At that moment, Mayumi-san was on a roll, speaking with such fervor it was as if she had taken center stage just to heap praise upon me. As for how things had even reached this point…
"Is Kazunari being a nuisance to you?"
It had all started with that one question from Mom.
From there, Mayumi-san had launched into a verbal whirlwind, and with Sara-san jumping in to support her, the momentum had become unstoppable. Mom knew nothing about my part-time jobs—mostly because I hadn't told her—and Sara-san, who had been away on her school trip at the time, didn't know the full details either. That seemed to be exactly why Mayumi-san was so motivated to explain.
"It was obvious that working multiple jobs was exhausting him, yet he never cut corners; he was so diligent. He looked like he was in physical pain, and he even had an injury on his hand… and yet, he worked so desperately because he wanted Sara-chan to be happy. It was just so sweet, so touching..."
Mayumi-san continued her passionate speech about me, squirming and fidgeting as if she were the one overcome with emotion. I couldn't quite figure out why she was acting that way, but I could tell she was genuinely trying to praise me.
"Heh... I never knew Kazunari had that kind of dependability in him."
"Mother-in-law, Kazunari-san is a man of firm convictions. I have seen that side of him many times, and each time, I fall in love with him all over again..."
Sara-san had been leaning in, hanging on every word about my part-time jobs, and it seemed to have left her in a state of high emotional arousal.
"Well, as a parent, it makes me happy to hear you say that. But in reality, he’s completely pampered by you, Sara-chan."
"No, personally, I believe that is perfectly fine. Kazunari-san never fails to show me how dependable he is as a man when it truly counts. That is why I want him to feel free to act as spoiled as he likes with me during our daily lives. Besides..."
"Besides?"
"When Kazunari-san acts spoiled, he is truly adorable… and it makes me so happy..."
Sara-san looked directly into my eyes as she said that, a blissful smile on her slightly flushed face.
I was happy to hear how she felt, and being praised by Mayumi-san was certainly a plus. But after being showered with compliments all day and then having the person I loved most gaze at me like that, no man alive could have avoided feeling embarrassed.
"Kazunari-san, your face is bright red."
"I mean, after all this, I think anyone's would be..."
"Fufu... You're so cute♪"
Sara-san—and Mayumi-san—often called me cute, but to be honest, it was a bit of a mixed bag to be called that as a man. Still, somewhere deep down, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of happiness.
"Come to think of it... Kazunari-kun, what happened to that injury of yours?"
Mayumi-san asked, as if the thought had suddenly surfaced. She looked concernedly at my right hand. The scars were still clearly visible, though I didn't feel any pain anymore. The skin had simply hardened; it was essentially healed.
I didn't know if they would ever fully disappear, but to me, they were like a badge of honor—the mark of the first time I had ever truly worked for Sara-san's sake. Even if they stayed for the rest of my life, I wouldn't mind at all.
"It’s fine, really. It doesn't hurt a bit."
"Kazunari-san, could you show me your right hand?"
As she spoke, Sara-san gently enveloped my right hand with both of hers as it sat on the table. She pulled it toward her for a better look and softly pried open my lightly clenched fingers. Tracing the marks slowly with her fingertips, she began to check the condition of the skin.
It actually tickled a little.
"Sara-chan, how is it?"
"I think it has healed quite a bit. However, the scars are still very prominent..."
Ever since that day, Sara-san had tended to my right hand almost every morning. She wouldn't stop even when I insisted I was fine, only finally relaxing once she had confirmed that the injury didn't hinder anything I did. Seeing them again now must have brought back the emotions she felt during that time.
"Sara-san, like I said before, these scars are..."
"Yes, I know. I would never be so tactless as to feel poorly about Kazunari-san's precious pride. It is just... I find these scars dear to me as well. They are proof of how much you cared for me..."
Sara-san truly understood my heart. My worry that she was bothered by the scars was apparently a misunderstanding.
As if cherishing them, as if offering a prayer, she stroked the scars repeatedly before bringing her face close to my hand.
Chu...
As I watched, she pressed a gentle kiss against the scars. The sensation on my palm was so ticklish I instinctively flinched. Sara-san smiled at my reaction, but she didn't seem ready to stop.
Chu...
Chu...
Twice, three times, she repeated the affectionate kisses, slowly shifting the position each time.
I was happy, but between the embarrassment and the tickling sensation, I was reaching my limit.
"Sa—Sara-san!"
"...Is it ticklish?"
"Eh? Yes... a little. Also, you know..."
"Fufu... then, just one last time..."
Chu...
I felt the soft, warm pressure against my palm. Perhaps because it was the last one, this kiss lasted longer than the others. When she finally pulled away, her eyes held a lingering, almost wistful expression that made my heart race uncontrollably.
...What was I supposed to do with my right hand now?
"My apologies. While I was looking at the scars... I just couldn't help myself."
Sara-san gazed into my eyes with a slightly bashful look, though she didn't stop touching my right hand. She continued to trace it with her fingers and poke at it playfully... she almost seemed to be treating it like a toy.
"……Ah… eeh."
"…Na… na…"
"…………"
"…Hieee…"
"…What… what was that just now…"
"…Wait…"
"M-Mayumi-san… I heard stories from the other students in the Student Council Room, but are these two always like this?"
"Nfufu~, yes, pretty much. I wonder who she takes after; Sara-chan is quite aggressive, isn't she? Even I’m surprised."
Despite her words, Mayumi-san didn't look surprised at all. She was clearly enjoying the spectacle, watching us with a broad grin.
In stark contrast to Mayumi-san, Mom looked like she couldn't process what had just happened in front of her. She was staring at us, her mouth hanging open in complete shock.
"Sorry to keep you waiting~"
The arrival of our food finally put a temporary halt to the conversation. To be honest, it was a lifesaver. I had been praised so much that I was starting to lose track of how to respond, and I desperately wanted things to return to a more moderate level.
Once the meal began, the atmosphere shifted to harmless small talk and updates on recent events. Both Sara-san and I joined in when appropriate, and we were able to enjoy our food in a peaceful, harmonious setting.
And then…
Our parents launched into another round of talking about their children, so I decided to tune them out and focus on the cake in front of me.
Sara-san was doing the same, carefully cutting her own cake into bite-sized pieces.
I hadn't intended anything by it, but as I happened to be watching her, Sara-san suddenly looked up and our eyes met perfectly. She looked at me blankly for a second, then immediately broke into a soft smile and held her fork out toward me.
"Here, Kazunari-san. Say 'ahhh.'"
Chomp…
Yeah, that's good.
"““ !!!!???? ””"
?
For a second, I felt like the entire cafe had suddenly grown noisy?
Regardless, I hadn't been looking at Sara-san because I wanted her cake, but I had clearly given her the wrong impression. Sara-san looked delighted as she watched me eat, but I felt bad for reducing her portion.
I'd have to make sure she had some of my cake later.
"Fufu... stay still, please."
As I swallowed, Sara-san took a paper napkin and began to gently wipe around my mouth. Had I gotten some of the cream on me? She brought her face very close, wiping with meticulous care.
"…Guooooh."
"…N-n-n-n…"
"………."
"…Ahhh… after that kiss earlier, Satsukawa-san is definitely the real deal."
"…She looks so happy just taking care of him…"
"…The guys over at that table have all completely slumped over…"
"Sara-san… um…"
"Ah, you must not move yet."
I thought she had wiped enough, but apparently there was still more. Was it just the cake, or was there something left over from the meal too?
"You... you really are a handful. Just how much are you going to make Sara-chan do for you?"
Mom was supposed to be focused on her talk with Mayumi-san, but she had apparently been keeping an eye on us. She scowled and glared at me with an exhausted sigh.
"No, I didn't mean to—"
"Kazunari-san, ah-ah."
I had reflexively started to move when Mom spoke, but Sara-san immediately gave me a playful scolding to stay still.
"S-sorry..."
"Fufu... it's almost finished, so be a good boy for just a little longer♪"
I felt piercing glares directed at me not just from Mom and Mayumi-san, but from the surrounding tables as well. Honestly, I was mortified, but Sara-san didn't seem to care at all, looking as cheerful as ever.
"There, all done."
"I'm sorry, Sara-chan. My son is such a burden to you..."
"Mother-in-law, this is one of my greatest pleasures, so I do not consider it a burden at all. Please, leave everything regarding Kazunari-san’s care to me."
"Hah... You, make sure you treasure Sara-chan properly."
"I don't need you to tell me that."
"It’s quite alright, Fuyumi-san. Kazunari-kun treasures Sara-chan very much already. Right, Kazunari-kun?"
"H-huh? Yes."
I felt like there was a specific weight behind Mayumi-san's use of the word "treasure," but...
Treasuring Sara-san was something so obvious it went without saying. It was my absolute priority, a resolve I would never let myself forget.
"Well then, shall we get to the main topic?"
As the meal and the casual talk reached a natural end, Mayumi-san's expression tightened. Her lighthearted demeanor vanished as she shifted into a serious mode. It was time to talk about the engagement.
"Regarding the specifics, my husband will speak with you formally at our introductory meeting... but first, looking toward the future, we would very much like to welcome Kazunari-kun into our family as our adopted son."
"Yes. I heard about that the other day. I was told there are certain circumstances."
"Indeed. There are matters involving our company as well, so we will explain everything when we all meet officially. It is a rather involved story..."
"I see. Then I'll wait to hear the details then. Regardless, my husband and I have already talked it over and decided to leave the choice to Kazunari. It's his life, so if he’s decided on this, we won't stand in his way. To be honest, I think Sara-chan is far too good for my foolish son, but as his parent, I have nothing but gratitude for this."
Given the weight of the topic, Mom had dropped her usual casual air and was speaking to Mayumi-san with genuine sincerity. It was a rare sight, even for me.
"Thank you very much. Then, may we consider this matter officially accepted on an informal basis?"
"Yes. We have no objections on our end. He can be a bit of a handful, but we look forward to your kindness."
With that statement from Mom, it was official—our engagement was formally recognized by both families.
"Fiancé"... I had looked it up online, and it mostly seemed to be a verbal promise between two people since there were no legal documents to file.
Even so, there were physical symbols of such a promise. What I could afford to prepare now wouldn't be much, but I hoped it would serve as an amulet for Sara-san. Now that things were certain, I wanted to get something for her no matter what. I could always get her something proper again in the future.
Now, all that was left was to follow through with my plan at the Miss Contest…
"My apologies, I would like to say a few words as well. But before that, may I move my seat to be next to Kazunari-san?"
Sara-san had been listening intently to the parents, but now she requested to move. Sensing the gravity in Sara-san's request, Mayumi-san didn't tease her and quietly agreed to switch places.
Once Sara-san was sitting to my right, with Mom and Mayumi-san across from us, she looked Mom straight in the eye and bowed deeply.
"Mother-in-law, thank you from the bottom of my heart for recognizing me as Kazunari-san's fiancé. While I will offer my formal greetings when my father-in-law is present, I wanted to express my gratitude now. Both now and in the future, as the one who will one day become Kazunari-san's wife..."
"““ Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!! ””"
"...I will devote myself to becoming a woman you will not be ashamed of. I look forward to your continued kindness."
If we had been in a traditional setting, she probably would have been sitting in the formal seiza position with her head to the floor. The sincerity and solemnity radiating from Sara-san right now were palpable.
"…Wife!!!!???"
"…Ma… marriage… she means marriage, right…"
"…Hey, can we even talk about this at school… This sounds like a huge deal…"
"…Maybe… the guys who were here just now already left because they were in shock."
"Ahaha, Sara-chan, you really are serious. I never thought the day would come when I’d hear someone say those words to me. Once again, I look forward to having you in the family."
"Yes! I look forward to it... Mother-in-law."
Her greeting finished, Sara-san finally let her shoulders relax. When I stroked her head in a silent "well done," she happily linked her arm with mine and leaned her weight against me.
With this, every objective for today’s meeting had been achieved. We had the permission of our parents, and Sara-san had successfully finished her introduction.
Now, it was my turn to step up.
Regarding my future, I would keep my promise to Masaomi-san. In my private life, I would keep my promise to Mayumi-san.
And when I had accomplished everything, Sara-san and I would move on to the next step.
But first... the Miss Contest.
For Sara-san’s sake.