"Welcome home, you two~"
Mayumi-san greeted us as soon as Sara-san opened the front door. She was wearing an apron and seemed to be in the middle of preparing dinner, as a wonderful aroma drifted through the house. Being welcomed like this made me feel as if I’d truly returned to my own family home, which made me feel a bit warm inside.
"I'm home."
"I'm home, Mother-in-law... ah."
I surprised myself. The word "Mother-in-law" had slipped out quite naturally. It wasn't exactly a problem, but it was still a little embarrassing.
"Nfufu~ Mother-in-law is so happy!"
Looking at my face, Mayumi-san beamed with a brilliant smile. If Sara-san hadn't been blocking the way in front of me, there was a high probability that Mayumi-san would have snatched me up and smothered me right then and there. Her hands were definitely twitching in a suspicious way... though I suppose that just showed how happy she was.
"Well, welcome home again. I’ve already prepared the tea, so both of you go sit on the sofa and wait."
"A-Ah, thank you very much."
"I'll help, too."
"It's fine, Sara-chan. You go sit down. If you don't, Kazunari-kun will be all alone, right? Or perhaps... I should be the one to stay alone with him—"
"We'll wait together, so please just go finish the preparations."
"Yes, yes. Well then, Kazunari-kun, please wait just a little longer."
"Y-Yes."
Mayumi-san laughed happily and retreated further into the house, the sound of her slippers pitter-pattering away. Sara-san and I followed her toward the living room and sat side-by-side on the sofa as we always did.
"Good work today, Kazunari-san."
"No, if anyone deserves a 'good work,' it's you, Sara-san. A lot happened this morning, and I caused you so much trouble..."
"No-no."
Making an expression as if to say, "I'm angry," Sara-san lightly poked my forehead. I knew she was just playing, but that didn't change the fact that I’d slipped up. I had let my bad habit of apologizing unnecessarily surface again.
"You are not responsible for what happened this morning at all, Kazunari-san. Furthermore, when it comes to you, there is nothing I would ever consider a bother. So, to say you caused me trouble is..."
"You're right, I misspoke. Thank you, Sara-san."
"Yes, good boy♪"
When I corrected myself, Sara-san smiled happily and gently stroked the spot she had poked. Still, I really need to do something about that habit.
"For the record, I will gladly accept any 'trouble' you care to give me. So please, don't hesitate."
Sara-san said it quite lightly, but considering our daily life, I knew she wasn't joking. In fact, she likely meant it from the bottom of her heart. But that was exactly why I couldn't afford to cause her unnecessary grief. Besides, if our positions were reversed, I’d probably feel the exact same way.
"Thank you... Sara-san."
The only thing I should say here was a heartfelt thank you. I decided not to worry about the small things and simply convey my gratitude for her feelings.
"Yes♪ ...Mnh."
Chu...
Sara-san leaned into me and gave me a light kiss on the cheek. My feelings seemed to have reached her, as she looked incredibly pleased. She continued to gaze steadily into my eyes, and I looked back into hers...
"Oh, honestly... Sara-chan... if you're always flirting like that, Kazunari-kun is going to melt."
"I don't know what you mean by 'melting,' but when it comes to my love for Kazunari-san, I have no limits."
As if it were the most obvious thing in the world, Sara-san stated it flatly. Since I felt the exact same way, it didn't seem strange to me at all.
"Oh dear... Kazunari-kun is thinking the same thing, I see. Well, I suppose that means you're a perfect match. Nfufu, isn't that wonderful, Sara-chan?"
"It feels a bit complicated being told 'isn't that wonderful' by Mother. Our meeting was destiny, and it was inevitable that we would end up together."
"Howah... you'd go that far... wait, Sara-chan, that's cruel! Why is it 'complicated' coming from me!?"
"Well... why don't you ask your own heart?"
"Sob, sob... Kazunari-kun, will you ask Mother-in-law's heart for me?"
Hey, why are you looking at me!? And why are you faking tears while emphasizing "that" part of your chest—which is very large? This was bad!
I felt a sense of danger and tried to avert my eyes, but before I could, a hand reached out from the side and grabbed my head.
Soft...
I was pulled in, diving straight into Sara-san's soft embrace—a place that was effectively heaven. My entire field of vision was blocked.
"There is no need for that. Kazunari-san's place is right here."
"Wait, Sara-chan, if you're that forceful, won't Kazunari-kun have a hard time?"
"I am adjusting my strength properly. Besides... Kazunari-san is very happy when I do this for him. Right, Kazunari-kun?"
I simply nodded in affirmation. As usual, the line was a bit blurry on whether this could be called a "hug," but for Sara-san, this was a perfectly natural way to hold me. Therefore, it was a hug! No matter what anyone said, it was a hug!
And the fact that I was happy was undeniable, so I honestly admitted it to myself. Being held by Sara-san like this was pure bliss.
"Fufu... good boy. Come closer."
Sara-san hugged me with all her might, pulling my upper body into her. I ended up in a position where her softness was being pressed against me with full force.
"Kazunari-san, I'll do this for you anytime. If you hesitate... that’s a 'no-no,' okay?"
She whispered in a surprisingly sweet voice that made my heart pound. I was... I was... happy, but it was also so overwhelming it was almost painful!
Click...
"I'm home~. I just got back. Are those two already—...w-what are... you doing, exactly?"
Oh, good grief. To think Masaomi-san would come home at this exact moment. I didn't want to look up to see his expression, but I could easily imagine it. I was too afraid to leave the safety of my current position. God is so mean...
"Um... well, welcome home."
"Y-Yeah. Welcome, Kazunari-kun..."
The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. Masaomi-san was clearly bewildered. I suppose I should consider it a blessing that he wasn't actually angry.
"Well, how should I put it... I think it's a very joyful thing that you two get along so well. But perhaps, a little more moderation..."
"Darling, please stop saying that to Kazunari-kun. Don't you realize how much moderation he has maintained until now?"
"Guh... t-that may be true, but..."
I didn't really want to think about it, but I understood what Mayumi-san was getting at. From her perspective, since I was maintaining "moderation" by not crossing the final line, she was telling Masaomi-san to permit and overlook this much. Masaomi-san's defeated reaction suggested he understood that too. Still, as a father, it must be hard for him.
"In any case, it is my will to hold Kazunari-san. If he said he disliked it, I would exercise self-restraint, but I see no reason to be stopped by Father."
"S-Sara!?"
As a finishing blow, Sara-san stated her stance flatly, and Masaomi-san hung his head with an expression of total shock. Ugh, Masaomi-san, I'm sorry.
Sara-san went to the kitchen to help Mayumi-san, leaving me and Masaomi-san to chat while relaxing over tea. I liked talking with him, so I always looked forward to this time.
"Heh, so there's a project like that... wait, come to think of it, I saw something like that in the materials I organized the other day. I believe it was the Second Planning Department..."
"Oh, that's right. You remember it well, don't you?"
"Yes, a photo of a prototype happened to catch my eye, and it looked interesting."
"Yes, yes, so you think that looks interesting too, Kazunari-kun? Actually, I was thinking of giving it a push at the next meeting."
"Yes! Functionality and price are important, of course, but I really liked how that sense of playfulness was fully on display. It totally hit my personal sweet spot... oh, s-sorry, I shouldn't have spoken so presumptuously..."
Crap. I was so happy that Masaomi-san was listening to me that I’d accidentally spoken like an expert. I’d been way too familiar while talking about his company and work.
"Hahaha, presumptuous? Not at all. On the contrary, it's a valuable opinion. And besides..."
"...And besides?"
"...Having someone listen to me talk about my work at home is a first for me. It's... haha, it's unexpectedly pleasant."
Masaomi-san laughed a bit shyly. I’d heard before that Sara-san had always kept a bit of distance from him, so he likely never had these kinds of conversations about work with her.
"But I've never had this kind of talk with my Dad either. I've never voiced my opinions like this before."
"Is that so? For some reason, I thought this might be what it's like to have a son."
"I wonder... at the very least, I've never experienced this."
"I see. Perhaps it's because you're a son-in-law? Regardless, it makes me very happy."
"Y-Yes. I'm also happy to be able to talk with you like this, Masaomi-san."
Perhaps because we weren't biological father and son, we had a unique sense of distance that allowed for this kind of relationship.
"Hmm... seeing how this is going, I'm looking forward to when you're old enough to drink alcohol with me."
"Come to think of it, do you not drink at home, Masaomi-san?"
"Yeah. I go out for drinks, but I make it a rule not to at home. If I get drunk... Sara gets angry with me."
"Ah..."
I couldn't imagine Masaomi-san getting rowdy, but I could vividly imagine Sara-san giving him a lecture. I suppose it was only natural for him to restrain himself.
"But if you were drinking with me, maybe Sara wouldn't get so angry. Oh, but I'm not saying I want to drink with you just for that reason. I just want to have a drink with you normally."
"Haha, I know. But we might both end up getting scolded..."
If it came to that, I had a feeling Sara-san would still save the sharpest part of the lecture for Masaomi-san alone.
"I wonder. Sara seems like she would forgive anything you did."
"But even I get warned if I do something wrong, you know?"
In fact, she’d just given me a "no-no" earlier. Sara-san didn't affirm me unconditionally, which was actually quite helpful.
"I see. Well, in my case, I'd probably get scolded by Mayumi as well. Truly, Mayumi thinks the world of you... ah, that's right. I wanted to thank you for the brooch."
"Ah, no, that really wasn't anything special. You're always taking care of me, so it was just a small token of my gratitude..."
"No, no, Mayumi's joy was truly incredible. She kept showing it off to me over and over... it's been a long time since I've seen her look that happy."
"Is that so? If she's that happy, then I'm glad."
So Mayumi-san really was that pleased. She’d been thrilled when I gave it to her, but hearing that she was still excited at home made me happy. Now, if only Masaomi-san would like his... wait, isn't right now the perfect time?
"Um, Masaomi-san."
I reached into my bag, pulled out a small package, and gently offered it to him. Masaomi-san wore the same blank expression Mayumi-san had when I first gave her hers, looking as if he didn't quite understand what was happening.
"Sorry, I actually intended to give it to you and Mayumi-san together, but I ended up being a bit late."
"Eh? E-Eh... so, this is... for me, too?"
"Yes. Honestly, it's really nothing special."
Masaomi-san looked surprised and confused, his hand hovering toward the gift before hesitating. I decided to be more direct.
"Masaomi-san, thank you for everything. It's a trivial thing, but please accept it."
When I said it clearly, Masaomi-san finally found the resolve to take it. He timidly reached out, but once he held it, he seemed to freeze again, unsure of what to do next.
"Um, if you'd like, please open it."
"I-Is it okay?"
"Yes."
He stared at the gift for a moment before carefully removing the wrapping paper. His struggle with the tape was almost cute, but he eventually got it open. When he saw the brooch inside, his eyes widened.
"I chose a kit intended for men for this one..."
Masaomi-san's brooch featured a small crown ornament and a bird-shaped pin connected by a chain. It was a set-in type, so it had actually been easier to make than the women's version, but the final result looked quite professional.
"……………"
"Um, Masaomi-san?"
He was completely frozen. He hadn't shown any reaction at all since opening it.
"Kazunari-kun..."
"Y-Yes."
"No, sorry. It's just... other than gifts from Sara, I can hardly think of a time I've felt this happy."
It seemed he was so touched that he didn't have the emotional leeway to react immediately. Honestly, I hadn't expected him to be that pleased, so I was surprised too.
"I apologize for showing you such an unsightly side. But... haha, I'm happy. I never even imagined you would prepare something for me as well. And receiving a present like this... yeah, now I can understand why Mayumi was so elated. It really is a wonderful feeling."
As the reality sank in, Masaomi-san smiled truly happily. He held the brooch against his top, checking the position repeatedly to see how it would look.
"Haha... how is it? Does it suit me?"
"Y-Yes. But as expected, it's not quite subtle enough for work."
"It's fine. I want to treasure this, and it would be a disaster if I snagged it on something while working. I'll use it at the next party."
"Eh? But at a formal event like that, wouldn't something more high-end be better?"
For someone in his position, wearing a handmade accessory might look a bit out of place if others thought it was cheap.
"No, no. This has a value worthy of being used at such an event. I will gladly wear it."
"Y-Yes. Well, if you're that happy with it, then I'm satisfied. Just don't force yourself."
Ultimately, it was his choice, but I didn't want him to feel obligated to wear it to formal parties just because it was from me. I had chosen a simple kit because I wanted him to use it casually.
"Yes. Thank you, truly. I know you've had a lot of trouble because of Sara, and regarding Mayumi, truly a lot... a lot..."
Masaomi-san trailed off, his movements stopping once more. This time, it seemed to have nothing to do with the brooch. He looked at me, his gaze distant as if he were lost in thought.
"I see... it might be better if we had a proper talk."
"Masaomi-san?"
Something was wrong. The joy had vanished, replaced by a brooding, serious expression—as if something grave had occurred. He stared at me intently.
"Kazunari-kun... there's something I want to talk to you about regarding Mayumi."
"Regarding Mayumi-san?"
"Yes. Considering her recent behavior toward you, I think I should give you a proper explanation. Would you mind giving me a bit of your time?"
"Y-Yes. Of course."
An explanation about Mayumi-san? Judging by Masaomi-san's grim expression, I had a feeling this wasn't going to be a lighthearted conversation.