"Good morning."
"Good mor... g-good morning."
The first morning we greeted each other after becoming "more official" as fiancés... even if that phrasing felt a bit exaggerated, it wasn't as if anything was fundamentally different.
Aside from the fact that Sara-san's good mood was about twenty percent higher than usual, it was a perfectly normal, characteristically peaceful morning.
And yet, the reason I had suddenly stuttered during my greeting was...
"Hehe... is something the matter?"
"N-no, well..."
The night before, Sara-san had thoroughly pampered me... or rather, I was the one acting pampered, but since Sara-san had acted spoiled herself while insisting I be the one to indulge her... man, this was complicated.
Anyway, on top of our usual dynamic of pampering and being pampered, Sara-san had spent the entire time calling me "Darling" as she’d declared she would. Consequently, a strange bashfulness had lingered since I woke up, putting me in a terribly awkward situation.
To be honest, I was fully aware that my face was flushed red.
"...Since we have the chance, how about you start addressing me without an honorific from now on?"
"Wha?! N-no, that’s still a bit too soon..."
Sara-san made the suggestion with a somewhat mischievous glint in her eyes.
She definitely had a perfect grasp of my predicament... without a doubt.
"Hehe... that is a pity. After all, my ideal is for you to treat me as you did last night..."
"Uh..."
My basic stance was that I wanted to grant Sara-san's wishes, no matter what they were.
But these things required time to get used to, and changing my way of speaking so suddenly was a tall order. Besides, if I were to drop the honorifics and use casual speech with Sara-san, that would mean...
"B-but, Sara-san, you said you wouldn't do it until we’re married..."
"Yes. It is true that I have decided in my heart not to call you 'Darling' until we are formally married... but that restriction does not apply to you addressing me without an honorific."
"Ehh, t-that's a bit unfair..."
"Is it... no good? I want you to call me 'Sara' soon..."
"Ugh."
Sara-san cast her eyes down with a sorrowful expression and spoke with such an adorable tone.
On top of that, she deployed an upturned, bashful gaze that landed a super-critical hit on my heart.
I mean...
Sara-san was being unfair!
And she was so cute that it made her even more unfair!
"I-I'll do my best..."
"Do your best...?"
"I-I get it! I'll really, truly work on it with a positive attitude, so please forgive me for now!"
Even if I knew it was a Crying Mimicry—or rather, a Sadness Mimicry—reminiscent of Mayumi-san, there was no way I could resist it.
Besides...
"Hehe... then please do your best, Darling♪"
If I could see such a happy smile, I didn't mind losing. In fact, it was exactly what I wanted.
I truly felt that I could forgive anything for the sake of that expression.
That was why I was willing to do anything Sara-san desired...
Still...
Sara-san's Sadness Mimicry was seriously bad for my heart, so it would be a huge help if she kept it in moderation.
...
After our extra morning flirting, we headed toward the Convenience Store, our usual meeting spot.
The calendar had already turned to December, and the morning air felt like the peak of winter. But this year, I had a wonderful gift from Sara-san to help me endure the cold...
It made me very—no, incredibly—happy.
"Hehe... I am glad I finished it in time."
"Thank you. I'm seriously so happy!"
"The pleasure is mine. I am simply delighted that you are pleased, Kazunari-san♪"
The object of Sara-san's delighted gaze was the winter must-have item around my neck. It was a Muffler handmade by her; a piece of winter gear that warmed not only my body but my heart as well.
"But when did you make this? I never saw you working on it at the house."
"I worked on it steadily during the times you weren't at home, and also during school breaks."
"Ehh... but if it was in such short bursts of time, you must have started preparing it quite a while ago."
"Hehe, I did indeed start production around the beginning of autumn, but because I did something unnecessary, it went slightly over schedule."
"Something unnecessary?"
"Yes... well..."
Seeming a bit hesitant—or perhaps bashful—Sara-san trailed off, casting meaningful glances my way every now and then.
As far as I could see, there was nothing unnecessary about the Muffler. The quality was so solid it couldn't even be compared to store-bought items, and the patterns scattered throughout were elaborate and stylish. If I had to say anything, it felt a little too long... maybe.
In fact, even after wrapping it thickly, there was still quite a lot of fabric left over.
"Good mooorning!"
"Morning."
The ones who called out to us were the two waiting at the Convenience Store. It was the mismatched duo of Natsumi-senpai, who was full of energy even this early, and Hanako-san, who was as much of a maverick as ever.
Based on their usual routes, there was no reason for them to be here. Did they come all the way here to meet us?
"Good morning, you two."
"Good morning. What brings you here today?"
"Well, Mio-chan was here until a moment ago. Hanako-san was seeing her off until the last second, and before we knew it, we’d come all the way here."
"The fact that Mio-chan is too cute is what’s wrong. Cute is justice. Cute is a sin."
"W-well, I can understand the sentiment..."
Setting aside the personal philosophy of the very girl who personified "Cute is justice"...
If Mio-chan had been here, I should have left the house a bit earlier. That was a shame.
"She wanted to see Takanashi-kun and Sara. She said she’d wait until Big Brother and Big Sister came, but it looked like she ran out of time."
"That is a pity. I wanted to see Mio-chan as well."
"Yeah. Well, we'll make up for it at the Christmas Party."
"Hehe... that's right. I hope she'll be happy."
Coincidentally, we were scheduled to go shopping for the Christmas Party this weekend and start decorating. I needed to put in extra effort for Mio-chan's sake to make up for missing her today.
"Well, shall we talk about the details during Lunch Break?"
"Sure, I don't mind... but what about Natsumi and Hanako-san?"
"Listen here... there's no way we wouldn't participate in this!"
"Don't be so distant. If it's a party to make Mio-chan happy, there's no way I won't be there."
"Natsumi-senpai... Hanako-san..."
The feelings of those two made me very happy. But while I expected Hanako-san to join because she loved Mio-chan, I wondered if Natsumi-senpai was really going to be okay.
We were hardly ones to talk, but since it was her first Christmas with her boyfriend...
"Ah, don't worry about me. I'm making Yuji participate too. Or rather, I've already secured him."
"Ehhhh..."
For a split second, I felt like I could see Yuji hanging his head in dejection.
He must have been forced to agree without any room for argument... I should probably apologize to him later.
"Hehe... I understand. If that is the case, then I look forward to working with you both. Besides, Mio-chan will likely be happier if more people participate..."
"Now that it's come to this, I'm going to make it a party that not only Mio-chan but we can enjoy too! Besides, I have to make it up to Yuji for the Date, or it'll be bad for him."
"Ah, so you are thinking about him, after all?"
"O-Of course I am! Since it's our first Christmas Date, Yuji's been carefully planning the course—hey, what are you making me say!"
Natsumi-senpai leaked information we hadn't even asked for and her face instantly turned red.
Then she turned that embarrassment into anger toward me... I didn't get it.
"Natsumi-senpai said it on her own. Kazunari is not at fault."
"That’s right. If you’re trying to hide your embarrassment, do it more quietly. I will not allow you to take out your frustrations on Kazunari-san."
"Guh, this Wife and Sister-in-law Duo..."
Of course, Sara-san and Hanako wouldn't allow her to be irrational toward me.
In an instant, they moved between Natsumi-senpai and me. Sara-san clung closely to my side as if to form an Iron Wall Guard...
Uh... I was very happy about that, but doing this on a School Route with so many people passing by was...
"Guohhh, d-damn it... showing off right from the morning..."
"Sob sob... let's change our School Route. Even if we get to see Satsukawa-san, this is too painful!"
"I'm not jealous! I'm not jealous at alllll!"
"Whoa, those two are as lovey-dovey as ever."
"I still can't believe Satsukawa-san is the one being proactive."
"I heard from a friend in the same class as Satsukawa-san that she's already in full Wife mode."
And so, the usual commotion began.
Though it was becoming a familiar sight, I still had complicated feelings about it.
"It is a Wife's duty to protect her husband."
"It's a Big Sister's duty to protect her Younger Brother."
"Yeah, yeah, I give up."
Acknowledging a mysterious defeat, Natsumi-senpai gave me a cold, fed-up Scornful Look.
I still thought the cause was her own embarrassment, but saying that would only make her angrier.
"S-Should we head to School for now?"
"You're right. It would be pointless if we were late because of Natsumi."
"Why is it my fault?!"
"I am joking, hehe..."
"You..."
"Haha..."
Seeing Sara-san's charming figure as she teased Natsumi-senpai, I couldn't help but laugh.
Natsumi-senpai glared at me again, while Sara-san and Hanako-san blocked her once more...
This was never going to end unless we actually started walking.
...
"Morning!"
"Good morning, Takanashi-kun, Hanasaki-san!"
"Mornin' to both of you~"
"Morning! You guys are as close as ever, hehehe..."
"Morning."
"Morning. It's the law of the world for Big Sister and Younger Brother to get along."
We entered the Classroom and responded to our classmates' greetings.
The area around Hanako-san's desk was already crowded with the top-tier Hanako-san Enthusiasts in our class, who were waiting expectantly for her arrival.
"Hanako-chan, morninnng!"
"Fohhh, she's too cute again this morning!"
"That pink ribbon is so cute-cute!"
Ignoring the usual scene, Hanako-san sat silently in her seat.
But the enthusiasts were no slouches; they weren't deterred and quickly started heating up on their own.
"Quiet. At least stay calm."
"Yees. Then, I'll adore you quietly!"
"Haaah... so cute... rub-rub."
Seeing her brush them off rather than cutting them off completely like she used to made me think she’d changed—or maybe she’d just gotten used to it.
She’d joined the recent girls' meeting despite her complaints, so she was definitely becoming a part of the class.
"By the way, Takanashi-kun, you're wearing a pretty long Muffler, aren't you?"
"Ah, I was curious about that too!"
"You weren't wearing it until last week. Is it new?"
The female students looked at my Muffler with interest.
Since they were almost always around us, it was only natural for them to notice.
"Ah, this is something Sara-san..."
"Eh?! Don't tell me it's handmade by Satsukawa-senpai?!"
"Y-yeah, it is."
"Oooooh, the Wife's Muffler is hereeeee!"
"A-As expected of Satsukawa-senpai... it looks as good as any high-end store-bought item!"
"Hey, hey, can I touch it?!"
"I-I don't mind, but—"
"Yay!"
Without waiting for me to finish, and while I was still wearing it, the girls began reaching out.
While they weren't touching me personally, being surrounded by girls like this was quite awkward.
"Whoa, it feels amazing!"
"Incredible... I do handicrafts too, but this finish is at a professional level!"
"As expected of Satsukawa-senpai... but about this length."
"Hehehe... I wonder if Takanashi-kun is already using it like that?"
"...Huh? No, I was just using it now?"
I was wearing the very thing they were touching, so I really didn't understand what they were getting at.
"Eh? Hey... are you seriously saying that?"
"Hanako-chan, Takanashi-kun is..."
"That's the cute part of Kazunari. So you don't have to say anything unnecessary. Also, get away from Kazunari already."
With a slightly displeased attitude, Hanako-san stood up, suddenly grabbed my head with both hands, and pulled me toward her chest.
Faced with such a sudden action, I was left to her mercy. I was hugged by Hanako-san while sitting in my chair, my face pressed into her... wait, what was happening?!
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Hanako-chan is so bold!"
"Whoa, whoa, is this a development?!"
"Kiiiih, so jealous! Me too, I want Hanako-chan to do that to me too!"
"Why is it always Takanashi?!"
"I-I-I'm too jealous, Takanashi!"
"Uooooh, why, God?! This is too unfair!"
"H-Hanako-san?!"
Screams and shouts erupted from all over the Classroom. The Unique Collaboration Chorus of Yellow and Black started up all at once, but I seriously had no time for that!
Even if it was to rescue me, this was too sudden.
"It's fine. My Wife told me that I can overlook a few things in an emergency."
"That's the first I've heard of that!"
"Kazunari's safety is the top priority. So don't worry, you can let your Big Sister pamper you."
"N-no, I'm not really..."
I had serious doubts about what counted as an "emergency"... and I wasn't even in a pinch!
"Aahn... Hanako-chan, me too..."
"No. This is only for Kazunari."
"No way..."
"H-Hanako-san, I'm fine—mgh?!"
"Kazunari... good boy, good boy."
""Guohhhhhhhhhh?!""
Hanako-san pressed my face firmly into her and hugged me tightly. She gently stroked my head over and over again with her small hands.
"The gap between her usual cold attitude and this sweet state is irresistible!"
"Haa, haa... the State of Babumi..."
We were now a complete sideshow.
"H-Hanako-san?!"
"Ten more seconds."
"What do you mean, ten seconds?!"
"Then five minutes."
"Ehhhhh?!"
But Hanako-san didn't care about the surroundings at all.
In the end, I was forced to endure an ongoing Humiliation Play of being pampered in Hanako-san's hug until the First Bell rang.
...By the way, what was that talk about the Muffler all about?