Morning.
I was waiting at the convenience store where we had agreed to meet when I heard an energetic young girl’s voice.
“Ahhh! It’s Big Brother!”
It was Mio-chan, whom I hadn’t seen in quite some time.
I caught her as she came running straight at me.
“Doooon!”
“Whoa! Mio-chan, it’s been a while.”
“Boo~ It’s because Onii-chan stopped coming!”
Ever since I started meeting up with Senpai and the others, my departure time had gotten a little earlier.
Mio-chan looked up at me and stretched both arms out, so I lifted her into my arms.
“Good morning, Takanashi-san. Has your schedule changed recently?”
It was Mio-chan’s mother.
“Good morning. Yes, it’s become a bit earlier. This is about my usual time now.”
“I see. I’m sorry, but I need to do some quick shopping at the convenience store… Mio, come here.”
“No! I’m waiting with Big Brother~!”
“Um, I still have some time. I’ll watch her, so please go ahead.”
Mio-chan started rubbing her cheek against mine, so I rubbed mine back.
“Kyahahaha!”
Mio-chan laughed, clearly overjoyed.
“Honestly… I’m so sorry, Takanashi-san. Thank you for looking after her.”
“Have a good one~!”
Mio-chan was in an especially good mood today.
“Good morning, Takanashi-san.”
“Good morning, Takanashi-kun.”
Hearing voices behind me, I turned around to find Sara-senpai and Natsumi-senpai. Both of them looked slightly surprised, but Sara-senpai quickly smiled warmly at Mio-chan.
That’s right—she had seen me with Mio-chan once before.
“Good morning to both of you.”
Mio-chan tilted her head curiously at the two girls.
Senpai smiled gently at her and said,
“Fufu… Good morning. My name is Satsukawa Sara. Could you tell me your name?”
With a kind expression, Senpai spoke softly to Mio-chan.
When Mio-chan glanced at me, I gave her a small nod. She immediately replied in a bright voice.
“I’m Sakashita Mio! I’m four years old!”
“Mio-chan? What a lovely name. You can call me Sara, okay?”
“Sara Onee-chan!”
“Yes! Let’s get along well.”
So even Senpai turns gentle around children, just as I thought.
“Sara Onee-chan, hug!”
“Yes, that’s fine. Takanashi-san, may I?”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
I carefully handed Mio-chan over. Sara-senpai took her and held her securely in her arms.
When I stroked Mio-chan’s head, she narrowed her eyes in pure bliss.
Senpai began gently patting Mio-chan’s back in a steady, rhythmic pon pon motion.
“…………………”
Just what exactly am I being forced to witness…?
Sara was holding the little girl with an incredibly tender smile, softly patting her back.
Takanashi-kun was smiling as he stroked the child’s head while she remained in Sara’s arms.
…………
This is still part of the school commuting route, you know. There are other students around… If any dangerous rumors start flying, don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Oh, but sending Tachibana-kun this video out of nowhere would probably get a hilarious reaction.
I’ll record a little bit (lol).
“My, my, I’m sorry… um…”
“Ah, Sara-senpai, this is Mio-chan’s mother.”
“I apologize for the sudden introduction. My name is Satsukawa Sara. I am on close terms with Takanashi-san.”
Hm? It wasn’t wrong, exactly, but the nuance was a little…
Mio-chan, now back on the ground, took her mother’s hand.
“Oh my! So you’re Takanashi-san’s… I see. Ah, I’m sorry for suddenly asking you to hold Mio when we’ve only just met.”
“Not at all. I’m the one who should apologize for intruding so suddenly.”
“No, no~ Thank you so much for playing with her. Still, to think Takanashi-san knows such a beautiful young lady…”
Ah, I had a feeling she was misunderstanding the situation.
“Takanashi-san is such a wonderful man. You really should hold onto him tightly.”
“...? Yes, I plan to continue getting along well with Takanashi-san…”
“Senpai, we’re running out of time! We should hurry.”
I could clear up the misunderstanding later. For now, it was best to get away from here.
I also noticed that Natsumi-senpai had been recording something on her smartphone. I would have to question her about that afterward.
“Ah, yes. Well then, please excuse us.”
“We’ll be heading to kindergarten as well. Goodbye.”
“Big Brother, Sara Onee-chan, bye-bye!”
Mio-chan waved her little hand adorably.
“Yes, goodbye.”
“Mio-chan, bye-bye.”
Both I and Sara-senpai waved back.
Phew. Next time we meet, I’ll have to properly clear up that misunderstanding, or things could spiral out of control…
“Shall we head to school then?”
“Yes, let’s.”
“By the way, Natsumi? Why were you standing so far back? You could have greeted Mio-chan too, couldn’t you?”
“No, no, I’m fine. I wouldn’t be so tactless as to intrude on you two.”
Intrude? We were just acting normally, though…?
The moment I stepped into the classroom, several people rushed over to me.
“Takanashi!! Is it true you were looking after a kid with Satsukawa-san?!”
“Huh!? No way!!”
“Ehhhh, that’s a huge deal!”
“A kid!? Did someone just say kid!?”
Ah… What a pain…
So that’s why Natsumi-senpai had been watching from over there like that.