Chapter 18 Dinner
#22MotoKanoDinner
After arriving at school, we had classes for a while, then lunch break, and then more classes. That usual high school routine passed, and before I knew it, the day was over.
“Saito.”
As I was packing up my things, someone called out to me from behind. It was Tachibana-san.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
The classroom had just finished short homeroom and was still buzzing with chatter. But suddenly, the noise came to an abrupt halt.
When I turned around, I found everyone staring at me.
The boys had their mouths opening and closing like fish. What was going on? I had no idea.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Mm.”
I left the classroom together with Tachibana-san.
From there, we made our way to the station, chatting about random things. The plan was to first pick up Yuka-chan from nursery school, then the three of us would head to her house.
“Yuka’s been saying she really wants to see you lately. She’s been talking about it nonstop.”
On the train, Tachibana-san told me that with a gentle smile.
“Really? That makes me feel a little bad, though. Like I’m intruding on your family time.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“You think so? But still…”
“You’re overthinking it. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have invited you to study at my place.”
“Eh?”
“…That’s how it is.”
With her face flushed bright red, Tachibana-san turned away.
She didn’t deny it, nor did it seem like a lie or mere flattery. If that was the case, then honestly, I was just happy.
It meant I had a good friend. That’s how I felt.
The conditions I promised Kaori.
One was to work hard at studying.
The other was to invite my friends over to my house.
Speaking of which, I had been serious about studying since it affected my motivation moving forward… but I hadn’t done anything about the friends part. Maybe it was time I made at least one male friend.
But when I thought about it, there was no real rule that it had to be a male friend I brought home.
…No, if it wasn’t a male friend, Kaori would probably make a big fuss about it again.
I never imagined a day would come when I’d think of my former lover as a hassle.
“It’s Iori.”
Before long, Tachibana-san and I arrived at the nursery school to pick up her younger sister, Yuka-chan. As soon as we reunited after a few days, Yuka-chan happily clung to me.
Honestly, at my age, it wouldn’t have been strange if I were raising a child of this age myself. Maybe because I had always had some desire to get married, having a child act affectionate toward me didn’t feel bad at all.
“Yu-chan. Today, he’s coming over to our house to study. So let’s go home together, okay?”
“Really? Yay!”
“Looking forward to it.”
With Yuka-chan clinging to me, I held her hand as we headed home. Now that I thought about it, this was my first time going to Tachibana-san’s house, so I let her take the lead while I followed behind.
After walking for a while, Tachibana-san suddenly stopped.
“This is my house.”
“Ohh.”
A grand three-story detached house stood before me.
“Come on in.”
“Alright. Excuse me for intruding.”
And with that, I stepped into Tachibana-san’s home.
My purpose was to study for the upcoming final exams.
“Hey, Iori. What shall we play?”
“Hmm, let’s see… What should we do?”
“Yu-chan. Didn’t I say he’s here to study?”
“Ehh…”
I was about to say, “A little bit should be fine,” but I figured I’d probably get scolded, so I held back. I apologized to Yuka-chan and followed Tachibana-san to another room.
And then, as I entered the room, I realized something…
A brown bed. Pink cushions. This was probably Tachibana-san’s own room.
Going straight to her bedroom, huh… Not that I had any impure thoughts, but I wasn’t sure where to sit.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where should I sit?”
At times like these, it’s best to just ask directly.
As Tachibana-san was about to leave the room, saying she’d get some snacks and drinks, I asked her.
“Right there. You can use the cushion.”
“Got it.”
Watching Tachibana-san leave the room, I sat down on the cushion.
After a while, the one who came into the room wasn’t Tachibana-san—it was Yuka-chan.
“What’s up?”
“Iori, let’s play!”
“Sorry, I have to study now.”
“Ehh, that’s boring.”
Yuka-chan drooped her shoulders.
…Seeing a young girl looking so dejected made me feel guilty.
“Then how about we play a little after dinner?”
The one who said that was Tachibana-san, who had been watching the situation unfold.
As a compromise, she seemed to be offering that suggestion.
“Iori, you’ll play with me too?”
“No, I should probably head home.”
I felt like staying for dinner would be imposing, so I said that.
“…No, he’ll play with you too.”
“Really?”
“Huh?”
Wait, wouldn’t that be a bother?
I turned a questioning gaze to Tachibana-san.
“Sorry. I’ll treat you to dinner, so can you keep Yuka company?”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”
“Then, I guess I’ll take you up on that.”
I already felt guilty about Yuka-chan, so staying a little longer wouldn’t be a problem.
That just meant I had to explain to Kaori that I wouldn’t need dinner.
…Come to think of it.
“By the way, where are your parents?”
“At work. They’ll probably be working overtime until around midnight again today.”
“Wow, that must be tough.”
Working overtime until midnight. Again.
Hearing that, it all made sense why Tachibana-san was the one taking care of Yuka-chan. I wanted to say something like, “That must be tough for you too,” but I figured she might get annoyed, so I kept my mouth shut.
For now, I needed to figure out how to explain things to Kaori.
Thinking about that, I went back to focusing on my studies.