Chapter 81: Side Story Shijouin Papas Pick-Up (2) |
“Hmm? Oh, and who might you be?”
“Ah, nice to meet you! I’m Niihama Kanako, the little sister of Onii-chan!”
Disguised as an innocent girl, Kanako, in full outing mode, politely bows and introduces herself.
(But “Onii-chan”… She’s really laying it on thick…)
“Well, I wanted to apologize to Haruka-chan’s father… It’s my fault that Haruka-chan couldn’t go home last night…”
“Hmm…?”
Dressed as a pure young girl, Kanako briefly explains yesterday’s events to Shijouin-san. She mentions delivering the wallet in the rain and bringing the drenched Shijouin-san home, among other things.
“So, I felt really sorry for causing Haruka-chan’s family to worry… I’m truly sorry.”
“Oh, no, you don’t have to worry about that. You were genuinely concerned about Haruka, who got caught in the rain. The heavy rain that followed, causing transportation disruptions, wasn’t something that could have been predicted even by the weather forecast. It was just bad luck.”
“Oh, I’m relieved to hear you say that! I had so much fun getting along with Haruka-chan in just one night… But I kept thinking that Haruka-chan’s mom and dad must have been really worried…”
“Hahaha, it’s alright. Both my wife and I are adults. We stayed in touch, and it wasn’t a big deal.”
Um, Shijouin-san… Didn’t you scream like crazy over the phone when you found out about Shijouin-san staying over?
“But… you two became so close in just one night?”
“Yes! She’s beautiful, cute, kind, and warm… I can’t find enough words to describe her! I kept wishing I had an older sister like her!”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Haruka is the cutest in the world.”
Shijouin-san nods happily, praising Haruka with all his might (probably because he truly means it). He seems to have forgotten about me and is in a very good mood.
“U-Um, Kanako-chan… It’s too much to praise me like that. Father, please stop…”
Blushing, Shijouin-san’s daughter, overwhelmed by the excessive compliments from her younger friend, speaks up. Yes, even I would feel embarrassed in this situation…
“Well, but it’s true! We spent the whole time together yesterday, doing various things… We took a bath together, chatted on the futon… It was so much fun being together all the time!”
Huh…?
I wondered why Kanako suddenly started talking to Shijouin-san… Could it be that she’s throwing me a lifeline…?
“I see… Well, if you spent that much time together, then it’s true that there wouldn’t have been an opportunity for Niihama boy to make contact. Maybe I was too sensitive…”
O-Oh…!?
My suspicions of misconduct have been cleared…!?
Shijouin-san, without any doubt, believes Kanako’s testimony as a seemingly pure and well-mannered junior high school girl! Girls have amazing acting skills!
Kanako gives me a quick glance, as if saying, “Not just a favor, but a hundred favors♪,” and smiles mischievously. Well, she truly saved me…!
“Do you understand now, Shijouin-san? I’m not so wicked as to take advantage of a situation like a natural disaster.”
“Hmm… Although I intended to ask if there was any inappropriate situation that occurred without your proactive involvement… Well, I’ll believe you for now. I must admit I acted a bit childish in front of your sister.”
He really knows how to pinpoint the right spot, and it made me break into a cold sweat… But I managed to get through. However, that was more than just a bit childish, President, in my opinion.
“Oh, come on, Father! What’s with all the mumbling to Niihama-kun? We’re really grateful for everything this time, so you better not say anything rude again!”
“N-No, I just… I only asked about the situation when you stayed at someone else’s house… Well, alright then. I should be going!”
To avoid further scolding from his determined daughter, Shijouin-san hastily gets into the car. He really doesn’t have any resistance against his wife and daughter…
“Phew, sorry about my father… But we should probably leave soon.”
“Yes, it’s a bit sad, but… See you again!”
“Haruka-chan, thank you so much for everything. Please give my thanks to Mika-san as well.”
Bowing slightly, Shijouin-san’s daughter gets into the back seat of the car.
Finally, this overnight stay is coming to an end. It’s a little bit sad, though…
Nevertheless, I was able to create many memories with Shijouin-san, and I managed to avoid Shijouin-san’s overprotective eruption. If this were a game event, it would be a complete victory.
“Niihama-kun!”
Suddenly, I noticed Shijouin-san sticking his head out of the rear window.
“I don’t know where to begin thanking you for everything this time! But I had such a great time! Especially—”
Under the summer sunshine, the girl waves her hand with a beaming smile towards me and Kanako.
And to convey her feelings of enjoyment, she raises her voice loudly—
“I had so much fun being together with Niihama-kun all night!”
In that instant—time froze.
Both Kanako and I, still smiling in farewell, froze in place. The car, which was in the middle of departure, abruptly came to a complete stop as if its engine had stalled.
And then—
“W-Wha… Wha… Whaatttt!? H-Haruka! What did you just sayyyyy!?”
With a few seconds delay, a scream from Shijouin-san resonates from the passenger seat.
Hahaha, our desperate attempt to deceive was exposed in an instant.
And as for Shijouin-san himself, he looks bewildered by the intense reactions around him, saying, “Huh? Huh?” That’s right… I should have anticipated this situation, but I completely forgot to silence the natural airheaded girl after the shock of our morning co-sleeping…
(Oh no… The lid of the hellish furnace has been lifted. This is not just a matter of life and death…)
“You, you, you… Boyyyy! So, you really…!? Oi, Natsuzaki!? Don’t start the car!”
“Haha, that was quite an impactful revelation, but now we must quickly show Madame the cheerful face of her daughter.”
Oh…!?
Natsuzaki-san…!
“Waitttt! There are so many things I need to question that boy about the situation!”
The car, carrying an enraged Shijouin-san, starts again, and Natsuzaki-san extends his thumb out from the driver’s seat.
Ah, thank you, Natsuzaki-san…!
It feels like he’s acting in accordance with Akiko-san’s intentions, but in any case, I’m grateful!
“Hey, Aniki, look! Haruka-chan is waving at us.”
In response to my sister’s voice, I shift my gaze, and I see Shijouin-san vigorously waving her hand towards us from the rear windshield, even though her father is in a frenzy.
And so, we wave our hands back in response.
Like distant relatives who get along well or old friends reunited after a long time, our mutual feeling of reluctance to part is conveyed.
In my previous life, I couldn’t have imagined… It was the best night.
…Well, that’s all well and good, but…
“Hey, Aniki… Sorry to interrupt your immersed state, but…”
“Yeah?”
“Shouldn’t we call Haruka-chan’s dad ourselves and explain…?”
“It’s such a hassle, but… I guess we have to…”
Realizing that the mission of calming down a typhoon is now upon us after surviving the heavy rain, I muttered with a heavy-hearted voice.
And so—after making a call to the Shijouin household, I found myself engaged in a conversation resembling a court trial with an angry Tokimune-san, all in order to convince them that it was merely an accident resulting from both of us falling asleep.
…I’m exhausted…