The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 13: A Morning Different From Usual

I wake up in the morning, take Shuri to kindergarten, and then head to school on foot—this has been my familiar routine since I became a high school student.

On my way to school, I met Shinya, and we headed to school while chatting about silly things. This is just another usual morning.

However, something unusual happened that morning.

“Yo, good morning you two!”

With such a greeting, a strong impact of bam runs through my back.

“Ouch! Wait, Sumomo?!”

When I looked back, there was a girl with a short bob and strikingly bright eyes—Suzuta Momone, also known as Sumomo. To my surprise, she called out to us.

It was something that had never happened in my high school life before, her calling out to me on the way to school.

“I thought it was someone else, but it’s just you, Sumomo. I was sure it was a girl who liked me getting all touchy-feely with me in the morning.”

While rubbing the back of his head where Shinya was hit—apparently, I took a blow to my back, and Shinya to the back of his head—I say with an exasperated tone.

Even though he was hit in the back of the head, his composure showed just how sociable this man was. The way he remained unfazed, unlike me, was impressive.

“Can I hit you harder, as a form of skinship?”

“Excuse me, please stop.”

As Sumomo clenched her fist, Shinya bowed his head and apologized. It wasn’t cool at all.

Just by a cheerful girl entering the place of the two men, the morning became somehow noisier than usual. Perhaps she is being considerate because of what happened yesterday.

However, that doesn’t mean she particularly brought up anything about Imiya-san. From there, the three of us talked about trivial matters like the summer camp and the midterm exams.

──Ah, I think I’m finally experiencing a typical high school morning for the first time.

While watching the silly exchange between Sumomo and Shinya, I suddenly thought about that.

Throughout middle and high school, it was of course the first time I walked to school with a girl. Since I always had Shuri on my mind, just being able to spend such a typical high school morning made me feel a bit nostalgic.

However, that wasn’t the only thing that changed. When something changes from the usual, other things change too. Is it what they call the butterfly effect? On this day, there was one more thing that was different from the usual morning.

“Mi-chan! Good morning!”

As soon as Sumomo spotted the back of a high school girl with black hair ahead, she greeted her in a loud voice.

Of course, that high school girl is Imiya Miori.

“Ah, Momo-chan, good morning──”

It was when Imiya-san turned around and tried to greet them.

Next to the person she is trying to greet, there is me and Shinya, who had a somewhat awkward conversation on the rooftop yesterday.

She looked at us, her eyes widening in shock.

“…You.”

And then, her voice suddenly gets quieter. She also averts her gaze.

Well, it can’t be helped. In fact, it’s Sumomo who called out, so it’s her fault. Both she and I are victims.

However, Sumomo this morning is unstoppable.

“Hey, Mi-chan. Is the greeting just for me?”

When she makes a teasing expression, Sumomo juts her chin towards me and says.

“Um… good morning, Sanada-kun.”

She was looking up at me shyly glancing over and greets me hesitantly.

Just that made my heart race.

“G-good morning.”

When I nervously returned the greeting, Imiya-san gave a slight bow to me.

Wait a minute, why am I greeting Imiya-san? What kind of situation is this? My head is filled with question marks.

I mean, why am I so nervous just by saying a greeting?

“Hey, Imiya. No greeting for me? That’s sad~”

Shinya made a dissatisfied booing face and said.

“Oh! M-Matani-kun too, good morning.”

Imiya-san hurriedly adds and greets.

“Shinya is also ‘too.’ It’s a bonus, a bonus.”

“Really!? I’m just an extra!?”

“N-No, that’s not it! Momo-chan, don’t say weird things!”

Sumomo throws an unfounded accusation, Shinya plays along with it, and Imiya-san hurriedly denies it.

After finishing such a noisy greeting, we ended up going to school together as if it were the most natural thing in the world. We had a rather awkward conversation yesterday, so what kind of situation is this?

However, the fact that I and Imiya-san still feel awkward around each other hasn’t changed. She seems confused too and is looking down.

In the end, she and I barely participated in the conversation, and we could only manage to nod along to what Shinya and Sumomo were talking about.

The stares from the people around me are painful. Yesterday, I was the guy who was told, “He got dumped by Imiya Miori and is becoming a stalker” (is it okay to cry?). And yet, the next day, I’m walking to school with Imiya-san. The people around us couldn’t hide their confusion and bewilderment, and honestly, I was the most confused one.

While trying to mask my awkward feelings, I shift my gaze around and head to school.

At that moment, when I casually glanced to the side, I happened to catch Imiya-san looking over here at the same time, and our eyes met involuntarily. It goes without saying that we both hurriedly averted our gazes.

“Oh, weren’t Sumomo and I on duty today?”

When we arrived at the entrance and changed into our indoor shoes, Shinya said.

“Oh, right! We’re going to stop by the staff room, so you two go ahead to the classroom first.”

“Huh?! Momo-chan, wait a moment──”

“Alright, Mi-chan, see you later~”

Imiya-san’s call was in vain, and Shinya and Sumomo headed straight toward the direction of the staff room—essentially the opposite direction from our classroom. In fact, they were blatantly ignoring Imiya-san’s call just now.

When she was changing into her indoor shoes next to me, I glanced at their backs. Then, as if to check our movements, they both turned around to look at us.

When they made eye contact with me, the two of them made a face that said, “Oh, crap,” then Sumomo winked with one eye, and Shinya gave a thumbs-up.

──As I thought, these guys were scheming all along.

When Sumomo called out to me and greeted Imiya-san, I thought something was off.

These two, for some reason, decided to meddle in a strange way.

It’s not that I didn’t think it was annoying. We had already finished our conversation in that situation yesterday, so what am I supposed to do being left alone with her?

“Well then… shall we go to the classroom?”

“Y-yeah.”

We, who were left behind, headed towards the classroom in an awkward atmosphere.

On the way to the classroom, the two of us walk side by side, but of course, in silence. There’s no atmosphere for conversation, and the stares from the people around us are incredibly painful. We are receiving looks from all directions as if to say, “Why is she going to school with that almost-stalker guy?” I want to cry.

However, the situation is the worst, but in a way, isn’t this a great opportunity? The thing I was thinking about yesterday—namely, setting up another occasion to talk to her—couldn’t be more convenient.

I think that way and muster up my courage.

“Um, um! Imiya-san.”

“Y-yes!”

When I called out, Imiya-san flinched and straightened her back.

And, just like yesterday, for some reason, she is using honorifics. So, why does she suddenly start using honorifics? It makes me even more nervous.

“Um, I… I have something else I need to discuss with you, do you have a moment? It won’t take too long.”

I was half-heartedly trying. I thought it was only natural if she said there was nothing more to talk about.

However──

“…Yeah, okay.”

She betrayed my expectations and nodded.

Since I didn’t expect it, even though I brought it up myself, I ended up exclaiming “Huh?!” in surprise.

“After school, is it okay to meet on the rooftop again?”

As if to confirm, she glances up at me.

“Ah, ah… thank you. Well then, that’s it.”

“Yeah. Let’s meet again after school.”

Imiya-san said just that and then hurriedly ran ahead to the classroom.

──Huh? What does she mean?

I was accepted more smoothly than I expected, and I’m the one who can’t keep up with the situation. I thought for sure I would have to hold out from here again.

But, I’m glad. For now, it seems like she’ll listen to me one more time.

The conversation made a little progress, and I let out a sigh of relief.