time, when you saw us, you mistakenly thought we were a family, right? Wait, you still remember that? Mao protests with a red face when I mention the black history level misfire while holding back a laugh. I''m sorry, but it''s hard to forget such a too amusing misunderstanding. ''''Well, it can''t be helped. It''s not like I know everything about Kazu-kun''s private life, and if Amana-chan misses him that much, I''d be mistaken! Okay, okay, okay, I won''t tell you anymore. He''s going to try hard to argue with you while giving you zit eyes, but I don''t think it''s very often you get to choose between parent and child when there was a line between relatives and siblings. Even though I think so, I don''t say it out loud. It''s because if I poke around too much, I''m likely to get angry, and if I think about the possibility that she''s favoring me, I don''t feel uncomfortable with that misunderstanding. In the end, there is no certainty other than what he can tell you. ''''So what are you going to do about it, Marao? "You''re not going to change the subject by dumping me and then going off topic... Well, I''m here in the outlet mall and I''m going to take you up on your offer. Then you''re set. I''m still getting a bit of a stare, but he accepted the invitation, so I pat my heart on the back for being able to thank him properly. So it looks like this date modus operandi is still going to continue. 122 115 Improvisational physical fitness test guy I took a lunch break to thank him for the shoes and then strolled through the outlet mall with Mao. Although there are clothing and accessory shops and a cosmetics store, I quickly look around the tenant stores, as if none of them are decisive. ''Can''t you decide yet?'' The best way to do this is to have a look at a few of the things that are available to you. In addition, when the time comes for you to thank them, it''s even more difficult to decide........ Well, I guess you could say that... As for Marao, I guess she thought it was the end of helping me pick out shoes, or maybe she decided to accept the thanks, but didn''t think about it from there. If I were to use an analogy, it would be similar to ''I can''t answer Santa Claus even if he asks me what I want''.....................something like that. ''''Right?¡¡But it would be a shame to put it off too long... ''Oh?¡¡Did you find something good? In the midst of talking, as soon as Mao''s vision recognized a certain point, she stopped walking. I''ll be able to see that reaction and turn my eyes ahead as well. This is a facility where you can play various sports using the latest technology as if it were a game. You can play as many sports games inside as you want by paying an admission fee, and you can play as many games as you want as long as time permits, which is a very luxurious design. Kazu-kun. Can we work out a little over there? By the looks of it, you''re playing football or baseball, so it has nothing to do with relays. Kazu will gain some strength. And I''ll have some fun too, so it''s not a win-win. Is that a good idea? Apparently, playing there is a rule in Marao''s mind. Since I said I would go out with her, I have no veto power. We paid the admission fee and went inside, as if to say, as soon as possible. The loud noise of the arcade reminds me of how Amana used to close her eyes as well as her ears. Next time we have a day off, we might as well play together. Well, that can wait until later, but for now I have to choose which game to play with Mao. I hurriedly bring my thoughts back to the pamphlet handed to me by the attendant. ''''Let''s see. Let''s start with the trampoline. "I''m trying to strengthen my legs and feet... well, you know, jump on a trampoline and see how high you can jump within the time limit. It''s doubtful that a layman could do it out of the blue, but the goal here is to enjoy the sport like a game. The trampoline acts as a controller, and every time the player jumps, the character in the game seems to jump higher and higher. However, the character appears to be jumping in the air. I know it''s a game, so it''s probably not appropriate to talk about it, but it''s clearly too much of a dream come true for this game. While hiding the damage that such a blotch of black history has unexpectedly come to mind, I get on the trampoline that has been set up. ''''And.........'''' Unexpectedly, my feet sink and I lose my balance, if not until I fall down. It''s obvious that it''s adjusted for the game when I''m standing, even if I''m not an experienced player. I feel like I need to practice standing like this. ''Then the goal is 7500 meters!¡¡I''ll keep trying again and again until I''m over the top, so plan on it! "Wait a minute, you didn''t tell me you had a quota! ''Just clearing it out isn''t enough to build up your stamina, is it?¡¡See, I already pressed the start button. ''Oh, I''m going to do as much as I can! Before you can argue with Mao, who talks like a demon coach just before the game starts, the announcement for the start of the game rings out. You don''t have to decide on a move like the real trampoline, but just jumping around uses a lot of leg and back strength. And that''s not all, as there''s a one-minute time limit on it... and you have to keep jumping until your time is up. Frankly, it''s hard. At first, I thought I could jump high, but then my back started to hurt and I couldn''t put any energy into the next jump. My thighs felt like they were going to be torn to shreds... I couldn''t even feel my calves and blood flowing through them. The mysterious fever time is especially bad. When the gauge that builds up every time you jump reaches a maximum, a rocket engine unfolds from a backpack on your character''s back and forces you to jump continuously as a form of energy charge. Screw that, what a pointless setup! We''re not here for the BEE''S boot camp! I did it once in middle school class, and I was seriously scared of the bee-zus who were doing one reckless thing after another. I desperately wanted to cry, but I kept on jumping, doing my best to take advantage of the opportunity to exceed my quota. And then......... ''Bleep!¡¡Time Up! Yeah ... yeah ... It''s finally over..... As soon as the alarm says it''s over, I''m exhausted and get down on all fours, even though I''m on the trampoline. Wow........1 minute was that long........ The strength I''ve consumed and the pain in my lower back are bringing that fact home to me. I don''t want to do it again........ Thanks for your efforts. You will reach your quota with a record of 8432 meters. Well that''s clear then... When Marao returned to support the wall, he praised me with a really satisfied look on his face. That''s why I feel an unearned fear when I think of not being able to cross the quota, though. Anyway, I''m glad it was only one shot. It was a short time before I was relieved. Then I''ll go to the next one............................ What? How mercilessly the words came into my ears! She was perfectly calm in person, and I could tell that she was not lying or joking. Because I could tell, I couldn''t help but despair at what she continued to say. ''Of course you can''t get your admission fee back on the trampoline alone,'' she said. It''s a loss if you don''t at least make it through that amount. Oh, yes. My muscles are going to be sore tomorrow. That was enough to convince me. 123 116 Japanese feelings Feeling fearful to the point that his whole body was shaking, he performed the competitions that Mao had carefully selected for him. She scored a soccer penalty kick, or played a rhythm game with a light stick held in both hands.... I managed to clear the quota imposed on me, and by the time I finally finished, the sun was starting to set. Naturally, I''m completely dejected, having exhausted my energy. Although I''ve been resting my body at the coffee shop, one of the mall''s tenant stores, my body is screaming to the point where it seems impossible to avoid muscle pains even if it''s not tomorrow. For that reason, the iced coffee that Mao asked me to order is delicious as it soaks through me like a release from fatigue. However, she is also the reason why this happened..... Well, as an apology for that, she bought me a cup of coffee, and if anything, lack of daily exercise is probably the cause. Even without the matter of the sports day, you should still move your body to some extent on a regular basis. Are you okay, Kazu-kun? Somehow. I''m reminded myself that I''ve got to keep up the momentum, even if I''m physically fit. That''s good. I don''t want to see Kazu become as disheveled as his father. ''You can tell that to Mao''s father? I mean, I don''t want to be the one to tell you that. But as Mao says, exercise is necessary for maintaining body shape. ''''-That''s right. Seeing Amana and Amari-san makes me want to meet her somehow. ''It''s the same for me. I don''t know what to say, but seeing Amana, who loves her mother like that, makes me want to be filial to her. When Amana-chan ate the first cookie she ever made, she was so moved by the sight of Amana-chan''s tears that the runaway Kuroone-who had been running away from home-returned home with open arms. It''s been a long time since I''ve been able to see her. But every year when I go back to my parents'' house, I get so tired of asking myself, ''Do you have a partner to marry? I wish you would stop attacking me, though. I''ll tell my parents... Does that happen at Kazu''s place too?¡¡You''re going to be twenty-six now, so you should leave me alone... or maybe it''s because I''m going to be twenty-six. I know they worry about the future, but it''s depressing when they ask me about it every time I see them. It''s atrocious when the parents are more aggressive than he is. In that sense, Watei-san, who is both a parent idiot and an old man idiot, is like the opposite. No, that''s pretty depressing too, though. ''Since Amana-chan is in the first year of elementary school, I wonder if Amanashi-san was a student marriage? ''Yeah, it looks like. She found out she was pregnant the year she graduated from high school and they got married right away. ''You must have really liked the other person so much to get married so quickly...'' For a moment, I wondered what she was talking about, but Maou didn''t know that Amana wasn''t Amana-chan''s real mother. Although she was the wrong person, Amana-chan was able to be born because of the solid love between Yuna and Tatsuto-san. Even though she doesn''t know that, Maou''s eyes seem to be tinged with envy somehow. I suddenly wondered what kind of envy it was. Being tied to the person I love? Because you have a happiness that you don''t have? Or is it because you''ve given up on your feelings, as Amani says? Many answers come to mind, but none of them are certain. In the first place, even at this moment, I don''t see Marao as a love interest. The reason I didn''t like the awkwardness of the situation is because I refused to be estranged from someone close to me. If that''s the case, it could be said that Marao''s love had no chance of bearing fruit from the start. The reason is because I don''t have a single thought to respond to the feelings of favor that may be coming from the other side. I''m sure they were trying to get you to turn around, but the guy who matters most is not responding like a curtain. Can you really say that continuing to think of them in that state of mind is a blessing? I don''t know. In any case, I''ve never loved someone enough to be that much in love with them. There are so many reasons why I''m not interested in love, or I didn''t have the right relationship. But if I had to pick a primary reason, it would be because I hadn''t been a social butterfly in my life. It''s not that I didn''t have any friends, and my relationship with my classmates was good. I have no idea how the classmates I met in elementary, middle and high school are doing right now, and the contacts I exchanged without being invited to the reunion are treated as a list of faces and names that don''t match. If anything, they wouldn''t even know I was working as a courier. And I never felt particularly sad about it. Of course, I don''t care about it as much as they do. I''ve only had shallow relationships with people, and I''m not conscious of relationships as deep as love. Marao''s approach wasn''t a waste when she made me not want to cut ties with someone like that, and I think it''s great enough to be able to love someone like she does. Unlike when I was in school, Amari was right, I was able to face it well when I was troubled. It''s because of that reaffirmation that I want to stay with Marao as a colleague.......and a friend. So in order for her to be happy like that, I thought, I shouldn''t be tied to this guy. That''s my answer. I''m sure what I''m going to do now will be a level of hate. I''ll take any amount of punishment I can get my hands on. If it makes my friend happy, then I''ll take the role of the hater with a heart full of hate. So while secretly mocking myself, I ask Mao something. "Nah, Mao. What is it? She comes back to listen to the call with a gentle smile on her face. It''s as if she doesn''t think she''ll say enough to ruin it all, even though she''s been able to make it up to me. But I feel like if I don''t say it, nothing will get done. Desperately trying to push out my sunny mind, I finally told him. ''The person you''re thinking of talking about........is that me?'' 124 117 That is her answer Somehow........I felt that there was a strange wall between us since the first time we met, Kazu-kun. If we see each other at work, we make small talk, and we even have a private relationship. I often asked him for advice, and he helped me out when I was in trouble. It''s because of Kazu''s personality that I fell in love with him. Nevertheless, I had no idea what his hobbies were or what kind of school days he had spent there. When I asked him about the latter, all he would say was ''the same as it is now''... Anyway, Kazu never talked about himself much. Still, if there''s one thing I can tell, it''s that he has a kind nature. But Kazu''s kindness, which should definitely be considered a strength, has a fear of accepting anything. It sounds like a horrible thing to say, but that kindness usually has a hidden side. But that''s not the case with Kazu. If someone makes you happy, you can laugh as if it''s your own fault. That should be a very nice thing to do, but somehow I think he despises himself. Maybe the reason he''s so insensitive is because Kazu-kun doesn''t give himself or the people around him as much admiration as he should. Maybe it''s partly because of the personality aspect that makes me want to complain a little bit when I think about it. That''s why......... ''''The person you feel like talking about........is that me? It never occurred to me that the question would come from his mouth. It was not a haphazard question, it was a serious one. I think I''ve revealed my pathetic face in surprise. How in the world did Kazu-kun know about my feelings? Is it Miya-kun or Kuroone-chan... or Tenri? If that''s the case, I''m sure Kazu-kun must have consulted with him during the awkwardness. Otherwise, it''s impossible for him, who is like a master of bluntness, to mention romantic feelings...much less favors that are directed at him. ........How should I respond here? If I said ''yes'' to that question, how would you respond to my feelings? Smile and say ''Let''s be lovers''? Or do you want to bow your head and say ''I''m sorry''? ...maybe the latter. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have that apologetic, guilt-filled look on your face. It''s still easily visible on your face, so it''s not obvious that you''re hiding it. It should be annoying to be liked by someone you don''t think of as more than a friend or colleague, but you still feel the same kindness directed at you, and the edges of your mouth relax. Even though I''m in a situation where I''m being rejected, it''s a strange feeling. But you know what, Kazu-kun? You don''t have to make that expression. I was just rejected because it was too late to make a move. It''s because I wasn''t satisfied with my own cuteness, and I was content to be in a relationship with someone who was far from my girlfriend, and I just thought it would be fine if those days went on forever. I don''t blame myself in the slightest for my broken heart. If there''s anything I can do, it''s to support Kazu so that he can think about his happiness. Then I have only one answer to his question. "I love Kazu-kun? What are you talking about? I''m sorry? When I responded with as much of a mended expression as possible, this time Kazu-kun rolled his eyes in dismay. I might even mock myself for my stupid reply, but it''s still going to end in heartbreak anyway. So I decided to at least pull the curtain back on myself. ''No, because...well...I didn''t know why Marao was avoiding me, and when I talked to Miya about it, she said it was because...'' He looked puzzled but revealed the reason for his question. In a way, I was convinced by his typical background. So it was Miya-kun''s plan after all........ The fact that he is able to accurately see through it without even making fun of it is beyond astonishing. But I''m also glad to know that they wanted to get back together enough to talk to you about it. If he was just chasing his own happiness, he might have been very happy. Well, I''m sorry for your concern, but I''m going to have to disregard it. I apologize softly in my heart to my colleague, who always has a hateful grin on his face. "Huh........you really wanted to make up with me, didn''t you, Kazu-kun, to take such an untruthful statement seriously? Ggh..... If you return it a bit agitatedly, he turns red and holds his mouth shut. ''''Jeez, so what was it that you were talking to Kuroon?'''' Oh, you''re surprisingly tenacious, aren''t you? Well, when you deny the favors you thought were being directed at you, it''s like you were being smug. When you''re convinced you''ve gotten to the bottom of the case, it''s unnerving like a detective who had a hole in his reasoning, and it''s a bit amusing. ''''Kurone-chan just told me some of Kazu-kun''s old stories. And even without that, that girl said she wanted to be friends with me. I mean, no matter how much it''s for my sister''s sake, I don''t think it''s a good idea to wave a big handmade flag around at a sports day, do you? ''Oi!¡¡What kind of a guy tells people about their past that they want to erase? Because originally, it was Kazu-kun''s fault for not talking about himself at all, right? Geez... In reality, though, it''s all about relationship counseling. It''s true that I wanted to find out about Kazu-kun''s past, and it''s true that Kuroone-chan told me she wanted to be friends with me. ''The fight I had with Amari at the pool...? ''That was because I thought you misunderstood my friendship with Kazu-kun. "Whaaaaat? ! What''s that? Anyway, Kazu, believing that there was no favor from me, prostrated himself on the table and dropped his head. The person who makes him happy is not me. I suppressed my sentimentality, but because of the noise I made, people around me were looking at me. Even though Kazu-kun is na?ve because he thinks he''s misunderstood, this gaze is a bit harsh. You see, Kazu-kun. It''s time to end the break, ''Oh....Mao. What? I''m sorry for being such a jerk. But, you know, it''s good to have you as a colleague. He smiles at me, although I haven''t recovered slightly, but he gives me a smile. That makes me inexplicably happy because I''m still right after giving up on my love life. I don''t know how long it will take, but I don''t want to do another awkward imitation like before. I''ve decided that I won''t make that much of a mistake and I..... I''m not going to be able to say that I''m a good friend of yours. I''ll continue to be good friends with you from now on. He returned it so firmly. 125 118 This is the fishermans interest -What am I doing? After my date with Kazu at the outlet mall, I feel a belated pang of regret as I calm down. As I walked through the streets alone, enveloped in the moist, tropical night air, I could only let out a great sigh. Surely I stepped aside for Kazu-kun''s sake? But now that I''m on my own, I''m wondering if I couldn''t have persisted longer. It''s pathetic........I thought I''d be dragged along miserably even if my heart was broken, and now I''m left with this....... As I''m hating myself, a young couple walks past me from the front. I don''t know if they only see each other, but they completely ignore my presence. I have mixed feelings of envy and depression. Those unfulfilled feelings come out again in a sigh. I really don''t know what I''m doing.... I want to drink........I want to get drunk and forget all the bad things....... I''m too pathetic to talk about escaping reality, giving myself over to alcohol. That makes me feel even more miserable and I sigh for the fifth time in total. Then...... If you want a drink, I''ll show you a good place to go, okay? "...what do you want?¡¡Sannya-kun. "Don''t be so boring! I''ll buy you a drink! Miya, dressed in a rough-looking outfit that looks like he''s done with his work, invited me to join him in a ridiculous tone of voice. The insensitive attitude is irritating, even though I''m not at peace with my broken heart. I turn my glaring jito eyes at him, but he only pretends to be coy and it''s not working. But I thought I might be able to restrain myself if I went home and stayed with someone instead of drinking alone, so I reluctantly accept the invitation. In the tavern I arrived at shortly after, I went out of my way to enter a private room, perhaps to avoid having others overhear my conversation. He''s very attentive in spite of his looks and words and actions.... If I usually put that side of me in front of you, I would have had one of my lovers by now, right? With that in mind, Sanya-kun opened his mouth just as the other''s beer arrived. ''Then, kanpai~'' .... When I hit the glass mug with the beer in it, a high-pitched sound could be heard. I''m not a fan of this kind of thing. ''''So?¡¡Did you cocky with Kazu? What? It was easy to stop me with a surprise question. Or rather, I gushed........even though it was right after I drank it all up so I didn''t have to stain the table and snacks. Nevertheless, I glare at Miya-kun who is grinning in front of me. ''''Keho.......how long have you known?'''' It''s hardly the first time! I knew I had a keen intuition, but I didn''t think it was obvious from the beginning. Hmm? Wait a minute? Isn''t that strange? ''''Well why were you messing with me in a weird way when you knew how I felt?'''' What?¡¡Are you going to ask such an obvious question~? I won''t make fun of it. When I was talking to Kazu-kun alone, he interrupted me as if he was aiming for me, in front of me and asking me about my progress with Tenashi-san, and today, Kazu-kun blurted out the things he liked... what do you think you''re doing? While holding back my hand from getting angry huffing and puffing, I list all the things that Sanya-kun has done so far. I listed them myself, but why didn''t I set up the approach sooner? Such self-loathing passed through my brain, but I shook my head to pay it off, saying it was past time. Anyway, Miya doesn''t seem to be following up on my love life. But even so, Sanya kept up his good mood and took a bite of yakitori. After chewing it, a really annoyed look appeared on his face and..... Because I like Mao-chan. What? What are you talking about? My mind goes blank at the reply that was only a thought. I like.........? Sannya, you sent me? You''re not going to be able to see it. ''But you like Japanese style, don''t you, Mao?¡¡Then why wait until you get your heart broken? .... I''d have given up on the idea of a relationship, but there''s no sign of it.¡¡And then you''ll be able to get along with people who aren''t in harmony with you.¡¡So we''ve got to go for this one, right? ''You didn''t ask for my consent earlier!¡¡Soooo, how do you expect me, the very person I love, to reciprocate! It''s uselessly annoying and hard to answer! ''Then what!¡¡You''ve been hiding your feelings all this time, betting on the possibility of me getting my heart broken! ''Yes!¡¡I''m so single-minded, aren''t I? I''ll knock you down! That''s a lot of space for a guy who just confessed! He gave me a smug look with a wink while using his hands as a pistol shape, and I''m pissed! I don''t know if I should be dumbfounded or angry anymore, I don''t know why.... Regardless of whether or not I receive a confession that''s too light, there''s something I''ve learned after talking to Miya-kun. ''''The person who had the most delicious feeling about this case is Miya-kun........'''' In a sense, Kazu was my rival, but he''s an ordinary guy, so it''s not surprising that Mao-chan fell for him. That''s why it''s bad dreaming if the two of you stay on edge, so if you make up with each other, hooray, and if you get your heart broken, hooray. ''Huh ... well, I''ll just say thank you for making up with me and I''m glad I didn''t have to deal with the unpleasantness. You''re welcome. Deciding that it''s not a good idea to deal with him properly, I tell him so only in passing. My heartbreak to Kazu-kun alone is enough to fill me up, but the confession from Miya-kun has completely overwhelmed me. That''s not a good amount of information to happen in a day........ ''''Nah, Mao-chan. I put my hand on my forehead and sigh, and Sanya-kun comes calling to me. When I turn around to see what it is, I see that he has a serious expression on his face that I haven''t seen before. ''''You can answer me when you''re in love with me! ...you''re too quick. Stupid. Eventually I had to poison myself with that. I had a feeling that maybe I had no luck with men..... 126 119 I will do my best at the athletic meet! Part 1 Late October. The sun was shining brightly on a clear and sunny day, and a sports day was being held at Amana''s elementary school. I don''t know if you''ve heard of it before, but the teams were divided into the red team and the white team, competing for points. I had heard during practice that Amana and her friends were in the white team because they were in the same class. Looking back, this is the first time I''ve come to this elementary school since I dropped Amari off for a class visit, but this is the first time I''ve really set foot in this school. But that doesn''t mean I can''t walk around with a big smile on my face. Instead, the adults around me are either teachers or close relatives of current students, and I don''t feel out of place at all. Maybe I''m the only adult who comes in the student''s friend zone. If I hadn''t come with Amari, it would have been a normal problem. But the teacher in charge of the reception desk treated me like the "mainstay of the South family". It''s better than being reported as a suspicious person, but it''s hard to say later that we''re actually friends from a year apart. I feel like a spy who has invaded a hostile country, where if I say or do anything even slightly unnatural, I''ll be put on the noose immediately. People in my day job would be angry if they knew, but that was the closest I could get to it. ''''Wa-san?¡¡I''m zoning out, is that okay? ''Yeah, oh, I''m fine. I''m just nervous because it''s my first time getting into a school that isn''t my alma mater. ''''Actually, this is my first time coming to Tenna''s sports day too...'''' ''Why ... oh, you''re at work. I''m just glad it didn''t turn out like a class visit this time. ''Yes. Mayuzumi-san gave me a hand and pushed me to come and support him to the fullest. Mayuzumi-san is that mukimuki-kione. Apparently he was worried about Amari not being able to see Amana''s sunny face. Tenashi doesn''t seem to know the exact procedure, but anyone would be scared of being crowded by that thick makeup and muscles, of course. It wouldn''t be surprising if they were lightly traumatized. While praying for the peace of mind of our boss, who must have had a scary experience, we move to the audience space. We manage to sit down in a position where we can easily see the schoolyard while other people are already there. ''We''re going to have the opening ceremony now, right? ''Yes. It''s like the freshman relay starts there. So that means Amana-chan and the others will be our start. Yes. I''m ready to record. While saying that, Amari started holding up her phone. The other guardians are also holding up their phones in the same way because it''s lighter and cleaner than a bad camera. I''m not going to record it? It''s like a miracle that you''re here, but if you do anything suspicious like that, you''ll get caught. I''m not going to cross any dangerous bridge that I can see. While I was urging my mind to be more careful, the opening ceremony began. I vaguely understood that the overall number of students at school was on the decline due to the declining birthrate, but compared to when I was in elementary school, the number of students is certainly smaller. Even so, the smiles on the children''s faces as they line up in the schoolyard don''t give me the slightest hint of melancholy. In particular.........the first one I spotted, Amana, has a spirited expression on her face as she tries to show the fruits of her practice. Following the principal''s greeting, the pledge of players by the sixth year students is followed by the spirit of the tree. As soon as the opening ceremony was over, an announcement was made for the first event, the 200-meter relay for the first-year students. I find Amana and her friends among the first year students who will be running in the relay. Before lining up in their respective running order, the four of them put their hands together and form a circle. They raise their hands in unison and wish each other well, drawing the attention of the students and parents around them. I taught Amana and the others this ritual as a way to get them fired up during the last practice before the sports day. It was worth it, but the four of them showed no signs of nervousness. When they arrived at the 4 lanes divided by white lines, the children waited impatiently for the signal to start the race. The first runner is Hasumi. The first runner was Hasumi-chan, who was chosen under the guidance of Miya to run first in order to gain distance. ''''Get in position, alright........'''' Pow! ".... Everyone ran at once with the start. However, Hasumi is still overwhelming compared to girls of the same age, and she is quickly separating herself from the rest of the pack. She was fast in the past, but the practice of Miya and I has made her even faster. Not only the upperclassmen, but also the parents who didn''t know her, were watching her. Maybe she''ll become a future Olympic athlete...I could see that faint expectation in their hands. ''''Chiyucchi!'''' I''ll do it! In the blink of an eye, Hasumi ran through her own 50 meters and passed the baton to the second runner, Chiuri. Her cheeks unconsciously relax at her confident words. Chiuri-chan herself, though not as good as Hasumi-chan, has set a record that is easily surpassed the basic level. In her case, there was a great deal of anxiety about whether she would make a mistake in passing the baton. If she made such a mistake in the race, she would be lost. To prevent such a mistake, Chiyuri practiced more and more on the baton pass. The result was a superposition, and she received the baton without an inch of error. Kana-chan!¡¡Good luck! Uh-huh! Because of the amount of money earned by Hasumi, Chiuri passed the baton to the third runner, Kana-chan, without being overtaken by anyone. I was relieved to see that she could not only catch the ball but also pass it without a hitch. Kana-chan is not the most athletic of the four, but that''s because she has so much room to grow. However, she also has a lot of room to grow, so it can be said that she has grown the most through practice. The proof of this is that her time, which had been slow, has shrunk and is now above the average for elementary school girls. But this is where the rest of the field catches up. It seems that the second half of the race seems to be run in the order of the fastest children, and with Kana-chan''s tentative running ability, she can easily close the distance. Even so, Kana-chan runs with all her might. For the sake of her classmates and Amana-chan and the others, the quiet and shy girl keeps running, desperately looking only at the front. Before long, the girls who have been following her start to line up with Kana-chan. However, there is no gloom on her face. After all..... "Ah, Amana-chan! Yes! Because the baton was passed on to the last runner, Amana-chan. Because we know how hard we had been practicing. They had declared that they were going to be the best to us. Amana-chan, who is still small right now, moves her legs in order to link her repeated efforts to the desired result. The speed is so fast that it separates the opponents who were lined up at the start of the race. The result of the relay is... needless to say, it goes without saying. Amana-chan and the others won first place. In an athletic meet with a lot of students, this first place is not that significant. But as I was watching them do their best, it was the most important thing I saw of all. 127 120 Do your best at the athletic meet! Part 2 Amana and her team took first place in the relay, and the white team took the first point. In the men''s relay, Daichi also scored consecutive points. When he returned to the waiting area, he was happy to be praised by Amana-chan, even from a distance. It''s really a new experience for me. After completing the program, with the white team dominating, it was time for the lunch break of the sports day. Mom!¡¡Hey, mister!¡¡I came first in the Amazons'' relay! Yeah, I''m watching very closely. Good job, Amana-chan. From the student waiting area, Amana is the first to come running up to me and Amanashi, and she enthusiastically reports on the relay''s achievements. Her adorable smile becomes even more radiant when I praise her for coming in first place as she declared. Yeah, pretty. ''''Well, I''ve put a lot of Tenna''s favorite things in my bento for today, so please have a drink. ''Wow!¡¡Thanks, Mom! The bento that Amashi made for me included stuffed peppers and octopus sausage, which looked like something a child would like. Even to me as an adult, it looks really tasty. Amana picked up a stuffed green pepper with her chopsticks and ate it. She mugs and chews and swallows it.... ''''Tasty!'''' "Hmmm, thank you. My daughter expresses her honest impressions with a big smile on her face, and Amunashi smiles as well. And so, as I was tucking into the bento that Amanashi had made. ''''Sumimasen, you''re Minami-san''s parents, right?'''' "Huh? Suddenly, I was approached by a strange man. But what is the way he asks? I''m with you, so people think I''m Amana-chan''s father. .........Well, since you''re going to be participating in Otto-san''s relay, this misunderstanding may be a precautionary measure so as not to interfere with the performance. ''''Yeah, that''s true, but........'''' What? I replied in agreement to let the situation pass for now. Then I found that Tenri shook her shoulders greatly. I''m sorry I''ll apologize later, so just forgive me now and be patient. While I was apologizing inwardly so, the man smiled happily and took my hand. ''Oh I knew it!¡¡I''m Kana''s father, and my name is Marc Higashino! Oh, Kana-chan''s! It makes sense after being told. I vaguely knew Kana-chan was half-Japanese because her hair was blonde, but her father was more foreign. We didn''t see each other at the summer festival''s fireworks display due to work commitments, but it seems he was able to come to the sports day. His intonation was a little strange, but his Japanese seemed to be OK, so I was a little relieved. I''m not so good at English, you know. As I was thinking about this, Marc bent down and bowed. "I''m always at your service, Kana. No, no, no. Kana-chan is Amana-chan''s friend, and I''m very grateful that she''s a good friend of mine, and so are my friends. So, father to father, I look forward to working with you. Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... I almost ripped him off, but I think I was able to mend the situation well. After Marc finished his story, he left to go to his wife and Kana-chan, who were waiting for him. I saw him off and was relieved to see him go. "Sorry, Amari. I took the liberty of tricking Amana-chan''s father, thinking it would be better than being strangely misunderstood... I apologize to Amari for that, which would have startled her, but for some reason she rolled her eyes and looked at me. I feel like her face is also red........ ''''Amanashi?'''' "...haha!¡¡Uh, yeah, it''s all right.¡¡I don''t care! I called out to him again and finally got a response. He seems a little flustered, but if he says he doesn''t mind, it seems fine. I see. I''m glad that I didn''t make you angry by saying that I had no intention to....¡¡Why are you pinching my sides! You know what?¡¡Why don''t you take a moment to reflect on what you have said? I ask the reason why I was attacked by Amanashi, who is suddenly in a bad mood, but he returns it bluntly while looking away from my face. No, really, why did I get mad at you...? Because you took the liberty of deceiving Amana''s father? But you said earlier that you didn''t care about that, right? No, I don''t know. Mom, what''s going on? I''m not angry, But I''m having a meltdown, okay? Tenna will understand when she''s older. Maybe it''s because I''m the reason he''s in a bad mood, or maybe it''s because I''m nearby, but he stubbornly refuses to talk about the reason, even with his daughter. Hmm, I wonder how to make her feel better..... There seems to be no point in throwing words at her in a strange way. I pondered what to do, but it''s as if I couldn''t see the right answer. The same was true of Mao, but I have no idea what''s in a woman''s heart. Amana, I''m going to the bathroom! Yes, have a good day. As she crossed her arms and thought about it, Amana said that and moved away. ''''........Wa-san.'''' Hmm?¡¡What is it? She was approached by Amari. She had a somewhat uneasy expression on her face, although she was still in a bad mood when she turned her head. ''''What happened with the person you discussed with before?'''' ''''Oh ... come to think of it, I didn''t tell you. Well, as it turns out, the favor itself was a misunderstanding in the first place, and I was able to make up for it without any problems. A mistake...? I''m sorry for the delay in reporting it even though I was consulted, but for some reason Amari frowns when I briefly told her the results. ''''It can''t be... but is that still the case...?'''' ''Tenri?¡¡What''s going on in your head? Are you sure you are saying that you couldn''t find a girlfriend after all, huh? Whether it''s a good thing I was so smug about being favored or not, well, I''m still single. Even if Marao''s favor was genuine, though, I would have refused it. What an impossible tattle-tale goes through my head, but as for Amari after hearing the report....... ''''I see.........'''' ...? I don''t understand it, but she looks relieved. From then on, she seemed as calm as if her grumpiness were a lie, and Amana-chan, who came back, could only nod her head at the change in her mother. Despite her doubts about Amari, it was finally the turn of Otosan''s relay to program the sports day. 128 121 Do your best at the athletic meet! Part 2 Unlike the children''s relay, the Dad''s relay is a four-person team that runs 400m. Unlike the children''s relays, the children''s relay is a four-man team of four runners, each running 100m. Unlike the previous programs, however, this one has nothing to do with the competition, but simply with showing fathers performing in front of their children. There is no particular order of running, but the school takes into account the fact that the children in the red team and the children in the white team should be in the same team. So I''m a member of the white team. It''s also the same team as Hasumi''s father, which means I''m on the same team as Hasumi''s father. Minami-san, let''s do our best as a team! Nice to meet you, Marc. The first runner up was Kana-chan''s father, Marc, who was a foreigner and was a head taller than me. He''s a head taller than me, like a foreigner. I''m sure he has a hidden athletic ability that''s incomparable to that of his daughter. The father of Tenna-chan, huh? ''No, it''s fine. Teng ©¤ It''s safe to say that he looks like my wife. So, you''re Chiyuri''s father, right? Oh. His name is Naoshi Kitaya. The second runner up was Ms. Naoshi, Chiyuri''s father. He seems to be full of energy and vigor, just like that of her unflappable father. He is known for his coarse language and behavior, but his wife has influenced him to enjoy books, and he works as a police officer. ........I secretly swear that I can''t let this person alone know the true relationship between me and the Minami family. ''''Let''s show them that we too will win first place like the children!¡¡Gahhhhhhhhhh! The man with the loudest laugh is Hasumi''s father, Tsuyoshi, who is the third runner in the relay. He was the third runner-up in the relay and is as bold and courageous as his big frame. He runs a karate dojo, where he teaches his students, and of course his daughter, the art of self-defense. He told me that he and his wife, Kasumi, whom he met at a summer festival, were rivals, and that they ended up getting married after many battles, just like in a cartoon. I wondered if his wife hadn''t told him about my relationship with Amari, or if she thought we were a real couple. It''s convenient for me, but they''re such good-natured people that I can''t shake the guilt that I''m tricking them. I think so, and I''m the last runner for some reason. I asked why, it seems that my daughters had told me that they were practicing with me, so I could expect to see them. The pressure will only be proportionately heavier if such expectations are directed at me. There''s no way I could say that as it is, and I''m in line for the last runner in line. If you listen carefully, you can hear the kids cheering for their fathers. I''m sure the fathers are motivated by the fact that their children are cheering for their fathers, especially the one next to me. It''s because he''s wearing a uniform and visor that makes him look like an experienced track and field athlete. Just like Mao said, even though it''s an exhibition match, there were parents who got stumped. Nice shoes I''m glad I bought them. While I was thinking of my gratitude, the otorisan relay finally started. "Get in position, okay... Pow! Among the first runners who ran out at almost the same time, Marc, who is blessed with physicality, is quicker. I mean, that guy is serious. The other fathers are amazed. Well, the age of the fathers of the children is not constant, and some of them may not be as athletic as when they were in school, but there is a difference in motivation before the race. However, the difference in motivation beforehand can make the difference between the two. At least Marc is serious from the start, which is why he is creating a following from the start. In the meantime, Marc completed the 100m and handed over the baton to the second runner, Takashi. Shoshi is quite fast, like a police officer. It is probably because the area is safe and secure, but it is also because he has been exercising for emergencies. He was so fast that even a snatch-and-grab criminal could not be easily separated from him. Takeshi received the baton forcefully from Hisashi, who ran 100 meters in a flash. As usual, he uses his karate-trained legs and feet to run fast. The distance between them and their fathers is increasing. Was it necessary to practice and buy shoes for this...? It''s kind of overwhelming and that''s the question that comes to mind. Even though there is no limit to the selection of people or the order in which they can run as long as they are separated into the red team and the white team, this balance of power is still strange. I can''t help but laugh in disgust, and then it''s finally my turn. I adjusted my posture so that I could run and put my hands behind my back, ready to receive the baton. Tsuyoshi-san doesn''t stop, but raises his arms to pass the baton........ ''''Hooree!'''' What the hell? I managed to catch it, but I felt a numbing pain in my palm like a catcher who has been hit by a hard fastball. The only mistake I made was in dropping it, but my start was a little slow. But just like Amana and the others, I''ve been doing the training menu from Miya. I suppress my upset and run out at once. The shoes recommended by Mao are really easy to run in. Thanks to that, my feet feel very light. If I keep this up, I''ll be able to come in first place with a lot of composure. It''s a good thing that he''s not a big fan of the race, because there are some really tough guys coming up behind him. It''s not an exaggeration to say that they are the real players, but their speed is such that I can''t find any other words to describe their speed other than threat. I''m sure it''s only a matter of time before he passes me. Normally, I would cower under the pressure of that spirit. However. You''re going to have to wait until you''re no longer in first place before you can cross the line. Just like you''re running scared. Kazu-san! Maybe it''s the first time I''ve ever... Onion-san!¡¡Go for it! I''m serious about this, man! I don''t know what it was that made the difference between the light and dark. In terms of the difference in vindictiveness, they were even.......or perhaps even inferior.... If I had to choose, I''d say it was the difference in the number of hands that were pushed on my back. I held on to the lead for dear life, unable to be overtaken by the oncoming crowd. As I finished my run and caught my breath, I didn''t hear any announcements of praise or cheers from the audience. Because seeing the smile on the face of a little girl, bouncing with her whole body and expressing her joy, all my attention was focused on a feeling of satisfaction I''d never felt before. 129 122 Is it okay if it rains and solidifies? Amana-chan and her team won first place in the Oto-san relay at the Sports Day, and Amana-chan and the rest of the white team also won. The smile on Amana''s face at that time was so cute... It was a celebration for the parents to get to know each other through their children, so we went out for a barbecue dinner. After that, the fathers continued to recognize me as the mainstay of the Minami family. The reason for this is that when Hasumi and the others had doubts about being treated as Amana-chan''s father, they tried to correct them, but their mothers immediately stopped them from talking about it. Well, there was no need to tell the truth and cause confusion, and Tenri and I concluded that we would reveal it eventually when we were settled. Incidentally, I was strangely curious as to why Amari had a happy look on her face after we had talked about it. I''m sure it made her smile to see Amana looking so happy. And so the sports day ended without incident. d*mn it, I was after a full-on run yesterday. I don''t say as much as Amana-chan, but I''d like you to work on your body a bit more. Well, the list of complaints is endless, so I guess I''ll just leave it at that. It was Sunday, so I managed to finish today''s delivery without any relief for Amana-chan. After returning to the head office and changing into civilian clothes, I took a break in the break area with a cup of coffee in hand. I took a break with a cup of coffee in the break area after returning to the head office to change my clothes. Kazu-kun. ''Oh. Good job, Mao. While I was hanging out, I met up with Marao, who had finished her work. After we made up, we were able to return to our old, easygoing relationship. Well, I made a terrible mistake because of Miya''s blowback. When I questioned him about it the day after I bought the shoes..... I guess I was wrong. He came in and decided to do a teh pelopiece that made me as angry as I could. He proved to me firsthand that it''s just weird for a guy to do it, but it doesn''t matter. It''s bad enough that I took that to heart and asked him in a way that was smug and confessional. But I decided that I would never ask this guy for relationship advice. It was right after I made that vow. "Actually, I was secretly attracted to Maou. He spoke out of the ordinary in a matter of seconds. That was really surprising. After all, speaking of Miya, she has a desire to the extent that she routinely says she wants a girlfriend. I didn''t think that she had romantic feelings for Mao. If that''s the case, why didn''t you confess your feelings to him earlier? ''''Even if you hurry up, there''s no guarantee that it will go well, right? ...apparently. I don''t understand, but I don''t have to force myself to know, and it''s just vague. I can''t explain, but since it''s just as I was told, I decided to avoid pursuing the matter further. As I was thinking back to my mind, Mao asked me something. ''How was yesterday''s field day?'' "The white team that Amana and her team were in won. Taking first place in the relay seemed to do the trick. That''s good to hear. How''s your dad''s relay going? ''That one was just barely first place thanks to the other fathers. Thanks to the shoes that Mao picked out for me. You''re welcome. I hope Amana-chan was pleased with you? Perfect. Marao nodded as if to say good, as she returned with a thumbs up. If it wasn''t for Nice''s shoes, she wouldn''t have been able to beat that stubborn runner dad. Thinking about it, Miya''s guidance and her help were of equal help. It''s a delivery business with a workload I''d like to resent, but I''m blessed to have been colleagues with both of them. If I''d stuck to my roots and changed jobs, I wouldn''t have met Amana and Amari either. I''m glad I kept going, and I feel a little less tired today. "Kazu-kun still cares for Amana-chan, doesn''t he? "Well. It''s always soothing and I''m not a pedophile, oh, and I''m not a pedophile, okay? Yes, I know. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have asked those self-conscious questions. It would be helpful if you could forget about that as soon as possible... I don''t know if she liked it very much, but Marao regularly plays around with that question as a story. Every time that happens, the wound in my blocked heart opens up, so give me a break....... It''s annoying to keep getting beaten up, so let''s try to return the favor a bit. ''''What does that kind of Marao think of Sannya? Why is Miya-kun appearing there? Because he just confessed to you, right? What? As soon as she hears it, Marao''s face turns red and reveals her agitation. ''''Nah, how did you know...?'''' He told me. When I answered simply, Marao held her head in her hands and dropped a paragraph. ''''Why are you trying to fill in the outer moat after I refused~! You refused? And yet, this Sannya didn''t seem to be giving up on you. I''m in love with a troublesome guy.... When I think of it that way, I can''t help but feel sorry for him. ''''Huh........this matter is between me and Miya-kun for a while, so it''s not as much of a problem as Kazu-kun is concerned about. ''What, are you saying I can''t understand the story, too, Matsuo?'' ''Not really. I just want you to focus on yourself, Kazu. No, I don''t feel that kind of connection right now, but... I replied that I didn''t like anyone, but for some reason, he gave me a jit eye. What''s that ''what are you talking about?'' kind of feeling. It''s not that I don''t have any idea at all, but in her case, it''s not possible by any stretch of the imagination. Eventually, Mao, who removed her gaze, let out a grand sigh. ''''Huh ... I thought it got a little better, but I guess I was mistaken.'''' What are you talking about? It''s nothing. I asked him what it meant, but he was deflated and I didn''t understand in the end. What''s the matter with you two........ "Huh. I hope Kazu-kun gets a good match this time. I''ll see you tomorrow. I''ll just say thank you... After saying only crazy other things, Marao left. I''m not sure if there really is such a connection, but since I was prayed for, I hope it''s there if possible. Even the bitterness of the coffee spreading in my mouth could not paint over such sweet thoughts. 130 [Extra edition] Character introduction Part 4 Daichi Onokura A boy who transferred to the elementary school Tenna and her friends attend after summer vacation. He is the brat himself who appeared in Chapter 2, and his arrogance has been withdrawn after he found a fondness for Tenna. Since he transferred to the new school, he has been trying to talk to Tenna, and it''s obvious that he likes her a lot except for her. Live strong. Although she is hostile towards Kazu, who is in love with the child she loves, she relies on him as an adult who can ask her parents for advice on love, which is not possible with her parents through practice. However, even so, he can''t make any progress. Hang in there, boy. Higashino Markku He is Kana''s father and an American. Unlike his shy daughter, he has a friendly personality and loves Japan, having met his wife in Japan. He works as a teacher at an English conversation class and has a good reputation among his students. He doesn''t use his original family name because he has to live in Japan. He truly believes that Kazu is Tenna''s father, and wants to be friends with him as a father figure. Naoshi Kitatani (Naoshi) Chiyuri''s father. He has a strong resemblance to his daughter, and is the kind of person who blows the whistle on his daughter out of sheer stupidity. He is foul-mouthed, but he loves his wife so much that he goes to the library every day to attract her attention. He is a police officer who works at the police station and is a natural enemy of Wa. Incidentally, that won''t happen if the original relationship is exposed. This is because Chiyuri, Tenna and the others trust him. Tsuyoshi Nishiyama He is Hasumi''s father and has a dynamic personality. He is the instructor of a karate dojo and once competed in the national Olympic trials. He began teaching karate to his daughter as a form of self-defense, and after witnessing her thoroughbred talent, he began to teach her in earnest. 131 123 Dreams and troubles Kaz Hayakawa''s life is quite ordinary. He was born to parents who ran a rice farm in a town that was not so rural, not so much a city as a city. Although he is the son of a farmer, his parents do not want him to be their heir apparent. They don''t want to limit his potential at a young age, not if he wants to take over voluntarily. For these reasons, he had a comfortable childhood and became a primary school student. Attending classes at school, playing with friends after school, and spending time with his family at home... It was a really normal life. A turning point in his life came when his mother gave birth to Kuroone-when he was ten years old. Wa, who has an older brotherly attitude towards his newborn sister, actively helped his parents in raising their child. The good care aspect was formed at this time. While taking care of Kurone in this way, she became estranged from her friends. It''s a good thing that the parents, being farmers, work together, and while they are not at home, he, the older brother, is the one who takes care of his sister. He doesn''t go out to play with his parents, but simply leaves them to their own devices so that they can go about their work without a care in the world. It is inevitable that if he takes time with his sister, he will have less time for his friends. However, it doesn''t mean that she was isolated and bullied, and she herself had a certain level of rapport with them, partly because of her personality. He participated in school events and enjoyed the athletic and cultural festivals in any way he could. But no matter how many times he was invited to hang out with them after school, he went home to find his sister waiting for him without shaking his head. He finally responds when Kurone becomes an elementary school student, but he doesn''t ask his friends out. This is the reason for his behavior, which he calls shallow association. In particular, she does not hold a grudge against Kuro-on for doing so. He even thinks it''s wrong to put his family first. However, when she was in her second year of high school, she vaguely mentioned that she wanted to take over the family business when she was considering her future. Hearing this, his parents feel that he shouldn''t go on like this and urge him to get a job and experience society. They couldn''t admit that they didn''t really want to, or worse, that they chose to do so out of inertia. After much persuasion, more for the sake of his son himself than anything else, Wa was able to get a job at Umineko Transport. There, he becomes friends with Miya and Mao, and spends his days working without changing anything in essence. The sheer volume of work keeps her so busy that she has nothing to do at home but sleep, and she doesn''t even have a name for taking care of Kuroone-something she had in her school days. Eight years have passed since I graduated from high school.... ''''Onii-san! The second turning point in my life, I met a girl who was younger than anyone else. = = = = = =. Hmm.... I should have been sleeping comfortably, but I woke up unexpectedly. It wasn''t a day off yet, but I felt like I had done a sober thing. I rolled over and looked at my alarm clock to see that it was 2am. It''s too early to do anything. It''s too early to do anything, but it''s kind of hard to sleep. I don''t know why I woke up at this hour... but it''s more than that. ''I feel like I had a dream when I was at home...'' It was a time when I was putting my family before my friends. I wasn''t particularly unhappy, and I wasn''t bullied for it. I just didn''t have the kind of adolescence that others mention. To put it simply, it would be like tasting odorless, tasteless gum. It may sound like someone else''s business, but I do feel very lonely. That said, I don''t have any desire to grieve. It''s not that I''m not happy about it, but it''s the result of my own volition and the fact that I''m not inconvenienced. I''m going to be able to say that you heard Amana-chan''s voice just before she woke up, right? That''s the only thing that caught my attention in the dream. What the hell was that implication? Since it was a dream, it might not be of much use if I thought about it deeply, but I can''t help but wonder about it. The fact that Amana appears in my dream........... "©¤©¤There''s no way I was a pedophile........ If that''s the case, I''m not going to be able to trust myself for the rest of my life. The shock is much bigger than the fact that I''ve spent my school days without color. However, it''s clear that since meeting Amana-chan, I''ve been spending a much more intimate time with her than ever before. Of course, she''s not the only one. In addition to Amari and Hasumi, Miya and Mao, who until then had only known each other as colleagues, have also joined in. That''s all there is to it, but there''s a huge difference between them and when they were students. I''m sure that the moment I was healed by Amana-chan was the reason I thought so. ''''........I have to thank her again for something. I know I''m not looking for anything in return, but I still want to express my gratitude for the fact that I continue to be healed in some way. Then she smiles brightly and seems to return my "thank you" again, and I can''t help but smile. It''s no wonder people call me a pedophile. Just when I thought I couldn''t help but be amazed, I felt a strange sensation. What is this........burnt smell? Yes, it smells burnt. It''s not like I cooked and burnt it before bed. Yesterday, I had a drink with Sanya and then went home...so what is the source of the smell? If it was just this, I would have used deodorant or just used my imagination.... ''It''s so hot, I didn''t even use the stove. It''s already early November. Normally, it would be cold, not hot. However, my skin is strangely hot and sweaty. It''s strange. I can''t get rid of my doubts at last, so I get out of bed and open the window to look at the outside. ''''Ah...?'''' The answer was right there. I guess it''s the same reason I woke up at nine out of ten. I shudder to think that I would have woken up a little later. Anyway........... A fire had broken out in the apartment where I was renting a room. 132 124 How to overcome until moving The cause of the fire seemed to be a short-circuit in the electrical outlet, and the sparks ignited the carpet. Fortunately, the fire department was contacted by dialing 119 before the flames were small, so no one was killed or injured and the apartment was able to avoid burning down. But even then, three rooms out of ten rooms were burned down and one room was destroyed. The room I was living in didn''t burn down, but it was obvious that I couldn''t stay in the same room until the repairs were done. The landlord, who was 73 years old, told us about the damage. In such a case, there are various compensations and indemnities, but we won''t go into the details. The landlord''s fire insurance would be applied because the fire wasn''t intentionally started. As a result, it seems that the compensation for the household goods will be paid against us. The building will be repaired as it is and we''ll get back to normal...or so I thought, but then the landlord told me a story. It seems that his son and daughter-in-law had been asking him to quit his job as the landlord of the apartment building and move in with them due to his age. The landlord had refused because of the life of the residents, she said, but now the fire has happened. He was originally concerned about the tightness of management due to the decline of aging and the earthquake resistance due to the age of the apartments. Even if they tried to rebuild the building, the repair costs would still be considerable, even if it was only partially damaged. So he decided to take the house apart and decided it was the right time to do so. It is regrettable because it lived in the apartment from the time when it began to live alone, but it is impossible to say this one with such circumstances, too. So the demolition of the apartment was decided, and all the residents including me were cancelled. I got into the car to get out of the night breeze for the time being, and I began to think about the future. Unfortunately, I had no home to return to because of the fire. Plus, I need to find a place to sleep until I can find a new place to live. In that case, I''ll have to ask the city government to arrange for a temporary place to live. I refused to go back to my parents'' house, but looking back, I might have been confused by the fire. The distance between my workplace and my parents'' house is about two prefectures away, and even if I were to take the expressway, it would take me nearly an hour to get there one way. I suppose I could take a train instead of a car, like Kuroon, who sometimes comes to stay, but unfortunately, I might not be able to make the last train on time with my late delivery business. As a result, you''ll end up having your sleep time destroyed by your commute to work... not a good idea. The next hotel or internet caf¨¦, while the commute to work will be the same as usual, the amount spent per night cannot be underestimated. I''ve got some money saved up, but there''s no better way to keep my spending down than to find a new room and still live on a steady basis. It would be cheaper to simply sleep in, but then there''s the issue of bathing and eating. It is not that I am not a fastidious person, but I want to take a bath every day. Even if it''s an extravagant idea at this point in time, it''s a kind of craftsman''s awareness that I want to keep it clean since I have many opportunities to meet people in the delivery business. When it comes to meals........except for lunch, he eats prepared food and convenience store lunches. Even so, I''m sure my mind will be very different depending on the environment. It''s clear that the extra stress is being added to the homelessness that has already come with the free ride. Seriously, what the hell am I doing.... I can''t help but be amazed at my own stupidity. But it''s too late to regret it. It''s too late to regret it. In order not to make the situation any worse, we need to think about how we''re going to build a temporary home. While the stingy side and the extravagant side are glaring at each other in my brain, the conclusion I''ve arrived at is..... "©¤ ©¤ Basically, we stay in the car. I''ll take a bath in a public bath and eat as usual. Is this the only way? Naturally, I don''t intend to stay that way forever. It''s just a choice until he finds a new place to live and settles in. In order to get out of my current near-homeless situation as soon as possible, I have to focus on finding a room when I have the time. After making that decision, I tuck myself behind the wheel and put a blanket over my head and go to sleep. It''s times like these that my past experience of staying in the car on deliveries comes into play. It may not be a complimentary experience, but it''s also true that it was a tremendous help to me as a temporary respite. With a hint of anxiety about tomorrow''s uncertain future, I drift off to sleep. The next day. Good morning, Ms. Kazu. Good morning, Amari. ''Take it easy today. Thank you for everything. Before going to work, it''s time to pick up my specially made bento box, which has become a complete tradition. It can be said that because of this, I don''t have a great deal of anxiety in terms of food. Just like in my dream, it''s one of the things that has helped me immensely since my encounter with Amana-chan. ''''Huh~........'''' When I was chewing on such a realization, I couldn''t help but get out of the missing piece. I hurriedly closed my mouth to mend it, but Amari''s eyes, which I was just witnessing, had a slightly worried look in them. ''''Are you tired?'''' Well, that''s how it comes. There''s no way Amana-chan''s foster parent, Amanashi, wouldn''t notice my trivial behavior, even to the point of handing her a homemade lunch box like this. The quality of sleep you can get from a car seat is a mere trifle, even if you''ve been there before. To be honest, sometimes I''m still sleepy, as if I''ve been stretched out. I am very grateful for her concern for my health, but I can''t just tell her that I lost my bed in a fire because she''s been helping me with my lunchbox, and I can''t put extra worry on her. This is just something I''ll have to deal with myself. I swallow my weakness and reply with a smile so as not to cause any worry. ''''Well I''m just a little sleepy. Don''t worry about it, I''ll try to get some rest early after work. ''''I see........ Like I said before, please don''t take it too hard. Yeah, I know. Hearing the reply, Amari''s expression grew tense for a moment, but she immediately laughed and repeated the words with a wry smile. Although her heart ached with a prickle of hidden guilt, she replied with an air of equanimity. I can only apologize, but I need to find a new home soon so I don''t have to worry any more. I reaffirmed that I should do so and decided to head to the car to go to work. ''Well then, I''d better get going.'' Somehow I didn''t want him to see my face, so I looked away and said goodbye to him. I don''t know what expression Amari had on her face. Still brushing away the backwardness of my thoughts, I drive away. In my free time, I looked up real estate information on the Internet, but I couldn''t find an eye-catching room that day. 133 125 was decided to stand out I finished today''s delivery, fighting sleepiness. There were no accidents, but it''s depressing to think that this will continue until I find a new house. I have to find a room soon before it''s too late. As soon as I left the changing room after changing clothes with that in mind.... "Hey Wa! "Sanya? You''re in no hurry. Get over here! Sanya, who may have returned earlier or in plain clothes, called out to me while smelling some kind of not-so-simple atmosphere. It''s a very good idea to have a good time with the company. ''''Wait a minute, this is all of a sudden! He kept his balance while stepping on the tatara and trying not to mock it, and even took me to the rest area without getting an answer when I asked him why. "Thank you for your hard work, Miya-kun. Good job, Kazu-kun. Maao? In addition, Mao was waiting there. She seems to be somewhat unhappy as well as Miya. However, it''s not as bad as when it was awkward... what the hell is going on? At least I can tell you........ ''''Does that mean that Sanya brought me here after hearing a request from Mao? ''''Hey. After all, it''s a favor from my dearest Matsuo. ''I just asked you to bring Kazu-kun to me as normal. Don''t say that in a misleading way. Oh, I like you, Matsuo. I''m telling you to stop because I didn''t approve of that confession! .... ...Why do I have to be shown the lover''s quarrel of my co-workers at the place where I was brought for no reason? As much as I''d like to get back to the car as soon as possible because I''m sleepy, I want to know what they want to talk about. For now, I interrupt them as they repeatedly exchange words and let them proceed with their conversation. ''Look, what''s the reason I was brought here in the end?'' I''m sorry, I''m totally off topic. Hey. I''ll have to wait till next time to hit on you. Your mouth...! Mao glares at Sanya, who doesn''t even care that she''s being sleeved, with an exasperated look on her face. Hasn''t this lost its favorability before you hit on me? And if I think about it any more, my thoughts are going to turn to something else. ''So hurry up and tell me why. Huh ... you know what, Kazu-kun? I don''t want to rush you here, so let''s get straight to the point. ...Oh, dear. I nodded and urged her to go ahead, holding back from running my mouth that I was already rushed enough. Then, for some reason, Marao gave a big smile........ Do you know what I would like to hear if I did? .... ......... That''s quite conspicuous, isn''t it? In this day and age, if a fire had happened, even in the middle of the night, it''s not surprising that people in the vicinity of the apartment would have spread some information on SNS. That''s how Marao must have found out about the fire. In other words........what she wants to hear is that I''m still going to work as usual despite such an accident. If it''s that well known, there''s no way the excuse can be passed on at this point in time. ''''........I''m sorry I didn''t tell you about it so you wouldn''t have to worry about anything else. Resigned, I apologized for hiding it honestly. ''No, I didn''t. My complaint isn''t that I hid the fact that I was in a fire. What? But it is instantly denied. ''Then what the hell...?'' You''re such an idiot. Hey, why is he cursing at you all of a sudden? When Mao couldn''t find any idea why he was unhappy, he was undermined by Sanya in a straightforward manner. He gives her a protesting look, saying it''s too much, but Miya doesn''t take offense and gives him a disgruntled look. Maou-chan is not happy that she is not willing to help anyone when she is in trouble because of the fire. Of course I''m angry for the same reason, right? I... It''s as if I hadn''t expected the reason for this to happen, and my eyes widen involuntarily. It''s because the two of them cared about me to the point of frustration. ''What''s the extra concern mostly?¡¡Are you saying that being worried about us was a nuisance to Kazu-kun? ''No, no, it''s not that, it''s just that you''re the one who''s annoying me...'' ''''That''s ''unnecessary worry''. At least me and Miya-kun have never thought of Kazu-kun''s advice as a nuisance. Uh..... That being said, I can''t argue with anything. However, the first thing I felt in my mind was not awkwardness, but an unaccustomed embarrassment. I don''t know why those feelings passed, but I don''t feel bad about it.... As I was feeling a strange itchiness, a question flew in from Mao. ''From what I''ve seen on social media, the apartment was only half destroyed, when will it be fixed?'' ''Yeah, oh. The apartment is to be demolished for the sake of the landlord. What? ''Huh!¡¡So you''re homeless now? Yeah, that''s fine!¡¡I can get by with temporary housing until I find a new house... He surprised them both by answering the question posed to him while he was stunned, because he didn''t wrap it up. He quickly falsely claimed that he had a temporary residence, but in reality, he was homeless, as Sanya had said. I hesitate to tell them until I''m living in my car, even though I''ve caused them to worry about the fire for free. As you said earlier, if you talk to them, they might be willing to let you have a place to sleep. However, that''s a bit too lenient. Well, that''s just the way it is. Can you help me find a new house? Oh, yeah, no problem. I''ll find you a more comfortable apartment for about the same rent as your old one. Isn''t that a little hard to do? When I immediately told Mao and Sanya about helping me find a new house, I got a rather confident reply. If there''s a room in such good condition, I''d suspect an accidental property. It''s not that I believe in ghosts, but I''ll make that kind of thing a last resort when I''m stuck. Anyway, it''s great that I was able to get the cooperation of Mao and Miya, not surprisingly. I decided to go into action to begin the search for a new house on tomorrow''s vacation. 134 126 Looking for a new house The day after I got help from Mao and Miya. Today, being a holiday, I had come to a real estate agency near the station. The reason for this is because I wanted to listen to not only the information on the internet, but also the explanation of the experts. Incidentally, on a moment''s impulse, I searched for a room in "Mansion Every Smile" where Amana and Amari live, and it was a room with heavy requirements, at least for me. Come to think of it, Amari''s monthly income is higher than mine. This is something I''ve heard before, but the room contract itself was originally signed before Amana was born. After the two died in the accident, Amanashi had discussed with her that she would eventually move there, and Watahira-san had continued to pay the rent. In other words, that room, which had a spacious layout for a mother and son, was originally intended for Yuna, Tatsuto and Amana to live in. Even so, it''s easy to see how much Amana-chan cared about them, making memories of her time in that room. What a heartwarming backstory.... Quiet talk. Well, the real estate agent was the place that Mao introduced me to. Apparently, this is where she found the room she''s living in now. If it was introduced by Maao, who has a track record of helping me choose shoes for athletic events, there''s no doubt about it. With such a solid sense of security and trust in my heart, I go through the automatic door. Inside, the waiting area and the staff''s work space are blocked off by a counter, a perfectly normal interior. It''s early November, and since it''s not the moving season, there aren''t that many people visiting. One of the clerks rushes up to me without the need to pick up a number tag that I would have used if it were crowded. She has a bob cut brown hair with a wavy perm, and pale green eyes that give the impression of mildness. She gives a beautiful bow and then comes over with a smile. She''s beautiful, to say the least. There''s just a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu somehow... I feel like I''ve met her somewhere, but I can''t remember as if. Welcome. What can I do for you today? Well, I''m here to find a place. All right. I''ll show you to your seat. While I was tilting my head at a feeling of unfamiliar deja vu, the waitress asked me what I wanted. I hurriedly told her, and the woman led me to the end of the store and took a seat facing me. ''What''s your name, sir?'' Kazu Hayakawa. You must be Hayakawa-sama. Since you are looking for a new house, I - Mason H. Iyoka will be in charge. Nice to meet you........H? Mason, sitting in front of me, is, for all intents and purposes, Japanese. When I point out the incongruity of her middle name, she laughs at me, pointing to the name plate around her neck. I''m sure it''s very unusual," she says, pointing to the name plate around her neck.¡¡Actually, my husband is a foreigner. Normally, I would change his surname to that of the other country, but because of my work and the convenience of spending time in Japan, we had to do it this way. Oh, you''re married? ''Yes, I''m also a mother of one child, you know. You can''t pick up a girl while discussing a room, right? I didn''t mean to. I''m sure you don''t mind. It''s true that if she''s as beautiful as Ms. Mason, there may be customers who come to see her. But I don''t have the luxury of time to find a new house. And I don''t have any hobbies to interrupt the couple in the first place. However, he''s very approachable. The tension he had been under when he entered a real estate agency, which he was not accustomed to, has been released perfectly. It''s the proof that he is very experienced. I''m sorry for feeling like I''m bragging about this. I''ll start right away, but what kind of room are you looking for? "Well, I guess... I''ve already thought about all the conditions I''m looking for in a new house before coming here. Budget, floor plan, distance to the nearest station, the surrounding environment, etc... There are many things to consider. The two conditions I''m considering are cheap rent and commuting distance. The former is not without income reasons, but above all because I don''t need a lot of rooms. As for the latter, the reason for the latter is that I want to get as much sleep as possible. Well, it''s just that it''s easier to live in the area you''re familiar with than to move to a place too far away. So I told them the conditions, including the address of my workplace..... I see, so please be patient for a moment as we prepare an apartment that meets the above criteria. After answering that with a motivated look on his face, he began to work on the computer that was on hand. Honestly, I didn''t expect to find out that quickly because I was thinking that I would need to come to the store later or something. Ten minutes of waiting, realizing the evolution of civilization.... ''Sorry for the wait!¡¡When I searched for a room with the conditions Hayakawa-sama presented, about 40 rooms came up as candidates! ''That''s a lot of low-key stuff! How could you come up with a requirement that it''s not in the city, but close to work! Looking back, there were definitely more apartments and condominiums..... No, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. If we continue rubbing elbows with Mr. Hayakawa''s requirements, we can easily narrow it down. Rubbing together? Yes. The more than 40 rooms that were nominated for rent were all within the plus or minus 10,000 of the requested rent and had 1DK floor plans. From there, we would then tailor the rooms to suit Mr. Hayakawa by matching them with the nearest facilities, scenery and environment, and his lifestyle. I see... I nodded at Mason''s explanation. If it''s just a budget and layout, there are plenty of similar rooms, but when it comes to adapting to my tastes and lifestyle, the number of candidates becomes fewer and fewer? If I were to compare it to a book, if I were to search by genre, I would get the majority of results, but it would be like narrowing down the author and candidates to the number of pages and publishers. Anyway, it may not be as difficult to find a new house as you think. I''ll do my best to help you find a good place to live! Yes. It might have been especially important that Mason was in charge. I was secretly convinced that if he was such a sympathetic person, he would be popular even if he wasn''t attracted to his appearance. 135 127 Visible color of fatigue As a result of narrowing down the list of candidates on the first day, the number of properties we had over 40 was reduced to 20, or half. The reason for this is that we excluded accidental properties, and we made sure that the kitchen area was in a place that was easy to use for the occasional black noise that comes to stay, and that the bathroom and toilet were in separate spaces. Mason and I got a little excited about my sister''s story at that time, but well, let''s leave it at that. However, I still didn''t know what the deja vu I felt for Mason-san was. It was more like I had actually seen someone similar in the vicinity, rather than having passed him around town. But as far as I can remember, I have no idea what it was. In the end, the blur that cannot be wiped away remains. Well, there''s no point in thinking about it alone. I stopped thinking about it for a while and examined the rooms I brought back in the car. In order to decide on a new house as soon as possible, this is how I can ask to borrow the materials. Truthfully, I''d like to see the rooms in person, but apparently that''s better after narrowing down the list of candidates more. I''d like to have Miya and Mao look through it and choose as soon as possible. ===. Good morning, Ms. Kazu. Good morning, Amari. The next morning, I received my lunch from Tenashi as usual. The day before yesterday, I caused her to worry about me for being absent. Unlike my two co-workers, Tenashi is an acquaintance I''ve gotten to know through Amana-chan. I don''t want to get too caught up in my personal situation. ''''Did you get a decent rest yesterday?'''' Yeah, it''s almost like I spent the whole time sleeping. Well I did say you need to rest, but I don''t think you''re going to be very good at it, do you? I''m sorry... I feel sorry for the quizzical looks I''ve received, even though the implications are different, because I lied about something that was different from the reality. I''ve been to a real estate agent to look for a new house, and after staying up late staring at property documents, every part of my body is stiff from sleeping in the driver''s seat. If they knew about it, they''d ask me why I was staying in the car instead of going home, and I''d be instantly exposed as homeless. I have to brace myself so that I don''t make a mistake like that. ''I heard yesterday from Mayuzumi-san that there was a fire in the city,'' Heh, heh, she''s a real piece of work... And then suddenly I hit a pinpoint. I can''t tell you, I''m a victim of that fire and I''m living in my car. If I knew the address of my previous apartment like Miya and the others, but it doesn''t seem to have been identified, helped by the fact that Tenashi isn''t a personality that makes frequent use of social networking sites. It''s fortunate that this is the only part of the misfortune that comes to mind. ''''It''s going to be a cold season from now on, so please be careful not to use the heating system too much. ''Yeah, well...'' The cause of the fire was a short-circuit in the electrical outlet, and Amanashi''s caution is probably justified. I''ll still be staying in the car for a while, though, but it might be a good idea to add another blanket for the cold. ''The people who have been affected by the fire to get out of the cold are going to be rushing to find a new place to live and ordering a lot of heating equipment, so Wa-san''s work might get busy. Haha. Well, it''s a shame your apartment caught fire and it''s half destroyed, but it''s kind of a lucrative time to be on the early mooring, ...I see. Well, I''d better get to work. Yes, have a good day. We finished our conversation in moderation and I left Amari to go to work. ====. It''s true that after three days of staying in the car, fatigue is building up in your body, but it won''t be too much of a problem today. After all.......... ''Always a very good time, Onii-san! Thank you for receiving it, too, Amana-chan. Because today is the day I get to meet Amana, the healing angel. The smile on her face as she shook her bright brown hair in her pigtails was adorable. She was wearing a white cut and sewn dress underneath a pink checkered salopette dress, an outfit that gave her a different impression, as winter was approaching. When I was feeling at ease in my heart, Amana-chan started staring at me for a while....... ".........Onii-san, are you perhaps tired? What? I can''t help but roll my eyes in surprise at the suggestion. It''s because I didn''t think that a primary school student, Amana-chan, would be able to see through the fatigue I''ve been hiding. ''Because you''re less frisky than usual! ''''Hahaha, I can''t compete with Amana-chan...'''' Is it because you know me so well as I usually do that you could see through me? I''m not sure if it''s a good idea, but I''m not sure if it''s a good idea. "..........Onii-san, is it hard for you to do your job? ''Hmmm ... it''s hard, but I really need to make money, so I guess I can''t quit. Well then, Amana, I''m going to grow up soon so you don''t have to do it anymore! What, are you saying you want me to be a pimp? I know it will be easier said than done, but I''m afraid I''m going to lose something important, right? For a moment I thought he might be joking, but those eyes........he''s serious. Oh no.........if Amana-chan starts dating a bad guy because of me, Tenashi and the people of the Minami family will hate her. While feeling the illusion of an unearned cold sweat running down my back, I reply with a bitter smile. ''''........I''m glad to hear that offer, but do you want Amana-chan to take her time to grow up? But I don''t like it when you''re in pain. He was sad that he was rejected, and he said that as he puffed out his cheeks and turned away. d*mn, I''m so d*mn happy! She is so cute that my heart almost stops in agony, but I try my best to endure it with a man''s willpower. I think it would be better if Amana-chan grew up slowly so that we could spend a lot of time together. If she grows up quickly, you won''t be able to hold her or pet her, will you? Unnu... From the point of view of the still young Amana-chan, adults seem to be able to do everything, but in reality, children have much more freedom. I don''t want you to give up that kind of free time for me. Like I said, it is precisely because they are children that they can be spoiled. It seems to have worked well enough for Mana-chan, who seems to be very firm, but wants to be pampered, and she shut her mouth, unable to argue. She giggles at the reaction and pats her palm on her little head. ''I''m very happy for you, Amana-chan. I''m not going to grow up fast, but just being able to talk to each other like this, I''m sharing a lot of energy with you. Really? Yeah. Thanks again, Amana-chan. Yeah.... Aha... Amana''s words of gratitude, which she didn''t conceal, brought a big smile to her face. Just by doing that, the fatigue that had accumulated in my body seemed to lighten. ........I can''t wait to find a new home for her and reassure her. That''s what I realized again. 136 128 solicit Today, two days have passed since we talked with Amana, and I was still working with Mason, who was in charge of the search for a new place to live. Apparently, she visited the actual house in her free time from last time, so the candidates for a new house were narrowed down quickly. Because of Mao''s introduction, the person who took charge of it was good enough to be glad that she was in charge. I''m not sure if this is the right choice for you, so let''s take it off the list. .... Next up is this one. The rent is a little over our budget of 50,000 yen, but the view and nearby facilities are perfect for that. It''s a perfect size for you and your sister who occasionally comes to stay with you...................Hayakawa-sama? .... I''m sorry. What the...? It was suddenly shouted in my ear, exposing my pathetic voice to the store with surprise. Shit, I was in a daze and wasn''t listening to what he was saying........ As far as I could see from my side eye, I had successfully attracted the attention of the other customers. ''''S-Sorry........'''' He bowed his head and apologized for interrupting the conversation about his new home as well as himself. The apology didn''t cause any more commotion, and the people around them went back to their respective stories as if nothing had happened. I inwardly patted my chest at the situation and faced Mason again. ''''You can''t snooze in the middle of a conversation! Hey, was I sleeping? ''Yes, that''s perfect. Oh my God, not just thinking, but sleeping around..... The words that were told to me with a bitter smile on my face made me astonished, not the least. Mr. Mason continued with a worried look in his eyes. ''''Hayakawa-sama works in the transportation business, as I recall. By the looks of it, does it look pretty tight?'''' Yeah, well but that was just a lack of sleep, so... You''re in a lot of danger for that, but you need to get some rest. Yes..... I was told the exact same thing as Amanashi. Shameful........ But that''s exactly what happened. We''ve been living in the car for a week now. During that time, I''ve been sleeping unsteadily for so long that I''m feeling quite tired. I''m still working hard to find a new house, but it''s taking a long time because I can''t devote myself to it every day because of my profession. I was reading materials until late yesterday as well, but when I came to, I almost fell asleep. Driving while battling sleepiness is very hard to concentrate on, and my body is as heavy as lead, even though I''m sure I''ve received some healing from Amana. To tell the truth, I''d rather take a paid day off. However, I can''t bring myself to take it off for fear that doing so would result in wrinkles for Miya and the other delivery people. I''ve come to the conclusion that it''s okay for me to do my best, even if it''s a bit too much. ''''It''s fine to be a hard worker, but taking care of yourself is part of the job, right? You''re right... But that''s only if you can take a break when you can. It''s not surprising that Mason-san, who is from a different profession, said so. If he can''t even manage his own body, he won''t even be able to look for a new house. I pulled myself together and narrowed down my list of candidates, and as a result, I ended up with 10. According to Mason, this is where the real work of finding a room begins, so I had to brace myself to think carefully.... From what you''ve told me, it should be pretty quick. ''Oh. The rest of the property is to be viewed and scrutinized in person. ''You''ll let me know when you''re all set?¡¡I''d like to have a drink to commemorate the occasion! ''Don''t use a room of people you haven''t decided on yet as a venue for a drinking party...'' After work the next day. I was giving an update on my search for a new house to Sanya and Mao. Mao seemed relieved, and Sanya returned it in a lighter tone, which made me realize that she cared about me that much. Continuing on, Sanya put his hands around the back of his head and turned out some kind of grimace....... ''''But it''s Mason-san, right?¡¡What''s your luck with women, that you''re going to get a match with such a beautiful and accommodating charge?¡¡I won''t forgive you if you cheat on me while you have a person named Amari-san, right? Do you have that kind of crazy luck with women? I mean, I''m wondering why Amari''s name was mentioned there. ''''It has nothing to do with Amari........ Besides, Mason-san is a married man. I don''t have that kind of taste.'''' I turned my jit eyes back at him, but Sanya just laughed and flushed it away with a kerfuffle. Even Mao just sighs in disgust at that attitude. ''''But it''s good that you''re that accommodating. In the worst case, I heard that he sometimes dares to recommend expensive properties for the sake of sales. You must be really bad at this job to try to satisfy the customer''s needs 120% of the time instead of performance. Yeah, I''m lucky to have people like you two and Amana-chan. When I mentioned that I was sure of that much, Mao and Sanya rolled their eyes for a moment, then....... ''''Dude, I just did what I deserved to do as a colleague.......! ''Oh, it''s a good thing you have a good eye for people as well as luck with women, yes! While blushing slightly, he let his gaze wander in a different direction. Did I say something so strange? Although the reaction of the two of them was slightly tricky, I felt uncomfortable pursuing it, so I decided to keep it quiet. Eventually, Marao calmed down, and after clearing his throat, he opened his mouth with a mysterious expression on his face. ''''The search for a new house is going well, but is Kazu-kun taking a proper rest?'''' What...? She doesn''t seem to have found out about the overnight stay in the car, but even if she doesn''t know the cause, she can''t hide her surprise that she detected fatigue like Amana did. ''''Well no, it''s true that I''m tired because it''s right after work, but...'''' ''Otherwise, you''re obviously tired, aren''t you?¡¡You look like a dead man with your eyes. ''Wow!¡¡That much?¡¡Did Sanya understand too?! What a surprise, even Sanya had seen through it. And with eyes like a dead man, he looked so awful! While I reveal my upset, Sanya sighs as he pauses to say, "Oh dear. "Uso. Don''t get caught up in this sickening situation. I''m trying to get out of this temporary housing situation as soon as possible, so I stay up late at night staring at the materials of my new home. Ggh..... I couldn''t reply to any of Sanya''s words, and I was immensely disappointed. It''s true that I stayed up late at night looking over the data on the property. But the truth is, it''s because I haven''t been able to get a normal night''s sleep due to continuous car nights. I thought about using a hotel, but the check-in time of a nearby hotel and the end of the workday didn''t match, so I ended up sleeping in the car, which is a vicious cycle. I may be able to get a reservation for the next holiday, but I don''t know if my body will be able to hold on until then. I''m convinced that you don''t have to be two to understand the fatigue of someone who continues to live like that. I''m sure that........well, I''m sure I''ve caused you worry again. It''s not a good idea to inform people about the current situation when there''s the fire incident and they don''t even have a temporary home there. ''''©¤©¤I''m fine. Thank you for worrying about me. So I did my best to make up for the two people who cared about me by saying it was nothing. I have an inwardly deviant feeling that I need to compare materials again tonight to avoid causing them any more worry. And the next day ... not knowing that the limit would finally be reached. 137 129 "Daikirai" for only one person Today, just past the middle of November, came the day we had to deliver to the South family. We continued to compare the materials until the date changed so that we could decide on a new house on tomorrow''s day off, but we had to conclude that we wouldn''t be able to decide on anything until we saw the actual room. So, as usual, I''m still fatigued, but fortunately, I haven''t made any mistakes that would interfere with my work. After this, I should be able to hold on to it as long as Amana can heal me. Last time, Amana-chan easily spotted me, but this time I''ll make an expression so that she won''t find out. I take out the styrofoam box containing the ingredients from the back of the truck. ''''Guh........'''' But the feeling of weight that you should be accustomed to hanging on your hands makes your whole body scream with this. I''m not sure if it''s this heavy or not...? I knew right away the cause. I''m pretty sure it''s because of fatigue from day after day. But so what. They say that sickness starts with the mind, and as long as you have the right mind, you can manage this. I''ll be fine...I''ll be fine. After putting all my energy into it, I carried my bags to room 184 and pressed the intercom. ''''Yes!'''' "...Hello. This is Umineko Transport. "I''m coming, sir! Not long after the light sound effect sounded, Amana''s cheerful voice echoed from the speakers. Don''t let me worry you, make sure you smile, me........! The front door is opened at the same time as I gulp hard in my dry throat. ''Always a very good time, Onii-san! Thank you, Amana-chan. I greet Amana-chan, who smiles as if the other day never happened, and we exchange greetings with a mask of a smile on her face. Is she smiling properly? No, you have to be able to. Any weakness, any vulnerability, and you''re putting yourself in unnecessary danger again. "Well, do you mind putting your stamp on this? Yes. He asks for a receipt stamp while supporting the core, which is so weak that it seems like a cracked wooden stick. I make sure it''s stamped firmly and place the package by the front door. My hands are finally freed from the heavy luggage, but I endure a sigh, not to mention a lack of sighs and tallness. ''Onii-san,'' Hmm?¡¡What''s wrong with you? To me, who was desperately trying to patch things up, Amana was looking at me with an uncharacteristically thoughtful gaze. .........no way, she found out? A cold sweat runs down my spine. Because otherwise, she wouldn''t have this look on her face. I asked him back as usual, but I couldn''t let the question come out of my mouth beyond that. In an attempt to reassure her, I bent my knees to meet her eye level and pet her little head. ''Hmph, Onii-san?'' Perhaps she was surprised at the sudden stroking, but a hint of confusion could be seen on Amana''s face that would normally make her happy. While apologizing for hiding things from her mind, she turned to the smile she had forced herself to create. ''''Don''t worry about it, you don''t have to worry. Look, I have to get my school homework done as soon as possible, okay? It was a blatant distraction from the topic, but I couldn''t think of anything more to say in my exhausted and sleepy mind, which was nearing its limits. Please, go back to your room like I said, I was about to let go of even the healing from Amana-chan that I should have been asking for so much. But..... ''No!¡¡Because you''re having a harder time than you did before! I... The little girl refused such a wish. And, as is natural, she was able to see through the fatigue that had accumulated from before. I felt as if the core of my broken heart made a small tinkling sound, but I quickly shook it off as an auditory hallucination. ''''Ho, I''m really okay!¡¡Like this..................... I tried to stand up and try to force myself to stand up as quickly as possible, if I couldn''t understand the words, but I lost my balance faster than that due to the dizziness of standing. I managed to keep my back against the fence behind me and managed to avoid falling. However, it was a critical gap that highlighted the fatigue that she had been mending and hiding. Amana-chan turns her face to the side of me, looking as if she is about to cry and comes running to my side. ''That''s not a big deal!¡¡Onii-san, how can you lie to me like that! No.... I didn''t want to worry you, Amana-chan... "I''m tired and I don''t want to be treated like an a**h*le!¡¡Did you lie to me because you''re a child, Onii-san? No!¡¡This is what I deserve and I have to work even if I''m tired so I have to go to my next delivery... In the end, I realized that not only had I caused her unnecessary worry, but that hiding my fatigue had hurt her as well. But it wasn''t because she was a child that she hid it. It was simply out of selfishness, not wanting to worry her. That''s why she doesn''t want to make you feel any more uneasy, so she uses work as an excuse to end the conversation. But Amana-chan wouldn''t allow it. "©¤©¤d*mn it! I... He showed his resistance by clinging to me with his little body to keep me from walking away. ''You can''t do this, you can''t do this to me!¡¡I don''t want you to be bored!¡¡I don''t want to do anything that isn''t kind to you, man! It was an appeal from a little girl who thought more of me than anyone else. I know there are people who need me to go to work. But instead of someone whose face and name I didn''t know, she screamed for me to not go, thinking only of me in front of her. It might be easy to shake it off because of the age and size difference. But I couldn''t help but move at the thought of forcing him to pull away and injure him. ''Onii-san is gushy, he''s nice to everyone, but hiccup, why isn''t he nice to you, Onii-san?¡¡I don''t want you to be the only one having a hard time.......... Oh, Amana-chan.... I''m not sure what to say to Amana-chan as she cries the tears she''s been holding back at last. My heart tightens in my chest at the stupidity of my own stupidity. I''m the one who made the girl I least wanted to make cry shed these heartbreaking tears, no one else. How could the person who caused it come up with the words to stop crying? I was so confused that I couldn''t do anything about it.... ''''Tenna!¡¡What''s the matter with you crying so much! ''''Oh, Amani........'''' Amanashi, on her way home from work, appeared in a panic, probably because she heard her daughter crying. As soon as she sees Amana and me, she comes crowding in with a lightning-like anger in her lapis lazuli eyes. ''What on earth is the situation with Tenna clinging to Kazu-san and crying...?'' Yeah, well... Mom, please!¡¡Mum, tell your mum not to tell your mum what to do! What? Amanashi is indignant, as if her hand is about to come out of her hand, but as she chooses the words to explain, Amana recognizes her mother and cries out to her. She doesn''t know what''s going on, but she reveals her surprise at the content. It would be. It''s hard to guess at a glance that the reason your daughter is clinging to the working world is to keep her from going to work. Amari, whose agitation has not yet cooled down, stares at me silently with her gaze fixed on me. Eventually, she sighs heavily and opens her mouth with a cold gaze. ''''©¤©¤........I don''t really know how that happened, but.......Wa-san. As I recall, tomorrow was your day off, right? Oh, well... While I was relieved that he didn''t ask me what happened, I nodded my head in confusion, unable to read the intent of the question. The only reason Amari knows about my shift is to give me my lunch every morning, but why did she ask again? When my doubts were not cleared, she suddenly smiled at me and smiled at me....... ''''Then please come over here tomorrow around ten o''clock. What? I''m astonished by the sudden invitation. I seriously don''t know why he said that all of a sudden. But, unfortunately, I have plans to look for a new house tomorrow. I can''t tell you directly, but I have no choice but to say no on the grounds that I have things to do. If you refuse, I''ll report you to the police right now, okay? I''ll go!¡¡Please let me go! Because of the threats issued with maximum power, I reflexively respond in agreement. If they call the police while Amana is crying and clinging to her, she''s out for one shot. Yeah, it''s impossible, there''s no way I can say no. After hearing my answer, Amari nodded as if to say good, and then pulled Amana-chan, who was still attached to her, off her feet. ''Mom!¡¡Get off me!¡¡Onii-san is going to go to work! ''''I understand how you feel, but that''s a nuisance to Wa-san. Tenna. No, no, no, no, no! I can''t. Okay, Ms. Kazu. I just need you to get back to the delivery while you still can. Ahhhhh I''ll take care of Amana-chan. She''s supposed to be sweet on my daughter, and she urges me on, knowing that she''ll hate me. I can''t decide whether I should be grateful for that or feel guilty about it, but I have no choice but to do as I''m told, so I go straight back to the delivery truck. Feeling a tinge of guilt at the sound of Amana''s crying, I drove off and headed for my next delivery. 138 130 Pillow that brings you the best sleep A lot of things happened yesterday that shocked me. Amana found out that I was hiding my fatigue again, and she cried that I shouldn''t go to work. In addition, Amana invited me to come to the Minami family with the threat of ending my social life if I refused. I felt like my fatigue had been blown away by all that, but as soon as I woke up from sleeping in the driver''s seat, the exhaustion was overwhelming. Although I couldn''t help but swoon, it was more than enough of a reprieve considering the amount of work I had to do after that. I had originally planned to go with Mason-san to view a potential new house today, but I''m sorry to say that I called to cancel due to Tenashi''s threat to not allow me to refuse. Although he kept the details under wraps, he said he would reschedule it for another day if it was an errand that couldn''t be generously removed, as he had no choice. Once again, I''m glad she was in charge. That''s why I was standing in front of room 184 of the condo Avery Smile, where the Minami family is currently located. I''m still trying to figure out why Amari asked me out after that. I can only hope that it wasn''t for some fancy reason to make up for making Amana-chan cry.... As for your question, the biggest concern is Amana''s condition. When I asked Amana after work, she was depressed but had stopped crying. I definitely made her angry......... According to Amana, she doesn''t like the job of tormenting me, but you won''t hate me by extending it, will you? Well, we''re running out of time, so let''s make up our minds and press the intercom. ''''Yes.'''' ''Good morning Amanashi. I''m here as you asked, is it safe to come in? "Yes, sir. It''s unlocked. Please just come in. As the familiar short music played, Amanashi responded. The other side seems to be all set up and ready to enter at any time. I''m not sure if it''s due to lack of vigilance or trust in me, but if the person who invited me says it''s good, I''ll just go along with it. I open the front door fearfully. I''m not sure if it''s because of the mixture of nerves and fear, but it feels awfully heavy and opens with a unique sound. Tenashi, who has come to greet me, comes to look at me. Oh, could it be that you''re going to call the police...? ''''Well you don''t have to be so blatantly frightened to call the cops, do you? Oh, really...? If it''s in his nature to take the piss out of me, that''s good enough for me. Ho..... I felt like I was being told something salacious, but I didn''t mind because the sense of security of not being reported won out. If you look at her outfit, she is dressed in a warm white sweater and a long, pale red skirt, a simple yet profound outfit that comes out well. I think they look great on her. "Well, what about you, Amana-chan? ''I''m doing my homework in my room. At least I''m staying in my room in the morning. I see... I gently patted my chest that it seems to be holding up better than I thought it would. Anyway, I head to the living room as Amari urges me to. The space is as clean as ever, but she sits upright on the carpet on the wooden flooring. ''''Come on, Wa-san, please sit down too.'''' ''Oh, ah...'' I sit down as I''m told, but I leave enough distance between me and Amanashi for one person. I turned to look at her to see if this was okay, but she was jittery about what she was unhappy about. Eh, why? Wa-san. You can come closer, okay? ''No, no. That''s not a good idea... What is it?¡¡Is there any inconvenience in having me sitting next to you? No, no, but... If you''re not coming to me, I''ll have to approach you. What? As if it was too soon to say, Amari quickly moved in close to my left side. The distance between our shoulders is close enough to touch each other, and the good scent wafting from her dark brown hair tickles my nostrils. My nerves are focused on my left shoulder, and my heart beats faster inexplicably. Hey, hey, hey, hey, what the hell is going on! You''re Amanashi... Just as I was about to ask her a question, upset, she suddenly reached out her right hand to my face... Excuse me. After a word of refusal, I pulled away at once. A soft sensation rushed to my left cheek before I understood that my perspective was tilted 90 degrees. Plus, I feel like the sweet smell is stronger than before? What''s this? What the hell is wrong with me? Well, what do you think? What''s the...? I can hear Amari''s dignified voice from my right ear. You don''t know what''s happening to you, but I don''t know what to think or anything? Wow, my... The kneecap, I mean.... Oh, you''re on your knees... I couldn''t hide my astonishment at the situation that I was about to swallow normally for a moment and made my whole body tense up. Eh, this is a knee pillow! My head is on Amanashi''s lap! As soon as I understood the unexpected situation, the heat focused on my face at once. Yabba yabba yabba yabba! What''s bad is that it''s soft and smells good and all sorts of things are going to cut down on your reasoning! What the hell were you thinking, suddenly knee-jerk to someone who is not tolerant! Why the kneecap? Oh, please don''t be violent. I consulted Mayuzumi, and she told me that this is an effective way to relieve men''s fatigue. Did that little mukimukionee guy tell you to do this? I''m glad to hear it, but what''s the point of running it against me? Although such a question passed through my head, the answer was easy to arrive at if I often thought back to Tenashi''s argument. ''''Recovering from fatigue........maybe you noticed that.......?'''' I can''t move my head, so I don''t know what expression Amari has on her face. But she answers ''yes'' and continues. ''''Because I''ve never seen Tenna cling to her like that before. If you look closely at Wa-san''s face, she looked very tired, so...'''' I''m sorry... what? It seems that the reason why Amari took the action of knee pillow is because I was still getting tired. I apologize, but she suddenly tugs at my right ear. ''''The reason I''m knee-buckling Kazu-san is not because I want her to apologize, but because I want her to rest well. But.... I will question him later on why he was reckless until he did so. But for now, can you please take a break? .... It might be easy to resist. However, the option of refusing after being taken to this point had completely disappeared. It''s a good thing that the pillow is more comfortable than the pillow you''ve been using, but the accumulated fatigue and lack of sleep make you feel resigned. The body, which originally came to me through force, has no way to resist. I was invited to do as I was led to do, and surrendered myself to an unprecedented smile and went to sleep. 139 131 Awakening, hot rice, and ... How long had I slept? I suddenly woke up with my eyelids closed and that question was the first thing that went through my mind. Perhaps because I slept soundly for the first time in a long time, my thoughts feel surprisingly clear. I''m pretty sure I was lent Amari''s knee as a pillow. Even through the skirt, it was insanely soft, and the sweet scent of a woman''s unique fragrance relieved all the tension in your body to the extent that it seemed to have an inducing effect on your sleep. But the softness you feel in your head when you wake up is different. The softness of my knees feels different than before I went to sleep. But it''s not uncomfortably hard, in fact it''s warmer than before... as far as the scent goes, it''s ongoing. No, it''s not my imagination, this is totally different. I slowly open my eyes to see what''s going on.... ''''Ah, Onii-san. Good morning. Oh.... Before I knew it, my eyes met with Amana, who was looking at me from above, when I was lying on my back. Moreover, I was upside down. It''s not so difficult to understand what this is all about, judging by the feel of the back of your head. It''s just that the person who''s knee-buckling me has changed from Amari to Amana. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for. It''s a problematic picture, but it''s not without its problems. More importantly, Amana-chan hugged me yesterday, crying and telling me not to go to work. If she hadn''t stopped me there, it would have been too late, both physically and mentally, and if that hadn''t happened, I would have been even more worried. Even without such guilt, I was worried that it might be awkward for her, but the way she is taking over the lap pillow like this doesn''t seem to have turned into a tail. ''''Amana-chan. Thanks. For worrying about me, for stopping me from trying to pass recklessly, even with my little body, for kneeling in my lap like this with no remorse, for healing me so many times before, they have helped me too much to mention. It''s not enough to repay you for all of that, but I wanted to say those words to you. When Amana-chan was suddenly thanked, she rolled her lapis lazuli eyes and then..... ''''©¤©¤Eheheh, you''re welcome! He returned it with a big smile on his face. = = = = = = =. It felt like she slept for a long time, but in reality, only about two hours had passed. According to Amana, she and Amanashi took over the knee pillow after about an hour or so. The fact that I must have moved my head during the changeover and that it didn''t wake me up means that Amana and Amana''s knee pillow gave me an excellent night''s sleep. And how is this Amari doing..... ©¤ ©¤ Good morning, Kazu-san. Oh, oh. Morning.... When I thought I smelled something awfully good, I saw her standing in the kitchen, preparing lunch. Her dark brown hair, which had grown to her waist, was tied up near the nape of her neck so that it wouldn''t get in the way, and she was wearing a yellow-green apron, which made my heart skip a beat. No, I''ve seen her cooking before, but her parents were there at the time, so I didn''t watch her that carefully. But now that I''m face to face with her like this I get irresistibly nervous. It''s bad, the gap in the apron........ Whether she knows or not she knows how I''m feeling or not, Amari gives a soft smile. ''''Lunch will be ready soon, so please take a seat and wait for me. ''What?¡¡No, I don''t think I''m going to go that easy on you... I''ve already made it for three people, and I thought I''d prepare it from the moment I invited them over. And I made the ginger pork with ginger to nourish and tonicize your tired body and help you recover as quickly as possible. In fact, I''d rather you didn''t eat it. Ggh...! I didn''t expect him to not only let me sleep on his lap, but also to prepare lunch for me. Moreover, it was for me, and of all things, it was too foul to make pork grilled with ginger. And then, as if to say tome, he said, ''You have to eat it. .........Well, if you think about it, he said he was going to question the main source of his fatigue, so if the way of escape is blocked so generously, there is no choice but to talk. With that in mind, I sat down in front of the table. The ginger-grilled pork, which was finished shortly afterwards, was cooked to an appetizing degree and had a mellow aroma. The vegetables, such as bean sprouts, lettuce and onions, also soak up the flavors, and go perfectly with the white rice and miso soup. I''ve eaten Amanashi''s food many times before, but since it was for me, it was even better than usual. It''s the same with Amana-chan, who chews on it with a cute smile on her face and a smile on her face. Eventually I finished the meal and took a breath before turning to Amana. ''Thanks, that was really good.'' Thanks for the food! ''''Hmm. It''s been a long time since I''ve put a lot of effort into making it, so I''m glad to hear you say that. The praise that Amana and I have given together, Amanashi accepts it with a smile that would make me fawn over it. I suggested that we wash the dishes to at least give something back, but he softly refuses because I am a customer. I can''t argue with the landlord when he says so, so I have no choice but to back down and have a conversation with Amana until I finish washing the dishes. I was cringing when he asked me to join him, but I was so grateful to be provided with a good night''s sleep and a good meal that I couldn''t sleep with my feet up. All of this would never have happened without the interactions we''ve had. More than anything else, Amana-chan''s presence was a big part of what kept me together. I''ve always been saved by her. How am I going to repay the debt of gratitude I''ve received so much? Even if I were to venture a question, I''m sure the two of them might return it as their usual thanks. Rather, it''s my line, but I can''t help it........ ''''©¤©¤Namu-san.'''' Eventually, she called out to Amari, who had finished washing the dishes. Just by making eye contact with her serious gaze, I could roughly guess what she was trying to say. To question her as to why I was sick. I wouldn''t be able to hide it anymore. With that in mind, I decided to tell her everything. The apartment I was living in caught fire, the fact that I was forced to stay in the car because I refused temporary housing, the fact that I couldn''t get proper sleep and rest because of it, the fact that I was looking for a new place to live on my days off and in my free time. The cause of his fatigue was revealed without hiding it. After listening to the whole thing, Amari........ ''''Aren''t you an idiot?'''' Yes, you''re right... ''I can''t think of a word other than foolish to stubbornly refuse to rely on others in such a situation. He was clearly angry. I actually caused him quite a bit of concern, and he seems to be quite angry at me for not talking about the cause of it at all until today. I''m not going to argue with him at all, since I''m totally at fault for that. I''m not going to argue with that, because it''s my fault. ''Yes, I''m really sorry...'' If you do something like that again, I''ll bury you, okay? On top of that, Amana would get angry at me. In other words, Kaz-san''s current situation is that she is homeless in her car, and it will still take her a while to find a new place to live, right? ''''Oh. I''m going to put that to rest as far as staying in the car, and I''m going to stay in a capsule hotel tonight... It''s obvious that if you continue to do that, you''re going to get sick. Even if it''s difficult to find a temporary home, I can at least manage to arrange a sleeping environment. Although I told her so implicitly, Amari''s expression did not clear. In any case, it''s because nothing has been done to solve the fundamental problem. But I can''t think of any other way. ''''Thank you for the knee pillow and food. I''ll take care of the rest, so it''s time to go-- Wait.... I was about to stand up, not wanting to cause any more trouble, but before I could do so, Tenashi shouted a restraining order. ''''Regarding your temporary residence...'''' She took a deep breath and looked straight at me with a tense expression, perhaps because of her nervousness. I have no idea what she''s planning to say, so I can only wait for her to say more, and Amana-chan just listens quietly. Eventually, Amari opens her mouth..... ''''©¤©¤How about using the spare room in this house?'''' He rattled off a suggestion that hadn''t even occurred to him. 140 132 I want to help because he helped me I''m sorry, what did you say? Is it because I''m still exhausted, or have I heard some strange auditory hallucinations? Or were you dreaming? No, the feeling of the knee pillow and the flavor of the pork and ginger I tasted firmly are definitely real things. That''s probably why I was so astonished by the proposal Tenashi made that I couldn''t help but escape reality. ''As you know, Kaz-san, this is the room that was originally going to be occupied by Yuna, Tatsuhito-san and Tenna. Since it''s just me and Tenna right now, there''s just one extra room, so please use that room until you find a new home. Amanashi and Amana live in "Mansion Every Smile", each room is a 3LDK, which is quite roomy for two people to live in. There''s even one room that''s not used for visitors for convenience. Naturally, the rent for a room that large is reasonably priced, but with her high income and the help of Mr. Watahira and the others, she doesn''t seem to be having trouble living there. The room was used by my parents when they came here, and it''s always clean because I don''t miss cleaning it every day. As long as we can carry our stuff in the car, we''ll be able to stay there in no time. It''s the kind of politeness you''d expect from an honest person like Amanashi. He works in the sales department of a major IT company, and I think it''s the kind of proposal that would normally make you want to pick it up without hesitation. But...... You can''t go that far... There are so many advantages, I feel sorry for the opposite. First of all, I''m an acquaintance of Amanashi''s and Amana-chan is only a friend with an age difference. It''s a grateful suggestion, but I didn''t think I was worth it, so much so that I could easily nod my head. Thinking that, I try to decline, but Amanashi''s eyes narrow smoothly, not wanting to miss it. ''''It''s not just the sleeping quarters. Like earlier, I''ll prepare your meals for you.'''' What? And that''s not just for your usual lunch, but for three meals of breakfast and dinner as well. What? I can''t hide my surprise at the additional information I didn''t expect. As a person whose stomach is gripped by her cooking, even for free, this is the most appealing suggestion. I''m not sure how I should respond. Seeing her reaction, her lapis lazuli eyes light up even more sharply. ''Leave the laundry to me, too. I''m used to seeing it in my father''s clothing, so even if it''s a man''s underwear, I won''t have any resistance to it.'''' Ugh..... What a chase. Just a bed and a meal is more than enough, but you''re going to do that too...! Even though I don''t have any resistance to Amari, I''m the one who gets my pants washed, but I''ll leave it at that. The important thing is that the laundry and drying I used to do at the laundromat when I stayed in the car will be done at work. I know it''s such an unbeatable proposition that I know I''ll regret it if I take any other option. But........because I don''t know why Amari would want me to go that far. So I can''t shake my head. ''''Why?''''¡¡Why would Amani make such a suggestion?¡¡You don''t have to feel sorry for me, I can handle myself, you don''t have to do anything...? I can''t help myself without understanding, and in the end I return such pathetic words. However, when Amari heard that......... ©¤ ©¤ Sympathy.........?¡¡Do you think I''m suggesting to Wa-san that I''m only suggesting such a cheap, temporary sentimentality? I... ''''Why doesn''t Wa-san worry about himself like he did when Tenna and I had a falling out!¡¡If Tenna hadn''t stopped me, I would have made a driving error on the job or something, and it would have been too late! I shouted in a way that revealed my copious anger, as if it was out of my mind. The extremely righteous words made me feel as if a knife was held to my throat, my whole body went rigid and I couldn''t move. Amana didn''t show any signs of surprise, but rather frowned as if she felt the same way. With just that, one could see how much she was worried about the two of them. As much as I hadn''t thought that they thought that much, I shrugged my shoulders and listened to the sermon. ''Are we so unreliable?¡¡You didn''t think the relationship was deep enough to worry you? No, it''s not!¡¡I just don''t want to get you in trouble. ''When did I say I didn''t want you to bother me!¡¡It''s been annoying to me for the longest time that you''ve decided that making me worry is a nuisance!¡¡Who do you think you are! It wasn''t because I was hiding things from him that Amari was this angry. She was highly frustrated with my arrogance, trying to manage it all on my own. I was pushing myself because I didn''t want him to worry, and that was causing me extra worry, but I wouldn''t allow him to unilaterally decide how I felt and help me. He couldn''t tolerate such an attitude. After all this time, I realized how stupid I had been. It''s too shameful to feel guilty, and the guilt seems to overwhelm me, so I can only bite my lip. Then Tenashi gently lifted my face, which was drooping, with both hands and made us meet face to face. ''''©¤©¤Tenna and I have been saved a lot by Kazu-san. There wasn''t a day that went by that I didn''t think about how I should thank you for such a thing. Eh.... The words told to me with a sad face, I was astonished with my eyes wide open. Because what I just said was exactly the same as how I feel about Amanashi and Amana. ''They made it to class visits in time. You made a lot of memories for Tenna. They knew I wasn''t her mother, but we were still a family. There''s no way I can repay my gratitude to you for being so kind to me with just my daily lunches...'''' That''s not true, I''m getting it back. In fact, I''m the one who gets a lot of money back from them, but.... I want to say that clearly, but it''s not as if the words can''t seem to come out of my mouth. ''''If me and Tenna''s benefactor, Wa-san, are in trouble, I''ll do everything I can to help. Please. Let us help you........! Tenri..... How should I respond to her as she lowers her head while appealing to me that way? I have no idea. When I''m at a loss for words, a warm object is unexpectedly placed on the back of my hand. When I turn my eyes to it, it''s Amana''s little hand. She, who has been silently watching the course of events until now, looks at me with serious eyes. ''You know what, Onii-san. You know, since I met you, Amana, I''ve had a great time with you. .... As for you, your brother helped me with my assistance, so if your brother is in trouble, I want to help him. So, Amana broke off her words and continued with a big smile on her face. Because it''s only natural that you want to be saved because you''ve been saved! Uh..... It was so easy to do that it was mind bogglingly simple, and yet it was something I hadn''t even thought about, to the point where the scales fell off my eyes. All I could think about was how to keep returning the money, and I hadn''t even thought about being returned. Amana''s pearly innocence gave a warm glow to my heart. ''And besides!¡¡If only you could stay at home with your brother, I would feel so much more comfortable! It was as if, in Amana''s mind, I had decided to stay in this house. What a convenient idea, I think, but I''m not going to deny it. It''s more of a proof that you accept me that much. After being told this, there is no choice but to say no. "It seems.......it''s decided, right? My answer seems to have been realized by Amanashi as well, and he smiled a victorious smile. It seems that in the hands of this father and son, the selfish willpower of a single man is not likely to be a match for them, no matter how hard they try. I''m sure that''s what you''re thinking, and I''m shaking my head with a wry smile. 141 133 Good night After some twists and turns, it was decided to make the Minami family''s empty room a temporary home, and we moved the clothes, bedding, and a few pieces of furniture that were in the car. Since Amana-chan and Amanashi also helped me with the work, it was quicker than I expected. Although it was called a vacant room, it was originally the room where Watahira-san and the others slept when they visited, so even though they carried their belongings, it felt too large for one person to use it. The original room was large, but the luggage that Kaz-san was carrying in the car itself wasn''t too much. My last apartment came equipped with the essentials, like a washing machine and a refrigerator. Apart from the fact that it''s a ramshackle place, the rent is relatively cheap, and considering that, it was a real steal. It''s a shame it''s gone because of the fire and aging. ''I don''t have any recreational interests, and I don''t have a lot of clothes, as long as I can wear them. ...There was a TV, but what was that? ''When I first started living on my own, but I gradually stopped watching it, and I would unplug it unless the black sound was coming over to stay. ''''Well it was really just a room to sleep in, wasn''t it? No wonder I didn''t feel like I was living there when I stayed there before. Tenashi gave me a pitying look. Well, I won''t deny it because it''s mostly true. ''''But Kyouka, this is your oya! ''Haha, yeah.'' As I''m carrying my things, Amana-chan, who was smiling all the time, as if she was really happy that I''ve come to live in her house, tells me that. While I''m happy to hear those words, I also think it''s going to be an uphill battle when it comes time to leave. Although I accepted Amari''s proposal, I have no intention of staying for long. We can only stay here until we find a new home.......if we find a new room, we will inevitably have to leave. It could be as early as this month or as late as this year. It''s obvious that this will make Amana-chan, who was so happy to be able to spend time with me then, sad. It''s a heartbreaking story, but it''s also an inevitable reality that will come sooner or later. If that''s the case, it would be better to tell them beforehand, but I''m afraid to interrupt them by saying that now. It would be a kind of escape from reality, but let''s enjoy the days when we can live together for a while. ''''Well, I''m going to go get the laundry, so Kaz-san, please rest until dinner. Well, no, you''ve got a room to live in now, can I help you with the housework? ''I appreciate the offer, but you''re still tired, aren''t you?¡¡We''ve had some work to do on the loading and unloading, and you should try to rest for today. Ummm... okay... I offered to help, saying that I couldn''t be that indulgent in a situation where they provide two of my food and clothing, but I was sternly rejected. In fact, I''m not even close to being exhausted. You may not be able to help, but you should be able to at least look at the information on the property. All right, then, let''s get the data out now... Tenna. You can keep an eye on Kazu-san so that he can rest properly? ''Yes!¡¡I get it! What? ©¤ Then Amana-chan, who received instructions from Amanashi, shows a lovely salute. I can only be surprised by raising my voice after receiving the unexpected first strike. Amana left the room, leaving me stunned and Amana-chan, who was tasked with surveillance duties, behind. ''''Onii-san, shall we ease up?¡¡Do you want to kneel on your knees like you did before? I''ll sleep on the futon. I decline that part of the quarrel. When I woke up earlier, I was safe because I had switched places with Amari, but I hesitate to ask her to let me take a lap pillow for myself. I lie down to sleep on the futon quietly, but........ I''ll be in the futon with Amana, too. What? I didn''t expect him to declare me to sleep with him. I don''t know how many times I''ve been surprised like this already, but maybe it''s a sign of how tired I am. But do we have to sleep in the same futon when we''re just watching over them? I don''t understand what Amana is thinking.... You didn''t like to sleep with Amana, did you? "?¡¡I don''t mind it at all, okay? Oh, I see... I''m not going to do anything about it, but when I checked to make sure, I got a very unquestioning answer. I''ve been thinking about this for a while now, but I have a feeling that Amana''s trust in me is tremendous. With such straightforward trust in me, is it really possible to betray me? .........no, it''s impossible. In fact, I''d rather kick the guy who committed such a foolish act. And so they all sleep on the same futon. Feeling the warmth of childlike Amana-chan, I was able to fall asleep earlier than expected. Afterwards, I was able to sleep until I was woken up by Amanashi, who had finished preparing the bath. We finished bathing in the hot tub, which was larger than our apartment, and the three of us sat around the table for dinner, just like lunch. ''Thanks for the meal,'' Thanks for the food! Yes, thank you. Dinner, too, was a soup of Chinese cabbage and radish, which Amashi had thoughtfully prepared to recover from fatigue. The vegetables and meat soaked in flavor were very tasty, and the soup was tender yet refreshing, and if I had to give it a score, it would definitely be a perfect score. Perhaps because I had seen them eating it so well, the chef himself was smiling happily as well. After that, while I was watching TV and listening to what happened at school, it was late at night and it was past 9pm. Hmm.......... ''Amana-chan?¡¡Maybe you''re getting sleepy? Yeah but Amana, I want to spend more time with you... Ahhhh, don''t say something so insanely cute with the vague face of the dreamer, don''t say it so smoothly....... I desperately suppress my hands while writhing in agony at the cuteness that makes me want to take care of her with all my might. Come to think of it, Amana-chan always sleeps at this time of night, right? He really wants to stay awake more, but he''s already rowing the boat from the sensations seeping into his body. I put my palms on my sleepy little head, chewing on the joy of missing him so much. ''Didn''t Amana-chan tell you that at lunch?¡¡I''m going to live in this house for a while, so I''ll see you in the morning. ''Yeah...'' ''Wa-san. Excuse me, can you take Tenna to her room? Yeah. It''s all yours. I was going to do that even without Amari''s request, but it was easier to do it with permission than without permission. Anyway, I hold Amana''s small body in a princess hug. With the arm strength I''ve developed in my daily work, a first-grade girl is really quite light. .........although I have a feeling that Amari, who is following behind me, is glaring at me intensely. I''m not sure what it is, was it better to carry her on your back or just a normal carry? While receiving such a strange look, both of Amana''s eyes, which she carried to the bed, are completely closed. At this rate, she''ll be asleep in no time. Then, Amana-chan. I''ll see you tomorrow. Yeah, good night. The word ''good night'' was said to me as if it were a matter of course, and I responded with the same word, feeling an inexplicable warmth. As if it was a switch, Amana made a small sleepy sound and started to sleep. Soothed by her innocent sleeping face, Amana and I quietly leave the room. ''''It''s time for you to get some rest too, Kazu-san. Oh. .........but I''m not really sure if I can sleep now since I slept so much during the day. They say if you sleep too much in the afternoon, you can''t sleep at night. It''s probably not a problem, given the lack of sleep I''ve had, but it will take some time to fall asleep. Thinking about that, Amari let out a giggle and a smile..... ''''Then shall I do the knee pillow again?'''' Please don''t do this because I''m not going to be able to sleep for different reasons.... What a deep blood connection to Amana-chan in the daytime to say the same thing. In particular, although I''ve gotten used to it, Amari is a superb beauty. I''m not sure if it was the first time when I was upset and sleepy, but now that I have the luxury of time, it''s not so good in many ways. The reaction to my obvious wolfishness, Amari continues, holding back a laugh. I''m just kidding. So you''re going to work tomorrow, what time do you usually get up? ''What?¡¡Yeah, I''m usually up before 7:00. I understand. In that case, there''s no need to get up particularly early. Is that for breakfast? When I asked Amari, who was relieved to know the time to get up, she looked at me with a slightly proud expression. ''''Yes. I promised I''d make three meals. Of course I''ll make your lunch as usual, so please don''t oversleep, okay?¡¡Then good night. Oh, oh ... good night. With that, she ended the conversation and bowed before heading to her room. I was left alone in the corridor and entered the room addressed to me while calming my heartbeat, which was speeding up irresistibly. The addictive nature of this life may be worse than I thought. Are those father and son planning to come and spoil me thoroughly? It''s so heartbreaking that it makes me think so. It took me a long time to fall asleep, probably because of the strange sensation I can''t put into words.... 142 134 Morning moment That awakening was abrupt. I... Huh?¡¡.........ki-te! Hmm...? I''m waking up and working on my hazy thoughts. I slept awfully well........oh yeah. I''ve been living in the South family''s spare room since yesterday. After remembering that much, I realized that my body was shaking. I thought it was an earthquake, but it was a gentle shaking for that. I opened my heavy eyelids to see what it was.... ''''Ah!¡¡I got it!¡¡Good morning, man! ...Amana-chan? I saw Amana''s smiling face in her pajamas in my vision. Apparently, she came to wake me up, just like she did when she stayed at my last apartment. I made the mistake of hugging her in my sleep that time, but I''m inwardly relieved that it didn''t happen this time. It doesn''t matter, why did this girl come to wake me up? Good morning, Amana-chan. What time is it? Well, it''s the sixth hour of the morning! In response to my question, Amana answered so cheerfully that I couldn''t believe it was morning. No, you''re early. I can still sleep for half an hour, why are you waking me up so early, and even earlier? Let''s see, does Amana-chan always get up around this time? I decided to ask her why she came to wake me up in a roundabout way, since telling me her usual waking time is tantamount to implying ''I wanted her to sleep more''. Amana-chan replies with an innocent smile, as if she doesn''t know what the other side of those words are. Amana, I just woke up earlier and thought I wanted to see you as soon as possible! Ugh.......... I didn''t think it was because she wanted to see my face before her mother, Amari. I received an unexpectedly cute attack from early in the morning, and my sleep-deprived mind was completely awakened. That''s awesome, Amana, I''ve never had such a nice morning to wake up. As I''m writhing in agony over how cute she is, the door to my room is unexpectedly opened. ''I thought they were talking about something.......why is Tenna in Kazu''s room? Good morning, Amari. The door was opened by an apron-clad Amana, holding a ladle in one hand. I was slightly surprised by the typical attire, but the other side also seemed unable to hide their surprise at getting up earlier than the time I had told them beforehand and the presence of Amana-chan. ''''Good morning. Tenna, did you perhaps wake up Kazu-san who was asleep? Uh, yeah... When I thought she returned my greeting, Amanashi stared at Amana with her lapis lazuli eyes narrowed. It''s exactly the eyes of a parent who is about to scold her. Amana-chan, as expected, was aware that her actions were simply selfish, and she shuddered at Amana''s gaze. ''Thanks to Amana-chan, I was able to wake up refreshed, so I''m grateful. Don''t be so angry with me.'''' Onii-san...! ''''........Huh. If it doesn''t bother you, Wa-san, then I have nothing to say to you. When I implied that it wouldn''t bother me if I was woken up, Amana let out a reassuring smile and Tenashi sighed in disgust and settled the contraption. I didn''t lie about anything, and I could feel Amari''s concern for me as she was trying to get me to sleep until the last minute. So there was no need to blame anyone. ''''There''s still time for breakfast to be ready, so the two of you should finish dressing and brushing your teeth. Yeah, okay. Yes! Me and Amanashi and Amana nodded together at Amanashi''s words. ........Let''s not tell them that I thought the word choice was completely motherly. Let''s just pretend that''s what it is. Then I changed into my clothes and stood next to Amana and brushed my teeth. It''s also cute that she uses a strawberry flavored toothpaste while I use a strong mint flavored toothpaste. It''s really funny to see her brushing her teeth without skipping a beat, because she''s been so well educated. When I finished brushing my teeth and went into the living room, Tenashi was just serving breakfast on the table. I helped with the rest and the three of us put our hands together. ''''Itadakimasu,'''' The breakfast that was made was miso soup with white rice and Chinese cabbage and grilled fish, a menu that was more towards Japanese food. With the exception of the time when Kurone came to stay, I''ve always eaten bread for breakfast, so it''s refreshing to see it laid out like this. Plus, it''s probably the fact that I''m sitting around the table with Amari and Amana-chan. That alone was enough to make me feel a warmth that was equal to the miso soup, and it seemed to spread through my mind slightly. Before I knew it, I had eaten it all before I knew it. Thanks for the meal. I''m glad we had such a good meal in the morning. Oh, you''re welcome. Breakfast is your source of energy for the day, and you must eat well. Hey. This one will last the night. ''Eh....'' Hey, what''s up? I thought I expressed my heartfelt admiration, but for some reason, Amari seemed a bit shocked. I didn''t know why she reacted like that, and as soon as I asked her, she became visibly upset. ''''No, no........I just misunderstood for a moment that I wasn''t able to help you much with your bento.......'''' ''''Oh that kind of........ To be honest, up until yesterday, Tenashi''s bento was the most helpful thing for me, so I''d rather not be able to do anything about it if it''s gone from now on. It''s easy to imagine that if it weren''t for the lunches she usually makes, I could easily have collapsed earlier. It''s the same in the future, and it''s become a habit of mine to eat that lunchbox for lunch. If they say they won''t make it tomorrow, I want to keep eating it to the point where I''ll do whatever it takes to stop them. Hearing my words, Tenashi''s expression changed from a sad expression to a happy but somewhat embarrassed one.... It''s a very good idea to have a good time. Today''s bento is also filled with a lot of energy, so please enjoy it! Oh, oh... I managed to nod my head, feeling my chest heave as I was told that he had made a lunch with the contents of my body in a roundabout way. .... .... But from there, they become silent to each other. What''s this? There''s something sweet in the air that makes it seem like the salt in the miso soup you drank earlier has been replaced with sugar. Mister?¡¡Mom?¡¡How did you stop talking to Kyu? ! He finally came back from his rigidity after Amana pointed it out to him, but the awkwardness remained in the air for a while. 143 135 Words that I was used to saying, I was used to, and I forgot Hey, here''s today''s lunch... Oh, thank you... The air was indescribable after breakfast, but by the time I got to work, I managed to get rid of it. It''s still a little awkward, though, but I''ll be back when I leave. If it''s not so, I can''t keep my heart in check. You can feel the warmth from the bento that you receive, even through the wrapped bag. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it, but I''m going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. I mean, what am I thinking that will accelerate the awkwardness? It''s only because of your kindness that I''m making these lunches for you! And by the way, graciousness is not a typo for favors, if there aren''t any! While regaining the rudder of my thoughts that are about to go off again, I try to go out the door again. ''''Well, yeah, well then...'''' Oh, man!¡¡Wait a minute! What? The moment I put my hand on the doorknob, I was stopped by Amana from behind. When I turned around to see if I had forgotten something, I saw a disgruntled expression on her face. ''''There are times like this when you have to say something, right? In this case...? Wha...? Did we ever have one? I don''t know how to reply, and I look over to Amana next to her. However, she only says something with a wry smile and a mouthful of food. I don''t have any lip-reading skills... but I still know what to say as a sure hint. I mock myself for having completely lost track of those words because I''ve been living alone for so long. But I''m sure I''ll have to say it again and again in the future, too. I suppress a little bit of smoldering tension and open my mouth to say those words. I''m going to...©¤©¤I''m going to go. As soon as she said that, Amana-chan smiled with a smile.... "©¤ ©¤ Goodbye, Onii-san! Have a good day, Ms. Kazu. Not only Amana-chan, but also Tenashi returned it as if she had been doing it for a while. At this time, my heart was embraced by a certain warmth that was incomparable to anything I''d ever seen before. ====. Kazu, are you looking better? ''What?¡¡Really? After finishing the delivery for today''s shipment as smoothly as ever, the question came to me out of the blue from Miya, whom I had met in the locker room. When I asked him back with a roll of my eyes, he gave me a quizzical look. You''re obviously full of energy compared to the day before yesterday, right? ''Ahhhh well, I got a good night''s rest yesterday, so maybe that''s why. That''s how much the two members of the South family helped me. It was the best vacation I''ve ever taken, with them kneeling on my lap, sleeping well and making me meals. And since that life will continue until they find a new home, they might be in great shape for a while. ''''Hmmm...?¡¡Well, when you''re feeling better, that''s fine. I''m sorry I had to worry about you. That''s it, really. You should thank Mao-chan properly too. Of course. While having such a conversation, I left the locker room and when I arrived at the entrance of the parking lot, I talked about it, and what do I know, I bumped into Marao this time. Oh my. Kazu you look very healthy, don''t you? ''Even Mao can understand that........'' Because the day before yesterday, you could have collapsed at any time. Is it so in your face that you can tell at a glance whether or not you''re well? I''m not trying to put a poker face on it, but you might want to be a little concerned about this. ''So, just resting isn''t going to help you recover that much, is it?¡¡You''ll at least tell me what happened, won''t you? Yeah, yeah, yeah!¡¡We were worried about you, too! Sanya comes on board with Mao''s question. Well, it''s true that I caused the two of you some concern, and I know your relationship with Amana-chan very well, so it''s okay to talk about it. But since it''s not a good idea to talk for too long, it''s probably best to keep it short and to the point. The place we use as a temporary residence is actually an empty room in the house where Amana and Amanashi live. "........... While hiding the fact that they had been staying in the car until then, when I told them the current situation, Mao and Miya fell silent. Then why did it look so hard, if you ask me why it was so hard, I have no choice but to honestly reveal the life of the overnight stay in the car? I was prepared to do so, assuming that you were wondering, but Sanya hid her mouth with her palm and pulled her face up to Mao. ''Did you hear that, Mao?¡¡I heard this guy''s been living with you since you got caught in a fire. ''Yes, I heard it perfectly, Sanya-kun. I wonder what our worries were all about? He''ll hear you. Don''t talk about living together or being rude to Tenashi. I know it''s not strange to see it that way from an objective point of view, but we lost our dwelling place in a fire, so I don''t have any such buoyant feelings. No, are you serious?¡¡I mean, a loss to stay with the South family or to worry about it is tantamount to a lukewarm betrayal, right? Betrayal is an exaggeration... No, this is a level you could take to court and win.¡¡Consider yourself lucky that you''re not angry for worrying. You''re not going to... After that, the two of them came to ask me what life was like in the Minamis'' house, but I could tell that they would make fun of me if I told them honestly, so I stubbornly kept my mouth shut. ''Hmmm... finally I''m home...'' It was late at night, and although it was past 10:00, I was able to make it back to room 184 of Mansion Avery Smile. At this time, Amana is already asleep........ Even though I have a duplicate key lent to me so I can enter without any problems, Amari might be asleep too. Turning the key slowly so as to make as little noise as possible, I carefully open the door........ ''''Ah, Onii-san! Oh, Amana-chan! Unlike yesterday, Amana was awake, and the moment her eyes met mine, she hugged me vigorously. Furthermore, Amanashi is also with her. "Well, why were you awake? ''I''ve been complaining that I won''t sleep today until Kaz-san comes home. The reason is the same reason as in the morning. It''s the same in the morning. From the hint that Amanashi gave me again - a thing that is almost like an answer - I guessed the reason why Amana was waiting for me until I had to put up with sleepiness. Is it really okay for me to say that? Because it''s not like I''m officially living here, I''m just supposed to be a stay-at-home mom. And yet, the words that Amana wants to hear.... I turn my attention to the girl who''s currently clinging to me. Her lapis lazuli eyes held a sense of anticipation that was not sleepy, now or never. He swallows his spit once and timidly says the words he needs to say. ''''©¤©¤I''m home........'''' ''Yes!¡¡Don''t you dare!¡¡Onii! I... I wonder how much my heart was really shaken by Amana, who welcomed me with a big smile on her face. The only thing I can tell you is that my heart is unconsciously tightened in my chest, but it''s a comforting feeling that is far from uncomfortable at all.... ''Onii-san, how are you doing?'' What...? I realized I was crying when Amana pointed out that she was staring at me curiously. What''s this.......how long has it been since I''ve shed a tear? Are you kidding me? Just because Amana-chan said welcome home, the tears I thought had dried up easily flowed away...? Ha-ha-ha. I realized that and a giggle escaped my lips. It''s nothing, I was just saved by Amana again, just like the first time I met her or the day before yesterday when she stopped me. I''d been doing myself a disservice until I was like this, I just understood that. I''ve met a being who cares about me more than I think I do, haven''t I? I hug her little body, wanting to convey the gratitude that never stops pouring out from the depths of my heart. ''Funyu, Oni-san?'' "Thank you, Amana-chan. Thank you for waiting for me at this time of night, even though I was sleepy, and for saying welcome home. The girl in my arms easily warms my cold body after returning from work. As I let out my unconcealed ''thank you'', Amana-chan simply replied with a single word. ''''Ehehe, you''re welcome!'''' The smile on his face was so dazzling that it was hard to believe that he had waited until late at night not to ask for anything in return, not to ingratiate himself, but just to say welcome home. 144 136 Tips for finding a room It''s been four days since I started living with the Nan family. I cried that night by accident, but I''ll get used to it as the days go by. Still, I think my days are much more fulfilling than when I was living alone in my old apartment. The reason for this is thanks to Amana-chan and Amari. I can''t thank them enough, I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Just the fact that they heal me every time I deliver and make my lunch for me is more than enough, but I''m blessed to have them. With my physical and mental strength in full swing, I was able to make deliveries without any trouble. It was so worth it that I was personally called out and praised by the manager. Well, that''s not so bad, as long as Amana-chan is soothing me every time I return home. Anyway, as I spent my time like that on my day off, what did I do.... The only thing equipped is the air conditioner, but the kitchen area is spacious enough to accommodate three people if there''s not too much furniture in there. The sunshine is good, and it doesn''t look like you''ll have any problems doing the laundry. Yes. But the rent and the commute to work are just about as close as you can get. Ummm.... I was here with Mason, who is in charge of looking for a new house, to take a look at potential properties. This is the third place I''ve been to today, and although it seemed to be a good place as far as the data was concerned, when I saw it in person I had the impression that it lacked a decisive factor. This place was also rejected, I guess. I''m not so sure about this one either... ''I understand. Well, let''s move on to the next property I''d say, but we''re running out of time with the other contractors, so I guess that''s it for today. ''I''m sorry I couldn''t decide sooner, even though you came with me. Not at all. It''s an important room that you will live in, so it''s much better than rushing into a decision. I apologize for my apology, but Mason replied with a pretense of not caring about the sales while making a statement that he didn''t care about the sales. Really, he''s such a nice guy that you wouldn''t expect him to be an employee of a real estate agency. ''Do you know what the most important thing is when you''re looking for a room, Wa-san? Huh? Mason-san suddenly asked me a question and I couldn''t help but let out a bare voice. What''s important when looking for a room........? There''s no way I, a non-specialist, could understand such a thing. But, strangely enough, I think it would be rude not to answer, so I manage to twist out an answer. Even so, I still don''t understand, but.... well..... ''Finding a room to live in, I guess? I''ll try to guess, but I''ll say so. ''Sorry, that''s an incorrect answer.'' But the result was incorrect. That''s right from the difficulty level. If there is someone who can answer in spite of ignorance, it is at the level of advancing the job change. But then, what is the answer to Mason''s question? ''''You won''t even find a room to find with that kind of guesswork~. The correct answer is......... She breaks off her words once there.... ''It''s about imagining the scene of your life in that room. Image...? The answer seemed less professional than I expected, and I tilted my head, not understanding why. As if she had expected that reaction, Mason-san continued without any particular concern. ''''Due to the nature of my profession, there are many people like Kazu-san who can''t decide on a room. As I said before, it''s an important room that you will live in. That''s when it''s important to use your imagination. Huh... but does it come to you that easily? If I were told to imagine myself living there in a single bite, I wouldn''t be so worried if it came immediately to mind. Since the room we are viewing is vacant, it is a space without any furniture. For example, what kind of furniture will be placed where, or where will they sleep when the black sound comes...? After thinking that far, I can''t help but stop thinking. Didn''t I just think about the placement of the furniture very naturally...? Seeing me inwardly confused, Mason-san lets out a chuckle. ''''It''s pretty easy, isn''t it?¡¡Simply thinking about where to place the furniture is a given, but even if you just change your point of view, such as leaning against the balcony railing at night on a windowsill and popping a drink, the possibilities for imagination are endless! ''Isn''t the drinking downstairs what Mr. Mason requested...? Oh, did you get that? In response to the content of the ramble, Mason-san makes a bland face without any ill will. Because this guy sometimes shows this kind of mischievous side of himself unexpectedly, the search for a new house doesn''t become boring. There''s a gap between her kind demeanor and her kindness, and it seems like a lot of guys would fall for her. If Miya isn''t in love with Mao, that''s the kind of thing that would get him to flip the baby''s hand. And it also has the nightmarish trap of sinking instantly when he finds out she''s married. No, it''s not that Mason-san has such a nasty idea, right? What a distraction from my thoughts, I hear a cough to change the air. ''''Kohon. And I heard that you are single, but you might move in with your girlfriend at some point, right? Well. It''s nice to spend time with your sweetheart, isn''t it? Do you have such a partner, Mr. Hayakawa?¡¡If you don''t mind, I can help you with your seniority in love? ''Um, wouldn''t it be an invasion of privacy to go that far...? Ugh...! I was getting ahead of myself in something, but I hesitate to expose my private life as part of my search for a new home. The pointing out seemed to calm Mason-san down as well, and he put on a sales smile, his cheeks red with embarrassment. ''''Anyway, from now on, let''s continue looking for a room with such an image in mind. ........Unfortunately, I have an appointment with another customer in the future, so that''s it for today. No, I appreciate the very helpful advice. I look forward to working with you again. ''I''m glad to hear that. I''ll see you later. Yes, thank you. I felt that having an image would help me make progress in my search for a new home, even if I didn''t have a clear idea of what I was in love with. Although I don''t have a clear idea of what I''m looking for right now, I hope to find the best room for me, as if it were someone else''s business, as I head home. 145 137 Impact coming out When Wa was out looking for a new house, Tenna was on her way to school. December was approaching and the cold became even colder, but to Tenna now, it was only a trivial matter. After all, her favorite onii-san, Wa, was going to live in her own house. Until now, they lived in different places, so they were able to say "It''s good to see you", which they could not say even if they wanted to. Even if it was just that, it was a happy thing for Tenna. ''''Good morning!'''' While leaping from such happiness, Tenna, who arrived in the classroom, greeted them in a loud voice. When she took her seat while exchanging greetings with her classmates who had come to the classroom earlier, her friends, Rensui and others, came running up to her shortly afterwards. ''''Good morning, Amachi.'''' Good morning, Amana-chan. ''Oh, good morning...'' Good morning, everyone! I cheerfully return the greetings from the three of them. "Amachi, is something good happening? Then Rensui, who could tell from her overtly cheerful expression that something was wrong, asked a question. It wasn''t just her, but Chiyuri and Kana as well. Although Tenna is usually cheerful, these days she is especially cheerful in a circle. In response to the question posed to her to find out the identity of the person, Tenna opens her mouth without breaking her smile and tells her. ''''Yeah! "...what? The three of them were momentarily dumbfounded by the details revealed without a care in the world.... The voice was so startled that I thought it would reach not only the next classroom, but the entire school building. Naturally, Tenna, who was closest to me, was so startled that she not only covered her ears but also closed her eyes, which was understandable. Eventually the screaming stopped, but the classrooms and corridors were quieted down as if the earlier bustle was a lie. However, Rensui and the others didn''t care about the reactions of the surroundings, and crowded in on Tenna who told them the surprising truth. ''''Tu, it''s finally!¡¡So Amana-chan''s mom and Onii-san have finally gotten married! That was awesome!¡¡Ta, as I recall, if you become a woof, you''ll have to make a party out of it, won''t you? Wah-wah, that''s Osukihan, right?¡¡Do we have to do a long-distance race, Kana-tachi...? What are you guys talking about? The three of them talk about it in rapid succession without stopping their excitement about the unexpected reason. Contrary to that, Tenna just nodded her head, not knowing why she was so surprised. In addition, another person bites at that fact. "Niichan lives in Minami''s house, is that for real? Oh, Daishin!¡¡Good morning! Interrupting the conversation between the four of them was Daichi Onokura, who was blessed with a better physique than the boys of his age and had a fondness for Tenna. There had been a very funny development in the fact that the girl he liked had started calling him by his first name after the sports day practice. He had heard that Kaz was like an older brother to him, but at the same time, he didn''t have that kind of romantic relationship with him. Nevertheless, he was taken aback by the fact that he was presented with a development that seemed to be on the very same level as a child''s playground. "I don''t have time for this either...! ''It doesn''t matter!¡¡What''s important is that Amana-chan''s mother and brother are in a relationship! What does it matter? When Daichi decided to strengthen his approach once again, Chiyuri kicked off his declaration without a word. Although she was hurt, she was also sure that she was curious about the progress of the two adults they knew so well as she said. ''Well, Onii-san and her mom aren''t fufu?'' ''What?¡¡So why are you living with them then? Tenna responds to the questions of the four of them with a scowling look on her face. Tomoyuri was even more shocked by this, especially since she has become more interested in shoujo manga and has begun to crow about the romantic side of things. To tell you the truth, the reason why Wa came to stay with the Minami family was because the apartment he was living in caught fire. However, Tenashi has warned him not to talk about the reason for his stay with the Minami family inadvertently. As for Tenna, she has no intention of breaking her promise to her mother. On the other hand, she is not good at lying, so she can only say that Wa is going to live with her anyway. ''But this is a big step!¡¡I''m sure that while living under a roof, our sonzai will become more and more important to you! ''''Ummmm.......I wonder if it will work out like a comic book like that.......? But Chiyuri, who quickly recovered, looks at her expectantly. Kana questioned that with a wry smile, but that would be up to Wa and Amari. ''If it''s not fufu yet, then we''ll all have to go to Amachi''s house for Kyou no Ho-kag! That''s it!¡¡I want to see how you are living in Amana-chan''s house! What?¡¡But if you say no, Amana-chan... No problem. No, it''s okay... In the midst of all this, Rensui, with a look on her face like a light bulb in her head, makes a proposal to go to Tenna''s house. Chiyuri does her best to get on board with the idea, and as soon as she can, Kana tries to stop her, but the house owner''s daughter easily gives her permission. Continuing, Tenna turns her head to Daichi and asks ''''Are you coming too, Daichikun?'''' Oh, can I come with you? Yes, because he''s a friend of mine! Because you''re a friend of Amana''s, too! ''Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, thanks...'' He was momentarily lifted to the heavens because he could go to the house of the girl he liked, but his friend''s comment made him fall to the ground at once. Rensui and the rest of the team watch the situation with sympathy. And so, the four of them have to visit the Minami family after school... 146 138 The true identity of déjà vu I''m home! Within an hour of finishing today''s room search, Amana came back from school. Her cheerful and cute voice is my cue to stop reading the information about my potential new home and get up from the couch to greet her. I''m usually the one to be greeted, so it''s a little refreshing to be the one to welcome her. With that in mind, I open the door and head for the front door. Welcome home, Amana-cha... "Whoa, whoa, seriously, there''s an old man here! Welcome back to a very special welcome!¡¡I guess this is just a matter of time! ''Hassumi-chan!¡¡Chiyuri-chan! It wasn''t just Amana-chan who was at the door, it was her friends, Hasumi-chan and Chiyuri-chan. From the way they spoke, it seems they know I''m a lodger in this house. On the one hand, I think I didn''t have to mislead them, but on the other hand, I have a feeling that things are going to get a bit noisy, which could spell trouble. Besides, if you look closely behind me, Kana-chan and Daichi-kun were there. This is the first time since the last time we saw all five of us, including Amana-chan, together at practice before the sports day. It''s only been about two months since then, but I''m saddened to think that things have changed completely. Everyone said it looked like you were living in your home. Yeah, well, you see, it''s all about that. Amana affirmed my expectations and welcomed them with open arms for now. Then Hassumi-chan and the others all shouted in admiration...especially Chiyuri-chan''s gaze shone. ''So, then, did Onii-san marry Amana-chan''s mom? No, I''m not. I''m really just a freeloader who has a room to let me sleep in. Yeah..... So, in a way, the questions flew in as expected, but unfortunately, that''s not the case. I should have told him that honestly, but for some reason he was disappointed, as if I was disappointed. You''re still boring, this kid is as boring as ever.... But if we live together from now on, it might really be like that, right? ''Haha, how can I be married to Amanashi?¡¡It''s completely benevolent of them to let me live like this. Besides, we promised that we would live here until we found a new house. I don''t plan to talk to her until that deadline, and nothing like what Hasumi said would happen in a million cases. It''s true that she and I are good friends, but that''s only because of Amana''s presence. Normally, we would just pass each other without recognizing each other, but by chance, she lends me her room. I''m not going to flaunt my specialness. I don''t know if they are unhappy with my response or not, but all four of them, except for Amana, are giving me the cold shoulder for some reason. You''re such an idiot, aren''t you? I feel sorry for Amana''s mom. You know, I think it''s a bad idea... Nii-chan''s not so cute when he sleeps... Don''t you guys think that''s a bit much? Why am I being accused of being a schoolboy? Why do I feel sorry for Tenri when she''s just trying to take care of herself? Did I say something so weird? Onii-san isn''t her father, but she''s very happy to have you here, you know? Amana-chan...! Amana appears to glow as she easily scoops up her depressed mood. At any rate, I decide to head to the living room with the kids. As we all gathered around the table, Amana-chan was in the middle of preparing the drinks, when I noticed that Daichi-kun was looking very nervous. Oh, I see. This is the first time for him to come to the home of the girl he likes, isn''t it? That''s a bit of a strain, isn''t it? You don''t have to be so nervous, you know. You''ll get tired of looking over your shoulder, all right? You''re just saying that because you''ve lived here all your life! ''No, I even wake up and still wonder if I''m in the car, and I pinch my cheeks every day when I wake up. How''s that for a change? When I tell him the truth, which seems to be a joke, he gives me a very good joke. I''m glad to see that the tension has melted down nicely. ''Sorry to see you back! Oh, I think we''re ready to go. Let me help you. Thanks! For four people, it would be too heavy for an elementary school student. So I hold a tray with enough juice for all of them. While drinking the juice, the children ask me about the differences between my old life and the life in the house. As I answered them while keeping the matter of the fire and the overnight stay in the car under wraps, I was able to realize how much Amari and Amana-chan have helped me. ........but on the way down from Amari''s knee-pillow, Chiuri-chan asked me, ''Aren''t you already cursed by the fact that you didn''t notice that much? He looked at me with pity. If that''s the case, then what in the world is the curse? Who had a grudge against me and put a curse on me? Moreover, I asked the schoolboy to think of an answer for himself, and the schoolboy just distracted me from the answer. Eventually I thought about it, but I couldn''t come up with an answer. Then suddenly our eyes met with Kanaka. "......... Well, what''s going on with you staring at Kana''s face, young man? "Heh, oh sorry. I felt like I just saw Kana-chan''s face just now... "?¡¡Kana, it''s been a while since I''ve seen you, huh? ''''Right. Hmmm..... I don''t know, it''s a feeling similar to the sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu I felt with Mason-san. But Kana-chan and Mason are far apart in age, so there is no similarity between them. In fact, the difference in age between them is similar to that of a parent and child......... As I thought about it that much, the catch in my throat suddenly became stronger. Kana was born half to a foreign father and half to a Japanese mother, and her parents must have worked together. I''ve heard that Mason''s husband is a foreigner and that he has a child. Huh~.........? Well, it can''t be, hey...? Aren''t we seeing a relationship we never thought we''d see, this one? Fortunately, there is a way to find out the truth of it. I turned to face Kana-chan and decided to call out to her again. ''Kana-chan?'' What? Sorry if I''m wrong?¡¡Is it correct that Kana-chan''s mother''s name is Koriyoka? What? The sudden question surprises Kana-chan with a roll of her blue eyes. It''s clear that she''s probably wondering why she''s suddenly asking her mother''s name. I''m sure I''d have a similar reaction if I were asked the same question. If I get an answer as to who this is, it will end up being a misunderstanding on my part.... My little bit of guilt is......... "©¤©¤How does she know her mommy''s name? ".........for real~..... The correct answer given by Kana-chan made it easy to disappear. 147 139 If you get jealousy It turns out that Mason, who is helping me find a new house, is the mother of Kana-chan, a friend of Amana''s. So I had a sense of deja vu when I first met her on the street. As for how I got to know Ms. Mason, I let slip in front of the kids that I knew her from a delivery list. It''s times like these that I''m glad I worked in the delivery business. If someone asked me what the best thing was, I would definitely say that I got to meet Amana and Amari. Anyway, Hasumi and the others returned home before it got dark. As we were leaving, Chiyuri told me, ''Onii-san has Amana-chan''s mother, so you can''t do any Uwaaki! I got a really hard time reacting to this, though. Where did you get the concept of cheating and all that? No, in this information society, there are plenty of ways to do it nowadays. But that doesn''t make me feel an ounce of smiles, because people will misunderstand my relationship with Amari, or suspect me of having an affair with Mason-san. While nostalgic for those impressions, I proceeded to eat the dinner Tenri had made when she came back. The fish meat hamburger steak mixed with sama and tofu and a salad of Chinese cabbage were the healthier choices today. Even so, it''s so delicious that you can''t stop chopsticks, her cooking skills are unbelievable. I''m sorry. It was delicious again today. Thank you. If you''re this good, you could open up a bento shop or a diner. ''I appreciate the compliment, but I''m not going to go that far. While he takes my opening statement as a compliment, he tells me that he has no intention of doing so. ''''I''m more happy to be told it''s good by people around the same table than by people I don''t know by name. Okay. He smiled a smile that included happiness, and I fawned over him for a moment, but returned it in the end. Really, he''s become more rounded, like the thorns he was when I met him were a lie. To say that she has changed is an understatement, but the original Tenashi must have had this kind of calm temperament. Her harsh attitude in the beginning was like she was so determined not to let anyone know about Yuna-san that she didn''t want Amana-chan to get in her pocket. Perhaps it was because that was gone that her true personality became visible. ''''Thank you for the feast!¡¡Amana, I''m going in the bath! Yes, have a good day. While I was reminiscing about how she changed, Amana, who had finished her dinner, hurriedly headed for the bath. Then, inevitably, it would be just the two of us in the living room, me and Amanashi. But it doesn''t make for a special atmosphere; we just stand side by side and clean up the dishes. At first she refused, but I''m sorry to say that she''s undertaking not only the sleeping area, but also the food and laundry. As a result of that persistence, this is how I''m able to help with the housework. Cooking is out of the question, but as far as cleaning up is concerned, there''s no problem. Speaking of which, I heard from Tenna, right?¡¡I understand you are acquainted with Higashino-san''s wife. ''What?¡¡Yeah. I was put in charge of a real estate agency I go to to look for a new house. I realized how small the world really is. I see, so that was the connection... Suddenly, the topic of Mason-san was raised by Amari. When I told Amari, who knows the circumstances of the search for a new house, she nodded her head in agreement. ''''I''ve met her a few times, but no matter how beautiful she is, you shouldn''t interrupt her with your husband, right? What do you think I am, Chiuri-chan? Do you seem to be that inconsiderate of women? If that''s the case, it''s a terrible rumor. In fact, I''d rather not have anything to do with it at all. I''m grateful to Mr. Mason, but I wouldn''t be so dishonest. Do you really think I''m that untrustworthy? ''No, no. I was just wondering.... What the hell kind of question is that........ I thought so, but Tenashi didn''t seem to want me to pursue it too much, so I decided to refrain from going into it. ''''........'''' .... I finish cleaning up the dishes while I''m silent for a while. I don''t complain about the silence. If anything, it feels oddly comforting. Not that I don''t get nervous, but it seems natural to be next to you, like the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly, such a natural presence. It''s strange to think of it this way.... It was at that time that I was thinking about this. "©¤©¤Ha-san is........ Hmm? ''If I was really a widow, would you still be standing next to me like you are now...? I was thrown such a question by a serious-looking Amanashi. Before thinking what the hell it was all of a sudden, I explored the intent of the question. If Amari was a real widow.......that means if she was married. I seriously believed that until I learned of Amana''s birth, but the actual Amari was not married to anyone. Since she said earlier that she wouldn''t maneuver to break into a married couple, did she feel uneasy if she was a married woman? If Amani had a husband and was still alive today, then surely her relationship with me could be seen as an affair. But what if he was dead? At least, I don''t think it''s much different than it was before I knew the truth. However, those are just fictional stories. Then the answer I''ll give is..... "©¤ ©¤ From my point of view, I''m much more comfortable with this now than with that nonsense. It''s better to bite down on the time when Amari is next to you like this now than on the events that could have been. It''s perfect if Amana-chan is there too. The answer I gave with that thought........ ''''©¤©¤........then it''s fine.......'''' Tenri''s eyes widened slightly and a surprised expression appeared on her face, she broke her face and let out a very loving smile. Although it was a short period of time, less than 5 seconds, the expression that has been firmly burned into my mind is....... It''s beautiful. A pure impression, which cannot be deceived at all, passed through my mind. 148 140 Amanas first use â‘  ''Phew. It''s finally here! The space that Tenna stepped into was filled with an unbusy bustle. The voices of people passing by, of course, as well as the shouts of encouragement from the clerks at the cash registers and near the counters, were particularly noticeable. Tenna went shopping alone, or in other words, to the supermarket about a kilometer away from her home where so many people were coming and going. Even though she had the opportunity to go shopping with Tenashi on her days off, she never acted alone, but her first errand was full of excitement just on the way. ''''Well, I have to dodge the oshouyu, right...'''' Even so, her young legs are still walking around the store as if they are not tired. The sight of them is really quite amusing, so much so that they bring smiles to the faces of the adults who pass by them. And then.......... "©¤©¤Ah.........that''s not the shortest route.......oh......that''s not the shortest route.¡¡The seasoning section is at the end of the entrance, on the left-hand shelf... No, even if you know what condiments you''re buying, it would be foolhardy to figure out where they''re laid out on a first look... Tenna''s struggles were watched by Tenashi and Wa from a short distance away. From the side, they would be suspicious, but the two of them disguised themselves so that Tenna wouldn''t find out. It wasn''t like they were sneaking around from behind, so they didn''t have to be suspicious of their surroundings. Without knowing that the two adults were following her, Tenna proceeded inside the supermarket in search of the desired item. The first time this happened was about 3 hours ago. ====. Oh. Hmm?¡¡What''s the matter, Amanashi? Wa asked in response to the muttering that Amari suddenly let out as she was preparing lunch. With a somewhat apologetic expression on her face, she shows something to Wa. ''''Soy sauce?¡¡Is it empty? ''''Yes. The spices aren''t in the package that Wa-san is delivering to me, so I had to replenish them myself directly, but I think I ran out because I used a little too much... ''Oh, that''s probably...'' It''s a good thing that you''re not going to be able to get a good idea of what''s going on. ''''No, it''s not!¡¡It''s never Wa''s fault!¡¡Because I just didn''t know how much was left! No, but ... hmmm, well, I guess we all make mistakes like that. When Tenri sensed this, she hurriedly controlled her apology. Wa tried to tell her that it wasn''t true, but she kept her mouth shut because she thought that if she didn''t, she would be subject to the blame, and kept it to a light follow-up to try to disguise Tenri''s guilt. In the case of Kazu, it was more often than not that he didn''t buy the condiments in the first place, so much so that he was reminded of the small talk he was getting from Kuroone-who came to stay. ''''Well, thank you very much. Then I''ll go buy more soy sauce that we''ve run out of after dinner. Oh, wait a minute. Yes? Tenri overheard Wa''s follow-up and told her that she was going to buy some soy sauce. But right after that, she was called out by Wa to wait. Tenri doesn''t know why she was stopped, and she nods her head. But Wa didn''t speak the truth, and looked once at Tenna, who was waiting at the table to finish her lunch. He immediately turns back to Tenashi and asks her a certain question. It is......... ''''Amana-chan, have you ever gone on an outing before?'''' Do you need an errand? No? ''So that''s why.........................no way! Yeah, no kidding. Tenna realizes what Wa is trying to say in the middle of answering the question, and Tenri''s eyes widen from astonishment. In contrast, Wa smiles in the manner of a good answer. The intention of the question is namely to get Tenna to go on an errand to buy some soy sauce. However, her mother, Tenashi, is not happy with her expression. ''''Da, no!¡¡It''s not safe to let Tenna go on an errand by herself! I know what you''re thinking, but it''s all about experience, isn''t it?¡¡Shouldn''t you at least get him used to shopping? Ugh.... It''s a suggestion that, in the eyes of Wa, is necessary for Tenna''s growth, so from the point of view of Tenashi, who wishes for her daughter''s healthy growth, she can never disregard it. Normally, I would tell you not to interfere with your child''s education policy, but....... Love was blind, or perhaps it should be said that Wa''s fatherly words and actions were dulling Amari''s calm judgment. ''How about you, Amana?¡¡Would you like to go on a snooze? Do you need help?¡¡Hmmm........ Wa, unaware of Tenashi''s state of mind, now asks Tenna about her willingness to go on an errand. Tenna hesitates briefly without replying to the question, as if she knows the concept of an excursion, and then.... ''I want to go!'' M..... All right, that''s it. So how far do you want me to send you to buy? I said yes. Amanashi was reluctant, but swallowed her rebuttal when she saw the look on her daughter''s face that she was willing to take on. Wa continued to ask where she was going to buy something. There were quite a few choices for soy sauce, but Tenri raised her hand and picked out a place to go. ''''Let''s go to the convenience store 100 meters away. That''s too close. You won''t get the sense of adventure that comes with being a mousetrap. Can''t we go to the supermarket at least a kilometer away? It was instantly dismissed. Wa named Super as the next candidate, but Amari''s well-formed face turned pale. ''''That long distance........! ''It''s about the same distance from here to Amana''s school, you know?¡¡And all you have to do to get to the supermarket is follow the road and cross four intersections? Tenashi is bursting with fatherly stupidity, while Wa adds to the directions. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. The adults'' arguments were not the point, Tenna made a fist with her small hand and got up to speed, thinking that she would be useful to Tenashi. 149 141 Amanas first use â‘¡ After cleaning up from lunch, it was finally time for Tenna to leave for her errands. Since it will be December next week, the winter chill will be noticeable, so Tenna''s outfit is warmly dressed in a pink jumper with a white fur hood, a pastel blue checked skirt and black tights, brown boots and white gloves. In the backpack on her back was a small eco-bag to make it easier to bring home the soy sauce she had bought, as well as her wallet, and you can see how elaborate Amagashi''s preparations had been. "Tenna. Have you got your wallet, handkerchief and tissue?¡¡Is the map to the supermarket okay?¡¡Do you have a security buzzer within easy reach?¡¡We don''t rush, we don''t run, we go slowly, okay?¡¡Don''t follow strangers when they talk to you or show you candy, okay?¡¡I don''t know what else to... That''s the fourth time you''ve said that. Don''t you ever stop worrying, OK? ''Wa-san doesn''t understand anything!¡¡There''s a lot of danger out there! I don''t know how you managed to get me to go to school in that situation until now... Wa couldn''t help but be dismayed by Amashi''s too overprotective behavior as she looked at him and checked the same thing over and over again, abandoning her tsukkomi. It is true that there is a lot of danger outside, so I can understand her concern, but the security of the area where the apartment is located is not considered to be that much of a problem. This is evident from the fact that young Amana is able to go to school every day. ''Amana, I''m going to do my best to go to school!¡¡I''m off! Oh, have a good day. Backed by the greetings that she''s gotten used to over the past few weeks, Tenna went out to the supermarket to run errands. The sky was clear and the temperature was chilly, but it wasn''t too much of a problem because she was wearing clothes. It was the first time for her to go on an errand, and her little feet seemed to be floating on the ground. It''s about a kilometer away from the supermarket, but you can get there by just turning left and going in a straight line as you exit the apartment. There are four intersections with traffic lights along the way, but I''m not a jaywalker, so I''m not worried. Even if you include the time for shopping, it only takes about an hour to go there and back. The errand seemed to be going so smoothly, but Tenna was faced with a situation that forced her to stop her progress. That is......... ''''BOW!¡¡BOW! Wow, big doggie... In the yard of a house along the road, there was a large dog that barked at every passing person and car. It was so loud and threatening that it looked as if it was about to bite you and startled even a passing adult into shaking its shoulder. A small boy, who was walking alongside his mother, was especially noticeable as he was completely frightened and began to cry. The fence acts as a bulwark against an actual attack, but the dog''s spunk is still enough of a threat to the child. Of course, Amana is no exception. If a big dog barked at you like that, you''d be almost paralyzed. If possible, I would like to take the long way around, but there are no detours around the houses where the dogs are kept. However, Tenna, who can''t stop or turn back here, has no choice but to take a step forward to pass in front of the dog. ''''Bau bau!¡¡BOW! But don''t worry... It barked at her less than a meter away, jerking her small body as she hobbled past. The dog''s barking could be heard from behind, and Tenna finally let out a breath of relief. She''ll have to take the same path on her way back, but she reminds herself that if she knows she''s only going to get barked at, she''ll be less terrified than she was this time. He was unexpectedly stopped in his tracks, but Tenna regained his composure and headed to the supermarket. She remains oblivious to the presence of a man and a woman who are watching her rear end from the shadows. ====. ''Wouldn''t it bother the neighbours to have such a temperamental dog in their yard...? ''You just don''t know any better, do you?¡¡More importantly, we have to go after Amana. Of course. That''s why I''m following you. Their identity was Wa and Tenashi. They both wore disguises so that Tenna wouldn''t find out that they were being followed. ''''I asked you earlier, but is that really what Tenashi''s disguise is?'''' The reason why the salaryman-looking Wa, wearing a suit and date-glasses, is so questioning is because of Amari''s appearance in disguise. After all, she has her hair tied up in a braid and happens to be wearing her high school uniform (blazer and skirt) that was left over from her high school days. It is true that it is hard to notice her compared to her usual Tenashi, but Wa can''t hide her dismay and agitation at her choice of uniform despite being in her mid-twenties. ''If anything, I''m embarrassed by it, but it was surprisingly easy to put on, so it''s not a problem. Is that a good idea? If we take Amari''s words as they are, she hasn''t changed in shape since she graduated from high school. In fact, the way she dressed in a way that didn''t give the impression that she was young was nothing short of brilliant, and she looked like a mature high school girl to anyone who saw her. Although she has aged since she was a student, she has always had a figure that easily attracts people''s attention. I''m not going to be the one who is going to be the adult male who brings around a high school girl.... While secretly hoping so, Kazu follows Tenna to the supermarket. As they reached the second intersection, a small change occurred. "Oba-chan, do you have a feeling for onimono?¡¡Amana, I''m going to treat you! Oh, you''re so cute. Should I ask for a favor? Okay. I''ll do it! They carried one of their belongings in an old woman''s wheelbarrow next to them. We carried the load in step and finished crossing the light together. ''''Thanks for making it easier for me, young lady~'''' ''Heh, good!¡¡Amana, it''s time to go, since it''s an errand boy! Well, great~. Be careful not to fall down. ''Yes!¡¡Bye Bye Bye! After such a smiling exchange, Tenna walked towards the supermarket three times. Tenashi had told her not to follow him even if he was talking to a stranger, but seeing her genuine kindness in not being able to leave someone in need, Wa felt warm and relaxed. ''''It''s just like Amana-chan...'''' I''m proud of her. I''m very proud of her. The murmurings that unconsciously spilled out is a lie and praise for Tenna. Tenashi also sees the series of events and agrees with it, with a deeply moved look in her eyes. And so, finally, Tenna arrived at her destination, the supermarket. 150 142 Amanas first use â‘¢ Well, it''s a good thing you''re a good sport. When he finally arrived at the supermarket, Tenna looked for soy sauce while avoiding people passing by. The note Tenashi left for me, I know what shape and type of things I should buy, but I don''t know where they are kept. You may find it by searching the store with a quick glance, but even if you find the item you want, you don''t know if it''s at a height where Tenna can get it. Still, there''s nothing that can be done about it if you don''t find it first, so he raises his head and proceeds to look around while scurrying around. Wa and Tenashi, while posing as unrelated shoppers, watch that situation anxiously. ''''Tenna.......please do your best.......! Amanashi in particular was worried as if she was about to jump out of her skin at any moment. ''''Normally, children in this kind of situation often get blinded by sweets, but in Amana-chan''s case, she doesn''t have to worry about that, so in a way it''s a relief... hmm?'''' Wa sympathizes with her feelings to some extent, but suddenly a question comes to mind. ''''You know, Amanashi........'''' What is it, Ms. Kazu?¡¡I''m keeping a close eye on Tianna''s movements right now, so please be brief. Well, I think it''s only fitting that I should be the one to tell you... The idea that came to Amari, who fidgets so much that she looks like she''s about to hold up a camera, is told by Wa, though she seems somewhat stagnant. ''''If you''re secretly following me like this, shouldn''t we be able to buy our own soy sauce now? ''What are you talking about?¡¡So then, the reason why Tenna took on an errand boy... Huh? Tenashi tried to deny Wa''s words out of emotion, but she tilted her head at what she had just said. Up to this point, the two of them had been following Tenna, keeping an eye on her. Currently, Tenna is in the supermarket, so inevitably we who were following her are entering the store as well. In other words, the purpose of the errand is out of order at this point. ''''........'''' .... As if it were scales from the eyes, the lapis lazuli eyes widen. It seems that the worry was so far ahead of its time that Tenri finally realized the fact after being pointed out by Wa. Wa was also somewhat hesitant to point out any more to her because she was disappointed until just now. It''s a good thing that the main purpose of this is to achieve Amana-chan''s errand, so we don''t want to be too intrusive, do we? ''''That''s right. Shall we leave it to Tenna this time? They noticed, but the two decided to prioritize Tenna''s growth and dared to look away. It was a classic example of how you can''t grow up if you can''t read the air. Unaware of what was going on, Tenna looked hard around the shelves for soy sauce, but with little success. So she decided to ask a nearby shopkeeper for the shelf where the soy sauce was. ''''Tenin-san!'''' Yes, what is it? Listen, I have to ask you something! The clerk Tenna called out to was a middle-aged woman who seemed to be a part-time worker. Her sincerity in her work can be seen in the way she stopped arranging the goods and bent down to meet the child''s eye line. ''''Amane, I''m here to peek oshouyu for my mom! Oh, my God, you''re good. But you see, I don''t know where Oshouyu is... Oh, I see. Then my aunt will show you. Really?¡¡Thank you! You''re welcome. As Tenna speaks her business in a brisk manner, the female clerk responds politely. With the guidance of buying rather than telling me where to go, I was able to find the desired item, soy sauce, without difficulty. All that''s left is to take it to the register and pay for it.... ''Do you know how to use a self-checkout machine, Amana-chan? ''I don''t know ... I''d like to think that I''m not entirely unsure, since I''ve seen the way you used me ...'' Tenashi ponders the question of Wa, which was mentioned because of the increase in the number of cash registers that only self-pay in recent years, while putting her hand to her chin. As before, if you ask the clerk, he or she will give you an explanation, so it won''t be as much of a problem as they think, as long as Tenna is not shy. Wa concludes that and calls out to Tenashi. ''''Then it''s time to go home. Please wait. I''ll have to wait and see until Tenna comes back. ''If I do that, they''ll know I''ve been sneaking around, won''t they?¡¡And then I''ll make you wonder if you''re a girl who can''t even play house by yourself. ''''U... wow, I''m worried about Tenna, and yet, I can''t let that make me sad...'''' Amari, who was so worried that she hadn''t even thought about the time she was leaving as if she hadn''t been thinking about it, was torn between wanting to watch over her and not wanting to make her sad, and she was torn between the conflict. But after about 10 seconds, she slowly let out a big breath........ ''''I understand........let''s go back. Wa smiled and nodded at Tenashi who made that decision. While the two were exchanging such an exchange, Tenna relied on her memory to complete the self-checkout using only her own strength. ====. Although he was relieved to be able to buy some soy sauce, an errand is just like a field trip, you can''t let your guard down until you return. Thinking back to what Tenashi had told me beforehand, Tenna returned to the path she had come on, holding the eco-bag that contained the soy sauce, putting safety first. Of course, she would have to pass by the dog she had encountered on her way there, but perhaps she had developed a tolerance for it once she had passed it, so the barking didn''t bother her too much. Then her obstacle is as good as none at the moment, and perhaps because she is doing surprisingly well compared to going, she finds herself with enough time to skip. Eventually, the apartment building where her home is located comes into view. I can''t wait to report to Amanashi and Wa that I was able to do my errands, and my footsteps naturally accelerate. Although the errand lasted only about an hour or so, a definite sense of accomplishment grew in Tenna''s heart. From the looseness of her cheeks, she would be able to see that she couldn''t hide her happiness. But the girl doesn''t feel the slightest bit embarrassed about it. After all......... ''''I''m home!¡¡Amana, I''ve just finished writing a book by myself! Hey. Welcome back, Amana-chan. Welcome back, Tenna. I realized that it was proof that I worked hard enough to be praised by the people I love. 151 143 At the time of decision It''s already been almost three weeks since I started living with the Minami family. November has turned into December, and the world is getting busier and busier with talk of Christmas and New Year''s. As I work in the delivery business, this is the best time of the year for me to shovel in my goods. As a delivery guy, this is the best time of year for me. This is the time of year when the workload increases. In previous years, my mind would have been so busy that my heart would have died, but now that I can receive Amana''s healing services every day, not two days a week, and I''m in better shape than ever thanks to Amanashi''s home-cooked meals, I''ll be able to take it easy. Well, we can enjoy those things until we find a new house. I need to decide on a new house as soon as possible so as not to be a burden to the girls. I have to decide........but....... The next morning, he wakes up and complains to himself as he stares at the familiar ceiling. As Mason advised me, I''ve been diligently looking for a new place to live with an image of myself living there, but I''m not happy with the results. Perhaps it''s because I''ve become completely accustomed to living in the Minami family, but I can''t shake the feeling of loneliness in every room I see. It''s not Amanashi and Amana''s fault. It''s my own fault for not being able to make a decision in front of them, even though I understood that deciding on a new house would mean letting go of my life with them. Honestly, I''m reminded that I''ve been so comfortable with myself. As I was holding my head in my own indecision, a knock sounds in the room. ©¤ ©¤ Ah, it''s Amanashi. Just from the way he knocked, he could also tell who was on the other side of the door. This is probably a result of our life together. On the one hand, I''m happy, on the other hand, I feel as if my decision making has become increasingly sluggish and hazy. The actuality of this is that it''s not a good thing. Breakfast is ready for you. ''Thank you, Amani. I just woke up, so I''ll get dressed and go. I understand. I return the heartfelt, bouncy greeting with an air of equanimity and slip out of the futon and change out of my pajamas into my clothes. There are no new clothes or furniture that I''ve bought while I''ve been living here. The arrangement and the amount hasn''t changed at all from when I carried the luggage, but somehow I feel empty. ''''©¤©¤Hmm. This kind of negative thinking isn''t good enough. It''s only natural that your thinking will go backwards if you''re still hungry. I finish dressing and leave the room, thinking that I''ll think about the rest of the story after filling my stomach for now. The cold corridor chill hits me as if to freeze my body, which is still warm from the heater and the bedding. The temperature difference between the two worlds just past one door naturally speeds up the walk to the living room. Then I open the other door..... ''''Ah, Onii-san!¡¡Good morning! Good morning, Amana-chan. Amana-chan, who had woken up earlier, greets me in an energetic tone that doesn''t seem like it''s morning. I mock myself for being so different from myself, but I make a smile and return it. On the table were the breakfast staples of toast with bacon and a fried egg on top and potato salad. I proceeded to eat it immediately. The bacon was cooked just right because it was Amashi''s homemade, the fried egg had a tender yolk and was not persistent, and the potato salad was delicious with a refreshing texture. I feel as if my depressed mood has been lifted a little. = = = = = = =. After breakfast, I stared at the property documents until it was time to go to work. Even though we weren''t serious about it, we were finally able to narrow down our search for a new house to the remaining two properties. This is all thanks to Mason''s careful explanation. As I looked at the materials, wrinkling my brow as I looked at them to the point where I had a hole in them.... ''''Are these the documents for the property?'''' What? After finishing cleaning up from breakfast, Amari called out to me from behind. It seems she was so focused that she didn''t notice him at all even though he was nearby. ''''Ah. That''s all that''s left to do.'''' Well, that''s thanks to your good charge there, or something like that. I look back and say a few words to him. But the expression on Amari''s face when she finally met with him was..... I''m not sure what to say, but I''m not sure what to say. For a moment, he stiffened, not knowing how to react, but he soon guessed what she was thinking. After all, tomorrow is a holiday.......which means that Amari knows that she''s headed to these two previews. It''s safe to say that the new house will almost certainly be decided. If that happens, it will inevitably mean the end of my life here. I can''t hide my joy in knowing that I''m not the only one who feels lonely about that. But I don''t want to take advantage of that kindness and stay. ''Mom?¡¡What''s going on? No, no. It''s nothing. Amana noticed the slight change in her mother and asked that with a worried look on her face. However, Amana smiled bitterly and made up for it by saying she was fine. It''s obvious that she''s taking it too far. I''m the cause of the problem, but I didn''t want her to look like that. So do you want to continue living like this? That would have only hurt him even more and made the resolution of anything far-fetched. First of all, it was with a time limit of until they found a new house. If that''s the case, we''ll just have to dismiss it as the right time. ''''Amanashi, Amana-chan,'''' I called out to the two of them at will. Amari holds her mouth tightly from a small shock, and Amana looks at me with an anxious gaze. Pushing down the guilt of making her look like that, she opens her mouth to say her first words. ''''©¤©¤I''ll probably get a new house tomorrow, so I''ll be out of here in a little while. I... I should have known this time would come since the beginning of this life, but for some reason, my heart ached like it was about to burst open. It seems that Amanashi, who knew what she was going to say, did the same, and although she didn''t speak, she covered her mouth with her hand and tried to suppress her agitation. ...what? And Amana, who probably hadn''t been prepared for anything, opened her eyes wide and was aghast at the look of inability to keep up with her understanding. 152 144 The true intention of Tennashi I was prepared for this day to come, because the deadline was originally just until I found a new house. That day, I was puzzled when Tenna told me to stop him while he was crying and clinging to Kaz-san who had come to deliver that day. As a result, I was able to notice that man''s poor health, so I''d rather praise him for his fine play. Anyway, I wanted to be supportive of Kaz-san, so the three of us began living together. Later, I was tormented with shame at how boldly I had proposed it, but I had no intention of withdrawing before Tenna agreed to it. Thinking backwards, I decided to reopen the door and say that this was my chance to approach him. .........What a calculating thought, but it quickly disappeared. Life with Kazu-san was really fun, and the day flew by in the blink of an eye. I never thought that just living together under one roof would bring so much joy to my daily life. I''ve heard that when you live together, you start to see the other person''s faults, even if you don''t like them, but she doesn''t seem to miss those feelings. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that she doesn''t take care of herself. She seems to be improving a bit on that, and the most important thing is that Tenna smiles at her happily. Every time I see that girl''s smile as she talks with Kazu-san, my heart is warmed by the fact that I''m glad I proposed to rent the room to her. I couldn''t make much progress in terms of romance in front of my daughter, but I don''t mind it so much because I am sure that I am happy. I wish we could have been like this forever. I wish that we could continue our life together. After two weeks, there wasn''t a day that went by that I didn''t think about it. But..... You''re going to leave us? After Wa told me that he would be leaving soon, Tenna, who was stunned from shock and stunned, asked me lonely. From her reaction, I could tell that she was even happier with him than I was. That''s why he can''t believe that Mr. Wa is going to live somewhere different from this house. ''I won''t be gone, I won''t be gone. I''ll be able to see you again when I make deliveries, just like before... ''No!¡¡Amana, I want to be with you at home, too! Tenna..... I tried to encourage her, hoping that she would get better, but Tenna raised her voice and said something selfish that she rarely said. The reason why she didn''t say it in front of Wa-san herself was because she understood that it would embarrass her. However, I can understand that I can''t help but to say it. In my head, I should be happy to see him get a new house, but in reality, I can''t seem to send him off willingly. With such unavoidable emotions, I put my hand on my aching chest and suppress it. ''''Mom........'''' As I was doing so, Tenna came over to me with a face like she was about to cry. Mama doesn''t want to be with you...? Not that I don''t like it... So how come you''re so f*cking quiet? I don''t mean to... Mom. I pretend to be calm that it''s nothing, but Tenna''s eyes quietly saw through my lie. My chest tightened in pain........ ''''©¤©¤Oh, I want you........of course I want you.......! I am more miserable as an adult than as a mother to have my daughter see right through me. But I was at the end of my rope. Like Tenna, I too am happy to live with Kazu-san.¡¡I''d love to be around the same dinner table every morning and make all kinds of memories with the three of us, like when we went to an amusement park, the list goes on and on! The thoughts I''ve been trying to suppress not to show, flood out with words. Knowing such a happy day........I don''t think I can go back to just handing out my lunchbox in the morning before now. But it''s no good. She has her own life ahead of her, so we, who are not her family, can''t interfere with that....... There is a possibility that if you are honest with him, like when you convinced him to rent out the room, there is probably a chance that Wa will stay in the house as it is if you are honest with him. But.........that is just taking advantage of his kindness and spoiling him. Such a warped, tentative, shared life would soon fall apart. If that happens, the consequences are even more irreversible. So, should I confess? No, I think Wa misses the feeling for me, but it''s not connected to a romantic relationship. It''s just a ball-breaker and it will end up being an awkward relationship. If it''s Tenna''s request, I want to fulfill it as much as possible.... I''m just so ashamed of my helplessness. ''''Mommy........do you like Onii-san?'''' Even Tenna, who was listening to me without interrupting me, seems to have guessed that I was thinking of Kazu-san, as expected. Normally, I would have definitely gotten off on a tangent or repeated denials, but..... ''''©¤©¤Yes. I love you so much that I can''t think of a man other than you, Kaz-san. I was surprised at how easily I could say it. I had some kind of logic in mind, but in essence, it''s ''I don''t want to be separated from the person I love''. Tenna often says she likes him too, but I think it''s more of a friendship thing. Even so, it''s safe to say that the core of the relationship is the same. When Tenna heard those words, she took my hand and gave a small smile. ''''Amana too, I like you a lot, Onii-san!¡¡So come on, Mom, I''m asking for the same thing.... It was the first time I had ever heard the request of a lifetime. The content of the request could not hide my surprise, but even so, after listening to it, my response could not be any other than one. ''''©¤©¤Yes, since it is Tenna''s request, let''s persuade her together. 153 145 Please join us It''s just that... Maybe it''s because she said that this morning, or maybe it''s because she''s tired and her voice of coming home seems to lack a sense of supremacy. She looked away from me awkwardly when I greeted her. I wouldn''t say that I was able to break it off either, but looking at that reaction, Kaz-san seems to be in considerable distress as well. Does that mean........that he himself is sparing his life with us.......? I can see the low self-esteem aspect of Wa-san, so perhaps he perceives himself as being annoying. If so, that''s a big mistake. You may think that you are backing away gracefully, but it''s a shame that you''re hurting your own heart. In order to lighten the burden of such an unconscious heart, I smile at Wa-san and........ ''''©¤©¤Welcome back, Kaz-san. He uttered a greeting that I''ve become completely familiar with over the past three weeks. He rolls his eyes in surprise when he''s greeted as usual, probably expecting to be ignored. Let''s keep it a secret that I found it funny for a moment. ''Onii-san!¡¡Welcome back! What, Amana-chan...? This time, Tenna greets Wa-san. You can''t seem to hide your confusion at the pretense as if the morning never happened. The fact is.........I''m the one to ask, but.......is it okay? Though puzzled, Kazu says such a question. .........I think Amana wants to spend all her time with you, Onii-san. .... That''s why I don''t want you to go to a different house. But I don''t want that to bother you. Amana-chan.... At Tenna''s words, which were told with a lonely face, Wa-san makes an indescribable face. If I tell her that I don''t want her to go here either, what a moment, I quickly throw away the thoughts that have gone through my head. Because what I should say now is a proposal to fulfill Tenna''s lifetime request. ''''Tenna. You''re going to ask Kazu-san to do this, right? Oh, yes! Please? Wa-san, who doesn''t know the details, tilts her head. In contrast, Tenna turns her face down, looking a little embarrassed, and glances at him and repeats her gaze on and off....... ''''You know what, Onii-san!¡¡I''d like you to sleep in your bedrooms with me, even if it''s just for Kyouki!¡¡Ama-no-Ikuso no Onegai! I''m sorry? .........I was also very surprised when I was told, so I can understand the feelings very well. However, since I heard the reason beforehand, I was able to understand what Tenna was thinking. ''''Wha, why?'''' I found out that when my brother moved in with us at home, we didn''t sleep in the same comforter. That''s why I thought I''d have to ask her to leave before we left. Hmmm...? Wa-san crosses her arms and slowly goes to the ground to take in Tenna''s words as she speaks her thoughts, albeit poorly. ''''Well, if it''s Amana-chan''s request, I''d listen to her, but by everyone, you mean Tenashi, right?'''' ''Yes!¡¡My mom''s with me! ''Did Tenashi allow that?'' But even so, it''s not something that can be nodded to immediately. I''m not sure if the young Tenna or I, as an adult, would refuse to share the bed. Certainly, if I had heard Tenna''s proposal here and now, or if it had been just the two of us, I might have refused it, but.... ''''It''s Tenna''s lifelong request, so I''m accepting it. ''What?¡¡No, no, but that''s a quirk... It seems like an unexpected response to him, and it''s visibly unnerving to him. Common sense tells me that the act of a man and a woman who are not in a relationship would not be considered a good idea for a man and a woman who are not in a relationship to get into the same futon. In fact, I miss Wa-san''s romantic feelings, so if you ignore the sense of shame, there is no reason to refuse. Besides.......... ''''Since I''m lending you a bed and a bath in the room that was originally lived in by me and Tenna, and I''ve even given you a lap pillow, that reticence is a bit of a stretch now. But it''s the same comforter.¡¡If there''s a mistake or something... ''''Impossible. I''m sure you''re not going to be able to get away with it. Ugh.... When I explained to her how much I trusted her, she shut up, blushing. It was too blunt and I couldn''t help but say it nakedly, but she seemed to clearly understand that I had no intention of refusal. Since it wasn''t just the two of us to begin with, and Tenna would be sleeping with him, it wouldn''t be that situation no matter what. Of course, one of the reasons for this is that he is a man of values who values reason. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have missed the favor, and I might not have accepted it so far. ''Mum says it''s okay too, okay?¡¡Or did you not want to sleep with Amana and the others, Onii-san? Ggh..... And then, as if to say tome, Tenna gives him a no-no. In addition to a lifetime of begging, Wa-san let out an exaggerated moan at the half-hearted plea. There was an option to give up if she refused even after going this far, but....... ''''©¤©¤........Fuu.......I understand. Just for today, right? Yeah, yeah!¡¡Thanks! The three of them decided to share the bed together as they uttered the words of contemplation after a long exhale. Tenna smiles happily at the moment her lifetime request was granted, despite the night. If I could see this smile, I would ask her for anything, even if it wasn''t a lifetime request. I''m a parental favorite, but I witnessed such a premonition. 154 146 Wrapped in warm happiness Kazu accepted Tenna''s lifelong request, ''I want the three of us to sleep on the same futon''. Once he decided to do so, it was natural for him to start preparing for it. As for a place to sleep, we needed a decent amount of space to lay out the futons for the three of us. The largest room was the living room, but we didn''t want to disturb the neighbors by moving the table around. So we decided to put the futons in the second largest room, the one we had rented to Kaz-san. The futon was laid out in such a way that Tenna was placed between me and Kaz-san. That''s the shape of a river, no matter how you think about it...? I wonder if we have come to the same conclusion, and I think Wa-san''s complexion is a little red. If I were to excuse myself, it was only because Tenna took the initiative to put her name forward that the middle was better, and she never had any further intentions. I have a complicated feeling that I should be relieved or sad because I''m not next to Ms. Kazu, but at least I can avoid the situation where I can''t sleep. Anyway, the three of us finally got into the same futon as Tenna wanted..... ''I guess that''s what happens when you look around... I''m pretty sure that''s what happened at the amusement park too, right? ''Huh. That''s right. Wa agrees with Tenna''s happy words. In that vein, he mentions that there have been similar examples in the past, and he agrees that it was indeed true. At first I was wondering what would happen, but once we started, I found myself missing a sense of relief, far from being nervous. How can I put it.......the current form feels very natural. It''s a peaceful feeling, as if the ideal form of what I wanted to be had come true. I''m not sure if I sensed that feeling, but suddenly my left hand was gripped in the blanket. From the size of the hand that came to hold it, I can tell that it''s Tenna''s hand. ''Amana-chan?¡¡What''s wrong with you holding hands all of a sudden? Additionally, it seems that she is holding not only my hand but also Wa''s. When questioned about her sudden actions, Tenna took a glance to the left and right before answering. It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one. And when someone you love is next to you, you say ''ri-te-nana-na'', right?¡¡Chiyuri taught me! Tenna''s expression is so sunny that she doesn''t feel sleepy when she says that. Normally, it''s famous for the meaning of being sandwiched between two opposites, but it also means that you''ve gotten two good things. It''s probably the latter meaning that Tenna mentioned. That''s how special me and Wa-san''s existence is to this child, I can tell you. If I knew that was the case, the smile on my face makes me happy too. To Kazu-san''s favorite Tenna, grass or not, it''s no different than a flower. Is that how it works...? That''s it! Is that a good idea? Perhaps embarrassed by the confident praise, Wa, as usual, expressed his low self-esteem impressions. But to me and Tenna, it must be a flower. People have different sensibilities when it comes to liking something. Just as we don''t all admire the same story, there will never be a thing that is liked by everyone. Some people may not understand what they like and react aggressively to it. In that situation, Tenna chose Kazu and me. As a mother and a human being, I couldn''t be happier. "Ehehe.........Mommy and you are both so warm....... Feeling a certain happiness, Tenna fell asleep in no time at all. It''s past her usual bedtime, so she must have loosened up from the feeling of security. She is breathing very calmly in her sleep, and if I let go of her hand, I might wake her up. ''You''ve fallen asleep,'' Yes..... .... .... After ministering to Wa''s murmurings, we both fall silent. However, there was no awkwardness, and my mind was so calm that it wouldn''t be surprising if Tenna fell asleep with me while I remained quiet like this. ''''©¤©¤Tennashi.'''' Yes? Eventually, I was called out by Wa-san in a whisper. I turn my head slowly enough not to wake Tenna up. Then, after meeting her eyes, Wa-san''s expression was the most relaxed smile I''ve ever seen on her face. ''''This morning........I''m sorry. I said something that made you so sad.... But the words spun were an apology. It''s strange that my expression and my words don''t mesh, and I''m not sure how to respond. But I felt that it was not the right thing to say. It''s true. As a landlord, I''m ashamed to admit that you felt guilty about continuing to live like this. ''No, I don''t know if I owe you a debt, but I couldn''t bear the thought of having you take care of food and shelter when I''m not paying rent...'' ''That''s why I feel indebted to you. And I didn''t rent the room to Wa-san because I wanted money or to impose a favor. I told you the reason for that when I offered you the life you have now, didn''t I? .... I don''t know if I can''t think of a word to deny it, or if I''ve listened to the whole thing, but I don''t have an objection from Wa. This person is always like this. He puts himself down at all times and has such a lack of self-esteem that he doesn''t accept charity from others in a straightforward manner. I don''t know how he came to be like this, as I don''t know much about his past. But I can proudly say that through our relationship up to now, I can say this much more clearly. "All I need is for you to be there to repay me. No matter how superior in appearance and ability someone reaches out to you, you''re the one who connects with me when I need your help....... Why do you have to... I love you, that''s why. I hold my tongue and keep my mouth shut, stifling my desire to say that to him who is just confused. You may think it''s not much of a price to pay for just being there, but it''s really enough. Do you realize that? That since meeting you, Tenna has become more selfish. Have you noticed? That I''ve been told at work that my mood has softened and I laugh more often. It was all because of Kazu''s presence. He made me feel a certain amount of happiness when I had assumed that I was the enemy of anyone other than my family that I could be alone with Tenna. I''m overflowing with gratitude and love, and I''m desperately trying to endure the fact that I really want to spoil him by wanting him to be here forever. So, let me just say this. I''m©¤©¤happy, .... Can we stop talking and call it a late night? Uh, uh... I''m glad I turned off the lights to sleep. Because even though it''s supposed to be winter and cold, my face should be red as a blubber. I cut the story short, looking away from my face to avoid being noticed. I don''t know what kind of expression Wa-san has on her face, or if she can sleep because her heart is so noisy, but at least let''s remember the happiness that makes me feel warmth in my chest. 155 147 Things I found The next day ... Saturday morning. I slept better than I thought I would yesterday. I even felt like I had a rather good dream. However, as soon as I woke up, I was snuggled up with Kazu-san in a way that didn''t put a burden on Tenna, but I managed to avoid raising my voice. That was very heartbreaking........ Then I prepared breakfast as usual and had them both eat it........ ''........Well, I''m off. Okay, have a good day, have a safe trip. Bye, honey.... With a somewhat gloomy look on her face, Kaz-san went out for the final preview of her new house search. Both Tenna and I watch him off, using reason to keep his body from being held back. For a moment it looks like he has a look of reluctance in his eyes, but the details are unclear as he immediately went out the door. In the midst of completing the morning''s chores, I can''t get the lonely aspect of my future life out of my mind, and I can''t seem to concentrate. The same may be true for Tenna, who usually plays with coloring books and the like, but she doesn''t speak, just absentmindedly devoting her attention to her thoughts. Even so, time went by without choice, and when we finished lunch, it was time for Tenna to go out. I told her that she was originally planning to play with Nishiyama-san and the others and that she didn''t have to go if she wasn''t feeling well, but Tenna mended her smile and went away because she promised. Perhaps she is trying to disguise her sinking feeling by playing with her friends. If she''s trying to separate herself in her own way, I can''t interrupt her........ ''''.............Huh. I exhale as I sit down on the couch after my afternoon chores have been completed. It''s Saturday, so I''m off work, and it''s been a long time since I''ve had any alone time without Kazu or Tenna. Normally I would be able to let go and settle down, but a sense of loneliness is swirling in my chest. I realized how much I am supported by Tenna and Kazu''s presence. Is it because I''ve been insisting that I can''t show any weakness in front of them for so long...? In any case, today, Wa should be able to decide on a new house. She''ll probably move there by the end of this year, and I''d like to think that she''ll be able to cut loose until then, but....... "©¤©¤I don''t want to leave........ A sense of loneliness smoldered loudly in my chest. It seems that not only Tenna, but I have become selfish as well. ''''Wa-san........'''' Even muttering his name doesn''t stop my heart from racing. It''s not like Yuna (Yuna) who was enjoying her love life. When that girl fell in love with Tatsuhito-san, she asked me for love advice many times. At that time, I can clearly remember how cheerful she seemed to be. Looking back, I guess I was jealous of the fact that she was in love with someone who was just like her. If the two of them had survived the accident and Tenna and I had spent time separately.... Would I have fallen in love with Kazu........? From my point of view, I''m a lot more comfortable now than I am with that bullshit. "©¤©¤Really, really........Kazu-san is a cheater........ It was like I was nervous because I was alone. I felt like I was being bitterly told not to devote my thoughts to things I shouldn''t be thinking about when I''m not supposed to be around. That''s right. Nothing is going to move far away, so why not just strengthen our approach so that we can be together in the future? I picked up my crushed mind and while I was trying to come up with a menu for dinner, I heard the front door open. Looking at the time, it''s past 3pm... I''m reminded that time flies when you''re thinking. Regardless of such a personal mental image, I went to the front door to greet the person who came back. "Ah, Wa-san. Welcome back. I''m home.... It was Kaz-san who came back from a house inspection to look for a new house. The look in her eyes was a complete change from this morning, and I guessed that she had finally decided on a new house. Pushing down the pain in my chest, I greet her with a fake smile on my face so that she can move in without any worries. I''m glad to hear that you''ve decided on a new house. Shall we have a feast tonight to commemorate the occasion? No that won''t be necessary. No, no, I''m not afraid to make you something to eat, if you want. That''s why there''s no commemoration... we can''t just stop looking for a new place to live. ...what? I roll my eyes and let out a dumbfounded voice at the unexpected reply. I swallow the words with a delayed return to normalcy in my thoughts and mouth the answer I came up with. ''''Well, does that mean I''m going to have to start searching again from scratch...?'''' No. I''m a clean slate. What do you mean by that? I finally couldn''t hide my bewilderment at the statement that blithely dismissed all the effort I had put in so far, and I asked for details. A blank piece of paper after all that worrying...? I don''t understand........ It''s true that the two hotels we visited today were nice rooms, but I just wasn''t satisfied with them. Well, of course. I had to keep looking away from the place where I was in the right place. Unlike me, who was in a panic, Kaz-san told us the story with a face that didn''t show much regret. Her narrative was light and cheerful as if a possession had fallen from her, and I even felt that she was somehow cheerful. What in the world has happened since this morning until now? With such doubts floating in my mind, Wa-san continues with a soft smile. ''So I looked at it properly and looked at it... and finally I found it. What is happiness for me? Happiness for Kazu-san? I can''t seem to grasp what I want to say, and I''m just confused. To me, Wa-san took a deep breath and then came to stare straight at me. My heart beats impotently as she stares into my black eyes, which I''ve seen countless times since we met. While his thoughts were blank with nervousness and he couldn''t seem to think of anything, he slowly opened his mouth....... ''''©¤©¤Amari. ©¤©¤Will you marry me........? I just came to tell him that seriously. 156 148 Irreplaceable happiness As soon as I heard those words, I was struck by the illusion that all the sounds in the world had disappeared. I can''t smell anything and my vision only shows his face, which I feel is faintly red. It''s doubtful that he can breathe properly, and his feet are unconscious as if they are floating in the air. That''s how astonished I was at the proposal that came out of her mouth. ©¤ Why, when, where, why and what...! My thoughts are supposed to be clearer than ever before, but doubts and confusion keep popping up and disappearing as if they were clawing their way through my head. My heart is pulsing as if it''s about to burst, and my whole body is so hot that I think it''s boiling... I don''t know why anymore! Bad. "Huh? Perhaps noticing my completely stiffened state, Wa-san suddenly bowed her head and uttered an apology. I responded without being able to collect my thoughts, but my voice sounded inexplicably dumb. However, he looked up and his expression was serious.... I wanted to tell you how I feel, so I haven''t been able to prepare a ring yet. To begin with, I don''t know the size of Amari''s finger, so it''s difficult to prepare it right away anyway... ''Hey, wait a minute!¡¡I''m ignoring so many processes already that I can''t keep up with my understanding!¡¡Let me calm down and sort it out for once! For some reason, he came spouting off even more convoluted statements. I''m over capacity any longer! By grabbing both of Wa''s shoulders to stop him before his heart reaches its limit, I manage to give him time to cool down. I calm down the fire in my body and mind and turn my gaze to him again. ''''I mean, why is it that we''re going through a confession, keke, marriage.......?'''' Because that''s how serious I am. Ugh.... Why does this person say such embarrassing things so plainly...! I hold my breath and hold it down as my heart, which I thought had finally calmed down, feels like it''s about to rage again. ''''Duh, roughly........when did you start to like me, well.......you know....¡¡You haven''t shown any pretense of that before, have you? Yes. Although I have received trust from Ms. Wa, I have never had a glimpse of romantic feelings. Despite that, it''s too sudden to suddenly.......like me enough to propose to me. It''s not that I don''t believe it, but the truth is that my confusion is greater than the joy of having both feelings. It didn''t make sense to me at first. Does that advice lead to what he said about where he really wants to spend his time? But I don''t see the connection between that and the way he likes me. But what he continued to say convinced me that he was right. "So I''ve changed my mind. It''s not about where you want to live, it''s about who you want to live with, isn''t it?¡¡Then.......................Amari and Amana came out. I... I was surprised at first. But now that I''ve actually lived here, I''m convinced that I''m convinced, too. I kept thinking about why I was convinced and then I realized I was attracted to Amari. Wa-san''s face as he smiled with embarrassment made me feel a joy that I can''t describe in words. It''s nothing short of a miracle that the life together with him, which I had proposed because I couldn''t bear to see him break down due to fatigue, had taken root as a place to live. ''''I''m really an idiot for not realizing it even though Sanaya and Mao told me about it to Kuroone-I''m really an idiot. So, well I only became aware of it just a while ago, so I don''t know a definite time frame. Sorry it''s not an answer. No but that would be even better with a confession... why propose? To be honest, I don''t know what attracted me to her either, so I guess that''s the way it is for both of us. We''ll come back to the first question, but Kaz-san looked away shyly as she answered, "I''m not sure why I went through with the proposal. "The only reason I was able to go through with the proposal was because of Amana-chan. Tenna...? ''Ah. I would have gone out with you if I only liked Amari, but I love my life right now with Amari and Amana-chan, I can''t stand it. I thought that in order to make that absolutely possible, we''d have to get married... Oh, I see... That is how much of an impact this life has had on Wa-san. I can understand that feeling very well. If it were not for Tenna, I would not have met Kazu. When I think about it, it made me realize how important she was to us. The fact that the child Yuna and Tatsune-san left behind would go around and lead to the happiness of Kazu and me is stranger than a novel. ''''And so........Nantenashi-san. Yes! As I''m deeply moved by the miracle that Tenna spun, I reflexively look at him when Wa-san calls me by my full name. ''''I........can''t be happy for the rest of my life if the two of us aren''t together. I want to make the people I care about happier than I feel........ So will you marry me and become a family....? I... When he proposed to me again, I felt a burning heat in my heart. A feeling of happiness, which seems to be the best I''ve ever felt, incomparable to the confusion I felt earlier, strengthens my whole body. I feel like my body is on fire right now, and my throat is parched with embarrassment and nervousness. It can''t be helped because there''s no way I can predict that my first love is about to come to fruition in this way. Roughly..........Wa-san....... ©¤ ©¤ You''re an idiot. .... ''Why do you think I make lunches every day?¡¡Do you think he invited you to an amusement park you don''t like and suggested you live here just out of the goodness of his heart?¡¡I was actually terribly embarrassed about the knee pillow, you know? Arikuma-san, Sakai-san, Kuroone-san, and Mayuzumi-san have no idea how much your insensitivity has bothered them. And yet, they were so stupid that they couldn''t understand your reply. I grabbed such a foolish Kazu by both shoulders, looked him in the eye and said, "........ I''m happy, is that why? ...Yeah, that''s right. They''re all ... I''m happy because I like your work and I like them. Wa-san..... I... My first kiss is unbearably happy and addictive, the happiness that floods from deep within my chest. Each second feels so long, and I want it to be engraved in my memory, even if it is just a little bit, I want it to be engraved, so that I am a part of my brain........ Eventually our lips naturally part. But slowly, as if to show my regret. The love of my life right under my nose didn''t expect to get a reply of approval, and I''m stunned with my eyes wide open. I was surprised by the sudden proposal over here, so I couldn''t help but smile a little bit as I was able to return the favor. Did he expect to be rejected? Apparently, the place of low self-esteem is still the same. Therefore, let me tell you clearly that it''s not a misunderstanding. "©¤©¤I''m a tramp, but thank you for your time. He gave me a very happy smile in return, with relief. 157 149 Let me know .... .... We didn''t want to stay in the doorway all the time, so we moved to the living room and sat next to each other on the sofa, but as if our earlier conversation had been a lie, we both fell silent. However, it''s not unreasonable. I''ve been able to get my feelings across to Amari, and as a result, we''ve passed the point of being lovers and have become husband and wife. I really think I was just rushing into it with my own momentum. But I don''t regret it. It''s a fact that I love Amari enough to want to marry her, and she accepted it. So you''re probably wondering why it''s getting awkward now, but it''s just my lack of previous relationship experience that''s holding me back. And moreover, the first time you fall in love with someone and become a wife is a beautiful woman you rarely see on TV, Tenashi. It''s more absurd to tell me not to be nervous. ''''Hey, Kazu-san........'''' Oh, yeah. He was called out by Amanashi, who also looked nervous but broke the silence, stammering but urging him to go ahead. ''''Well, as you may know, I''ve never had a romantic experience before.'''' It''s like, well I''m in the same boat, so it''s a win-win situation, right? ''Eh, ah, yes, it was...'' .... .... ....high end of conversation. What''s this? This is the conversation between a man and a woman who are married? I feel like we just embarrassed each other. It''s bad........I don''t even know how to talk about it...... I''m breaking out in a cold sweat inside because I feel like I''m about to let our hard-earned relationship fall apart, when Amanashi next to me started to chuckle. ''''Amanashi?'''' ''Oh, I''m sorry I''m kind of going crazy with all this new stuff...'' ''No, I''m sorry I didn''t tell you that a man should have led, and I think you''d be more relaxed if you laughed at me like that. I can''t... I uttered my honest opinion, but Amari turned away, her face reddening. That reaction is teasing and makes me smile irresistibly. ''''Well, how big is Tenri''s finger?'''' I ask a question for the ring, but apparently I need to measure it later. As it was, from the topic of hands, Amari came over to meet my palms. It''s hard to believe that she does housework every day, but her hands are very soft, perhaps because they have been carefully cared for. It''s not just the size of a joint, it''s the overall size of a joint. If I wanted to, I could almost wrap my hand around Amari''s hand with one hand. That''s where a nasty feeling suddenly arose. Almost impulsively, I grasped the hands that were stacked on top of each other. I put my fingers between their fingers, the so-called ''lover''s connection''. With the closer contact, the warmth of Amanashi''s hand is very evident. ''''Hey, Kaz-san! What do you mean?¡¡We''re going to be husband and wife, right? ''Yeah, well this is a bit embarrassing...'' Amanashi''s face turns red at the sudden action and he starts to panic. I''m embarrassed inwardly, too, but I feign composure with the willpower of a man. I''m not sure. Well, let''s just take it slow, as we are both inexperienced. ...we''re going to be a married couple, you know. Yes. It''s a very green line, even if I say so myself, but Amuri gave me a soft smile. It''s kind of.......nice, this kind of thing. That''s right, there''s no need to rush into anything. We have plenty of time to support each other as a couple....as a family, so we have plenty of time. It''s not just my life anymore. For the sake of Amanashi and Amana-chan, I can''t do something as reckless as living in a car anymore.... As I was thinking with great emotion, I noticed that Amari seemed to be trying to say something, but not being able to do so. I wonder what''s wrong? Amanashi? What, what is it? No, you sounded like you wanted to say something, so I asked you about it... Oh, no, it''s nothing, okay? I was curious and asked her, but she flipped her red face down and was distracted. Ummm........this shouldn''t be. ''''Hiding things, is it?'''' ''No, no, not like that, I''m just embarrassed! Embarrassed?¡¡What? It''s about what we''re going to call it from now on... When I nodded my head, unable to read his intentions, Amari slowly replied while averting her gaze as if she was too nervous. I see, it''s because they''re going to be a married couple that they''re going to change the way they''re called. ''''Is that the ''honey'' and ''darling'' you sometimes see called each other?'''''' Would you like to call each other...? No, I''m not going to do something stupid like that... ''''Wow, I also want to refrain from showing off like that in public, so it''s a little comforting to hear you say that...'''' Around the breath of relief that comes from the heart, I guess that thing looks stupid.... It seems like a sign of affection for the other person, but I don''t want to be like a single person picking a fight with someone who is single. Besides........... You don''t have to force yourself to change your name, and you''ll be fine because you''ll be able to tell how you feel. ''''Well yes. We''re fine with our way of doing things, aren''t we? Oh ... what were you going to call it, by the way? ''What?¡¡You''re going to ask after all! So if that''s not what you just said, I wonder what it was all about? I don''t need to change what I call her, but I''m curious what she was going to call me. It seems that she was caught off guard that she wouldn''t be pursued, and Amari''s face turns red and she starts to get upset. ''You''re not going to change it anyway, so why don''t you just call me once?'' ''Ugh ... wow, don''t laugh at me, please? She''s not laughing. ...Really? It''s true. I''m just trying to have fun with what my wife is going to call me. Yo, wives are so impatient, they haven''t even registered their marriages yet... Oh, I had to get that ready as well as the ring. Right now, let''s listen to what Tenashi calls me. There''s still some embarrassment left, but she gazes at me with a gaze....... ''''Ah©¤©¤'''' Huh? You''re.... .... ......... ........... You say I''m cheating and unfair, but so is Tenashi, right? What''s that, that''s really foul........ ''''.......... I''m terribly embarrassed too. The result was a form of mutual agony. Yes, the usual is enough without being weird. That''s what I realized. 158 150 Is it good news or sad news? Speaking of which, what should I tell Tenna about us? ''''Oh, Amana-chan.......yeah, I don''t know how to explain this.......'''' The question posed to her by Amari, who has managed to recover from her recovery, has her head plagued with happiness and anxiety. The one thing I can''t avoid when I marry Amana is Amana-chan''s presence. If we get married, that girl will be my daughter........ I don''t want to say what it is, but a child of a couple with no experience seems like a rare position to be in, in a way. Still, in form, I''m going to be Amana-chan''s.......child''s parent. I might be able to act as a parent, but after all, Amana doesn''t have a father. I''ve never heard of any particular envy or anything like that, but I still understand the difference between her and other families, even though she''s small. Even though she misses me, it would be inevitable that she would be confused if I suddenly told her that I would be her father. I''d like to think it''s a budding relationship since he even asked me to be part of his dad''s relay, but it''s not without the possibility of rejection. There''s also the reason why our relationship is developing too quickly than anything else. You''d have to be surprised that the man you were supposed to be talking about leaving when you came back would be married to your own mother and become a father. People who know us well, of course, but I think Amana''s daughter, Amanashi''s daughter, would be the most surprised. It''s rapid to the point where I even think I''ve lost my mind when I tell myself this morning. No, really, I''m just rushing through with my momentum too fast, am I........ Well, that self-evaluation aside, here''s an explanation for Amana. First of all, it''s absolutely impossible to hide it. She''s a smart girl, so she''s pretty good at reading the general emotions from the expressions of the people around her. In the course of living together, her marital relationship with Amana will be easily exposed. She''s especially bad at lying and being caught in a lie, so she''ll be hurt if people think she''s against them. So there is no direction to hide. I want them to accept me, but hurting them would be the end of the world. In the first place......... ''''........isn''t there anything else to do but report it normally? ''''That''s right I''m sure Kazu would accept Tenna''s acceptance of it, but...'''' ''I''m not going to ignore Amana''s will, so I''ll work hard until she approves. ''I''ll do my best to convince you, so please don''t do anything rash, okay? I know. The reason I decided to marry Amari is so that the three of us can live together, including Amana. If one person is missing, then the happiness I want will cease to be at that point. I have no intention of giving up my love for Amari, even if she rejects me. I don''t know how Amana will react, but I was fully prepared to face it. The only thing left to do is wait for her to come back........ ''''I''m home........'''' When she proposed to Amana, her whole body tensed up in a different vector of tension. ''''Wa-san........'''' Through our linked hands, I could feel the tension in Amari. But it was the same for me. Because her voice sounded a bit hard, if only slightly. If you think about it, that''s not surprising. From Amana''s point of view, from the point of view of Amana-chan, who is more important to her than anyone else, this is a scene that might crack the rapport between the person she loves and her daughter. It would be terrible to tell her not to be nervous. In the meantime, Amana came into the living room after washing her hands and gargling. ''''Oh..... Welcome back, Amana-chan. She knew he''d left before she did when she saw his shoes, but she didn''t expect him to be in the living room, and when their eyes met, Amana rolled her eyes a bit. But it was only a moment before she quickly mended her smile and seemed to stifle her loneliness. Rather than informing her of my marriage, I decide that it seems better to reveal that I''ve stopped looking for a new home first. I don''t think he''ll have time to take it in if I tell him I''m going to be a father as it is now. ''Amana-chan. It''s about the search for a new house.... ''Yeah...'' I''m not moving on. What? Perhaps because the answer was different from what I had expected, the lapis lazuli eyes widened. That gaze is filled with the expectation of ''maybe''. I chuckle in my heart that he misses me so much, and I conclude. ''''I''m going to live in this house.'''' Are you sure...? Yeah, it''s true. Are you going to be able to stay with your brother forever? Of course. If you want Amana-chan. I don''t want to... I want to be with you, Amana. I want to be with you! Understanding that her wish that she thought would never come true has come true, Amana shows her true smile this time. A smile is the best thing for her. As much as I''d like to think that I''m smiling, I can''t help but think that it''s time to get down to business. It may cloud the smile that I''ve just cleared up, but it''s unavoidable in any case. Putting this kind of thing behind you makes you sulk even more. The sooner you tell them what they need to know, the better. Finally, I brace myself and open my mouth again. ''So, there''s one more thing I need to tell you. Wha...? I look at Amana, her heart filled with happiness, and I feel a little hesitation. But if I stop here it would be a dream come true for us to become a family. ''''It''s about me and Amari... and it has to do with Amana-chan. Not just your mom and dad, but you and your brother too? Oh it''s very important. My heart is beating faster and faster. Sweat starts to trickle down to the palms of my hands, which are connected to Amari, and the thought of having to apologize later passes through the corner of my mind. I shake off such evil thoughts and tell him to continue with my intentions. "Me and Amana, we''re going to be husband and wife...I mean, we''re going to get married. So that means Amana will be my daughter........will you accept me? The momentum of the proposal was gone, and I managed to tell her the news of our marriage, even though I was stumped. I can''t make out Amana''s expression because she turned her head down halfway through the proposal. When I looked up while praying that she would at least acknowledge me.... A drop of tears had spilled out of her wide-open, lapis lazuli eyes. 159 151 Yakusoku When Amana heard that she was going to marry Amari, she let out a tear. It doesn''t fit into any of the reactions that I had anticipated as much as possible, which is to say, it''s completely unexpected. I told her, but I can only be baffled by the way Amana couldn''t read it either. ''''Ah, Tenna?¡¡Why are you crying? Huh... what? Amana seemed to realize now that she was crying when Amari pointed out that she couldn''t hide her confusion. Fearfully reaching out her hands to her eyes, the tears could be easily wiped away. But.......... ''''Huh?¡¡Why?¡¡Amana, I can''t stop crying...? Perhaps it''s because she realizes she''s crying, but even if she wipes it off, the tears don''t seem to stop. In an obvious abnormality, Amana reveals her agitation. Seeing that reaction, I guessed what kind of feelings this girl missed about marriage. I can''t be the father, after all? No.... At my words, Tenashi made a sad face. It seems that the scales were tilted in her mind towards acceptance. To be honest, I had also stepped on the basis that I would be accepted, even though I was confused. That''s why I''m shocked that she cried. ''I''m sorry for making you cry on such short notice?¡¡Amana-chan........ No, no, no, no.¡¡I don''t hate it when your mum and dad get all huffy... What...? At first I apologized for making her cry, but the words that came back to me were something I had no trouble reacting to. The same seemed to be true for Amari, and she rolled her eyes as if she had been hit with a false sense of humor. What does that mean? You know, I know it''s very nice to marry into ''Fufu'' by marrying into Koibito. It''s just like in the comic that Chiyuri helped me with. ''Does that mean ... that you''re happy to have Wa-san join your family? I knew that Amana had a general view of love, despite the knowledge she gained from the manga. Amari felt some hope at those words, or maybe it was tears of joy. However, she was emphatically denied as Amana shook her head as she wiped her tears away. Before, Chiyuri-chan and her friends said to me, ''If you become a father, you will have a great time. Then I was supposed to be with them all the time, but I didn''t want to be with them and I thought ''Oh no,'' I don''t know, but I felt so sad. .... Why, sir? The sentiments Amana-chan told me were anything but concrete. Amanashi''s doubts are reasonable, but Amana herself seems to feel uneasy about not knowing her own mind. At least it''s certainly not as simple as not wanting me to be her father or something like that. The situation is getting more and more confusing, and I''m just holding my tongue about how to deal with it. With tears in her eyes, Amana turns to face us. I wonder if it''s a strange thing for her to not be able to say ''congratulations'' when her mum and dad are all woozy...?¡¡I''m sorry ... you''re a bad boy, you''re a bad boy... That''s not true!¡¡Tenna is a proud daughter!¡¡It''s just that I''m surprised all of a sudden and I can''t get my emotions together well... so there''s no need to apologize... ''Ugh ... wow! Who would have expected such a little girl to apologize for blaming herself? Amari couldn''t stand it and hugged her beloved daughter to quiet her. That seemed to be the deciding factor, and finally Amana-chan began to cry and scream with large tears. All I can do is watch her. I wondered if there was anything I could do to help. Looking back on our daily interactions, it''s not that I don''t like them. In fact, if you limit it to the opposite s*x, it is even the most favored. What is the inconvenience of me being a father to that child? There would be no romantic feelings. As I told Daichi-kun once, Amana-chan doesn''t know the difference between parental love and romantic love. If it doesn''t matter what you like or don''t like, does that mean you don''t like the fact that your relationship is changing? Even so, originally, the relationship between me and Amana-chan... Ah........ I understand.........the reason why you cried, Amana-chan. This is why Mana-chan would cry........ I was late in realizing my fondness for Amari, but I''m really a big a**h*le. I can''t help but be disgusted by my own stupidity that I haven''t grown up as if. I''ll regret it later, but for now it''s better to make Amana stop crying first. ''''Amanashi. Amanashi, can I talk to Amana for a moment? ''Kazu-san...?¡¡Yeah, I get it. Amanashi listened to my words honestly. This must be another result of our mutual feelings. I bent down to meet Amana''s eyes, with such emotion in mind. ''Amana-chan. I''m sorry, okay?¡¡I''m so happy to be marrying Amari that I haven''t thought about Amana''s feelings at all. Goooooooooooooong. I don''t see anything wrong with you. Thank you. But I wanted to say I''m sorry. Because I''m not going to... When I''m the father, we can''t be friends. I... Those words startled Amana to the point where she stopped crying. It seems that I was right. Yes, Amana-chan and I are friends. If we became family, we wouldn''t be friends. However, if that was the only reason, she wouldn''t cry so much. The key reason for this is..... I just got tired of being friends with you, Amana. That''s it. It''s because I broke my promise that I made Amana sad. ''Oh....'' When I hadn''t met Amari yet, I made a promise with my fingers cut off that I would be friends with this girl. I had forgotten all about it because spending time together had become the norm. That''s why I owe Amana an apology. ''But I still want to be husband and wife with Amari....to be a family. If you say you don''t want to, I''m going to wait until you accept it. .... When I finish saying just what I want to say, Amana starts to hesitate with her face down. I think it''s a horrible thing to say after breaking a promise, but I have no intention of giving up my wish to become a family with them. It''s a good idea to ask for their forgiveness, but in the end, it''s up to Amana-chan to make the decision. I do feel bad about leaving the choice up to her. Therefore, I''m going to follow Amana''s answer for now. After a few moments of silence, Amana-chan meets my eyes. ''Amana, I love you a lot, Onii-san. But you see, Amana doesn''t have a father, so I don''t understand why he''s going to be a father... That would be Amana-chan''s unmistakable true intentions. It''s crazy to say hello to your friend when he or she is suddenly going to become a father. I don''t think it''s fair to say that you are a father to her. Even if you become a family member, I don''t think you can think of me as a father... Indeed, it''s hard to imagine Amana calling me ''Dad''. I''ve gotten used to being called "Onii-san" by her before I even realized it. But if you become a family man, you''ll be able to spend more time with him and have more fun.¡¡Then I want to be an older brother or something. She must have hated it so much that she didn''t want to be friends with me. However, the scales in Amana''s mind have shifted to spending time together as a family. Though selfish, she feels both happy and sad about her choice. And then Amana-chan continues with a smile on her cheeks, as if she''s grown up a little bit. ''So, yakuzo yakuzo yakuzo?¡¡Even if you become a family man and become a father, will you still be an old man to Anna? The little finger held out from the young hand that was stretched out with the announcement of what was promised. The person who broke his promise out of hubris, Amana-chan is going to cut his finger off. After being told so much, it''s lame to back down now........ I tie it back with my little finger to respond to the conclusion the little girl has come to. ''''©¤©¤Aah, I promise. I''ll be Amana-chan''s "Onii-san". I''ll keep it so that this time I won''t break it. At my reply, Amana-chan opened her lapis lazuli eyes a little bit and then..... "©¤©¤Ehehehe!¡¡Well then, mommy, congratulations on your wedding! He congratulated us on our marriage with a big smile on his face. 160 152 Two reports The day after proposing to Amari and getting her approval, and getting approval from her daughter-in-law Amana, I went to work at Umineko Transport, feeling better than ever before. I went to work at Umineko Transport in a better mood than ever before. I left the house earlier than usual because I had some business to attend to, but I did receive the bento box that Amanashi had made for me. I''m looking forward to seeing what''s in the bento, which has grown into a lunch box made by my beloved wife after all the twists and turns. While I was thinking about this, the person who called me to the parking lot I had designated as the meeting place came over. Good morning, Wa. I''m here on time for the caf¨¦~ Good morning, Mr. Kazu. Morning, you two. The other two are Miya and Mao. I had sent them a message last night asking them to come to work at this time. It''s a secret that I was inwardly relieved that they came without ignoring me. As I was indulging in such secret emotion, Marao called out to me. ''''You said you had something important to tell me, but could it be that you''ve decided on a new house?'''' ''Oh - I''ve been waiting for a report since I started going for a preview! So what happened? Yeah. I''m not looking for a new house. "...What...? When I answered their questions briefly, they were both stunned. However, it was only a moment later, and they quickly recovered their expressions and this time an expectant look appeared on their faces. ''''Is it possible that........something happened with Amari-san?'''' ''Wow, seriously. I thought it would take longer, but enough to stop you from looking for a new house! How do you know? Am I that easy to show my face? Let''s explore the identity of the techniques that the length of our relationship can perform later, but for now, let''s answer the two''s questions. ''''Well, it must have something to do with Amari...'''' ''Yes!¡¡I''m also in debt to you for giving me relationship advice with Mao-chan, so I''ll give you some advice on how to deal with Wa! ''''No, not Miya-kun. It would definitely be better to talk to me, the same s*x, about it. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, I haven''t said anything yet! Before I could explain what''s going on, I was on to something all at once! From the way the two of them talk, they seem to think that I''m pining for Amari. The fact that it''s not far away, even if it''s not a hit, makes me chuckle again. ''''Well I appreciate the sentiment, but it''s not something I''m going to discuss with you, okay? ''''There''s no need to be so reserved. It''s true that even though Tenashi-san is an unattainable figure, if you''re at a distance, Kazu-kun, who''s a good friend of Amana, has quite an advantage. Not only did I have the upper hand, but I got the okay to propose and won outright? There''s no way I''m going to lose unless I''m already in a good position to do so.... I appreciate that you''re trying to help me, but I can''t respond to you when you tell me about the checkpoint you blew past yesterday. ''Look, I''m glad you''re saying things, but just listen to me anyway. Oh. When are you gonna confess? That''s why I''m telling you to listen to me. I''ve asked them to get together to tell you two that I''m going to marry Nashi and I''m going to marry her. Ah, he finally admitted it. Already - if you''re married, you should say so as soon as possible... what...? Waiting to hear this is going to take up a lot of time, so I''m sorry, but I had to say it first. I''m sorry to say this, but I wanted to tell you in a more proper tone. Unlike me, who patted my heart for being able to report it for the time being, the two of them made their good-natured smiles stiffen like a stone, and then.... ''''Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! We all screamed from astonishment. Well, that''s right. Apparently, both of them had noticed that me and Amari were in love with each other, but they never thought that a zero-day marriage would happen. ''Goodness, when!¡¡How long have you been seeing him?¡¡I mean, keh, marriage! ''We had zero relationship time. I proposed to Amari the day I realized I liked her. ''How much too soon is too soon!¡¡Didn''t you want to do something more like this, something more loverly! When I answered Sanya''s question, who came crowding up to me in a great hurry, Mao came tsking at me for marrying too fast. Perhaps because it''s the same woman, she comes up with an opinion that makes me want to admire it unintentionally. Be that as it may, the answer to the crucial question is........ ''''Hmmm........you can do it after you become a couple, right?'''' Yes, that''s true, but... At my answer, Marao gives me a rather complicated look. Let''s just say, even before I proposed to her, me and Amana tended to be seen as a married couple. Even though the amusement park was also with Amana-chan, looking back on it, it was like a date, and that''s the kind of thing that could be made into a lover and not a married couple. But isn''t it hard to kiss and stuff before Amana is around? ''No, that was combined with a reply to my proposal. "Wow....I feel like the harmony has gone all the way to a distant place at once... ''''I''d rather respect you for your positivity, Tenri-san.......'''' Miya and Mao give me a distant look, but I don''t deny that Amari is aggressive. But at any rate, she and I are going to be husband and wife. Even in the future, most things can be managed as long as we take our time with each other. You may be optimistic, but it''s much better than being strangely cautious. "Well, there''s a lot more to come, but just wait for the wedding invitation. Oh, yes. Congratulations on your wedding, Kazu-kun. Be happy with Amuri-san. I''m surprised you beat me to it, but make sure you''re happy. ... oh. Thank you. The two of them belatedly direct their congratulations at me, and I feel an itchy embarrassment, but I take it firmly. I''m embarrassed, but I think this is the happiness I can feel thanks to Amari and Amana. And the wedding report, but there was one more thing I wanted to tell them. I almost ended up forgetting it, but I open my mouth, relieved to be able to remember it here. ''Sorry. There''s just one more thing you should know. What do you want me to know? ''Honestly, I''m just hungry for the wedding report but what the hell is going on?'' Next time, I tell the two of them, who leisurely ask back that they won''t be surprised anymore, what I told Amari and Amana-chan yesterday as well. That is......... "....I''m going to retire from Umineko Transport. 161 153 Last delivery Even if that wasn''t the case, the idea had stuck in a corner of my mind, but if I had to pick a trigger, it would have to be the time Amana cried to me when we were living in the car. That was quite heartbreaking. When you get married and continue to work, you don''t have much time to spend with your family. Since the beginning of our exchange is delivery, Amanashi and Amana understood that I didn''t mind, but to be honest, I was more aware of the fact that I didn''t seem to be able to bear it. I don''t need to tell you which way I leaned when I weighed the two: the workplace and the business I was used to, my body and my family. It''s a reason I never thought of when I was single. Still, I have no regrets, and I''m even proud of it. Even if we go to a different office, let''s go out for a drink once in a while. Yes. I''d love to hear about your life with Amanashi-san and Amana-chan too. Thank you. Sanya and Mao were aghast at the beginning when they listened to it, but if you told them what happened, they were generous with words of exertion, even if they were lonely in a certain way. The two of them really took care of me, so I''m inwardly touched to hear them say that. It''s not the same as when I was a student anymore.......I feel like I''m beginning to feel that kind of conviction. Naturally, I told my boss, Mr. Hinomoto, of my resignation. Immediately after I started talking to him, he asked me why I was resigning, using his usual intimidating manner... but for some reason, despite the heavy pressure I faced, I was able to tell him, ''It''s for the sake of my family,'' without getting nervous. I''ve never been married, let alone had a girlfriend before, but my attitude towards it made my eyes widen in astonishment. This is the first time I''ve seen this expression on his face. Eventually, after exhaling heavily, the decision was made to go to work for this week only, and to resign at the end of this month after taking paid time off. I''m resigning less than a year after my senior quit in April, and I''m getting booed by the same delivery people. Since the reason for that is to leave the company on life expectancy, there may be some blame to go around. By the way, when I showed him the picture of Amari that I had on my phone because he asked me to show him my wife''s face, he was extremely surprised. After all, she is so beautiful that one "super" is not enough. Even getting married is a celebration, but if the other person is a stunningly beautiful woman, it''s no wonder they''re surprised. But I got some pretty unwarranted criticism, such as ''she ran away from her fantasy because of her hard work'' and ''she''s a rental girlfriend from who and how much did she pay? Well, for a simple guy like me, I''m sure he''s someone I would envy just to have a connection with. It''s not hard to understand why it''s rough when that person becomes your wife, but isn''t that a bit much? So many employees I''ve been involved with celebrated me as I worked on my few remaining jobs. The thought that I could only count on one hand the number of deliveries to that house and drive the usual delivery truck made me feel sad, even though it was hard work and painful. But I shook off my doubts and got to work, thinking that it was for the sake of Amanashi and Amana-chan, the two most important people in the world. So that''s how the last day of work arrived, and when I finished today''s deliveries, I''d go into a pay period. For some reason, it''s Friday, so I also had to make a delivery to Room 184 of Avery Smile, which is now my home, too. The styrofoam box of foodstuffs I took out of the back of the truck, the last time I''ll be able to touch the weight of it. I''m glad this place is part of the delivery area I took over from my senior. If I hadn''t been close to that man, I would have delivered somewhere else. Otherwise I wouldn''t have met Amana, and I wouldn''t have been married to Amanashi. And that''s not all. If it wasn''t for Amana-chan''s kind-heartedness to strangers, it wouldn''t have been any different from a normal delivery place. If Amari hadn''t trusted me, I might have ended up in charge of a different area. When I think of it like that, I realize how strange it is for people to have a relationship with each other. If even one of the gears had been off, I wouldn''t have been able to get the happiness I have now. With that sentiment in mind, I grab my bags and ring the intercom for room 184. A light electronic sound comes from the back of the room. This is the last time I''m going to be the one to push this all-too-familiar sound. ''''Yes! Umineko Transport. I''m here to deliver a package. "I''m coming, sir! I can hear my beloved daughter''s voice over the speakers. We''re supposed to be together, not apart, but I can''t help but feel lonely. As I push the sadness away, the front door opens. ''Always a pleasure, Onii-san! Thank you, Amana-chan. Despite the fact that it was the last time, the greetings were the same as usual. I''m not complaining or anything. Rather, I think that this is the way it should be with the courier, Hayakawa Kazu, and Amana-chan, the delivery person. You''re going to spend your time as a family after work, so you should be able to do anything special there. With this in mind, I ask for a stamp to be stamped as I receive the package and place it by the front door. That''s the end of the delivery. ''Onii-san. Hmm? Instead, she was called out by Amana. I look at her and instead of her usual sunflower-like smile, she has a complicated smile that is somehow tinged with sadness, but also with happiness. While I was at a loss as to how to respond to her unfamiliar expression, Amana-chan took my hand. "Kyoute, haitatsu is saigo, right? ''Oh. It''s kind of lonely, since he was like this when we first met. But I know that the reason you don''t do it is for you and your mom. That''s where Amana separated her words. As a rule of thumb, or should I say, I kind of knew what to do after this. I folded my knees and bent down, my eyes locked with Amana''s. Then, naturally, a small hand reaches out from over there and.... ''''Alright.........'''' .... He stroked my head with a familiar hand. The usual stroking. But even though it wasn''t the last time, something warm and fervent surged up from deep inside me. Still, I was proud to be an adult and held back my tears. I''m still at work now. It''s bad to cry at any price. Eventually, she seems satisfied, and Amana gently lowers her hand. Then she looks at me again. Good night, man! Thank you.... Unlike the usual "Otsukasama", the "Otsukasama" spun out of his small mouth is a warm and definite sense of accomplishment that makes my heart surge with excitement. After that, the delivery went smoothly, and Kaz Hayakawa effectively retired from the company... 162 154 Greetings to Minamiya The first time I visited the Minami family was an ordinary two-story house that could be found anywhere. Even so, I could feel the age appropriate to it, and it is also a place of memories where Tenashi and her now deceased twin sister, Yuna, spent their time. Since I would be visiting the house many times in the future, I was deeply moved by the experience. ''''Huh~..........'''' I tried to take a deep breath to calm my heartbeat, which was in stark contrast to the feeling. However, despite repeated attempts, the desired effect doesn''t appear, and in fact, I even feel like I''m getting more and more breathless. "Wa-san........you''ve met your parents before, so you don''t need to be that nervous...... You''ve been having a heart attack all day, haven''t you? ''No, I''m even more nervous because I know Watei-san...'' Amanashi, who looks dumbfounded, and Amana, who is tilting her head out of pure doubt, interrupt me. But it''s not their fault. What''s worse........I''m the one who came in front of the Minamis'' house for the wedding greeting, but I''m still too nervous to press the intercom. After all, Amana''s grandfather and Amanashi''s father, Watarei-san, is a superlative parent and grandfather idiot. From now on, I have to say to such a person, ''Please give your daughter to me. He looked at me with murderous intent just because he knew I had interacted with him, he would kill me if he greeted me with a wedding greeting or something like that. It''s a good idea to be able to get away from it all. But if I run away from here, I won''t be happy this time. I''ve got to get over this ordeal for the sake of my two irreplaceable family members. At last, I''ve made up my mind, and now it''s time to turn on the intercom. If you don''t do it, I''ll do it for you! Ping-pong. Ah! Huh.... I was pushed by Amana, who was so sweet. I let out a crushed voice from my own timing and the shock of being out of sync with my timing, and Amana finally sighs at me. No really, I''m sorry for being so pathetic. As I was apologizing in my heart for that, the front door was opened. ''Welcome home, Tenashi. Tenna. And welcome, Hayakawa-san. I''m home, Mom. I''m home, Grandma! Well, hi... The person who greeted me was Mayumi, Amana''s grandmother and Amari''s mother. I greeted her, patting my heart that it wasn''t Watahira-san. In contrast, Mayumi smiled cheerfully. ''''There''s no need to be so formal~. We''re going to be a family now, right?'''' Ha ha ha.... I couldn''t help but smile at the words that I couldn''t reply to in any way. Before I went over here, Tenashi gave me a report, but he only told me that he had something important to talk about with me. Well, if you put it that way, there''s only one answer. That''s probably why Mayumi-san is so willing to welcome me. I''m afraid of Watahira-san''s reaction, but I''ve already come to the point of giving up. In the living room where I was led with a hidden thought..... ''''©¤©¤It''s here. Watei-san was sitting with his arms crossed as he spouted a line like some kind of russian boss. No, I''m scared. It''s been a while since I''ve seen you, but aren''t you gunning for it as much as you can? Hi. It''s been a while... Hmph. I tried to say hello in passing, but all I got was a sniffle. Just as I expected, or perhaps not at all welcome. ''I''m home, Dad.'' Long time no see, Grandpa! ''Oh!¡¡Nice to see you back, Tenri!¡¡Tenna! As soon as Amari and Amana-chan called out to her, she welcomed her daughter and grandson with a disheveled smile. Wow~ The difference in treatment is so blatant.......will they really allow me to marry her.......? The edge of my mouth twitches at the horrible attitude. ''I''m sorry?¡¡Ever since I heard Hayakawa-san was coming today, I''ve been stubborn about ''I won''t approve of your marriage''. No, I can predict Watei-san''s character, so to that extent... His wife, Mayumi, apologizes, but on the contrary, she''s just relieved to see him driving normally. I''m rather wary of being welcomed. Or rather, the conversation seems to have already been exposed as a wedding greeting. I don''t have a problem with it, but I still want to hold my head up a little bit, wondering if he''s going to object to it. However, I don''t intend to give up on my marriage with Amari just because she opposed me. So I turn to face Watohira and Mayumi, who are sitting across the table from each other. Mayumi is smiling at you with a smile, while Watahira remains sullen. Speaking of this one, Amana is in a good mood as she hasn''t been to her grandparents'' house in a long time, although she''s quiet, perhaps because she''s reading the air. Amanashi looks a little nervous. She said there''s nothing to be nervous about, but it''s no wonder she''s going to report her marriage to her family. Naturally, I''m so nervous that my whole body is stiff and tense. However, it''s also a waste of time not to talk about it all the time, and since they know it''s a wedding greeting anyway, I have no choice but to go straight to the point. I make up my mind to do so and slowly open my mouth. ''''Well I''m sure you already know that, but let me say it again, let me say it nicely. Today, I''m here to greet my two precious daughters, Amari and my marriage. ''''©¤©¤©¤©¤Cutch. Amari........is this really the right man for you? I can''t think of any other man but Mr. Kazu. At the greeting once again, Watei-san quickly comes to release a tongue-lashing. When the conversation was turned down, Amanashi was taken aback by her father''s attitude, but she responded with a most delightful answer. ''''I don''t want to be Amana either, unless you''re Onii-san! Ggh...! In addition, he was joined by backup from Amana-chan. As a result, I got a glare from Watahira-san as if he was going to kill me with his gaze at any moment. I''m scared. But I pretended not to show the slightest bit of it on my face. I knew from the beginning that he would oppose me. For the most part, even Tatsujin-san, who was relatively accepted, needed to be persuaded. Then.........I''ll persist until I''m accepted. ''''Please give me your daughter! I bow my head and beg. I could have said something else, but I''m unfortunately far removed from that kind of romanticism. I only know how to do it stupidly and honestly head on. While Mayumi watched Amari and Amana-chan with bated breath, Watpei thought he could hear the sound of breathing heavily.... ''''©¤©¤If you make Amari and Amana unhappy, I''ll send you to hell. ''I know you''ll object!¡¡But if I''m going to hell, I''m going to hell... huh? This kind of clich¨¦: ''My daughter won''t do it! In the middle of uttering a rebuttal to Watei-san''s question, I couldn''t help but look up at Watei-san''s reply and let out a curt voice. It was a rather distant argument, but didn''t you approve of the marriage now? I make eye contact with him at that thought, but he looks at me with a very stern look on his face. ''What''s with that face?'' No, no. I thought you''d object... I''m sure he had an incredibly pitiful look on his face. But when I told him how I felt, Watahira-san stared at me blankly. Oh, I shouldn''t have said anything unnecessary. It''s easy to disagree with it. Amana-chan? Amana nodded her head curiously, assuming that she was involved in the reason why Watei-san approved our marriage. I wondered why, and at the same time I wondered why, and at the same time, she told me what was on her mind. ''''No matter how much I love my next child, I will regret for the rest of my life that I wanted to do the same thing to this one...''''... Yuna, who was once just pregnant with Tenna, said... Yuna-san.... ''To the extent that I opposed the marriage, I would have narrowed the chances of future children being born. If I hadn''t allowed myself to give birth to the Tenna back then, I wouldn''t have been able to see this child in good health. Thinking of that, I''ll hold back as much of my eagle''s willpower as I can. Watahira''s expression as he revealed this was very kind. I wonder why I didn''t think about it before. The reason she is the way she is today is because Yuna decided to give birth to her when she found out she was pregnant. She was only 18 years old at the time, and I don''t know how determined she was to make that decision. But that thought had thus influenced the stubborn Watahira-san''s thinking. She really is........a strong person. There''s also a certain unwillingness to meet and talk to him with his own eyes if possible. I heard that he''s like his sister, Kurone, so I''m sure we could have a good relationship. It was only because of Yuna''s determination and the child she will eventually have with Amari that she approved the marriage. It''s a little frustrating that he wasn''t recognized by his own merit, but if Amana-chan''s existence was a factor in his recognition, then let''s say it''s fine. ''''©¤©¤Yes. I will definitely make the two of you happy, even more than the amount you made me happy. "...hmmm... Congratulations on your wedding, Amani. Thank you, father. Mother..... Watahira-san looked away from my words without hiding her frustration, but I didn''t miss the tears in the corner of her eyes for a moment. But that doesn''t mean I''m not going to mention it specifically. If he did that, he would withdraw it after all the effort he''d put into getting it approved. On the other hand, Amari happily replied to the congratulations given to her by Mayumi. But when Wataru doesn''t interrupt him, he decides that he must feel the same way as his wife. In this way, they were able to get Watahira-san to approve their marriage, which was the first obstacle. 163 155 Now to the dead ... It was easier and faster than I thought it would be, and I was able to get Watahira-san to approve my marriage to Amari. From there we had a delicious lunch that Mayumi had prepared for us. On the way, he asked me how we got married, and he was surprised to hear that we had been dating for zero days. Probably they would have reacted the same way if they had told me at the beginning of this year, so Watahira''s surprise was quite natural. When I came up with what it was, she went into the six tatami room just outside the hallway. I was about to enter as well, feeling doubtful, when I suddenly noticed that Amana-chan had stopped in her tracks. "Amana-chan, what''s wrong? My mom and grandpa say you can''t come in here. Huh?¡¡Why? I don''t know. You don''t want that kid to see that...? What a moment of thought, and then I quickly came to the reason why. I see, it would certainly be so if it was before. As a person who knows the circumstances related to this child, I can understand that. ''''Tenna. You can forget about that now. Yeah, yeah? Yeah. Yeah. As we were talking about this, Amanashi, who had entered the Japanese-style room, gave Amana permission to enter the room. She had a strange look on her face, saying that it had been forbidden until now, but as soon as she entered and saw the Buddhist altar at the back of the room, her lapis lazuli eyes widened as she looked at it. On the altar, there was a photo of a victorious woman who looked exactly like Amari and a gentle man wearing glasses - a portrait of the deceased. Seeing that, I knew that the reason Watahira-san and the others hadn''t let Amana-chan into the Japanese-style room was just as I expected it to be earlier. The two people in the morgue were: the woman was Amana''s own mother, Amana''s twin sister, Yuna Minami, and the man was her father, Tatsuhito Manaka. They died in a tragic accident, leaving behind their beloved daughter, who was still a newborn. In order to hide the tragedy of her parents'' deaths, Amanashi, who was Amana''s aunt in the original story, had taken her in as her mother. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you''re looking for when you''re looking for a new home. However, during the summer holidays, Amana-chan found out the truth about her birth. The family was about to split up, but she chose to remain Amari''s daughter even after finding out the truth, which resulted in a stronger bond between them. Therefore, Amana-chan is now free to enter the Japanese-style room. I vividly remember how surprised I was when I heard this story together with Kuroon, who happened to be there. I''d like to raise one of the incense sticks, even though I know the situation. That''s why Amari and Amana-chan sat side by side and prayed silently at the Buddhist altar with their hands together. I''m sure they''d be surprised to be prayed to by a stranger who doesn''t have a face or name, but I still want to thank Yuna and the others. Thank you for giving birth to Amana-chan in a healthy body. ©¤ ©¤ I''m sorry I couldn''t greet you from the altar and visit your grave sooner. At the same time as I gave my thanks to her, Amanashi suddenly opened her mouth. The words of apology that jumped out at me first, I could feel the seriousness of her typical thoughts. Tenashi couldn''t even go to visit the grave so that Amana wouldn''t know the truth. It''s not her fault by any means, it''s the restrictions that have inevitably been attached to her since she decided to hide them. However, those fetters have been removed. I''m working hard at my studies and I''m surrounded by friends... some of them even liked me as a girl. She would surely be overjoyed if she knew what Amana was up to. The sound of Amari''s voice was very bouncy, perhaps because she was picturing such a scene. Daichi-kun''s love interest has become known, but I won''t be so wild as to interrupt him. ''''Tenna is growing up cute and healthy, just like Yuna. Her cleverness and gentle nature are similar to Tatsuhito''s, and I''ve always been reminded that she''s really their daughter. Me and Amana only knew the two of them briefly. On the other hand, the expression on Amari''s face as she continued to report to me, who knew her well, was full of compassion for her family. ''''She also called me ''Mom'' and adored me, and thanks to that, I managed to take on the role of mother.'''' Somehow.........? I don''t think there are many people who are doing better as mothers than Amari. The reason Amana is where she is today is partly due to her temperament, but most of all it''s the result of her thorough education. I''ve finally realized that she''s too good for me. When you are feeling deeply moved, Amari takes a deep breath and opens her mouth again. I''m embarrassed that he''s suddenly falling in love with me on a straightforward basis, but the reason Amari says that is probably to teach Yuna and Tatsujin-san that he''s not a bad guy. Since your precious wife says this to you, you must aim to be a good husband who can respond to that....... I secretly resolve to do so. ''''It''s thanks to Tenna that he and I were brought together. If it wasn''t for that time........the child Yuna decided to give birth to, we might have passed each other without even seeing each other''s faces. When you think about it........don''t you think it''s like a miracle? Those words of Amari''s were the same feelings I felt during my last delivery. A passionate feeling overflows in my chest without stopping. "©¤©¤Yuna-san, Tatsujin-san. It''s nice to meet you. The little girl you two left behind is our precious family member who is irreplaceable to us. We will make her happy so that she won''t let go of such a miraculous bond.......please watch over her from heaven. Kazu-san.... With the thought of a thrusting thought, I found myself telling her that as I lowered my head. I''m not sure if I''m going to be able to get it right. But I have no regrets.......on the contrary, I would have done it if I hadn''t told you. That''s how much I felt indebted to the two people who died without seeing each other. "©¤©¤Mom. Dad.... I don''t know what kind of person you are, or what kind of voice you have, but I know that the reason you are so happy is because of them. That''s why I''m grateful to you for coughing up Amana. Tenna..... Perhaps influenced by my words, Amana followed suit. It was not stagnant at all and was filled with gratitude for being born on this earth. She said that the reason she was here now, which was so important, was because of the two of them, who would undoubtedly be in heaven. Perhaps overcome with emotion, Amani burst into tears, killing her voice. There was no reason to stop her, so he at least hugged her shoulder. Let''s be happy for Yuna and Tatsujin-san, too. That was the wish in her heart, even if it was a small one.... 164 156 to the Hayakawa family Once the wedding greetings to the Minami family were done, it was the next turn to visit my family''s home, the Hayakawa family. The last time we met was to drop off Kurone, who had come to stay over for the summer holidays.... I''ve been told in advance that I''m heading out today through Kuroone-speaking, so I might be fretting now. After all, my son, who has never had anything to do with love affairs, is suddenly coming back with his wife and daughter. I''ve been worrying about him for a long time, and I think I can finally reassure him. "Wa-san''s parents live two prefectures away, right? Yeah. That''s more than an hour''s drive on the highway, one way or the other. What are your mom and dad like? I responded to calls from the back seat while driving. Even though the end of the year was near, I could drive with relative ease if it was a weekday that wasn''t the winter break. However, since Amari had to work today, she had to wait until it was over, so by the time they arrived, it would be time for dinner. So, since Kuroon suggested that we should stay the night, we all decided to take them up on their offer. Well, I''ll have to answer Amana''s question about having new grandparents. They''re both good people. My father is dynamic but friendly, and my mother is a bit absent-minded but family-oriented. If I had to pick a good point, it would be this. By the way, if I had to pick a bad point, my dad is extremely overprotective of Kuroone-she''s a doting, and my mom''s cooking skills are devastating. I mean, I''ve always been aware of my cooking skills, but as far as the Amana-chan LOVE aspect goes, I think it''s just my dad''s genes. I wonder how much I didn''t come to that fact now, or how much I didn''t look at myself.... ''Excuse me, sir, but what do you do for a living?'' ''Oh, um, I''m a rice farmer. Although, there''s another person who''s going to be the heir, so me and Kuroon are free to do what we want. I see... As I felt a near shiver of agitation at the unexpected bloodline, Amari asked me what my parents'' occupation was, and I briefly replied. In addition, I tell him that he doesn''t have to be a farmer when he gets married. It''s my dad''s policy to do whatever he wants as long as it''s not a crime and he''s not tied to the house. It''s like trusting him at best and letting him off the hook at worst. But when it comes to the black sound, though, it''s the overprotection that keeps the fights going. But still..... ''''Do you still get nervous?'''' ''''Well in our case it was still good because my parents and Kaz-san knew each other, but we''ve completely never met over there, so...'''' I''ve been feeling somewhat hunched over since I started heading out to my parents'' house, but I''m still nervous. The same is true for me, but sometimes I''m not as nervous as I was when I visited the Minami family. Amana-chan is in a good mood because she''s seeing my parents and Kuroone-she''s in a good mood. ''''Hmmm........I''m sure you''ll be surprised by Amari''s beautiful face, but there''s no way you''ll be treated so unkindly, is there? Well, it would be nice if you could say that, but........ I tell her that it''s okay if she''s concerned about her daughter-in-law''s problems, but for some reason, Amari''s complexion has turned red. It seems that he can''t seem to wipe away the tension. Let''s just leave her alone for now. I''d like to think it''s my imagination that I''m getting jit eyes for some reason, even though I should have been so concerned, yeah....... We arrived at my parents'' house for the first time in a long time, taking a break along the way. There are rice paddies nearby, but my parents'' house is a two-story house, not much different from the one in the south. Since it''s the end of the year, the harvest season is already over, and since we''ve been notified in advance, it seemed like we were home. ''''Are you okay, Amanashi?'''' Yes, yes.... Mom, are you feeling kind of ticked? I can wait for Amari, who is still nervous, but my parents are probably waiting for me in the same state. Then I have no choice but to get them used to it quickly, so I press the intercom. The front door is opened with a light electronic sound that can be heard from outside as well. ''I''m so glad you''re back, Wa. Hey, I''m back. The first person who greeted me was my father, Toshihiko Hayakawa, a farmer with the same sturdy, tanned complexion as the last time I met him. The same tanned skin and strong physique as the last time I met him was still there, just like a farmer. But it''s not New Year''s Eve and you''ve come home suddenly...huh? ...Dad? I thought I had a cheery smile on my face, but for some reason I suddenly stiffened. I don''t know what''s causing it, but it won''t come back. It''s no good. ''''Mother-san~. What''s wrong with my dad? Yes~Yes. Welcome home, Kazu. What''s going on with your father... what? I decided that I couldn''t handle my father''s complete lack of response and called my mother, who would be in the back. As soon as mother, who came right away, Haruno Hayakawa showed her face, she stiffened up just like her father. I don''t understand it anymore. Dad!¡¡Mom!¡¡Get your shit together, don''t just sit around! "What? He finally came back to me when I called out loudly, not wanting to humiliate my people any further in front of Amari and Amana-chan. ''Nah, nah Wa!¡¡It looks like there''s a beautiful woman behind you right now! ''I saw a little girl! Oh, well, it''s nice to meet you... my name is Nantenashi. ''This is Minami Amana!¡¡Nice to meet you! She finally noticed the two of them here. Amanashi reverently, though fearfully, and Amana-chan cheerfully introduces herself. ''''Dom, hi........'''' Well, I''m here today with their son, Kazu Hayakawa, to celebrate his wedding! "...What...? The parents managed to return the greeting in a dumbfounded manner, but the content of what Amari continued to tell them blew away their vain reasoning. ''''Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ''Totally, what''s the surprise now? Haven''t you heard from the black sound?¡¡Didn''t I tell you I was bringing an important story and a visitor? I don''t know why I''m surprised now. I''m dumbfounded by the screaming and cover my ears, but I confirm that I''ve contacted them in advance, but for some reason my parents'' reaction is that which raises a question mark.... ''Yes, no, I didn''t hear anything at all. ''''I heard that Wa was coming back, but not a word about this beautiful man and his pretty girl together...'''' Huh? The response I hadn''t expected was a surprise to me. No, no, no, no, what does that mean? I did contact Kurone properly, didn''t I? I could only be confused like that, but I heard that voice in my ears. ''''Welcome back, Aniki. It''s been a long time since Amanashi-san and Amana-chan too. Long time no see, Mr. Blacktone. Long time no see, young lady! Black sound.... The younger sister, Kurone, who has a well-groomed face and large breasts unbecoming of a high school girl, came to the doorway with an unconcerned look on her face. If you look closely at her expression, the corners of her mouth are trembling slightly, and she realizes the reason why her parents didn''t know of Amuri and the others'' arrival. ©¤ This guy, you didn''t dare to inform them! From the content of the communication, he must have guessed that I was going to marry Amari and set up a surprise for my parents. As a result, he succeeded in surprising them as he planned. As the person who was involved, though, I can''t help but feel annoyed. However, I can''t blame Kuroone-sensei for now. You can''t blame them now, because they have to deal with their parents, who will be asking questions about what''s going on at any moment. I just came here to report my marriage, so why do I want to get into this kind of trouble? 165 157 Certain bloodline I managed to get over the barrage of questions at the doorway, and joined Amari and the others who seemed to have already gone inside to talk. I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it, but I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to say that I''m not going to be able to do anything about it. It''s true that I was worried about my future, so I had no choice but to shut up as if I were biting down a bitter bug. So we finished the wedding greeting along with the dinner Kuroone-cooked, and while Kuroone-and-Amana-chan were taking a bath, I had to reveal a series of circumstances related to that girl. This was decided after discussing it with Amari beforehand, and she also did not want to hide anything from my parents, who would be my family members, so she was going to tell them. After hearing all the details, my parents..... "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!¡¡What a guy you are for being so young and going through all that trouble! ''Wa, you''ve done well~. Take care of it!¡¡If you make Tenri-chan sad, her mother will cook a lot of meals, okay? He was in tears and started to praise Amanashi. Unbeknownst to me, he also praised my actions in preventing the mother and son from getting along, but he also asked me to take responsibility for that. Of course, I knew that. It''s not that I don''t want to eat my mother''s cooking. If I didn''t, I wouldn''t! ''Oh, thank you...'' In response to such kind words from the two of them, Amari returned the thanks, though she was afraid. Although she''s calmed down now, she was delirious all the way to Amana-chan as well. In a way, that girl, her stepdaughter, is a grandchild in the eyes of her parents, so it can''t be helped. I thought they wouldn''t hate me, so I''m glad they accepted me right away. I patted my chest for now. ''''So, I wonder when their wedding ceremony will be~? ''Ahhh, we just went to a ceremony consultation and we haven''t decided yet. I was told it would probably be from next March at the earliest, but... I see ... if you need a fee, you can always come and talk to me about it, okay? Yeah, I''ll count on you to be there for me if I have to. From there we switched to the topic of the wedding. As for the cost, I replied that, but I''m actually not too worried about it. I''ve got plenty of money saved up from all the money I''ve earned from transporting sea slugs, and Amari was able to make ends meet while raising Amana. But even so, the cost of the wedding ceremony would be quite a bit of money, since you would still have to pay for the venue, dress and suit rentals, and also prepare an engagement ring. That''s why I returned the offer to rely on them if it really came down to it. Referring to the experience of the pioneers, my dad suddenly became quiet. ''''Amari-san. Thank you for deciding to marry Kazu. Before I could ask him what''s wrong, my dad bowed his head towards Tenri. I, of course, was shocked by this action, and Tenri was astonished with her eyes wide open. But my dad didn''t care about our reaction and continued. ''''This guy found himself put himself on the back burner. But even from our brief conversation, I could tell that he had changed since meeting Amari and her daughter. I''m such a brat, but please take care of me. ''No, no. I........my daughter was able to remain a father and daughter because of Kazu-san. So I just want to thank you for raising him to be so kind and wonderful. ... really, it''s a shame that my son doesn''t deserve to look like such a good person... It''s not... At her parents'' words of gratitude, Tenashi is puzzled and returns the thanks in reverse. However, her expression seems somewhat gloomy. ''''Is there something you''re worried about?¡¡Amanashi? ''What? No!¡¡I''ll be fine, okay? I call out to him to see if he''s not feeling well, but he brushes off the idea that there''s nothing wrong with him. The guilt is clearly evident, but I can''t decide how to get it out of him. Just as I was thinking what the hell........ ''''Amari-chan. Could it be that you''re afraid of getting married? What...? Suddenly, Mom interrupts and Amari rolls her eyes, wondering if she''s figured it out. Questions start to swirl in my head, like how did you know and what does it mean to be afraid of marriage? ''''Well as I told you earlier, the reason Yuna and Tatsuto-san got into the accident was because I encouraged them to go out in the first place. I was worried that if the same thing happened to them after marrying Kazu-san, I''d be worried if the same thing happened to them... ''Oh....'' A voice leaked out at Amari''s words as she revealed what was on her mind. The anxiety she was feeling came from a d¨¦j¨¤ vu-like fear that the same thing would happen. No matter how much time had passed, the accident had always stuck in the back of her mind. The accident was the driver''s fault for driving the truck incorrectly, and Tenashi was only suggesting a breather out of concern for the two of them, so he shouldn''t be responsible for it at all. She''s planning to marry me, but that''s not the same as this. It''s not so easy to lose the fear of the unknown future that we all face. I''m not sure how to put it all together, and I''m holding my tongue at the state of mind I''m in when I''m in a near-marital blue, when my mother gently takes my hand. It''s natural to feel uneasy about someone who is so important to you, Tenri-chan.... .... Tenri listens to her mother, who utters her sympathy in a soft voice tone, without a counterpoint. ''It''s not just about the accident. It''s not just about the accident, it''s about Amana''s future as a married couple, and there are a lot of things you''re worried about because you don''t know.¡¡I wasn''t able to take care of Kazu and Kurone very well, so I was afraid of being a proper mother. Oh, you mean your mother-in-law? I was just as surprised as Tenashi was by the story Mom revealed. I certainly didn''t remember having them come to my class visits or sports day, but I still respected my parents for that. ''No one knows what the future holds, so it''s important to be prepared for it and be vigilant. ........but, you know what?¡¡It''s no good looking forward and despising the ''now''. We''ve made our feelings for each other and become a couple, so if we don''t savor the happiness that''s right in front of us, there''s no point in regretting it, no matter how well prepared we are. The happiness that is right in front of me... That''s where Amari looks at me next to her. From the lapis lazuli eyes I had seen many times, the color of anxiety that had been dwelling in the blotting seemed to have faded. ''''I''m ... sorry. It was rude of me to be this nervous about getting married, wasn''t it? ''Nope. Amari''s fears are justified, and we just need to support each other so that they don''t become a reality. "?¡¡Why are you laughing? I encouraged Amanashi to regain his composure, but for some reason, he smiled at me. Did I say something strange? When I ask her about it, she prefaces her question with an "I''m sorry" before revealing the reason. ''I just thought you and your mother-in-law are very much alike. Well, the part about not being able to cook is similar, but... ''That''s not what I meant but I''m glad you''re a wonderful mother-in-law. Thank you. I don''t know, but it''s impossible not to be happy to be praised by my family, so I tell them thanks while looking away from their faces. Eventually, Kurone and Amana-chan, who had been taking a bath, returned, so we ended the conversation as it was....... 166 158 With two couples While we were taking a bath and drinking with the four adults, it was time to go to bed. My parents have a motto of going to bed and getting up early to clear the land for the rice paddies. Now, what I''m wondering about is where Amari and Amana are sleeping. Kuroon had been hiding it from his parents, but he''s firmly prepared a place for the two of them to sleep. Those kinds of preparations are so deftly done that it''s hard to complain about them. ''''Once again, congratulations on your marriage, Tenri-san. Thank you, Mr. Blacktone. Good job, Aniki! ''Why are you looking up to me...'' It''s supposed to be a wedding blessing, but for some reason the way he looks down on me bothers me.... I turn to Zito to tell him to congratulate her properly, but he still doesn''t show any signs of concern as he continues. ''''Because you brought a beautiful sister-in-law like Amari-san with you?¡¡You should be grateful that you''re a delinquent from your precious sister, right~? ''What kind of delinquent? You''re a little too pushy for your own good. I''m not happy at all. Let''s do some moxibustion here. It''s a good thing that you''re not the only one. Hey, don''t tell me what people care about! Then relax. Or rather, you''ve been worrying about it. I guess she wants to avoid being called an auntie since Amana-chan calls her an onee-chan. While lightly arguing with my brother and sister like that, I asked Kuroon to lead them to a place to sleep. After I finished using the restroom, I headed to my room, where I hadn''t lived alone in a long time. I''m sure that Kuroone-san is cleaning up for me, so I open the door without any warning.... ''''Ah, Kazu-san.'''' I''m sorry, I made a mistake. What the... Slam. .......... ........... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.... This was my room, right? Why was Amanashi inside in his pajamas? As I was upset by the suddenness of the event, a door was opened from inside. ''''Uh, um, Kaz-san?¡¡Aren''t you going to go inside? Yeah, uh, I''m sorry... At the urging of an apologetic-looking Tenashi, this time you can''t go into your room©¤©¤you can''t go into your room! I''m a great, natural, flowing thing, me! He was so panicked that he didn''t even realize he was panicking. But I think that look on Amari''s face is also foul. Yeah, it''s not my fault. In my room that I entered once again, there was a futon for two people in the center, and it was obvious that there was a convicted criminal. We sit down on the futon to talk for now and face each other. ''Well, what about Amana-chan?'' ''Well, I heard that Kuroone-san asked me to sleep with her in her room, so I went over there...'' I can''t help but be disgusted by my sister who is so indulgent. I have my own pace, so it''s just a nuisance to me. You can''t help but feel sorry for yourself. ''''If you don''t like it Tenri, I''ll sleep on the couch, but...'''' ''No, I don''t mind it!¡¡Well, I was taught by Kuroone-san to do this beforehand, and I was the one who accepted it just because I wanted to....... Huh? The surprise was revealed by Amari, who was twisting and untangling her fingers with her red face down from nervousness. Even I, who''ve been called dull and dull as a stone, know what Kuroone-san had planned to get me into this situation. Certainly, since we''re a couple, we''ll do one or two such things, and since we weren''t born a man, we can say that we''re as interested as anyone else. However, I felt that this was too high a bar for us, as we''ve only been kissing for a while now. But was I the only one who thought that way, and did Amari want to do something more interesting, so did she go along with Kuroone-s proposal? No, I can''t even think about it. Well I''m not gonna tell you the truth, but I don''t have any experience. Oh, I don''t have one either! It''s pathetic, but I take a precaution, but I get the same response from Amanashi. That''s right........we were both beginners at romance. But when I think of that........ ''''........even though we are twins, isn''t there too much difference between you and Yuna-san in terms of chastity?'''' ''Oh, she''s just crazy!¡¡I''m just normal! Yuna got pregnant with Amana in the winter of the year before her graduation from high school.......in other words, she was pregnant as a student. There was a huge difference between them, even though they were identical twins. But it''s also true that she''s the only romantic sample I can think of that''s close to me. But that said, it''s terribly complicated to refer to my parents........ ''''Um.........'''' Hmm? As I cross my arms and ponder what to do about it, Amari calls out to me with some concern. I make eye contact with her to see if she still has some marital blue in her, but I can tell from her red complexion that she''s not. Then what the hell is it? Do you find me, um, attractive? What...? I don''t understand the meaning of what I''m saying, and my voice comes out plainly. Attraction to Tenashi...? There isn''t a day that goes by that I don''t feel it before I''m aware of it, or even after we''ve become a couple? Regardless of my dismay, she continues. ''Well, I know it sounds smug, but I do believe that I may be well-adjusted in terms of my appearance in general. Even my style, I continue to maintain it, though it''s for my health. However, I don''t get that kind of look from Kaz-san, so I thought maybe it''s because I''m unattractive..............but!¡¡I also believe that I was attracted to him because he has no ulterior motive, so I''m not dissatisfied by any means, but.......well.......no, I can''t really say it well....... .... My thoughts become more and more confused by Amari''s state of mind, which she told me while fumbling with a bright red face. It''s not that I don''t understand the meaning after being told this much. Because I understand, I''m stunned by the tension and confusion. All I know is that my wife is insanely cute. It''s not that I want to do any of those things, it''s just that I''ve mistakenly assumed that she''s not attractive as a woman because she''s not touching me. It''s completely my fault for making him think that. This is what they say about cherishing things too much..... With that thought in my mind, I take Amari''s hand in mine and open my mouth to explain. ''''You know what?¡¡It''s not like I''m not attracted to Amari, if I do say so myself, just because I think it''s not right to do something like that when you''re in a speedy marriage with zero days of dating, with no marriage registration and no wedding ceremony, doesn''t mean I''m not attracted to Amari? Oh, really? ''Yes. I just don''t want to hurt you with easy access because it''s important, and I''m never uninterested. Ughhhhh.... He seems to realize now how embarrassed he''s been running his mouth, and he becomes more and more red in color. That reaction is also teasing, and a little bit of a nasty feeling rises in my heart. ''''©¤©¤Amari.'''' What...? I push her shoulder with my free hand and knock her down on the futon. I guess I''ve been completely caught off guard, but Amari looks at me with a dumbfounded expression as she settles on top of me. A sweet scent wafted from her dark brown hair that reflected the light from her bath, and the face I saw up close was set in divine balance. If she moved her hands immediately, she would be able to enjoy that body to the fullest. ''''©¤©¤©¤©¤Ya, Kazu-san! I wonder if she understands the situation belatedly, and Amari''s eyes widen to reveal her agitation. But for me, who wanted to be mean, that reaction is just spice. I put my face close to her ear to take the initiative.... "©¤©¤If you want, you don''t have to hold back, right? ''''~~? When I whispered that, he started to writhe so much that I could feel the heat from his face as if he was about to touch me. To be honest, I can only think it''s an invitation if he says it that way. Well, as I told him, I want to take the order into account, so the best we can do is to stop kissing. Now, let''s let go of it.... I''m not going to be able to get rid of it. .... As I was about to go in, the unexpected approval came back. .........Oh, that, the one that should have been the first to go, was cut off from the retreat? When I was thinking about the sudden appearance of a set meal, I was wondering what to do with it.... It''s a mess. "Hmmm........that?¡¡What are Mom and Dad doing? "Oh. Amana, rubbing her eyes sleepily, had come into the room. It seems that she has mistakenly entered the room for Kuroone-sensei''s room, but that doesn''t change the fact that she has genuinely seen me in a position where I''m pushing Amari down. Isn''t this a punishment for being completely out of shape? Glancing down at Amanashi, who was glancing down, he seemed to have stopped thinking about the dizzying change in the situation. I wouldn''t be able to expect any backup. So I have no choice but to exercise an excuse I''ve seen sometime before. I turn to face the sleepy Amana-chan and open my mouth. ''This is me playing wrestling. ''Purolleth?¡¡It''s not good enough to be a wave at night! Oh, I''m just finishing up, so why don''t you go back to the black room? Yeah. Good night. Good night. It seems to have gotten through. As soon as the door was closed, I let out a breath of relief away from Amashi. It''s no longer a mood or anything. You can''t help but feel like you''ve missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it''s clear that relief prevailed nonetheless. It''s time to go to bed. Should we go to bed soon? "...haha!¡¡Eh, ah, yes.... I called out to Amanashi, who was still letting go, and went into my own futon. He looked a little disappointed, but he seemed to have given up on the stone and went to the floor without saying anything. Well, there''s no need to rush into anything. Because we''re family. As soon as I thought that, I fell asleep easily.... 167 159 3 months of preparation Once the wedding greetings to both families were done, the wedding preparations would begin in earnest. The first step was to tie the knot and have a meeting with both families. I figured my parents wouldn''t mind Watahira''s bad attitude, but I think they were pretty open with me as a result. I heard from Tenashi later that he didn''t have a very good feeling about the matter of Tatsunin-san''s parents'' house. However, it seems that she and her father hit it off with the daughter''s overprotective side of things. Next, I completed all the necessary documents and submitted the marriage license to the city hall. At this point, Tenashi and I are officially treated as husband and wife, but I can''t really feel it until the wedding ceremony. It seems that my fathers were the same if you ask them. Next to the marriage license, it was our turn to choose our wedding rings. I thought about picking out a ring together, but I decided to measure Tenashi''s finger size and pick out the ring by myself. It''s like a man''s fine pride. I think I chose a good design, but I kept it a secret from Amari until the time of the ceremony. He seemed very unhappy with it, but when I told him it was more romantic, he reluctantly agreed. The next step is to decide on the style and date of the wedding. There''s a ceremony in front of the gods and a public ceremony, but we chose the most traditional Christian ceremony. This was the style Yuna and Tatsunin-san, who were planning to hold the ceremony, had also chosen, and because of Tenashi''s strong request. The reason why they chose this style was because of Tenashi''s strong request. It was a passbook from the account where Tatsunin-san had been secretly saving money for her future since she found out she was pregnant with Yuna. According to Tatsunto before she died, the money was for her wedding ceremony with Yuna. At first I refused to accept it out of fear........ ''It''s Amanashi''s wedding of all things. I''m sure he would be happy to spend it. Mr. Watei told me that it would be rude to refuse. I made up my mind to make it a ceremony that would at least bring their blessings to the two people in heaven. The date was, as I said at my parents'' house, about three months after the new year. I had already set my sights on a place where we could hold the ceremony on that day, and it wasn''t long before we had a venue in mind. Then it was my turn to send the invitations to the people who had been so kind to me. It''s a little embarrassing to announce our marriage to the people who have been so kind to us, but it would be nice to have people who know each other well enough to congratulate us on the beginning of our lives. In the end, though, I was surprised that more people met through Amana-chan than me and Tenashi. It''s as good as our Cupid, I have to say. Now, the next step is to choose a wedding dress, which in a sense is the most important part of the day. To tell the truth, I was quite confused about this one. It didn''t take me and Amana-chan a long time to decide on our outfits, but.... ''No!¡¡This doesn''t even begin to describe your wife''s beauty! ''No!¡¡You won''t find a better dress in our inventory! The game is over if you give up!¡¡I need you to get it from another store ASAP! Yes! Since Amari was quite beautiful, the bridal planners were eager to choose a dress that would suit her. It was like a dress-up doll as they brought in dresses one after another. In addition, I had to experiment with hairstyles and make-up to match the dresses, and of course, I had to work within my budget for accessories, which added to the complexity of the situation. By the way, the design of the wedding ring is also used as a reference, which adds to the complexity of the situation. ''''Hmph........'''' Good night. Thank you.... When Amari returns, limp from being detained for a long time, she gives him a cocoa she bought from a nearby vending machine with words of thanks. The sight of her receiving it and drinking it down in the blink of an eye makes me roll my eyes in a bit of surprise. I ask her a question, thinking that it must take a lot of energy to change dresses over and over again. ''Have you decided what dress you''re going to wear on the day?'' Yes, I know, but we''ll have to wait for the real thing to come out for real. Oh. Are you trying to get back at me for the ring thing? Yes. I''ll bone you at the ceremony. It''s starting to get scary exciting... Me trying to surprise you with a ring and Amari trying to surprise you with a dress. Why is a couple going to a wedding setting up a surprise that is only half understood by each other.... It''s as if the current situation, which I''ve never heard of, makes me chuckle. Anyway, since Tenashi won''t show me the dress until the wedding day, the photos will be taken after the ceremony. I''m so close to getting to this point. I''m going to consult with the bridal planner to come up with a direction and program. Personally, I had a hard time with the letters and acknowledgements and the speeches. Of course, I also have to prepare the gifts and the after party. There''s no way I''m going to go on a trip without my precious family members who''ve kept me and Amana together. Preparations are steadily progressing, but I''m not neglecting my daily life. Christmas and New Year''s Eve and New Year''s Day...Valentine''s Day, for example, has brought us closer together as a family. I was so relieved when I was able to find a new job to support my family that I felt a sense of weakness overflowing. It is a medium-sized food processing company, and its main job is to transport food made at the factory to supermarkets. To put it bluntly, things are basically the same as when I worked for Umineko Transport. The only difference is that the customers are now shops instead of individuals. The pay was just a little bit more colorful, but it was still a great job... and I was full of motivation for a fresh start. Nevertheless, there was still a lot to learn and it was hard work. There were often times when I made a mistake and was scolded or received complaints. At such times, whenever I came home, Amana-chan and Amanashi would always welcome me warmly. That was enough to soothe my tired heart after a long day at work. I was strongly aware of the fact that my family was there to support me, and I could look forward to the fact that I was a happy person. And so, in March.......the wedding ceremony, which took so much preparation and effort, was to begin today. 168 160 Blessing before the performance The warmth of spring has become noticeable in mid-March. Today is the day that my brother and his wife Tenri''s wedding is to be held. I''m half in a state of mind that I''m tired of waiting to see if they''ve finally arrived, and half in amazement at how quickly the time has come. I thought it was still some time before I could even confess and go out with a normal guy, but I never thought of a speedy marriage with zero days of dating. Because, you know, they''re totally family faces, right? There''s no way I can complain about such a happy atmosphere and imitate a watered down version of myself. While thinking back on that, I did what I had to do. Because I''m in charge of the reception on the wedding day. Basically, I just receive congratulations and gifts from the people who came and confirm the attendance of those who sent invitations, so it''s nothing difficult. Well, those people..... "Congratulations on your day! Congratulations on your day. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen you, Kuroone-chan. Thank you. Aniki''s former co-workers, Miya-san and Sakai-san. It seems that he and Aniki are still close even after he quit Ukineko Transport. When I responded as a relative, Miya-san was poked in the side by Sakai-san next to me, probably because he was in his usual tone. "Hey, man. It''s times like this that I get it right. Hey, hey. Congratulations on your day. I''m a friend of the groom''s, Sakai Mao. My name is Miya Arikuma. Even though we knew each other, I felt a sense of respect for Mr. Sakai''s politeness. After receiving the gift, I asked him to write my name on the "Ho-Mei-Tcho" (a book of names). After confirming that, he gives them the seating chart for the ceremony and reception, and asks them to wait in the waiting room. Come to think of it, these two..... How are you two doing these days? We said we''d be next since he''s going to get married, but he hasn''t said yes yet. What should we do? Kazu and Amari-san are a rare case. As for marriage, I''ve said I''ll think about it after we''ve established a proper time as lovers, right?¡¡Don''t be in a hurry and wait properly. Hee hee.... After Miya''s fierce approach like this, Sakai accepted his confession and started going out with him. It wasn''t so much that she liked me, but rather that we went out as lovers to see if the relationship was good or bad. Even if it''s in a lighthearted way, I think the affection from Miya-san to Sakai-san is a solid thing. Because even if the man she liked liked liked someone who wasn''t her, she didn''t take it personally and kept waiting for her chance, so I don''t think her feelings are as strong as those of Aniki and the others. ''''I like Marao-chan, though~? This is ... ugh, think of the place and the time. Denied. Looking at the love stories of the people around me, I''d like to try my hand at romance since I''m a flower girl in high school. However, the fact that the boys who have come to confess their love to me in the past have all been after my body is troubling. It''s so obvious that I even learned an unpleasant lesson about how to be creepy, even if you''re good-looking. With that in mind, Sakai-san and the others are heading to the waiting room. Now I wonder who will come next........? Congratulations on your day. Ah, here he comes. When I looked up to return the thanks........ ©¤ ©¤ There was a dandy man with blonde hair mixed with black that was all-backed and a well-developed physique that could be seen even from the top of a formal suit. Eh, who is this guy? At least, I don''t know anyone like this in Aniki''s acquaintance, so I''m sure he''s related to Amari-san. But I can''t believe he didn''t even look at her after having such a good-looking guy... I can tell that Amana-san is really important to him. At the same time, I have a little bit of respect for Aniki who ended up marrying such a girlfriend.......a little bit. I wonder if he''s dating anyone...? To be honest, I''d love to hear it because I like it so much. But I''m accepting applications now........ Um........are you okay? Oh, uh, s-sorry. Thank you. I finally put my head back in front of my eyes from being lost in thought when he called out to me. Shit, I have to concentrate on the receptionist right now. Well, I can just remember the name here and ask Amari-san later. Once I conclude that and face the man. Our eyes meet and he smiles so softly that I can''t help but admire him. ''I''m a senior at work where the bride works. My name is Kaori Mayuzumi Keiko. Mayuzumi-san. Then let''s add it to the guest book here... what? My thoughts freeze as I try to beg for a name to be filled in while committing the name to memory. Huh........I''ve heard of Mayuzumi-san? In response to such a light escape from reality, Mayuzumi winked at me. "It''s a wedding today, so I''m not wearing any makeup. Ugh... I was forced to face reality. You''re just too good-looking or too different to be good-looking without makeup! I know, I know, I know that IKO make-up is not allowed at weddings, but! I''m ashamed of myself for thinking that this might bother me a bit...! I look over at Mayuzumi-san as she heads off to the waiting room, drooping in the dark, wondering why I have to make a black history on a day like this. Huh.........let''s concentrate on the receptionist''s work and quickly forget about it. That''s what I dismiss for now. Not long after, another acquaintance arrived. ''''Ah!¡¡Kuro-neechan! Long time no see! Well, to tell you the truth, Happy Birthday. Thank you. It''s been a while... little guys. These are Amana''s friends, Hasumi and her parents. The kids are a little taller, but they''re as energetic as ever, and it''s cute to see them all dressed up for the day.... The sadness of making black history was easily blown away when I saw the children''s smiling faces. And so, while the conversation was in moderation, as I was having them fill out the name book, a name suddenly caught my eye. It''s Mason Higashino-Kuiyoka-san.......Kana-chan''s mother. Ah, come to think of it, this person is........ The one and only..... Yes? She said her brother was a big help to her in finding a new house. The reason why I know about Kinyoka is because she was mentioned in the course of hearing from Aniki about the events leading up to their marriage. I remember how grateful I was that the advice I gave to Aniki when he was looking for a new house, made him realize how I felt about him in a roundabout way. If Amana-chan was the Cupid that connected Aniki and Amari-san, she was the shadow of merit that pushed me back. After all, that super-intelligent Aniki was able to notice the fondness for Amari-san that had been unconsciously formed. Today''s wedding could not even have been realized if he hadn''t been in charge of it. Besides, the fact that Aniki had stopped looking for a new house meant that she couldn''t make any sales. Nevertheless, the fact that he maintained a customer-first attitude was admirable as a member of society who could eventually count himself out. Upon hearing her thanks, Kinyoka looked a little puzzled for a moment, but she quickly changed her expression to a smile. Not at all. I''m glad to hear that you have found your happiness, Hayakawa-sama. Happiness may be in short supply, but the opposite is not true. .... So you tell him that you want him to thank you. It is undecided whether to go on to higher education or find a job, but when it comes to finding a room to live alone, I want this person to be in charge. I''m sure from the bottom of my heart that this is the case.... 169 161 Lets make a vow of happiness ☆ Finally, the time has come - the time to hold the wedding ceremony with Amari....... The weather is clear and I''m in perfect physical condition. But my mind is not at ease. No matter how many times you rehearse, your body is tense and your throat is dry and your tongue sticks to the ground. The white tuxedo I had prepared for today, the one I had rented, felt so heavy that it felt like it was made of steel. Even during the rehearsal and final meeting, I haven''t seen Amari in her wedding dress. Since the ring was replaced accordingly, the state of surprise is still intact. Even so, I can''t stop feeling happy from the depths of my heart. Although I can''t help but laugh at my contradictory state of mind, I am trying to focus on making the ceremony a success for now and adjust my expression. ''''Well then, the groom''s entrance. As the pastor instructed us to proceed, the violin began to play, which was our cue to enter the chapel of the church we had chosen as our ceremony venue. Instantly, my skin tingled with a sense of solemnity, if you can call it sacred. The artistically designed stained glass windows at the top glowed in the sunlight as if to celebrate this day. We walked slowly down the white aisle leading to the altar, which was illuminated by the light. The groom''s side - that is, my parents, my sister, my relatives and friends - are present on the right. If I only looked at them, I could see my father and his friends, including my dad and his friends in dress code, not to mention Kuroon, as well as Miya and Mao, who were invited. The bride''s side - Tenashi''s relatives were seated on the left, and from my point of view, Mayumi, her mother-in-law, was in the front row, and Sumi and her parents were in the back. Although I didn''t say it aloud, the eyes of the children were filled with curiosity, even from a distance. When I reached the front of the altar, I turned around and looked at the path I had taken. I was tempted to say a few words of thanks to the people who had gathered for today, but I could probably do that at the wedding reception that was coming up later. As the people in attendance remain standing, waiting with bated breath for the ceremony to take place.... Now for the bride''s entrance. The time had finally come. Soon, the door slowly opened and went.......... ©¤ ©¤ I was simply transfixed by Amari who was wearing a pure white wedding dress. While being held by Wataira-san''s hand, Amari walked to the altar with an even more refined appearance than usual. The long skirt, which doesn''t even show at the ankles, is decorated with lace and embroidery, and the gloves that cover the middle of her arms are pure white. The collarbones that are exposed also look beautiful as well, perhaps because they are wearing a silver necklace. It''s a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. The bouquet she held in both hands was decorated with bright red and yellow flowers. There were two types of yellow flowers, one of which was, I believe, a euryops daisy - the language of the flower was ''marital bliss''. The other flower is the fuchsia - I heard that the language of that flower is ''bringing happiness''. I chose both of these flowers for the future of me and Tenri. The last red flower is a geranium, and its language is ''happiness with you''... In fact, this flower is the only one that has a separate object of meaning. It was referring to the girl whose lapis lazuli eyes sparkled with the same lapis lazuli eyes as her beloved one even now. Both me and Amana are happy because of Amana-chan... The bouquet with such feelings seems to represent our form as a family. As for that Amana-chan, she was walking in front of Amanashi and scattering flower petals down the aisle. This is called "flower girl" and is one of the stunts that can be seen at the entrance of the bride in the West. Scattering flower petals is meant to cleanse the aisle, and as she smiled adorably in her pink dress, the venue was naturally enveloped in smiles.... Before I knew it, the tension that had been weighing heavily on my entire body had dissolved. I don''t know if I''m simple, or if Amana-chan''s smile had that much of an effect on me, but I can say that she is the right flower girl for the job because she was able to lighten the solemn atmosphere. Thank you, Amana-chan. So in my heart, I thank my beloved daughter. Without a moment to indulge in such deep emotions, I receive Amari''s hand from Wataira-san and face her in front of the altar. The pastor reads from the Bible on the teachings of love that are appropriate for marriage and then prays to God. There''s some kind of petty language, but it seems to be about letting God see to our love for each other. Then the pastor asks that question. The groom - harmony. Do you pledge to love, honor and cherish the bride here - Amashi - as your wife in health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty? "Yes. I swear. I answer straight away without hesitation. ''The bride - Amanashi. Do you swear to love, honor and cherish the groom here - Wa - as your wife in health and in sickness, in riches and in poverty? "Yes. I swear. Amari returns as well. ''''©¤©¤then let''s exchange rings........'''' The pastor nods reverently at our response and urges us to replace the ring. As he called out to us, a staff member who had been waiting at the side approached the front of the altar and took out a ring that was covered with a cloth. The wedding ring, which was unveiled here for the first time, is of a very simple design, with a silver body and a lapis lazuli stone. Lapis lazuli is said to be one of the seven treasures in Buddhism, lapis lazuli, and the color of Amanashi and Amana''s eyes is the same as the color of theirs. As I recall, the stone language of lapis lazuli was - ''health'' and ''eternal vow''. Whether she knew the meaning of this or not, I could feel Amari''s small gasp as she looked at the ring with a gemstone of the same color as her eyes. I admired her dress too, and I could see that our mutual surprise was a success. With that small sense of accomplishment, I received the ring and put it on the thin, white ring finger on Amari''s left hand. The glove is the fingerless type, so I''m grateful I don''t have to take it off. I''ve decided at first glance to go with the ring with this jewel among the many candidates, and it looks very good on Tenri. Next, Amari put a ring on my left ring finger. Even though we just put the same ring on like this, it felt like an invisible line was connected, and I was strangely tickled. Maybe that''s why all the lovers in the world want to feel this kind of connection. ''''Well then, kiss your vows....'''' If you''re going to have a wedding, the inevitable scene has come. But there''s no tension between us. Slowly, I raise the pure white veil that covers Amari''s face. We look at each other again, and she looks the most beautiful she''s ever been. It makes me realize that a woman''s most beautiful moment is at her wedding, and that''s exactly what it is. If that''s the person you love, you could say it''s your true desire. Dressed for today, Amani smiles, full of happiness. I felt my cheeks move a little too, caught in the act. Ah, yes. How could I not be happy right now? Maybe I''m the happiest person in the world, I feel proud of myself. And to show their overflowing happiness, they pressed their lips to each other''s, not from either side. I''ve been kissing so many times that even two hands are not enough, but today''s kiss was even more satisfying. When he finished kissing her with a hint of regret, the applause of those in attendance began to spread. ''''At this time, their marriage is now complete. The pastor announced this and the long but short wedding ceremony came to a close. Even when it was time to leave, the people in attendance blessed us with a flower shower. It''s not just a matter of time before you''ll be able to get a job. Amana-chan, congratulations. Congratulations.......... ©¤ ©¤ Eh? I thought I heard the voice of a man and woman, a man and woman who were not any of the people in this hall, for the first time. My mind goes blank with surprise. .........whose voice was that? I wanted to turn back to see if it was an auditory hallucination, but I shook my head that I was still in the middle of the ceremony right now. However, I also knew the approximate answer right away. ©¤ ©¤ I will definitely make you happy. It''s possible that maybe it really is just an auditory hallucination and that it''s only self-satisfaction. Even if that is the case, I''ll declare that in my heart to all of them. I thought that was the only thing I had to tell them now.... ''''©¤©¤Awa-san?'''' Hey, honey, what''s up? Yeah, oh. Sorry. The two of them called out to me and I realized I had stopped myself. I''ve done it at the last minute.......I apologize for my impatience, but the girls don''t show any pretense of caring and smile at me. Amari smiles happily and extends her left hand to me........ Amana turns a big smile on her face......... I walk with the girls to respond to their smiles, not to be outdone by the dazzle of the blue sky that spreads beyond the open door. Feeling a certain happiness ahead..... 170 162 My favorite family ☆ When I first met him, I really wanted to help him. Maybe it was because my mom taught me to be kind to people, but even now I don''t know the real reason. On top of that, I didn''t know how to help, and as a little girl I was still trying to think of ways to help. As a result, I decided to interpret my mother''s words to me again, "You shouldn''t do to others what you don''t want them to do to you" as follows. That means, "You should do what makes you happy. When I think about it now, I''m amazed at how childish the idea was. But at the time, I didn''t doubt that it was the best thing to do. As soon as I decided to do so, I gave him the leftover chocolate in the living room to put into action. Because I''d learned in health class that taking sugar when you''re fatigued will soothe you. And as a no-no, I stroke Onii-san''s head as if my mom had stroked me. She stroked the head of the first man she had ever touched other than her grandfather''s with her little hands, and she stroked him hard. Then I saw that Onii-san''s expression had improved. This gave me a taste of encouragement, and I decided to encourage him to come to the store two days a week to make deliveries. This has remained unchanged even after she met Mom and became a couple and I became her daughter Because I am......... ......... ............ "...hmm~? Suddenly I woke up and opened my closed eyelids. It was the ceiling of a familiar room, and my fuzzy mind realized that I had been asleep just a moment ago. Slowly, I raised my body and bathed in the morning sunshine that shone through the window. ''''I feel like I was having a nostalgic dream.'''' That was the first time I met Onii-san, and it''s an important memory for me. I feel as if I have traced back many memories from there. I don''t know why I suddenly had such a dream, but when I remembered my plans for today, it made sense. I look at the clock on my bedside table and see that the time is 6:30 a.m. I''m a little early, but I''m going to go back to sleep. It''s a little early, but I don''t feel like falling asleep twice, so I decide to get out of bed and get dressed. Next, I go to the bathroom to wash my face and finish brushing my teeth. Then I combed my hair and put it in pigtails and that was it. I''m getting used to this too..... Then I look at my own reflection in the mirror on the washstand after getting ready for the day. A white shirt with a big blue collar, a red ribbon tied neatly, and a knee-length skirt of the same color as the collar. Today is a memorable day for me - Amana Hayakawa''s entrance ceremony to junior high school. Morning, Mom. Good morning, Tenna. When I went to the living room, I greeted my mom, who was up before me and preparing breakfast. She stops her cooking and responds with a firm look on her face. Then she rolls her eyes for a moment, and then her gaze turns kind, as if she''s overcome with emotion. ''''Tenna is in junior high school.......you''re getting close to being an adult again. It''s all thanks to Mum. ...Do you think it would look good on me? ''Yes. I wouldn''t be embarrassed to put her anywhere, I''m proud of her. "Heh, thank you, Mom. It''s been 13 years since I became my mama''s daughter. Once again, I can''t hide my surprise at the time that has passed, but compared to my mom, I''m still just a child. Still, I am reminded again that I should become an adult so that I can be proud of my daughter. Looking back, it''s been five years since Mom and Onii-san got married, and she looks so young and beautiful that I can''t believe she''ll be in her 30s this year. To give you an example, they would be mistaken for sisters if they were walking together. But she''s getting really into taking care of her skin and seems to be concerned about it. I don''t want to have a pimple or something, so I can understand why he''s concerned about it. This is the basic knowledge of a young girl, which has nothing to do with the older man who was scolded for saying something wrong. Thinking back on that, I offer my mom to help me. Hey, Mom. Can I help you with anything? ''The meal will be ready soon, may I ask you to wake the two(ish) people(ish) who are still sleeping?'' Yes. Hearing that request, I leave the living room and go to my room first. However, this is not my room alone anymore. The sleepyhead who doesn''t get up often is with me. I open the door and turn my attention to the other bed. There was a little girl with dark hair sleeping soundly. She''s more energetic when she''s awake than I was when I was a little girl, but her sleeping face is so cute that I can''t help but soothe her. Unfortunately, I have to wake her up now, so I''ll give up looking at her for a long time. Since we started sleeping in the room together, I know exactly how to wake her up. ''Yuu-chan!¡¡Dinner will be ready soon! ''Huh?¡¡Yoo-chan''s food! Hahahaha. Yuu-chan. ''Hey!¡¡Good morning! At my call, he jumped up at a speed that makes it hard to believe that he was sleeping soundly until just a few moments ago. Even though she is 4 years old this year, she has a bite to eat that makes her look like an adult, and she can''t help but smile and say hello. Yuu-chan, or Yuri Hayakawa, is the child born to Onii-san and her mother and is also my younger sister. Her hair is black like Onii-san''s, but her eyes are the same color of lapis lazuli as mine and my mom''s. Her name is a combination of "Yoo" and "Rashi," which was left over from when I gave her my name. I''ve heard that when my real mother was alive, she wanted to name her child that way for her to be born in the future. Her mama''s expression was very kind as she said this. I felt that Yuu-chan''s name was a testament to me and my family, and both of us were happy to accept it. Shortly after that, we learned for the first time how hard it is to raise a child, but that''s another story. The only thing I can say is that I did my best to be Yuu''s oneechan. I''m sure you''ll be pleased to know that I''m not the only one. ''Wow!¡¡Hey, hey, it''s so docile! Hmph. Thanks, Yuu-chan. I help the energetic Yuu-chan get dressed in the morning. She puts her black hair that reaches her waist in a half-up, and this time she goes to Onii-san. In the room we both quietly entered, I could see her sleeping regularly on the bed. He had gotten plenty of sleep since he started his new job. I''m a bit jealous of the similarities in his sleepy-headedness. But that''s okay, because it can''t be helped. Yuu-chan and I look at each other once and signal to each other. It''s a good idea to have a good time. "''Papa!¡¡It''s morning! Whoa! Yuu-chan jumps into Onii-san''s chest and I shout in her ear to wake her up. Then she was forced to wake up and squirm, then roll her eyes at us. Good morning, Pa-pa-pa-pa. Dad, hello! Gee, oh, good morning you two. He returned the greeting while setting down Yuu-chan, who jumped into his chest. The moment she turned her eyes to me while rubbing her sleepy eyes, Onii-san froze like a stone. I''m sure you''ll be able to see why, so I stood up and picked up the edge of my skirt to show off my uniform. I''m sure it looks good on you. "©¤©¤Ah. It looks great on you, Tian-na-na. Thanks, Dad! Mom and Yuu-chan praised me earlier, but it''s best to be praised by Onii-san. The two of them are up and ready to go, while I return to the living room. Breakfast is already ready, and I help serve the last of the food. When they''re done, Onii-san and Yuu-chan also arrive. All four of us sit down together as a family and start working on the breakfast that my mom made. The homemade sandwiches with lettuce, bacon, and cheese on baked bread, and the corn soup that was well-cooked. Last year I started learning how to cook with my mom, but it made me realize that I still have a long way to go. My mom says happily that I''ll be able to be a mother that my daughter respects for that, but as someone who wants to catch up with her, I feel like she''s being mean to me. ...even though I''m always proud of my mom, even if she''s tied with my cooking skills. ''Well, well!¡¡More food! Are you done eating, Yuri? Because it''s delicious. I''ll have another one! ''Yes, I''ll give you my share of soup. No more than that. ''Wow!¡¡Well, well, thank you! I''m a big fan of my mommy''s cooking, and so is Onii-san, but Yuu-chan, who is a picky eater, especially likes her mommy''s cooking. It''s funny if you only look at it, but there was a time when my sister drank too much breast milk when she was still an infant and put it back in. Once, she was lounging in the living room and as soon as she left her seat, she stole a piece of candy she had been eating and pretended to sleep with a blank expression on her face and got angry at me.... Based on those things, this eating habit might be hardcore. ........I have to keep a close eye on her so that she doesn''t get fat at an early age. I have vowed to do so secretly from the heart of an older sister that has been rooted in me since Yuu-chan was born. I was about to leave the house when I finished cleaning up the breakfast and got ready for my mom. ''''Ugh.... Yuu-chan, who was smiling until a moment ago, suddenly holds her belly and goes down on her knees. It''s not a good idea to have a good idea of what you''re doing. Yuu-chan, are you okay? Yoo-chan, I''m so hungry... What? When I called out to him to see if he was worried, he just had a normal stomach ache from eating too much. And what a bad time to do it at the time of the entrance ceremony. In a way, it can be taken to be self-inflicted, but I can''t leave Yuu-chan in such a state. I was wondering what to do........ ''Huh, it can''t be helped. I''m also responsible for giving you an excessive amount of breakfast because of your selfishness, and I''ll see to Yuri, so Wa-san and Tenna, please head to the middle school first. Mom apologetically bought me to take care of Yuu-chan. Considering the way she usually eats, I can''t help but feel that my sister''s stomach was at its limit anyway, even if I didn''t give her the soup. I have some thoughts, but I keep my mouth shut and say that I shouldn''t say that. I''m not going to be able to do that. Please, Amari. Come on, Mom. Yeah. I''ll catch up with you later. I''m sorry... We left the house, leaving Yuu-chan, who apologized in a painful tone of voice, in charge of Mom, and Onii-san and I left the house. When you step outside, you can feel the warmth of spring. This sunny day is a very comfortable way to welcome the start of school. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the gentle breeze was carrying them along with a gentle breeze. I''m sure you''ve been wondering what''s going on in your life as you walk down the road lined with cherry blossom trees leading to your new junior high school. Yuu-chan, are you okay? ''It''s okay, we have Amari with us. Well, that''s true. Although she''s been married, Onii-san''s fondness for her mom has only increased, not waned. Of course, the same is true for Mom, and the two of them are showing that they are just as close as they were when they were newly married. I think it''s good that they''re close, but I''m not sure I''d complain if they were a little more considerate of the public eye. While I think so, I''m actually happy to be in this situation. Because.......... But as for me, it''s been a long time since I''ve been alone with my wife. That''s true. I''ve gotten used to you calling me Dad, too. We dared to call each other back and walked away laughing. When Yuu-chan was born, Onii-san and I made a promise, or something like a precaution, to be a father and a daughter except when it was just the two of us. That was to be father and daughter, except when it was just the two of us. Of course, Yuu-chan doesn''t know that I''m not Mama and Onii-san''s real daughter. I''m not going to be able to get the same kind of information from her. So, in order to prevent that from happening, I decided to call Onii-san "Papa" and she called me "Tenna". At first, I made some mistakes by accident, but after 3 years, I got used to it. To be honest, I feel guilty, and I have to tell her at some point. If Yuu-chan, who knows everything, were to say "I hate you", I might not be able to recover from it, and I would be scared at times. But knowing that my mom was feeling this way at the time, I was able to hide it properly. Knowing the truth, I might make her sad, I might make her cry, I might make her angry. I''ve decided to make a lot of memories with Yuu so that even if that happens, we can be a family forever, because I have decided to make many memories with Yuu. It''s a good thing that you have a family bond, just like I made up with my mother after I had a fight at that time. I don''t know what will happen in the future, but I''m sure of that much. That''s when I confirmed that thought again. ''''Hah~ That little Amana-chan is already a junior high school student.......'''' What is that?¡¡It''s a bit uncle-like, don''t you think? ''G................¡¡I''m over 30, and I''m certainly not old enough to be an old man anymore... Onii-san, who was holding her chest and drooping at the top of her lungs, looked clearly depressed. I shouldn''t do this. You should not do this," she said, "because you once said something similar and made your father cry. It''s not like that. You''re young just like your mother, and you''re still ''Onii-san'' in my mind. Well, that''s all well and good but when you get older, that''s when you''ll be farther away from your brother. You have no idea. Onii-san recovered a little from the encouragement, but quickly spoke something pessimistic. I continued, half taken aback by the bluntness that hadn''t changed, "Even if you become a grandfather, it doesn''t matter. It doesn''t matter if you''ve become an old man or not. You promised me that you would always be your grandfather, didn''t you? Yeah, that''s right. This is a promise that was made to me when I was a little girl, when I couldn''t celebrate my mother and brother''s marriage. It''s a very important thing that I will never forget, even when I grow up to be an adult in high school. With a bitter smile on his face, he seems to have completely lost his sorrow. I''m glad to be back on my feet. To return to the topic at hand, the thought of Amana-chan''s first love when she goes to junior high school makes me cry in many ways. First love...? I''m going to have to do something uncle-like again............. I''m going to be in junior high school, but my brother still treats me like a child in his mind. That''s not good enough for me. So I decided to boldly speak up about it. It''s not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you''ll be able to see the difference. Ha................... The confession, which seemed to be unexpected, caused Onii-san to be astonished, even in the morning. Well, that can''t be helped, it''s Onii-san, right? ''Who''s the other guy!¡¡Is that the one I know?¡¡No way, Daichi-kun! It''s true that Daichi-kun confessed to me after my elementary school graduation ceremony, but I refused, saying that I could only see him as a childhood friend! Oh, oh that''s how sorry I am to hear that... I was talking with everyone at the graduation ceremony when I was suddenly called out to see what was going on, and I was surprised when he confessed that he liked me since the first time I met him! I was just surprised, and partly because I didn''t look at him that way to begin with, I turned him down. I thought it would be difficult to see him since we will be attending the same junior high school from now on, but my mom and Kuroone-onee-chan, who seem to be used to dealing with confessions, told me to treat him as normal, so I''m going to do just that. I wonder if Onii-san knows how I feel about Daichi, since he''s a candidate for my first love. I''ll get to that later, but for now, I decided to continue talking about my first love. ''My feelings didn''t come true and I got my heart broken, though. What?¡¡Who the hell is this guy to dump my angelic Amana-chan?¡¡Can I put some heavenly muffins on you? I have someone I like so much that he doesn''t even look at me, so I''ve already decided that I can''t win. ''''Ugh ... if you already have someone you like, I don''t blame you...'''' I''m so angry that I''ve never seen the fact that I''m heartbroken before, but I''m relieved when I tell him the reason for the split and he puts the contradiction to rest. If I put a Tenchu on you, you''d be gone, wouldn''t you? However, Onii-san seems unable to give up on the matter. ''Oh, you mean Amana-chan?¡¡Can you at least tell me what he was like? "Dame!¡¡These are the secrets of a maiden! I repel the question from the unaware oni-san and take a few steps forward. I''ve decided not to tell her about my feelings. The reason why I cried with shock when I found out that Onii-san and my mom were getting married was not only because we couldn''t be friends anymore, but also because I had mixed feelings that were different from friendship. It took me a long time to realize it, though. I never thought I would actually experience the words in the girl''s manga that Tomoyuri lent me, "First love is unfruitful". It''s true that I was too late to realize it, but before that, we only saw each other so much that we didn''t have time to intervene. I don''t blame you for being more convinced than the shock of a broken heart. But strangely enough, I don''t have any regrets. I''ve learned that we don''t have to be lovers to be together. I''m sure that in the future, you may meet someone who cares about each other as much as your mother and brother do. If that happens, I''ve decided to show you that you will be happy for sure. But I want to be with my family, who I love, first and foremost, my mom, my brother, and Yuu-chan. That''s the only thing that will never change. It''s a form of happiness I don''t want to change. I didn''t know it was so, but I looked back at the oni-san who was standing there with her question dismissed. Then a spring breeze blew in, as I''d indicated. The cartoonish timing is so good that a smile comes to my face. As it is, I say a few words of confession. I''m going to say it.¡¡If you get tired from work in the future, I''ll be the one to do it for you! Let''s continue to be happy with our beloved family. Because I love you so much, Onii-san. Perhaps that thought has come through, but the man smiles back at me with a happy smile. That''s all it takes to make me happy. With that confidence in my heart, I moved forward with my new life.... ......... ........... The end.......... 171 Family that nursery teachers personally care about When the sunshine started to get stronger in June, the children came to the school in high spirits. " " " " "Sensee!¡¡Good morning! Good morning, everyone! I returned the greeting in a cheerful voice with a smile on my face as well. I''ve been working as a nursery school teacher for two years now, and I''m just about ready to graduate from college with a lot to learn. She thought she would be able to become the nursery worker of her dreams and have a happy life with the children, but the hectic pace of her life kept her from having the time to enjoy it. Nevertheless, I am now working as a nursery school teacher with the experience I have gained. There is a family that has been bothering me personally lately. It''s a child who started attending the nursery school this year. ''Sensei!¡¡Good morning! Oh, good morning, Yuri. The girl herself arrived at the right time. The lovely girl with her black hair in a half-up bun and her crinkly, round, luri-colored eyes is Yuri Hayakawa. She''s an energetic foodie with lots of energy, and is popular with both girls and boys alike. I guess she eats a lot and sleeps a lot, but her cheeks look chewy today too....... In the future, I''m sure she''ll be a beautiful girl like her mother, for sure~. I don''t need to tell you that I was captivated by the friendly Yuri-chan as soon as I met her. That''s how cute she is. Good morning, Nonoki-sensei. Take care of Yuri today, too. ''Good morning, Hayakawa-san. I''ll take good care of Yuri-chan. Ms. Tengri Hayakawa, Yuri''s mother, came to say hello. She''ll be in her thirties this year and looks about the same age as me, and above all, she''s got good looks that fit the term "noble". She is always polite to everyone and has a good relationship with her parents, and I think the ideal adult woman is someone like her. I heard that she used to be a single mother, but she''s also famous for being so in love with Yuri''s father that it makes me feel ashamed. I''d like to have a happy marriage like that too.... Today, her mother is here to see her off, but sometimes Yuri''s father, Kazu Hayakawa, comes over, too. He is not exceptionally handsome, but his generosity of spirit makes other wives jealous of his generosity, to the extent that they wish their husbands would follow his example. In fact, he seems to be very supportive of what he does in his spare time from work to raise his children, and I''m impressed that he''s an ikumen. I was so impressed with him.¡¡No, no, no, no, it''s not that respectful. I can''t help with the usual household chores, so it''s like a husband''s job to earn money and take care of his children, and I don''t need to use those words to describe it because I think it''s natural to raise your own children. No, I have no taste for that. Well, if you were single, there''s a possibility that you would have attacked him........handsome....... I mean..... Anyway, not only Yuri herself but also her parents are very attractive people. But there''s another person in this family that I should pay attention to. In fact, I''d say he''s the real deal. In the evening, it''s time to pick up the children from the kindergarten, and that''s when the last member of the Hayakawa family shows up. That child...... ''Excuse me, I''m Hayakawa. I''m here to pick up my sister~ A girl in a navy blue collar and white sailor suit came over. She is a beautiful girl with light brown hair that reaches to her shoulder blades, pulled into two buns, and like Yuri, has lapis lazuli eyes. Yes, thank you for picking me up today, Amana-chan. Thank you teachers for taking care of Yuu-chan. Thank you for your hard work today. As I greeted her, Yuri''s sister©¤©¤Hayakawa Tenna smiled like an angel and gave me a warm welcome. ©¤ Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! He writhes in his mind, but his expression remains calm. However, the words of exertion thrown at me after the exhaustion of dealing with the children moisten my thirsty heart as much as this. This Tenna is half the reason why I care about the Hayakawa family. I can''t believe that she is a junior high school student, but she is so mature and polite that I can''t imagine she is a junior high school student. In fact, she has a polite attitude like an adult. What does it matter? The other teachers have done a great job. Oh, and if you want, I''ll give you some of the cookies I made in today''s cooking class. What?¡¡Thank you, Tenna! "You''re still such an attentive child! I wish my daughter was like that! ''Haha, thank you. But please take care of your daughter, okay? Just when I was feeling a little hungry, I never thought I''d share! Being able to do this kind of thing without a single thought is a good thing about Tenna-chan. In addition, her modesty and humility, which is not conceited even if she is praised, is also one of the elements that make her not look like a junior high school student. I''m sure she should be popular at school, but strangely enough, she doesn''t have a boyfriend and doesn''t seem to have any intention of having one. If I were a man, I would definitely want to have a girlfriend. While thinking about it, I lead Tenna to Yuri who is still waiting for me to pick her up. ''Yuri-chan~. My sister is here to pick you up~ ''Whew!¡¡Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! When I called out for her to pick her up, Yuri ran up to Tenna with her smile shining brighter than at any other time. Aa~Kanwaiiiii! You''re an older sister, Yuri! And Tenna holding hands with her little sister in a friendly manner is also a wonderful thing. I can''t help but agonize to myself like that, but this isn''t the end of the story, actually. The reason for this is......... ''''Ah!¡¡It''s Yuu''s oneechan! Really! ''Hey, girl!¡¡I''m so happy to see you! Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on! Daame, you play with me. ''It''s not fair!¡¡I want to play with her too! Me too, me too! When I grow up, I''m going to marry my sister! Wow, wow. Everybody''s looking good today. The school children who noticed Tenna''s presence rushed to her in a hurry. Yes, this is the main reason to pay attention to Tenna. She is immensely popular with the preschoolers, even more so than we, the nursery workers, are. But strangely enough, I don''t feel defeated. It''s only natural that the children would miss her if she was that Amana-chan. It''s a good thing that he can draw out the words that the children say to the nursery school teachers, "I''m going to marry you".... It''s always great. But you have to do your homework for school, so don''t be too selfish. I''m not in such dire straits, so that''s okay. "I''m not in a tight spot, so I''m fine. And playing with the kids is a nice change of pace, so it helps me a lot. Oh, yeah? Although she admonished the children who flocked to her, Tenna replied that she didn''t care and even tried to be rather divine. The difference in heartiness is so great that I almost forget that the girl in front of me is a junior high school student. I always thought......... ''''I have a feeling that Tenna-chan is suited to being a nursery teacher in the future~'''' Nursery school teacher? ''Yes, yes. If the kids like me this much, I think it''s exactly my calling... Oh, if you''ve got a future dream in mind, I''ve said too much, haven''t I?¡¡I''m sorry, but it''s okay to forget about it. ''No, no, it''s fine. I haven''t made up my mind yet and it might not be as bad as it seems. After smiling as she said that, Tenna began to play with the preschoolers, including Yuri. If she really becomes a nursery teacher, I wonder if I will teach her things as a senior....... While thinking vaguely about that, I began to deal with the parents who came to pick up the other children from the school. 172 Spring breeze of love that even adolescents fly (although its summer) A booming chime signals the arrival of after school. It''s a typical student''s simplicity that their minds, which had been bored earlier in the day in class, seem to jump back into action. The teacher, who had been teaching world history a while ago, smiles at the students'' obvious change in attitude. I just hope he doesn''t give them extra homework if they get too carried away. Well, this teacher is not one to be so arrogant. As I''m getting ready to go to club activities like that, a boy sits in the empty front seat. ''''........What is it, Shogo? What an awful thing to say, Shunsuke. I brought an interesting rumor with me today. My friend Takumi approached me with a sullen expression on his face. He''s a gossip-monger and always has something to talk about, but most of the rumors are eyebrow-raising, and it''s rarely the case that the rumors are true, which is more than the fingers of one hand. It''s just the same old rumors, isn''t it?¡¡I don''t have time to listen to that, but... Well, wait a minute. Today''s is a well-supported, credible story!¡¡It''s a constant rumor, especially during this year. ''During freshman year, it''s only two months into the school year, you know?¡¡How does that get through to second year students in such a short period of time? ''You''re bringing the story to me like this because it''s coming through!¡¡I mean, even the third-year seniors are raving about it. I''m not sure I trust that anymore than I trust the rumors, but... what is it? I urge him to go ahead and see if it''s a very good rumor that it''s spreading not just to second year students, but to third year students who are entering exam season. I''m not sure if he''s happy that I''m interested, but Takumi Takumi raises the corners of his mouth as if to say that he''s been listening to me. ''''Oh. That rumor is......... We have four beautiful girls from the first year that came in this year that are high level. Okay. Bye. ''Ooh!¡¡Don''t you lose interest so fast? I was a fool for expecting it. I can''t afford to be late for club activities because of idle talk, so I get up from my seat and try to head towards it, but Takumi Shogo, who looks flustered, grabs my arm and stops me. ''You, don''t you have anything more to offer me?¡¡I want her or I want her or I want her! ''That''s Takumi''s wish, right?¡¡I''m still fine with that sort of thing. I don''t want to be wishing on a shooting star like that, but.... I''ve been embarrassed to face girls ever since I hit puberty. I can understand if it''s just one person, but four girls are just plain lying. I said I''ve got it all backed up!¡¡Seriously, all four of us are beautiful girls, and they call us the ''Four Princesses of the East, West, North and South''... ''What''s with that old ronzo setting, lol?'' ''Don''t laugh! Just because he''s an eighth grader doesn''t mean he really has to suffer from eighth grade disease.... But Shougo seemed to be seriously regretting it, so he was pretty confident in this rumor. Well, that doesn''t mean I believe it though. ''''d*mn it!¡¡Then a picture is worth a thousand words!¡¡I''m going to show you now, and we''re going to the first year classroom! You know what? I have to go to my club... I''m not going to let you laugh at me like that! The fact that I was laughed at by me may have been very hard to bear, but Shougo pulled on the arm that was still in his grasp and forcefully walked away. That''s why I wasn''t allowed to go to club activities, and I was too busy trying to keep my balance so I wouldn''t fall down to resist. When I finally arrive in front of the first year''s classroom, they finally release my arms, but if I come this far, I''ll be late for club activities. I''m sorry, boss. Look. Look, there''s the window seat!¡¡Those four over there are the beautiful girls we''ve been hearing about. No, only one of them has his back to me, so I can''t see him. With a single-minded desire to have the rumors affirmed, I turned my attention to the window seat as instructed by Shougo. There, indeed, were four girls gathered in one seat, chatting and laughing. I can''t hear the content of their conversation well, but I can see from their cheerful smiles that they are enjoying the topic. The important thing about their faces is that they are....well, they are certainly not as good as the girls in my class. But for me, that''s all there is to it. I can''t talk to the girls in that class properly, and seeing those pretty girls won''t change my embarrassment in the end. ''First one. The boyish girl with her back to the window is Nishiyama Rensui-chan. He joined the karate club as soon as he entered the school and is a promising hope for the club. Apparently, she''s so good that she won the national championship in the elementary school division. What, is it like Takumi is going to explain everything to you?¡¡I''m not particularly looking for that kind of thing, and it''s kind of like a commentary mob, you know? Shut up!¡¡It would be easier to explain it to you if you watched him! ''I don''t see the point of that objection...'' But, yeah. She certainly has a boyish vibe, but her face is firmly girly, so she looks like the type that would be popular with the same s*x, if anything. ''''Then there''s the girl with glasses on the right side of Rensui-chan. She is an honor student who won first place in the first year''s midterm exam and is also apparently the class president. At first glance, she appears to be a serious and hard-hearted person, but in fact she is quite a screw-up and is secretly recognized as the mascot of the class. The Gap. Isn''t the attribute of a screw-up disguised as a committee chairman character too strong? The chairman of the committee, who is stuffy at the crucial moment to take the lead...he may indeed be the mascot. But it''s a position where he''s likely to get a bad look on his face if he finds out. At the very least, I hope he remains unaware of anything. "The third person is Higashino Kana-chan, who sits across from Tomoyuri-chan. She''s my guess. Guess. She is half-American, also known as ''everyone''s sister'' because of her small stature and quiet nature among the four, and her popularity is due to her vulnerability that inspires her patronage as much as it does. It''s not a secret because it''s leaked to me right now? I mean, what ''everyone''s sister''? I thought Shougo was weird for the first time. Maybe that''s why I can''t have a girlfriend. It''s not a nod to simple cuteness, but it seems like a better way to stare at him from a distance. ''''And lastly. I can''t see her face because her back is turned, but she''s the most beautiful girl of the four, Hayakawa Amana.'''' Only at the end is ''South'' not in your last name? I thought it was the same rule as the other three since it''s called the Four Princesses of the East, West, North, and South, but it was strangely uncluttered and tight. He also said he couldn''t see her face, but he couldn''t see her face when she was called the most beautiful girl in the world. I''ve heard that her parents remarried and her last name was changed. Before that, she was definitely of the southern s*x. I almost flushed it down the drain normally, but what do you mean about knowing people''s family situations? What''s wrong with you?¡¡Because that''s what he said, right? ''Oh, thank God. If I''d crossed the line, as you say, we''d have been crossing the line. You.... I was thinking about when to disengage in anticipation of my friend''s criminally bizarre behavior, and I got a correction. Even though he looked at me like it was our fault, it seemed to me that the problem was the way he said it that was misunderstood. When I was dismayed that I had it coming, the four girls who were chatting with me got up from their seats. Is it time to go home or go to club activities? Thinking so, and trying to move out of the way, Hayakawa-san, who had her back to us, looked back at us and said.... ©¤ For a moment, I was so captivated by her eyes that I forgot to breathe. Her bright brown hair was tied up in a double knot with a red ribbon, and her lapis lazuli eyes were so clear that it was the first time I had ever felt someone''s eyes were beautiful. Her stringy nose, china-white skin, and above all, her unadorned, unadorned expression seemed to express her inner self. It''s just that Shogo is the most beautiful girl out of the four of them. Rather than that, she was hot as if her whole body was on fire, and all I could hear in my ears was a quickening heartbeat. As I was confused by the unknown sensation, my eyes met with Hayakawa-san and she smiled at me. Then, my already noisy heart beats even louder. ''''Hello.'''' Well, I mean, hello... A voice like a rolled bell enters my ears. The euphoria that fills my ears and my heart, and the fact that I''m not used to being a girl by nature, causes me to stammer out a response. ''Do you have something to do with someone in our class?'' I was just on my way to my club and... ''''That''s right. From the looks of it, you look like a senior.......what kind of club are you in? Shogi club... It''s true that it''s a chess club, but the special building where the club rooms are located and this one are located in the opposite direction. Although it was an unseemly excuse, the new student, Hayakawa-san, didn''t seem to notice it. Incidentally, no one has the talent of a genius chess player, even though we are a shogi club. It''s just a hobby. However, what do they plan to do when they hear about a person''s club activities? Before I could twist my head around the question that suddenly came to mind, she announced her intention to ask the question. ''The chess club........would that be okay? I''m in the home economics club, but maybe I''ll have a chance to share some of the sweets I made with you. What the hell...? I felt like a bomb had been dropped on my head that I couldn''t process the situation. I mean, what do you mean by "sharing"? It''s true that the home economics club gives the snacks they make to other clubs, but that''s only supposed to be the main athletic club. As for the treatment, I can''t think of any reason to bring it to the culture club''s chess club. I wonder if they demand some kind of compensation........ ''''.........?¡¡Because shogi uses a lot of brains, doesn''t it?¡¡Then I just thought if I ate some sweet snacks, I could concentrate on my club activities a little bit more, right? Ehhhh... uh, that sort of... Mr. Hayakawa told me the reason as if it was extremely natural. It didn''t look like he was telling a lie, and I was convinced, even though I felt some disappointment. What can I say, despite my embarrassment, I don''t have a hard time talking to Hayakawa-san. When I talk to girls, I always stammer out of nervousness. Because of the many times I was ridiculed and made to feel weird for doing so, my sense of dislike grew even stronger. But she doesn''t take that attitude and listens carefully to what I say in return. The feeling of wanting to keep talking to her grows in my chest as it does. Just as I was about to fall into that feeling.... Amaci. What''s the matter with you~? Hurry up or you''ll be late for Yuri''s pickup! Come on! The conversation came to an end, regrettably, when the other three called out to me. I feel an inexplicable surge of joy when I think about it, that you talked to me while you had things to do. Of course, there''s also an apology for stopping me. ''Oh sorry!¡¡Well then, senpai. Please take care of me when you''re sharing. Uh, yeah... Her smile as she turned to me as we parted, and I felt my heart tremble with unbearable elation. As I watched her back as she walked away in a daze, I realized that her chest, which had been bouncing around so much a moment ago, had become so depressed that I thought it would sink to the ground. I can''t misrepresent my feelings when I get to this point. I''ve fallen in love at first sight with Ms. Hayakawa, which I thought was only in the story. When I became aware of this, a hand was unexpectedly placed on my shoulder. When I turned around, I saw Takumi''s grinning face reflected in my eyes. At that moment, the sentimentality vanished at once. At the same time, anger came up........what a mess. But Shougo is not intimidated by my glare, far from being intimidated. ''''I didn''t expect spring to come to Shunsuke~'''' Wha...? I didn''t know it, but he made fun of the exact feelings that had grown in my heart. Of all things, my face heats up as if it''s burning hot after being found out by this evil friend. ''''There are many rivals aiming for Hayakawa-chan~? "~~~~ Shut up! It''s obvious that the other boys are after such an attractive Ms. Hayakawa. But I couldn''t even give a good rebuttal to Takumi''s teasing, and I continued to be toyed with after that.... 173 Before summer vacation After I got over my first final exam in junior high school, my childhood friends and I came to a family restaurant for a "test fatigue party". The idea was conceived by Tomoyuri. It''s the kind of thing she would love to do, and she naturally smiles. ''''Everyone has their drinks, right?¡¡Well, good job on your final! ""Good job!" I go to match the cup of juice as a toast is given. Rensui-chan takes a gulp of the orange juice and places the cup on the table before taking a breath. ''''Puhaa~.......I''m sick of studying since I''m in middle school because it''s so difficult.......'''' Kaana''s having a hard time, but she''ll be fine when we''re all together. ''Yes. In the first place, I wouldn''t allow my childhood friend who is the head of the grade to get a red grade! ''The more I teach, the more I learn, the more I learn about myself, so it''s actually helping me out~'' Rensui-chan is right, I find the lessons in junior high school difficult. But the teacher teaches me well so that I can understand it, and as she was proud of, I have the first class president, Chiyuri-chan. And when the time comes, Mom, Onii-san and Kuroone-onee-chan can teach me. The people around me are very dependable. As I was thinking about this, I was savoring the taste of the food that had been brought to me, when Tomoyuri made a mysterious expression on her face. You said you were going to get a boyfriend when you become a junior high school student, right? You did say that, didn''t you? Oh, that''s right, De Mochiyuchi... ''Yes!¡¡I haven''t gotten a confession since I started school and it''s almost summer vacation! Even though she''s in middle school, Tomoyuri''s romantic brain is still the same as ever~.... Rather, her longing for romance seems to be escalating. ''''But Kana and the others are still in middle school, right? ''''You won''t convince me when you say that to Kana-chan, who confessed to me before the test! Ahh, come to think of it, that''s right. The guy was a boy in the same class. He called her up with a letter, but Kana-chan got scared, so Rensui-chan must have gone with her as her bodyguard. She didn''t have the courage to confess her feelings in front of a third party, so the matter was left undecided. Speaking of confession, I was called out again today, wasn''t I? ''Yes!¡¡What is it about Tianna-chan that makes her so popular! Wow, I wish I could have known... I was wondering if this trend was a bit of a bad idea, and sure enough, it jumped out at me. So.....I don''t know why, but out of all the members here, I am the one who has had the most experience of being confessed to. At first I was filled with apologies, but now that the number of times has increased, it''s become a source of worry. There have been confessions from people I''ve barely talked to, to people who turned me down once and then came back to tell me how they felt about me, and even from people who went to other middle and high schools. Furthermore, a boy from the same nursery school as my sister said he wanted to marry me in the future. There were so many of them that everyone in the class felt that there was nothing they could do about it. "In your case, you''re just like your mom, you''re really cute. He''s so good-natured and nice to everyone that no other girl will ever mess with him, right? Above all, she has a natural healing aura. He has a natural healing aura that captivates everyone he comes into contact with. ''I don''t mean to be a prisoner at all~'' I am who I am, and nothing has changed. If I dare to say that I have changed, I feel that it is the people around me. "So, what was the result of your confession today? Of course I said no. ''Oh, I can see the confession of a hundred people, can''t I? That much? When I returned to Chiyuri''s question in the fastest possible tone, Rensui-chan mentioned the existence of a terrifying record. I stopped counting after 20 people, but I didn''t think there was that much more.... I couldn''t hide my shivers along with astonishment, even though it was me. ''''I talked to my mom and Kuroone-onechan and they told me that the same thing happened to them and that they even ignored the call at the end.......'''' I have a feeling that Yuri, who is descended from those two, will be popular in the future... I wonder if it''s the bloodline that determines whether you''re popular or not...? What do you think? I''m not a real daughter, but I''m a member of the South family, so it''s only natural that I would be popular...or is it? But you''re still sincere enough to answer the call... ''If you decided to work up the courage to tell me how you feel, to varying degrees, I just thought I''d listen to you, even if you had to say no. Of course, not all of them were serious confessions. There were times when I was persistent and upset, but thanks to everyone, we managed to avoid anything serious. In particular, Rensui-chan was kicking an empty bottle that she had picked up from somewhere and smashed it to pieces. It was effective enough to scare everyone who saw it and run away, though. ''''If this situation is going to continue too long, wouldn''t it be faster to get a boyfriend? Oh. It''s a surprise to hear from Tatsuyucchi, who said he didn''t want to be the first to go. ''''Hey. If you''re in trouble, Tenna-chan, I''ll put up with you to get ahead of me. Well, well, well. Rensui teases her about Tomoyuri''s concern, and Kana admonishes her for the mood of a flash. It may be a good idea to get a boyfriend and use him as a bulwark of confession, but....... ''I''d definitely get that boyfriend in trouble, and I feel like it would be rude to say I''m going to have a boyfriend for that purpose in the first place. ''I thought you''d say that. So you don''t have a crush on anyone? What? When I reply that I can''t have a boyfriend to avoid people, Chiyuri asks me an unexpected question. As I reacted curtly and stiffened, she gave me a grin. It''s not because Tenna-chan is in love with someone else that you keep refusing her after she confessed to you so much? Oh, I guess you could say that. I''m curious about Kana too...! What? I''ve gone from a constant measure of confession to a topic of conversation about someone I love! It''s not just Tomoyuri, who has a love interest, but also Rensui and Kana are curious about it. I''m not sure how to respond to that expectant gaze. I''m not sure if they''re there or not, but they are. To be exact, I''m past tense, but still, he''s someone I can''t tell everyone about. Because the person you love is Onii-san. I''ve already made up my mind, but I can''t help but compare the people who confessed their love to me to Onii-san. After rejecting nearly a hundred people, it''s not so much the difference between you and him, it''s just a matter of my own taste. When you think about it that way.... I don''t have a favorite person, but I do have an ideal type, I guess. What''s he like? I thought you would be disappointed to learn that you don''t have a guy you like, but the expression on your face doesn''t waver as you get to know your ideal type. While patting my chest with relief, I told her about my ideal type. I''m sure you''ll be able to find out more about this. It''s a good thing that you''re not going to have to worry about the fact that you''re not going to be able to get your hands on any of these things. "''Oh......... The three of us reacted more favorably than I thought we would, even though I was too embarrassed to make a small voice at the end. Ugh~I''m so embarrassed. My face is hot.......but this is the reason why I fell in love with Onii-san, isn''t it? I felt like I was confronted once again with how much I loved that person. ''''Nah, you''re kind of like a Japanese oni-san. Huh? ''Oh, sure!¡¡He fits the ideal type you just said, Amachi! No, no, no, no, I didn''t. It was just a coincidence!¡¡In the first place, you''re married to your mother and I''m your daughter! Rensui agreed with Kana''s sharp muttering. I''m not sure how she understood when I should have blurred it out as much as possible, but she denied the two of them, upset. Oh, was I that easy to understand? I haven''t spoken about it to anyone other than my mom and Kuroone-onee-chan, but.... By the way, when my mom found out about my feelings, she asked me, ''Is this also in the bloodline.......? And I''ve embarrassed him so much that I''m worried about him. I''m even more sorry about that than I was when I realized how I felt. At any rate, my real mum and dad are a year apart in age, so if I knew that she likes me as well, I''d be like that even if she wasn''t my mum. By the way, Onii-san is insensitive to begin with and only sees her mom, so she''s not interested. I mean, Chidori-chan, don''t get it wrong, okay?¡¡It''s just a coincidence that my ideal type and you happen to be close, right? For some reason, I explain to Tomoyuri, who is also silent, that it''s a misunderstanding, but she was still staring at the void in a daze. I mean, if you look closely, her nose is bleeding! What do you mean? ''Chiyuri?¡¡Are you okay? What?¡¡I feel like I just witnessed the forbidden fruit... I don''t get it. When Tomoyuri-chan says something unconventional, Rensui-chan snaps at her without hesitation. Yes, I feel the same way, and I don''t want to know what she''s imagining if I can help it. "For now, you''d better wipe up your nose, ''Yes, I will...'' While I was caring for Tomoyuri-chan, who reacted in a way that was the most unexpected, the topic of her ideal type was vague. I can never put it into words, but thanks to Tomoyuri-chan, my feelings for her didn''t get out. But.........will I find someone in the future that I like more than Onii-san? The first summer vacation of her junior high school years is approaching, with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about the uncertain future....