Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792437715153093
“I’m home.”
It was a little past five in the evening. I had finished talking with Hanashiro Senpai and returned home.
As a result, Senpai enthusiasm won me over, and I agreed to go to the empty classroom on the third floor of the old school building after school for a week starting tomorrow.
“Huh. I couldn’t refuse when she put it that way.”
I took off my loafers. That’s when I noticed it.
A pair of leather shoes one size larger than mine. I wasn’t familiar with them.
Well, I wasn’t familiar with them, but I had a pretty good idea whose they were.
“You’re back?”
Without changing clothes, I headed to the living room.
“You’re back. Welcome home.”
“Ren, I’m home.”
On the table were freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked cookies. And the person who made both of them was that person.
A slightly slender build in a suit. And behind the glasses, eyes that resembled my sister’s, soft and slightly drooping.
— Hayami Sotaro. He is my and my older sister’s father.
“Where’s my sister?”
“Ajisai isn’t here yet. She said she was going out with friends, so she might be late.”
“…I see.”
“I baked some cookies. There’s coffee too. Why don’t you join us?”
“Sure, I’ll have some.”
I sat down on the chair still wearing my school uniform.
I reached out and took a cookie.
My father used to make snacks for my sister and me like this all the time.
“How are you feeling these days?”
I didn’t know what to say to her face. It was awkward.
“Well, Haruka and I are both fine.”
Hayami Haruka is my mother’s name.
“I see. That’s good.”
“Ren… I wonder, is Ajisai giving you any trouble?”
“…Well, it’s fine.”
I decided to keep quiet because I felt like my sister would scold me if I said something strange here.
“I see. Well, that’s good. Are you making ends meet? I’m sending you a little extra, but if you’re having any difficulties, just let me know…”
“There’s no problem with that. In fact, you could even send less.”
Our family is relatively well-off.
Both my father and mother are amazing people who travel the world for work, and my older sister can earn more than enough to cover her living expenses with just her violin.
“I don’t plan on reducing it. I made you two feel lonely from a young age by working full-time, so I have to do this much.”
My father is too kind. Even though his work must have been tough, he’s always been considerate of my sister and me.
“You don’t have to worry so much. onee san and I aren’t children anymore.”
“Oh, is that so? I’m sorry if I’m overprotective.”
He always says that with a smile. The father in my memories is always smiling.
And I couldn’t help but wonder if that was because he cared about me, even though we weren’t related by blood.
“What should we do for dinner? If Ajisai is going to be late, shall we go out to eat together?”
“No, I’ll make something. It’s a rare holiday, so you should relax.”
“Well, that’s… okay, I understand. I’ll take advantage of Ren.”
From there, I changed clothes and started cooking. I didn’t plan to make anything fancy, just the usual.
Just as it was about to be ready, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it. You keep cooking.”
“Okay.”
My dad stood up, looking kind of happy, and headed for the front door. Then,
“Good evening, Senpai.”
“Huh!?”
I thought it was the mail. But it seems like it wasn’t.
“Kufu, fufufu. Oh, I see. Did I interrupt something? I’m sorry.”
He smiled in an unusual way. It was a smile with a hidden meaning, or something like that.
“Oh, I see. That’s right. Well, Ren is a second-year high school student, after all. It’s not unusual for him to have a girlfriend.”
“Hehe, that’s right. Father-in-law. Ren-senpai is quite innocent, so it’s hard work.”
“What!?”
The little devil had arrived. What’s more, in the few seconds it took her to walk from the front door to the living room, she had already become very friendly with my father.
“Senpai. I’ll help you prepare dinner.”
“Eh, uh, okay.”
And so, the dinner for two began with the addition of Shiramine, making it a dinner for three.
While eating, the topic of conversation turned to my daily life with my sister, which my father knew nothing about.
“Ajisai is doing well, too. I’m glad to hear that.”
“…She’s a little too energetic.”
After that, questions about Shiramine continued.
“How long have you been dating Ren?”
“Eh, that’s…”
We’re not dating, I think.
“Since this spring… I guess. I became a high school student this year.”
“I see. I see. That’s touching. Ren has a girlfriend now.”
The meal progressed in no time.
“Well then, Ren. Be careful locking the doors.”
After finishing the meal, my father quickly cleaned up. He then picked up his suitcase.
“Are you leaving already?”
“I have to be back tomorrow morning.”
“I see.”
I saw him off to the front door. Apparently, he had work tomorrow and had just stopped by.
“Shiramine san. Please be kind to my son.”
“Yes, of course.”
Seeing Shiramine nod, my father looked satisfied and turned his gaze to me.
“Ren, it’s time to decide on your future. Let me know when you find a university you want to attend.”
“…Okay.”
“Well, I’m off then.”
“Have a good trip.”
The front door closed, and my father left. I stared blankly at the door.
“You have a kind father,”
Shiramine said.
“…Definitely.”
He’s kind. No, he’s too kind.
“But, Senpai, what should we do now?”
“Huh? What?”
When I looked at Shiramine, she was smiling mockingly.
“Senpai, we’re alone right now, aren’t we?”
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