The Most Beautiful Girl in School Has Become a Mother - Chapter 8: An Unexpected Turn of Events

“Um… your younger sister, the one I met at the supermarket the other day, right?”

Clearing her throat, Imiya-san changed the subject.

From my perspective, I would have liked to hear a bit more, but if she doesn’t want that, there’s nothing I can do.

“Ah, yeah. It was from that time that she started saying ‘Mom’ and all that.”

“I see…”

Imiya-san said that with a whispering smile and tilted her head slightly.

It was a smile that seemed like it could draw me in.

The smile at that moment was so soft and cute, and at the same time, it warmed my heart and made me feel a sense of nostalgia. It was the first time in my life that someone’s smile had stirred my emotions to such an extent.

Do all men who seriously fall in love with her feel the same way? Is that why they confess, even with no significant connection, fully prepared for rejection?

It makes me feel that way.

“What’s the truth?”

Imiya-san continued with a slightly embarrassed look while maintaining a smile, lowering her face.

“Um… that supermarket, it’s nearby, so I often use it too. We’ve passed by each other many times?”

“Eh, seriously?!”

I was surprised. I never would have thought that she also used the same supermarket regularly.

However, the supermarket I stop by on my way back after picking up my sister from daycare is that one. Considering that her house is nearby and that I usually go there around the evening after school, it’s highly likely that we have crossed paths without realizing it.

However, I was always focused on my sister while thinking about the menu—there was one time I lost sight of her in the supermarket and it really scared me—so I didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to my surroundings. I never even considered that Imiya-san would be in the same supermarket. Rather, I didn’t think she would recognize me to that extent. I thought she only saw me as one of the background boys in the same class.

“I’ve always thought your little sister was cute and have been secretly watching her. Even though you’re both high school students like me, you always take care of her… it’s amazing.”

Imiya-san was weaving words with a bashful demeanor.

Due to the age difference, they initially thought I was a relative’s child, but since Shuri called me “big brother,” they seemed to realize we were siblings.

Somehow, it had turned into an unexpected development. No matter how I look at it, I’m just an ordinary person, yet I was recognized by the most beautiful girl in the school, Imiya Miori, and to top it off, I was even told I was amazing, even if it was just flattery. What kind of joke is this? I glanced sideways at Shinya and Sumomo, thinking it might be some kind of “gotcha” prank, but there was no sign of them holding up a sign that said “Prank Successful.”

“Hey, hey, Sumomo grandma. This is… could it be, could it really be?”

“No way… I can’t believe Mi-chan was interested in boys.”

“But in this case, wasn’t she interested in Shuri-chan?”

“Hey, hey, but didn’t she just say earlier that she thought Sanada was amazing?”

I could faintly hear the two of them whispering, but I couldn’t quite make out what they were talking about.

“So, the other day, your younger sister… Was it Shuri-chan? She noticed me, and I was a bit happy about it.”

She glanced up at me for just a moment, then immediately lowered her face.

I see. With this, I feel like I understand why Imiya-san smiled when she looked at us—well, more specifically, when she looked at Shuri. If she had recognized us from before, that reaction makes sense.

“But, ‘Mom’… I didn’t really expect that. I wonder if Sanada’s mother and I were that similar?”

She laughs mischievously, tilts her head, and asks.

At that question, I involuntarily flinched. Yesterday, I was asked the same question by Kijima-san, and at that moment, I saw a faint resemblance to my mother in her. The guilt and self-loathing about that resurfaced.

Seeing my classmate’s girl and thinking of my mother is definitely strange. It’s disrespectful to Imiya-san. Besides, it makes me feel like I’m a mama’s boy. If that’s the case, being a siscon would be better. No, I think both are wrong, though.

“I wonder… But Shuri shouldn’t know what Mom looks like. She shouldn’t have seen any pictures either. So, I don’t think she even knows what ‘Mom’ means.”

Before I knew it, I had given an evasive answer.

I was aware that I was shifting the topic myself. But for some reason, I couldn’t answer her question.

Imiya-san just said, “I see…” and didn’t press any further.

Then, a brief silence fell over the rooftop. A gentle spring breeze was softly blowing, rustling her hair and skirt.

Shinya and Sumomo are usually noisy, but now they are just watching the scene. Or rather, they might not have been able to say anything.

Then, as if convinced by something, Imiya-san nodded to herself and said, “Hmm.” After a moment, she looked up and gazed over here.

“Thank you for explaining it properly. You were nervous, right…?”

“Well, um… both this time and last time, quite a bit.”

When I responded that way, Imiya-san gave a slight, wry smile.

In a way, I feel like I was able to stay a bit calmer this time thanks to Shinya and Sumomo being here. If it had just been the two of us, I might have made some weird mistake again. I’m grateful to the two of them.

“I understood how Sanada-kun felt, and I panicked and ran away immediately at that time too… I’m really sorry about that.”

“No, it’s me who should be sorry. I wanted to apologize because I thought I made you feel uncomfortable.”

“I don’t think it’s weird or anything. I was just surprised, wondering if you have that slightly unusual motherly hobby.”

“That misunderstanding is the most troublesome. Also, please stop saying motherly over and over. If people really think I have that kind of hobby, it would be a real disaster.”

When I said I would protest, Imiya-san chuckled and said, “I’m sorry.”

It seems that the recent motherly remark was made with a bit of teasing in mind. If she can tease like that, I can say that the misunderstanding has been completely resolved.

“So, anyway, Imiya-san.”

“Hmm?”

“Just once, could you… be my sister’s ‘mom’? I think once would be enough…”

Convinced that I had overcome one hurdle, I decided to take on the next challenge.

However, Imiya-san looked troubled and hung her head.

“That… I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do it.”

“Huh?!”

It was a bit surprising.

Based on the reactions I saw earlier, I thought she would do it at least once.

“Oh, it’s not that I don’t want to help or anything. If I can help, I want to, but… I don’t think I can be of much use.”

As always, her expression was gloomy. Moreover, there was a sense of sorrow about her.

When I glanced over at Sumomo, she had a bitter expression on her face, as if she understood the reason.

“What do you mean?”

“Um… I don’t really understand what ‘mother’ means.”

From Imiya-san’s mouth came words I had never expected.