CH 58

“What does this mean, Minato-kun?”

“W-Well, that is…um…”

Currently, in front of me was an older man who clenched his fists so strongly that the veins were visible. He had a stubble expression that seemed like he could bite someone at any moment.

This person was none other than Souji-san, the father of Sakuramiya-sensei.

There was a disagreement during the cultural festival, but it ended up with a good impression. However, the goodwill earned at the cultural festival had already disappeared. After all, objectively speaking, the current situation was not an unusual situation even if it was judged as cheating.

“Who is this person, Minato?”

Shinozuka-san, who was clinging tightly to my left arm, looked at me with innocent eyes.

My heart rate was rapidly increasing while thinking about how to get through this.

No, this might be really screwed up…

~ ~ ~

Let’s briefly organize how we got into this situation.

I decided to go out with Shinozuka-san and Shii-chan.

For a somewhat inexplicable reason, it was for family service.

Anyway, we enjoyed the aquarium while holding hands with Shi-chan in the middle.

And there, we happened to meet Souji-san.

Since we had already seen each other’s faces, we couldn’t ignore each other.

Suddenly, the air became as heavy as lead. And that’s when it started.

Well, now that we’ve sorted out the current situation, what should we do?

I was sweating profusely, like I had never seen before.

“I heard that little girl calling you both Mommy and Daddy?”

“Well, that is… it was like we were playing a family game or something…”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Well, neither do I.”

I don’t understand. It can’t be helped if it’s perceived that way, but if it’s a fact, then I had no further room for explanation.

Souji-san exhaled softly and looked at my arm.

“Even if what Minato-kun is saying is true, it can’t be overlooked.”

Currently, Shinozuka-san was sticking tightly to my left arm.

Until just a moment ago, we didn’t have this kind of couple-like distance, but somehow Shinozuka-san had moved closer to me when I was completely baffled by the sudden appearance of Souji-san.

“U-um…could you move away?”

“Before that, explain. Who is that person?”

It was an entirely reasonable opinion.

For Shinozuka-san, I was approached by an unknown middle-aged man.

Unable to grasp the situation clearly, she must be feeling uneasy.

However, I couldn’t introduce Souji-san as Sakuramiya-sensei’s father. I couldn’t make up anything suitable either, and especially not in front of Souji-san.

“Aah, I am Sakuramiya—”

“Wahhh!? Cough, cough!?”

While I was perplexed, Souji-san began to introduce himself.

I slightly opened my eyes and raised my voice, coughing, without caring about the surroundings.

If a word like “Sakuramiya” came out here, it would be the end of the first volume.

“W-What happened?!… Are you okay, Minato-kun?”

“I-I’m fine. More importantly, why is Souji-san here at the aquarium?”

I forcibly tried to change the topic.

“Um, yeah… just to clear my head.”

“Oh, I see. That’s nice.”

“Hmph, it’s nothing compared to you.”

“No… I mean, really…” I said weakly, trying to deny it.

Just as I was about to continue my feeble protests, Shinozuka grabbed my arm and looked up at me with a pleading expression.

“I don’t really understand, but let’s continue our date, Minato.”

“A date… so that’s what this is about.”

The first to respond to Shinozuka-san’s words was Souji-san, who immediately caught on.

“I don’t know who you are, but please don’t interfere with our date. Let’s go, Minato,” Shinozuka said coldly, tugging on my arm.

I was pulled along by her force and turned on my heel. Souji-san looked at me with anger in his eyes, but didn’t say anything more.

“Is it okay, Minato-nii?” Shii-chan, who had been silent and watching up until this point, murmured anxiously.

To be honest, it was not okay at all.

He was the father of Sakuramiya-sensei, the fiancé of his daughter. I couldn’t just leave things with him misunderstanding.

However, there’s no way I can reveal my relationship with Sakuramiya-sensei to Shinozuka-san… No, that’s not it.

I need to stop worrying about what might happen and focus on the problem at hand.

Yes, I scolded myself and came to a stop.

“Minato…?”

“I’m sorry, Shinozuka-san.”

“Huh?”

“I’m already in a relationship with someone.”

Without any hesitation, I came out to her.

Shinozuka’s expression immediately changed and her eyes lost their usual color.

“W-what are you talking about all of a sudden? That’s a different story.”

“I’m sorry for keeping it from you. I should have told you sooner.”

“W-what are you saying? Oh, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that. And I’ll forget about that old man, too. I’ll just pretend none of it happened… So, don’t say weird things all of a sudden, okay?”

Shinozuka-san forced a smile and spoke in a strained voice.

It seems that she’s more surprised by my declaration than the fact that I’m in a relationship.

“I—”

“Stop it.”

“I’m in a relationship with Sakuramiya-sensei.”

“I said stop it!”

She interrupted me with a roar. Her voice was as loud as ever, but her demeanor is threatening. It’s enough to make my voice falter.

“Something’s not right. Calm down, Minato. I’ll forget everything, so just calm down once. It’s not like you, Minato.”

Shinozuka-san said so, but she was the one who was the most unsettled.

She continued to hold onto my sleeve as if clinging to it.

“Minato, you’re not dating anyone, and that’s fine. Right?”

“…It’s not good. I’ve been struggling with what to do for a while. But it seems like there’s no other way but to speak openly.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to say anything.”

But if I don’t say anything here, it will be like this forever, so I have to say it.

I took a breath and said it clearly.

“I’m dating Sakuramiya-sensei.”

“I told you to stop. I don’t want to hear it.”

“So, I can’t respond to your feelings, Shinozuka-san.”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

“I’m sorry, but if we don’t make it clear… I think I will only hurt you.”

“Something’s not right… Sakuramiya-sensei and Minato have more than 10 years of age difference. She’s a teacher and you’re a student, and you are still a minor… This is not okay. Absolutely not. It’s weird. It’s not normal!”

Shinozuka-san raised her voice as if she were going into a rage.

I could tell that everything around me was momentarily silent.

“It’s fine with me… It will be fine.”

She leaned against my chest and her weak voice and disordered breathing touched my skin.

Shinozuka-san continued to lean on me for a while, and all I could do was apologize.

After about ten seconds, Shinozuka-san caught my eyes with her upward gaze, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Minato is just drunk on the situation. Wake up soon.”

“No, it’s not like that…”

Shinozuka-san’s eyes were filled with tears, which were about to overflow.

At that moment, she turned her gaze away, trying to deny her words.

“Ah… um, I messed up, didn’t I …the timing is absolutely terrible… I’m sorry, Mii-kun.”

A voice came from behind.

The owner of the voice was my cousin and Shii-chan’s sister, Kaede.

And next to her was my homeroom teacher, who had asked me to play the role of her fiancé, and above all, my girlfriend, Sakuramiya-sensei.

Silence fell in an instant.

I was sure that the timing was bad… that’s what I thought.