Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 217: Kazunari’s Strength.

Kazunari’s Strength.

When we returned to the living room, Sachie-san was getting ready to leave. She said she would be heading home for the day.

It seemed Masaomi-san was planning to drive her, but Sachie-san insisted she would walk back, stopping by a few places along the way. Since it was still early evening, there shouldn’t be any problem with the time.

“Well then, I’ll be heading off now. But if anything happens, make sure to report it next time.”

“Y-Yes… I’m sorry…”

“Mother, I’ve reflected on it, so please forgive me already…”

…I wondered what had happened while we were away.

Seeing Masaomi-san looking dejected and Mayumi-san appearing slightly exasperated, I could only assume that Sachie-san’s earlier words—“We’ll talk later”—had indeed been carried out.

“Takanashi-san, Sara-chan, come visit anytime, alright? I’d love to hear more about you two. And if anything troubles you, don’t hesitate to come, okay?”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

“Understood, Grandma.”

Her stern demeanor from earlier melted away, replaced by the gentle, kind Sachie-san we were used to.

“Mm-hm, seeing you two standing side by side like that… you already look like a married couple.”

“Eh!?”

“Grandma… do you really think so?”

I assumed she was only joking, but Sara-san looked genuinely happy.

Sachie-san seemed pleased with her reaction and left with a warm smile.

After Sachie-san left, I wondered what I should do.

I checked the RAIN messages from Yuuji and the others; apparently, everyone who had gathered today had already gone home. They planned to meet again soon for a debriefing about us, and from the message, it was clear Sara-san and I were expected to attend.

But for now…

Thinking that Masaomi-san and the others probably wanted time to talk with Sara-san, given she had been away from home for a few days, I thought it would be best to excuse myself and head back.

“Kazunari-kun, why don’t you have dinner with us tonight?”

“Yes, please stay and eat with us.”

The two of them said this before I could speak. I couldn’t find any reason to refuse, nor did I want to. I decided to gratefully accept their kindness.

“Thank you very much.”

“Oh, come now – no more of that formal politeness from today onwards!”

“Haha, though I suppose it’s hard to change overnight. Still, if you can gradually get used to it, that would make me happy.”

Hearing them say that, I truly felt that both Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san had accepted me. Of course, that didn’t mean I would forget my manners and become overly casual, but perhaps I could loosen up just a little.

I just needed to be careful with the balance.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best to get used to it.”

“That’s all we ask.”

“Ufufu, I hope you’ll soon be able to call me ‘Mother’ as well.”

Ah, that’s right… whether by adoption or marriage, I would eventually become her son-in-law. Meaning… Mayumi-san would be my mother-in-law… wait—

“Call you… Mother… you mean like that!?”

“Oh, you finally realised? I’m so glad.”

So Mayumi-san had seen me in that light long before any of this happened… That’s why she kept pushing for me to call her “Mother-in-law” all along.

“Kazunari-san, is something the matter?”

At that moment, Sara-san returned from the kitchen, having finished cleaning up the dishes.

“Kazunari-kun has finally understood what it means to call me ‘Mother’.”

“Mother… yes, that’s true. If we marry in the future, it would indeed be so…”

She spoke shyly, then walked over and sat down beside me in her usual spot to my right, a little closer than usual.

“I was thinking, why don’t you join us for dinner tonight as well, Takanashi-kun?”

“I see… Kazunari-san, what would you like to do?”

“I think I’ll accept your kind offer.”

“Understood. Then, I shall prepare—”

“No, today I will cook. Sara-chan, you always cook for Kazunari-kun, so at least for today, let me…”

“…Always?”

Of course Sara-san would assume she’d be cooking, but Mayumi-san cut in before she could finish. Somehow, I’d expected this.

I thought I heard Masaomi-san mutter something under his breath.

“All of Kazunari-san’s daily needs are mine to take care of. I’ve promised to become his wife, so I don’t intend to yield even to my own mother.”

I secretly thought that promise or not, she wouldn’t yield regardless… but I kept that to myself. She would likely use that promise as a reason to assert herself even more from now on. If it made her happy, I didn’t mind at all.

“Well, well. Why don’t you both cook together? I’d love to eat Sara’s cooking again after so long.”

Honestly, Masaomi-san’s compromise was the only viable solution. The two of them exchanged glances, then reluctantly nodded. Problem solved… I think.

“Ufufu, I’ll have Kazunari-kun tell me my cooking is the best tonight.”

“Please don’t make me laugh. When it comes to cooking for Kazunari-san, not even a three-star chef could surpass me. The only person who might stand a chance would be you, Mother… no, Mother-in-law.”

…No, it’s cruel to say, but my own mom could never beat Sara-san… meaning she really was the strongest. And that deliberate correction – “Mother-in-law” – was another subtle declaration.

“You think you can surpass your master? You’re ten years too early for that.”

“I cannot tolerate the idea of anyone thinking they could ever surpass me when it comes to Kazunari-san.”

Invisible sparks flew as the two strengthened their rivalry. All this just over who would cook dinner… how did it come to this?

Even Masaomi-san looked a little stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

***

Once the two women left for the kitchen, I found myself alone with Masaomi-san for the first time in a while. We exchanged glances, then both burst out laughing.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? At first, you were just someone I owed a debt of gratitude to, but now, before I knew it, the conversation has turned to you becoming my son. Human relationships really are fascinating.”

“Yeah… Honestly, when you handed me your business card, I thought you were someone I’d never see again. I didn’t need thanks, and I had no intention of ever calling you. But then to find out that you were Sara-san’s father… what are the odds of that?”

It was such an unlikely coincidence. The man I’d met only once, by chance, would one day become the man I called “Father.” Back then, I had only known Sara-san as an acquaintance… who could have imagined this?

“Still… today really surprised me. I always thought you were an interesting young man, but you’ve far exceeded anything I could have imagined. To be honest, even now, seeing Sara like this, I feel as if I’m dreaming. I never thought she could change so much…”

Natsumi-senpai had been shocked too, but remembering Nishikawa-san’s reaction, I realised that everyone who knew Sara-san was surprised. For a parent, that shock must be even greater.

“Both Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san were quite surprised as well. But to me, Sara-san was always kind, even from the very beginning.”

“…I don’t want to speak poorly of my own daughter, but that’s… hard to believe. Still, it makes sense now. If Sara was kind to you from the start, then perhaps this was always meant to be.”

His words embarrassed me, but I felt deeply happy to hear them. Though… I couldn’t help but think, Masaomi-san was quite the romantic himself.

“It might sound presumptuous to say this in front of you, but… I think it was fate.”

“Heh… haha, you really do say the most interesting things. I already knew you were sincere and responsible from how you handled your work, but then there’s your relationship with your mother-in-law, your dealings with Yamazaki Industries, and even Nishikawa-san – such powerful connections. Are you really just a high school student? You’re quite something, Kazunari-kun. I truly have high hopes for you.”

…Well, honestly, everything was just a string of coincidences.

Nishikawa-san only moved because of Nishikawa himself, and the Yamazaki matter was resolved thanks to everyone’s help. Even Masaomi-san’s involvement was something I hadn’t known at the time…

“It’s true the Yamazaki issue began with my own situation, but in the end, it was everyone’s support that resolved it. I couldn’t have done anything on my own.”

“No… I think you’re mistaken there. When you act as part of a group, each person complements the others, their strengths covering the weaknesses. I don’t know exactly how you solved it, but I’m sure everyone gathered around you because you moved first. And if everyone was willing to support you, that alone is proof of who you are. That too, is your strength.”

…Those words reminded me of something Hanako-san once told me. I wasn’t sure if it meant exactly the same thing, but I felt I understood what he was saying.

That my power wasn’t about personal ability, but rather, the way people came together around me and moved with me – that too, was my strength.

***

Sara’s POV.

“I’m so relieved… I always worried how Masaomi-san would react if Sara-chan ever found someone, but it looks like he’ll get along well with Kazunari-kun.”

“…I don’t particularly care as long as everything is settled peacefully.”

As long as no one opposed my relationship with Kazunari-san, I had no issues. For us… no, more precisely, for what Kazunari-san decides, I will always follow.

“…Haha.”

I could hear Father’s laughter from here.

It seemed their conversation was going well. I just hoped Father wouldn’t say anything rude to Kazunari-san…

“Oh my… they seem to be getting along so well. Maybe Kazunari-kun should just move in here and the four of us can live together. Shall I ask him?”

Living here…?

It wasn’t necessarily a bad idea… but I still preferred it to be just the two of us.

I wouldn’t call others an inconvenience, but I wanted to take care of every aspect of Kazunari-san’s life myself.

And with just the two of us, he could always lean on me without hesitation.

But… I would ask Kazunari-san first.

“You may ask, but the decision is ultimately ours, is it not?”

Because I knew… that Kazunari-san would understand my feelings.