Chapter 05: Daikichi’s Past

“Are you coming with me…?”

“If you follow me home, you’ll see that what Daichan senpai said is true. Teachers don’t work night shifts, and if you wait, Eleanor sensei will come home too.”

“Are you planning to come to my room?”

“But if you don’t, you’ll never know.”

“Eleanor might come home early sometimes, but when it really gets late it could be around ten at night. If you don’t get home until then, your parents will worry. You’re not the type to be out partying at night, are you?”

“……”

“I’m not lying. It’s true. I promise. If you’re curious, just ask Eleanor sensei at school when you have time.”

“Nowadays, with all these strict rules about personal information, even if you ask, Eleanor sensei probably won’t tell you anything.”

“If Eleanor comes home today, when I take this kid back I’ll mention it too. I’ll say it’s okay to answer if they ask.”

“……Alright, then I’ll ask tomorrow.”

Daikichi’s suggestion to confirm the facts left Sakurazaki with nothing else to say, and she finally gave in.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Yeah.”

“Should I call a taxi?”

“I’m fine. Besides, Daichan senpai would probably pay for it again on his own, and I’m not the kind of girl who likes that sort of thing.”

“Then I’ll see you off to the station with Sachiko. …And once you get off the train until you get home, stick to the main street. It’s already dark.”

“I’ll definitely do that!”

When Sakurazaki stuck her tongue out”Bleh” at Daikichi in defiance, Sachiko just shrugged and, with an “Oh dear,” once more cut in with an unnecessary comment.

“Always so selfish, those boobs.”

“Wh-what’s gotten into you all of a sudden? A kid shouldn’t butt into an adult conversation, you know!”

Having her conversation interrupted and teased about her chest, Sakurazaki tried to chide Sachiko with a strained smile—though a vein was visibly throbbing at her temple.

Perhaps finding Sakurazaki’s mix of forbearance and anger amusing, Sachiko grinned “Smirk”.

“You sure do talk a lot, huh, those boobs.”

“B-b-boobs, boobs, I mean…”

“Daikichi won’t be swayed by boobs, you know.”

“I’m not trying to seduce him with my boobs or anything…!”

“Is that so?”

“Sure is!”

“I’m not so sure… those boobs might disagree.”

Daikichi thought, Don’t drag me into this just because of boobs, but he wasn’t confident he could intervene effectively—or worried he might only make their squabble worse—so he stayed quiet and kept walking.

However, his aloof approach only aggravated them further.

“Daichan senpai, get mad and tell her that’s not okay.”

“Haa~~~? Daikichi doesn’t have to listen to whatever your boobs say! Complain about it!”

Sometimes they demanded to know whose side he was on. All Daikichi wanted was to get Sakurazaki to the station safely, then go home with Sachiko…

With a troubled look and a small “Hmm,” he led them toward the station.

Then, he noticed the station up ahead.

Choosing to pretend he hadn’t heard a word of their argument, Daikichi decided to push on.

“Huh? What are you talking about? I was lost in thought. No idea what you were discussing, but… oh, looks like we’re almost at the station. Come on, just a little farther.”

“Alright then, boobs.”

“No way, eh, uh…”

At that, Sachiko let out an exhausted sigh, while Sakurazaki lowered her gaze sadly.

“……”

“……Daichan senpai.”

Sakurazaki glanced over as though she didn’t want to leave, looking like a small animal. Daikichi felt slightly swayed and, before he realized it,

“It’s not like this is the last time.”

He blurted that out. Sakurazaki responded happily with “Yeah,” and headed toward the station.

Daikichi sank into self-reproach, worried he might have encouraged her unnecessarily. 

Meanwhile, Sachiko mumbled, “That pair of boobs is so annoying,” taking another jab at Sakurazaki.

Daikichi didn’t think Sakurazaki was all that troublesome, but he simply didn’t know how to interact with her.

However, there was no turning back from the words he’d already spoken.

Daikichi convinced himself that he had merely said it wouldn’t be the last time—not that he was suggesting another meeting—and he went back to his apartment with Sachiko. Later, while taking care of Sachiko in his room, Eleanor returned.

“Mama.”

Sachiko, rubbing her sleepy eyes, was picked up by Eleanor and promptly fell asleep with gentle, steady breathing.

“Thank you for everything, Daikichi.”

“No, it’s I who am causing you trouble by having you act as my guardian all the time. And also…”

Bowing his head, Daikichi explained various circumstances and asked her to answer if Sakurazaki ever inquired. Eleanor merely shrugged and agreed.

“I understand.”

“I’m sorry for dragging you into such a hassle.”

“It’s fine, really. Still, going this far—it shows that this memory is truly important to you, Hanakumori-san.”

Eleanor was one of the few who knew why Daikichi cared about Sakurazaki. In fact, many school staff, the teachers especially, were aware of it.

“She’s my only remaining connection, in a way, to my parents.”

Daikichi recalled the chain of events that had led him to this point—why he had been watching over Sakurazaki from the shadows, and the reason behind the school’s request.

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At one event celebrating the success of a public–private international project, Daikichi had met Sakurazaki. Although Sakurazaki didn’t seem to remember him, Daikichi remembered her well.

Originally, that party was reserved for founding families of the participating companies, executives, politicians, high-ranking bureaucrats, diplomats, and their close acquaintances. But at that time, it had been expanded into a large-scale gathering that included lower-level employees, low-ranking public servants, and their families—so many people were in attendance.

Since such opportunities were rare for ordinary families, many attended with their spouses and children as part of a sort of family service. Among these ordinary guests were young Sakurazaki and her parents.

The Sakoda family had also been invited. Daikichi’s parents weren’t involved in the project themselves; rather, it was on the basis of his great-grandfather having forged close ties in the early Shōwa period with the founders of some long-established companies participating in the project.

In any case, Daikichi attended with his parents, and among his relatives were his uncle and Tsubaki, who had been taken into the Sazanka family as kin. However, the Sakoda family was already a fading remnant of the old nobility, so not only the upper class but even ordinary guests regarded them as one of the same, speaking to them casually without any pretense—sometimes even initiating conversation themselves.

Amid all this, there was a moment when Daikichi’s parents chatted with Sakurazaki’s parents. Sakurazaki’s parents proudly described their daughter—who was hiding behind them and fidgeting—as “a very smart child.” In response, Daikichi’s parents, perhaps letting their guard down because Sakurazaki was around the same age as their own child, smiled and said, “It would be wonderful if children like these could thrive in this world.”

Daikichi had seen and remembered that moment—simply because it was his parents’ final smile. The accident had occurred as the party ended and everyone went outside. A runaway car barreled into the crowd, indiscriminately striking people, and tragically, his parents perished.

Daikichi had narrowly escaped being involved, having been only a few meters away—busy entertaining Tsubaki, who tugged at his clothes, exclaiming, “Come play with us, not with the other kids!”

His parents’ final smile belonged not to him but to Sakurazaki—and that was why Daikichi could never forget her. When he later saw Sakurazaki, who had enrolled as a special scholarship student, his heart stirred with unease. Before he knew it, he had explained the situation to Eleanor and negotiated with the school that, in exchange for handling various odd jobs, they would ensure that Sakurazaki could navigate her school life smoothly.

Initially, the school was hesitant, but once Daikichi finished explaining his feelings and his past, their stance softened, and they eventually agreed. Afterwards, as Daikichi diligently carried out his duties, one teacher after another began to consider his feelings even more than before—up to the present day.

These were the reasons why Daikichi had watched over Sakurazaki, and also the background behind his continued handling of the school’s miscellaneous tasks. It was only natural that Sakurazaki didn’t remember Daikichi—after all, it had been five years—but he didn’t mind; in fact, it was convenient. After all, being remembered too well might complicate things.

For Daikichi, what mattered most was whether he could help Sakurazaki succeed, just as his parents had wished. If she could live every day without hardship, it would feel as though he were preserving his parents’ final smile.

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As Daikichi looked back on the past with a pained expression and bowed his head, his vulnerability—resembling that of a little puppy—moved Eleanor to pat his head.