Chapter 23

The next day, I was at the same shopping mall as yesterday.

"O-kari-n!"

I thought I heard a loud voice, and then Akari came running from the direction of the station gates.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Did you wait long?"

"No, I just got here."

Why am I here with Akari?

Yesterday, I came here with my sister Nanako.

At that time, as a token of appreciation for her usual care, I gave her a dog as a gift.

"That's a date with your sister! That's so unfair!"

"I'll buy you a gift too."

"Really? Then, tomorrow! Same place for a date!"

That's how it happened.

"Are you done with work?"

"Yeah! The café usually finishes up pretty quickly. It's hot, though."

For some reason, Akari was in her school uniform.

However, she had unbuttoned the top of her short-sleeved shirt and was fanning herself with her hand.

Naturally, her ample cleavage was visible.

"Hmm? O-kari-n, your eyes look lecherous. Are you that interested in Akari's cleavage? Kyaa♡ How naughty♡"

I poked Akari's forehead, which seemed oddly delighted.

"Behave yourself."

"Okay♡"

No matter what I said, Akari seemed delighted.

"Haven't you eaten yet? Let's have lunch first before we go inside."

"Okay!"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Well, I know a delicious pasta place, so I'll show you!"

Akari grabbed my hand and started walking ahead.

I followed behind her.

"Hey, you... do we really need to hold hands?"

"Of course, it's a must. I don't want to get lost."

"You're so capable, you won't get lost."

"That's not the point here."

Akari walked ahead.

"...No way, who is that girl, she's so beautiful."

"...Her face is so small. Her legs are so long."

"...Her chest is so big."

A beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes was walking in her school uniform.

She was very noticeable.

"...Who's that guy next to her?"

"...Her boyfriend, maybe? I'm jealous!"

"...No way, he looks like her father. That's weird."

...I was also drawing attention.

But, I see... because she's in a uniform, people think I'm her father, so it's not a big deal even if we stand out.

"You're clever, Akari."

"Yeah, I think so too. I put a lot of thought into things."

"You've always been the type to think ahead."

While being led by Akari, I passed through the food court and arrived at the back of the shopping mall.

There was a pasta place in a less noticeable location.

We sat at a window seat.

"O-kari-n, the B lunch is recommended."

"Then let's get two of those."

The waiter took our order, bowed, and left.

"It's quiet here, the prices are low, and the food is delicious, so I recommend it."

"Hmm... you know a lot."

"Well, yeah. I use it as a reference for recipes."

I see... The reason her cooking is better than the restaurant's is because of this kind of effort.

"Does Akari work at a place like this?"

She works part-time at both a café and a Western restaurant.

"Yeah. But the location of the restaurant is a secret. The café's location got out, though."

"Why is it a secret?"

"Nyuh♡ A woman becomes more beautiful by keeping secrets."

"You've always liked that manga."

I often played Conan games with her at cram school.

Usually, I was the one who got put to sleep.

"Of course! Manga and anime are a proud part of Japanese culture! Oh, O-kari-n, what manga have you read recently?"

"Blue Lock is pretty interesting."

"Right? It's super interesting right now!"

Due to my job, I often read light novels, anime, and manga.

Akari enjoys manga and anime as a hobby.

"No matter how much I recommend manga to my sister, she won't read it."

"Does Nanako still not read manga?"

"Yeah. She says she doesn't know how to read it. There are too many panels. She says she can't read it unless I number the panels for her. She sounds like a grandma."

Just then, the pasta arrived.

"O-kari-n, O-kari-n♡"

"What is it?"

She twirled the pasta with her fork and offered it to me.

"Ahn♡"

"Don't get carried away. We're in public."

"Is it okay inside?"

"It's bad manners, so don't do that."

"Che..."

Akari, with her side ponytail, lifted her hair to avoid getting it on the plate while eating.

Her movements were oddly seductive.

"Oh my, O-kari-n, are you feeling a little excited by my seductive movements?"

Akari said with a grin.

"No, I'm just a bit moved that you've grown up."

"From a guardian's perspective! Ah, whatever!"

She kicked her feet under the table.

"As long as you don't fix that habit, you're still a kid."

"Ugh... Too tough... I give up."

After the pasta, tiramisu was brought out.

It was a dessert set.

When she tried the "Ahn♡" again, I poked her forehead.

Akari took a bite of the tiramisu and then took out her phone to type.

"What are you writing notes for?"

"The recipe."

"Can you really tell just from one bite?"

"Yeah, I can mostly recreate it from one bite. If I finish it, it'll be perfect."

"You have quite a talent."

"Nyuh♡ Isn't that right?"

Akari finished her notes in high spirits and ate the rest of the tiramisu.

"I'll make it for you at home next time!"

After that, I wandered around the shopping mall to buy Akari a gift.

"O-kari-n! The new volume of Dungeon Food is available for pre-order! Can I order it?"

"O-kari-n, look! A new bag! It's so cool! Can I look at the others too?"

"O-kari-n, there's a game center. Want to stop by?"

We followed the same route as my sister Nanako.

Nanako never said where she wanted to go; she just followed me.

When I asked what she wanted, she couldn't find anything.

But Akari was different. Her interests were all over the place, and she seemed to want a lot of things.

She was the complete opposite of my introverted sister.

...But, surprisingly.

"Okay, I'm satisfied! Let's go to the next store."

We were in a gift shop.

Akari picked up a cute trinket.

But that was it.

"Hey, Akari. You haven't bought anything yet. Is that okay?"

"I pre-ordered the new volume of Dungeon Food, though?"

"No, that's it. You work part-time, so you have money. Why aren't you buying anything?"

"Hmm," Akari made a troubled face.

"O-kari-n, promise not to laugh."

"Okay."

"And don't think it doesn't suit me."

"Alright."

Akari cleared her throat.

"Because it would be a waste, wouldn't it?"

"A waste?"

"Yeah. I save all my part-time earnings for the future."

...I was surprised.

I thought she was working to buy things she wanted.

But she was saving for the future.

"I see. That's impressive."

I patted Akari's head.

"Eh...?"

Akari opened her mouth in surprise.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, well... Usually, my classmates would tease me, saying it doesn't suit me or that I'm too serious."

Akari blushed and fiddled with the ends of her hair, fidgeting.

"Being praised... I, um, no, I'm really, really happy."

Akari smiled shyly.

This girl really smiles modestly and elegantly when she's truly happy.

So, it must be genuine.

"Let's go; we're in the way here."

"Okay."

Akari reached out her hand, and this time, I grabbed it.

"Fe...!?"

Akari made a strange sound, her eyes wide open.

"What's wrong?"

"A... ah... well..."

Her neck turned red, and she stammered.

"You've been holding hands with me all this time, but now you're blushing?"

"F... Faking it is one thing, but O-kari-n teasing me is forbidden!"

"I see. Sorry."

"Ah, no! Faking it is... okay, but... not in public... okay?"

I've known Akari and Nanako for a long time.

There are parts that haven't changed in 10 years and parts that have.

And there are parts I couldn't have known 10 years ago... Every time I discover them, I realize how much they've grown.

They've really become adults.

What about me...?

★

In the end, we didn't buy anything and headed back.

"Are you really okay with not buying anything?"

"Yeah, it's fine."

"You don't have to hold back."

"Hehe, you're so sweet, Kaiji-kun."

"Who's Kaiji-kun, class rep?"

Akari laughed mischievously.

"Having an excuse to buy a gift means I can go on another date with O-kari-n♡"

Akari hugged my arm tightly.

"To me, going out somewhere with O-kari-n and having fun together... is the best gift."

Hearing Akari's opinion, I wanted to ask.

"Aren't dates for when you want something?"

"No. I don't need money or gifts. Having O-kari-n is enough."

...Women's values are really diverse.

"Was it different with your ex-wife?"

The perceptive Akari immediately realized what I was comparing.

"Yeah, every time we went out, she asked me to buy something."

"Ugh, that's terrible. She only sees men as wallets... What kind of parents raised her to be like that?"

"Misae's father was quite strict. He even refused to let us get married multiple times."

"Ew... Really?"

"Yeah. I thought it was rare to have such a stubborn father these days."

"How did such a scumbag come from a stubborn father... O-kari-n? Isn't there someone in front of your house?"

At that moment, Akari pointed ahead.

"Kohei-kun!"

When he noticed me, he ran over quickly.

"Kohei... O-kari-n, do you know him?"

"...Yeah, I know him well."

He came up to me and then... BAM! He prostrated himself.

"Please! Kohei-kun! Can you help reconcile with my daughter?"

"Daughter... acquaintance... reconcile... You don't mean..."

Akari seemed to realize too.

I sighed and called out to him.

"Please get up, Mr. Nagano."

Nagano... Misae's maiden name.

So this was Misae's father.