Living Normally In An Abnormal World

Chapter 8: Tachibana-san’s Mother

As soon as we entered, Minami approached us and started talking, but…

“Ah, we’ve been waiting for you. Kinoshita-san… Oh, my apologies!”

“Wait, Minami! It’s me, Kinoshita!”

I grabbed her hand to stop her.

“Wha–?!”

That was close! If she had just walked away, I would’ve gotten lost. Probably because of the veil, she couldn’t see my face clearly.

I removed the veil to show my face.

“Look, it’s me, Kinoshita!”

“Oh, yes, my apologies.”

“Could you please guide us to Tachibana-san’s location?”

“Of course. By the way, Yuuto-sama, you two look wonderful together.”

“Thank you.”

I let go of her hand as it wouldn’t be appropriate to keep holding it.

“Ah…”

Don’t make such a disappointed face. I’m not used to holding hands with a woman either.

“Then, please lead the way.”

“Yes, this way.”

Don’t be so dejected. It’s like you’re making me feel guilty.

As I walked beside Minami,

“Huh? Is there a wedding today?!”

“Who? Oh!”

“She’s so beautiful… I’m glad I forced myself to come today!”

“I’m jealous of that maid walking so close to her.”

Well, it’s obvious that we stand out. Who would normally wear a wedding dress to a social party? It’s a perfect boomerang, though.

Haa…

“Yuuki-kun?”

…Haa?!

I turned towards the voice that was all too familiar, and there she was…

“Mana.”

“Yuuki-kun, are you getting married? What’s going on?! Answer me?!”

She shook my shoulders vigorously. Of course, if you show up at an acquaintance’s party wearing a wedding dress, anyone would mistake it for your wedding.

“Yuuto-sama?!”

“Wait, listen to me! My brain… my head… it’s in a mess!”

After saying that, she stopped shaking my shoulders, but the silent pressure was overwhelming.

“Who are you? This young man is Maria-ojou-sama’s partner, isn’t he?”

“I’m this child’s mother, though?”

“Ugh, Minami, this person is my mother.”

“Eh…?”

“And? Yuuki-kun, why are you dressed like that?”

“I’m just wearing it instead of a dress. Does it suit me?”

“Yes, it suits you so well♪ So, it was just my misunderstanding, huh? I’m relieved!”

“She’s Yuuto-sama’s mother…”

“Minami, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s my fault. I apologize too.”

“I’m sorry as well.”

I’m glad it settled down. I’m not good with awkward situations like this.

“I didn’t expect Mana to be here.”

“I think Yuki-kun didn’t know, but the Tachibana family is a major aristocratic family that oversees businesses worldwide. My company has a contract with them, so I was here to represent my company and greet them. I had just finished greeting them and was about to leave, but I never expected to see Yuuki-kun walking around in a wedding dress.”

“So, are you leaving now?”

“Of course not. How could I leave without admiring Yuuki-kun’s beautiful dress?”

Yeah, I know.

“Then, let’s go this way together.”

And so, Mana and I followed Minami.

“Ah, Yuuto-sama, we’ve been waiting for you… Eh?”

I knew it, that’s the proper reaction, right? I would’ve reacted the same way if our positions were reversed.

“Yes… it’s me, Yuuto, Tachibana-san.”

“Huh?! …I’m not worthy, but please take care of me!”

“We’re not having a wedding.”

I shouldn’t have blurted that out, huh? Well, it can’t be helped.

“Wha–?! Ah, my apologies. You… you two look wonderful together.”

“Thanks. You look great too, Tachibana-san.”

I noticed that in this world, women wear suits at parties like this. But that’s fine too.

“Thank you. By the way, who is that woman with you?”

“She’s my mother, ‘Kinoshita Mana’. Please remember her.”

“Eh… yes, nice to meet you, Mother?”

Hmm, this is strange. The two of them seem to be exchanging sparks with their gazes. Mana seems like she doesn’t want to be called ‘Mother’ by you. (T/N: Raw was 母様 or Okasama, which is a way of referring to your mother, or in this case, mother-in-law, was what Tachibana was going for.)

Haha… ha… I must be catching a cold, I thought as I averted my eyes.

“So, what should I do now?”

“I’ve already finished my personal greetings, so I was thinking of introducing Yuuto-sama to my mother.”

“I see. Well, as you can see, he’s very unconventional, so he might be disliked by your mother.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“Oh, Maria, you’re here?”

“Ah, Mother!”

I turned around and saw a beautiful woman with the same golden hair styled in vertical rolls, just like Tachibana-san.

She looked so young! She didn’t seem a day over her early twenties.

“You always disappear somewhere right after the greetings.”

“I’m sorry, Mother.”

“And… who is this?”

“I’m Kinoshita Yuuto. I’m always in your daughter’s care.”

“Oh, I’m Tachibana Erina. I’ve heard a lot about you from Maria. You’re quite an unconventional gentleman, aren’t you?”

“Eh…? What do you mean by that, Tachibana-san?”

“Let’s talk later, shall we?”

Why are you blushing Tachibana-san? And you’re really dodging the question. Your eyes are darting around so much. Just what in the world did you say to your mother?

I chased after Tachibana-san.

“Fufu, of course, I mean it in a good way. Oh, I haven’t heard about this. Oh, Manatsu-san? Is this your son?”

“Yes, I never expected my son to be an acquaintance of Erina-sama’s daughter.”

“It’s a small world, isn’t it?”

While Mana and Tachibana-san’s mother were talking, I was still chasing after Tachibana-san.

A man in a wedding dress chasing a woman in a suit. It’s a difficult scene to comment on.

“Yo, don’t run away, Tachibana-san, let’s talk. Isn’t it every woman’s dream to be chased by a man?”

“Kyaa, Mother, help me~♪”

Tachibana-san, who seemed to be enjoying herself, said that knowing that I was just joking.

Don’t do that at a party… You’re so unconventional that I can’t keep up.

“Now, now, Yuto-san, calm down. Please forgive her for my sake.”

“Well, if Tachibana-san’s mother says so, I have no choice but to calm down.”

“I think it’s amazing that Yuuki-kun is still in his usual mood.”

“Mana, I might be doomed. I’ve committed a grave offense, so I might be assassinated later.”

“It’s troubling when you suddenly become negative like this.”

“Fufu, is it okay if I get you assassinated?”

“I’ll do anything, so please spare me?”

“Oh? Anything?”

“Eh, I was just joking.”

“Yuuto-sama, a man must keep his word, right?”

“Tachibana-san, could you please look ahead?”

“Then, let’s just take a picture together.”

“Mana, this lady is a really good person.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“By the way, I’ve been wondering about this since earlier… Is that sword a replica?”

Yes, Tachibana-san’s mother had a sword hanging from her waist. Even though I had been so rude, she was very kind to me. I hoped that it was a replica.

“It’s real.”

God is dead. Even though I was reborn into this position, it’s strange to say this, but…

“Why are you carrying it?”

“Of course, it’s to cut down rude people.”

“Mana… I think I’ll really be assassinated, not just assassinated, but cut down.”

“Yeah, I kno… this isn’t the time to be saying that!”

“Now, now, stand over there~♪”

Saying this, Tachibana-san’s mother drew her sword.

“Mother?!”

“Erina-sama?!”

“Fufu, I’m just joking♪”

It’s not convincing when you say that while holding a sword!

“By the way, Maria? I haven’t heard anything about you getting married.”

As I thought, she misunderstood.

I ignored the fact that she didn’t comment on the dress earlier.

“Ah, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I’m just wearing this instead of a dress, so I’m not really getting married today.”

“Oh, so you’re not getting married? I think it’s a good idea, though?”

“Well, Ma–… Erina-san, she’s not that old yet. I think Tachibana-san should have more time to think about it.”

I mean, Tachibana-san is still a child. She will have more opportunities to meet people in the future. She might develop new feelings for someone else. Moreover, it’s too early for elementary school students to have a lover, let alone get married.

“Then, Yuuto-san, how about you and me?”

“Eh?”

“Fufu, I’ve taken a liking to you, Yuuto-san. What do you think?”

Erina-san, who had been holding my right arm, suddenly took my left arm as well.

Wait, this is too sudden of a development! I don’t remember doing anything to make her like me so much.

“Eh… well, I think you’ll find a better man than me, so I have to decline.”

“Fufufu, I have a habit of taking whatever I like.”

This person doesn’t know how to back down. As expected of a noble, the dictatorial ideology is still strong.

“Erina-sama? Please stop flirting with Yuki-kun!”

While saying that, Mana took my left arm, so she clearly had no intention of stopping as well. Well, in that case,

“Tachibana-san, please help me.”

You’re my only hope!

“Umm, umm… where should I hold on to…?”

Didn’t you hear me? I’m pretty sure I said help me.

“Ojou-sama, the front is open.”

“Yes! Tachibana Maria… here I go?!”

Don’t come over here! Ah–, she hugged me! It’s over–!

And Minami took a picture of us in this state while laughing.

Why didn’t you help me?!

A few minutes later, I was released, but I was exhausted, while everyone else looked refreshed.

Should I get used to this kind of situation? No, if I get used to it, I might be seen as a jaded man, which I don’t want to.

“Well, by the way, you said it was a pair participation, but there are no men here except me.”

“That’s because it’s in the afternoon. But the afternoon will surely be chaotic, so I wanted to introduce you to my mother during the calm morning instead.”

“There are few pairs, so the other women will approach the men in the pairs. That’s why it gets chaotic.”

“Eh… Am I in a dangerous situation?”

After all, I’m wearing a wedding dress.

“Yuuki-kun, it’ll be fine. There’s no way any reckless woman would approach Tachibana-sama’s pair. And look, no one has come to talk to you so far, right?”

Indeed, the women around me only looked at me but didn’t come close or start a conversation with me.

So that’s why no one dared to approach me because I was Tachibana-san’s pair.

“Then I’m relieved.”

“Yes, if they did, I would cut them down.”

“I’m not relieved at all.”

“By the way, is your mother’s pair here?”

“No. I don’t want to waste my money on useless freeloaders. And it’s just troublesome to bring a man along.”

What a harsh way of putting it. Am I included in that group?

“Well, Yuuki-kun is not a freeloader in our house because he does the housework!”

Mana tried to smooth things over. Ah… her kindness warms my heart.

‘Everyone, it’s almost time for the afternoon session. Please move to the next venue.’

At the announcement, everyone started to move.