“Ojisan, Obasan, hello!”
In the living room, Kanade greeted my parents with a beaming smile. Our parents, who seemed to have been chatting while we were away, smiled back at us.
“Hello, Kanade-chan.”
“Hello, Kanade-chan. Sorry about my son, okay?”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize for getting angry over something so childish.”
Kanade bowed her head to my parents. Seeing her like that, my parents looked a bit troubled.
“Kanade-chan, please raise your head. It’s our son’s fault for beating you so thoroughly on the test.”
“No. I’m actually grateful to Ak-kun for challenging me to a serious showdown.”
Wait, really?
If that’s the case… then why did she demand daily study sessions from me earlier?
…….
Well, it’s not like I hate studying with Kanade, so I guess it’s fine.
“That’s why, in order to win the next test, I intend to keep working hard on my studies from now on!”
My parents smiled at Kanade’s powerful declaration.
“…And so, Ak-kun and I actually made a promise earlier.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. For a while, Ak-kun and I will be holding study sessions together.”
At those words…
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Good luck, Kanade-chan,” my mother said happily.
“And so… I was thinking of coming over to Ak-kun’s house every day for the time being.”
…Ah, I guess she did intend to clear it with my parents after all. My parents are rarely home during the weekdays because of work, so it probably would have worked out even without asking, but still…
…Hm?
Wait, if my parents are rarely home on weekdays… doesn’t that mean Kanade and I will have time alone together in my room for the foreseeable future…?
…….
………….
…………………….
Ahaha. Jack-pot!
“Hold on, Kanade, what are you saying all of a sudden?”
Unlike my family, who were in a welcoming mood, Kanade’s mother chimed in as if to rebuke her.
“Saying something so sudden… won’t it be a nuisance to the Hagiwaras?”
“Eh?”
“No, not really…”
“It’s not a problem at all, right?”
“See, they’re saying it’s a nuisance.”
Kanade’s mother had a wrinkle between her brows.
“It’s a no, absolutely not. Don’t cause so much trouble for the Hagiwaras.”
“Boo… It’s fine, Mom.”
“When I say no, I mean no.”
Kanade’s mother continued in an angry tone.
“Therefore, come to our house once every two days.”
…Huh.
Is it just me, or is there… no light in Kanade’s mother’s eyes?
“That way, you can still study properly with Ak-kun every day, and I can help out too.”
“…Ehh.”
“What? Are you dissatisfied?”
Kanade just looked down sullenly and didn’t try to say anything.
“I don’t mind at all, though…?”
For the time being, I agreed with Kanade’s mother’s opinion. Honestly, I had some doubts because calling Kanade to my house every single day might be a burden on her. To begin with, it’s dangerous for a girl to go home alone late at night… if that happened every day, the toll on her would be immeasurable.
…Wait, if it got too late, I could just have her stay over at my place.
Ahaha. If we went with the original plan, I might have ended up having Kanade stay over every day!
“See, Ak-kun says so too, right?”
As usual, there was no light in Kanade’s mother’s eyes.
“…But.”
“Kanade, do you hate studying at this house that much?”
“…Ugh.”
“Kanade…?”
“Honestly, if you’re asking if I hate it or not… I hate it.”
“Why?”
At my question, Kanade looked down.
“Because…”
Kanade stole a glance at her mother, who was wearing an intimidatingly powerful smile.
“…Ugh. Fine. I get it.”
Kanade reluctantly accepted her mother’s demand.
“Mom, let me tell you this first—don’t do anything weird to Ak-kun, okay?”
“Ahaha. What could I possibly do to Ak-kun?”
“That’s right. Not someone like Mrs. Ichinose. Ahaha.”
Both mothers laughed together. …What a heartwarming sight.
“Well then, shall we start preparing dinner soon?”
“Ah, I’ll help.”
Kanade agreed with her mother’s suggestion.
“I think I’ll help out too, since we're all here.”
My mother pushed herself up from the sofa with a grunt.
“Well then, you men wait there for a while.”
“Okay.”
“Ak-kun. I’ll make something delicious, okay?”
“Thanks.”
Leaving the dinner preparations to the women, I sat down next to my father.
“Atsushi. You’ve got it pretty rough, too.”
“Eh?”
As soon as I sat on the sofa, my father said that to me. I tilted my head, not knowing what he meant.
“Ak-kun. Sorry. Our lot is… well.”
“What is it?”
For some reason, Kanade’s father was offering me words of apology.
“…If anything major happens, feel free to talk to us anytime.”
“That’s right. We’re on your side.”
“What’s wrong with you two?”
I couldn’t hide my confusion at the two of them, who had such serious expressions.
“Ak-kun. …Since Kanade transferred to your school, have you been caught up in anything strange?”
“Strange things?”
“No, like… for example, has a sudden sleepiness ever come over you?”
“…Ah.”
Now that he mentioned it, that did happen. But that was just because I was studying too hard.
“What else… like Kanade giving you a present.”
“Eh…”
How did he know that?
“…Or like your phone’s battery draining faster.”
“It has been draining faster, but I think that’s just simple battery degradation? Ahaha.”
When I laughed…
“…The real big shot among the people here is actually Ak-kun, isn’t it?”
Kanade’s father gave a tired, wry smile.