Chapter 06: Where Were You Looking?

“Daikichi is such a good boy. Good boy, good boy. You’ve grown into a wonderful young man~”

Eleanor kissed Daikichi on the forehead, leaving him with an indescribable feeling. That gesture was something Eleanor often did when putting Sachiko to sleep, back when she was even younger.

Daikichi was somewhat shocked by the fact that he was treated like a baby not only by Sakurazaki but also by other women.

(Am I really that babyish?)

Of course, Daikichi understood that Eleanor acted that way simply because of the deep affection that comes from having shared both hardships and joys for a long time.

When Daikichi was taken in by Eleanor, Sachiko was only about two or three years old. At that time, Eleanor—having gone through a lot—had divorced and obtained sole custody, and on top of that, Daikichi’s grandparents, whom he had depended on when he arrived in this country, had already passed away.

It was an act born of the familial affection forged through overcoming many difficulties together.

Even so, being treated like a baby still stung Daikichi a bit.

With a puzzled look, Daikichi watched Eleanor leave the room carrying Sachiko, then promptly took a bath and crawled into bed.

Sleepiness came quickly.

Sometimes, in his dreams, Daikichi longed to see his parents. Just a year or two ago, they appeared frequently, and he could talk with them a lot. But lately, his parents no longer appeared in his dreams at all.

Before he knew it, morning had arrived. In the light spilling through the gap in the curtains, Daikichi squinted and sat up with a stretch. Then he brushed his teeth and got ready for school.

Earlier that morning, before sending Sachiko off, Eleanor had informed him that there was yet another request from the school today. At lunch break, Daikichi headed to the staff room.

Upon entering, he nodded slightly to the teachers he encountered. They all smiled and encouraged him with, “Do your best, Sakoda-kun.”

Noticing his demeanor, Eleanor, seated in a chair with a beaming smile, beckoned him over.

For some reason, Daikichi recalled how Sachiko had been saying “boobs” incessantly yesterday, and as soon as he approached Eleanor, he unconsciously glanced at her chest. They were large.

“Daikichi, you’re here. Before today’s request, I have something to tell you. Earlier this morning, Hanakumori-san came to the staff room and asked about you, so I explained everything properly. She was satisfied with the explanation.”

“……”

There was a chance Sakurazaki would have simply taken my word for it without confirming with Eleanor, but she apparently didn’t do that. She properly asked Eleanor. Naturally, as the original proponent, I had no complaints about her actions. I understood that she just wanted reassurance—and that’s why I suggested she ask.

Anyway, it seems Sakurazaki’s suspicions have been resolved, so that’s fine—but right now, Daikichi’s attention was fixed on Eleanor’s chest.”

Her blouse was stretched tight, and with just a few steps, it looked like the buttons might burst off at any moment.

(Frankly, I don’t even understand what all the fuss about chest size is.)

Daikichi thought that because he had never paid much attention to appearances. His narrow circle of friends meant he rarely encountered such topics, so he never developed a habit of caring about what kind of body someone had.

That might change if it began affecting his daily life—but it didn’t.

Then, at that moment, Eleanor noticed exactly where Daikichi’s gaze was lingering. Squinting her eyes, she quickly covered her chest with both arms.

“Hmm? Daikichi, where are you looking?”

Realizing where his eyes had strayed, Daikichi panicked.

“Eh⁉ Uh, um—thank you for explaining Sakurazaki’s side of our relationship.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m asking: where were you looking?”

Daikichi quickly averted his eyes.

Now, as for handling a situation where Eleanor might get angry—it was something Daikichi, with their long history together, knew how to manage. Having witnessed Sachiko’s mishaps countless times, he understood well the need to “watch and learn” from others’ mistakes when dealing with Eleanor.

“…I’m sorry.”

Yes, simply apologize.

Daikichi knew that unnecessary resistance from Sachiko only infuriated Eleanor further, and he’d always managed to smooth things over like this before. However, this time, an apology alone wouldn’t suffice. Eleanor wouldn’t let it go with just that.

“Are you interested in a woman’s body? Or is there some other reason?”

Perhaps because it involved the opposite sex, Eleanor demanded an explanation. Considering Daikichi’s age, she seemed determined—as a guardian—to ensure he explained himself properly instead of just brushing it off.

“…”

Should he confess that it was all because of Sachiko? Daikichi hesitated. If he wanted to salvage his rapidly plummeting reputation, the right thing would be to explain the situation to Sachiko, even if it wasn’t fair to her. But he quickly realized that would undoubtedly lead to Eleanor scolding and even making her cry.

Daikichi didn’t dislike Sachiko—he never wanted to see her in tears—and above all, he hated the thought of being resented with a “You spilled the beans!” attitude.

Weighing everything, Daikichi decided to take the blame upon himself.

“There’s no other reason. Since I’m a guy, I’ll be honest—I’ve always been curious about a woman’s body.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“I understand that it’s natural at your age. I mean, I’m only 30, so I might find such things appealing too—but you mustn’t just stare. That can even be considered a crime, you know?”

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

“See that you do.”

Eleanor huffed through her nose to assert some authority, though her cheeks were slightly flushed. Alongside her mission to correct him, she couldn’t help but feel a bit perplexed that Daikichi had developed an interest in a woman’s body.

Daikichi had always been an insightful child ever since he could understand things, and that hadn’t changed even after Eleanor took him in. Naturally, he could guess what Eleanor was thinking now.

Perhaps she wasn’t berating him outright because she recognized that sexual curiosity is a natural part of human growth—and she didn’t want to forbid those feelings altogether.

That aside… Even if it was for Sachiko’s sake, Daikichi felt an indescribable shame at having defined himself as “a boy who’s interested in boobs.” Yet, resigned to the situation, he bowed his head deeply.

“…”

“You can’t just go off on a tangent because of youthful impulses, you know? Only look when the other person gives you the green light, alright?”

“I understand.”

“And don’t do that with Hanakumori-san, okay? She’s such a sweet girl that if you keep this up, you might just turn into a frenzied little lion.”

“I won’t turn into a lion. I won’t go all ‘roar-roar’ either. Besides, lions don’t roar like that—I think a ‘grr-grr’ would be more appropriate.”

“Japanese onomatopoeia is so tricky. Instead of nitpicking the little details, please try to grasp the essence of what I’m saying, okay?”

“I take it to mean that I should consider the other person’s feelings properly.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m reflecting on it.”

“…”

Daikichi stated this calmly, yet Eleanor continued to cast doubtful glances his way, as if she couldn’t quite be sure. This was the moment to endure, Daikichi thought. Saying any extra would only deepen her suspicions, so he simply closed his eyes, took a deep, steady breath, and remained completely composed.

Seeing that Daikichi had managed to control his desires, Eleanor finally shifted the topic. She informed him of today’s request from the school: a confirmation of the delivery quantities of supplied equipment. Accepting a clipboard and nibbling on a pastry, Daikichi headed straight to the storage room to begin his work.