One-on-One with The Ordinary Father, and Mother

27 – One-on-One with The Ordinary Father and Mother

“Haha… Nice to meet you again. I’m Kouta Shiozaki.”

“Oh, um… I’m ….Aoi Shiozaki.”

“It’s nerve-wracking, isn’t it? I’m nervous too,” he said with a warm smile.

He was quite different from what I had imagined.

I had pictured someone handsome, efficient, strict, and meticulous. But here was a somewhat sloppy, gentle-looking man.

“Ah, like you, I married into the family. Azusa, as you saw, loves me a lot… She went against her family’s wishes and married me forcefully.”

“Is…that so.”

So, it’s the same situation as me and Marin-chan.

He might seem to be under his wife’s thumb, but now I understand. That mother deeply loves this father just like Marin-chan does me.

I felt a strong sense of kinship with him.

“Yeah, yeah. Seeing Marin now reminds me of Azusa back in the day. They’re really… so alike,” he said, showing me his phone.

The photo indeed showed a young woman who looked just like Marin-chan—her mother in her younger years.

“Marin doesn’t seem to like me very much… We don’t talk often. But is she doing well? She’s not causing you any trouble, right? If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

“I feel a strong sense of kinship with you, Aoi-kun.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Good, good! Sorry for calling you over so suddenly. The Shiozaki family is a matriarchy, so husbands often feel out of place… I’d love for us to have a drink together when you’re old enough.”

“When that time comes, I’d love to.”

As we talked about how we met, school stories, and more, I felt an even stronger bond forming. Just as we were getting into a lively conversation, Marin-chan walked in.

“…Pa… Dad. Long time no see.”

“Marin, long time no see. Are you staying over tonight?”

“No, we’re heading back.”

“I see, I see…”

“Aoi-kun, shall we go now?”

“Huh? We’re leaving already?”

“Yeah. That’s okay, right, Dad?”

“Oh… yeah. Aoi-kun, please come again, okay?”

“Yes, I’ll definitely come again.”

And so, we left the house.

We planned to take a taxi home, but as we were about to get in, I realized I had left my phone behind.

Oh no, I left it on the table.

“Sorry, I’ll go get my phone.”

“Huh? Should I come with you?”

“No, it’s okay. I know exactly where I left it, so I’ll be quick. Just wait here,” I said, heading back to the house at a brisk pace.

As I was about to enter the house through the front door, I overheard Marin’s mom and dad talking.

“She smiles a lot more now. He must be having a good influence.”

“I see… Aoi-kun is a really good kid. I felt like he was kind of similar to me in a way. It seemed like Aoi-kun thought so too.”

“Yes, he might be a bit like you back in the day.”

“Yeah,” they said, sharing a heartwarming conversation.

Not wanting to eavesdrop any further, I placed my hand on the doorknob just then.

“…Hey… how about we play ‘nyan nyan’ again after a long time?” Marin’s mom suggested with a playful tone.

“Sure, let’s do it,” her dad replied. Suddenly, Marin’s mom started using a sweet voice, “Nyan nyan… I love you, nyan.”

“I love you too, Azusa, nyan,” her dad responded in a similarly cute voice.

I felt like I had stumbled upon a moment I wasn’t supposed to see.

Just as I was about to quietly step away from the door, a voice from behind startled me, “What are you doing, Aoi-kun?”

Reflexively, I opened the door, revealing Marin’s mom rubbing her face against her husband’s leg with a blissful expression.

After a moment of stunned silence, Marin’s mom’s face turned bright red like a boiling kettle. “Th-this isn’t what it looks like! It’s not what it looks like!!!!” she stammered, trying to explain. (Tl/n: lol)

I mumbled something about not hearing or seeing anything and made a hasty retreat.

…I wanted to visit this house again, but at the same time, I really didn’t.