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. - Chapter 66

About two weeks had passed since Natsuno’s birthday. Since then, Ayano and Natsuno seemed to have gotten used to their Stepfather’s awkwardness, and Natsuno had become comfortable enough to go shopping with him alone.

“Hey, Yuusei-kun, are you listening?”

Ayano stared at me suspiciously.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Geez, Christmas is coming up soon, are you available?”

Right, I’ve been so caught up in the usual routine that I had forgotten that Christmas was just around the corner.

Christmas, which I had always spent with my family, was going to be different this time, spending it with someone special. It made me a bit nervous and strangely excited.

“Helloooo! Are you even paying attention?”

“Uh, sorry. Yeah, I’m available. Well, my schedule’s usually pretty open.”

“Why do you have to say something so sad?”

Technically, I’m not really sad about it since my schedule usually is quite open.

“Then, there’s this trendy cafe that just opened up… How about going together?”

“I’m in. I’ll have coffee.”

“Hehe, okay then, it’s a deal!”

However, going to the cafe wasn’t the only plan. Ayano said, “I’d like to see the illuminations too,” and she was walking with a delighted expression.

Walking with such a bright smile, I noticed passing junior high students and young women were looking at her as they went by.

“Ayano-san, the illuminations are visible at night. How about shopping during the day?”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Yeah, I’m in. I want to look at clothes and stuff too.”

Saying that, Ayano hugged me and said, “Thank you!”

Even though it wasn’t Christmas yet, I felt a sense of happiness.

It’s not like I’m doing this just for Ayano. I want clothes too. That’s all there is to it.

Since Ayano and I are in different classes, when we arrived at school, we would go into our respective classrooms.

“Hey, Kuroda~?”

“What’s up, Kuroda? Ate something weird?”

“Huh? Why the long face?”

“Well, because your face is so relaxed, it’s creepy. You look like some gloopy slime.”

“Huh? That’s a rude thing to say.”

Saying that, I pressed my fist into Kuroda’s side.

In response, Mimura swiftly stepped back from me with a frighteningly quick footwork.

“Huh? Why are you distancing yourself?”

“No, no, it’s just, you know, it’s a bit off.”

“Yeah, I’m also normally grinning too much; it’s off-putting.”

“Hey! That’s harsh!”

“Oh, he’s back.”

“He’s back indeed.”

What do these guys think of me? Is my perpetually grumpy expression what makes them think that?

“What’s up? Why are you so happy?”

“Um, well… about that…”

“Oh, so you’re going on a Christmas date with Shirakawa-san, huh?”

Perhaps Mimura thought I still didn’t have any plans. His face had the expression he makes when he’s mocking me.

I was debating whether I should honestly answer or keep quiet about having plans for Christmas.

“Are you really going?”

“Huh? Why would you say that?”

“With the perfect timing just now, even a monkey could figure it out.”

“Well, not to that extent…”

“Then what? Are you going or not?”

“Well, I am going.”

At that moment, there was a certain sparkle in Mimura’s eyes.

“Mimura… You’re not crying, are you?”

“Ugh, shut up! I bought a once-in-a-lifetime trip to get rich quick just to go on a Christmas date with the two of you!!”

“Well, it seems like you just wanted to do it for yourself.”

As I bluntly said that, Mimura turned to Souta and said, “Ugh, Souta~ Kuroda is bullying me,” while rubbing his cheek against his.

Souta quickly brushed him off.

“Kuroda, Mimura isn’t really crying; he just put in eye drops.”

“No way! S-Souta, are you betraying me too!?”

“Betraying is one way to put it, but wasn’t that kind of plan never discussed in the first place?”

Souta firmly added that “I won’t be hanging out with Mimura on Christmas because I’ll be spending it with my girlfriend.”

“Mimura is quite the character, isn’t he?”

“What do you mean, ‘quite the character’?”

“I mean like… someone anyone’s interested in.”

“Oh, come on… Sure, I envy you guys for having girlfriends, but I think it’s even more enviable to have someone you truly care about.”

Saying that, Mimura let out a sniffle. I wasn’t sure if he was faking tears again or if he was actually crying this time, but both Souta and I placed our hands on his shoulders.