"Yeah, I think this looks about right."
"Thank you very much, Masaomi-san."
I caught my reflection in the mirror and gave myself a slow, experimental turn.
The yukata was a reserved but striking navy blue, accented with clean white lines. The understated atmosphere felt just right—it was exactly the kind of style I liked.
Though, whether it actually suited me was another matter entirely.
"It’s surprising how one can keep things for years without ever throwing them away. Even so... haha."
"Masaomi-san?"
He looked me over several times, from head to toe, letting out a delighted laugh.
"No... I was just thinking how deeply moving it is. To see the day when my son would wear the same yukata I once wore... It brings back quite a few memories."
"...I see. But truly, thank you so much."
I meant it for both things.
For preparing the yukata for me.
And for calling me his son.
"You're very welcome. Now then... do you have everything? It looked like Mayumi put a few things in that drawstring bag over there."
"Um..."
Sitting alone on the table was a brown drawstring bag featuring a traditional arabesque pattern. Peeking inside, I found a handkerchief, some tissues, a portable comb, and... wet wipes? There was also a pochi-bukuro.
...A pochi-bukuro?
"Um, Masaomi-san, this is..."
"Since you’re going to a festival, it’s better to have some funds on hand, right? I didn’t give any to Sara, so I’m leaving the expenses to you today."
"...I understand. Thank you."
A refusal almost jumped to my lips, but I decided to accept it graciously.
More than anything, I didn't want to stand on ceremony with Masaomi-san after he had just called me his son.
"Fufu... That's the spirit. Go and enjoy yourself to your heart's content."
"Yes, sir!"
Masaomi-san nodded deeply at my response, a satisfied smile on his face.
Truly, I was a lucky man.
"Masaomi-san, is Kazunari-kun ready yet?"
Accompanied by a gentle knock, an airy, healing voice drifted through the door.
She had been getting ready in her own room, and it seemed she was finally finished.
"Yeah, we’re all set here."
The door to the living room opened slowly, following the sound of light, pitter-pattering slippers.
The moment Mayumi-san stepped inside and saw me, her face lit up with a smile as bright as a blooming flower.
"Oh my! It suits you so well, Kazunari-kun! You look wonderful in Japanese clothing..."
"Th-thank you."
"Mmm-fufu... When you make such a cute face while dressed up like that, your mother-in-law's heart just goes pit-a-patter♪"
"Eh!?"
"Mayumi, leave the boy alone."
"Yes, yes. Well then, shall we have her make her grand entrance? Sara-chan!"
"Yes."
At Mayumi-san's call, she appeared in the living room... no, she descended.
She was the definition of peerless beauty. Radiating a divine aura that seemed to cast a literal glow around her, she was my beloved... my one and only... Goddess.
"Fufu... Sorry to keep you wai—!?"
Sara-san’s yukata, making its debut today, was a rare and charming design: a navy-blue background that matched mine, interspersed with a delicate cat pattern. A large cat silhouette was depicted on the obi, and my handmade brooch was pinned there as a subtle accent. It was a lovely, wonderful yukata that perfectly captured her love for cats.
Her beautiful, long black hair had been swept up into an elegant updo to match the Japanese clothing. A gorgeous kanzashi and a familiar light blue and white flower ornament—the one I had given her as a present—literally added a flourish to her appearance.
"Mmm-fufu... Kazunari-kun, you're staring so hard you've gone slack-jawed, you know?"
"......"
"Oh, can you not hear me?"
"Mayumi."
"Yes, yes."
It wasn't that I couldn't hear her; I just had no room left in my mind for anything else.
Sara-san was so beautiful... so stunning... that I simply couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Fufu... Isn't that nice, Sara-chan?"
"......"
"...Sara-chan?"
As the literal personification of a Yamato Nadeshiko, Sara-san looked incredible in traditional dress. Her usual maturity and dignified presence were only heightened by the attire. It was impossible not to be captivated.
The impact of seeing her in a yukata for the first time back on the summer festival day had been shocking, too... but I’d been too nervous back then to look her in the eye, especially with my confession looming over me.
"Sara-san..."
Drawn by her light, I took one step toward her, then another, almost unconsciously. Then, I noticed Sara-san's eyes, which were fixed on me as well.
Wait, was something wrong?
"........."
"S-Sara-san? What's the matter?"
She didn't react at all. She just stood there, staring at me as if she were in a trance.
It was as if her soul had left her body.
"Kazunari-san..."
"Y-yes?"
"It suits you so well. Truly... you look... wonderful..."
"Wha!? N-no, if anything, that's my line for you, Sara-san..."
"Oh, my my... It looks like Sara-chan is the one who’s ended up completely head over heels this time."
"Eh!?"
I didn't quite catch the meaning of Mayumi-san's words. Sara-san was head over heels?
For whom?
...Me?
"M-my apologies. Um... Kazunari-san's appearance was just so dignified that... I couldn't help myself..."
With her cheeks flushed, she gazed at me dreamily, her bashful expression only making her more endearing.
But really, that should have been my line.
Sara-san looked even more mature than usual today. With her hair swept up, the translucent white skin of her nape was exposed, giving her an indescribable allure.
And when she looked at me with that expression, I... Iiiii!?
"Ufufu... It's rare to see Sara-chan act this way."
"Y-yeah. By the way, Sara... isn't the distance between you two a bit close?"
"Oh, Masaomi-san. Don't be so boorish!"
"N-no, but..."
"Kazunari-san... you are truly... wonderful."
Gazing at me with eyes that held a certain heat, Sara-san gave me her heartfelt impression.
It wasn't flattery; I could feel her feelings reaching me with every word. Because of that, rather than being happy for myself, I wanted to praise her a thousand times over.
The Sara-san of today was beyond words.
"Sara-san, you're the one who is truly beautiful... wonderful, and radiant. Those words don't even begin to cover it; you look incredible. It's frustrating that I can't express it better, but... I truly..."
I cursed my lack of vocabulary.
I knew that the feelings I wanted to convey to Sara-san couldn't be captured by such simple words, yet I couldn't find anything better to say.
But...
Even at my clumsy praise, Sara-san looked incredibly blissful.
"...I'm so happy. Just hearing you say that makes me truly fortunate. As long as I have you... only you..."
"Sara-san..."
Her flushed cheeks and moist eyes held my gaze.
I felt a sudden, powerful urge to pull her into a tight embrace and kiss her right then and there... and I felt certain that Sara-san was thinking the same thing.
If that was the case, then I—
"Kazunari-san..."
Suddenly closing the gap, Sara-san softly rested her hand on my right arm.
She looked straight up at me as if pleading for something... and her eyes slowly drifted shut.
"Ahem!!"
"!?"
The one who suddenly let out a loud, artificial cough right as the atmosphere turned perfect was, of course, Masaomi-san.
I hurriedly looked away. He was wearing an obvious, forced smile, though his face was twitching slightly.
We’d done it again.
"Oh, honestly, Masaomi-san. Interrupting at such a good moment."
"H-how was that a 'good moment'!? You two are still high school students! Show a little more moderation!"
"This much is normal, isn't it? Really... it's about time you learned to let your daughter go."
"Wh-!? If you're going to say that, then you need to stop meddling with Kazunari-kun unnecessarily, too!"
"That is certainly true," Sara added.
"H-how cruel, both of you!!"
I couldn't quite follow the logic, but the conversation was heading in a strange direction.
I had a bad feeling about this.
"Sniff... Kazunari-kun, you wouldn't say such mean things, would you? Communicating with your mother-in-law isn't 'unnecessary meddling,' is it?"
"Eeeeh!?"
The bad feeling hit me like a physical blow. Even if Mayumi-san was only pretending to cry, she was doing it because she knew exactly how weak I was to her antics.
"Sniff... Kazunari-kun, with your mother-in-law..."
"That is enough. If you intend to take advantage of Kazunari-san's kindness any further, I will show no mercy."
"Hieee!?"
Suddenly, a powerful chill that made me shiver took root in Sara-san's voice. Her tone was so severe that it was clear she didn't consider this a simple joke anymore.
"O-oh, honestly, Sara-chan. It was just a joke, so calm down."
"Whether it was a joke or not, the moment you troubled Kazunari-san, you committed a grave offense."
"S-Sara-chan's eyes are terrifyingly cold..."
Even without looking at her face, I knew. Sara-san was dead serious.
Usually, she was refined, tolerant (toward me), and endlessly kind (toward me), but she showed absolutely no mercy to anyone who bothered me.
That was a distinct side of her character.
"Mayumi."
"Yes... I understand. I'm sorry, Kazunari-kun."
"N-no, I really didn't mind."
I knew this was just an act for Mayumi-san and that there was no malice behind it. I certainly didn't think it was a nuisance.
"Sara-san, I'm fine, really. Please forgive Mayumi-san now."
"If that is what you wish, Kazunari-san."
"Mmm-fufu... That's why I lo—"
"Hm?"
"I-IT'S NOTHING..."
In front of the current Sara-san, even Mayumi-san was a frog caught in the gaze of a snake. Resistance was futile.
"Haha... Mayumi loses again."
"Sigh... Whenever Kazunari-kun is involved, Sara-chan loses all sense of humor."
"I can compromise on other things, but I will not settle for anything less than perfection regarding Kazunari-san."
"W-well now, Sara-san. Let's leave it at that..."
"Fufu... Very well. Out of respect for Kazunari-san's words, I shall leave it at that for today. Since our time is precious, shall we head out?"
"Yes!"
We still had a bit of time before the meeting time, but since the others would likely arrive early, leaving now was the best move.
"Well then, Masaomi-san, Mayumi-san, we're off."
"Yeah, take care. I'm counting on you to look after Sara, okay?"
"Have lots of fun!"
"Yes, sir!"
"We're going."
We waved to the two of them as they saw us off at the entrance and stepped out.
I was really looking forward to the festival... but I had to keep the chaos of last year, as described by Nishikawa-san, in the back of my mind. I needed to stay alert.
After leaving the Satsukawa residence, our first stop was the Hanasaki family apartment building.
It was still early, but the autumn nights were starting to set in, and it was already getting dark. Letting a girl walk alone was out of the question.
I’d been right to insist on picking her up.
"The days are getting shorter so quickly now."
"They are. The temperature has dropped, too... Sara-san, if you get cold..."
"Fufu... In that case, I shall take your arm, Kazunari-san♪"
"...U-um, roger that."
That wasn't exactly what I’d meant, but it was fine.
Even if she was joking, it was rare for Sara-san to be so playful.
"Oh, is that..."
"I hope we didn't keep her waiting..."
In front of the apartment building entrance, three figures stood under the faint glow of the lights.
One was Hanako-san, recognizable even from a distance by her flamboyant, distinctive outfit. Which meant the other two were her parents.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hanako-san. And... it's been a while, Tadao-san. Good evening, Kayo-san."
"It's fine. I didn't wait long."
"Good evening, Takanashi-san. Thank you for always taking care of Riko."
Kayo-san gave us a polite bow with a soft smile. As always, she looked remarkably young.
"Ah, Takanashi-san, it’s been too long. Thank you for coming to pick up my daughter like this..."
"N-no, we're neighbors... and it's already dark. I couldn't let a girl walk to the station alone..."
Tadao-san was as humble as ever. While an overbearing father would be a problem, his extreme deference made him a bit difficult to talk to in his own way.
"S-so, um..."
Tadao-san cast a curious glance at Sara-san.
Since this was his first meeting with her, his interest was only natural.
"Let me introduce her. Sara-san..."
"Yes."
When I called her name, Sara-san stepped forward and gave a bow so perfect it was mesmerizing.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Sara Satsukawa."
"Th-this is quite a polite greeting! Nice to meet you, I am Riko's father, Tadao. I haven't had the honor of meeting the Satsukawa Senior Managing Director directly, but..."
"Please, my father is my father, and I am myself. You can treat me normally."
"Y-yes..."
In contrast to Tadao-san, who looked visibly nervous, Sara-san was poised and dignified. She had an undeniable presence.
"Riko-san and I are close friends. I look forward to your continued kindness, along with Kazunari-san."
"L-likewise! My daughter is still quite young, but we look forward to your continued kindness as well!!"
Tadao-san bowed repeatedly, looking so low-posture that I almost felt bad for him. Seeing him like that reminded me of my own Dad when he encountered people from his company.
"It's a bit pathetic, but for my father, it's just how things are," Riko muttered.
"Hanako-san, don't say that to him..."
"I know. More importantly, Kazunari..."
Without hiding her excitement, Hanako-san cast an expectant look my way. She kept glancing at her own outfit, making it very obvious what she wanted.
I had intended to tell her from the start, anyway.
"I-it suits you well, Hanako-san. You look... c-cute."
Setting aside my usual clumsy compliments...
True to her unique fashion sense, Hanako-san's yukata was anything but traditional.
It was a Goth-Loli style yukata—black with vibrant white trim, featuring wide sleeves and a skirt-like silhouette. The pink obi was accented with black mesh, and the brooch I’d made her added a touch of elegance.
Despite the unconventional look, it carried a chic, calm atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of cuteness and maturity—perfectly Hanako-san.
Her twin-tails were also decorated with asymmetric flower ornaments at the base and ribbons tied further down, making for a luxurious style.
Honestly, she was so cute that no other word seemed to fit.
"That yukata has a kind of mature charm... It fits your image perfectly. It really looks good on you."
Once again, I was disappointed in my own vocabulary. I wished I could say something a bit more sophisticated.
"...I'm happy."
"...Hanako-san?"
But even at my clumsy praise, Hanako-san broke into a radiant smile.
"There's no need for fancy words. I can tell you truly think I'm cute from the bottom of your heart..."
"I-I see... Yeah, I really do. That yukata is perfect for you."
Pushed by the atmosphere, I managed to get my feelings across.
"Ka-Kazunari... um... er..."
"That's wonderful, Riko. To have Takanashi-san call you cute," Kayo-san teased.
"...U-huh."
"Fufu... This is the first time we've seen this child act so shy. But I suppose it's only natural... Ever since she bought this yukata, Riko has been talking about wanting Takanashi-san to see her in it..."
"M-Mother! Don't tell Kazunari unnecessary things!"
Even in the dim light, I could see Hanako-san’s cheeks turning a bright red. She looked down bashfully, avoiding my gaze. Seeing her act so fresh and girlish was a bit overwhelming.
"It was worth the effort just to have Kazunari praise me."
"I-I'm glad. But it really does look great."
"Yeah... thank you. I'm happy. And... um, Kazunari looks cool... too?"
"Eh?"
She whispered the compliment and looked down again.
Cool... me?
"This isn't flattery. Kazunari is always cute, but today you look mature... dignified... and cool. That's why, while the others are fine, I don't really want to show you to other women."
"I completely agree with that," Sara added. "If possible, I would like Kazunari-san all to myself..."
"That's unfair. As his older sister, I also have the right to dote on my younger brother."
"If we are discussing rights, then as his fiancé and future wife, I believe I have the maximum and absolute exclusive right."
"Um, you two, what are you even talking about?"
I interjected as they started arguing over their mysterious rights.
For the record, if exclusive rights were a thing, wouldn't it be "Sara-san for me, and me for Sara-san"?
"Fufu... This is nice," Kayo-san remarked.
"Yeah," Tadao-san agreed. "There are some concerns, but..."
"Let's forget about those for now."
"...You're right."
I had a feeling I knew what their cryptic conversation was about... but it wasn't my place to interfere.
"You two, it's about time to go."
"Yes. Shall we?"
"Yeah. Father, Mother, I'm going."
"Take care. Takanashi-san, sorry for the trouble, but please look after Riko."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Have a good time. Be careful."
"I will."
"We're off!"
We waved goodbye to her parents and headed toward the station.
Looking at the two of them—one radiant and beautiful, the other strikingly cute—I knew I’d have my hands full fending off other guys tonight.
My top priority was guarding Sara-san, but I was going to have to stay sharp for both of them. Good luck, me.