"Welcome home, you two!"
"I-I’m home."
"We have returned."
Welcomed by Mayumi-san, who seemed to be in an unusually good mood, Sara and I returned to our seats. We hadn't known if our parents were still in the middle of their discussion, but we had decided to simply rejoin them regardless.
Judging by the atmosphere, however… it seemed things had concluded successfully.
"Haha… how was the view in the courtyard? The garden here is truly magnificent. I imagine there was plenty to see."
"Yes. The composition of the entire garden was wonderful, but the moon and the starry sky were especially beautiful tonight, which made it even better…"
"Ah, I see. It’s just about a full moon tonight, isn't it?"
"Heh… sounds like the atmosphere was quite lovely, then. Isn't that right, Sara-chan?"
"…Yes. Thanks to you, we were able to spend a very fulfilling time together."
While answering Mayumi-san, Sara cast a fleeting glance toward me. She appeared to be maintaining her composure, but she couldn't quite hide the softening of her lips. There was no way Mayumi-san would fail to notice that.
"By the way, regarding the discussion…"
Since Mayumi-san’s teasing gaze was now drifting toward me, I spoke up to change the subject. To be honest, it remained my primary concern, and I wanted to hear the result as soon as possible.
"It ended successfully. But before that, it seems your Father has something he wants to say to you, Kazunari-kun."
"Dad does?"
Prompted by Masaomi-san, I turned my eyes toward my Dad, who hadn't uttered a single word since we returned. He was looking at me with sharp eyes—completely different from his usual self, and clearly different from how he had been moments ago. He emanated a certain sense of pressure that made me wonder what had happened so suddenly.
"Kazunari, there's one thing I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"…Are you truly okay with accepting this arrangement?"
"…!"
The atmosphere my Dad projected was so different from his usual self that I found myself at a loss for words for a split second. But it was only for a moment. I immediately regained my composure.
"…Yeah. I'm asking you as well. I want you to give your permission for this, no matter what."
"Are you certain this is the path you want? I'll say this just in case, but if you simply want to be with the young lady over there, there are other ways to go about it, you know?"
"…I know that. But I—"
Certainly, as my Dad said, if I only wanted to be with Sara… I could graduate from high school, find employment at some company, and the two of us could live away from our families. That would undoubtedly make things harder for Masaomi-san and the others, but for us, it was unquestionably the easiest path—the one with the fewest things to worry about.
However…
"I don't know how much you've heard, Dad… but I didn't choose this path just because I want to be with Sara."
"Ho…"
"It’s true that at first, I decided on this simply because I wanted to stay with Sara in the future. To me, that is the most important and significant reason."
It was the one thing I would never compromise on. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment if it meant being with Sara. That was my unwavering conviction.
"But now, it's not just that. Of course, the core reason remains the same, but I’ve found a goal beyond that."
"A goal…?"
"Yeah. I feel bad saying this to you, Dad, but…"
The goal I held within me… and my ideal. Someday, I…
"I… I want to become a man like Masaomi-san. His ability to get work done, how cool he is as a man—I want all of it, everything combined…"
"…I see."
"Ah, but just to be clear, I don't mean anything bad toward you, okay? It’s just that I’ve come to admire Masaomi-san."
It was true that I had various thoughts about my Dad, but it wasn't that I didn't respect him or thought he was uncool. In fact, as long as he didn't show his annoying persona like he did today, I thought my Dad could be just as reliable as Masaomi-san in his own way. I didn't reach this decision based on some sense of superiority or inferiority between them.
"Haha, you don't have to follow up for me."
"Shut up, don't get the wrong idea. I’m not saying it just to be nice. Besides… I’m truly grateful to you, Dad."
"Kazunari…?"
"You’re always messing with me with that weird high energy, but there were parts of me that were saved by that. And… you didn't try to force me to tell you the things I was keeping secret; you told me to do as I pleased, right? You said you’d back me up if anything happened. Because of that, I felt like I could at least keep smiling while I was at home…"
Yes… regardless of everything else, it was an undeniable fact that back then, I was saved by my Dad’s strange brightness. Because my Dad was like that, and because he didn't try to force the story out of me… that’s why I was able to endure.
"But, sorry. This is separate from that…"
"No… if you felt that way, then my approach wasn't entirely wrong after all. That, in its own way, makes me feel redeemed…"
"Huh?"
"Nothing, I’m talking to myself. So, you want to become like the Father over there?"
"Yeah. I can't put it into words well, but I hope to be like him someday…"
"…I feel like I can somehow understand why you’d feel that way."
"…You do?"
"Yeah. …I can see why you’d… and why I can entrust you…"
"Dad?"
I couldn't quite catch whatever my Dad was muttering under his breath, but I never expected that my Dad would come to hold Masaomi-san in such high regard in such a short amount of time. It seemed certain that something had happened during their discussion earlier.
"And so… because of that as well, you chose to become their Adopted Son-in-law in order to be with the young lady?"
"To be precise, that’s also a bit different. Although it’s greatly related."
"Ho?"
My desire to become like Masaomi-san and my choice to become an Adopted Son-in-law to be with Sara weren't unrelated, but they didn't connect directly. That alone wouldn't be enough of a reason to become an Adopted Son-in-law.
"I… it’s because Masaomi-san told me he has expectations for me… because Masaomi-san and his wife told me they consider me their own Son. I don't know how much I can achieve, but if they are expecting great things from my future, then I want to live up to that. Being with Sara forever is a line I will never yield, but… if it can be granted, then I…"
This wasn't just me being conceited; I could somehow tell that the two of them were sincerely expecting great things from my future. Furthermore, to respond to the feelings of the two who called me their true Son… and to Masaomi-san, who believed in me and entrusted me with Mayumi-san’s past and his feelings for Sara, I wanted to respond with the very best I could do.
Because of that, I had resolved once again in my heart to choose the path of an Adopted Son-in-law while remaining by Sara’s side.
"…Kazunari-kun."
"…Heh, we really are blessed."
Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san’s faces brightened as they looked at me, nodding again and again with joy.
"I see. It sounds like there might be other reasons as well, but if you've thought it through that deeply and made your decision, then I’m satisfied. To be honest, I thought you might just be getting swept away by the situation because you wanted to be with the young lady."
"Well… it’s true that when I first decided, there were parts of it where I couldn't help if it looked that way. But now…"
"I know. Just what you said now is plenty of reason for me to do this."
"…Huh?"
My Dad shifted his gaze away from me and directed it toward Masaomi-san, Mayumi-san, and Sara in front of him, making a gesture as if appealing to them with his eyes. It was only for a moment, and then my Dad immediately placed his hands on the table and—
"Everyone… you heard him. After thinking it through in his own way, this boy has chosen the path of becoming your Adopted Son-in-law to be with your daughter. Since that is the case, we wish to support him with everything we have. Therefore…"
And then my Dad… pressed his head toward the table, bowing deeply!
"Please… look after my Son."
"D-Dad!?"
Stunned by my Dad’s unexpected action as he remained bowed and motionless, I felt a shock that was almost staggering. To think that my Dad would go this far… I never dreamed he would make such a sincere request.
"Thank you. We likewise… look forward to your continued favor."
"Thank you so much for making the decision to entrust us with your precious Son."
In response to my Dad’s action, Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san bowed their heads deeply as well, and Mom followed suit.
"Young lady… no, Sara-san. He is a Son with much to learn, but please, take care of him…"
"Please look after our Son. Sara-chan, please take care of this idiot, okay?"
"Yes. I likewise… though I am still inexperienced, I vow as Kazunari-san's Fiancé and his wife to support him with all my might throughout our future. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I look forward to your kindness from this day forward."
And finally, Sara bowed her head deeply.
So, I did the same.
"Dad… Mom, thank you. Masaomi-san, Mayumi-san, Sara… once again, I look forward to being in your care."
My voice came out more naturally than even I expected.
And so… the main topic of today, the discussion regarding the adoption, reached a temporary conclusion.
"So… specifically, what kind of procedure are you planning to follow?"
After our mutual greetings were finished, we decided to drink together in celebration, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere filled with small talk. The matter of the adoption, which had been the biggest concern for both sides, had been settled successfully, and Masaomi-san and my Dad already seemed to be discussing various things about the future.
"As for the order, Kazunari-kun will first become our Adopted Child, and then he will enter into a marriage with our daughter. Therefore, we will first carry out the Adoption, and Kazunari-kun will take the Satsukawa name…"
"I see. Well, our family lineage isn't anything special, so it's not like it'll be a problem if Kazunari leaves it…"
"No, even if Kazunari-kun becomes our Adopted Child, his inheritance rights and such with your family will remain intact. This is the Ordinary Adoption we mentioned earlier, so the relationship as biological parent and child remains as well…"
"In other words, our relationship as parent and child stays as it is?"
"Yes. If we're talking about inheritance, it means Kazunari-kun will have inheritance rights for both families."
This part of the conversation was news to me. Or rather, even when they talked about inheritance, I didn't quite get it. But one thing I could say was that not just in feeling, but also in a formal sense, it meant I would have two sets of fathers and mothers… right?
"Heh… that’s how it is, so the fact that Fuyumi-san is Kazunari-kun’s Mother will remain unchanged, you see?"
"I-I see. Well, it’s not like I was worried about it…"
"Oh my, Fuyumi-san, you say that, but…"
"Hey, Mayumi-san! If you say any more, I won't forgive you!"
"Heh… I suppose I can't help it then."
Mom and Mayumi-san, who seemed to be playfully bickering, appeared to be having a lot of fun. I felt like they were becoming even closer than before, but since it wasn't a bad thing, I welcomed it.
"Well, even if you say inheritance, my house doesn't have anything that grand."
"Haha. People say that, but in reality, there are usually various things. Well, that’s all far in the future, so I don't think you need to worry about such things now."
"True. However, if the parent-child relationship remains, it seems we won't be able to just throw him out without a second thought just because he's been adopted."
"Haha, you don't mean that."
"No, no. Well, at the very least, the Betrothal Money… oh, speaking of which, in this case…?"
"Yes. We will handle all of those matters from our side."
We weren't even officially married yet, let alone adopted, so it felt like they were being incredibly premature with these details. But come to think of it, didn't Mom say something about Betrothal Money over the phone before? That was, if I remember correctly…
"…Now that I think about it, from Yuzuha-chan’s house…"
Mom must have remembered the same thing, as she suddenly let those words slip before a panicked expression crossed her face and she hurriedly shut her mouth. But having spoken it so clearly…
"Yuzuha…?"
"…Sara-chan? Fuyumi-san?"
"…Is something the matter?"
As expected, Sara showed a strong reaction to that name, while Mayumi-san and Masaomi-san looked on, seemingly finding it strange. I hadn't expected her name to come up at this timing, but it was also true that I had been struggling to find the right moment to bring it up, so this might actually be a good opportunity.
"…Mom, you don't have to worry about it."
"…Kazunari?"
"Kazunari-kun?"
"Kazunari-san…"
As I said that, everyone looked at me with different reactions.
"By the way… how much have you heard?"
"…I haven't heard anything."
"…I only heard that she had caused you trouble and was sorry."
"I see…"
I had only asked to confirm, but it really seemed like they hadn't heard the whole story.
"Um… there’s a story I want you both to hear."
"K-Kazunari?"
"Hey, are you sure…?"
There was no way my Dad and Mom didn't know what I was about to talk about in this context. I was finally touching upon the trauma I had stubbornly refused to speak of until now, and I was doing it of my own accord.
"…In that case, we should excuse ourselves for a moment…"
"Actually, I’d like Masaomi-san and his wife to hear it too, if possible. To be honest, I don't think it’s a pleasant story to listen to, but…"
"Kazunari-kun, you don't have to force yourself, you know?"
I had brought it up so suddenly that it must have been a completely unexpected situation for them. Yet, for some reason, I felt like they might have already sensed what I was about to talk about. But even so…
"It's okay. It’s true that this story is a trauma for me—honestly, it’s something I don’t even want to remember, but…"
"Then all the more reason…"
"Even so, this is something I have to talk about eventually. To my Dad and Mom, who backed me up without saying a word, and to Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san, who say they consider me their true Son…"
Telling this story was a way for me to settle the past. That was exactly why I wanted not only my parents but also Masaomi-san and his wife to hear it. And once it was over, I could finally hold my head high before everyone without hiding a single thing.
"Father, Mother, please listen to Kazunari-san's Story. If he doesn't speak about this, he won't be able to truly move forward."
"Sara-chan… I thought so."
I wondered what Mayumi-san meant by that… but for now, that didn't matter.
"Very well, Kazunari. Let us hear it."
"What happened to you… back then?"
"Yeah. It’ll be long, so I’ll cut out as much as I can… but before that, I want to explain to Masaomi-san and his wife that I have a childhood friend. Her name is Yuzuha Sasagawa."
"That was the name from earlier…"
"Yes. It’s the name Mom mentioned. Since she was little, she was extremely shy and timid, always hiding in my shadow. That’s why we were always together…"
"A girl like that…?"
Mayumi-san muttered softly, casting a look at Sara next to me as if she wanted to say something. But Sara didn't even glance back, keeping her eyes fixed solely on me.
"Even after we became elementary school students, that didn't change. Because she was always behind me, she had a hard time making friends—especially female friends—and she couldn't even speak properly to anyone but me and Yuji… my best friend. But the turning point for her came after we entered Middle School… the faces around her changed compared to elementary school, and more girls started talking to Yuzuha. As a result, she finally made real friends."
Up to this point, it was just the history of the relationship between me and Yuzuha. My parents already knew about these things, so it wasn't particularly difficult to talk about. I was merely explaining it to Masaomi-san and his wife as background information.
But from here on…
It was a story that no one but Sara knew…