Chapter 2 they too feel lonely without me by their side.
Life at my grandparents’ house was unexpectedly relaxed.
Well, even though Grandpa and Grandma are still quite lively, they’re not exactly young anymore, so they can’t be as energetic as youngsters.
That said, the day after I arrived, I played gateball and ground golf with Grandpa.
“Well, look at that! This must be your grandson, eh?”
“He’s got a sharp look about him!”
“He’ll grow up to be a fine man… or maybe he already is, huh?”
“Hohoho! You’ve got a good eye!”
Grandpa’s friends joined us to hang out and play, and… how do I put it? They were a lively bunch who didn’t act their age at all.
On nice days, it seems they always play sports outside like this, but on rainy days, they sometimes go bowling or something. Honestly, their energy and cheerfulness were something I could learn from.
“…It went by so fast.”
Even though the days were laid-back, they were so enjoyable that time seemed to fly by. And now, today’s the day I head back home.
As expected, Grandpa and Grandma were pretty reluctant to let me go. They couldn’t send me off empty-handed, so they’d been packing a cardboard box with all sorts of things since morning.
Just like when Arisa came over, I have a feeling more stuff will show up at my place later.
“That said… that was a bit much, wasn’t it?”
What’s “that,” you ask? It’s about accidentally calling out to them—Arisa and Aina—when they weren’t even here.
It’s like it’s second nature to say their names, only to snap out of it and feel embarrassed afterward… It happened a few times, which just shows how deeply ingrained their presence is in my life.
“…Well, I already knew that, though.”
By the way, when Grandma caught me doing it, I was so embarrassed I could’ve died… but she just looked at me with this warm, amused smile.
“Oh my, Hayato-kun, you love them that much, don’t you?”
…Yeah.
That moment was seriously mortifying.
“Hayato, can I come in?”
“—! Sure!”
At the sudden sound of Grandma’s voice, I answered, and the door opened.
“Besides the stuff we’re sending with you, I’ve packed some pickles for Shinjo-san and the others. Make sure to give them to everyone, okay?”
“Got it. I’m sure they’ll love them.”
Grandma’s pickles are famous in the neighborhood for being delicious, and I ate a ton of them with my meals while I was here.
“Thanks, Grandma.”
“You’re welcome.”
With a warm smile, Grandma left the room.
It’s not time for the bus yet, but I’ve already packed to avoid forgetting anything or rushing at the last minute.
“Alright, to the living room.”
Following Grandma, I headed to the living room, where Grandpa and Grandma were sitting across from each other, sipping tea.
“Oh, Hayato! Come over here.”
“I’ve got some tea ready for you too, Hayato.”
“Thanks.”
I sat down at their beckoning and sipped the warm tea made from leaves Grandma harvested from the garden. The gentle warmth and flavor seemed to warm me from the inside out.
Oh, right—besides being dragged around by Grandpa, I also helped Grandma with the garden work… It really was a fulfilling time.
“It’s gonna feel lonely without you around, Hayato.”
“Indeed, dear.”
“…Hey, are you two trying to guilt-trip me into staying or something?”
They laughed as if I’d caught them red-handed. I wanted to tell them to give me a break, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but smile, feeling loved.
“Actually, we were just talking about you, Hayato.”
“About me?”
“Yep. We were saying how kind and fine you’ve grown up to be. Considering your circumstances, I thought you might’ve gone a bit wild, and I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
“Ah…”
Yeah, thinking about my situation, that could’ve happened.
I know the elementary and middle school years are crucial for shaping who you become, and during that time, I lost both my parents one after another and saw some ugly sides of adults… It’s not impossible that I could’ve turned out differently.
Maybe even become a delinquent or something… But I think there are two reasons I didn’t go down that path.
“Grandpa, Grandma.”
“Hm?”
“What is it?”
Looking them in the eyes, I continued.
“I’ve thought about it myself—how I didn’t go astray. I think it’s because I didn’t want to become someone Mom and Dad wouldn’t have wanted… and because you two were there for me.”
Those two reasons feel spot-on.
I didn’t want my parents in heaven to worry about me, so I couldn’t let myself become someone bad. And I didn’t want to make my grandparents, who were so kind to me, sad either.
“…Hayato, you’re truly a kind grandson.”
“Absolutely. You’re our pride and joy.”
“Heh, I’ll keep trying to make you say that.”
They nodded happily at my words, and seeing their expressions made my own face break into a smile.
Yeah, that’s right—making them happy like this is one way to repay them, isn’t it?
“I’m gonna take a quick walk outside. I’ll be back before noon.”
“Be careful out there.”
“Take care, okay?”
“Got it!”
With their farewells, I stepped outside, greeted by warm sunlight.
It’s not a lie that I’m going for a walk, but I also wanted to soak in the scenery here a little more before leaving… This road, full of memories of running around like an idiot when I was a kid.
“It’s all rice paddies around here, and in the distance, nothing but green mountains… Nice, isn’t it?”
Sometimes the frogs get loud depending on the season, but that’s just part of the charm around here. I’m not a fan of frogs myself, though.
“I really want to walk here with them someday.”
Would Arisa and Aina like a place like this?
They’ve said they’d go anywhere with me and have fun, but… I can easily imagine them genuinely enjoying it, probably because I know them so well.
“Hm?”
As I strolled aimlessly, a young boy crossed my path, sniffling and wiping tears.
He’d stop every now and then to dry his eyes before walking again… What’s wrong with him?
“…Hmm.”
He looks like he’s in early elementary school, maybe?
There are people around, but no one who seems like his parents… I can’t help but be concerned.
“Might as well call it fate.”
I approached the boy and called out to him.
“Hey, kid, what’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
Startled by my sudden voice, the boy flinched.
I felt a bit bad for surprising him, but he didn’t run away and just watched me cautiously, so I felt a bit relieved as I got closer.
“I saw you crying and got worried. What happened?”
“…”
The boy looked down, staying silent.
I figured he’d be wary—after all, who wouldn’t be cautious of an older stranger? I gave a wry smile but was glad he didn’t bolt.
I crouched down to his eye level and tried again.
“I’ll say it again—I saw you crying and got worried. Can you tell me what happened?”
“…”
He glanced at me but kept his mouth shut.
This… might look like I’m the one making him cry to anyone passing by, but since I’ve already gotten involved, I’ll stick it out unless he tells me to leave.
(Hmm, at his age… what could it be? A fight with a friend? Or maybe with his parents?)
After thinking for a bit, I took a guess.
“Did you have a fight with your mom or dad?”
“!”
The boy flinched again and bit his lip.
Bingo. It seems he had a fight with his parents and came out here crying.
“…Yeah. I fought with Mom.”
Oh, he finally spoke.
As if saying it out loud brought everything back, the boy started crying harder, big tears rolling down his cheeks.
(I don’t think I ever fought with my parents… I barely have any memories of that.)
Shaking off my own thoughts, I focused on the boy.
“I told Mom I hate her… and to go away…! sniff… Waaahhh!”
He started bawling loudly, but I stayed calm, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his tears and using a tissue to clean the snot running from his nose.
“Here, blow your nose.”
“Okay… sniff!”
I was surprised at how naturally I handled a little kid.
I don’t usually interact with young children, and situations like this are rare for me.
(Oh, wait, there was that one time…)
I remembered walking around town with Arisa and Aina and finding a lost kid. That time had some bittersweet moments, but maybe I’m just fated to run into these situations.
“…Thanks, big brother.”
“Hey, saying thank you properly? That’s pretty cool of you!”
I thought “cool” might not be the right word, but the boy blushed and looked embarrassed, so I figured it worked out.
I asked him what happened.
Apparently, his family was supposed to go on a trip today, but his dad got sick, so it got canceled. That led to an argument with his mom, and he ended up yelling that he hated her and running out of the house.
“That’s rough, huh?”
“I was really looking forward to it…”
“I get how you feel. But you’re feeling bad about telling your mom you hate her, right?”
“Yeah… yeah…!”
He looked like he was about to cry again but was holding it in, which I thought was pretty impressive for a kid his age. More than that, caring about his parents like this showed how kind he was.
“I… I love Mom and Dad so much.”
“That’s awesome. That’s something to be proud of.”
Being able to say he loves his parents so openly? That’s the mark of a good kid!
Even though we just met, I wanted to do something for him… Oh, maybe I see a bit of myself in this kid who loves his family so much.
“So, what’re you gonna do now?”
“I… I have to go home… but…”
“What’s wrong?”
“When I said I hated her, Mom looked so sad…”
“Ah…”
From the way the boy was acting, I could tell he came from a warm, loving home where his parents cared for him deeply.
That’s exactly why I felt like I had to help, even just a little, knowing how much it must’ve hurt his mom to hear that.
“How about I walk you home?”
“Really…? Is that okay?”
“Of course. Oh, just so you know, I’m not a bad guy, so don’t worry, alright?”
I said it jokingly, and the boy laughed, saying he wasn’t worried.
His mom must be worried sick, so I crouched down to give him a piggyback ride.
“Whoa!”
“Hold on tight, okay?”
“Y-Yeah!”
He wasn’t exactly light, but it was no problem.
As we headed in the direction he pointed, the boy seemed thrilled to see the world from a higher perspective.
“Not used to this kind of thing?”
“Nah, Dad does it sometimes, but he’s always busy with work, so…”
“I see. You don’t want to tire him out, huh? Man, you’re such a thoughtful kid.”
“Really…?”
This kid’s so considerate, he’s got a bright future ahead of him.
We didn’t even know each other’s names, but we were already acting like old friends.
Then, out of nowhere, he asked me a question.
“Are your mom and dad kind, big brother?”
I nodded immediately.
“They’re super kind. I love them just like you love yours.”
“Hehe! Cool!”
“Yep.”
I was impressed with myself for answering without missing a beat.
But then the boy, curious, asked more.
“What are they like?”
“They’re kind and fun. I used to play catch with my dad.”
“Wow, really?”
He was super curious, but I didn’t mind at all.
Still, if he kept asking, it might get to things I couldn’t answer, so I decided to wrap it up.
“They’re far away now, so I can’t see them, but I try to be a good person so they wouldn’t be upset with me.”
“You’re such a good guy, big brother! I guarantee it!”
“Whoa, you know the word ‘guarantee’?”
“Uh… I heard it on a drama Mom likes! Is that not right?”
“Nah, you got it right. That’s awesome.”
“Ehehe!”
His reactions were so cute, and I thought there’s no way his parents don’t adore him.
Following his directions, we arrived at a house a bit far from my grandparents’. A woman stood in front, looking worried.
“That’s Mom…”
“Looks like she’s been looking for you.”
The boy hugged me tighter from behind, and I patted his back gently, reassuring him.
“Look at her. Even after you said you hated her, she’s so worried about you. That’s how much you mean to her.”
“Yeah…”
“What’s the first thing you should say?”
“I’m sorry…?”
“Exactly. Ready to go?”
“Yeah!”
As we got closer, the woman noticed us, gasped, and rushed over.
I set the boy down and gave him a gentle push forward.
“Go on, you got this, kid.”
“Y-Yeah!”
From there, everything flowed smoothly as the boy and his mother reconciled.
The boy properly apologized, saying, “I’m sorry,” and then told her, “I love you,” before clinging to her. His mother, overjoyed, hugged him back tightly.
(Phew, helping someone feels good, doesn’t it?)
Maybe I thought that to distract myself from the faint loneliness lingering inside me.
“Thanks, big brother!”
“Thank you so much!”
“No problem—take care of your mom, okay?”
“Yeah!!”
And so, my little journey with the boy I met during my walk came to an end… or something like that.
I thought about continuing my walk, but since it was almost noon, I decided to head back to my grandparents’ house.
“Well, I did carry that kid on my back and walked quite a bit… That’s a story to tell, at least.”
After walking a little further, I turned back once.
“Family… they’re precious, aren’t they?”
Saying it out here where no one could hear didn’t matter… but I said it anyway and resumed walking.
When I got home, it was time for lunch, but Grandma, picking up on something from my demeanor, asked,
“Did something happen? You look like you’re in a good mood.”
Was I making that kind of face?
If so, it was probably because of what happened earlier, so I told them about meeting the boy and taking him home.
“Hmm… I wonder whose kid that was.”
“I think I might have an idea just from hearing that… Hehe, that’s so like you, Hayato.”
Like me, huh?
I’ve never thought of myself as some kind of saint, but if someone’s in trouble in front of me, I want to help.
That said, I’ve had darker thoughts before—long ago, when I saw happy families, I thought, Maybe they should lose it all like I did.
(Well, I stopped thinking like that pretty quickly.)
Rather than wallowing in my own misfortune, I decided to focus on living with joy… Probably because I was blessed with family.
“Grandpa, Grandma… thank you.”
“Huh?”
“What’s that for?”
What’s it for, huh? I brushed it off with a vague answer.
Spending these last moments with my grandparents after so long, I savored the relaxed time with them until the very end… and then left as they saw me off at the bus stop.
“…Yawn.”
As soon as the bus started moving, a huge yawn escaped me.
Come to think of it, I woke up early this morning, and carrying that boy around probably wore me out more than I realized.
“Let’s see that…”
To fight off the drowsiness, I pulled up the photo Aina sent me.
But whether it was because I’d already seen it or it just wasn’t enough to counter this overwhelming sleepiness, it didn’t have the same punch.
“…Ugh.”
So sleepy… so sleepy…
…
…Huh!?
“…Fine, just sleep already.”
Apparently, when you hit your limit, nothing else matters.
Optimistically thinking I’d manage even if I overslept my stop, I closed my eyes.
In the end—I woke up right as the bus reached my stop.
See, I can wake up just fine, I thought, but then I noticed two people waiting outside.
“…Huh?”
Wait… why are they here?
Snapping out of my daze, I quickly checked for forgotten items and hurried off the bus.
“Hayato-kun!”
“Welcome back!”
Waiting at the bus stop were Arisa and Aina… my precious girls.
The moment I stepped forward, they threw themselves into my arms.
My hands were full with luggage, making it hard to hold them properly, but I managed to steady myself and catch them.
“Hehe, sorry. We couldn’t wait.”
“Yup, yup! We planned a surprise to meet you at the bus stop with Nee-san♪”
So that’s why… Ugh, what a heartwarming surprise!
The exhaustion from the trip melted away with the excitement, though I nearly dropped my bags. But wait a sec—
(…The bus hasn’t left yet, has it?)
Sure enough, the bus I’d just gotten off was still parked behind me.
There weren’t many passengers who got off, but naturally, those heading to later stops were still inside… Sigh.
“Arisa-san… Aina-san.”
“What’s up?”
“What is it?”
They must’ve seen the bus behind me, but both of them were only looking at me, smiling as if daring me to say what was bothering me.
Normally, I’d want to tell them to get the hint, but those smiles! Those smiles were so impossibly cute that I couldn’t say a word—my weakness laid bare!
“The bus… it’s still behind us.”
“No one we know is on it.”
“Yup, so no problem at all!”
“…Right.”
Yup, apparently no issue here.
The bus left soon after, and I have no idea how the passengers looked at us.
Maybe they weren’t even paying attention… or, uh, maybe?
(Two beautiful girls waiting for someone, then both hugging the same guy and acting all close… at kissing distance, no less. If I were a passenger, I’d definitely be staring.)
But yeah, they’re clearly enjoying my reaction, though the way they’re holding onto me feels a bit tighter than usual.
Maybe it’s proof they’ve been wanting to see me these past three days… That thought makes me so happy.
“Arisa, Aina… I’m back.”
They smiled and nodded.
“Yes, welcome back, Hayato-kun.”
“Yup! Welcome back, Hayato-kun!”
Even just three days apart felt so long because of how intense our daily life together usually is, making their smiles feel all the more precious.
We lingered in the embrace for a while, savoring the moment, before starting to walk.
“Oh, by the way, Hayato-kun, Hayato-kun.”
“What’s up?”
“That photo I sent you—it’s still on your phone, right?”
“Huh? What’re we talking about?”
Aina’s words didn’t startle me this time, but Arisa tilted her head, confused.
“I didn’t tell Nee-san, did I? We could call or text, but we couldn’t meet, so I sent a spicy photo to keep you from getting lonely.”
“…Oh?”
“Uh… yeah. Thanks to that, my sleepiness got blown away.”
In a way, that photo was my savior when I was dying of drowsiness.
It’s still on my phone… and honestly, I probably won’t ever delete it. It’d be such a waste… right!?
“What kind of photo was it?”
Arisa asked, so I glanced at Aina.
She grinned and gave a nod, so I showed Arisa the photo Aina sent… Man, this feels insanely embarrassing.
“…I should’ve sent one too.”
Arisa muttered after seeing it.
Naturally, Aina didn’t let that slide. Her eyes sparkled as she hugged Arisa.
“Then let’s take one together next time! Both of us wearing Hayato-kun’s shirts, unbuttoned, pressing our chests together for a super spicy photo!”
“W-Wait, Aina…”
Arisa faltered as Aina pressed her curvaceous figure against her without holding back.
Both of them have figures beyond what you’d expect from high schoolers, so when they press together like that, their ample chests shift and assert themselves.
Soft meeting soft… This century-defining experiment unfolding before me had me shamefully unable to look away.
“Look, Nee-san, Hayato-kun’s watching!”
“Do you like this kind of thing, Hayato-kun?”
Like this kind of thing? There’s no way I could shake my head no.
I nodded honestly, admitting it… but will they really send a photo like that? I’m kinda looking forward to it.
“Hehe, but you get to see the real thing sometimes, right, Hayato-kun? Which is better?”
“I’m curious.”
Man, what a tough question, you two!
Photos have their charm, and the real thing has its own… but instead of answering bluntly, I wrapped it up nicely.
“Both have their appeal, but having you by my side is what makes me happiest. Talking, touching, being together—that’s what feels like true happiness.”
…Yeah, that wasn’t even wrapped up; it was just honest.
Realizing that after I said it, Aina jumped on me first.
“I feel the same! I love being close to you like this, Hayato-kun!”
Not to be outdone, Arisa pressed herself against me too.
“Me too. I love being close to you, Hayato-kun.”
Ahh… this really makes me feel like I’m home.
Even though I’m used to it by now, the soft sensation from both sides still makes my heart race… but today, it’s incredibly comforting.
They must’ve considered I was carrying luggage, as they gently pulled away to avoid burdening me.
“If we keep this up, we’ll never get home.”
“Hehe, Mom’s waiting to see you too, so let’s head back.”
Apparently, Sakuna-san’s waiting too, so we started walking.
We stopped by my place to drop off my bags, then headed to the Shinjo house, lightened up. Along the way, Arisa and Aina never left my side.
“…So, you know.”
Maybe because I was feeling their warmth so closely, I spoke up naturally.
“While I was there, I kept accidentally calling out your names like you were right beside me. Each time, I’d remember I was at my grandparents’ and laugh.”
“Really?”
“Haha♪ Are we, like, etched into your soul, Hayato-kun?”
“Maybe… yeah, maybe.”
That’s a bit intense, but I won’t deny it.
As their house came into view, the grip on my arms tightened.
Then, they whispered in my ears.
“We told you, didn’t we? We want you to drown in us even more.”
“Yup! We’re gonna make you fall for us even harder!”
Their words were like sticky spider threads, wrapping around me.
To humans, spider threads are easily broken, and nests can be casually destroyed.
But if their words are threads weaving a nest to never let me go… there’s no moment more comforting than this.
(They might be more like demons than spiders, though…)
Demons… but if it’s Arisa and Aina, they’d just be cute and sexy ones.
Thinking that, we reached the front door. Since the two daughters of the house were with me, there was no need to ring the bell.
The moment we opened the door and stepped inside, a gentle voice welcomed me.
“Welcome, Hayato-kun.”
“Ah… I’m home, Sakuna-san.”
There stood Sakuna-san, Arisa and Aina’s mother.
She looked so youthful it was hard to believe she had two high school daughters, and even though I knew better, her charm still made my heart skip a beat.
“I was waiting, thinking you’d be here soon, and the timing was perfect.”
Apparently, Sakuna-san had been waiting for us here.
I’m not as close to her as I am with Arisa and Aina, but her warm welcome always puts me at ease.
As I took off my shoes and stepped inside, Sakuna-san opened her arms as if she’d been waiting for this moment and pulled me into a hug.
“No, not ‘welcome.’ Welcome home, Hayato-kun.”
“Haha… I’m home.”
That’s right… this place isn’t just a visit anymore; it’s like coming home.
(…Lately, Sakuna-san’s mom energy has been intense.)
To me, Sakuna-san is the mother of my two girlfriends, but recently, her overwhelming maternal aura has been giving me a bit of trouble.
I can’t pinpoint exactly what triggered the change, but if I had to guess, it might’ve started when Sakuna-san caught a cold a while back… maybe since then? I did what I could to take care of her at the time, and now it feels like she’s been spoiling me in return, almost excessively.
“Um… Sakuna-san?”
“Just let me hold you a bit longer, okay? There, there, Hayato-kun, you’re such a good boy.”
Though her embrace is gentle, her arms hold me firmly.
The comforting sensation of her stroking my head saps my will to pull away… In a different way from Arisa and Aina, Sakuna-san’s got this knack for completely disarming me.
“I’ll go prepare the bath.”
“Okay~! Hey, Mom, isn’t that enough already~?”
Aina smoothly slid her arm between me and Sakuna-san, gently pulling us apart.
I was grateful to Aina since I couldn’t move, but the lonely tone in Sakuna-san’s voice as we separated lingered in my ears… and before I knew it, I blurted out, “Let’s do this again later.”
“Yes!”
“Ugh, Hayato-kun, you’re too soft on Mom!”
I mean, anyone would melt for a woman this lovely.
That said, I feel like Aina and Arisa are way more indulgent with Sakuna-san than I am.
After that, we headed to the living room, where I placed the souvenirs I’d brought on the table.
“These are pickles Grandma made. She really wants you all to try them.”
“Oh! I’m so thrilled!”
Sakuna-san gazed at the pickle container with genuine delight.
Knowing how happy this would make Grandma, I wouldn’t be surprised if she asked for their address to send more directly.
“Aina and I don’t usually eat pickles, but if Hayato-kun says they’re good, they must be, right?”
“Yeah. I might be biased since Grandma made them, but I think they’re genuinely delicious.”
“Cool! Then let’s dig in tonight!”
I was looking forward to hearing their thoughts at dinner.
“Oh, excuse me for a sec.”
I stepped away briefly, grabbed my phone, and made a call.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Grandma? Just letting you know I got here safely.”
Yup, I was calling my grandparents’ house.
It might not be necessary, but I figured it’s better to let them know I’m back safe and sound.
“Good to hear. I’ll let Grandpa know.”
“Yeah, tell him there’s nothing to worry about… Oh, and about the pickles—Sakuna-san was super happy about them. They’re planning to eat them with dinner tonight.”
“Is that so? That’s wonderful to hear.”
“Really… huh!?”
I was about to say how great that was when I froze mid-sentence.
Why? Because right behind me—practically pressed against me—were Aina, Sakuna-san, and Arisa, who’d just returned.
(Um… they’re all super curious about the conversation, huh?)
The three of them were standing there, clearly intrigued. I hadn’t expected Sakuna-san to act like this too, and their cuteness made me give a wry smile.
“What’s wrong, Hayato?”
“Oh, I’m at the Shinjo house right now, and everyone’s hovering close because they’re curious about our talk.”
“Oh, really?”
Oops, I spilled the beans, and all three of them quickly backed off.
Their little “ah” sounds must’ve reached Grandma through the phone, because she laughed merrily and made a suggestion.
“Hayato, could you put it on speaker?”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
Following her request, I switched to speaker, and Grandma’s voice, slightly tinny, filled the room.
“Good evening, Arisa-chan, Aina-chan, and Sakuna-san.”
“G-Good evening…!”
“Good evening!”
“Hehe, it’s been a while.”
Sakuna-san, who’s interacted with her a few times, was calm, while Arisa sounded nervous. Aina, as usual, was completely unfazed.
“I always tell Sakuna-san this, but I wanted to thank Arisa-chan and Aina-chan too—for always watching over and supporting Hayato. Thank you.”
Grandma… I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t do this with me in the middle. It’s kind of embarrassing.
But in a situation like this, I couldn’t interrupt, so I just listened, my face heating up, as they continued.
“No, it’s what we want to do. We want to support Hayato-kun, who’s helped us so much.”
“To us, Hayato-kun isn’t just our lifesaver… he’s that precious to us.”
“My, my, being loved this much? You’re one lucky guy, Hayato.”
“Yeah… I really feel that way.”
It was embarrassing, but their words warmed my heart, and Grandma’s gentle voice sank deep into me.
“Sakuna-san… can I call you again tonight? You know how we adults get when we start talking—it’s hard to stop.”
“Hehe, true. How about after dinner, then?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be waiting, Sakuna-san.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
Sakuna-san and Grandma… they’ve really gotten close, haven’t they?
Grandpa gets along with her too, and it’s nice to think they have those adult conversations. It’s just… nice.
“This time, Hayato came to visit us, but if you’re up for it, I’d love for all three of you to come by sometime. We don’t have anything fancy, but we’ll welcome you warmly.”
“Absolutely!”
“We’re definitely coming!”
“Thank you so much.”
After a bit more chatter, the call ended.
“Hayato-kun’s grandma has such a kind voice!”
“Yeah… it’s like she wraps you up in this warm embrace.”
Embrace… huh, that’s one way to put it.
Grandma’s definitely kind and caring. I don’t know if it’s true, but Grandpa once said, drunk, that Grandma was like an idol in the neighborhood when she was younger.
“Embrace, huh…”
Arisa and Aina have their own kind of embrace, but Sakuna-san’s, as an adult, is on another level.
Lately, her warmth feels so overwhelming that I almost call her “Mom” sometimes… and every time I catch myself, I’m startled. But recently, I’ve started thinking it’s okay, probably because of Sakuna-san’s influence.
“You can think of me as your real mother anytime, you know.”
Her overflowing maternal aura is dizzying, and her care feels like it’s pulling me in deeper… Though, knowing Sakuna-san, she probably doesn’t mean it that way, right?
(It’s like… I can feel it myself. It’s as if invisible threads are wrapping around me… and I can’t deny it feels good.)
Closing my eyes, I can picture it clearly.
If I had to describe it in color, it’d be pink—countless intricate threads weaving around me, trapping me.
The more I struggle, the more they entangle me.
Those threads are soft and pliable like spider silk… but they’re tough, never letting their prey escape, sapping resistance until all that’s left is to be devoured.
“Hayato-kun?”
“What’s wrong?”
“!?”
Arisa and Aina’s voices snapped me out of my thoughts.
For a moment, when I looked at them, instead of seeing the adorable girls I love, I saw something reaching out to me… Ugh, that half-baked sleep on the bus must’ve left me more tired than I thought.
“It’s nothing. I’m probably just worn out.”
“I see. Hey, Mom, can we have dinner early tonight?”
“Got it. Hayato-kun, go take a bath first.”
“Thanks.”
“…Hehe♪”
“Aina, you’re not moving from here.”
“Why not!?”
“Because I know you’re planning to barge into the bath.”
Giving a wry smile and thanking Arisa for stopping her, I took the first bath.
After that, Arisa and Aina bathed, and as promised, dinner was served much earlier than usual.
Grandma’s pickles were brought out right away, and surprisingly, Aina loved them, eating them eagerly.
“They’re a bit salty, but kinda addictive!”
“Yeah… the seasoning’s just right.”
“I’d love to learn how to make these.”
With comments like that, Grandma’s going to be thrilled for sure.
Since I talked a lot about my time at their place during dinner, we stayed at the table long after we finished eating. It wasn’t until I let out a massive yawn that we finally called it a night.
“…Yawn.”
“You seem really sleepy, huh?”
“Yeah… I might be at my limit.”
It was nine o’clock—bedtime for some.
I’d be sleeping in Arisa’s room tonight, and Aina would probably join us.
“Wanna sleep first? Aina just went to brush her teeth, so it’ll be a bit before she’s back.”
“Yeah… Arisa…”
I leaned against Arisa, letting my body go limp.
We were on the futon laid out on the floor, so even if I pushed her down, it’d be fine… Arisa didn’t pull away, gently holding me as we slowly lay down.
“You’re really exhausted, aren’t you? I wanted to hear more stories, but tomorrow and the day after are free, so I’ll hold off for today.”
“Thanks… yawn.”
“You can’t stop yawning… Oh, I’m… yawn.”
Following me, Arisa let out a small yawn.
Still, she probably wouldn’t sleep until Aina returned, so I decided to tap out early.
“Arisa…”
“C-Cute… I mean, what’s up?”
“When I was at Grandpa and Grandma’s… it hit me again. I’m so blessed… and I want to cherish these connections even more.”
“I see.”
“Yeah… and of course, that includes you and Aina. I’ve said it a million times, but I love you both so much.”
“I love you too. And so does Aina.”
I was so out of it, I barely knew what I was saying.
Arisa would probably sleep in her bed, but with me like this, maybe she couldn’t pull away?
“It’s fine like this. I’ll let Aina have the bed.”
“…You sure?”
“No complaints allowed.”
…Whoa, that was a little scary—almost enough to jolt me awake.
After that, Aina came back, and there might’ve been some bickering, but I fell asleep as is… and the next morning, I woke up sandwiched between the two of them.
Let’s just say I had to deal with some morning physiological issues, but no need to elaborate on that.
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