Chapter 21: Daikichi Sakoda, the Great Detective

Despite feeling apologetic, Daikichi decided to decline Sakurazaki’s invitation.

“Um, sorry, but next Sunday won’t work. I’ve got plans.”

“Huh? Plans?”

“I’m going to Sachiko’s school play.”

“Sachiko? A school play…?”

“You’ve met her, Sakurazaki. She’s Eleanor‑san’s daughter.”

“T–that rude girl…”

“Since Eleanor‑san, unlike the students, still has various teacher duties even on Sundays, I’ll go check on things for her.”

So, sorry but it won’t work, Daikichi repeated. However, Sakurazaki pursed her lips tightly, then said,

“…I’m coming too.”

She began to speak.

“Sakurazaki, what did you just say?”

“I’m coming too. Sachiko‑chan’s school play.”

“W–well… I don’t think Sakurazaki has anything to do with it…”

“But it does. Daichan‑senpai is just a baby, so how can we be sure he’ll properly take care of Sachiko‑chan?”

“No, I always take care of Sachiko, so there’s no need to worry about that…”

“Because Daichan‑senpai might end up bullying Sachiko‑chan.”

“Even if Sachiko might bully me, there’s no way I’d bully her.”

“I’ve never seen that happen. That’s why I have to check it out—so I’m coming.”

…………

Daikichi was troubled.

He recalled that Sakurazaki and Sachiko didn’t have a good rapport, so there was a risk of conflict—but…

He simply couldn’t come up with a good excuse.

After much deliberation, Daikichi finally realized that “there’s nothing I can do about it” and decided to leave the decision entirely up to Eleanor‑san, Sachiko’s guardian.

“After all, Sachiko is Eleanor‑san’s daughter. If Eleanor‑san gives the OK, then we’ll go together.”

“That makes sense… then go ask her!”

Hoping that Eleanor‑san would sense the situation and refuse for him, Daikichi sought her decision.

Since it involved Sachiko, the reply came quickly. Before Daikichi could put his smartphone away, a notification sound rang.

“Didn’t you get a reply?”

“That was quick…”

When Daikichi checked the chat, he saw it read:
“That’s fine. Interacting with others contributes to Sachiko’s growth, so it’s important.”

Beside a head-in-hands Daikichi, Sakurazaki beamed and exclaimed, “Yay!”

After that, Eleanor‑san contacted him again, asking him to pick up Sachiko today. With a heavy heart, he parted ways with Sakurazaki and headed straight to the after‑school care center.

Since there was no way to hide the situation from Sachiko, who would be meeting Sakurazaki that day, Daikichi decided to explain everything.

“…So that’s the situation. Sakurazaki is coming too.”

“Eh… is that oppai coming?”

Sure enough, as Daikichi had imagined, the two didn’t seem to get along well. Sachiko didn’t hide her dislike for Sakurazaki and wore an overtly displeased expression.

However, since Eleanor‑san had given her permission, Sachiko had no choice but to endure it.

“I didn’t decide it myself; I left it up to Eleanor‑san. And then I got a reply saying, 『It’s fine』.”

“Mama… I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“It was like, ‘Interacting with others might be good for Sachiko,’ or something.”

“You don’t care about me at all, so you just think about yourself, Mama.”

“Don’t say that… if Eleanor‑san only thinks about herself, Sachiko will end up feeling lonely, won’t she?”

“Not really, I’ve got Daikichi.”

It was hard to tell how much of Sachiko’s words were honest and how much were just bravado… but when it came to time spent together, Daikichi had been with her longer than Eleanor‑san.

Because of that, he guessed that Sachiko’s true feelings and her front were mixed together.

When Daikichi smiled gently, Sachiko, catching a glimpse of it, continued, “Well, but…”

“…When it comes to my Daikichi, I wonder if Mama feels sorry for him.”

“I’m not exactly Sachiko’s plaything or anything to be treated like an object—setting that aside—do you think Eleanor‑san is pitiful? Why?”

“Not really.”

Daikichi couldn’t tell what Sachiko was trying to say.

However, as she sighed “haah” and shook her head, she somehow appeared more mature than him.

――After that, time passed, and the Sunday of Sachiko’s school play finally arrived.

Following Sachiko’s various directions about his outfit and hairstyle, Daikichi felt embarrassed by the final look reflected in the full‑length mirror.

“Hmm…”

It was usual for Sachiko to dictate his look, but today she seemed especially fired up.

The outfit—clean, simple, yet well put together—resembled that of a young actor appearing at a preview screening.

Daikichi wondered if he should suggest something “a bit more normal,” but seeing how happy Sachiko was, he gave up on the idea.

(After all… the point of going to the play is for Sachiko’s sake.)

When you ask who’s really going to enjoy the play, it’s clearly Sachiko. Daikichi decided he should let her have her way, exactly as she wished.

Sachiko was very particular about her clothes and accessories, fussing over her closet from the morning—“This combination looks weird, but that one looks good”—until she finally settled on a flower-print shirt and a trim skirt.

“I’m all set with this!”

She finished her look by adding a glittery hairpin and a fluffy scrunchie on her wrist, puffing her nose with pride.

Of course, at the play, Sachiko was cast as a tree—just a prop tree—so no special outfit was really necessary. But that was from Daikichi’s perspective; in Sachiko’s eyes, any event was a reason to dress up, even if no one was watching.

Daikichi knew that was just her personality, so he didn’t complain.

“Alright, let’s go then. We’ll meet up with Sakurazaki along the way, but don’t say anything too strange.” “Does Daikichi support oppai?” “It’s not about taking sides. Sakurazaki is a student at my school too, and that means Eleanor is involved. You wouldn’t want Mama to have a hard time at work because of something you started, would you?” “I see… if that’s the case… alright.”

Using his smooth way with words, Daikichi convinced Sachiko and headed to the meeting spot with Sakurazaki.

Sakurazaki was waiting, fidgeting. When she saw Daikichi, she waved and jogged over.

“Daichan-senpai!”

Seeing Sakurazaki’s exposed cleavage, Sachiko mumbled something extra.

“Mama too, but when you run, big oppai really jiggle…”

Sachiko goofed around by mimicking a fondling gesture, and noticing that Daikichi had furrowed his brows, she turned away and whistled to cover it up.

“～～～～♪”

“Sachiko… I’m really worried…”

“I’ll handle it fine. Just leave it to me.”

Daikichi cast a doubtful look, wondering if she would really pull it off. But perhaps thanks to her growth spurt, she turned out to be even more capable than he had imagined, completely erasing his worries in the best possible way.

“Ah, um, Sachiko… good morning.”

When Sakurazaki, who still remembered Sachiko once calling her “oppai” and had pegged her as a “rude kid,” met Daikichi today, she had forced herself to come along to stay by his side—even though she still couldn’t shake her uneasy feelings. Her smile was clearly forced.

Meanwhile, Sachiko widened her eyes adorably, sucked on her index finger, and played the part of an innocent little girl.

“Good morning, Onee-chan.” “Eh… somehow the vibe is… Weren’t you the one who used to call me oppai…?” “Thank you for coming with Daikichi today.”

Sachiko bowed politely. Daikichi was taken aback by her demeanor, and Sakurazaki’s tense smile gradually melted into a natural one.

“Y-yeah, since you’re one of the kids Daikichi-senpai takes care of. There’s no way you’d call someone oppai, right? I was in a panic back then too, so maybe I misheard… Yeah. Nice to meet you, Sachiko-chan.”

Sakurazaki beamed and, noticing her hair had fallen over from bending forward, casually brushed it back behind her ear. Taking advantage of the brief moment when Sakurazaki’s gaze slipped away, Sachiko mumbled with a silly expression:

“Big oppai, after all… a baby wouldn’t have any trouble with oppai, huh…”

She was so adept at switching gears—good for getting by, no doubt—but it also made it clear that Daikichi’s hope for her to be raised properly was unlikely to come true.

Well, anyway.

Today, Sakurazaki was wearing a different outfit from the one she happened to wear the last time they met. At the zoo, she’d donned a fluffy blouse that made her look girlish, but today she was more subdued, sporting a peplum top with squeeze pants.

Daikichi felt relieved that Sakurazaki kept in mind that she was just there to accompany elementary-schooler Sachiko to the play.

There are plenty of adults who don’t consider TPO, and Daikichi could tell by watching the other parents once he arrived at the school. Most were dressed normally, but if you looked closely, some middle-aged women sported “landmine” outfits, and there were elderly men in stiff, bright red suits showing off gold watches… people who seemed to think that a day when children are the stars was actually a stage for their own fashion show.

In comparison, Daikichi—stylish in his simple “Sachiko selection” outfit—and Sakurazaki, dressed modestly like a young wife, looked like ideal parental figures even though they were just students.

――What a lovely couple… 

――Sachiko’s mom is Eleanor, and she’s not Japanese. And it’s probably a single-mother household, right? 

――I know the boy—the one who often picks up Sachiko from after-school care. 

――Got it! Let me deduce: Since Eleanor is a single mother and busy with work, she must have asked a relative or someone to take over. 

――That’s probably it! Goto‑san, the Great Detective. 

――Oh, you know? Lately, my kid has been obsessed with detective anime, and we watch it together. My mind is spinning like “gyurururururu” right now. 

――Ahahaha, Goto‑san is really hilarious.

And it wasn’t just the parents— the children were talking about it too. Sachiko, who had met up with her friends for the final preparations of the play, had heard them discussing Daikichi and Sakurazaki.