Chapter 14: Let’s go help Mom.

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Translator: Soafp

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Chaos is chaos, and chaos is, indeed, chaos.

(…What the hell am I even thinking?)

Well, putting aside my inner commentary—the situation I'm in right now is… kind of unusual. I'm honestly not sure what I should be doing.

(I randomly ran into Reina-san, and now I've bumped into Tokunaga, the guy who's been trending lately… And the way Tokunaga's looking at me—it's intense. Why does he look so shocked?)

Tokunaga's eyes darted back and forth between me and Reina-san. I'd never seen him look like that before.

From my perspective, Tokunaga was always the cool, composed type—handsome, confident, never arrogant, just… the perfect guy.

“Kamiki-kun?”

“…Reina-san.”

Reina-san stepped closer to Tokunaga. It seemed she still didn't know that Aizawa and Tokunaga had broken up.
If that's the case, his awkward attitude makes sense… but something about this feels off.

Still, it's not like I can do anything. And just walking away without saying a word would be weird, so… I'll just watch for now.

“Reina-san, what's your relationship with him?”

Apparently, staying a bystander wasn't an option.

“Kamiki-kun? I just happened to meet him by chance.”

“That's all?”

“Yes, that's right. But… maybe it would sound a bit lonely to call us ‘just acquaintances.' I do trust him quite a bit, after all.”

Reina-san turned toward me as she said that.

Her words should've made me happy, but Tokunaga's face only grew darker. The contrast between her gentle smile and his grim expression honestly made him a little scary.

(Still… she really trusts me that much because of what happened back then, huh?)

That thought made me happy—but the feeling didn't last long.

“I… broke up with Runa.”

Tokunaga's words carried a weight that seemed to silence everything around us.

I already knew, so I wasn't shocked, but Reina-san froze for a second, clearly taken aback.

“…I see.”

Her reply was short, but maybe that was because it really did hit her hard.

Tokunaga didn't say anything else. He just shot me a glare before turning his back and running off.

(…Well, that was anticlimactic.)

It might sound rude, but I was bracing for something more dramatic. Now that it's over, I just felt… drained.

“Kamiki-kun, did you know?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“I see. Well, after hearing how Runa's been lately, I kind of expected it.”

“Tokunaga… No, never mind.”

“Hmm?”

I almost said that Tokunaga might've fallen for Reina-san instead of Aizawa—but I kept my mouth shut.

“Sorry, that turned into kind of an awkward situation.”

“No, no, I'm totally fine.”

“…Fufu”

“Reina-san?”

I tilted my head when she suddenly laughed.

“I just remembered something from a long time ago—I once ran into my husband, who was my classmate back then, by coincidence. Someone who wasn't paying attention bumped into me from behind, and my husband caught me in his arms.”

“Heh…”

“Being held like that, and hearing his kind words… that was what made me start seeing him differently. That's why what happened with you today reminded me of that moment.”

“…!”

“Ara, are you blushing? How cute~”

No, it's not that! It's just—Reina-san smiling with the sunset behind her was way too beautiful!

(Hey, Tokunaga… You glared at me and all, and I've got things I could say about that, but honestly, I can't blame you. Spending time with someone like her… it's only natural to be drawn in.)

She had this mature calmness, this gentle warmth that just made you feel safe. It wasn't that Aizawa wasn't attractive—but if someone like Reina-san was nearby, falling for her would be understandable.

“By the way, did you ever have moments like that with Tokunaga?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes… I suppose we did talk like that sometimes, when he wanted advice about Runa.”

Ah. So that's it.

Not that he ever said anything—but my suspicion that Tokunaga might've liked her was probably just my imagination.

(Even if it was true… I still think he should've been more attentive to Aizawa.)

After that, I said goodbye to Reina-san and went home.

Even though nothing major happened, just watching that short exchange had drained me completely.

“I'm home~”

“Welcome back.”

Mom greeted me as soon as I walked in.

It wasn't like my talk with Reina-san had made me emotional, but before I knew it, I said this:

“Mom… thanks for everything.”

“…Huh?”

She looked surprised for a moment, then walked over and hugged me.

“Thank you too, Masato. You've grown up so much.”

“…………”

Family really is the best, huh. That's what I couldn't help but think on that Friday night— and then came Saturday, the day Mom was heading to her reunion.

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Saturday.

Mom left in the evening for her class reunion, and Dad brought home sushi for dinner.

“I'll go take a bath.”

“Got it~”

While Dad was in the bath, I killed time watching TV.

When I glanced at the clock, it was already 8:30. Mom said she'd call around this time at the latest.

Still, it's her first time seeing her old classmates in ages. If she's having fun, staying out a bit later would be fine—

But just as I thought that, Dad's phone on the table started vibrating.

“Mom?”

The screen showed her name. Since Dad was still in the bath, I picked up.

“Mom?”

“Ahh…? Masatooo?”

“Yeah… you sound really drunk.”

“Maybe I had a bit too much~ Where's Papa?”

Oh boy… the rare ‘Papa' mode only comes out when she's tipsy.

“He's in the bath. Should I come pick you up?”

“Can you tell him to—ah!”

There was a loud thud, followed by the sound of something rolling. I winced. She definitely dropped her phone.

But the next voice wasn't hers.

“Hello? Oh, are you her son? We're taking Nachi to the after-party, so no need to come yet, okay?”

“…Huh?”

“Yeah, maybe two hours later? Thanks, bye~”

“Wait—!”

The call ended abruptly.

“…After-party?”

That wouldn't normally be weird. But the fact that Mom hadn't said anything about it… felt off.

“No way…”

Then my own phone started vibrating.

The screen flashed bright red—the NetoraSensor was reacting.

The timing was too perfect. That vague unease in my chest solidified into a bad feeling.

“Masato? What's wrong?”

Dad came back into the living room, towel around his neck.

I shouted immediately.

“Dad! We need to go pick up Mom—now! I've got a really bad feeling!”

He didn't understand, of course. But he saw my face, and his expression turned serious.

“Got it. I'll get the car.”

“…Thanks.”

Even if this turned out to be a false alarm—I wouldn't regret acting on it. Because Mom mattered more than anything.

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[Nakozato Pov]

“Geez… you really didn't have to go this far for me.”

“Aww, come on~ It's fine!”

“…Haa.”

I patted Runa's head as she sighed tiredly.

Since she'd broken up with Tokunaga, we held a little “cheer-up party.”

Not that she really needed it, but still.

“You sure ate a lot though.”

“Ugh… because it was good!”

“Runa, you're so cute~!”

She blushed, and I hugged her tight.

Reina-san smiled at us warmly.

Yeah, guess I didn't have to worry—Runa really seemed okay.

“But still, I think this much is fine. You're my best friend, after all.”

“Rira… Thanks.”

“You're welcome~”

When I was going through a tough time, Runa stayed by my side.

So even if she said she was fine,

I wanted to be there for her too.

While hugging her, I casually gave her chest a little squeeze.

“So soft and squishy~”

“Touch your own, idiot.”

“But mine's not as fun to touch~”

We were messing around like that when—

“…Ah.”

That's when I saw him—Kamiki-kun, standing there with a sharp look on his face.

“Kamiki-kun?”

Runa noticed too, and our eyes followed him.

Of course, just looking wasn't enough. We both started to follow him.

“Ah…”

“…………”

And then, we saw it.

The scene burned itself into our minds—the moment we fell for his strength and kindness all over again.