“Well then, thank you for joining me today. I’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, thank you as well. I look forward to hearing from you.”
The car had reached the Station Front, which was where I was set to get off.
He had offered to drive me all the way home, but I naturally declined. I couldn't risk Sara-san seeing me, not even by the slightest chance.
In the end, I decided to accept Satsukawa-san’s kindness. I didn't have much of a choice, but document filing would be easy on me physically. That meant it would be harder for Sara-san to notice any changes in my health condition, even though she was sharp enough to pick up on the slightest thing over the phone.
To be honest, I knew it would be difficult to get through this without her noticing anything at all, but I was prepared for her to be at least a little suspicious.
After saying my goodbyes to Satsukawa-san and stepping out, the car pulled away with a short honk of its horn.
I watched it until it was out of sight, then started the walk toward my house.
It felt like I’d been bewitched by a fox... I suppose that’s the only way to describe it.
I never imagined that the simple act of picking up that wallet would come back to help me like this.
What would have happened if I had simply asked for a reward back then?
Or rather, what if I hadn’t returned it at all and just kept it for myself?
The way things connect in this world is truly unpredictable.
But more than that, experiencing this connection made me reflect on something else.
Just how many coincidences—how many tiny events—had to align for Sara-san and me to meet? If even one piece of the puzzle had been missing, we might never have crossed paths. And even after meeting, if a single thing had gone differently, we might never have become lovers.
Sara-san once said that no matter what, we were destined to meet and be together.
Of course, I felt the same way, but this incident truly reinforced the idea. It made me feel, all over again, that our meeting was indeed fate.
“I’m home.”
“Welcome back, dear.”
Thanks to the opening in my schedule, I had made it home earlier than usual today.
I had been lucky enough to run into Takanashi-kun and even found the time to sit and talk with him; the timing had been a godsend.
“Oh? Did something happen?”
My wife was as sharp as ever.
It had been this way since we were young—she often noticed the things I couldn't find the words for or even the things I intended to keep to myself. I could hardly keep any secrets from her.
I wasn't sure if Sara took after her in that regard, but if she did, her future husband was in for a rough time... though a man like me would probably be just fine.
“On the way back from a meeting with a client, I ran into the high school student who found my subordinate’s wallet. We sat down for tea together.”
“Um... sorry, I don’t quite remember that story.”
“No, that’s fine. I hadn't properly thanked him yet, so I was trying to think of something I could do for him...”
I couldn't help but grin as I said it.
My wife looked even more puzzled.
“He seemed to be looking for a part-time job to buy something he wanted, so I offered to give him a monetary reward as a finder’s fee, or to just buy the item for him myself.”
“Oh, I bet he was thrilled, wasn't he?”
Normally, that’s what anyone would think.
It was a complete stroke of luck, and unless the item was astronomically expensive, there was no reason to refuse.
“Actually, he turned me down.”
I expected my wife to look surprised, but instead, a smile spread across her face. Oh?
“You don't have to look so puzzled. Since you're the one smiling, the reason must have been something good, right?”
I really was no match for my wife... or perhaps I just wore my heart on my sleeve too much.
“Yeah. Apparently, it’s the first present he’s ever bought for his lover, so he insisted on paying for it with money he earned himself.”
“...Oh my.”
“It seems his lover is a high school student as well, and she fusses over him quite a bit... She told him she does it because she wants to, so he shouldn't feel the need to thank her or hold back. Doesn't that sound like someone we know?”
When I said that, my wife looked away bashfully. At this point, it was obvious who I was talking about.
“Ever since those days, you were always looking after me at every turn. I always felt guilty about it, but you told me you wouldn't forgive me if I held back...”
“Oh, honestly! If you're going to bring that up, what about the time you insisted on buying me a present and worked a part-time job until you ended up getting injured? Do you have any idea how I felt back then...? Oh, I see. So that’s what this is about.”
She seemed to realize what I was thinking and nodded in understanding.
I doubted anyone could truly match my wife, but even so, there aren't many women who would say something so selfless.
That was precisely why I understood his desire to give a present bought with his own hard-earned money so well it hurt.
“Hee-hee. I know a girl who would do the exact same thing, but it’s nice to know there are still boys like that among high school students today.”
Ho?
So there were others like that.
“Personally, I’d like for Sara to have someone like that by her side.”
“Hmm, well, Sara’s developed quite a deep-seated man-hating streak. Breaking through that and getting into her good graces won’t be easy.”
Sara took after her mother, and even from my biased perspective as her parent, her looks were exceptional.
Because of that, she had been pursued by far too many men, which led her to grow particularly distasteful of boys her own age.
For my part, I didn't want any flashy brats getting near Sara anyway, so it worked out for the best...
“Oh? Judging by your tone, am I right to assume you wouldn't have a problem if it was a man Sara herself approved of?”
“Mm... Well, on the off chance that a man Sara could actually open her heart to appeared, it wouldn't be so bad to meet him.”
That said, it would likely be a monumental task to get close to Sara, given her personality.
To be honest, I couldn't even imagine Sara—who was somewhat strict even with me—getting along with a man.
“I see... I’ve certainly heard those words.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Wait.
Did I say something strange?
“A-Anyway, I want to support him too, so I’ve decided to hire him for some office document filing as a part-time job. I’ll be out of the office most of the time, so I’m sorry, but please teach him the ropes.”
Well, it happened to be a week when Sara wouldn't be around, so there shouldn't be any risk of them running into each other and causing trouble.
“Yeah. Apparently, it’s the first present he’s ever bought for his lover, so he insisted on paying for it with money he earned himself.”
Oh, he sounds like such a lovely boy.
I already thought he was a kind soul just for going out of his way to return that wallet.
“It seems his lover is a high school student as well, and she fusses over him quite a bit... She told him she does it because she wants to, so he shouldn't feel the need to thank her or hold back. Doesn't that sound like someone we know?”
...I see, so that’s what he wanted to say with that smug look on his face.
Honestly... I certainly remember saying things like that, but I can't believe he still remembers.
But if you're going to put it that way, Takanashi-san is a lot like you were back then.
He usually looks a bit unreliable, but his decisiveness at critical moments is quite surprising.
Even when he’s overthinking or worrying, he acts with Sara’s best interests as his top priority. He truly treasures her.
I’m sure Takanashi-san would be the type to insist on buying a present for Sara with money he earned himself. He has that romantic streak in him, just like you.
Sara is just like me, so it was probably inevitable for her to fall for a man like Takanashi-san. I suppose blood will tell.
“Mm... Well, on the off chance that a man Sara could actually open her heart to appeared, it wouldn't be so bad to meet him.”
Well, well, I certainly got him to commit to that.
When the time comes, I’ll definitely make sure he meets Takanashi-san.
“A-Anyway, I want to support him too, so I’ve decided to hire him for some office document filing as a part-time job. I’ll be out of the office most of the time, so I’m sorry, but please teach him the ropes.”
This man really is a softie.
Well, he’s not heartless enough to withhold help in a situation like this, and he’s clearly seeing a bit of his younger self in that boy.
I wonder what he's like... I’m actually quite looking forward to it now.