Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 230: Hanako-san’s Home.

Hanako-san’s Home.

On the way home after the student council meeting.

While the ever-amiable Toudou-san seems to have already blended in well, the conversation with Hanako-san—whose social boundaries are still a bit hard to read—remains cordial yet somewhat distant. It may take more time, but she’s a kind person, so things will likely work out eventually.

“Takanashi-kun… about the, uh, debriefing session earlier—”

For once, the usually composed and occasionally mischievous student council president—who once had no qualms about setting me up (only to be scolded harshly by Sara-san afterward)—spoke to me with rare hesitation.

Ah, right. I had forgotten to pass on Nishikawa-san’s message. It’s brief, but…

“Come to think of it, I have a message from Nishikawa-san.”

“!? I-I see. She remembered me? That makes me happy. So, what did she say?”

The president’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, a curious contrast that left me with a strange feeling. It wasn’t a message that needed building up, so I decided to tell her plainly.

“She said, ‘Thank you for everything back then.’”

“…I-I see.”

Her reaction was… ambiguous. Not exactly joyful, but not disappointed either.

Well, even I would have figured it out by now.

Could it be… the president has feelings for Nishikawa-san?

“And she might be coming to the upcoming school festival. I extended the invitation, and she said she’d try to make room in her schedule.”

“!! That’s wonderful. If she does come, I’d be delighted to welcome her.”

This time, her smile was genuine and unmistakable. That all but confirmed it for me. Though, based on Nishikawa-san’s demeanor, it seemed she viewed the president as little more than an acquaintance.

It’s probably going to be complicated…

As we continued walking, my phone, set to silent mode, began to vibrate in my pocket. It didn’t stop after the first buzz, so I figured it must be a call and checked the screen—Masaomi-san was calling.

“Hello?”

“Takanashi-kun, good afternoon. Sorry to bother you out of the blue—I just wanted to give you a quick update. Is now a good time?”

“Good afternoon. Yes, I’m free. Is something the matter?”

“Your parents might have contacted you already, but now that your father’s business trip is over, we’ve decided to move forward with the formal meeting between both families.”

So, it’s finally happening—my parents are going to meet Sara-san’s.

I have no worries about Masaomi-san or Mayumi-san, but… my father is the wildcard here. I’d like to believe everything will be fine, but still…

Wait—why am I finding out about my father’s business trip from my girlfriend’s dad?

“U-understood. I’ll let Sara-san know.”

Hearing her name, Sara-san must’ve figured out who I was talking to. She stepped beside me, her expression a little uneasy, so I gently patted her head to reassure her. She responded with a warm smile, resting her head lightly on my shoulder. It was impossibly endearing.

“…Why are they flirting all of a sudden?”

“…Even during a phone call?”

“…I still can’t believe it. Is that really that Satsukawa-san?”

“Haah… Acting all lovey-dovey even in the student council. Just as expected.”

“Y-yeah…”

“Oh, and regarding your current residence—I’ve co-signed as guarantor with your father, so don’t worry.”

“Huh? Oh, um, thank you…?”

I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by co-signing with my father, but it wasn’t an issue. I just wasn’t expecting it.

After the call ended, Sara-san, having waited patiently, turned to me.

“Was that my father?”

“Yes. It seems he spoke with my parents, and the meeting’s been scheduled.”

“……!?”

Her face lit up with joy. She’d been looking forward to meeting my parents, and now that it was happening, she was genuinely thrilled.

“That’s wonderful! I’ll need to consult with Mother right away and prepare a kimono for the occasion—”

“Wait, you don’t have to go that far yet…”

“This will be my first time meeting your father. More importantly, as your fiancée—no, your future wife—I want to greet him properly and respectfully.”

“W-wife!?”

“Whew… The guys at school are gonna lose their minds if Satsukawa-san’s getting married.”

“It’s not even a joke anymore, especially with those two.”

“……………”

Sara-san seemed incredibly determined. I wasn’t opposed, so if that’s what she wanted, I would leave it in her hands.

Besides…

“Got it. I’m looking forward to seeing you in that kimono, Sara-san.”

“Yes!! I’ll do my best!”

Her radiant smile was the brightest I’d seen all day.

***

Saturday

Today, I’m supposed to visit Hanako-san’s house. While I considered going straight after school, I ultimately decided to return home and change first.

It’s nothing fancy, but I also bought a small gift yesterday. I thought bringing something might be excessive for a simple visit to a friend’s house, but…

“It might seem a bit much, but it’s good manners to bring a gift in these situations. Don’t forget to add, ‘It’s just a little something,’ when you hand it over.”

Come to think of it, I’ve seen that exact line in dramas when characters offer gifts.

So now I have to do it…

I let Sara-san pick my outfit too. I was going to wear something casual, but she handed me a jacket and slacks—something similar to what I wore when Nishikawa-san invited me to that hotel event.

I guess I really did underestimate what this visit meant.

After changing, Sara-san opened the jacket for me so I could slip my arms through. The way she took care of everything felt both sweet and slightly embarrassing.

Once I had it on, she gently patted down a few spots to neaten it.

“Alright, you’re good to go. Just don’t forget the gift.”

“Thanks. I’ll head out now.”

“…”

Just like last time, I could sense she was holding something back. Even if it’s just Hanako-san, I can’t imagine it’s easy for her to send me off to a girl’s house alone.

If I were in her shoes, I’d be anxious too.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can always—”

“No, it’s alright. Like I said last time, please listen to what Hanako-san has to say. And if it’s within reason… be there for her.”

She quickly masked her unease with a cheerful demeanor.

Honestly, if it were any other girl’s house, I’d probably refuse outright. But Hanako-san is a dear friend. She knows all about us, and there’s nothing romantic involved.

That’s why Sara-san is trusting me to go.

“But just for today. And also…”

I didn’t let her finish.

It’s only natural to feel uneasy, even when you trust someone. And there was a certain tension in the air that hinted today might hold something more than a casual visit.

When I placed my hands on her shoulders, she understood. Looking up slightly, she closed her eyes and smiled.

Initiating this still makes me nervous…

Chu…

It was a short kiss, but I put my feelings into it—my desire for her to trust me.

When she opened her eyes, her smile was full of warmth. I knew she’d be okay.

“I’ll be off then.”

“Yes… take care, my dear.”

Hearing her call me “my dear” made my face burn with embarrassment. But maybe that’s what she wanted—she smiled in satisfaction as she waved me off.

***

I was supposed to meet Hanako-san near the station. I left early, so she hadn’t arrived yet.

As I waited idly, scanning the crowd, I saw her approaching—those distinctive droopy ears swaying gently.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Her blunt tone didn’t quite match her adorably petite appearance, and it made me chuckle.

“What?”

“Nothing. Shall we go?”

“Follow me.”

She reached out her hand—maybe not for a handshake, but clearly wanting to hold mine and lead the way.

Sara-san had told me to accept small things like this, so I gently took her hand.

Kyuu…

Her hand was tiny.

I always thought Sara-san’s hands were small, but Hanako-san’s were even more delicate. I felt like I might crush them if I wasn’t careful.

Still, the way she firmly grasped mine was unexpectedly sweet.

As I squeezed her hand in return, her expression softened, and she gently tugged me along.

After walking a while, we turned off near the shopping district and stopped in front of a residential building. It seemed this was her home.

She retrieved a key from her bag, unlocked the door, and we rode the elevator to the third floor. She stopped in front of a door labeled “Hanasaki.”

I was starting to feel nervous.

I had already met Sara-san’s parents, so that had felt less daunting. But this was a first.

“I’m home.”

She opened the door and stepped inside, then brought out a pair of slippers for me.

Just as I was taking off my shoes, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly.

“Welcome home, Riko. Is your friend—huh?”

It was her mother.

She looked quite youthful—Hanako-san clearly took after her. Petite, soft features… But before I could greet her, she stared at me, eyes wide in surprise.

“Um, Riko, your friend is… a boy?”

“Yeah. I thought I mentioned it.”

“I—I don’t recall hearing that! A b-boy… you brought a boy home…?”

Seems there was a communication gap. It’s natural to assume “friend” means a friend of the same gender. Bringing home a boy would definitely be a surprise.

Just then, another set of footsteps approached.

“Riko, you’re back. You brought a friend, right? Don’t just leave him at the entrance—let him in…”

I didn’t expect her father to be here too.

Well, it’s their house, so of course he’d be here. But still.

He began to tremble slightly.

I had a bad feeling.

“Riko… you said a friend was coming. This boy is…?”

“Like I said, he’s a friend… well, maybe a bit more than that.”

“!!!??”

Her father froze, mouth agape.

To be honest, I was touched. She’d said we were more than friends—essentially calling me her best friend. That meant a lot.

But…

She has a habit of being a bit vague.

I understood what she meant, but someone hearing that without context might easily misunderstand.

A best friend? Or… something else?

“Riko, have him come in. We need to talk. Let’s move to the living room.”

Her father retreated with a grave expression.

Oh no… I think I’ve been completely misunderstood.

“Dad?”

“I have a few things to ask as well, so please come in. I’m sorry, um…?”

“Ah, my apologies. I’m Takanashi. Pleased to meet you.”

It looked like a living room conversation was inevitable, so I gave a brief self-introduction.

I’d save the formal greeting for later.

“Takanashi-san, thank you for always being there for Riko. Sorry to keep you waiting at the entrance. Please, come in.”

I bowed back in response to her mother’s polite gesture.

“Thank you for having me,” I said, stepping into the house behind Hanako-san…

…while trying to figure out just how I was going to explain myself.