The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 47

“Oh, Isaki-kun. That calculation in the middle is wrong.”

“Huh? Oh, you’re right. Thank you.”

When Miori pointed it out and I reviewed the equation, I indeed realized I had made a mistake in the calculation. I rewrote the intermediate steps with an eraser and derived the correct answer.

That was close. If I had continued with the calculations as they were, I would have ended up making mistakes in everything that followed.

“Doesn’t Isaki-kun sometimes make careless mistakes?”

“Ah, that’s true… I kind of rush things.”

It was my bad habit.

When I thought I could solve it, I rushed in and made a mistake on the easy part. It’s proof of my lack of thoroughness.

“Well, I sometimes do it too, so I can’t really say much about others.”

“Yeah, but it really helped. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After that exchange, we face the notebook spread out on the low table once again.

While we were studying, Shuri quietly played with the dress-up puffy stickers next to Miori. I’m not sure if “playing” is the right term, but she was sticking and peeling the stickers, changing the clothes of the illustrated girl.

Maybe because it was bought by Miori, she seems to like it right away.

I mean, it’s amazing that Imiya Miori is studying at my house.

Yeah, she’s been studying like it’s the most natural thing in the world, but this is my living room.

On the days when Miori comes over to cook, she often ends up studying with us. Shuri also tends to be quieter when Miori is around, so it helps me concentrate on my studies.

Rather, it seems that Shuri is happy just being by Miori’s side, whether sitting on her lap or drawing side by side.

“Mom, look! I stuck it on cutely!”

“Oh, you’re right! So cute! Shuri-chan, you have great taste!”

“Hehe, really? Mom, you should try it too!”

“Yeah. Then, I’ll dress Mina-chan next to me in this kimono.”

Miori put down her mechanical pencil and accompanied Shuri with her dress-up stickers.

In between studying together like this, she also keeps Shuri company. This is a feat she can accomplish precisely because she is already capable of studying.

Or rather, maybe because Miori has always been good at juggling various tasks at the same time, she excels at multitasking. Her ability to switch gears quickly is impressive, or maybe she’s just very skillful. For me, I would probably end up getting frustrated because I wouldn’t be able to handle either.

Miori quickly coordinated Mina-chan by sticking on kimono stickers, getting her feet on, and putting a pouch sticker in her hand. Since it’s a game that boys would never play, I found it amusing to watch.

Because they have been playing these kinds of games since they were little, girls might have a better sense of fashion and a more mature personality than boys.

“Hehe… somehow, it’s mysterious.”

While watching Shuri get absorbed in her dress-up again, Miori chuckles softly and says.

“What?”

“Hmm? I feel like I’ve been with Isaki-kun a lot lately.”

“Well, we ended up sitting next to each other.”

“Oh, I see. Is that why?”

After saying that, we exchanged smiles.

Yes, the other day we had a seat change, and I ended up sitting right next to Miori. I am at the back by the window, and Miori is right next to me.

However, when it comes to this point, we go to school together, have the same classes, sit next to each other, spend lunch breaks together, and even go home and spend the night together. Miori comes to our house about three times a week, but even so, the time we spend together is overwhelmingly more.

Actually, it has become normal to be together lately. Now, it feels unnatural if she’s not by my side.

“Ah, hey.”

“Huh?”

“Golden Week is just around the corner. Are you going anywhere?”

I was told, so I looked at the calendar.

Before I knew it, this weekend was already the start of Golden Week. That said, this year’s Golden Week is short. At Hijiri High School, the break follows the calendar, so the long holiday is only four days. After that, we go back to school for three days, and then we have another three-day weekend.

“Hmm, nothing in particular. Just the usual, I guess. How about you, Miori?”

“I don’t really have any plans either, I guess.”

And then silence.

Miori seems a bit shy and fidgety. She has the atmosphere of wanting to say something but being unable to.

Should I bring this up myself?

“Then… are you coming to our place during Golden Week too?”

I summon the courage and ask.

Then, Miori blushed slightly, looked up at me, and nodded. At that moment, I couldn’t help but smile, probably to a pathetic extent.

“Shuri, be happy. ‘Mom’ said she’ll play with us during Golden Week too.”

To hide my relaxed cheeks, I spoke to Shuri, and she honestly rejoiced, saying, “Wow, yay!”

It’s unclear whether she knows what Golden Week is, but she must be happy that Miori is coming.

It might be a good idea to go buy some clothes for Shuri during the long weekend. As I was thinking about such things──

“Mom is staying over!”

Preschooler makes a bombshell statement.

“What!? O-Overnight stay? You mean staying out? Th-That is…”

She hurriedly looks at me, but shakes her head vigorously.

That’s definitely not good. Even if there are kindergarteners in the house of a man without parents, it’s still not appropriate for a high school girl to stay over. Well, it’s true that she stays almost until nightfall now, but if she were to actually stay over, it would be a different story.

Because Miori is going to take a bath and wear pajamas, right?! That’s not good! Seriously! No, I want to see it! But it seems like it would be tough for me in various ways.

“Shu, Shuri… you see, there are things that even Mom can’t do…”

“I want to sleep over with Mom!”

Oh no, what a thing. A child who rarely acts spoiled suddenly becomes selfish in front of Miori.

And somewhere in my heart, I couldn’t help but support Shuri’s selfishness.

“Mom… is it no good?”

And then, she looks at Miori and asks with eyes like a discarded puppy.

It is Miori who is about to cry upon seeing those eyes of Shuri. Yes, when Shuri asks for a favor with those eyes, Miori cannot refuse.

“Um… I’ll ask if I can stay over, okay?”

And so, Miori ended up answering Shuri like that.

──Nice job, Shuri! Well done!

It goes without saying that I was genuinely delighted.

And then, she immediately messaged her grandma to ask, and she received an immediate approval in return.

Thus, the overnight event with Miori occurred during the Golden Week.

I was supposed to be looking forward to it, but once it was actually decided, the excitement was overshadowed by nervousness.

──No, I’m just staying for Shuri’s sake. It’s not for me.

That’s how I would convince myself.