The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother

There’s no way she would look down on me──the gaze fixed on me is completely serious, and I can feel Miori’s feelings coming through her eyes.

I didn’t really understand why she cared about me this much.

But I didn’t care about the reason anymore. I was honestly happy to have someone so close who cared about me this much. Ever since my mother passed away, there has been no one who cared about me.

“Alright. I mean… if you’re doing such a good job being a “mom,” I really need to talk to you about it.”

I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and decided to express my feelings.

First, I talked about my dad.

Since Mom passed away, Dad has stopped caring about the family and is escaping into work, throwing all the responsibility for Shuri onto me and our grandparents. He feels responsible for Mom’s death, thinking it was his fault. Also, he keeps apologizing to me and has given up all his hobbies, working to the point where I’m worried he might break down.

I hesitated to talk about my pathetic father to the girl in my class. However, I thought she needed to know. For both Shuri and me, she has become a significant presence, almost like a half-member of the family.

I continued talking about Shuri. Not so much about Shuri herself, but about the precariousness of this “dad” and “mom.” This isn’t magic that lasts forever, and when Shuri grows up, she will likely get hurt. I also talked about the possibility that Miori would get hurt at that time.

Miori was quietly listening to my story. Without offering any opinions, she simply nodded occasionally, fully committing to being the listener. From her expression, I couldn’t read what she was thinking at all.

Then I even talked about how, somewhere in my heart, I felt that Shuri was a burden.

The symbol of that is the upcoming school camp. I’m looking forward to being freed from the role of a parent, even if just for one day, and returning to being a pure high school student.

Even though she has kindly agreed to be “Mom,” if “Dad” is in such a state, she might be disillusioned. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

However, even so, I spoke without holding anything back.

It was more because she asked me than anything else. I had already reached my limit within myself. I think I just wanted to vent this suffering to someone.

I wanted to vent to someone, but I couldn’t vent to anyone. However, the only person I could vent to was Imiya Miori.

Since we are doing the roles of “dad” and “mom” together, and she somewhat understands my position and situation, I think that’s why I can talk to her. Rather, I can’t talk to anyone else but her.

How she feels and what she thinks after hearing this story is her domain. I have no right to say anything about it. Even if I feel anxious or scared, if she despises me, she will despise me, and if she doesn’t, she won’t.

“Right? It’s the worst, isn’t it?”

After finishing my story, I let out a self-deprecating smile.

“I, who cherish my little sister so much… my little sister who can only rely on me, somewhere deep down, I resent her. I think to myself that I’m tired of taking care of her. I want to be more free, I want to play with everyone more… Just the thought of being able to play with everyone for even one night without my sister makes me look forward to it. But thinking such things… It’s the worst, right?”

I pressed my forehead and bowed my head. Mid-sentence, I felt like I was being crushed by self-loathing.

The weight of a thought and the weight of a spoken word are overwhelmingly different. The moment I realized I had been thinking such terrible things, I couldn’t bear my own ugliness. If possible, I would want to gather all the words I said and put them back in my mouth.

However, the words that have been said cannot be taken back. Moreover, these are undoubtedly my true feelings, which I have continued to hide through self-deception.

Even so, I think I definitely wanted to share this true feeling with someone. Just like confessing in a confession booth, I wanted someone to forgive my sins.

Even though I cherish my sister, somewhere in my heart, I feel it as a shackle──this is surely my sin that I couldn’t tell anyone.

“You want to be free from childcare and play with everyone…”

After a moment of silence, Miori muttered softly.

In her eyes, I must have looked like a foolish and useless man. I wondered what kind of scolding I would receive, what words of disappointment and disillusionment would be thrown at me──I thought this, but the words that came out of her mouth were unexpected.

“But, isn’t that the same for real parents too?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know because I don’t have a dad or mom… but, listening to your story, I thought maybe everyone feels that way?”

I never expected to hear such words.

I was prepared to be criticized or insulted more, wondering why I would say something so cruel when I am the only ally of Shuri-chan.

“Why do you think that?”

“Hmm… It’s hard to explain when you ask me why, but I don’t think humans are that strong.”

“Not strong?”

“Yeah. Everyone gets tired sometimes, and there are times when you just want to vent. If it builds up, there might be times when you feel like giving up on everything. I think everyone manages to get through those moments by taking breaks or finding ways to distract themselves.”

At least, that’s what I think, Miori added with a troubled smile.

“So, I’ve been saying it for a while now, right? Make sure to take proper rest.”

Now that she mentioned it, that’s right. Even when I fell asleep during Miori’s reading, she told me to take my time and rest.

Moreover, ever since Miori started coming to our house a few times a week, my body has become surprisingly relaxed. I was so moved by how much easier everything became just by having her take care of my younger sister a little.

“Could it be that you were anticipating that and helping me out with various things…?”

In response to my question, Miori laughed and deflected, saying, “I wonder about that?”

However, hearing those words now, I couldn’t think otherwise.

The fact that she helped with picking up and dropping off Shuri, that she stopped by the supermarket with me on the way back and helped plan the meals, that she came to my house to cook dinner when time allowed, and that she spent her weekends entertaining Shuri. It’s only been a few weeks, but thanks to that, I have felt much more at ease both mentally and physically.

I thought her actions were solely for Shuri’s sake, but to my surprise, she was also considerate of my body. I never even remotely thought such a thing.

“But I’ve been thinking about it for a while. You, Isaki-kun, are being cornered just like I was a while ago.”

“Me?”

When I pointed to myself and asked, she nodded slightly.

“As you know, I don’t have parents, right? When I was in elementary school, I was often talked about behind my back by my classmates and their parents… I often cried secretly in the bathroom.”

Miori squinted her eyes as if reminiscing about the past.

However, it surely isn’t a funny story. And it could also be said that this is a common tale.

In her childhood, she was probably the topic of conversation at housewives’ gatherings. I somehow understood that too.

At the nursery school Shuri attends, such things don’t happen very often, but they’re not completely absent either. I know that there are kids who whisper about it because her older brother, a high school student, picks her up and drops her off, and her father doesn’t come. Shuri herself might not understand it well because she’s still young, but once she becomes an elementary school student, it will be different.

I start to vaguely understand what adults are saying and what it means. Especially in the case of Miori, her mother died of illness, and her father is missing. She must have been a perfect target for gossip at the well-side meetings.

“So, I worked really hard to make sure those people wouldn’t complain. Studying, sports, cooking, housework… There were some things I wasn’t good at, but I wanted to prove that ‘I was better than you guys who have your parents.’ Looking back now, I think I was pushing myself quite a bit back then.”

I felt like I caught a glimpse of the origins of the perfect, talented, and beautiful girl, Imiya Miori.

She was just desperately trying to shake off the gaze of those around her. She wasn’t originally a talented person who could study or cook. She had compensated for everything with her efforts.

“Back then, I thought I was the only one I could rely on. No one was going to help me, I had to do everything myself. So I didn’t have any room to spare… I think I naturally distanced myself from others.”

Like someone, she glanced at me and laughed.

Now, she has many female friends around her, but surprisingly, she was alone during her elementary school days. She didn’t consider her surroundings as enemies, but she thought that having friends would make her lose her motivation.

That way of thinking was familiar to me as well.

“But I didn’t even realize I was pushing myself too hard, and in the end, I ended up breaking down once.”

“Breaking down?”

“Yeah. Suddenly, I couldn’t do anything anymore. I guess it’s more accurate to say I didn’t want to. I started wondering what I was even trying so hard for.”

Miori mentioned it was a story from her elementary school days.

In the end, it was probably because she pushed herself beyond her limits that her mind started to scream.

Then her grandparents told her that she didn’t have to work so hard for something like that. They knew about their grandchild’s efforts, but they didn’t realize she was pushing herself to that extent.

Since then, while keeping up her efforts within a reasonable range, she also started hanging out with friends. The current Imiya Miori was shaped by such experiences.

“The situation might be completely different, but Isaki-kun, you reminded me a bit of myself back then. I’ve been worried for quite a while now, okay?”

“Is that so…”

Miori looked at me with a troubled expression.

Now that she mentioned it, there might be a slight resemblance.

I thought no one would help me anymore. I thought I had to do everything for Shuri myself, and I couldn’t rely on my dad or my grandparents. I thought I had to raise her myself.

That being said, I couldn’t let my grades drop. While rubbing my eyes and stubbornly studying, I decided to cut out what I could, and the first things I easily cut were friends and youth.

However, I must have been pushing myself unconsciously. Perhaps I had already crossed that limit, and Miori might have been seeing her past self in me.

“…Isn’t it bad to take a break or relax?”

“It’s not bad. Sometimes it’s okay to stop being ‘Dad’ or ‘Big Brother’ and just be Isaki-kun.”

“Just me?”

I thought back at that moment, wondering what I really meant.

Since the birth of Shuri, I had completely lost sight of my true self. I didn’t have time to think about future dreams, and I avoided thinking about what I wanted to do now.

However, when I think about it now, it starts to make a bit of sense.

Wanting to hang out with friends, wanting to experience youth—these suppressed feelings are probably just the essence of “ordinary Sanada Isaki.”

“For a little while, Shuri-chan might feel lonely… but if you play with her properly after resting, I’m sure Shuri-chan will understand. After all, she really loves Isaki-kun.”

“Is that really the case…”

Will she understand? Is it okay to take it easy? Is it alright to take a little break or do something to unwind?

I thought it was something I shouldn’t do. I also thought it was a bad thing.

However, when I looked at Miori’s smile, I felt as if I could be forgiven for anything, which was strange.

“Besides, you can rely on me more. After all, I am kind of your ‘mom’ too.”

“No, but… I feel a bit sorry to ask for more than this. You’ve already helped me plenty.”

Picking up and dropping off at daycare, cooking, and other “mom” activities on weekends. She helps out more than anyone else.

“Even for me, playing with Shuri-chan brings various good things.”

“Good things?”

“Yeah. It’s not purely for Shuri-chan’s sake, I guess.”

Miori stood up from the bench, turned to face me, and showed a mischievous smile.

“Huh? What’s that? Is there something else?”

“Hmm, what could it be?”

Miori walked towards the gate, still pretending to be oblivious, so I hurriedly followed her.

“Hey, tell me.”

“Ew, no way. I’m not telling.”

With the sunset behind her, Miori chuckles softly, looking somewhat happy, and seeing her like that warms my heart as well.

And then, I realize that the lingering resentment I had been holding in my heart until just now has vanished.

“Come on, that’s enough of that. Let’s hurry up, or we’ll be late to pick up Shuri-chan.”

“Hey, wait──”

Just as I thought Miori had suddenly returned to my side, she took my hand and started walking.

A slightly chilly spring evening. The soft touch and a hint of warmth are conveyed from our overlapping palms.

She is facing forward, so I can’t see what kind of expression she has. The ears that peek out from her swaying hair seem red. Could it be because of the sunset?

Is the current Miori a “mom,” or just “ordinary Imiya Miori”? Which one could it be──?

Suddenly, such a question popped into my mind, and I wanted to confirm it. For that reason, I deliberately let go of the connected hands once.

“Huh…?”

Miori turned around in surprise. Her expression was somewhat sad.

“If we’re going to hold hands──”

I took her hand again and continued.

“Is this better?”

And then, this time, I intertwine our fingers tightly and give a light squeeze.

Our fingers entwine and hold hands, a so-called lover’s grip.

“Ah…”

Miori let out a small voice.

I thought that with this, I would surely understand whether Miori is now “Mom” or just “Imiya Miori.”

She must have sensed the intention behind it. Her face turned bright red, and she looked down as if to hide it.

In silence, I wait for her response.

“Yeah… I might be the same.”

Miori glanced up at me and gently squeezed my hand in return.

The certain warmth and determination I feel from her slender fingers. Reassured by that, I held her hand a little tighter.

We exchanged shy smiles with each other and then started walking towards the gate.

During that time, there was no conversation. However, my heart was pounding so much that it hurt, and I felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment.

When I glanced at her, she was looking at me too, and our eyes met. We both were surprised and averted our gazes, but our hands remained intertwined.

It was itchy and I didn’t know what to do. But somehow, it was a happy time filled with a sense of bliss.

Right now, Shuri is not here. Without Shuri, we should just be classmates, not “dad” or “mom.”

However, our hands are intertwined. If we were just going to remain classmates, we surely wouldn’t be holding hands like this. “Just Sanada Isaki” and “just Imiya Miori” wanted this to happen.

Even if Shuri’s magic were to break, wouldn’t we be able to leave behind the glass slipper? I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt that hope from the two overlapping palms.