Chapter 181 – Everything New

After three long days at the campsite, the second-years at Shirakawa High were finally returning home.

Many eventful things had happened during this long stay at the forest, but it was now time to return home.

"Maybe it wouldn't be too bad living in a peaceful forest like this..."

An average-looking black-haired boy sat on a log and stared off into the sky daydreaming about a possible future where he would live in a secluded forest.

"It would be really lonely, y'know?"

As the boy looked to his side, there was a beautiful blonde-haired beauty standing right next to him that looked like a model out of a beauty pageant.

Her beauty was so ephemeral that the boy's breath was immediately taken away.

"I don't think it would be that lonely if you were with me."

The boy, Takei Tanaka, whispered sweet nothings into his girlfriend's ear.

"Oh you... Well, it wouldn't be too bad. The drive to town for groceries might be devastating though," the girl laughed.

The girl, Akari Akazawa, leaned her head on her boyfriend's shoulder as the two kept discussing their future.

"Hey you two, the bus is about to depart without you," Hasebe said. "Please save the flirting for when we return back from the trip. Even a couple like Ike and I can't handle your overwhelming power."

"Ah, sorry about that," Takei apologized. "Akari, let's go on the bus now."

"Eh? I haven't fully refilled my Takeinium yet!" Akari pouted.

Takei awkwardly scratched his head since he could understand her reasoning. "I'll let you refill it on the bus, okay?"

"Okay!" Akari finally nodded after being satisfied.

"You guys..." Hasebe facepalmed.

They ended up being the last three to board the bus with only a few minutes left to spare before the bus finally left.

Once they got into their seats that were the same as when they went here, Takei leaned back into his seat and relaxed.

For a three day camping trip, it was quite exhausting... I can't lie and say that it wasn't fun though, I really enjoyed the trip as a whole. Maybe this is what people call a rose-colored high school life?

As Takei thought about the recent field trip that had just ended, his phone buzzed with a notification.

—

[Mom]

There's a surprise waiting for you at home~

—

Takei reread the text many times before he set his phone down and scrunched his face trying to think about what the surprise could be.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

***

Once the bus returned to the school, Takei and Akari grabbed their luggage and rushed home to the Tanaka household to see what surprise was awaiting them.

Takei cautiously opened the front door to his house and found...

"Surprise!"

"We're home!"

Takei's parents, Yuuto and Flora, were standing right in front of them, even though they weren't supposed to be here.

"M-Mom?! Dad?!" Takei looked at them with confusion evident in his face. "Why are you home so early? Didn't you say you were going to go overseas for a long time?"

Yuuto awkwardly scratched his head. "Ah, so about that..."

"Your dad and I missed you all so much that we decided to come back and visit briefly before we have to return," Flora explained. "We'll be here for about a week before we have to go back overseas."

Takei was surprised to see his parents return so early, but he was very happy on the inside because he was able to meet them again after not so long.

"W-W..."

He was so choked up on his emotions that he was having trouble speaking.

Seeing him struggling, Akari placed a hand on his shoulder and looked gently into his eyes. "Let's say it together."

Takei realized that Akari was trying to console him, so he put his hand over hers and nodded.

""Welcome home!""

When his parents heard Takei's heartfelt words, they almost began to tear up.

"My son has grown up to be such a splendid man!" Yuuto cried out in happiness.

"It's all thanks to miss Akari over here!" Flora came over and hugged Akari. "Thanks to her, we don't have to worry about our son growing up to be an unsociable loner!"

"Oi."

Even though Takei wasn't the most happy to get made fun of, he still felt happy at how nostalgic the jokes were.

Flora kept hugging Akari as if she were a stuffed animal. "You've gotten a lot cuter since the last time I've seen you! Hehe, who are you trying to be so pretty for, I wonder?"

"Muuuu, you're embarrassing me... Mother," Akari shyly looked at Flora.

"M-Mother?!"

Yuuto had to run up and catch her because Flora looked like she was about to pass out. "It's okay honey! I'm here to catch you when you fall!"

"Good catch, Father." Akari praised him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Guh!" Yuuto said before he collapsed onto the ground with Flora in hand.

It seemed that both of Takei's parents couldn't handle being called familial terms by their cute daughter-in-law.

"Good job taking care of them," Takei thanked Akari.

Akari shook her head. "No problem, I had a feeling they were about to go overboard with something if I hadn't intervened."

As this commotion was going on downstairs, Airi walked down the stairs and took one glance at the antics that were happening and immediately went back up to her room.

"Not today."

—

Supreme Idiot Couple Meter: 0% -> 3%

Note: Flora and Yuuto Tanaka have been gone for exactly 90 chapters or 3 volumes.

Sugar-chan: Another beginning of a volume!

Serious-san: There's not too many beginnings left...