When I Brought The Lost Little Girl To Her House, The One Who Came Out Of The Front Door Was The Most Beautiful Girl In The Grade.

“Now then, the first day of the cultural festival is coming to an end, just a little bit more to go!”

In the blink of an eye, the day had ended. Is it really ending this quickly?

“However, everyone, at the end as expected! It’s not an exaggeration to call it the highlight, the Miss Contest is about to begin!”

The guys around me were getting so excited that they were shouting loudly like wild beasts.

Seeing their enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Miss Contest! Miss Contest!”

There was a guy next to me chanting that too. I sighed as I thought, “Give me a break,” and apparently there’s a 10-minute break between preparations.

During this time, I was considering changing clothes, but someone tapped me on the shoulder.

When I turned around, Natsuno and next to her was what seemed to be her mother.

“Oh, Natsuno, you came… um…”

“Natsuno and Ayano have always been taking care of you.”

“Oh no, it’s not like that at all.”

The woman bowed deeply. In response, I also stood up briefly and returned the bow.

“I’ve heard about it from our kids.”

“I-Is that so…”

“Yes, I heard you’re a very nice person, so I wanted to meet you.”

The woman chuckled. Given that she was Ayano and Natsuno’s mother, her appearance was indeed beautiful. I couldn’t help but be impressed by the Shirakawa family.

“Um… about this outfit…”

“Oh! This is the costume from the play…”

“Ah, I see, I thought so because you’re a man…”

“I’m not into that kind of thing!”

After clearing up the misunderstanding, when I looked sideways, Mimura was staring at me with a puzzled expression. It seemed like he didn’t quite understand the situation.

I explained to Mimura in a way that he could easily understand, since he was being insistent about wanting to know what was going on.

“Wow! Shira… I mean, her sister really does look like her.”

“Hello,” Mimura greeted, and Natsuno hid behind her mother.

She had been so lively just a moment ago.

“Mimura, don’t scare her.”

“N-No, I’m not trying to scare her…”

“It’s strange, She wasn’t like this with Kuroda-san or the others…”

“Just me?”

“Kind of dislike it.”

“Dislike,” she said, and Mimura collapsed to his knees. I comforted him in that state.

“Kuroda, where’s your older sister?”

“Ayano is going to participate in the Miss Contest, so you can’t see her right now.”

“This child has been saying she wanted to meet Ayano.”

What an adorable little sister. Hearing that made my facial expression naturally soften.

“Ayano was the top last year, you know?”

“I can tell even without asking. Big sister is cute.”

I felt a sense of nostalgia from those words. Now that I think about it, when I first went to Ayano’s house, I remember Ayano calling herself cute.

Truly, watching this sisterly bond is very heartwarming.

“But still, it’s quite late, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, I wonder what they’re doing.”

At that moment, the host came out to the front of the stage with a microphone.

“Actually, right now, Shirakawa-san isn’t here in this venue. The organizing committee is working hard to find her, but it seems they can’t locate her. She was here at the venue until a little while ago.”

“Ayano isn’t here? Where did she go? She’s a student at this school, so she shouldn’t be lost. But I wonder what she’s doing.”

The emcee is asking the audience, “Does anyone know?”

“Kuroda, Kuroda, over here.”

“What’s up?”

I was about to say that it’s not the right time for this, but Mimura persistently showed me his smartphone screen, so I reluctantly looked at Mimura’s phone.

There was an anonymous group message and a photo there. The title said, “Past of Last Year’s Miss Contest First Place Winner.”

The photo that was posted there was probably from Ayano’s middle school days. Her hair was still messy, and there was a picture of Ayano talking to me when I was in elementary school

“Mimura, I’m going to change after all.”

“Huh? You’re not going to search at a time like this?”

“You’re annoying.”

“Oh, hey!”

When I stood up, Ayano’s mother was looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on me.

“Did something happen?”

“Uh, no? I don’t think anything happened. I’m going to change.”

“I see. You’re changing, huh?”

“Yes.”

I felt like Ayano’s mother had figured it out. Or rather, she already knew. She just told me with a few words, “I asked for your help.”

Natsuno grabbed the hem of my costume. She looked very anxious.

“Big sister, is she lost?”

She asked me with a trembling voice, so for now, I patted Natsuno’s head.

“It’s okay, leave it to me. Delivering a lost child isn’t something new for me this time.”

I can definitely do it. I absolutely have to find her.

However, Mimura didn’t seem convinced.

“Miss contest…”

“Mimura, who’s the protagonist of Cinderella?”

“Huh? Obviously, it’s Cinderella, just like the name suggests.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m Cinderella now. The magic is in effect until midnight.”

The magic named courage…

“So, what’s your point?”

“I’m going to settle this.”

Saying that, Mimura realized. After that, Mimura didn’t say anything. However, as we were leaving the gymnasium, he said, “If I get crushed, I’ll be the one to comfort you,” so while thinking that I didn’t want his consolation, I ran.

***

Or rather, the thoughts I had until just now, they’re really embarrassing! I realized that only now.

My face turns red, but there’s no use in dwelling on such thoughts at a time like this.

The dress is hard to run in, it’s quite a hindrance.

While lifting the dress, I just ran.

I had a rough idea of where Ayano might be.

“Yuusei… where are you going?”

It was at that moment. Yumi, who had been leaning against the wall, stopped me.

I wish she wouldn’t do this now. No, precisely because of this situation, she might have known that I was coming to find Ayano.

“To Ayano’s place.”

“Hmm, and what are you planning to do there?”

I was asked such a thing. It felt like she could see through my heart. It certainly wasn’t a good feeling.

“Right now, you might end up making her even more sad.”

“What do you mean?”

“I happened to see it. A message in a group chat, from a former high school student.”

Indeed, I had been about to tell Ayano, in her current state, to participate in the Miss Contest. I might have even gone as far as confessing my feelings.

That’s when I realized it. But there’s no going back now.

“I’ll ask you again. Yuusei, what are you going to do when you go to Ayano’s place?”

“…Comfort her.”

“Seriously, you’re just…”

“And then, I’ll convey my feelings.”

Saying that, her face showed a bit of surprise.

“Is it really the right time for that?”

“Because it’s the right time.”

When I seriously looked at Yumi, she smiled softly. I found solace in that smile.

“You’ve grown up.”

“It’s thanks to my big sister.”

“Is that so?”