Chapter 7 | “Coincidences Overlapping into Inevitability”
“—Eh, Charlotte-san, you’ve already met Kanon-san…?”
After the discussion ended and we moved to Kanon-san’s room, I was hearing a shocking fact from Charlotte-san.
By the way, Kanon-san said she still had something to discuss with President Himeragi, so we left her behind.
We had her properly sign the oath, and since Kaguya-san was with her, it’d be fine—so just me, Charlotte-san, and her mother came to Kanon-san’s room first.
“Yes, I didn’t want to burden Akihito-kun any further, so I kept it hidden…”
“Well, I was the one who started it, so I can’t really complain…”
So this was what Kanon-san meant by ‘we’re even.’
True, if I’d brought Charlotte-san along, I might’ve noticed the connection between her mother and Kanon-san, and if Charlotte-san had told me, I’d have figured it out too.
But even if I’d realized it back then, I don’t think the situation would’ve improved any further.
That’s probably why Kanon-san hid it—to make us understand, ‘This is what happens when we don’t talk properly.’
I’m just glad we noticed before something big went wrong. Really.
“From now on, let’s not keep secrets from each other, okay?”
“Yes, I’m sorry…”
“We’re even, so no need to apologize.”
And so, the matter of Charlotte-san hiding Kanon-san’s involvement was settled.
I won’t dig it up again later.
“Mhm, mhm, keeping secrets is no good, right?”
“…I think it’s weird for you to say that, Mom.”
As Charlotte-san’s mother nodded with satisfaction, Charlotte-san shot her a half-lidded glare.
It’s a rare expression I don’t see often—I kinda want to snap a photo.
“Well, that’s true, but we had our own circumstances, you know.”
Just what kind of circumstances—well, it seems she’s about to tell us.
“Onee—Charlotte-san’s mom, what happened to Emma-chan?”
I almost called her ‘Onee-san’ like old times but corrected myself before asking about Emma-chan.
Charlotte-san said she’d left her with her mother, so I was curious why she wasn’t here.
“You can call me Onee-san, you know?”
“Please stop, I don’t like it.”
When Onee-san tilted her head with a smile, Charlotte-san rejected her sharply.
Well, it’d probably feel weird if your boyfriend called your mom ‘Onee-san.’
“Lottie, that’s harsh just because you’re young.”
“It’s not harsh at all.”
Hearing Charlotte-san speak casually in Japanese feels so fresh.
I wish she’d use that tone with me too…
“Haa… I’m fine with being Onee-san, but Lottie’s so noisy about it, so I guess I have no choice. I don’t think I introduced myself yet, so let me do it properly. I’m Sophia Bennett, Lottie and Emma’s mother. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, yes… Then, should I call you Sophia-san…?”
“If you want, you can even call me Okaa-san?”
“Mom!?”
When Sophia-san said that jokingly, Charlotte-san turned bright red in shock.
Yeah, that was a wild statement…
“What? Why’d you yell like that?”
“Because it’s way too soon…!”
“Is it, though?”
Sophia-san tilted her head with a blank look.
Charlotte-san’s airheadedness must come from her.
“…Ah, I see. Right, you two haven’t quite caught on yet.”
Somehow, Sophia-san seemed to convince herself alone.
What does she mean we haven’t caught on?
“Before I decide where to start—oh, I didn’t answer Akihito-kun’s question. Emma’s sleeping in Kanon-chan’s bedding.”
Sophia-san pointed to a fancy bed with white curtains.
Sure enough, part of the blanket was puffed up.
She must be sleeping burrowed inside.
Just to be sure, I carefully lifted the blanket.
There was Emma-chan, sleeping peacefully with little snores.
I’m relieved President Himeragi didn’t do anything to her.
“Let’s let her sleep like this.”
“Yeah, if she wakes up, we might not be able to talk.”
Sophia-san’s right—if she woke up, we’d have to deal with Emma-chan, so it’s better to let her sleep.
Besides, it’d be a shame to wake her when she’s sleeping so comfortably.
“Now, where should I really start…?”
“I’ve got a ton of things I want to ask, though…?”
While her mother rested her chin in thought, Charlotte-san gave her a look like she had something to say.
Well, it’s probably complicated for Charlotte-san too.
Her mom knowing her boyfriend from way back, being connected to the zaibatsu that framed him, and being a president—yeah, she’d have a lot to ask.
“Right, maybe it’s faster to go in chronological order. Lottie’s probably figured it out by now, but I met Akihito-kun when he was little. For a while, we played together every day like he was my real son.”
Hearing that, Charlotte-san turned a sulky look toward me.
For some reason, she seemed jealous.
…Yeah, why?
“Since we met when I was little, there’s nothing shady about it, okay…?”
I threw in a follow-up, just in case.
“That’s true, but… I don’t know Akihito-kun’s childhood, yet Mom does, and that’s kind of…”
Seems she doesn’t like that her mom knows something about me that she doesn’t.
This girl, really…
“Lottie’s got some serious possessiveness, huh.”
“—!?”
When Sophia-san voiced my thoughts, Charlotte-san’s face turned red in an instant.
Looks like she hit the nail on the head.
“W-Well, anyone would want to know about their lover’s childhood…!”
Charlotte-san retorted with a red face, pouting.
It’s a bit childish and super cute.
“In your case, it’s jealousy, isn’t it? It’s not just curiosity.”
“Ugh, why do you have to tease me like that…!”
This side of Charlotte-san feels so new.
I feel bad for her, but it’s fun to watch.
My girlfriend really is too adorable.
“It’s not really teasing… But don’t get too loud, or Emma might wake up and throw a fit.”
“Ah…”
When pointed out, Charlotte-san shrank back in embarrassment.
She glanced at me, probably thinking she showed me an unflattering side.
“It’s nice to see you two getting along.”
“Ugh… That’s so embarrassing…”
Saying that, Charlotte-san pinched the sleeve of my shirt with her fingers.
Her face was downcast, ears red.
“You two seem closer, though.”
Watching us, Sophia-san gave a gentle smile.
Her way of speaking might be a bit odd, but she’s still the kind person she was back then.
“So, back to the story. Akihito-kun, is it okay to talk about that promise?”
“Promise…?”
Charlotte-san looked at me curiously.
She mentioned it when we entered President Himeragi’s room earlier, but maybe she didn’t think much of it.
“Of course, it’s fine.”
“Thank you.”
After thanking me, Sophia-san turned her gaze to Charlotte-san.
“Like I said earlier, I thought of Akihito-kun like my own son. I mean, he was the same age as Lottie. But—I had family in England and work, so I couldn’t stay in Japan or take Akihito-kun with me. So when I left Japan, I made a promise. That when Akihito-kun grew up, I’d come back for him as family.”
—Yes, that was the precious promise I made with Onee-san.
“Wait, so the real reason you came to Japan, Mom, was…?”
“Yup, to pick up Akihito-kun. Well, it’s true I’m working at the Okayama branch too.”
Sophia-san tilted her head with a wry smile.
She came to Japan for work when I was a kid, so there’s probably a real branch here.
There’d be no point in lying about that.
Honestly, I’m super happy Sophia-san came to Japan just for me.
But then, a question comes up.
“Why didn’t you meet me right away after coming to Japan?”
It’s been quite a while since Charlotte-san came to Japan.
I was curious why she didn’t meet me, even though she lived right next door.
“Hmm, if I explain that, we’ll have to detour a bit…”
Sophia-san tilted her head, pressing her index finger to her lips.
I found the pose kinda cute, but Charlotte-san shot me a look, so I brushed it off with a smile.
“Simply put, it was so you and Lottie could get closer. I’d just get in the way.”
Not sure if she noticed our silent exchange or ignored it, Sophia-san raised her index finger with a smile.
Still, another question pops up.
“In the way… Wouldn’t it have been easier for us to get along if Sophia-san mediated?”
“Nope. If I did that, Lottie would’ve kept her distance from you, Akihito-kun. She’s scared of boys, even if she doesn’t show it.”
At her mother’s words, Charlotte-san awkwardly looked away.
Guess that hit the mark.
I see… So she wanted us to get close naturally.
Then, maybe—
“The first day after summer break, when Emma-chan got lost… That wasn’t an accident, but something you set up, right?”
“Eh!?”
Charlotte-san looked at me in shock at my words.
But Sophia-san wasn’t surprised.
She just gave a wry smile.
“Why do you think that?”
“I could tell at school that Charlotte-san keeps her distance from guys. That’d be the same even living next door. Left alone, we’d just exchange greetings. I didn’t think you’d sit by and let that happen.”
So they set up an event to bring us closer.
Sophia-san aside, I could see Kanon-san pulling it off.
Of course, they probably prioritized Emma-chan’s safety, even if we didn’t notice.
“Plus, Charlotte-san and I took the same route home, just at different times. Yet she passed Emma-chan, and I ran into her—that stuck with me.”
It’s possible Emma-chan wandered off and Charlotte-san passed by at the wrong moment.
But Emma-chan was crying loudly, and Charlotte-san’s hearing is unreal.
If they’d really crossed paths, she’d have noticed.
“…Amazing. You’re right, Akihito-kun. We deliberately sent Emma out to find Lottie. Of course, we had people in disguise surrounding her to keep her safe.”
So the people around when I found Emma-chan didn’t speak to her not because they didn’t know English, but because they were waiting for me.
They even acted confused—what a detailed plan.
And that means there were accomplices at school too.
“…”
Next to me lost in thought, I could tell Charlotte-san was clearly upset.
She probably didn’t like that they used little Emma-chan.
I feel the same way.
Even if it was to bring us closer, using a little kid like that leaves a bad taste.
But—Sophia-san and Kanon-san are like me in that sense.
I could tell without words that they struggled with using Emma-chan.
They must’ve thought Charlotte-san would only open up to a guy who protected her precious sister.
Sophia-san talking so calmly now means she’s accepted that she’d be blamed.
If that’s the case, I can’t complain.
“Can I ask one more thing?”
“Sure, ask anything. I’ll answer what I can.”
“Miyu-sensei—our homeroom teacher—how long have you known her?”
I looked straight at Sophia-san.
She smiled wryly at the question, while Charlotte-san seemed confused by its intent.
“Geez… You sure ask tricky questions, huh… You sound certain Hanazawa-sensei’s involved.”
“I didn’t think much of it at first, but now I’m sure. To make sure Emma-chan only met me, they needed someone at school to help.”
Plus, Miyu-sensei told me herself she’s connected to Kanon-san.
Depending on how long they’ve known each other, she probably helped even earlier.
“What do you mean…?”
Charlotte-san asked, puzzled.
She doesn’t suspect people much, so she wouldn’t get it.
“It’s simple. After the day Emma-chan went missing, you made sure never to go out alone again, right?”
“Yes, but…”
Exactly—normally, you’d take precautions to avoid repeating a mistake.
“So they only had one shot to make Emma-chan meet me, no room for failure. If it didn’t work, you’d take countermeasures next time. They could’ve lured her out again, but you’d notice something artificial. So they had someone at school. That day, Miyu-sensei made me organize the supply room as punishment.”
That’s why our timings home got staggered.
Plus, Miyu-sensei acted like she knew I’d bring Emma-chan.
She said Charlotte-san called about her missing sister, saw me with a silver-haired girl, and contacted her—but with Miyu-sensei’s personality, she’d have shared it with other teachers and rushed to Charlotte-san.
Yet she stayed in the staff room, which was odd.
So she must’ve known.
That if she waited, I’d bring Emma-chan.
My guess is she got word when I found Emma-chan and timed her call to Charlotte-san.
“You asked Miyu-sensei to hold me back and buy time, right? But I can’t see her trusting and following someone she’s not close to. So you knew her from before, didn’t you?”
“…”
Sophia-san stared at my face, observing.
And then—
“You’re really something, Akihito-kun… You’ve grown up so well.”
She smiled wryly, as if confirming my guess.
“Let me say one thing first. Hanazawa-sensei helped because she knew it’d benefit you, Akihito-kun. Not just because we knew each other.”
With that preface, she continued with a wry smile.
“And another thing. I knew Hanazawa-sensei, but we weren’t exactly close. She’s got her own circumstances. So it was Kanon-chan who asked her this time.”
So Kanon-san’s the one connected to Miyu-sensei.
Miyu-sensei mentioned Kanon-san by name, and calling her by her first name shows how close they were.
The only other person she calls by first name is Charlotte-san.
“But there’s one thing that bugs me… I was with Kanon-san almost all the time as a kid. Like, every day until I had to return to the facility.”
Even for studies or lessons, Kanon-san kept me with her.
So we were hardly apart as kids.
The only time they could’ve met was between night and morning when I was at the facility—but she never mentioned anything like that.
“When did they even meet…?”
“Hmm, well, that’s not something I can casually talk about, and it’s probably hard for Kanon-chan and Hanazawa-sensei to discuss, so I think it’s best not to touch it.”
Seems there’s some heavy stuff there too.
Kanon-san’s the one who recommended my current high school.
She convinced me it was the easiest place to meet quotas, far from home with few acquaintances.
Akira takes an hour by train from our hometown, and Kousaka-san probably does too.
Since it’s a place you’d only attend if you went out of your way, there’s almost no one from my middle school—that’s why she told me to go there.
But was that all a front, and the real reason was because Miyu-sensei teaches there…?
Nah, maybe I’m overthinking it…?
“Let’s get back on track. We know it was selfish to force you two together. But we thought it was for your sake. Please believe that much.”
Sophia-san gave a weak smile, looking at me and Charlotte-san.
I could tell her words weren’t a lie.
“I don’t doubt that, but…”
I glanced at Charlotte-san’s face.
Sure enough, she was staring at her mom, clearly dissatisfied.
She’s holding back from saying it, probably so she doesn’t interrupt our talk.
“Staying away from home so long—was that for us too?”
“If I came home, you two couldn’t hang out at Akihito-kun’s place, right? Especially Lottie—she’s too shy to visit a boy’s room if I’m around.”
Charlotte-san’s pretty shy.
With her mom watching, she’d probably struggle to come to my room.
Staying over late would be out of the question too.
Seems that’s why Sophia-san stayed away.
Plus, she probably didn’t want to run into me before our bond deepened, revealing it was all staged.
If we’d known it was artificial, it’d have put some distance between me and Charlotte-san.
“Sorry for all the questions… But I bet Charlotte-san and Emma-chan felt lonely. What did you think about that?”
I get why Sophia-san did it.
But it doesn’t account for Charlotte-san and Emma-chan’s feelings.
Why she’d do it despite ignoring her daughters’ feelings—whether Charlotte-san can forgive her depends on that.
“I thought Akihito-kun would fill that gap. And feeling lonely would make them seek something else to fill it, right?”
So she calculated that Charlotte-san and Emma-chan would rely on me more…
“Why go that far… Why did you want us together so badly? There’s a reason, isn’t there?”
I kinda get their intentions.
But the timing doesn’t add up.
Above all, what they did felt rushed.
Like they had to get us together right away.
That’s why I think they used such forceful methods.
“The reason I wanted you together was to keep my promise to Akihito-kun. To welcome you as a son, I chose a natural way.”
Sophia-san answered with a gentle smile, no hint of guilt.
Unlike her weak smile earlier, she didn’t think it was unavoidable.
“Even if it meant ignoring Charlotte-san’s feelings?”
“Of course, I thought about Lottie’s happiness too. Kanon-chan kept me updated on how you were growing up. I was sure you’d support Lottie and make her happy.”
Sophia-san replied confidently, like she was certain.
From her expression, she didn’t seem to be lying.
She genuinely considered Charlotte-san’s happiness.
That also means she trusted Kanon-san’s words that much.
“And—”
Sophia-san paused, her face turning serious.
Then, she slowly spoke.
“Lottie’s been suffering over her dad all this time. I wanted Akihito-kun to help her. As the one involved, no matter how much I said, it wouldn’t reach her heart.”
Finishing, Sophia-san lowered her eyes sadly.
—Ah, I knew it.
Sophia-san doesn’t hate Charlotte-san.
She’s been trying to help her daughter, who blames herself for her dad’s death.
I’m relieved it wasn’t just for me that Charlotte-san got dragged into this, and that Sophia-san truly cares for her.
Glancing at Charlotte-san, she looked shaken.
No wonder—she’d thought her mom resented her all this time.
“Mom, you don’t hate me…?”
Hesitantly, Charlotte-san asked Sophia-san.
With a warm smile, Sophia-san replied.
“There’s no way I’d hate my precious daughter. I’m proud of your dad for protecting you in that accident. It’s the fault of the car that ran the light—there’s no reason for you to feel bad, Lottie.”
With those loving, warm words from her mother—
Charlotte-san’s face cleared, like a weight had lifted, and she cried like a child.
I’m so glad, really.
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