V4Ch1: Part 1

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Translator: Soafp

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The woman standing in front of my house—Eto Kanzaki-san.

Even though she claimed to be an acquaintance of my mother, and while lies could be easily told, it was hard not to believe her when she showed me old photos of her with my mother. Considering the time and that my mom would be home soon, I decided to let her into the house.

“So you know~ the moment Ane-san got a boyfriend, she became incredibly mellow. The woman who was once called the ‘Yasha Princess'! It was so shocking I thought I might die on the spot.”

Kanzaki-san spoke nostalgically about the past.

From what Seina-san had told me about the nickname “Yasha Princess,” it was clear that Kanzaki-san really was an acquaintance of my mother.

In fact, just from the nickname and the way she called my mom Ane-san, it was becoming clear what kind of relationship she had with my mother.

“Um… Kanzaki-san, were you perhaps my mom's underling?”

“That's right! Back then, Ane-san was as sharp as a freshly honed knife! She terrorized the local delinquents and groups left and right.”

“…Mom.”

“…Akemi-san… was quite something.”

Ayana and I were dumbfounded.

For Ayana, hearing about my mom's heroic stories, or even the nickname “Yasha Princess,” must have been a first.

(Even though this is probably something my mom considers a dark chapter in her life, having my girlfriend hear about it is incredibly embarrassing… even if it's not directly about me.)

Still… Kanzaki-san really was my mother's acquaintance, huh.

While my mom still looked quite young, Kanzaki-san appeared even younger. She could easily pass for a college student, with her dazzling blonde hair and ear piercings giving her a flashy, somewhat delinquent appearance.

“Oya, what's the matter? You're staring at me.”

“Oh, it's nothing.”

Unable to help staring, Kanzaki-san leaned in with a grin.

I was momentarily taken aback by the perfect blend of pressure and beauty in her face, but Ayana quickly intervened to shield me from Kanzaki-san… wait, Ayana!?

“Please keep your distance from my boyfriend.”

“Hmph?!”

Not just stepping in, Ayana actually pressed her hand against Kanzaki-san's face.

The sound she made was reminiscent of a pig, which might be rude to say, but Ayana, snorting, glared at her… apparently displeased with how close Kanzaki-san got to me.

“That's rather harsh… all of a sudden.”

“As I said earlier, keep away from my boyfriend.”

“Oya oyaa, could it be that you're worried I might steal him away?”

“Not at all. I just found it unpleasant. Besides, you're not exactly of an age to be tempting a high schooler, are you?”

“…Ayana-chan, was it? You've got quite a sharp tongue, don't you?”

I was quite impressed that Ayana could be this assertive with someone she just met, especially a woman who exuded a certain aura of intimidation.

Fortunately, Kanzaki-san didn't get angry at all. In fact, she seemed amused and impressed by Ayana's actions.

“You've got quite a presence. Despite being the same age as Towa-boy, you're something else.”

“Thank you.”

“……………”

I felt a bit left out.

Not that I was particularly lonely, but it was a strange sensation—Ayana and Kanzaki-san had just met today, yet they seemed to have a compatibility that suggested they had already spent considerable time together.

(…It’s strange.)

What kind of feeling is this…? Just then, my mother finally came home.

“I’m home~ Oh, Eto!?”

“I’m intruding, Ane-san!”

Despite my mother’s surprise, Kanzaki-san responded normally, and it seemed she really was an acquaintance without a doubt.

“Isn’t this a bit sudden, huh?”

“It’s a surprise tactic! Hey Ane-san, I’m starving, so I’d like some delicious food!”

“…Seriously. Well, it’s okay, but what about Towa?”

“I don’t mind.”

Well, if she’s really an acquaintance of my mother’s, I have no reason to refuse. At this rate, it seemed Kanzaki-san would be staying for dinner, so I decided to take Ayana home a bit earlier.

“Ayana, I’ll take you home now—”

“Akemi-san, may I join you for dinner?”

“Ayana too? Sure, no problem.”

“Thank you♪”

Without any opportunity for me to say anything, Ayana ended up joining for dinner as well. Ayana apologized softly, but if it meant spending more time with her, I didn’t mind at all, gently patting her head.

As Ayana narrowed her eyes like a cat, her cuteness made my heart flutter inwardly. Meanwhile, my mother and Kanzaki-san seemed to be whispering about something.

“Ane-san, Ane-san, I heard on the phone that Towa-boy is doing great!”

“I know, right? He’s handsome and kind, just like that person… He’s truly my proud son♪”

They’re talking in whispers… or so they think.

But… seeing my mother enjoying herself with someone other than Ayana and me is oddly rare. Recently, it’s been similar with Seina-san, but it feels like there’s a deeper bond there.

Well, the years my mother has known Kanzaki-san and Seina-san are different, so comparing them doesn’t really make sense, though.

“Alright! Then, shall we prepare dinner?”

“Akemi-san, I’ll help too.”

“It’s okay, Ayana-chan. Let me handle everything today.”

“…Alright.”

Ayana looked disappointed when her offer to help was declined, and both my mother and I couldn’t help but smile at Ayana’s demeanor.

Ayana likes to cook with my mother, so when she’s here during dinner time, she usually helps out… Ah, she looks so reluctantly okay with it.

“I was turned down…”

“Well well, my mom just wants to treat you, that’s all.”

“I’m happy about that, but… next time, I’ll definitely help out.”

Ayana’s eyes were burning with a fighting spirit, and it was clear she was determined to do so next time.

Thinking that far, I gently patted her head. Ayana let out a purring sound and snuggled up to me.

“By the way, for such a cute girl to be Towa-boy’s girlfriend… It’s not just a good match, but you really caught a good one, huh?”

I was about to say something to that effect, but before I could, Ayana, who had been as affectionate as a cat, cut in and boldly declared to Kanzaki-san.

“I’ve been caught from the very beginning, heart and soul! So there’s absolutely no room for anyone else to intervene!”

Perhaps not expecting such a strong declaration, Kanzaki-san looked bewildered, eyes wide open.

Ayana snapped back to reality and buried her face in my chest, muttering with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry… It’s just a little jealousy. I understand that Kanzaki-san is an old acquaintance of Akemi-san’s, but I don’t like seeing a woman who just met today getting along with Towa-kun… Haa, I have to fix this.”

“Is that so… But she’s around the same age as Mom, right, Kanzaki-san?”

“I mean, Towa-boy, are you trying to imply I’m old?”

“Not in that sense…”

“Hey, Towa? If that’s true, does it mean I’m old too?”

“Mom, please stop, it’s getting confusing.”

Am I surrounded by women who are particular about age…? Well, I guess I’m at fault for bringing up such associations. Talking about age and wrinkles with women is taboo; it’s written in the Chronicles of the Heart.

“There, there, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah… Hafuu♪”

I wonder what expression Ayana is making as she presses her face against my chest.

“That’s nice. Scenes like this truly make people around smile.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s hard for me to say that though, since I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Well, there’s not much I can say about that. But… after chatting with Kanzaki-san for a bit, both Ayana and I seem to have opened up quite a bit.

We’re kids and she’s an adult… there’s obviously a difference, but maybe it’s because she, like Mom, exudes some kind of reassuring presence or something similar.

“Do you have someone you’re interested in, Kanzaki-san?”

Though I felt it might be rude, when I asked, Kanzaki-san’s expression quickly turned lively and joyful.

“I actually prefer women over men.”

“…Eh?”

“…………”

I’m not one to deny same-sex love, and even if there were someone like that, I wouldn’t belittle them… But still, I was surprised when she suddenly came out like that.

I thought it was just a light joke! And wasn’t Ayana a bit harsh? She didn’t need to run away so fast…

“I’m sorry… I just…”

“…That genuinely apologetic reaction is kind of quietly hurting me.”

Although Kanzaki-san let out a heavy atmosphere with a sinking feeling, she didn’t seem to be genuinely upset.

Having spent such a lively time, it was finally time for dinner, the long-awaited moment.

Fried chicken, nikujaga, and even stew… They all looked so delicious. [TL: Nikujaga is meat and potatoes]

“Eh, it’s been a while since I ate Ane-san’s cooking… The smell itself exudes a scent of excellence!”

“I agree with Kanzaki-san.”

“Yes, indeed. Akemi-san’s cooking is really delicious.”

“Ara ara, you’re not going to get anything done if you praise me.”~”

“The best dishes are already here that you can tell before you eat.”

As I said that, Mom came in front of me and hugged me with all her might.

It seemed that my recent word was somewhat emotional to my mother, and even though Ayana and Kanzaki-san were there, it was embarrassing to let go.

After that, Mom kept it as she liked it for a while, and then the four of us surrounded the table and started eating dinner. Like with Seina-san, once two adults appear, the alcohol is going to come out, too.

“Puhaa~! The beer I drink with Ane-san is always the best!”

“Me too. I feel bad for Towa and Ayana-chan, but I can’t help but enjoy drinking!”

As we advanced with the meal, when the second can of beer was opened, this happened.

Even though it doesn’t seem to be completely ruled by the power of alcohol, we kids can’t keep up with the excitement of the two.

“Ayana, could you pass the soy sauce?”

“Yes, here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Therefore, I decided to temporarily ignore the drunken pair and focus on the cooking. However, if I left Mom and Kanzaki-san alone like this, they might just start feeling lonely and come bother me.

“Towa has really grown up well… He’s gotten so big, has a cute girlfriend, and always supports me… Everything is just wonderful!”

“H-Hey, Mom! You smell like alcohol…”

“Oh no! That’s so mean!”

W-what a pain!!

There was talk earlier about age and stuff, and since then, Mom seems to have become quite sensitive about smells. This is all because of the alcohol, and normally Mom smells nice… well, it’s awkward to say it like that.

“You’re not jealous, Mom?”

“I’m Towa-kun’s mother, so of course not. There’s no need for that.”

“But your pupils are dilated, though?”

“Did you say something?”

“Hii!? N-no, I didn’t say anything!”

I sighed internally, but I don’t really dislike this kind of lively atmosphere; in fact, it feels quite enjoyable. While I do want to spend quiet moments sometimes, when people gather like this, it’s lively… I was thinking such things when it happened.

[…Hey, Eto, am I really able to properly interact with Towa as a parent?]

[What are you talking about, Ane-san? Towa-boy’s smile is proof enough, isn’t it?]

[But what if that smile is fake? Since… since the accident, Towa has been… always…!!]

For an instant… truly just a moment, an unseen scene floated in my mind.

As if tormented by powerlessness, Mom was shedding tears, and Kanzaki-san seemed to be consoling her. And Kanzaki-san, who was looking at Mom like that, had an expression so frightening that it couldn’t be imagined from the woman I had met today.

“…?”

“Towa? What’s wrong?”

“…N-nothing.”

Because I was absentminded, it seemed to have worried Mom.

Even though just a while ago, I was in a state of astonishing drunkenness due to the power of alcohol, Mom’s face immediately changed to a gentle one as soon as she noticed that something was off with me.

“Towa-kun?”

“Towa-boy?”

It seemed to have caught the attention of Ayana and Kanzaki-san, who were watching me and Mom. Especially Ayana, who immediately came over to me and snuggled close.

I don’t intend to spoil such a fun time even a little, so somehow I managed to cover it up. I decided to forget what I had just seen for now.

There’s really nothing going on so it’s fine, and Kanzaki-san seemed to have picked up on my desire to change the atmosphere as she asked Ayana this question.

“By the way, Ayana-chan, did you have any rivals when you started dating Towa-kun?”

“Rivals…?”

In other words, this question is about whether there were any competitors trying to win my affection. Certainly, I… Towa Yukishiro am handsome, but there was no floating talk, and I was always with Ayana, so there was no specific girl other than her.

After thinking about it for a moment, Ayana smiled softly and answered.

“Rivals are mainly used to describe equal or competitive opponents, right? Regarding Towa-kun, there’s no one who can rival me.”

“Ooh… That’s quite confident.”

“On the contrary, I’m just confident. It’s true that back in elementary school and middle school, there were some idiots… some idiots who foolishly tried to express their feelings to Towa-kun even though I was right there, but there’s no way I could forgive them, there’s no one like that, there’s no one like that, not anywhere!”

Ayana… You managed to say it all at once very well.

I’m surprised to hear there were things like that going on without my knowledge. But well, I guess that’s how much you care about me… It doesn’t bother me or scare me, okay? I mean it.

“Well, for starters, Towa-kun is definitely handsome, so he gets attention. But since I’m always by his side, you know? I don’t know if there’s a term like ‘mistress’ for a woman, but no other girl can get close.”

“Oh… As expected.”

“As expected of you, Ayana-chan!”

From there on, it was Ayana’s stage.

Talking about how much she thinks about me, what she always thinks, Mom and Kanzaki-san got really excited listening to Ayana’s stories, and their drinking progressed even further.

As for me, I couldn’t really join in their conversation between women, blushing at the embarrassing topics about me, I quietly picked at the food Mom made for me.

“…The meat and potatoes are delicious.”

It’s not like I was neglected or anything… definitely not.