Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622175624079961
On the way home from homeroom class, the homeroom teacher said this as a printout was passed around from the front row.
“Everyone, next week will be your first parent-teacher conference since you started school, so please show this printout to your parents.”
Huh, there are parent-teacher conferences even in high school. I don’t really have an image of parent-teacher conferences in high school.
“Ryo kun, parents…”
“Ah, Toka…”
Oh, Toka doesn’t have anyone who can come to the parent-teacher conference…
“Hey…”
“What’s wrong? You’ve been staring at me.”
“Here, take this.”
“…Why is a printout being passed around from the next seat too?”
“Because you’re my guardian, Ryo-kun.”
“You’re saying weird things again!”
Toka handed me the printout with a serious expression. Why are you acting like it’s so natural?
“Somehow, events like this make me jealous just because someone is coming. No one ever came to my parent-teacher conferences.”
“…”
It was just a casual remark, but it seemed to resonate unusually loudly in the noisy classroom.
“Toka, can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Back when you were on TV, you were always with your mom, right?”
“Of course. When I was little, my mom was almost always with me, whether I was going to the set or coming home. She was always there when I was reading the script or deciding on my outfit.”
“I see.”
“But you know, I think that was probably just work. It felt more like a manager and a talent than a mother and daughter. The manager was just doing her job, you know.”
She laughed jokingly, but there was a hint of sadness behind her smile, and it made my heart ache a little. Probably, Toka herself didn’t mean much by those words, but to me, they felt unbearably heavy.
“Well, I see Toka every day anyway.”
“Every day was like a parent-teacher conference.”
“My daughter just sleeps all the time.”
“She’s your girlfriend, right?”
“Stop being so serious all of a sudden.”
…Given Toka’s daughter-raising plan, maybe I should ask Mom about it.
◇
That night, as soon as my mother came home, I decided to show her the parent-teacher conference printout.
“Mom, look at this.”
“What’s this?”
“There’s a parent-teacher conference.”
“Oh, what should I do?”
“I’d like you to come, if possible.”
“What?! It’s unusual for you to say something like that!”
“No, not me, I want you to support the other person…”
I glance at Toka, who is currently busy cooking in the kitchen.
“Toka, it seems like no one has ever come to her parent-teacher conferences.”
My mother pauses for a moment and follows my gaze. She sees Toka’s back as she struggles with the recipe book while wearing an apron.
“Toka-chan is different from the image I had of her.”
“I felt the same way at first.”
“…Maybe it’s time I stop treating her like a celebrity. It’s embarrassing for us adults to be so flaky. Besides, before she’s the celebrity ‘Asahina Toka,’ she’s the important girlfriend Ryo brought home for the first time.”
“Mom!”
“I understand. I’ll attend the parent-teacher conference. Besides, it’s Ryo’s first parent-teacher conference in high school.”
Mom smiled brightly. As expected, she’s my mom! Just like when she brought Toka on the first day, I knew she’d understand if I talked to her.
“Toka-chan, do you want me to teach you how to cook?”
“Mother-in-law! Is that okay!?”
“Of course, let’s do it together.”
“Yay!”
Toka showed a smile as bright as a blooming flower. Seeing that face, my mother looked a little surprised, then immediately smiled gently. SSR’s smile seemed to have hit my mother right in the heart.
“Alright, let’s start with chopping the green onions. Hold the knife like this, with your fingers hidden like a cat’s paw—that’s right, take your time.”
“H-hahiii….!”
I quietly watched Toka’s back as she tried her best to imitate me from the living room. Being watched by someone, being cheered on by someone, might be a significant motivator for Toka.
It’s only been three days since Toka moved in with us, but with my mother’s help, things at home seem to be working out. Now I just need to figure out school.
“I’m home!”
A voice came from the entrance. It was my father!
“Dad, welcome home!”
My mother hurried to the entrance. Toka and I followed behind her.
“What’s going on!? Why are you all greeting me like this!?”
Looking at my father’s face, he looked very tired. He must be exhausted from work.
“Dad, you’ve been through a lot, but so have we!”
“Oh, Ryo brought his girlfriend, didn’t he? He’s a high school student now, so it’s only natural that he’d bring a girlfriend or two. Right, Ryo?”
Ouch! Toka reacted to the two of them and pinched my side.
“Don’t say that, or I’ll be surprised…”
“Huh? The one behind you isn’t Yuzu…?”
My father noticed Toka.
“N-nice to meet you! My name is Asahina Toka! I’m dating Ryo-kun!”
“Oh, this is quite formal. My name is Kuga Seiji… Hmm? Asahina Toka?”
My father looked at my face.
“Same name?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“You’re not the Asahina Toka who was on TV, are you?”
Toka looked a little confused by my father’s joke, but she quickly answered with a smile.
“…Yes, I was on TV when I was a child.”
“Huh?”
My father’s expression froze. He seemed completely stunned to be face to face with the real person. My mother chimed in from the side in a low voice.
“I told you Asahina Toka was here…”
“W-What? You’re really that Asahina Tokaaaaaaaaaaa!? No, I thought it was a joke!”
My father’s voice echoed throughout the house. Enough already, that reaction.
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