The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 59

Miori arrived an hour after we finished our lunch.

The sound of the intercom announcing Miori’s arrival must have brought relief to both Shuri and me.

“Mom!”

When Miori appeared in the living room, Shuri ran to her as if she had found a savior and hugged her belly.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Shuri-chan. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to pick you up today.”

Miori glances at me while stroking Shuri’s head.

It seems like she’s asking, “Did you make up?” I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. Then, Miori seemed to say, “I see,” and shrugged her shoulders too, wearing a somewhat exasperated smile.

“Hey, Shuri-chan. Today, I made macarons at Mom’s house.”

After saying that, she took out a macaron wrapped in transparent plastic from the paper bag.

It’s a cute patterned plastic bag with a ribbon tied at the knot.

“Mom’s macarons?! I want to eat them!”

Seeing the macarons, Shuri’s eyes sparkled.

The house, which was as dark as a funeral until just now, is now filled with bright voices just because Miori came. I don’t know what Shuri thinks about Miori’s “mom,” but I can’t help but think that there aren’t many “moms” like her, even in real life.

I myself felt a deep sense of relief when Miori came and brightened the atmosphere of the room. I thought to myself that it might not be possible to function without her anymore.

“Oh, and I also brought the bear I mentioned the other day! Now we have matching ones!”

Miori took out a wrapping bag from a slightly larger bag than usual. It had a cute pattern and ribbon, resembling a present.

In this way, it’s not just about giving sweets or bringing presents. She also pays attention to the containers. I think she really knows how to delight children.

She already knows what she’s going to give her. However, it’s not just about the gift itself; she wants to create a sense of excitement in the process of taking it out and making it enjoyable. It’s clear that Miori is genuinely thinking about Shuri in her own way, and it makes me smile too.

“Matching teddy bears!”

“Yeah, let’s play together later. But──”

Miori paused for a moment, knelt on the floor, and continued after making eye contact with Shuri.

“Before that, there’s something we need to do, right?”

And then, she gently smiles.

Instead of scolding, admonish. I was impressed by how rarely this expression fits a scene so perfectly.

On the other hand, Shuri’s previously bright expression darkens and becomes dejected.

“If Dad and Shuri-chan keep fighting, I won’t be able to have fun playing either. And the macarons, which we made with so much effort, will lose their taste too, right?”

Miori turns to me with a smile and says.

Seriously, really. She was so thoroughly playing the role of “mom” that it was almost unbelievable.

Moreover, Miori’s way of doing things… somehow, it caught something in the corner of my memory.

“Who spilled this juice, I wonder? Leaving it unattended and going somewhere, that makes Mommy sad.”

When I was younger than Shuri, I spilled juice and thought I would get scolded, so I secretly ran away from the room.

At that time, my mother surely scolded me like this. Instead of yelling or reprimanding me, she said, “I’m sad,” and I felt immense guilt, even though I was small, and immediately confessed, “I’m sorry.”

What Miori is doing is just like that.

──Mom doesn’t possess Miori, right?

I really can’t accept that. If she were possessed, it would mean going to the aquarium with my mom, holding hands, and being happy. What kind of pervert would that make me?

As for Shuri, she glanced at me and then hid behind Miori’s back. It seems she finds it difficult to talk to me.

“Is it difficult to tell Dad directly?”

In response to Miori’s question, Shuri nodded and said, “Yeah.”

As always, she kept her head down.

“Then, can you tell mom?”

When “Mom” asked again, Shuri nodded once more.

“T-that’s why…”

Miori stood up and lowered her eyebrows apologetically.

“Ah, got it. I’m on the second floor, so just call me.”

“Yeah, sorry. I’ll send you a LIME.”

When I said “Understood” again, I took only my smartphone and left the living room. It was striking how Shuri looked at me with concern as I left the living room.

When I entered my room on the second floor, I lay down on my bed for the first time in ages.

Lying down, I gaze out the window.

The spring sky was so clear that it seemed like it couldn’t get any clearer, and it looked pleasant to play outside.

When I opened my smartphone, I found messages from Shinya and Sumomo asking, “Is it a date?” Since both of us are skipping school today, it’s understandable that they would make that assumption. Moreover, it is true that we actually went to the aquarium. It might not be wrong to call it a date.

After that, I received a message asking, “When should we go during Golden Week?”

──Ah, speaking of which, I said I would introduce Shuri to these guys during Golden Week, didn’t I?

Somehow, with everything going on, I completely forgot about it.

“I’ll contact you again.”

I just replied with that and tossed my smartphone next to the pillow.

I don’t really know how it will turn out. Right now, Miori is listening to Shuri’s story, but depending on how that goes, it might not even come to an introduction.

Suddenly, my gaze fell on the closet.

It’s a closet where my mom’s album is stored. The album is hidden inside a cardboard box in the storage section above the closet.

For some reason, I suddenly remembered a conversation with my mom earlier, and now I really want to see that album.

I stand up, pull the sliding door of the closet, and reach up.

──…What am I even doing? It’s ridiculous.

Sighing, I retract my outstretched hand and close the closet.

In the end, I had nothing to do but lie on the bed and stare at the sky.