"Come to think of it, Mio-chan, why are you here?"
To be more precise, I was wondering what all these children in front of me were doing here in the first place.
Of course, the fact that Sara's song had been such a hit was largely thanks to their chorus, so I was grateful regardless.
"Um... they said we could all go sing a song together."
"Did someone tell you that?"
"Yup!!"
Mio-chan nodded happily while I held her in my right arm.
God, she was cute... it was truly healing.
Meanwhile, Mio-chan’s right hand was being held firmly by Hanako-san, who was already completely smitten with her.
"Takanashi-kun, I got a RAIN from Kazumi-san."
"What did she say?"
"Hmm... she doesn't seem to know the details. Apparently, Mio-chan noticed Satsukawa-senpai's voice, and when the song started and the kids got rowdy, someone who looked like a teacher invited them down, saying the front row was open. Oh, and some of her kindergarten friends are here too."
"I see..."
I didn't think a complete stranger would do something like that, and if it wasn't the people from the preparatory committee... well, even if I didn't know who specifically, they were almost certainly a teacher.
"Mio-chan, I'm so jealous... Yuki wants a big brother too!"
"Mio-chan's big brother, play with Sakura too!!"
"Aaaah, Sakura-chan, nooo!! Big Brother is Mio's big brother!!"
Seeing Sakura-chan clinging to my leg made Mio-chan’s cheeks puff out. The sight was undeniably adorable, but the look in Mio-chan’s eyes as she stared at me clearly demanded that I do something. I was in a bit of a bind.
There was no way I could tell a child that small to "get away right now."
And now, following Sakura-chan, even Yuki-chan was approaching!?
"Pfft... Takanashi-kun, it’s tough being a popular man, isn't it?"
"Eeeh, I wonder what Sara would say if she saw this disaster?"
"Honestly... both of you, stop teasing him."
Thankfully, Nishikawa-san chided the two of them while wearing a wry smile.
But then I noticed... she was looking at me and the children with incredibly gentle eyes.
I wondered what was up.
"...Eririn?"
"...Nishikawa-san?"
"I've said this before, but I'm very fond of men who can be kind to children. So, Takanashi-san, the way you look right now is very wonderful."
"Uh..."
For now, I understood that Nishikawa-san was genuinely praising me.
I understood, but... being told that so seriously made me feel incredibly bashful.
"Oh, Eririn, are you actually being serious?"
"Of course. I don't make a habit of teasing people about things like this."
"Ugh..."
"S-Sorry, Takanashi-kun..."
"N-No, I knew you were joking, so it's fine."
Nishikawa-san had a mischievous expression, and I knew Natsumi-senpai and the others were only kidding. When they apologized like that, it just made me feel even more awkward.
"Excuse me, this is a business communication!!! Parents of the children, please come pick them up!!!"
Just then, Minamin intervened at the perfect moment.
As everyone's attention turned toward the stage, the mothers who heard the announcement came rushing over. Since they were drawing a lot of attention, they all looked quite embarrassed.
I’d experienced that myself when I first arrived, so I understood the feeling all too well.
"Oh, Sakura, really... I'm sorry, Vice President-san."
"I'm truly sorry. Come now, Yuki-chan, let's go."
"N-No, it's quite alright."
It seemed the mothers of the two girls clinging to my legs had arrived. Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan reluctantly let go after being prompted.
Seeing that, Mio-chan broke into a smile, and I secretly felt a wave of relief myself.
By the way, how did they know I was the Vice President... oh, was it from the broadcast on the big screen earlier?
"Takanashi-san, I'm so sorry. Mio again..."
The next person to arrive was a face I knew well—Kazumi-san.
She reached out for Mio-chan, but the little girl turned away with a huff.
"Mio, you mustn't trouble Big Brother, okay?"
"Booo, Mio is being a good girl!! Right, Big Brother?"
"Yeah, Mio-chan is a very good girl."
"Ehehe~, Big Brother, I love you~"
When I gently stroked her head, she rubbed against me like a kitten. This level of cuteness was a total foul.
I couldn't blame Hanako-san for panting while watching this.
"Kazumi-san, what do you plan to do after this?"
"We're just going home. Our errands are finished."
"I see..."
Now, what should I do?
Mio-chan didn't seem like she wanted to leave yet, and for my part, I wanted to let her stay a bit longer. Plus, if Mio-chan being here might have a positive influence on Sara...
"Hey guys..."
Even so, I thought I should check with the others first, but when I looked at them, everyone nodded silently without hesitation.
Hanako-san, in particular, did so with tremendous vigor.
Being understood like this without even needing words... it truly was a blessing.
In that case, I would take them up on it.
"Kazumi-san, if you'd like, why don't you stay and watch the rest with us?"
"Eh? But you're enjoying yourselves with your friends..."
"Please, don't worry about that. We all want to get to know Mio-chan better, too."
"Besides, it would be a waste to go home now, wouldn't it? Mufufu..."
Natsumi-senpai glanced at me with a meaningful, almost wicked smirk.
It was true that this would increase the number of spectators I knew by one... but at this point, it didn't matter who was watching.
My resolve had long been made.
"Mio, what do you want to do?"
"I want to stay with Big Brother and the others!!"
"...I'm sorry, then. I'll take you up on your kind offer."
"Not at all."
"That's great, Mio-chan."
"Yup!!!!"
Mio-chan nodded vigorously with a beaming smile at Marina’s words.
Seeing such a happy expression made the invitation worth it.
However, if I could ask for one thing...
Please, God, let that be the last of the unexpected events...
The Second Screening ended safely, and at last, only the final Third Screening remained.
Currently, large-scale preparations were underway on stage. Tables, cooking utensils, portable gas stoves, and ingredients were being lined up in every available space.
As the sight suggested, the next round was a cooking battle. Normally, this would have undoubtedly been Sara’s specialty, but with Mayumi-san in the mix, it wouldn't be so easy.
Victory was going to be a struggle.
Wait. Did I forget something?
Well, I don't know if this counts, but the guy who performed karaoke after Sara failed spectacularly.
There were probably many reasons, but the biggest factor was likely that the audience had been too hyped up by Sara right before him. The contrast was just too stark.
On top of that, his singing wasn't even close to Mayumi-san's level. The whole thing felt mediocre at best.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!!!! Preparations are almost finished, so let's have the contestants take the stage!!!!"
Waaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
Welcomed by thunderous applause and cheers, the contestants appeared one by one from the wings.
This time they were wearing aprons. Sara appeared on stage in a floral apron. Since she hadn't brought her favorite kitty apron from home, I guess this was the next best thing.
"Sara Onee-chaaaaaaaaann!!!!"
Mio-chan waved her hands vigorously as she called out to Sara, who had walked toward the front of the stage. Sara smiled and waved back slightly.
Mayumi-san, standing next to her, watched us intently with a strangely amused smile.
I didn't know what it was, but it made me feel weirdly restless.
"Uoooooo, Satsukawa-saaaaaaaaaann!!!!!"
"Goddess-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Sara-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!!!!!"
"Mayu-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!!!!!"
"Big Sister!!!! Good luck, go for it!!!!!!!!"
"My, Satsukawa-san is incredibly popular, isn't she? It must be tough for you, Takanashi-san, having such a famous lover."
"Ah... well, I've gotten used to it."
"Satsukawa-senpai ignores all boys except Takanashi-kun, so it's fine, right?"
"Eh, is that so?"
"His wife is a man-hater. She basically doesn't deal with any man besides Kazunari."
"M-Man-hater? Satsukawa-san?"
Kazumi-san murmured, staring intently at Sara on stage as if trying to process the words.
Come to think of it, Kazumi-san had never seen Sara at school before.
She only knew the "real Sara," which made her a rare presence in a way.
"By the way, what was that about 'wife'?"
"A wife is a wife."
"Um, you see, Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai are formally engaged. Both their parents have already approved..."
"Eeeeh!? 'Wife' as in THAT kind of 'wife'!? Then, then... in the future..."
"Y-Yes... that's right."
"Oh, my!!! Then congratulations!! Actually, when I saw the two of you the other day, you looked more like newlyweds than a high school couple... so I suppose it's not that surprising."
"Right!! That's why we don't feel any sense of oddity even when we're told Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai are getting married."
"I agree," Nishikawa-san added. "Seeing them together, they certainly don't look like a typical high school couple."
Marina and Kazumi-san began to get excited between themselves, leaving me, the person in question, behind.
I was honestly happy they thought we were a good match, but Mayumi-san was still looking over here with that amused expression, which bothered me slightly.
"Hey, it really is Mayumi-chan!!"
"I knew it!!! Hey!! Mayumi-chaaaaaaaaaann!!!"
"Mayumi-chan!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!"
Suddenly, voices shouting Mayumi-san's name erupted from the back of the crowd.
And it wasn't just from one spot; it was coming from multiple directions.
Those voices reached the stage, and Mayumi-san quickly looked away... but that only made her look more suspicious.
A figure came rushing out from the side of the stage.
The Preparatory Committee President ran over to Minamin and began to whisper frantically. Minamin pulled her smartphone out of her pocket and started tapping away.
What was happening? The timing was too perfect; it couldn't be a coincidence.
"W-Wait a minute!! Whoa, there's a ton of messages coming in over here too!? U-Um... let's see... what? E-Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!???"
Minamin suddenly shouted, her face twisting in shock as she stared at Mayumi-san.
Even the suspicious President next to her was looking at Mayumi-san with the same expression. Could it be...
"U-Um, Mayu-san!!! I'm sorry, but this is important, so please let me confirm!!!!! Is your real name Mayumi Satsukawa, without a doubt!!??"
"Ah, ahhh..."
At Minamin's question, Mayumi-san looked slightly awkward.
But that reaction was as good as a confession.
Actually, given that Minamin had even used her full name, I had to assume she had already been exposed.
"Ahaha... looks like I've been found out♪"
"Whoa, so it's actually true!? You're way too young!!??"
"Nfufu, thank you♪"
Minamin's reaction was exactly what everyone experienced when they met Mayumi-san for the first time. The secret was officially out.
"P-President, what are we going to do about this!!?? I mean, why didn't you check properly!!??"
"N-No... I mean, look at her! She doesn't look like she's married at all!!!"
Minamin and the President began arguing on stage, and the audience, sensing the drama, began to buzz.
In particular, the crowd reacted to the President's use of the word "married," and the commotion grew even larger.
"Oh dear, looks like it's finally come out," Nishikawa-san noted.
"Seems so," Natsumi agreed.
"I wonder what happens now."
"Well, it'll probably be fine."
"But for information to travel this fast... I wonder if people were calling the preparatory committee?"
"Probably. The MC checked something on her phone and then everyone started making a fuss."
"Um, what are you all talking about..."
Kazumi-san, the only one left in the dark, looked at us curiously. Marina glanced at me, wondering if she should explain.
Even if we stayed silent, the topic was going to explode on stage anyway. It was probably better to give her the gist of it.
"Haa... to think my old classmates would be here," Mayumi-san sighed on stage.
"If anything, I'm surprised you thought they wouldn't be," Sara countered.
"Aaan, Sara-chan, you're so mean."
"You're just being airheaded, Mother. By the way, what did you do with your ring?"
"I have it right here. See?"
Mayumi-san rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a small ring, which she then slid onto her ring finger.
I see. I hadn't noticed, but she had taken the ring off earlier.
"H-Hey... did Satsukawa-san just call her 'Mother'?"
"I heard it too..."
"The President said she was married..."
"No way... she's an 'Onee-san,' right?"
"She just put a ring on her finger..."
With Sara’s comment and the ring, the buzzing in the audience turned into an uproar.
The words "Mother?" and "Big Sister?" were flying everywhere, the voices growing louder by the second.
"Takanashi-san, Marina-chan. That Mayu-san person, could she be..."
"Um... that person is Sara-san's Mother."
"E-Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!???"
Predictably, Kazumi-san stared at Mayumi-san on stage with total shock.
Thank you for that classic reaction. I couldn't blame her.
"Sh-She's... older... older... she's older than me!!??"
Wait, it seemed the specific point she was shocked about was a little different, but the core surprise was the same.
"Hey, Big Brother, what's wrong with Mama?"
"Um, you see, she's surprised because that lady is Sara-san's Mother."
"Sara Onee-chan's Mama?"
"That's right."
"Where!?"
"Right there."
When I pointed to Mayumi-san, Mio-chan followed my finger.
Her eyes happened to meet Mayumi-san's.
"Sara Onee-chan's Mama~~!!!"
"Hi there~!"
The two of them waved at each other, while Sara, watching from the side, had a subtly complicated expression.
"S-Sorry, something way too unexpected has happened!!!! Mayu-san, given the situation, would it be alright if I explained everything to the audience!!??"
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped. Go ahead~"
"T-Then, I will explain!!!! This Mayu-san here is named Mayumi Satsukawa... and she is the real, bona fide Mother of Sara Satsukawa-san!!!!!!!!!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!?????"
I'd seen my classmates and others be shocked before, but I had never heard a sound like that.
It wasn't just "deafening"—the roar literally felt like it was piercing the heavens.
"Uuu~ everyone's so loud~"
Mio-chan leaned against me, covering her ears with her hands.
I wrapped my free left arm around her and shielded her head, and she burrowed in for cover.
With this much noise, it was only natural she’d react that way.
"M-M-Mother!!???"
"Eeeeee, she's not an 'Onee-san'!!!!???"
"No way!!! I don't believe it!!!!???"
"Uooooo, for real!!!!!!!"
"W-What is with that mother!!! She's way too young!!!??"
And so began the path everyone inevitably walked when they learned the truth about Mayumi-san.
On stage, the expression on the Stuck-up Woman’s face was something to behold.
One of her rivals was her classmate's mother, and she was being completely eclipsed on the Miss Con stage.
"According to Minamin Information, Mayumi Satsukawa-san served as the Student Council President during her time here!!! What's more, she is the Record Holder for being a Three-time Consecutive Miss Contest Winner—a record that has yet to be broken!!!!!!!!!"
What the hell?!
Wait a minute!!!!
That was news to me, too!!!!
I knew Mayumi-san was an alumna, but I hadn't heard she was the President or a legendary winner!!!
What was even happening?
And Mayumi-san, this was no time to be flashing peace signs at me!
"Whaaat!? What is that info!?"
"Wait, I've never heard that before!? Eririn, did you know!?"
"I-I didn't!! As expected, Mayumi-san is just too out-of-spec..."
"W-Well, it makes sense."
"But still... yeah."
"My wife's mother is too powerful an enemy."
The information was a bombshell, and everyone in our group was in an uproar.
I was beyond surprised; I wanted to grill her about it the moment we got home.
As for Sara... ah, she clearly didn't know either. She looked like she’d been hit by a bolt from the blue.
"Oh, did that get found out too?" Mayumi-san asked playfully.
"Fufun, don't underestimate my information network... Wait, that's not it!!!! Why is Satsukawa-san's mother in the Miss Con!?"
"Hmm... personally, I had a bit of a reason."
"Is that the 'match' you were talking about earlier!? Wait, does that mean this is going to be a Parent-Child Battle!!!???"
"Well, I guess... it is?"
Uoooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Hearing it was a parent-daughter showdown, the audience erupted again.
What was there even to get this hyped about?
"Uoooh, things are getting exciting!!!!"
"Satsukawa-san... no, Sara-chan, good luck!!!!!!!!!"
"Goddess-samaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Motheeeeeeeeeeerr!!! Do your best!!!!!!!!!"
"Please let me call you Mamaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"
"Mayumi-chaaaaaaaaaann!!!"
"W-Wait just a minute!! No matter how you look at it, married women should be ineligible!?"
The Stuck-up Woman, who had been completely sidelined until now, finally hit her limit and snapped at the President.
However, since the conversation was being broadcast through the speakers, she was met with intense booing from the audience.
It was the "guest will" in action.
The President picked up the microphone.
"E-Everyone!!! This situation is irregular, and it is also our mistake!!! For that, we are truly sorry... BUT!!!! The audience still wants Mayu-san... no, Mayumi-san to participate!!! May we assume that is your judgment!!?? Please answer with your applause!!!!!"
Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
In what could only be called a unanimous decision, the audience erupted in applause. The President bowed theatrically. Mayumi-san's continued participation was confirmed.
If the Stuck-up Woman complained any further, she’d be making an enemy of the entire crowd.
"N-Gugugugugugugugugugu..."
She looked visibly frustrated. Her mask was finally slipping.
"E-Er... so, we're just going to proceed as planned!!! Is that alright!? I'm not taking responsibility!!?? Mayumi-san and Satsukawa-san, you're both okay with this, right!!!???"
"It's fine with me. I'm still not satisfied... right, Sara-chan?"
"Yes... it doesn't matter. Even if my opponent is my mother, I will absolutely not lose!!!"
"Nfufu, was participating worth it just to see Sara-chan like this?"
"Save those jokes for when you get home!!!"
Sara, with a ferocity unimaginable from her usual self, stared down Mayumi-san, who only looked amused.
The audience was feeding off the energy, and cheers for both of them filled the venue.
For now, the uncertainty regarding Mayumi-san's identity was gone. I felt relieved for the moment.
However, since the narrative had shifted entirely to the parent-child battle between Sara and Mayumi-san, it felt like the Miss Con itself had faded into the background.
I didn't care about the Stuck-up Woman, but I did feel a little bad for the other contestants.
I’d have to apologize for that later.