The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 62

When Shuri found out that Miori would be staying over today, her excitement was off the charts.

Somehow, Shuri seems to be having fun every day just because Miori is around. From this situation, it’s clear that Shuri’s earlier words, “I’m not lonely because I have my mom,” are not a lie.

She seemed to be worried that I might be lonely because I don’t have a mother, but that’s just an unnecessary concern.

Perhaps until last month, I might have had those feelings. However, now I don’t feel any inconvenience at all. Just having Miori and Shuri with me, I shouldn’t feel lonely at all.

However, if there’s just one disappointing thing──

──I guess it’s that I can’t see the look on Mom’s face as she watches this scene.

The girl I’m particularly close to at school came over, made some sweets, and has been playing with Shuri the whole time… If Mom were alive, what would she think of this scene?

I wonder if she was watching with a gentle smile. Or perhaps she was a bit jealous of Miori.

There is no way to confirm that anymore.

However, surely──it must have been a scene that warmed the heart in its own way.

After that, the three of us went to a nearby supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner, and Miori served her homemade cooking.

Today, we had cheeseburgers at Shuri’s request. The seasoning was exquisite, and the hamburgers were juicy and very delicious. If I eat such delicious home-cooked meals every day, I might end up getting really fat.

After dinner, Shuri was playing with the bear stuffed animals that Miori had brought. The two differently colored bear stuffed animals were chatting about various things in their hands. I listened to their exchange while washing the dishes.

“I’ll wash the dishes,” Miori always says, but it feels wrong to have her cook and then make her wash the dishes too. Cleaning up afterwards is my responsibility. More than that, I want Miori to play with Shuri for that little bit of time.

Just as I finished washing the dishes, the automatic bath water filling machine beeped. It was a signal that the bath was ready.

“Oh, Miori.”

“What is it?”

The two of them stopped playing with the stuffed animals and looked up at me.

“The bath is ready, but since it’s a special occasion, let’s enjoy it together with Shuri today──”

“Wow, a bath with Mom!”

Before I could ask Miori what would happen if I joined, the future was already determined by Shuri.

“…That’s the situation, okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Miori chuckled softly and replied.

“Then, Shuri-chan is already in the mood.”

When she saw Shuri, she smiled and hugged Miori.

In front of this smile, I probably wouldn’t be able to say no.

“Bath with Mom.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Let’s go in together.”

All things considered, Miori was probably interested from the beginning. She looks happy.

“Come join us, Dad!”

“Ah, yeah, I guess I’ll join you too──”

Having said that, I falter.

Is Dad coming too? Wait, didn’t she just say she was going in with Mom? And didn’t she just say Dad was coming too?

“”…Huh!?””

Understanding the meaning of the words, both I and Miori let out a surprised exclamation at the same time.

“Wait, Shuri. Are you saying I can join you?”

“Hmm.”

Shuri nodded with a beaming smile as always.

“N-No, that’s just too much…”

When I glanced at Miori, her face turned bright red, and she shook her head vigorously from side to side.

Yeah, that’s right. When I think about it, normally.

“Hey, Shuri. Our bath can at most fit two people. Three is just too much──”

“No way! Because I always take a bath with Dad!”

She won’t listen to anything I say. Shuri has completely switched to her brat mode.

Usually, when her “big brother,” she hardly ever acts selfishly, but when I’m her “dad,” she becomes selfish. It’s during times like these that I realize again how much I’ve made Shuri endure.

Even so, this time it’s really bad in various ways. It’s not just a matter of being a spoiled child.

“Dad is the only one being left out!”

Shuri is fully prepared to protest. It seems she has no intention of backing down at all.

However, I take a bath with Shuri every day. From that perspective, Shuri might dislike it if I’m not around.

I glance at Miori again.

“Eeeh…”

The most beautiful girl in school, and the “mom”, is about to cry completely.

“Are you coming too, Dad? …No?”

Shuri, witnessing the indescribably awkward exchange between me and Miori, asked Miori with teary eyes.

No, no, no… Just the fact that Miori is coming to stay over is already a huge issue, and now we’re supposed to take a bath together too!

That’s just asking for too much, isn’t it?

My true feelings? Of course, I want to join. Taking a bath with a classmate──especially that of Imiya Miori──if I miss this chance in my life, I feel like it will never happen again.

Rather, shouldn’t I just ride on Shuri’s coattails and push through? To seize the glory of my life.

Alright, I feel bad for Miori, but I’ll side with Shuri here. After all, this is my duty as a father. It’s definitely not out of any ulterior motives.

Thinking that, I was about to lend a hand──

“No… It’s not that I dislike it, okay?”

When Miori said it hesitantly, she smiled with a troubled expression. Her cheeks were bright red, though.

“….Huh?”

Huh?

Along with the words, a question mark also arises in my heart.

Doesn’t she dislike it? What does she mean by not disliking it? No, does that mean what I think it means!?

Just like during the sleepover, when it actually happened, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“It’s sad if only Dad is left out, right?”

“Yeah! Dad is coming too!”

At Miori’s words, Shuri showed a radiant smile like the sun.

“Then, Shuri-chan, could you go to the bath first?”

“Yeah!”

Shuri nodded cheerfully and ran to the bathroom.

In the living room, only Miori and I remained, along with an incredibly awkward atmosphere.

“Uh… um. Seriously? Is it really okay?”

“Not good at all…”

Miori clutched her head and squatted down on the spot.

“I’m already nervous just staying over at a boy’s house for the first time, and now taking a bath together… I’ve never even thought about it, and just thinking about it makes me feel like I’m going to die…”

It seemed like a very pitiful state. Rather, I feel that Miori is more pitiful than I am being left out.

“But, it’s Shuri-chan’s request…”

Moreover, after inserting that, Miori continued.

“I can understand the feeling of wanting to take a bath with the family.”

There was a poignant resonance there.

Surely, Miori must have had experiences in the past where she admired and then gave up on various family-related things, like taking a bath with the family or doing things together. That’s why she wants to fulfill Shuri’s wish, even if it means feeling embarrassed.

“Ah, um… I won’t look. I’m in the bath with my back turned, and I’ll keep my eyes closed until you two come out.”

If I see someone like Miori, I can’t help but say this.

Even if it is completely contrary to my true feelings, even if I don’t genuinely think so, I have no choice but to say it.

Men, what a sad creature they are.

“Really…?”

Cautiously, with tear-filled eyes, she looked over here.

I nodded repeatedly, but it wasn’t sincere at all.

“Mom! Hurry up!”

I heard Shuri’s impatient voice coming from the bathroom.

It seems there isn’t even time to hesitate anymore.

“Yeah, I’m coming now.”

Miori raised her voice slightly towards the bathroom, responding to Shuri’s words.

And then, when she stood up, she placed her hand on her chest and took a few deep breaths.

“Then… shall we go take a bath?”

And then, with determination, I look over here.

It was as if she were a gladiator heading to the arena.

“Ah, let’s go.”

For some reason, I find myself making a strange resolution too.

What on earth kind of resolve did I make?

“Hey, Isaki-kun.”

When I was about to head to the bathroom, Miori stopped and glanced back at me.

“…Because I believe in you.”

With a face that looked like she was about to cry, she said that and headed towards the bathroom.

“Yes…”

In the now-empty living room, I respond like that.

If I’m told that way, I have no choice but to live up to that trust. It’s extremely against my will, but… no, really.