Watching my mother stare at Senpai from behind as she prepared tea felt completely surreal.
“I’ll get the tea ready first.”
Senpai’s hands moved with complete confidence. To her, who knew exactly where everything in my house was—including the location of my clothes—this was only natural. I had long since stopped being surprised by it.
For my mother, however, seeing it for the first time was clearly shocking.
“Sara-senpai, let me help with—”
“No. I’ll take care of it. Please sit and talk with your mother, Takanashi-san.”
She turned me down without hesitation.
The truth was I had wanted to help precisely because talking to my mother felt awkward.
“…Am I dreaming right now…?”
My mother still seemed unable to process what she was seeing.
“Um… let me introduce her properly. This is Sara Satsukawa. She’s a second-year at my school and the Vice President of the Student Council. I should have said this sooner, but she’s been taking care of me in all sorts of ways. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say my entire school life only exists because of Sara-senpai.”
When I finished, Sara-senpai offered a gentle smile and gave a polite bow.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sara Satsukawa. Thank you very much for having me, Mother. I am also the one who has been receiving Kazunari-san’s kindness.”
She seemed slightly nervous. Her movements and speech were even more polite and refined than usual.
I felt genuinely sorry for suddenly forcing her to meet my mother without any warning or preparation. I would have to apologize to her properly later.
“No, no, the pleasure is all mine. To be honest, I was quite shocked. I never imagined my Kazunari would have a girlfriend… and certainly not one as adorable as you. If that person found out, she might just faint on the spot.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. The fact that someone like Sara-senpai was willing to stay by my side already felt like I had used up a lifetime’s worth of luck.
“Oh, I’m really not…”
“No, no, I… um, would it be all right if I called you Sara-chan?”
“Yes, I would be delighted.”
The moment Senpai smiled happily at those words, my mother froze again.
“Sigh… So a girl this cute really exists. She puts idols to shame. So tell me, Sara-chan, just how much has this boy been relying on you? I’m sure you’ve been cleaning the house for him too, haven’t you? I want to thank you properly, so don’t hold anything back.”
…It looked like I had no choice but to explain everything.
It was going to come out eventually anyway, and having my mother thank her didn’t seem like a bad idea.
I gave her a careful summary of what had happened so far—the bento, the current situation—while leaving out the more embarrassing details.
“Sigh… This is beyond simple ‘taking care.’ I’m so sorry, Sara-chan. Our foolish son has caused you so much trouble.”
Mom let out a heavy sigh and bowed her head to Sara-senpai. Even I was well aware of how much I had been depending on her.
“Not at all. These are all things I wanted to do for Kazunari-san… In fact, I’m happy that he has let me do them.”
Seeing Senpai’s unwavering smile, Mom realized she was speaking from the heart. Overcome with emotion, she suddenly pulled Sara-senpai into a tight hug.
“I’ve never met such a wonderful girl! So cute and with such a lovely personality! Sara-chan, our son is a handful, but please don’t give up on him!”
“Thank you very much. Hearing you say that makes me very happy too.”
Sara-senpai accepted Mom’s warm embrace without any resistance. If the two of them could get along, that was enough for me.
Still hugging Sara-senpai, Mom turned to look at me.
“Kazunari! A chance to meet a wonderful young lady like this will never come again for someone like you! You’d better treat her right so she doesn’t get fed up with you!”
“I know that without you telling me! Sara-senpai is the only one for me.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Sara-senpai gently slipped free of Mom’s arms and came over to me.
She leaned against me, nestling close.
“I’m so happy… For me as well, there is only Takanashi-san…”
Our eyes met as she looked up at me, and for a moment we simply gazed at each other.
“…I can’t believe I’m watching my own son flirt right in front of me.”
Her murmur snapped me back to reality. I had completely forgotten my mother was standing there.
“Adding this makes it the Takanashi Family Version.”
“I never would have thought of that. I’ll try making it next time.”
I never imagined I would see the day when Sara-senpai stood beside my mother, the two of them cooking together.
They seemed to be having a wonderful time chatting as they worked.
“Kazunari-san… never taught me this…”
“That boy only knows how to eat, so he never bothered learning. By the way, if calling him ‘Takanashi-san’ feels too stiff, why don’t you just start using his first name?”
“…Um… well…”
“Kazunari, come here for a second.”
She had spent the last several minutes telling me not to get in the way, so I briefly considered sulking and refusing.
“Um, Takanashi-san.”
“Yes, Sara-senpai?”
Of course, if Sara-senpai was the one calling me, that changed everything.
“…Why don’t you come when I call you? Never mind. If Sara-chan says she wants to call you by your first name, what would you think?”
There was no need to even think about it, but why was she bringing this up?
When I glanced at Sara-senpai, she was fidgeting shyly… Damn, that was cute.
“…What are you staring at? Yes, yes, I get it. Just answer the question.”
“Of course I’d be happy. It makes it feel like we’re special to each other.”
“Special to each other… Understood! Then please take care of me from now on, Kazunari-san.”
Good… Really good.
Just this once, I had to admit it—nice one, Mom.