Chapter 2 The end of school and the footsteps of the past
The day of the closing ceremony that marked the end of the second semester—I saw that scene again after a long time.
After the final homeroom ended, I was walking down the hallway with Sota and Kaito when I noticed a senior guy cornering Aina at the entrance to the neighboring classroom.
“Hey, Shinjo-san, I’m begging you here.”
“Not interested, sorry~.”
A fairly good-looking senpai was trying to talk to Aina, and she was responding with an air of complete disinterest… It was a sight that, honestly, didn’t sit well with me.
It wasn’t clear yet if he was confessing or had some other motive, but knowing Aina wouldn’t make that kind of face for no reason, I was already convinced it was either a confession or an invitation to hang out.
“Shinjo-san really is popular, huh,” Sota remarked.
“With a beauty like that, it’s no surprise. Still, she looks annoyed—wish he’d back off instead of pestering her in a place like this,” Kaito added.
It seemed the two of them were thinking the same thing I was.
I glanced into the classroom, but Arisa wasn’t there at the moment… With that in mind, I decided to head toward Aina.
“Oh? Going to rescue her?” Sota asked.
“Nice one. I’ll tag along, aniki,” Kaito grinned.
Aniki? What’s with calling me “big brother”…? Still, it caught me off guard.
Neither Sota nor Kaito knew anything about the connection between me and the girls, so I’d assumed they’d find it odd that I was stepping in like this. Yet here they were, walking beside me without a hint of hesitation.
Even if they weren’t here, there’s no way I’d have ignored the situation—but having them with me would probably put extra pressure on that senpai.
“Ai… Shinjo-san,” I called out, catching myself before saying her first name.
The senpai shot us an obviously irritated look as we appeared out of nowhere, but Aina’s face lit up with a blooming smile when she saw me—and it seemed she picked up on my intent from the formal address.
“Finally, you’re here, Domoto-kun and friends. So, senpai, I’ve got prior plans—please excuse yourself.”
“Huh? But you said you didn’t have anything going on…”
“I said I didn’t have plans with you. I do have plans with them, though.”
“…Tch.”
The senpai glared at us sharply, then jogged off in frustration.
With him gone, Aina let out a relieved sigh, and even her classmates seemed to relax as if a weight had lifted. I couldn’t help but think—if they’re making faces like that, why didn’t they step in to help her? Maybe that’s just my selfishness talking. Either way, I was glad I’d managed to help.
“Hehe, sorry about that, you three. It was improvised, but I ended up saying I had plans with you♪,” Aina said with a playful tone.
“N-No, no! It’s totally fine!” Sota stammered.
“It was to help Shinjo-san, after all!” Kaito added.
These guys… Aina giggled at their reactions before turning her gaze to me and saying, “But seeing Domoto-kun at the front of the group… Does that mean you came to rescue me first? If so, thanks♪.”
“Uh… yeah, something like that,” I replied.
And Aina… she seemed to genuinely enjoy this exchange.
For the record, I was planning to visit their house again today, so we’d be meeting up in the evening.
“Hayato, let’s get going,” Sota urged.
“We’ll run out of time to hang out,” Kaito added.
“Got it. Well, Shinjo-san, we’re heading out.”
“See you later? Thanks for helping me♪,” she said cheerfully.
As Sota and Kaito stepped away, Aina subtly leaned in close, timing it perfectly.
“You really are cool, Hayato-kun♪.”
“…Hearing you say that makes me happy. Even though we’re keeping our relationship under wraps, I couldn’t just stand by watching some guy hit on you, Aina.”
“~♪♪ Then when you come over tonight, let me spoil you tons, okay? In return, you’ve got to spoil me too♡.”
With that irresistible request and suggestion in my ears, I chased after the two of them.
After meeting up at the shoe lockers and discussing where to head next, the topic naturally shifted to Aina.
“Still, you two really stuck with me back there, huh?” I said.
“Well, yeah. Knowing you, I figured you wanted to help Shinjo-san,” Sota replied.
“Exactly. You’re too nice for your own good, Hayato—a real softie!” Kaito chimed in.
“…I see. Thanks, both of you.”
It seemed Sota and Kaito could tell what I was thinking even without me saying it aloud. They grinned and slung their arms around my shoulders.
“Hey, get off me!” I protested.
“What’s the big deal?” Sota laughed.
“Don’t be shy!” Kaito teased.
I’m not shy—it’s just stifling!
Even after they let go, their smirks didn’t fade. I mentally labeled them as pains in the neck, but we still enjoyed the rest of our time together… until it was time to part ways.
While Kaito went to the bathroom, leaving me alone with Sota, he suddenly said, “Seeing someone in trouble and stepping in to help… It kinda reminded me of when you reached out to me, Hayato.”
“What’s with the sudden nostalgia?” I asked, sipping my juice and glancing at him.
He looked up at the sky and continued, “Back when we started school, I couldn’t fit in with the class. You were the one who talked to me first. That was you helping me too, right? I was seriously happy about it.”
Now that he mentioned it, I remembered. A little while after the entrance ceremony, I’d noticed Sota struggling to blend in and struck up a conversation. That’s how our friendship began.
“You were like that, and Kaito was the same way, huh?” I said.
“Yeah, totally. Unlike me, the otaku, he looked like a straight-up delinquent!” Sota laughed.
Kaito had also been an outsider in class, and I’d reached out to him too. Back then, I never imagined we’d end up this close. Looking back now, I don’t regret a single thing I did—because it led to me gaining friends I treasure so much.
“…Haha,” I chuckled.
“…Heh,” Sota grinned back.
It felt a little ticklish but not unpleasant.
When Kaito returned from the bathroom and asked what was up, we filled him in on the details. He clutched his chest and crouched down dramatically.
“Stop it… The lone wolf I pretended to be back then is dead!” he groaned.
“Now that you mention it, didn’t you say something like, ‘Stay away from me, or you’ll get hurt’?” Sota teased.
“Stooooop!” Kaito wailed, his voice echoing without a care for who might hear.
Sota and I felt a twinge of guilt for digging up his dark past, but it’s because we’re so close that we can joke like this. I considered escalating the teasing but decided against it.
“Oh, by the way,” Kaito said, recovering.
“Hm?” I responded.
“Hayato, about Shinjo-san… I mean the younger one. Are you two acquainted or something?”
“…Where’d that come from all of a sudden?” I asked, turning to Sota.
He crossed his arms, humming thoughtfully before continuing, “Just a hunch, you know? It’s rare to see that Shinjo-san chatting with a guy like that. Sure, she’s in another class, so it might just be my imagination, but you and Shinjo-san seemed pretty familiar for people who’ve never interacted before.”
“…I see.”
He had a point—it could definitely be interpreted that way. From the conversation, it seemed he thought we were casual acquaintances at most… but I was surprised by how observant Sota could be.
“Well, it’s just a thought, so don’t worry about it. You’re one of us in the ‘non-popular alliance,’ Hayato—no way something like that could happen!” he laughed.
“Hey, I never signed up for any alliance like that,” I shot back.
“Neither did I!” Kaito protested.
What the hell is this “non-popular alliance”? First I’ve heard of it…
As Sota cackled, both Kaito and I gave him looks of indignation—then it happened.
“Huh? Could that be Domoto-kun?” a familiar voice called from behind.
“…What?” I turned around, startled.
There stood a group of girls, and the one at the front jogged a memory—it was my ex-girlfriend, someone I’d seen before.
“…Saeki,” I muttered.
Saeki Aika… I never thought I’d run into her face-to-face like this. I’d already moved on, but it still threw me off a little.
“Who…?” Sota asked.
“Oh, isn’t that the girl from the other school we saw before?” Kaito whispered.
My name being called had piqued their curiosity… Now, how do I explain this?
Saying she’s my ex would only fuel Sota’s teasing, especially after our earlier talk. As I mulled it over, Saeki chuckled and spoke up.
“We actually went out back in middle school. Right?”
“…Huh?” I blinked.
“What!?” Sota and Kaito exclaimed in unison.
Their piercing stares locked onto me. I didn’t deny it, and they grabbed my shoulders tightly. They’d been nervous around Aina earlier, but now that they knew I’d had a girlfriend, they were all over me!
“No, it’s true, but it barely lasted a few days…”
“Even so, the fact you had a girlfriend is real!” Sota shouted.
“You traitor! Take this! And this!” Kaito added, slapping my back.
I was about to tell them to knock it off when Saeki spoke again, her tone nostalgic.
“Like Domoto-kun said, it didn’t last long at all. Maybe we just weren’t that compatible… It wasn’t exactly fun, was it?”
Her words hit me clearly. I wasn’t sure how to respond—being told outright it “wasn’t fun” stung a bit, but she wasn’t wrong. I’d felt the same way, like it wasn’t what I’d expected.
We’d dated, sure, but if we both felt that way, it’s no wonder it didn’t last. In hindsight, ending it quickly without lingering baggage was probably for the best.
“Hayato…” Sota murmured.
“Uh…” Kaito faltered.
The two who’d been relentlessly teasing me stumbled over the awkward atmosphere. I gave a wry smile—it was bound to turn out like this.
Saeki’s friends behind her looked uncomfortable too… As I wondered what to do, she continued.
“But… it’s been a while, hasn’t it? We didn’t date long, but running into an ex feels kinda strange.”
“Haha… Yeah, it does,” I agreed.
If she knew I had a girlfriend now, I wondered what she’d think. Would she ask about her, or not care at all? Not that it mattered.
This was just a chance encounter, nothing more. Neither of us had much else to say, so we bid farewell almost simultaneously.
“See you,” she said.
“Yeah, take care,” I replied.
“Mm-hm.”
She waved lightly and left with her friends. Iaspergers syndrome
I watched her back until she disappeared, and then Sota and Kaito slung their arms around me again.
“What now? More teasing?” I asked.
They shook their heads. “Nah… Just thinking how every meeting comes with a goodbye,” Sota said.
“Yeah… You’ve been through a breakup, huh, Hayato,” Kaito added.
“Oi, don’t give me those looks.”
I could tell they were genuinely worried, but I didn’t need pity over an ex! If it’d been a gushy love story, their reactions might’ve been different… but it wasn’t a bad encounter.
(At least… she didn’t badmouth me or anything. It stung a little to hear “it wasn’t fun,” though.)
Nothing I could do about it now. I broke away from them with a burst of energy.
“Alright! Time to head home!”
“Yeah!”
“Got it!”
Still, they seemed to think having and losing a girlfriend was some tragic tale, fussing over me until we parted ways. It was a bit lonely, sure, but I’m not hung up on it anymore—especially since I’ve got someone I love now. I’m fine.
“Stuff like this makes me scared to get a girlfriend,” Sota said.
“If it doesn’t work out, that’s that… but if it was my first, I’d probably mope for days,” Kaito agreed.
Oh no, the guys who’d been dying for girlfriends were now terrified of love. Hardly anyone marries their first partner—that’s a rare jackpot.
“Every meeting has a goodbye…” There’s truth in that.
Somehow, they ended up more bummed out than me, though they were back to normal by the time we split up.
“See ya!”
“Let’s hang out over winter break! We’ll plan something!”
“Sure thing~.”
Waving them off, I headed to the Shinjo house. Alone now, my mind naturally drifted back to the earlier exchange.
“…It really has been a while. I’d caught a glimpse of her before, but still.”
Like I’d thought back then, we’d both grown from middle school to high school. Not years and years, so not drastic changes, but little by little, we were becoming adults. Talking to her again, she was cute.
“…Our dating started so randomly.”
It came up in a chat with friends—who did we think was cute? I didn’t have a crush or anything; I just named Saeki because I thought she was pretty. Somehow, that got back to her, we started talking more, and it just… happened.
“Domoto-kun! Let’s walk home together!”
Back then, we were so giddy at first. She’d said I was her first boyfriend too, which gave us plenty to talk about… but eventually, we both felt something was off. It was impulsive, and maybe we’d romanticized love too much, only to crash into reality.
“…”
I’ll say it again—I’m not hung up on it. But meeting Saeki again left me a little sentimental, and I suddenly craved Arisa and Aina’s comfort.
“…‘Not fun,’ huh?”
Okay, maybe I’m dwelling a bit.
Do Arisa and Aina feel that way about me? Do they think I’m boring? I scolded myself for doubting them like that.
“What are you thinking, Domoto Hayato? If you’re gonna stew, focus on the future instead!!”
Yelling that to myself, I broke into a run.
Cold wind whipped past, snow flurrying lightly as I dashed—panting but unstoppable—until I reached the Shinjo house.
I rang the bell, and footsteps thundered inside before Aina flung the door open.
“Welcome back, Hayato-kun♪.”
“Just got here, Aina… Huh?”
I glanced past her and noticed Arisa’s shoes were missing. Sakuna-san’s were gone too—work, probably—but what about Arisa? Aina caught on and explained.
“Mom got home early today, so she and Nee-san went shopping together.”
“Oh, I see.”
“So it’s just us for now♪.”
“Guess we’ll enjoy some alone time, then.”
She nodded eagerly, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward the living room. With Arisa and Sakuna-san out, it felt even bigger than usual.
As Aina went to get juice, I watched her back and recalled earlier… and why I’d run here to see them.
“Aina.”
“Hm?”
I hugged her from behind, wrapping my arms around her waist. I’d worked up a sweat running—maybe I smelled, maybe it was gross—but I couldn’t let go.
“Something happen?” she asked.
“…Sort of. Nothing I’m stuck on, though.”
“Okay. Hey, Hayato-kun, let’s cool off with a drink first.”
“Yeah… Thanks.”
I let go and took the glass she handed me. The cold juice soothed my heated body and dry throat—perfect.
“Phew!”
“Nice chug♪,” she teased.
After downing it, I set the glass down. Aina spread her arms, waiting.
“So, Hayato-kun, ready to let me spoil you?”
I didn’t even nod—just dove into her embrace. Her open arms and the softness of her chest enveloped me, tempting me to stay forever.
“This’ll keep going all winter break?”
“Yep. Not just me and Nee-san—Mom too. Hehe, like I promised, we won’t let you get bored. No way we’ll let you feel lonely.”
“…You don’t have to say stuff like that—I’m fine.”
“I’m gonna anyway♪ Oh, but can we ask one thing too?”
“I’ll do anything!”
“Anything!?”
“…You know that meme too, huh, Aina?”
It’s a bit of an online trend… Anyway, a good boyfriend’s gotta respond with something smooth.
So, stroking her hair, I said, “I feel the same. If you say you’re lonely, I’ll come running. Call me anytime.”
“Ah… Got it♪ Love you, Hayato-kun♪.”
I’d tell Arisa the same, of course. Just like they think of me, I think of them—it’s only natural. And when I think of them, I think of someone else too—Sakuna-san.
“I wanna do something for Sakuna-san too. She’s helped me a ton, and she’s your mom, Aina. She’s important to me now.”
She’s told me to call her “Mom” anytime I want—she cares that much. So it’s not obligation; I genuinely want to do something for her too, right?
As I thought about Sakuna-san, Aina stared at me, dazed.
“What’s up?”
“…I just got a little flutter. I love that serious look.”
“Uh…”
Was I that serious?
She kept gazing, her hand resting on my thigh, stroking it. I couldn’t tell if she realized, but paired with her expression, it felt… a little suggestive.
(Ah… They don’t have a foot massager here.)
Of course they don’t—I mentally facepalmed.
A glance at the clock showed it was nearing 5:30. Arisa and Sakuna-san weren’t back yet, and the air between me and Aina was getting risky.
“Nervous?” she asked.
“…A little.”
“Haha, you’re so cute, Hayato-kun♪.”
Her smile deepened as she leaned in closer. A light peck on the lips, then she pressed her face to my chest, whispering softly.
“You’re not just here to take—you wanna give back too, right, Hayato-kun?”
“Yeah… That’s right.”
We’d talked about this before, and it still held true. Aina lifted her face, her earlier sultriness replaced by a gentle, earnest look.
“That’s why we keep falling for you more and more. There’s no limit to how much we’ll love you, so brace yourself. Me, Nee-san… even Mom—we’ll keep telling you how glad we are to have met you.”
“Aina… Yeah, thank you. I feel the same.”
Honestly… I didn’t need to worry at all.
Saeki’s words still lingered, but if I’ve got people this precious, they’re all that matter.
“Still, Arisa and Sakuna-san are taking a while, huh?”
“Yeah… Hope nothing’s wrong—”
As Aina murmured worriedly, I pulled away reflexively—not because I didn’t want to be close, but because her unease made me restless.
“…Am I overthinking?”
“Haha, I wanna say yes, but after how we met, once we get worried, it’s hard to shake, huh?”
That robbery… that assault—those horrors better not strike them again. But because of that, we can’t help fretting when they’re late.
“So, what do we do, my lady?” I teased.
“Hmm, what indeed, my knight?” she replied.
“‘Knight’ doesn’t suit me at all—stop it.”
Too antsy to sit still, we decided to call them… but just then, Arisa and Sakuna-san walked in, arms full of shopping bags.
“Oh…”
“You’re late, you two!” Aina scolded.
“Sorry,” Arisa said with a wry smile. “With New Year’s coming, things get hectic. We stocked up and it took longer.”
Fair enough—that explained it. I needed to shop too, but living alone, I could handle it tomorrow or something.
Relieved our worries were baseless, Aina and I sighed softly.
“You were worried about us, huh? What a sweet little sister,” Arisa teased.
“Of course! You can be so airheaded sometimes, Nee-san.”
“‘Airheaded’ is uncalled for,” Arisa retorted.
Watching them bicker playfully as they headed to the living room, Sakuna-san smiled beside me, hand to her mouth.
“When we realized we’d be late, Arisa mentioned it. After what happened, she thought you two might worry.”
“She was right,” I said.
“Yes. Seems we worried not just Aina, but you too, Hayato-kun.”
Well, yeah—I must’ve looked it.
Sakuna-san stroked my head with a motherly warmth.
“It’s okay. I won’t bring up that incident lightly, but as a mother, I’ll protect my girls.”
She looked so cool, like a strong, mature woman. Without thinking, I overlapped her words.
“That’s awesome, Sakuna-san. But you know if anything happened to you, we’d all be crushed, right? Me included—I’d hate it if something happened to you.”
“…Hayato-kun.”
It’s not just Arisa and Aina who matter to me—Sakuna-san, their mom, does too.
“I was just telling Aina about you. You’re important to me now, Sakuna-san—someone I wanna protect, just like them.”
“…!”
Looking into her eyes, she glanced down, flustered. She’s way older than me, but her youthful looks and this reaction? Adorable.
(Sakuna-san’s late husband… He must’ve found her irresistibly cute. Probably like how I feel about Arisa and Aina.)
And… this might sound creepy, but depending on how things went, I could’ve fallen for her instead… maybe?
“You’re… cool, Hayato-kun,” she said.
“Just saying what I feel. To you, a kid like me might not seem reliable—”
“No way!” she interrupted, snapping her head up.
She gripped my hands tight, staring at me up close—so close I stepped back once, twice. But she kept closing the gap.
“S-Sakuna-san?”
I put my hands on her shoulders, and she finally stopped, letting out a cute “Eep!” before hugging me.
She pressed her cheek to my chest for a moment, then looked up with a soft, maternal smile.
“You’re plenty reliable. Arisa and Aina trust you deeply, and I’ve come to rely on you too, Hayato-kun, from all the time we’ve spent together.”
She poked my cheek playfully, then pulled my head into her ample chest. That gentle softness wrapped around my face—not embarrassing, but comforting. So calming.
“Is this that ‘babumi’ thing…?”
“Babumi…? Hehe, do you wanna be my baby, Hayato-kun?”
…A suggestion like that, even jokingly, from someone like Sakuna-san? Uh, dangerously tempting.
After a bit, she let me go.
(T/N: "Babumi" (バブみ) is a Japanese slang term that combines "babu" (バブ), which mimics a baby's babbling, and the suffix "-mi" (み), which indicates a characteristic or quality. It refers to a person's ability to evoke a motherly or nurturing feeling, making others want to be taken care of like a baby.)
"…Ah."
What was that déjà vu? It was because Sakuna-san resembled two people.
She resembled Arisa and Aina… Of course, that’s only natural since she’s their mother, but what I felt wasn’t just about appearances—it was her way of being.
(The sharp, put-together part reminds me of Arisa, and the sweet, almost melting allure feels like Aina… That’s the vibe I’m getting.)
A hybrid of Arisa and Aina, maybe?
Add to that Sakuna-san’s own warmth and mature composure… Yeah, this woman might just be invincible.
"Hey, you two, how long are you going to stay over there?"
"That’s right! Wait, Mom, why are you trying to seduce Hayato-kun?!"
Called by the two of them, Sakuna-san and I exchanged glances and gave wry smiles.
Just as I started heading toward them, Sakuna-san tapped my shoulder lightly—tap tap.
"What’s up?"
"Winter break is starting soon, but my daughters and I will always be waiting for you, Hayato-kun. So if you ever feel like coming over here, you’re welcome anytime. Though, I suppose the girls will probably end up going to your place more often."
It was an incredibly generous offer.
Of course, I’d let them know in advance if I were coming over, but the way she phrased it… Did that mean I could just show up out of the blue if I suddenly wanted to see them? Maybe?
"Thank you so much, really."
"Hehe, you’re welcome♪"
She’s such an adorably charming person—watching Sakuna-san, that’s what I thought.
▼▽
"So, what were you talking about with Mom?"
After finishing our baths and dinner, I asked Hayato-kun that question.
It didn’t seem like they’d had some secret conversation, and Hayato-kun answered without hesitation.
"I told her about what you and I talked about earlier, Aina. How I got worried about Arisa and Sakuna-san, and how much I care about Sakuna-san too. She said she relies on me… And, well, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but she told me I could come over to your place anytime I wanted."
"That’s obviously a good thing!"
"Wow, instant answer…"
Of course it is! If he lets us know, we’ll naturally make it work, and even if he suddenly shows up because he misses us, he’d be more than welcome!
Sure, it’d be a shame if we weren’t home, but it’s rare for both of us to be out at the same time… Mom’s wrapping up work early too, so I doubt Hayato-kun would ever come over and be disappointed.
"So come over whenever you want. Or invite us over too, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Aina."
…Thump.
Feeling the pleasant flutter in my chest, I snuggled up to Hayato-kun, wrapping my arms around his.
"Is this okay?"
"Of course. But, you know… Both you and Arisa really love doing this, huh?"
"Yeah… I don’t know if it’d be the same with a boyfriend since I’ve never had one, but I love clinging to you like this. I bet Nee-san feels the same… I mean, we do it because we like it, right?"
I absolutely adore clinging to him.
It’s limited to someone I trust, of course, but just doing this makes my heart feel warm and happy.
"You like it too, don’t you, Hayato-kun? I mean, having my boobs pressed against you like this?"
"…Well, yeah."
"Ehehe♪"
When I pressed my chest—slightly bigger than Nee-san’s—against him, Hayato-kun’s face turned red, and he looked away, flustered.
He doesn’t need to avert his eyes like that anymore.
We’re already dating, so doing even more than this would be fine… Ugh, I want to have sex with Hayato-kun… I want to get pregnant with his baby.
Fidgeting with my legs, I kept staring at Hayato-kun… He stood up, saying his throat was dry, and left the room.
"…Hehe, he’s so cute, seriously."
Was he really thirsty, or just embarrassed? Either way, Hayato-kun is cool and adorable, and I’m completely smitten.
"…It might be rude to say this, but Hayato-kun worrying about Nee-san and Mom was so cool."
This evening, when I let slip that I was worried about them, I got anxious myself—what a mess—but Hayato-kun’s eyes sharpened instantly. He was even more concerned about Nee-san and Mom than I was. I was captivated by that, completely charmed by his kindness shining through.
"I’m in trouble… Lately, all I can think about is Hayato-kun. Every time I do, my body heats up, and I want him so badly."
My hands almost wandered to my chest and hips, but I snapped out of it, shaking my head furiously.
Where’s Hayato-kun? Nee-san too? Trying to calm myself with those thoughts, I remembered something that bothered me.
"Hayato-kun’s expression… Was I imagining it?"
When he arrived earlier, he looked a little down for a moment.
It was just a fleeting thing, and he hasn’t shown anything like that since we’ve been together all day… But it still nagged at me.
"…Either way, what I need to do doesn’t change. Like I declared, I’m just going to enjoy this winter break with Hayato-kun."
That’s my wish… our wish.
Even as I thought about it seriously, the idea of spending the night with Hayato-kun like before turned my mind into a swirl of pink fantasies.
"…But he’s taking too long. I bet he’s chatting with Nee-san in the living room without me!"
If that’s the case, I’ve got to join them!
Stepping out of the warm room into the chilly hallway wasn’t unbearable since it’s still inside the house.
On my way to the living room, for some reason, my eyes drifted toward the bathroom.
Everyone’s already bathed, so no one should be using it… Oh, maybe Mom’s doing laundry?
"…"
I crept closer without making a sound and saw the lights were on.
The living room was nearby, and as expected, I could hear Hayato-kun and Nee-san talking, but I ignored that and headed toward the bathroom…
"…Mom?"
"Hyaaah!?"
It was Mom in the changing area.
When I called out, she let out a shriek I’d never heard before. Turning around, her chest—bigger than mine or Nee-san’s—jiggled as her face turned bright red. She froze, clutching the laundry.
"Why’d you freak out so much?"
"I-It’s nothing! You just startled me by calling out suddenly!"
"Really…? Hmm?"
It’s super rare to see Mom this flustered.
She was holding my laundry, Nee-san’s, and Hayato-kun’s… Nothing weird about that.
Oh, wait… Could it be—aha, I get it now!
"Mom, you’re embarrassed about touching Hayato-kun’s underwear, aren’t you?!"
When I said "underwear" outright, Mom’s face went even redder.
Hayato-kun’s stuff was mixed in with ours… Oh, but I guess we’d blush too if we saw it, so maybe it’s not that strange?
Unlike me or Nee-san, Mom doesn’t hate men or anything… Maybe she remembered something from when Dad was still alive.
"Mom."
"Aina?"
I slipped behind her and hugged her.
"Me, Nee-san… and Hayato-kun are all here for you. So you’re okay."
"Oh… Did you think I was getting sentimental? I appreciate the misunderstanding, though…"
"Misunderstanding?"
"No, it’s nothing. Thank you, Aina."
"Yeah!"
I love Hayato-kun, I love Nee-san, and I love Mom too!
Her face was still red, but she looked at me with that gentle expression I adore… I want to be a mom like her someday. If I have Hayato-kun’s baby in the future, I want to be this kind of mom!
"I want to be someone like you in the future, Mom."
"Hehe, what brought that on?"
"You’re so kind, Mom. If I have a kid someday, I want to do the same for them!"
"A kid… With Hayato-kun, maybe?"
"Yeah, yeah! I want to have one soon♪"
Mom gave a wry smile at that.
"That’s a wonderful thing, but it’s also a tough one. Keep that in mind, okay?"
"I know. Don’t worry."
I’m not planning to go overboard… Really, I mean it!?
Even if I get the chance to do that with Hayato-kun, I’ll stick to the boundaries we should keep. Nee-san and I swore to that, and above all, I’d never ignore Hayato-kun’s feelings.
(Well… teasing or tempting him is fair game, though!)
As I thought about that, I was struck again by how soft Mom’s body felt while I hugged her.
Being parent and child, we’ve hugged each other a lot—both ways.
They say your body starts declining after your thirties, but Mom still looks young even as she ages. If anything, she’s getting more captivating… Amazing.
"…Hey!"
I grabbed Mom’s bouncy, marshmallow-like boobs and gave them a squeeze.
The squishy, addictive feel was so satisfying, and Mom didn’t stop me—she just let me do it.
"Nee-san and I had a moment like this before. Back then, she was overthinking things with Hayato-kun, so I told her to soften up her mind like these boobs."
"Is that really how it works?"
"Haha, Nee-san said something similar♪"
I think she took my advice to heart, because she’s gotten so much more honest.
Maybe I’m just too carefree, but… Nee-san’s so lively now, and that’s a good thing, right?
"Both you and Arisa have changed since meeting Hayato-kun, haven’t you?"
"Yeah! But haven’t you changed too, Mom? You seem so happy lately."
"Do I…? Maybe you’re right. All thanks to Hayato-kun, I suppose."
It’s not just me and Nee-san—Hayato-kun’s influenced Mom too.
He’s become someone we can’t live without… So we’re going to cherish this bond forever.
"You talked with Hayato-kun when he got here today, right? He had this cool look in his eyes, ready to go find you and Nee-san. He really treasures you, Mom—don’t forget that!"
"Oh… You’re right. I’ll keep that in mind."
Mom smiled, a little shy but clearly pleased.
After that, I headed to the living room.
"All right, Hayato-kun! Nee-san too—the night’s still young♪"
Am I being childish, getting this excited? Whatever! It just means I’m having fun right now.
Hayato-kun, like I promised, I’m going to make this winter break a blast—so get ready!
Muttering that to myself, I let my heart race with excitement for the winter break ahead with Hayato-kun and Nee-san.
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