Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 246: Parents’ Day.

Parents’ Day.

“Good morning…”

“Hehe… Good morning.”

From the very start of the day, Sara-san was in a cheerful mood again.
To be precise, as far as I’ve seen, she’s always cheerful in the mornings. I wonder if she was like this back at her parents’ house too?

Once, when my curiosity got the better of me, I casually asked her about it.

“I make sure to recharge every morning♪”

Of course, she didn’t mean electricity. She must have her own mysterious way of charging up—one that only she understands.

“Breakfast will be ready in just a bit, so go wash your face and get dressed first.”

“M’kay…”

Sara-san chuckled warmly at my yawn-ridden reply, then returned to the kitchen with a smile.

As I washed my face and brushed my teeth, I recalled my phone call with Mom last night…

“I might not make it in time for the third period, but I’ll be there for your fourth-period class observation.”

“Got it. Honestly, don’t push yourself.”

“I’m not pushing myself. The real reason I’m coming is to see Sara-chan, not you.”

“Knew you’d say that.”

As you can tell from this conversation, Mom really likes Sara-san. From the very first day they met, the two of them got along as if they were real mother and daughter.

Actually, they might be closer than I am with my own mom… which probably makes the “as if” part the key point.

Not that I mind—it’s better for everyone if they get along.

“Is Sara-chan there?”

“She’s right next to me.”

“Put her on.”

“Sure.”

I switched the call to speakerphone so Sara-san could join the conversation. This way, Mom wouldn’t complain.

“She’s ready to talk now.”

“Good evening, Sara-chan.”

Mom’s voice through the speaker was so soft and sweet that it made me question her usual tone with me. Hearing it, Sara-san smiled brightly.

“Good evening, Mother-in-law. It’s been a while.”

“It really has. And you know, you can call me anytime, even if it’s not for anything important.”

“Just being able to talk like this once in a while makes me happy.”

“Ohhh, you’re still such a good girl. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing you as well.”

To me, she’s just my mom—but to Sara-san, she might be someone truly special. Then again… if I think about it in reverse, I probably like Mayumi-san ten… no, a hundred times more than my own mom, so maybe it’s the same for Sara-san…?

…No, probably not.

“After the parent meeting, I’m going to have a chat with Mayumi-san at a nearby café. You’ll come with us, right?”

“Yes! I’d be delighted to.”

“What about me?”

“You can tag along as Sara-chan’s plus-one, I guess.”

As always, the difference in how she treats me versus Sara-san was staggering.
If I asked Mom about it, she’d probably say she always wanted a daughter like Sara-san.

“Please don’t tease Kazunari-san too much, Mother-in-law.”

Even when it’s my mom, Sara-san gently stands up for me. Her kindness is so genuine, it’s no exaggeration to call her a goddess.

“Oh, Sara-chan, you really are such a good girl. Kazunari’s the luckiest man in the world.”

“Fufu… Even if it’s just flattery, I’m truly happy to hear that. But I do mean it when I say I want to make Kazunari-san the happiest man in the world.”

Sara-san has this amazing ability to say things like that without a hint of embarrassment.

I might be overthinking it, but I believe she has absolute confidence in her feelings for me—that’s why she can say such things so clearly.

“Honestly… I really can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’m eagerly looking forward to it as well.”

And that’s how the conversation went.

At least I now knew Mom would only be “observing” me—no, supervising me—for just one period. That was some comfort.

What I’m more worried about is what kind of conversation the four of us will have after school.

Oh, and speaking of mothers—Sara-san got a call from Mayumi-san too…

“I’ll definitely make it for the fourth period.”

“There’s really no need to push yourself, you know.”

…Why does this sound so familiar?

“Oh, come on, Sara-chan, don’t be so cold. Like I told you before, after the meeting, we’re going to chat with Fuyumi-san. Kazunari-kun, you’re coming with your mother-in-law too, right?”

“Uh… th-thank you?”

Mother? Mother-in-law?

Which one was she referring to just now?

Thinking back, I’m pretty sure both mothers are saying almost the same things.

Anyway, after talking to them yesterday, I realized once again that Mayumi-san is completely different from Mom.

In kindness, domestic skills, appearance—though I feel bad saying this—Mayumi-san is leagues ahead in every category.

The only tricky part is that she likes to play little pranks on me… but somehow, when it’s Mayumi-san, I can forgive her instantly.

I guess that’s just the kind of person she is.

After washing my face, I started changing into the uniform Sara-san had laid out for me.

It felt crisper than usual—turns out she had even ironed it for me.

I decided to thank her properly later, but for now, I finished getting dressed.

With my tie neatly in place and my appearance checked, I went back to the kitchen, where breakfast was ready.

“Thank you for ironing my uniform, Sara-san.”

“Today your mother-in-law will be visiting. As your future wife, I can’t let my husband be embarrassed in front of her♪”

She said it with a proud smile that all but declared this is only natural. Honestly, I can’t compete with her.

“Come on, let’s eat. If we take too long, we’ll keep Natsumi and Hanako waiting.”

I glanced at the clock—still enough time, but better to be early than late.

Once breakfast was over and we tidied up, Sara-san suddenly looked at me as if remembering something.

“Before we leave, let me do one final check.”

She slowly stepped closer, her eyes scanning me from head to toe, carefully inspecting every detail.
After finishing her thorough check, she said—

“Please wait just a moment like that.”

Saying that, she returned to the kitchen, lightly warmed a damp towel in the microwave, and came back.

This was the kind of method used to fix bed hair… which meant there must still have been some left somewhere.

At least, as far as I could tell when I checked myself, I hadn’t noticed anything.

“It’s really just a little bit, but there’s a spot at the back that’s bothering me… Please, allow me to take care of it.”

So, as I suspected, the bed hair was at the back of my head. Even when I’d checked in the mirror earlier, I hadn’t noticed.

But for some reason, instead of moving around behind me, Sara-san reached her arms forward from directly in front. She was trying to press the towel to the back of my head from there—but that meant, naturally, her face would draw much closer to mine.

…No, Sara-san is only trying to fix my bed hair. It would be rude of me to think of anything improper.

Even so, with her eyes fixed straight on my face, not looking away for even a second, I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. My eyes closed on their own.

As I stayed still, warmth gradually spread across the back of my head. Apparently, that’s where the offending bed hair was.

After waiting a little longer, the sensation of the towel pressing against me disappeared.

“Alright, that should do it.”

It seemed the bed hair had been taken care of.

When I opened my eyes, expecting nothing in particular, Sara-san’s face was suddenly, startlingly close—as if she’d been waiting for that exact moment.

Chuu…

The movement was so sudden I couldn’t react at all. My body froze, letting her do as she pleased.

Slowly, she pulled away, her lips curling into a playful smile.

“Fufu… I thought I’d grant your unspoken wish.”

“Huh!?”

“Was I mistaken?”

…Well, she wasn’t wrong that my mind had wandered into unnecessary territory. Still, if we’re being honest, this whole situation was instigated by her in the first place. But judging by her expression, she had seen right through me from the start.

“You’re adorable, Kazunari-san… Let’s do it again.”

Sara-san placed her hands lightly on my shoulders, rose up on her toes, and leaned in slowly.

This time, I had enough presence of mind to watch her face closely as she closed her eyes. Her beauty struck me so strongly that I realized—far too late—that my own face was burning bright red.

Chuu…

This was no fleeting brush of lips like before. It was a true kiss—deeper, more deliberate.

When at last we drew apart, Sara-san pressed her fingers gently to her lips while gazing at me. Something in her demeanor felt irresistibly alluring, and my heart pounded furiously in my chest.

“Fufu… I’ve kissed you twice now♪ This morning has already made me so happy.”

Whether she noticed my thundering heartbeat or not, she seemed in excellent spirits.

***

“So… why do you have such a dazed, silly expression first thing in the morning, Kazunari?”

When we met up with the others at the convenience store, Hanako-san’s sharp remark cut in immediately. I thought I’d regained my composure, but maybe my face was still an open book.

“I don’t really see it… but if Hanako says so, then you were probably flirting with Sara again first thing in the morning, weren’t you?”

Natsumi-senpai’s guess was… unfortunately spot on. Still, there was no need to confirm it aloud. Better to let it slide.

“Fufu… Kazunari-san was just too cute to resist.”

…But Sara-san wasn’t about to let it slide. She loved talking about how close we were, and if I didn’t intervene, she’d end up spilling everything.

“S-so anyway, Natsumi-senpai, Hanako-san—your mothers are coming from third period, right?”

“My mom said she’d be here from third period. I think she’s just curious, since I only transferred recently.”

My hasty change of topic must have been obvious, but my sister took the bait anyway—though she did give me a bit of a good grief look.

“Mine hasn’t set a time. She said she’ll come whenever she can. What about you two?”

“Both our mothers will make it in time for fourth period.”

“I see. But come to think of it, don’t your mothers have a lot to talk about?”

“Yes. That’s why they’re planning to move to a café or somewhere after the parents’ meeting, so they can talk over a meal.”

“Makes sense. In that case, I’d like to greet your mother first, Kazunari. My mom wants to meet her too.”

She’d said something similar before, and it seemed she really intended to follow through. I should probably remind her not to mention certain… sibling matters.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything unnecessary—and my mother doesn’t know in the first place.”

It seemed Kayo-san hadn’t told Hanako about our conversation in the park. If that was the case, I’d match her story.

“Alright. Well, since it’s after the parents’ meeting, we should have time to talk before then.”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to meeting your mother, Kazunari.”

Sara-san too… The fact that anyone would say they were looking forward to meeting my mother was something I’d never imagined in my life.

Really? Her?

***

The classroom this morning was lively in a different way from usual. Conversations about whose mother was coming, whether they were excited, envious, or bracing themselves… Everyone clearly had their own thoughts.

Even our homeroom teacher showed up for HR looking unusually sharp in a well-fitted suit, hair neatly styled—probably because of the parents’ visit. It was almost funny.

…

As the time drew near, I realized I was feeling oddly restless. “I-it’s not like I’m nervous about my mother coming, or anything!” I mentally shot back at myself like a bad comedy skit. Still, I listened to the lesson seriously. I had a clear goal of going to university, and no matter the reason, I couldn’t afford to slack off. I was diligent like that.

Near the end of second period, I began to hear voices out in the hallway. Shadows passed across the small glass window in the classroom door—probably the parents who were joining from third period gathering outside.

Among them should be Kayo-san. Should I go and greet her before class?

Ding-dong…

The chime rang out across the school, marking the end of second period.

As the teacher stepped out, parents began pouring into the classroom, almost jostling to get in first.

I didn’t have anything in particular to do, so I watched idly—until I spotted Kayo-san.

Noticing her, I instinctively glanced toward Hanako-san, who also saw her and stood up right away. Naturally, I got up too, intending to greet her together.

But then…

The person who stepped in next made me freeze in place.

There was no mistaking her.

That flawless beauty, so striking she seemed set apart from everyone else—someone who could easily be mistaken for Sara-san’s elder sister.

No matter how I looked at her, there was only one possible identity…

MAYUMI-san!?

“…Whoa, whoa—there’s an absolute knockout here!”

“…Who’s mom is that!?”

“…No way, that’s gotta be someone’s older sister!”

“…Seriously, she’s on another level…”

“…Hey, who’s mother is she!?”

“…She’s way too young—definitely an older sister!”

“…Man, if I had a sister like that, I’d have a complex…”

The classroom was slowly but surely growing noisier.

But of course it was—Mayumi-san radiated a presence that couldn’t help but draw attention. It would be stranger if she didn’t stand out.

The question was… what on earth was I supposed to do now?