CH 46

(POV Kaito)

Cooking practice was an eagerly anticipated event for the elementary school students, as far as I myself recall. It provided a refreshing break from the usual study time, allowing the children to engage in cooking.

Psychologically speaking, this departure from their regular routine brought about notable differences, primarily because the kids were free from the pressures of studying. Donning aprons and preparing meals with their friends was also one of its popular aspects.

However, I don’t think everyone was looking forward to it. There were bound to be people who weren’t interested.

Chinatsu, perhaps, fell into that category. 

If I were to draw conclusions based on my past life experience with the game, Chinatsu didn’t handle knives and sharp objects well. That was because she had a traumatic incident where her own parents almost killed her with a knife.

While reality and games differ, there are still underlying similarities. So, how should one approach this situation?

As I read the school newsletter that was handed to me, I furrowed my brows, wondering what to do. It contained information about the schedule for the cooking practice as well as reminders to bring an apron, a triangular scarf, and to trim the nails properly.

I wonder what Chinatsu thought about the cooking practice. Did she feel unenthusiastic about it? I wanted to hear her thoughts at least once, but…

It might be difficult to talk to her with Chiharu and the others around. They might already know why Chinatsu wasn’t excited about the cooking practice.

Not in a weird way, but I wanted to find a way to be alone with her somehow…

“Kaito, Kaito! Listen! I didn’t sleep at all during any of today’s classes!”

“Oooh, that’s impressive.”

“Ehehe!”

Chiaki approached me as I sat on the sofa. With a proud smile on her face, she seemed to be saying, “How about that, I did something amazing, right?” as she puffed out her chest.

The sound of the TV echoed in the living room. Chiaki sat next to me, and Chifuyu sat next to me too, but from the other side. Chiharu was next to Chiharu, and next to her was Chinatsu, sitting farther away. There was quite some distance between us.

It would be risky to bring up the topic in this situation.

On the TV, the “mind-boggling global revelations information program” was airing. Chiharu and Chinatsu were focused on it. Meanwhile, Chiaki kept switching her attention between talking to me and watching TV.

“Kaito-san.”

“What’s up, Chifuyu?”

“Um, would you like to try a psychological test?”

“Okay, let’s give it a try…”

“Um, there are roses scattered in front of you. How many roses do you thing there are?”

“…Hmm”

I never really gave much thought to psychological tests, and they didn’t particularly pique my interest. So I had no clue about the type of test Chifuyu had presented me with.

Still, I didn’t want to give a wrong answer.

Yet, I also didn’t want to fabricate anything. I should simply respond with whatever comes to mind. If the roses were scattered, this gives the impression that there were quite a few.

“About nine, I guess.”

“N-Nine…? Th-that’s a big family…”

“What kind of test is this?”

“W-Well, i-it seems to be about the number of friends in your past life…”

“I see…”

It felt like it would be wrong to press further, so I decided not to pursue the topic any furthe….Time passed as we watched TV and engaged in conversation. Suddenly, the sound signaling that the bath was ready could be heard.

“Oh! Kaito, the bath is ready,” Chiaki exclaimed.

“Go ahead,” I replied.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Sorry for always going first~~”

Chiaki really loved taking the first bath. Well, not just Chiaki, but all the sisters. Chiaki would always indirectly express her desire to take the first bath. Her eyes would plead with me, saying she wanted to get in.

I didn’t really mind which order we went in, but perhaps girls prefer the first bath. Usually, the four of them would head to the bath together.

This was my chance. I would seize this opportunity to call Chinatsu to stop her.

“Well then, we’re going to the bath!” Chiaki announced.

“Okay.”

“Oniisan, I’ll be going ahead,” Chiharu said.

“Got it.”

“Kaito-san, Sorry for going first.” Chifuyu said

“Take your time.”

“Kaito-san, me too; I’ll be going ahead,” Chinatsu said.

“Ah, Chinatsu, you, please wait a minute,” 

“”””Eh?””””

When I stopped Chinatsu, everyone, including her, turned their gaze towards me, wondering what was going on.

“Oh, um, it’s not a big deal, but there’s something I wanted to ask,” I said.

“I see! Well then, I’ll go ahead!” Chiaki said.

“…I see. I’ll go ahead too,” Chiharu added.

“…If that’s the case, Chifuyu’ll go ahead as well,” Chifuyu said.

With their pajamas in hand, Chiaki, Chiharu, and Chifuyu left the living room. Chinatsu, who remained, gazed at me with curiosity, wondering why I had stopped her.

As usual, I sensed a slight guard in her demeanor when it was just the two of us. It was as if she was being cautious. 

“Um, was there something…?” Chinatsu asked.

“Well, recently, I was wondering if you had any worries or troubles…”

“Worries…? Why would you think that?”

“I just felt like you had a troubled expression on your face… but you don’t have to force yourself to talk about it. If you ever feel like sharing…”

It wasn’t a lie. I had noticed the troubled expression she had been wearing lately, and I genuinely cared about what might be bothering her. And then, the newsletter about cooking practice came to me, and I combined that knowledge with my hypothesis.

I wonder if she was not feeling enthusiastic about the cooking practice.

“…Actually.” She began

“What is it? Tell me.”

“…. lately, I have this feeling that my hair is getting damaged.”

“Huh?”

Hmm? That wasn’t the response I had in mind. But Chinatsu had a completely serious expression on her face.

She let down her twin tails and brushed her long hair, which was reaching down to her waist.

“Especially the ends… They feel damaged.”

“I see… Anything else?”

“Not particularly.”

“I-I see…”

Was it a misunderstanding from my part? Is the cooking practice not that difficult for her? Was my assumption based on incorrect information after all?

And what is this expectant gaze from Chinatsu?

Uh-oh, I’m clueless. Think. Think about the situation.

Contrary to my hypothesis, her concern was about the damaged ends of her hair…

Oh, could it be that she simply wants a better quality shampoo or something?

“…How about buying the shampoo and conditioner that recently won the gold award at the Monde Selection?”

“Huh?! Is that okay?”

“…Of course, it’s perfectly fine.”

“Thank you so much!”

Ah, I see. I haven’t really paid much attention to shampoo and conditioner. Hair is often referred to as a woman’s crowning glory, said to be more delicate than the skin. It seems that Chinatsu, at her age, wanted to use products that she could truly be particular about in terms of quality.

“Huh?! Is it really okay?”

With a bang, the door opened, and Chiaki suddenly barged into the living room. Chiharu and Chifuyu were also nearby the door. Did they overhear our conversation?

“Of course, it’s okay.”

“Yay!” Chiaki exclaimed.

Chiaki was concerned about her hair too. That means Chiharu and Chifuyu must be concerned as well. Maybe I should consider replacing not only the shampoo but also the face wash products, lotion, and face wash cream….

“Well then, this time I’m definitely going to take a bath!” Chiaki declared.

“Soak up to your shoulders and count to thirty,” 

“Fufufu, I can do ten times that amount, easily!” 

With that, Chiaki headed towards the bath… Or did she really? Chiharu and Chifuyu should be nearby, but I wonder if they went to take a bath too.

But for now, let’s put that aside.

“Chinatsu, do you have any other concerns?” I asked.

“…Um, actually, I’ve been feeling like my skin has been dry lately,” Chinatsu said.

“That’s a matter of facial cleansing. Let’s replace your face wash,” I suggested.

“Thank you very much!”

“Yeah.”

No, that’s not it. That’s not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to discuss her concerns regarding the cooking practice.

“Is there anything else?”

“….No, not really.”

“Are you sure?”

“….Yes.”

“I see.”

That was a lie. While it is factual that my role as their father has only lasted for about a year, that does not imply that I cannot see their true intentions. I couldn’t see everything, but this time I could tell it was a lie.

It’s no use forcing it out… Children are far more delicate than I initially realized. Ideally, I should allow her to approach me when she felt comfortable discussing her concerns.  But the cooking practice is looming right ahead.

What should I do…

While I pondered this, I observed her face gradually transform from that of a cheerful child, elated by the gift of bath products earlier, to a sorrowful expression that didn’t match her age. Her gaze fell, and I felt like her complexion suddenly turned pale. 

“Kaito-san, may I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why do you care about me, about us, so much? We’re just someone else’s children, right? We… have no blood ties or connections.”

“….Well, the answer to that question could be… attachment… It might be more accurate to put it that way,” I replied. 

“Attachment?”

“Well, at first, it was somewhat vague. I took you in somewhat spontaneously, and I had this vague idea of raising you. Somehow, I thought of figuring out where the four of you would end up.”

“Vague… That’s amazing. To take in children like us on a whim.”

“It’s not really amazing.”

“Huh? Isn’t it amazing…? I don’t think just anyone could do something like that.”

“No, it’s different. What I did was an unforgivable act. I took on the responsibility of four lives on a whim. It was a despicable deed. I shouldn’t have acted on vague notions. I should have been prepared. Taking on the role of a guardian requires conviction.”

“…”

Yes, I hadn’t considered the responsibility that came with my past actions. There was no love in my actions. I lacked conviction and determination.

Taking on the lives of others was not something to be done so easily.

“But now, it’s different. Being together, living together, and witnessing the growth of the four of you, I developed a sense of attachment. I truly felt like you were my own children. Well, anyone can have children, but I thought it would feel something like this if it were possible. And then, I realized that I couldn’t continue like this. I felt that my convictions and mental strength were weak.”

“…”

“Well, that’s the gist of it… That’s why I made a decision. I know it will take time to face it. After all, we started as strangers. But I decided to raise you, to be there for you.”

“…Isn’t that incredibly difficult?”

“Well, there are times when I think it’s challenging, but when it’s something I want to do, I don’t worry too much about it.”

“…”

….Oh no. I started boasting, and now I’m feeling quite embarrassed…

This is bad. My face is growing hot. I indirectly and extensively spoke, hoping that my words would somehow resonate and make a difference for this child. Will there be any change now?

“…I, I-I… Ah, it’s nothing.” Chinatsu stammered.

“I see.”

“…I’m sorry, I ended up sounding wishy-washy.”

“Don’t worry about it. There are times like that. If you feel like saying something, just speak up when the time comes.”

“Yes…”

“Now, go to take a bath.”

“Yes… Thank you very much.” Chinatsu said

Everything going smoothly was an implausible notion. Especially in reality. I was like a supporting character, existing anywhere with limited abilities.

Therefore, all I could do was slowly build upon it. Even if the results didn’t come immediately….

◆◆

(POV Chinatsu)

“Uuuu, I’m deeply moved. To think that Kaito would care so much about us like that.” Aki said.

“Kaito-san, this is exactly why Chifuyu is…” Fuyu trailed off.

After finishing my conversation with Kaito-san, I stepped onto the wooden floor and immediately noticed Aki and Fuyu, their eyes glistening with tears. Although I wasn’t crying myself, their eyes met mine, reflecting a glimmer of joy. 

“So you were listening.”

“I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to eavesdrop… but…” Haru said.

“Well, if you didn’t plan on eavesdropping, you wouldn’t be here, right?”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No, it’s fine with me, but…”

“I see. Anyway, should we go to the bath for now?” Haru suggested.

“…Yeah.”

We made our way from the wooden floor towards the changing room, preparing to undress before entering the bath. It was at that moment when I noticed Aki, still crying and yet to remove her clothes. 

“Uuuu, Kaito…”

“How long are you going to keep crying?”

“But… but I’m just so happy. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this.”

“I see…”

Tears streamed uncontrollably from my younger sister Aki’s eyes.

“There, there, let it all out,”

“Uuuu, nee-nee…” 

“There, there, it’s okay,” 

Haru, the eldest sister, comforted Aki, gently stroking her head. From the point of view of Haru, being the caring and nurturing sister that she was, she probably couldn’t resist the cute sight of her pure and innocent younger sister.

“Fuyu, what about joining Haru in the hug?” I said

“No, I’ll pass on that,” Fuyu replied.

“I see…”

“…Natsu-nee, what did you think…about what Kaito-san said earlier?” Fuyu asked.

“Curious, are you?” 

“Well, yes…” Fuyu admitted.

As Fuyu spoke those words, both Aki and Haru, who were hugging each other beside her, turned their gazes towards me. Perhaps it was because I was directly involved in the conversation.

“Well, I thought he seemed like a good person,”

“…Is that all?” Fuyu inquired.

“Yes, a good person. Oh, and an impressive one too,” 

“Anything else?”

“…That’s all. Well, I didn’t expect him to willingly reveal his flaws like that…”

“…I see.”

Perhaps I had been too indifferent in my response. Fuyu’s face seemed slightly saddened, as if she had wanted something to change within me. However, my thoughts were limited to just this. Well, except for one thing.

But there was no point in saying it. It felt like it surpassed the realm of words. So, I kept it to myself. It wouldn’t make a difference even if I said it.

“That’s not true, right?”

Suddenly, Haru’s voice echoed out.

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t there something else you thought about?”

“Why do you think that?”

“It’s just a hunch.”

“…”

“Give it a try. I’m really curious.” Haru said.

“…I can’t put it into words.”

“What do you mean?” Haru asked.

“Even I don’t understand it. It feels like it’s beyond what can be expressed in words.”

“Just try to explain it vaguely.”

“Just vaguely… for just a moment, there was a fleeting moment, and when I blinked… the scenery changed.”

“The scenery?”

“Yes. I don’t understand it, but it felt like the way I saw things, my perspective, my field of view… everything changed for just a moment.”

“Is that so.” Haru said.

While Haru and I were talking, Aki, who was being embraced, spoke up.

“Look, you could actually express it perfectly fine with words,” Aki retorted.

“No, like I said, that’s not it! It’s like… in a sudden rush, an overwhelming feeling that I can’t put into words! I tried to express something that couldn’t be expressed!” 

“You definitely tried to sound cool. I can see right through you,” Aki said.

“I wasn’t trying to!” 

One could call it a serious skill. Aki’s words changed the atmosphere in the room. However, it wasn’t a lie. I felt like something was changing to the point where it couldn’t be expressed in words.

It was the first time I had experienced something like that. When I heard his words, my emotions were stirred, and Kaito-san’s determination was conveyed to me. In that moment, I felt like I could see things I didn’t want to see, things I hadn’t been able to see before, things I didn’t need to see.

There were too many things, too vast for me to comprehend, but in that instant, I felt like I could see them all.

However, one thing I could say for sure is…

It might be something that can’t be expressed….through ordinary words.

“W-well, Natsu-nee, does that mean you also sensed something different?” Fuyu asked.

“I see.  Like I expected, Chinatsu is a chuunibyou after all,” Aki said.

“That’s not true!”

“I’d love a Chuunibyou Chintasu too, you know.” Haru added

I am not a Chuunibyou. Absolutely not. I glared at the three of them who were laughing and managed to silence them with my piercing gaze.

Without further ado, I went ahead and entered the bath first.