Volume 1 - CH 32

—kacha

“I’m back.”

Himekawa, who had dropped Imai-san off, returned.

“Welcome back. Where is Imai-san?”

I asked Himekawa as she sat down.

“He called a cab, exchanged a few words with me at the door, and left.”

“I see. By the way, what are you going to do after this?” [TLN: He’s asking his dad, kinda weird to switch immediately]

“Me? After this, I will go to Himekawa-san’s place to say hello, and then return home. I have work tomorrow, too. I’m busier than you think.”

“I see.”

When I looked at Himekawa, she was looking at a piece of paper she had received earlier, pondering something.

“Tendo-san, I have a favor to ask you.”

“Hmm? For me?”

Himekawa spoke to my father.

What is it that you want to ask my father for?

“I will contact my father now. If you could, would you please go with me to his home?”

My father said he was going to Himekawa’s house, and Himekawa said she wanted to go there with him.

“I don’t mind, but why so suddenly?”

“I want to have a good talk with my father once, and I have a lot of things to do, like preparing to move out. I know starting now is too late, but I want to move as soon as possible.”

I was listening to Himekawa’s story, taken aback by her energy.

From Himekawa’s passive attitude until now, I think she has become much more aggressive.

“Well, if Himekawa-san doesn’t have any particular problem with it, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you very much. Well then, I’ll just, I’ll go make a call.”

After saying that, Himekawa excused herself again and walked out of the room.

“She was a strong girl, wasn’t she? Tsukasa should learn from her.”

“Oh, all right, all right.”

I gave the appropriate response and began to clean up the cups and tea containers on the table in the kitchen.

While I was washing the cups, I heard a chair move.

I turned around to see my father putting on his jacket and getting ready to leave.

“Are you leaving?”

“I’m going to take care of someone’s daughter. The sooner the better.”

“Well, I think it’s better than being late.”

He gets up from his seat and comes to stand next to me.

He puts his hand on my shoulder and looks at me.

“Tsukasa. Take care of yourself.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s all right.”

—kacha

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Himekawa has returned. She had changed from her school uniform to her regular clothes and was carrying a large bag in her hand.

She also has a bag for school, so she is probably going to her home now.

“Tendo-kun. I’m sorry to bother you on such short notice, but I’m going home now.”

“Don’t worry, it’s no problem. I think Himekawa should take her time talking to her father, so don’t worry about me.”

“Thank you. I’m not sure if I can borrow one of your Tupperware?”

“Tupperware? There are some in the drawer there. What are you going to use them for?”

“I was thinking of taking yesterday’s meat and potato to my father.”

I quickly took out a Tupperware from the drawer and began to fill it with last night’s meat and potatoes.

“Meat and potatoes, is that what you need?”

“Yes. I want my father to eat it too.”

Himekawa put away the Tupperware containing the meat and potatoes in her bag, went to the front door with her father, and started walking toward the cab she had called.

“I’m off, then.”

“Oh, have a good day.”

Following Himekawa, who got in first, Dad is about to get into the cab.

“Tsukasa, if you need anything else, call me right away. Also, as I said before, be sure to…”

“Aah! Just go, just go! You’ll get Himekawa in trouble if you’re late!”

I shouted to my father and then pushed him into the cab.

The cab door closes and I watch the taillights as they move away from me.

I return to the front door alone and take off my sandals.

I lie down on the sofa and turn on the TV.

What a noisy parent. But I can tell that he’s thinking about his son.

He’s usually quiet, but when the time comes, I can rely on him, and in fact, I do rely on him.

I am still a child, after all.

The past few days have been busy. I’ve been moping around by myself, thinking about what to prepare for dinner.

I stand in the kitchen and prepare the cutting board and knife.

For some reason, I don’t feel motivated. This has never happened to me before.

The sound of the TV is unnecessarily loud. The volume should be the same as usual, but it’s not.

For some reason, I didn’t feel motivated that day, so I finished dinner by myself with what was left in the fridge.

Huh? Was dinner this tasteless? I thought to myself with chopsticks in my hand.

―Būnbūn

Just before going to bed, my phone starts shaking.

I look at the screen and see a message from Himekawa.

My heart is pounding and my pulse is racing.

I tap the screen and check the message sent to me.

{I was able to talk to my father. He was very happy to eat the meat and potatoes. He will be visiting you tomorrow night. Please take care of him.}

What a surprise. Himekawa’s father is coming!

And tomorrow! What am I going to do? What should I prepare?

Oh, clothes. What should I wear?　I realize that I am thinking the same way as Himekawa.

Just before going to bed, feeling like a bomb was dropped on me, I fell into a deep sleep, thinking about tomorrow.

A Suit, shirt, and tie… Oh, I guess I need to get a haircut too.