Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622175624550361
A week later, the day of the open class arrived.
Today’s open class was held during the fifth period in the afternoon. After that, there would be a social gathering for parents. When lunch break ended, parents began to appear here and there around the school.
“Your mom is pretty, isn’t she?”
“I told you not to come in that outfit!”
I could hear my classmates saying things like that here and there. Toka, who was sitting next to me, was unusually fidgety today.
“You’re too nervous.”
“But, it’s my first time having someone watch my class…”
It was a little funny to see Toka so flustered over something like a parent-teacher conference. A little while later, I saw my mother enter the back of the classroom.
“Father-in-law, mother-in-law! Thank you so much for coming today!”
When she saw my parents, Toka was the first to go and thank them. Why did my father come too? Usually, only my mother comes.
“He wanted to come with me.”
“Ahaha, we came together because Toka-chan was here.”
My father likes to participate in events like this, but now that I’m in high school, it’s quite embarrassing. Unlike Toka, who ran up to them, I remained indifferent in my seat.
“No, I’m really happy! Thank you very much for today!”
“Toka-chan is the only child who says thank you so much during class visits.”
Toka was talking to my father and mother with a very happy expression on her face. She was already a conspicuous presence, but today, because of her smile, she was attracting even more attention in the classroom. As a result, my parents also became conspicuous.
“Asahina’s parents are surprisingly normal.”
“Yeah, I had a scarier image of them.”
“Even the parents of celebrities come to school visits normally.”
Of course they do! They’re my parents! They’ve completely become Toka’s parents. If I joined the conversation, it would probably lead to more ridiculous rumors, so I decided to keep quiet.
“Where’s Ryo?”
“Ryo kun is sitting over there looking sulky.”
“Ah, Ryo has always been a bit like that.”
Don’t talk about me right now! If they find out we live together, it’ll be trouble again.
“Huh…”
In the end, Toka’s father didn’t come… That day, I had this conversation with Toka’s father.
◆
“There’s going to be a parent-teacher conference soon. I was wondering if you’d like to come…”
“…”
“I think Toka would be happy! I’d also like you to meet my parents… I was thinking…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll leave Toka to you. I’m working on finding a place for her to live right now…”
“But, just for a little while!”
“I’m a parent who couldn’t raise Toka properly. As a parent who couldn’t grow up properly… I don’t think Toka would want to meet me, someone who couldn’t nurture her feelings as a parent…”
◆
The phone call ended there that day. I was very nervous, and I think my voice sounded pathetic at times.
What does it mean to have failed? When I agreed to make the phone call, I didn’t think Toka herself disliked her father. However, they are too formal with each other, and I feel a strong sense of discomfort as a family.
(“Toka is not my real child.”)
In the end, it all comes down to this statement… Does Toka even know about this?
There may be various circumstances, but I still think I should care more about Toka. I feel that Toka’s father’s argument is just a selfish excuse.
…Maybe I think that way because I’m still a child.
“Ryo kun, you look troubled.”
“Welcome back.”
Toka returned to her seat. She had a happy smile on her face, something she had never shown in class before.
“Classroom visits are fun, aren’t they?”
“This is the first time I’ve seen someone enjoy a classroom visit.”
“No way, I think it’s really nice to have someone cheering you on.”
She said that without hesitation. It’s not someone else, but it is my parents who are visiting the class.
“Let’s do our best in class today.”
“Not just today, but every day!”
Unusually, Toka opened her textbook and seemed motivated. Toka is a girl who performs better when someone has expectations of her…
“…”
I’m really enjoying my life with Toka right now, but there’s something that’s been on my mind. Deep down, I’m not able to fully enjoy it. That’s because this isn’t a good situation for Toka. Her conflict with her family remains unresolved.
I want to talk to Toka’s father someday. I want to hear his true feelings about not being able to nurture his own emotions. I was thinking about that for Toka’s sake.
◇
“Mother-in-law, Ryo kun says he’s going home first.”
“Okay. Tell him I’m buying sushi today, so he doesn’t have to prepare dinner.”
After the open house, I talk to my mother through Toka. If I talk to her normally now, bad rumors will definitely spread!
“The Asahina family seems to get along very well.”
“Yes, they seem like the ideal family. They have wonderful parents.”
“Huh? But wasn’t the mother in the controversial video more scary? Did they make up?”
Just because they look like Toka family, my parents’ reputation has skyrocketed… Or rather, the sharp-witted ones have already noticed! It’s better to leave quickly!
“Toka, let’s go home.”
“Wow, Ryo kun invited me!”
“There’s no point in hiding it in class anymore!”
Toka bows politely to my parents. After confirming that my father and mother waved lightly, we left the classroom. Even after we went out into the hallway, Toka was still in a good mood.
“School has such fun events, doesn’t it?”
“I never thought that a parent-teacher conference would be ranked as a fun event…”
“Ryo kun, I’ve been thinking.”
Toka’s expression suddenly changed to a serious one.
“I was talking about a daughter-raising plan without thinking about it.”
“Eh? I think that’s fine…”
“That might have been very rude to their real daughter, Yuzu-chan. I’ll talk to Yuzu-chan about it.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”
“I thought it would be very scary and sad if she lost her place in this family. I want Ryo-kun’s family to stay together forever.”
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