The Woman Whose Life I Saved Turned out to Be the Mother of the Popular Twin Sisters in My Class - Chapter 23 - Interrogation

Chapter 23 – Interrogation

I stood with my mouth open at Yuzuki’s bombshell statement for a few seconds, forgetting to even close it.

“Oh, really?”

After a moment of silence, it was Hikari who broke the stalemate with a serious look on her face.

“Well, um…”

I was at a loss for words.

If you asked me if I wanted a girlfriend, then of course I do. I’m a guy, and I’m in the middle of puberty, so it’s not like I’m not interested in that sort of thing.

Just because I like being alone doesn’t mean I hate being with people.

I just don’t want to be with a lot of people and have to suppress my feelings, but I’d be happy to be with someone who can at least respect each other.

That’s why I’m with Hibino.

The same goes for Yuzuki and Hikari.

They’re with me while respecting my choices.

I would like to go out with someone like that.

However!

I never said anything about wanting a girlfriend with them.

“Are you not dating anyone right now, Kirishima-kun?”

Genma-san cleared his throat and turned to me with a very serious expression. Being stared at by a face like that, there’s no point in hiding anything.

“No, I don’t have anyone like that at the moment…”

My muttering became faint in the latter half. However, I was worried that if I continued like this, I would hand the turn to Yuzuki and Hikari, so I tried to say something before them.

But…

“Yuzuki, Hikari. Go back to your room for a bit.”

Genma-san spoke before us, in the same serious tone of voice. His tone was different from usual, as Yuzuki and Hikari looked at each other and stood up with confused expressions.

They looked at me with regret, so I wondered if I should say something, but I couldn’t speak any words.

And seriously, what’s with this development?

Why am I left alone with their father? Moreover, it’s after the topic of my girlfriend, this doesn’t seem like it’s going in a good direction.

“Umm…”

The two of them left the room, and Genma-san stared at me in silence with a grim expression. I couldn’t bear the silence any longer and opened my mouth.

Although I planned to speak, I didn’t have any plan for what to say next.

Seeing my timid tone, Genma-san’s expression softened as he said “Sorry, I put you in a lot of pressure.”

“I got a bit lost in thought.”

Then he smiled brightly.

It didn’t seem like he held a negative impression of me, at least.

“So, where were we… Ah, yes, about your thoughts on having a girlfriend.”

He continued speaking in an exaggerated way.

It seems he’s going to continue on that topic.

“Uh…”

“Is it true that you want a girlfriend?”

Seeing me hesitate, Genma-san continues speaking. His eyes, looking straight at me, seem to be trying to find out my true intentions.

“Well, I’m a normal high school boy…”

I told him my true feelings without trying to hide them.

There are complicated emotions entangled in those feelings, but there’s no need to go out of my way to say them.

Genma-san looked down, groaned, and then quietly muttered, “I see.”

Then, he looked me in the eye again.

“What do you think of my daughters?”

I trembled for a moment at the question that came flying at me. I was so shocked that I flinched.

What’s the intention of his question?

What’s the right answer to give?

I have no idea.

Let’s just say what I think. If that doesn’t work, then that’s fate.

“I think they’re very attractive girls. Not only are they good-looking, but they’re also fun and unique in personality. And they both have kind hearts that can care for others.”

I really felt this on the day I went on a date with them.

They thought it would be hard for me to come up with two date plans, so they each came up with their own plans for the day, being considerate of me.

As a result, they both came to the same answer. A movie date, but they took different routes. What they had in common was that they were both thinking about me.

When thinking about what would be a good first date spot, Yuzuki chose a movie using information scattered across the internet.

She must have acted out of anxiety that I might not enjoy myself if she only thought about what she wanted. She prioritized making sure I had a good time over what she wanted.

In contrast, Hikari chose the movie because there was one she wanted to see.

That alone might give the impression of freedom and selfishness, but behind it all was the idea that since I loved reading, she would be able to get to know my preferences through movies.

In other words, she deliberately put herself on the same level as me so that I could get to know her.

It’s probably their thoughtfulness that drew me to them as people.

“W-why are you asking me that?”

As I felt the conversation might lead to a change in my relationship with them, I found myself unable to stop anymore.

Or rather, having come this far, I couldn’t leave empty-handed.

I wanted to go home with at least one piece of information.

“After you helped my wife, the three of us, my daughters and I had dinner together. It was a time when my wife’s condition had stabilized, and smiles were slowly returning to our dinner table. It was during one of those dinners.”

Perhaps remembering that time, Genma-san looked up at the ceiling, his face looked as if he were looking back fondly on something.

“The two of them were excited as they talked about that day. They looked so happy, like children who had just seen a real hero.”

By “that day,” he was probably referring to the day Kotobuki’s Mother collapsed.

“After that, every day, you were the topic of conversation. They desperately looked for you, wanting to thank you. I still remember the joy they felt when they found a clue.”

I’m sure it was when Yuzuki had contacted Shuka. I don’t know how she came to find Shuka, but if I think about it, she acted a bit like a stalker.

“Those girls, I’m sure they have special feelings for you. Whether it’s… well, you know, whether it’s…love or not, I can’t say for sure.”

If you’re embarrassed, then don’t say it.

“As they spend more time with you, it’s possible that such feelings will grow. That’s what I think.”

“I wonder.”

“I’ve never seen those girls look like that before. Once they make up their mind, they’re very straightforward, so maybe they might come across as a bit forceful at times.”

No, they were definitely quite forceful.

I had my faults too, so maybe it couldn’t be helped in that case.

If they hadn’t been so insistent, the thread connecting us might have been cut long ago.

“We’re getting off topic. Basically, what I’m trying to say is, do you want to date my daughter or not?”

Genma-san gave a rather exaggerated cough and then fixed me with a sharp gaze, his eyes intense.

I was intimidated by his presence.

“Uh…”

Now… How should I answer this?