Chapter 4 Is your mother your maid at the end of the year?
“Well, see you later, Hayato!”
“Today was fun!”
“Same here. Catch you later!”
On the last day of winter break, I saw off Sota and Kaito, who had come over to hang out since morning.
We’d originally planned to hang out during the break, but I’d been so busy that I couldn’t find the time until the very last moment. Still, I was glad we managed to squeeze this in at the end.
“…Man, this winter break was really something special, huh?”
Over New Year’s, I spent time with Arisa, Aina, and Sakuna-san… and of course, just yesterday, I visited the Shinjo family and even stayed for dinner. Normally, this cold and lonely winter season was filled with warmth and wonderful moments this year—truly an amazing time.
“Mmm! Haa!”
After stretching my arms toward the sky, I headed back inside.
It was already evening, so I needed to start preparing the bath and dinner. Since I was alone tonight, I wondered what I should make to eat.
“…Hm?”
Just as I was about to head to the bathroom to fill the tub, my phone, left on the living room table, started ringing. A trendy song blared, alerting me to the call.
“Alright, alright.”
Was it Arisa? Aina? Maybe Sota or Kaito… or even Sakuna-san? Guessing who it might be, I picked up the phone and checked. It wasn’t any of them—it was Grandpa.
“Hello?”
“Oh, hello there. You doing well, Hayato?”
“Yeah, I’m doing great. You sound pretty lively yourself, Grandpa.”
We keep in touch regularly, so I already knew he was doing fine, but he’s not exactly young anymore, so I can’t help but worry a little.
“I’m doing fine. But, well…”
“What’s up?”
“This New Year’s, I didn’t get to see you, Hayato, and that made me a bit lonely.”
“…Ah.”
I gave a wry smile at that. He had a point.
Up until last year, I’d either visit them, or Grandpa and Grandma would stop by here for a bit. But this year, like I’ve said a bunch of times, I spent so much time with Arisa and the others that it just didn’t happen. It warmed my heart that he’d say he felt lonely, and I did feel a little guilty for making him feel that way. Still… it was Grandpa and Grandma who’d told me to prioritize my time with Arisa and the others since they were taking care of me.
“I wanted to at least say hello to the girls looking after you, but… I suppose that’ll have to wait for another time. I’ve heard plenty from Sakuna-san, though.”
“Seems like it. What’s Sakuna-san been saying?”
“She only ever says good things about you. Grandma and I just laugh and say, ‘That’s our grandson for you.’”
“Hmm… I kinda want to hear the details.”
I’d given Sakuna-san Grandpa and Grandma’s contact info a while back. Thanks to that, she keeps them updated on how I’m doing, and it seems like Grandpa and Grandma really enjoy talking to her. They’ve built a pretty solid relationship.
“When I heard you stood up to a robber, it gave me quite a scare…”
“About that… well, the police chewed me out plenty for it. But… if I hadn’t stepped in back then, I can’t help but think—”
“I get it. It was reckless, no doubt, but I’m not mad—proud of you, Hayato.”
“Yeah.”
Sure, Grandpa and Grandma might spoil me a bit, but that doesn’t mean they never get upset. This time, though, they probably let it slide because I already know I overdid it—and because someone was saved as a result.
“Grandpa, I know people might have different opinions on it. But I don’t think I did anything wrong. I just wanted to say that.”
“I understand. There’s no absolute right answer here, but I respect your choice, alright?”
“Haha, thanks.”
“Mm-hmm. Getting thanked by my grandson sure feels good!”
I could hear Grandpa chuckling heartily on the other end of the line—“Hoh hoh hoh.”
We kept talking for a while after that, but at the very end, Grandpa left me with these words:
“Talking to Sakuna-san reminds me of Kasumi… It’s partly because they’re around the same age, but there’s something similar about them. Sakuna-san said it too, but maybe you should let yourself lean on her a little every now and then, huh?”
Kasumi—Mom’s name.
“…Yeah, I know.”
Even without being told, I feel like I already rely on Sakuna-san quite a bit. She’s even pointed it out herself, and there’ve been times I almost reflexively called her “Mom.” Still, consciously trying to lean on her more feels a little embarrassing.
After that, we promised to talk again soon and ended the call.
“Man, so many people care about me, huh… I’ve gotta keep living my best!”
“Keep living my best”—it sounds a bit dramatic just saying it. But… I’m confident that this winter break deepened my bond with Arisa and Aina even more. And I’ve got a feeling tougher days are ahead—not in a bad way, mind you, but in the sense that their charm’s gonna keep throwing me for a loop. A luxurious problem to have, really.
“Oh, crap—standing around like this is just eating up time.”
Snapping out of it, I took a bath and whipped up dinner in a flash.
Helping out with meals at the Shinjo house has paid off—I wouldn’t say my cooking skills are anything amazing, but they’ve improved a little. Even my knife work’s starting to look pretty decent, I think.
After all that, I found myself doing some strength training in my room.
“One, two, three… phew!”
Lately, when I’ve got time alone, I’ve been working out more.
I’m not getting fat or anything, and I’m not weak, but I just figured I’d like to build up my strength a bit—maybe it’s a little bit of pride talking. Guys always wanna be strong and cool, right?
“A little more… and I’ll call it a night.”
On the last night of winter break, I wondered if I was the only one spending it doing push-ups… With that thought, I kept going just enough not to break a sweat, though my breathing got heavier.
“Haa… hoo… not bad, huh?”
Outside of gym class, I don’t really exercise much, so doing this regularly might not be a bad idea. Maybe even hitting up a gym wouldn’t hurt… Sota’d probably say no, but dragging Kaito along could be fun.
“…Oh.”
After finishing my workout and thinking about hitting the sack, something caught my eye.
That smug-looking pumpkin headgear, still glaring at me like always. I stood up, walked over, and gave it a light smack.
“Thanks to you, every day’s been so happy and fun it’s almost too much—sometimes I even think, ‘Do something about this,’ but honestly, I’m grateful.”
The god of matchmaking, huh…
Well, lately I’ve started to buy into it a little… No, at this point, I can’t not acknowledge it.
“Tomorrow’s the start of the last trimester of my first year of high school—keep watching over me, alright?”
I gave the pumpkin a couple of pats before turning off the lights.
Lying in bed, I sent Arisa and Aina a goodnight message.
As soon as I hit send, it was marked as read, and replies came back at the same time.
“Good night, I love you, Hayato-kun.”
“Night! Love you, Hayato-kun!”
…Geez, I’m grinning so hard my cheeks might hit the ceiling.
Not only that, but even though it’s just text, I can hear their voices clear as day in my head. And with that happy feeling, I drifted off to sleep.
▼▽
Winter break ended, and school started back up. The campus was buzzing with activity again. For us first-years, not much had changed, but the third-years were especially busy gearing up for graduation.
“Hey, where you headed?”
“Just somewhere real quick~”
After finishing lunch, I waved to Sota and the others and left the classroom.
Outside the window, everything was blanketed in white. It’d snowed in December too, but now that it was January, the wind had picked up, and the cold was really setting in.
“…Kinda chilly.”
The hallways didn’t have heating, so it was naturally cold, but still, I had one destination in mind.
Ignoring the students passing by, I opened the door to an empty classroom and stepped inside… Huh? It’s warm?
“Oh, you’re here.”
“You made it, Hayato-kun.”
“Sorry to keep you two waiting… Wait, a heater?”
“It’s cold, you know!”
W-Well, yeah, fair enough…
Normally, students don’t come into empty classrooms unless they’ve got a reason, so heating’s out of the question, let alone using a heater… Won’t we get in trouble for this?
“No need to worry. I got permission from the teacher since we wanted to do something here.”
“Oh?”
“Well, that ‘something’ is just flirting with you, Hayato-kun!”
“Of course, we didn’t say it that directly. It feels a little naughty, but maybe it’s thanks to how we usually behave?”
“Huh…”
Arisa and Aina’s good reputations among the teachers are well-known. Great grades, perfect attitudes—they’re the kind of students teachers adore, so they probably cut them some slack.
“So—”
“Come here, Hayato-kun♪”
They spread their arms, waiting for me. I walked over.
Now that I think about it, this might be the first time we’ve met up like this at school together. With that in mind, I reached out to them.
Their hands intertwined with mine, locking together tightly.
We smiled at each other, and the conversation shifted to winter break.
“This winter break was so fulfilling. I was helpful to you, right, Hayato-kun?”
“Yeah, yeah! I got to flirt with you tons, Hayato-kun, so it was the best!”
“…Yeah. It was the best winter break for me too.”
No matter how many times I think back on it, I can’t help but smile—that’s the me right now.
Since we don’t hang out much at school, we had plenty to talk about… or so I thought. But of course, when we’re together like this, something’s bound to happen.
“Huh? Is it just me, or is it kinda bright in there?”
“Yeah… Is someone inside?”
Voices came from the other side of the door.
My shoulders jolted in surprise, but Arisa quietly took my hand and led me somewhere.
“Hey, Nee-san?”
“Handle the cover-up, Aina.”
“I wanted to do that part!”
What part…?
Confused, Arisa dragged me to a spot—the cleaning supply closet. She opened the door, and we stepped inside. It was bigger than your average closet, so it wasn’t too cramped for two people… but still!
“…Arisa.”
“Hehe, this is my first time doing something like this… It’s kinda thrilling, huh♪”
Why are you so excited about this!?
It was a little dark in the closet, but between the light slipping through the cracks and my eyes adjusting, I could clearly see Arisa’s expression in front of me.
“Oh, it’s just you, Aina?”
“What’re you doing here alone?”
“I was having a little secret chat with Nee-san. She’s in the bathroom right now.”
“Hmm.”
“In a place like this, huh.”
Looks like it was some of Arisa and Aina’s classmates who came in.
If we get caught, what’ll happen…? My heart was pounding so loud it was deafening, and the situation only made it worse, piling on the tension.
(This is bad… Her scent, and this insane softness… Uooohhh!!)
This is dangerous… I had to yell in my head just to keep some semblance of calm—no, wait, I’m already way past calm, aren’t I…?
“Hayato-kun.”
Lost in thought, Arisa pressed herself even closer.
She wrapped her arms around my back, tangled her legs with mine, and pushed her full, soft chest against me, letting me feel every bit of it as it squished against my body.
“Uh, Arisa-san… could you maybe back off a little? That’d help.”
“Back off? No way, right? Ufufu♪”
Why are you so happy about this!?
Her glee was cornering me, stripping away my freedom to move. Thinking this was bad, I shifted a little—but that was a mistake in here.
“Huh?”
“Did you hear something?”
The movement made a loud thud, and I broke out in a cold sweat as I sensed someone approaching. Then Aina’s quick thinking shone through.
“What, are you gonna say there’s a ghost or something? Anyway, did you two come here for a reason?”
At that, her classmates went, “Oh, right,” raising their voices.
Still, they didn’t leave right away and kept chatting with Aina. Meanwhile, as if signaling the crisis was over, Arisa licked my earlobe.
“H-Hey—”
“Lick… slurp…”
Of course, I couldn’t make a sound, so I had no choice but to take it.
Like a switch had flipped, Arisa kept licking my earlobe, then slid her tongue down to my neck.
(…Sure, Arisa’s got a naughty side, but she’s usually so serious… Why’s she acting like this now…?)
Arisa and Aina wouldn’t just go blabbing about our relationship, so there’s gotta be a reason for this… Some intent behind it, like she’s trying to provoke something.
As I racked my brain trying to figure it out, she whispered softly.
“Hey, Hayato-kun, don’t you think I’m being a pretty bad girl right now?”
“…Yeah, a bad girl.”
“Right? I’m a woman who’s given everything to you… And the only one in the world who can do whatever he wants with me is you.”
“…And?”
What… are you getting at?
Even as she blushed with embarrassment, Arisa spoke—her tone almost like a servant begging punishment from her master, as if declaring me her absolute lord.
“I’ve been so rude to someone like you… So, Hayato-kun—no, Master—won’t you please punish this worthless girl?”
“…Arisa.”
It took me a few seconds to process her words.
To me, she’s always been a precious girl, no matter what. That’s why I’d never, ever look down on her. And yet, the aura radiating from the Arisa in front of me swept all that away, exuding a kind of magic that made me feel she belonged beneath me… Damn it, this vibe is going to ruin me.
“Hayato-kun…”
The moment her teary eyes locked onto mine, the dim space suddenly flooded with light.
“Alright, that’s enough~ Those girls are gone now.”
“Ah…”
“…Aina.”
It was Aina who opened the door, and just as she said, the classroom was empty of their two classmates.
Even though we didn’t need to hide anymore, Arisa didn’t pull away from me. Ignoring Aina’s presence, she kept her gaze on me… then gave me a quick chu kiss before finally stepping back.
“Ahh, that’s not fair!”
Following Arisa’s lead, Aina planted a kiss on my cheek too.
…Geez, I seriously thought I was done for, but somehow I made it through.
After that, we slipped back into our usual vibe. Just as we were about to say we should head back to class and part ways, something came up.
“Next month is mine and Aina’s birthday, huh.”
“Yeah… ehehe, we’re getting another year older.”
“…Hm? Birthday?”
Wait… birthday, as in that birthday, right?
Now that I think about it, I… don’t actually know Arisa and Aina’s birthdays. I never had the chance to ask, but doesn’t that make me a failure as a boyfriend?
“Hayato-kun?”
“What’s wrong?”
“No… uh, your birthday…”
Before I could finish, Arisa filled me in.
“Now that you mention it, we’ve never really talked about it, have we? Mine and Aina’s birthday is February 5th.”
“Oh…”
So, February 5th is their birthday, huh.
February 5th… futago (twins)? The word popped into my head just from the date—it kinda fits them—but it’s probably just a coincidence.
Still… a birthday, huh.
“What about you, Hayato-kun?”
“Me? Mine’s in September. Guess I’m technically older…”
For the record, my birthday’s September 15th.
(So that means our birthdays are pretty far apart… hmm.)
I’d never really had the chance to celebrate a girl’s birthday before. Sure, I’d say “happy birthday” to girls I’d chat with a little, but giving presents? That was pretty much just Mom.
“Hayato-kun? Just celebrating with us would make us happy, you know?”
“Yeah. You might be thinking about doing something big, but… um, really, it’s fine, okay?”
“…”
No… I want to do something for them.
That feeling won’t change, no matter what anyone says. Now, what should I do?
▼▽
A few days had passed since Hayato learned about the sisters’ birthday.
It was Saturday, and as usual, Hayato was visiting the Shinjo household. But today, Arisa and Aina were out, so they weren’t home. So, who was with him? The answer was simple.
“Hehe, such a cute sleeping face.”
It was Sakuna, the mother who gave birth to Arisa and Aina.
Maybe a bit of daily fatigue had caught up with him, because Hayato was fast asleep, leaning heavily against the back of the sofa. Sakuna sat right beside him, gazing at him.
“A birthday present, huh… Hehe, to think the day would come when those girls would get something from a boy… from their lover, no less. It’s really something special.”
It was sudden, but Sakuna had gotten a call from Hayato.
He’d asked for her help in preparing a present for the two of them—a request that Sakuna found adorable. It also reaffirmed what she already knew: his kind heart was always thinking of her daughters. Since they happened to be out with some close classmates today, she’d agreed to help him out.
(…A present, huh. It’s exciting… Ufufu, I can’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous.)
To Sakuna, Hayato wasn’t just her daughters’ boyfriend—he’d already become someone important to her too.
Ever since he saved her, their bond had formed. Through her daughters, she’d gotten to know him, and now she found herself wondering what she could do for him.
“…?”
At that moment, Sakuna placed a hand on her lower abdomen.
Something she hadn’t felt in a long time, something she’d forgotten, flickered through her mind. But brushing it off as her imagination, she returned her gaze to Hayato’s sleeping face.
“The girls won’t be back until evening… Should we head out after lunch to pick out a present?”
Until then, though, she wasn’t sure what to do with herself.
Normally, she’d spend time alone leisurely even without her daughters around, but having Hayato here made her restless, fidgeting a little.
“This feels like I’m fussing over a boy I like.”
Giggling to herself, she recalled how it used to be like that with her late husband too.
Lost in nostalgic thoughts for a while, Sakuna suddenly wondered if there was something more she could do for Hayato.
“Hmm… What could I do?”
Most mothers probably wouldn’t go this far for their daughters’ boyfriend, but to her, Hayato was special.
“Oh, wait a sec…”
Ping—an idea struck her.
She quietly stood up and headed to Arisa’s room. Being family, entering each other’s rooms wasn’t an issue, and neither Arisa nor Aina minded.
What caught Sakuna’s eye was a maid outfit… Yes, the very one Arisa had worn for Hayato before.
“Does Hayato-kun… like this sort of thing?”
If she asked him directly, he’d probably turn beet red.
It wasn’t like the spontaneous moment when Arisa wore it. Being asked by your girlfriend’s mom if you’re into this? Anyone would hate that. Even as she reasoned it out, Sakuna felt a little thrill.
“…Oh my, what am I doing, staring at the maid outfit my daughter bought—”
She’d heard how Arisa bought it and showed it off to Hayato.
She’d also heard how much Hayato loved it, which had cemented in her mind that he liked maid outfits. So, wanting to make him happy too, she’d ended up here—creating a scene that practically screamed, “How did it come to this?”
“…Is it a little tight?”
Ta-da!—Sakuna had slipped into the maid outfit.
Arisa had looked plenty good in it, but Sakuna pulled it off just as well… Maybe even better, with her maternal warmth and nurturing air adding an extra layer of devotion to her presence.
There was just one problem.
Even though it was Arisa’s outfit, Sakuna’s bust was bigger, and the fabric struggled to contain it… which made it, quite simply, tight.
“…Should I change? Even if I wear this, showing it to Hayato-kun—”
“Oh? Sakuna-san, in Arisa’s room?”
Just as she was about to say she wouldn’t show him, fate played a little prank.
Rubbing sleepy eyes, Hayato peeked through the half-open door. The moment he saw Sakuna in the maid outfit, he froze, blinked rapidly a few times, then widened his eyes in shock.
“S-Sakuna… san?”
“—! Uh, th-this is… um… well…”
Under his stare, Sakuna’s eyes darted around nervously.
She’d thought maybe he liked this kind of thing and wanted to try it herself… but now that he was actually looking, an overwhelming wave of embarrassment hit her.
It’d be one thing if it were her daughters, but an old lady like her in this getup? She worried it might gross Hayato out, enough to make her want to cry… Though, if that were the case, she shouldn’t have put it on in the first place. Thinking about him had just made her act without thinking.
“S-Sorry for wearing something like this—”
She started to say, moving to change right then and there, even with Hayato standing in front of her.
But—blushing himself, Hayato spoke up.
“…It looks amazing on you. It’s like the one Arisa wore, but on you, Sakuna-san, it’s got a different vibe… Anyway, it’s awesome!”
He was probably at a loss for words, thrown off by the sudden sight.
Still, Sakuna could tell those words came from his heart. Seeing him flustered yet earnestly trying to express himself made her heart flutter.
“…Thank you, Hayato-kun.”
With a soft chuckle, she gave him the warmest smile she could muster.
What would her late husband think if he saw her like this? Probably something similar to Hayato’s reaction, she figured, and that thought filled her with joy and amusement.
(Ah… Spending time with Hayato-kun really is fun. Is this all thanks to the bond that started back then?)
As she mused to herself, a faint shadow crept into her heart.
(Jealousy… Huh?)
Of what…?
Confused by her own feelings, she wondered why she’d feel jealous. It almost felt like she was envious of Arisa and Aina for monopolizing Hayato’s love—an absurd thought that left her stunned.
“Sakuna-san? Is something wrong?”
“Oh…”
He stepped closer, his gentle concern over whether something was bothering her warming her heart. Up close like this, those kind eyes she’d glimpsed through the pumpkin headgear back then hadn’t changed a bit. The Hayato from that day and the one before her now were one and the same.
“…Master.”
“…W-What?”
“Master, is there anything you’d like to do?”
Part of it was playful mischief… but more than that, her heart was racing.
Dressed in this maid outfit, she was embodying someone meant to serve. She wanted to be useful to Hayato—and, like a true mother, she wanted him to lean on her.
“S-Sakuna-san… uh…”
“Tell me anything. I’ll do whatever you want.”
She stood before him.
Her heart pounded thump-thump—she knew this was wrong, knew it was like betraying her daughters, but she couldn’t stop herself.
Hayato scratching his head and fidgeting was utterly adorable. The contrast between that and the gallant way he’d saved her or faced her daughters only made her heart race more… But then, an accident happened.
Pop!—a sound rang out.
It was like something snapping—or, to exaggerate, exploding.
“Guhhhhaaaaahhh!?”
“…Huh?”
The next instant, Hayato clutched his forehead and crumpled to the floor.
What just happened? Did he take a bullet to the head!? Sakuna’s mind raced with wild thoughts at his dramatic collapse. But she quickly realized what had happened and turned red with shame.
“!?”
The culprit was her chest.
Already strained to its limit, the fabric had given up, bursting open to reveal an absurdly full cleavage… In short, the button on the chest couldn’t handle Sakuna’s ample bust, popped off, and nailed Hayato square in the forehead.
To Sakuna, Hayato was practically like a son, but exposing her chest like this was mortifying.
“!?”
She tried to cover herself with her arms, but that did little to hide her generous curves. If anything, it squished them into an even more lewd shape, making it worse.
Luckily for her, Hayato was too busy writhing in pain to look at her. Putting her own embarrassment aside, she prioritized his well-being.
“Are you okay!?”
“Y-Yes… I’m… fine…”
Worried it hurt that much, Sakuna fussed over him while he tried to avoid looking at her—a reaction she could understand.
Even if she was a goddess-like woman worrying over him, those massive, jiggling mounds of dream-stuff right in front of him—belonging not to his girlfriend but her mother—made it only natural he’d look away.
(…Is his heart racing too? Hehe… He’s so cute.)
Another spark of mischief flared up, but remembering why he’d come here today, she held herself back.
Seeing Hayato leave the room, Sakuna set to fixing the button.
Arisa probably wouldn’t mind her wearing it, but breaking a button might upset her. With practiced ease, Sakuna repaired it.
“…Arisa and Aina have been so happy lately. I feel it too—how many more smiles has Hayato-kun brought us?”
She couldn’t help but let those words slip out, feeling it so clearly.
After getting ready, she left the house with Hayato.
Sakuna is a truly kind woman.
Hayato knows it, and so do her daughters… But there’s a hidden quirk she herself isn’t fully aware of.
It’s a blend of her desire to serve others and the instinctual craving for love—a hybrid that seems to combine Arisa and Aina’s traits perfectly.
In other words, Sakuna is, through and through, their mother.
And topping it all off is her pure, overwhelming maternal love, wanting to be there for them as a mother. That outweighs everything else for now—but whether that balance shifts in the future, no one can say.
▼▽
“…”
“Hayato-kun?”
“Hya!?”
Crap… I shook my head—this wouldn’t do.
No matter how hard I tried to forget, that scene kept flashing in my mind, and each time, I slapped my cheek with a smack to snap out of it.
“…Phew.”
Forcing some pain and taking a deep breath finally calmed me down.
“Sorry, Sakuna-san.”
“No… As long as you’re okay, that’s what matters.”
“I’m good! Should we get going?”
I couldn’t keep worrying her like this—I had to pull myself together for the real goal!
Regaining my usual self, I walked side by side with Sakuna-san.
We were out today to pick birthday presents for Arisa and Aina. We’d talked about it at home, but hadn’t settled on anything specific.
“For students, something inexpensive would be fitting. I could cover it, but that wouldn’t feel right, would it?”
“Yeah… I’d like it to be something student-like that’ll make them happy.”
That’s the conversation we’d had, but what is a “student-like” gift? Hmm…
It’s not like I was racking my brain too hard, but this was my first time giving a present to girls my age, so I couldn’t help it… Hmm.
“…Sorry, Sakuna-san. I’ve been groaning ‘hmm’ in my head this whole time.”
“Hehe, I’m happy you’re worrying over my daughters like this. Let’s see… Clothes get pricey fast, and while accessories can be affordable, they’re not really into that stuff… So maybe…”
Sakuna-san seemed to be thinking hard too.
At this point, it’d probably be smarter to leave it to her since she knows them way better than I do… But I still wanted to pick something myself.
“…Hmm.”
“Hmm…”
Groaning alongside Sakuna-san, I decided to take a break and excused myself to the bathroom.
“Phew…”
Even as I relaxed, my mind was still on the presents.
But maybe letting my guard down helped, because a few ideas popped up.
“…Simple stuff, but it could work.”
They were really easy things to get.
Eager to run it by Sakuna-san, I headed back—only to see her being hit on by a college-aged guy.
(…Well, yeah, that makes sense.)
With me gone, Sakuna-san must’ve looked bored.
A beautiful woman like her standing around alone? Of course some guy would approach her. Thinking back to Aina’s recent antics, I smirked—like mother, like daughter—but I needed to get over there quick.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Sakuna-san.”
“Oh, Hayato-kun!”
Showing no sign of fear, she flashed a mature, confident smile and hurried over to me.
I’d worried it might turn into a hassle, but the guy just glared at me, saw she wasn’t alone, and left.
“Sorry. I stepped away for a sec and…”
“No, no, it’s totally fine. But…”
She gently grabbed the hem of my shirt.
“It’s not like I was scared. It’s just… sometimes that moment flashes back to me. I know it’s a rare thing, though.”
“Lean on me anytime, okay? Right now, I’m your knight in shining armor!”
“…Hehe, yes♪”
Seeing her smile brightly, I felt reassured she wasn’t really worried.
(But man, she’s got such a cute smile. Her usual vibe’s like Arisa, but that grin? Totally Aina.)
In short, she’s an amazing person… just amazing.
Chuckling at my own lack of vocabulary, I shared the idea I’d come up with in the bathroom.
“Sakuna-san, about the presents… They both have stuffed animals in their rooms, right? Arisa’s got some, but Aina’s got a ton.”
“Oh, right… So you mean?”
I nodded.
It’s a simple thought—they both like cute stuff, right? For my first gift as a high schooler, it’s not a bad pick, is it?
“I think it’s a great idea. Arisa and Aina used to need to hug stuffed animals to fall asleep when they were little.”
“Oh, that’s adorable.”
“Right? They were so cute.”
Man… Maybe I’ll ask to see some old photos of them sometime.
With the gift decided, we headed to the stuffed animal section.
“…Hehe.”
“What’s up?”
“Oh, just remembering how my husband gave me a stuffed animal once too. No matter what it is, getting a present is always nice. I’m sure the girls will love it.”
Good—that’s a relief!
Clenching my fist with a grin, Sakuna-san looked at me fondly. Her gaze reminded me of Mom, and shopping with her like this felt oddly nostalgic.
(Oh, right… Sakuna-san got a stuffed animal too.)
…Hmm, interesting.
At the stuffed animal section, I started browsing.
“…There’s a ton of variety with these things.”
From cute ones even a guy like me could appreciate to ones so pricey my eyes nearly popped out.
After a while, I picked up a cat and a rabbit.
“For Arisa… she’s got that sharp edge, so a fickle cat fits. For Aina… no real reason, but a cute rabbit works, right?”
The cat makes sense, but the rabbit… No, no, it’s not about heat or anything like that—nothing like that at all.
Convincing myself, I took three stuffed animals to the register.
Sakuna-san greeted me with a smile as I returned with the shopping bag, and we started walking together again.
“Did you find good ones?”
“Yeah, some pretty cute ones.”
“That’s great. I’ll hold off on peeking until the day—I’m looking forward to it.”
Oh… Yeah, definitely look forward to it.
“Oh, sorry, there’s one more thing I want to buy.”
“Oh? Really?”
Nodding, I headed to a shop I’d scoped out earlier.
They sold ribbons—Arisa and Aina both use them to tie their hair.
“Sorry for the wait!”
“No problem at all. So, that’s it for today?”
“Yeah. Let’s head back… Oh, could I drop the stuff off at your place first?”
“Of course. It’s a surprise, so we’ll hide it♪”
If they find it, no big deal—they’d probably guess I’m planning something from my attitude anyway. Still, I’d rather they not figure out what until the moment.
“In the end, you picked the presents yourself, huh, Hayato-kun?”
“…Oh, yeah, now that you mention it. But it’s only because I went out with you, Sakuna-san. Seriously, thank you.”
“It’s fine. Wanting to make my daughters happy feels like my own joy. And… I had fun going out with you, Hayato-kun.”
“Really? Then let’s do it again sometime.”
“Really? That makes me so happy♪”
She’s… really, really got a beautiful smile.
Averting my eyes from Sakuna-san, who clasped her hands in front of her chest with glee, I scratched the back of my neck to hide my embarrassment.
After that, we took her car back to my place to drop off the stuff, then headed to the Shinjo house.
“Huh?”
“Oh?”
Opening the front door, we spotted Arisa and Aina’s shoes.
I’d assumed they’d be back in the evening, but it seems they got home earlier than we’d expected.
“Mom, you’re ba—Hayato-kun?”
“Huh? Hayato-kun too?”
Peeking out from the living room in unison, they rushed over.
“You were with Mom?”
“Yeah. We went shopping together… You two are back early, huh?”
“Well, one of our friends forgot about some plans, so we wrapped up early.”
Oh, that explains it.
Since we hadn’t planned to meet today, they eagerly pulled me into the living room by the hands.
The moment we sat on the sofa, they each claimed an arm.
“What’d you buy?”
“Household stuff.”
I swear, my poker face was flawless right then.
Feeling their stares, I kept my eyes forward and answered flatly… Then Sakuna-san giggled and dropped this:
“It was a little shopping date with me and Hayato-kun. A guy hit on me, but Hayato-kun swooped in to save me—very cool♪”
“…Oh?”
“Really now?”
Uh-oh…
The air got a little chilly… Though her “date” comment made my heart skip, I knew it was Sakuna-san throwing me a lifeline.
(Thanks, Sakuna-san.)
Now it’s just a matter of waiting for their birthday.
I could imagine their happy faces now—or not imagine anything and just wait patiently. Man, what a weird feeling.
It’s not even my birthday, but I’m so excited… so excited!
“A shopping date, huh…?”
“Hayato-kuuun~?”
“…Oof.”
But first, it looks like I’ve got to calm down these two, who are just a little jealous.
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