Chapter 59: Mother, father and fried horse mackerel

Translator: Soafp

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Now, the weekend has arrived, and I’m about to meet the Gindou’s parents. Feeling a bit nervous, I brought manju as a gift and head to her apartment. It’s been a while since I came here.

When I arrive at her apartment, she is waiting at the entrance wearing a white dress. Her face looks pale. Is she okay?

“Good morning…”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes… my parents have already arrived… Are you sure about this?”

“It’s fine. Let’s go…”

“I’m sorry, it’s because of me…”

“It’s okay…”

We enter and take the elevator to the upper floor. By the way, her dress makes her look pure and somewhat seductive. Her neck and nape look enticing. The way she occasionally brushes her hair behind her ear is… seductive.

“Uhm, it’s embarrassing if you keep looking at me like that…”

“I’m sorry.”

I might have stared too much. It’s not good to stare too much. She points it out, blushing and fluttering her eyes.

“But, if you really want to see… me…”

As she begins to say something, the elevator stops, and the doors open. She interrupts her words, takes a deep breath, and walks straight ahead. I follow her, and we both stop in front of her room.

“I’m really sorry.”

“I’ve said it many times, but it’s fine. I suggested this, remember?”

“Izayoi, you’re truly kind. In comparison, I’m… so selfish…”

As she opens the door and enters the room, she mutters with self-disgust and quietly goes inside. In the entrance, two pairs of adult shoes are neatly lined up. They’re really here.

We walked through the hallway… Ah, this is where the lucky pervert incident happened before. But I shouldn’t be thinking about such things.

When I entered the living room, there were two people who deserved the name “Shiro”. One is young… a woman, young enough to be called an older sister. She is Gindou Mashiro , the mother of Gindou Kohaku. The other is Gindou Byakuya, a stern looking father who keeps his arms crossed and closes her eyes. No no, the atmosphere between the two of us is amazing.

It’s not that they are cold-hearted. Both of them exude a calmness that could be called the core of their being. Gindou Mashiro looks at me as if appraising, then gives a faint smile.

“M-Mother, Father, I have brought Izayoi-kun…”

“Nice to meet you, Kuroda Izayoi-san.”

“N-nice to meet you. This is a small and simple gift…”

“Ara, how thoughtful. But you don’t have to be so formal. Relax and make yourself at home, it’s your own house. You two are a lovey-dovey couple, aren’t you?”

“…”

I want to dispel the misunderstanding about being a couple as soon as possible, but the atmosphere of this couple only intensifies my fear. It’s impossible to think of it as my own house. Gindou Byakuya’s silent presence exerts immense pressure… and Mashiro’s smile is oddly terrifying. Even Gindou Kohaku seems frozen, unsure of what to do.

But I made a promise. First, I should inform them of the truth and apologize together.

“Uhm, about that… the thing is, she told a lie, more like a joke, to show off…”

“Kohaku-san, is it true that you lied?”

“A-Ah, I-I’m terribly sorry…”

“Well, Gindou-san is concerned about having told a lie, so I apologize as well. Please don’t be angry with me for showing my face.”

We still haven’t sat down, and the two of us continue the conversation in a cautious posture. Even though they are sitting in chairs, I feel as if they are looking down on me while I’m being looked up at.

Gindou Mashiro smiles as if understanding everything, without showing any anger.

“I’m not angry. And I knew about it.”

“”Eh?””

“It was clear the moment you entered this room. But Kohaku-san, I’m not impressed with your lies.”

“I-I’m sorry… I just…”

“Well, it’s fine. But more importantly, Izayoi-san, please have a seat. We appreciate what you have done.”

“You appreciate it?”

“Yes, I’ll make tea now, and then we can talk at ease.”

“Yes…”

Gindou Mashiro goes to the kitchen to make tea, while Gindou Byakuya remains motionless… It’s awkward. Well, it’s not like I’m good with words, so it doesn’t really matter…

“Izayoi-kun, you’re amazing.”

“Eh?”

“When others meet my father, they’re usually scared and more flustered… but you don’t seem to be affected much.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I think it’s impressive that you’re so composed.”

“…”

Gulp… While having a pleasant conversation with his daughter, Father suddenly glares at me!! It seems like he’s saying, “You better not mess with my daughter…”

Gindou Kohaku and I sit at the dining table, facing each other, while the Gindou couple sits across from us. The tea that Gindou Mashiro brewed has an elegant herbal flavor.

“Izayoi-san, I’ve heard everything from Kohaku-san. I apologize for the delayed gratitude. Thank you for doing various things for our daughter. Both a delinquent and a stalker are dangerous individuals. One wrong move, she might have lost her life. Thank you very much.”

“Let me express my gratitude as well.”

“You’re welcome. But I’m also indebted to her, so I don’t mind being her partner.”

“Is that so… Kohaku-san talks about you all the time on the phone.”

“M-Mother!?”

“Kohaku, be quiet.”

“Y-yesh.”

With a stern tone, her mother silences Gindou Kohaku. Is she angry about the lie?

“I believe you’ve heard it from our daughter, but she went through various difficulties during middle school. I thought it would take a long time for her to recover. However, after meeting you, she learned to trust people again, made friends, and even found someone of the opposite sex who caught her interest. As a couple, we feel that this is something to be happy about. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Beside me, Gindou Byakuya nods emphatically, their breath in sync as a couple.

“But at the same time, we also feel a sense of vulnerability. Like me, this child is capable of deep affection. That’s why if you were to leave, she would break. I know it’s impolite to say such things. It might even be unworthy of the help you’ve given us… but please, I’m begging you. Please support her. Stay by her side. That’s why we came here today to ask this of you.”

“I also request your support.”

“Mother, Father…”

To see adults bow their heads like this… They truly care about their child. It’s not just impressive, it’s cool. I can’t help but respect them.

And I have to respond to their request.

“I will do my best to the fullest extent.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“Izayoi-kun…”

“Uhm…”

As I try to speak, the three of them look at me with anxious eyes.

“Just one thing, I’d like to disagree with what Mama-sama said. The reason she made friends is because she worked hard herself. Gindou-san has a broad perspective and somehow reaches out to individual children, creating an environment where those who have trouble speaking up can express themselves, treating everyone equally. That’s why she was able to make friends.”

“Is that so… Hahaha, you truly are the person Kohaku-san described.”

“I’m grateful.”

“Izayoi-kun…”

Did I go a bit too rough? I thought I shouldn’t ignore the “somehow” part, so I ended up saying it… This feeling, it’s reminiscent of somewhere…

…I hope it doesn’t become like the Hihara family.

“May we hear more about your school life?”

“I’d like to hear too.”

“Sure. Well, in the physical education class the other day…”

After that, I talk about the interpersonal relationships at school in detail and share mundane classroom scenes… And before I know it, the clock has made a full round.

It’s about time to leave. I still have shopping to do, and the Gindou  family needs their privacy.

“Uhm, I think I should be going soon… So you can all enjoy your family time without any interruptions.”

“Izayoi-kun, please don’t worry about it. Let’s spend more time together.”

“Kohaku-san, it’s also a bother to keep him against his will.”

“That’s true… Well then…”

She lowers her head in disappointment. I stand up from my seat and head toward the entrance. Seeing them off as a family of three… They’re a considerate family.

“Alright then, thank you for the tea. Excuse me.”

“Izayoi-kun, see you again on Monday…”

“Yes, see you…”

“I’ll see him off outside.”

“Eh?”

“Well then, I’ll take care of it.”

“Umu.”

“T-then I will—“

“Kohaku-san, I still have to talk to you”

“Eeh!?”

For some reason, it seems that Gindou Byakuya will see me off outside. He closes the door, and the two of us walk together. This person has a sophisticated aura and is taller than me. He must be around 180 cm. He’s also handsome. Looks like good genes.

“I really appreciate your help.”

“A-Ah, it’s, it’s no problem.”

I was surprised when he suddenly spoke to me!! Why is he seeing me off? Is it to keep me away from his daughter? It feels like he’s getting too close.

“Kohaku and Mashiro resemble each other a lot. Especially in terms of their depth of love.”

“Is that so?”

What is he trying to say? The atmosphere becomes even heavier when we enter the elevator. I understand that he’s not good at expressing himself… Even if I know that, being alone with him…

“In the past, I was once held captive by Mashiro.”

“Hmmm?”

Hasn’t the topic suddenly changed? Weren’t we talking about the depth of love? And that was captivity?

“When Kohaku feels strongly about someone she loves, she may end up doing more than you can imagine. But I want you to face it sincerely without running away. That’s why I came to tell you.”

“I-I understand… Uhm, were there any other things that Mashiro-san did?”

“…Yeah. There was a time when she mistakenly thought I was cheating and stabbed me with a knife. And there were incidents involving sleeping pills, among others.”

I’ve never heard such behind-the-scenes stories before! Well, their personalities don’t match, so I guess it’ll be okay…

“I’m counting on you.”

“Y-Yes.”

I earnestly accept his request with a serious expression. I already agreed to it earlier, so it would be strange to refuse now.

In other words, he came here to emphasize his request… He’s a good father, truly.

But still, being held captive… Is it really okay? I can’t help but feel a lingering unease, but I pretended not to notice it.

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[Kohaku PoV]

“Aah, Izayoi-kun…”

“Kohaku-san, let’s talk for a moment.”

“Izayoi-kun…”

“Kohaku-san?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Let’s go back to the living room and have a conversation on the sofa.”

“Okay.”

Izayoi-kun has left. There’s a sense of emptiness, but I have to hurry back because I need to talk to Mother. Could it be that she’s angry about the lie…?

I sit next to Mother, wondering what she wants to talk about. The most likely scenario is being scolded on the sofa for lying…

“Kohaku-san, it was a very meaningful time. Thank you for making time for me.”

“N-No, I was happy that Mother and Father were thinking about me.”

“Well, that’s only natural as parents. Now, the topic will change, but you like him, don’t you?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I see… From the content of your usual phone conversations and from observing you today, it was immediately clear that your feelings for him are extraordinary. It felt like I was seeing my past self, and it was almost dangerous. That’s why there are a few things you should be aware of.”

“What are they?”

“Love that is excessively one-sided can lead to destruction. Kohaku-san, you resemble my personality a lot. When you find significant support and meet someone you love, you tend to direct an abnormal amount of love towards them. Not only that, but jealousy and envy as well. It becomes all about your own feelings, disregarding the other person, and can lead to excessive outcomes… Does any of this sound familiar? The feeling of not being able to be at ease unless everything goes your way. The feeling of insecurity.”

“…Yes…”

It makes me feel frustrated when Karen-senpai is with Izayoi-kun. I want to be the only one there. It triggers possessiveness in me.

“In the heat of the moment, there might be more things that come to mind if you think deeply. Understand? Think about the other person’s feelings. I’m not saying you shouldn’t express your own feelings at all. However, overly strong self-centered thoughts can hurt the other person… Like me…”

“Like Mother?”

“Yes… I digressed from the topic. Once, calm your feelings and try to think on your own. Look back and take your time.”

“Yes.”

“Even so, there may be times when your feelings run ahead. You’re human, and mistakes happen. At those times, you should sincerely apologize.”

Mother takes my hand and places her hand on my chest. She speaks gently as if advising me.

“What do you think?”

“I have caused trouble to Izayoi-kun so many times…”

“It’s okay. He seems like a person with a deep understanding, so he won’t make a big deal out of one mistake.”

“But still…”

“You’re still young, Kohaku-san. You don’t have to handle everything perfectly. Just keep accumulating experiences and grow step by step.”

Mother strokes my head. I really do like it when Mother strokes my head.

I’ve always prioritized myself… My own feelings… Even today, it’s because I don’t want to be scolded.

I need to think more about him… Otherwise, I won’t be able to get closer to him.

I understand. It won’t be easy to change so easily. But I’ll make an effort to change.

To get closer to him, to be by his side…