Volume 1 - CH 23

Episode 23: “Proposal? Effect”

(TLN: Awieee…)

Nanami-san stopped herself there and covered her mouth with both hands.

It seems that in Nanami-san’s world of fantasies, she had progressed to the point where we were already living together.

…So Nanami-san also has those kinds of fantasies… Well, how should I put it… I’m honored.

“That Nanami, who used to be uncomfortable around boys… As a father, it’s complicated, but… let’s celebrate,” said Genichiro-san.

Nanami-san’s entire face turned bright red, but she still came close to me and tightly held my hand.

“See you tomorrow!”

She shouted loudly, as if to blow away the grinning expressions of her parents, and showed me a smile.

I was worried after sharing painful memories, but she seems to be okay. But… I need to follow up with her later.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Nanami-san. Genichiro-san, nice to meet you again. Tomoko-san, thank you for having me.”

“Huh, wait, why are you calling my mom by her name? What happened?”

…I see, Nanami-san didn’t hear the previous exchange… How should I explain it?

As I was thinking, Tomoko-san grabbed Nanami-san’s armpits with her arms and dragged her back.

“Oh my, Nanami, come over here. I’ll hear all about what happened until now. Hehe, it’s time for some mother-daughter love talk.”

“Wait, Mom, explain properly! No, I’m ticklish under my armpits, so stop it! I’m losing strength!”

Nanami-san is ticklish under her armpits… Alright, I’ll remember that.

(TLN: lmao)

She was taken away like that… It’s impossible for me to rescue her now. I just waved my hand softly.

“Hmm… It was my mother’s dream to have love conversations with her daughter… Her excitement must be at its peak…”

Genichiro-san, with a distant look in his eyes, told me that with a smile.

I was given a ride home by Genichiro-san. During the journey, I was anxious about what to talk to her father about…

But Genichiro-san casually started a conversation with me.

He shared cute stories about Nanami-san’s past, like when she started dressing in a gal fashion in high school and how he developed a scary face to protect Nanami-san, but couldn’t change it back…

I learned many things.

Nanami-san must be a good listener, just like Genichiro-san. Maybe she takes after him. She resembles her mother in appearance and her father in personality. They’re a great family.

And finally… Genichiro-san told me something like this.

“This… is the first time I’ve shared Nanami’s past with someone outside our family. Youshin-kun, even her friends don’t know about this.”

The fact that he entrusted me with something even her friends don’t know made my back tremble.

“…Why did you tell me?”

“Yeah, I think you could have done it if you hadn’t chosen gyoza for dinner.”

…I see… The gyoza with lots of garlic was delicious, but I guess it might be a concern about the breath.

I didn’t really pay much attention to that, but maybe Nanami-san was worried about it?

So, if we had ordered something different for dinner…

W-was there… a kiss?

Did it happen?!

Oh, I’m starting to grin just from my imagination. I feel a mix of embarrassment and happiness. Even though it’s just a daydream.

“Canyon-kun, sorry for interrupting your daydream, but… shouldn’t you contact your girlfriend? You said you would initiate the conversation, right?”

How do you know, Baron-san? Anyway, just as I was about to contact Nanami-san, a new message appeared.

“It’s from Peach-san.”

I thought she was going to criticize me again… But the message she sent was different from the usual.

“If you’re happy, Canyon-san, then I have nothing to say. But… if anything hurts you, please come to me for comfort.”

“Oh, Peach-chan finally approves too. Yeah, I don’t think that will happen, but if it does, come here. We’ll comfort you as much as you need.”

I don’t know these people’s faces or real names.

But I consider them precious friends I’ve made through the game. Maybe that’s why. I feel so happy and my heart warms up.

The others also wrote similar messages one after another. I’m truly grateful.

My eyes well up with tears, but I can’t cry before contacting Nanami-san, so I hold it back.

“Thank you, everyone. I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

That’s all I write and then contact Nanami-san.

…Come to think of it, it’s kind of the first time I’m initiating contact with her in the evening.

We exchange messages every night, but… this is the first time I’m trying to make a spontaneous call… Yeah, now that I think about it, it’s the first time.

Feeling a little nervous, I wait for her to pick up.

This time, even though the call rings several times, Nanami-san doesn’t answer. I start to think that maybe the timing was bad, but just when that thought crosses my mind, the call connects.

“Youshin?! Oh, thank goodness, I’m relieved! Ugh, you took so long to contact me… I’ve been through a lot, you know!?”

Interlude: Nanami-san right after Youshin returned home.

“Well, today it’s time for some love talk with my daughter! My dream have come true! I can’t wait to hear all the details!”

“Mom… I’ve resigned myself to it, so please stop being so nosy… And also… don’t ask too many embarrassing questions, okay?”

“Oh… Did you do something embarrassing that you can’t tell your mom?”

With a smirk on her face, my mom’s question made my cheeks turn red. No, I haven’t done anything like that. I haven’t done anything embarrassing at all!

“Well, then I can ask you anything without a problem. Now, I’m going to dig deep and ask all the details!”

Please don’t read my mind!! How do you know?!… I haven’t done anything embarrassing, right…?