The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 17: Younger Sister and Mom

The next day, Saturday—after the morning classes ended, I immediately went to pick up Shuri from the daycare and headed straight home.

Today is the day Imiya-san is coming to my house for the first time. It’s not as a friend or a girlfriend, but rather in the mysterious role of “acting as my sister’s mother.” Still, a woman I’m interested in is coming to my house. It’s only natural for a middle or high school boy to want to welcome her in the best possible condition.

At school, I haven’t talked to Imiya-san at all. Since we exchange messages on LINE, in a way, there’s no need to talk at school anymore.

Yesterday, I was seen eating crepes with Imiya-san, but fortunately, no one from the same class saw us. Thanks to that, it hasn’t become a topic of conversation in class today, and neither Sumomo nor Shinya have said anything. I was prepared for someone to say something in the classroom, so I was relieved for the time being.

However, I predict that it will only last until this weekend. The information will probably spread during today’s club activities and conversations with friends, and by Monday, it will surely reach Shinya and Sumomo. Thinking about that, I felt a bit heavy-hearted.

However, there’s no point in worrying about Monday now. For now, let’s genuinely be happy that Imiya-san came to our house for the first time and took on the role of “mother.”

By the way, I haven’t told my sister yet that Imiya-san is coming. I thought she would be happier with a surprise.

When I got home and fed my sister, I hurriedly cleaned and did a final check for guests. Since people rarely visit our house, it was overflowing with a sense of everyday life, and I had been frantically cleaning since yesterday.

I meticulously check even the places I had previously overlooked, such as whether dust has settled in visible areas. Since daily life and taking care of my younger sister consume a lot of my energy, I can’t do detailed cleaning regularly.

The younger sister, while puzzled by her brother’s unusual behavior, asked, “Big brother, what’s wrong?” but continued to play by herself, drawing pictures.

About an hour later, the intercom at home rang.

──She’s here!

The arrival of “Mother Role,” also known as Imiya Miori.

When I looked at my phone, I saw a LINE notification with a message saying “I’ll be there soon!” along with a stamp, so it must be her for sure.

“Yay!”

Without answering the intercom, I opened the front door, and there stood Imiya Miori in casual clothes beyond the gate.

She is wearing a white knit dress and holding a beige bag, which gives a different impression compared to her usual uniform look. The hem is slightly above the knee, making it look like a mini skirt, but even so, it doesn’t detract from her elegance at all.

──Isn’t this mom a bit too cute? Well, she’s not really a mom, though.

I think such things, but of course, I can’t say them out loud.

“…Hello.”

Imiya-san gave a slightly embarrassed smile and tilted her head.

Even though she was forcing a smile, her expression was stiff. It was clear that she was quite nervous.

“Welcome.”

“Is the room tidied up?”

To ease the tension, Imiya-san mischievously asks.

In last night’s conversation on LINE, I mentioned, “We rarely have guests over, so the place is a mess with everyday life clutter. I’m cleaning it up now.”

“I just barely finished it a moment ago. Please overlook the small details…”

While opening the gate, she wore a strained smile.

I didn’t know how far I should clean; my knowledge as a househusband was lacking.

“That’s why I told you I don’t care about that kind of stuff.”

Imiya-san smiled with a troubled expression, closed the gate, and entered our premises.

She said the same thing on yesterday’s LINE, but even if she’s okay, I’m not. At least, I wanted to have a clean house when Imiya-san came over.

“What a splendid house.”

“Yeah. It’s funny that the only ones living in a house like this are a high school student and a five-year-old, right?”

Our house, though small, is a single-family home. Apparently, my dad bought this house on a loan when he got married. It’s quite ironic that the owner hardly ever comes home.

Perhaps my father bought this house as a symbol of a happy family. However, after losing his wife, that is, my mother, the happy family he envisioned vanished into a dream. This place is now just the remnants of his happiness.

The reason Dad doesn’t come home much might be due to that kind of psychology—I somehow understood Dad that way.

“Where’s your father?”

“He hardly ever comes home because of work. He only comes back late at night once or twice a week.”

“…I see.”

Did she sense something from those words? Imiya-san’s expression turned slightly sad.

I don’t know what she imagined, but I didn’t say anything more. Even if I talked about it, it wouldn’t feel good.

“Here you go. Oh, please wear these slippers.”

I opened the front door as it was and invited her into the house.

Of course, I hadn’t prepared any slippers for guests, so I hurriedly bought some on my way back yesterday—it’s a secret.

“Thank you. Um, and… excuse me.”

“…Please, make yourself at home.”

I and Imiya-san were both extremely tense, engaging in an indescribable exchange. It felt like our Japanese wasn’t quite syncing up either.

Looking back, it was a strange relationship.

I and Imiya-san have had no connection other than being classmates, and we’ve only talked in the past few days. This girl, who has taken on the role of my sister’s mother, even comes to my house. It’s a situation I don’t really understand.

“Big brother?”

Maybe because she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the entrance, my younger sister came running from the living room. Then, she froze upon seeing the woman standing at the entrance.

“Shuri, rejoice. ‘Mom’ has come to see you.”

“…!?”

With a look that suggests she can’t accept reality, Shuri is staring wide-eyed at Imiya-san.

“N-nice to meet you… I’m Imiya Miori, Sanada-kun’s classmate.”

On the other hand, Imiya-san also appeared nervous and introduced herself with a trembling voice.

“Uh…!? Ah, um…!”

Shuri blushed and tightly shut her eyes. She seemed to be at a loss for words, unsure of what to do.

“See, Shuri? If someone introduces themselves, you have to do the same, right?”

That said, Shuri’s face turned red, and she froze up completely, not trying to say anything.

“Hey, Shuri?”

Could it be that she’s nervous? I’ve been watching Shuri almost every day for the past five years since she was born, but I’ve never seen her like this before.

Even at the nursery, she is said to communicate well and listen to the caregivers. Additionally, she is friendly and polite when spoken to by the neighbors.

I thought she was basically not shy around strangers, but since the person she had always wanted to meet was right in front of her, she might be overly nervous.

“I’m sorry. She shouldn’t be shy around people, but today she’s a bit… huh?”

When I looked over at Imiya-san, she was also clenching her fists tightly and holding her breath.

“Ah… Imiya-san?”

“…Huh?”

I got a strange response back somehow.

“Could it be that you are feeling nervous?”

“I-I didn’t do it…?”

Her voice was trembling. She was extremely nervous.

It seems that both the daughter and the “mother” roles are showing signs of shyness. In a way, these two might be a bit similar.

However, even so, this is troubling. Normally, it wouldn’t be surprising if I were the most nervous with Imiya-san coming over, but contrary to expectations, I’m the calmest one.

However, if that’s the case, the calmest person should take charge.

“Hey, Shuri, you need to properly introduce yourself first, right? She came all the way here after school just for you. You wanted to see her, didn’t you? With that attitude, Mom’s going to leave!”

When I said that, Shuri looked at me with a startled expression. Then, she hesitantly shifted her gaze to Imiya-san.

“Ah, um… I’m Sanada Shuri, I’m five years old.”

Shuri clings to my leg, hiding her face and introducing herself in a small voice.

──Hmm, I’m really in trouble.

I didn’t expect Shuri to be this shy around strangers.

Imiya-san, too, probably thought it wouldn’t do any good to get nervous herself after seeing Shuri’s condition. After taking a deep breath, she bent her posture to meet Shuri’s gaze and smiled gently.

“Yeah. Nice to meet you, Shuri-chan.”

And then, still smiling, she extends her hand to Shuri.

“Shuri, what do you do in a situation like this?”

When I lowered my gaze and asked the same as Imiya-san, Shuri looked up at Imiya-san hesitantly. Imiya-san remained unchanged, still smiling.

And then, Shuri took Imiya-san’s hand, and at last, the handshake was completed.

This was the encounter between my younger sister and my classmate who played the role of the mother.