Last Saturday of the month. As we had planned the other day, Umi and I would be going together to pick out new autumn clothes for our date tomorrow.
Usually, we'd just go to the nearest commercial district, but Umi suggested that we should go to an outlet mall near the edge of the town, so we would be going there. Apparently, it was the third year anniversary of that mall, so they were having a huge sale over there. We could get a lot of things, not only food and clothes, at a discount.
Wearing my usual hoodie and jeans, I rang the intercom to Umi's house. Usually, Umi was the one who'd pick me up for our dates, but today, Sora-san was going to drive us to the outlet mall, that was why I was here early in the morning.
It was currently eight in the morning… I really wanted to sleep a little longer, but Umi told me that if we didn't go there earlier, the items on sale would be sold out.
…People really got that enthusiastic over a little shopping, huh?
{Welcome, Maki-kun. Umi is still getting ready, so come on in first.}
"Okay. Please excuse me."
I looked at my phone screen to see how did I look before fixing up my messy bangs. After that was done, I entered the house and went straight to the living room. I was greeted by a familiar scene; the veggies and fruits on the table, the smell of bread, Sora-san's humming and my cute girlfriend's bright smile.
"Come here, Maki~"
"Mm…"
I did what she told me and sat down next to her on the couch. Almost immediately, she grabbed my arm and embraced it. I used to refrain from indulging her like this because Sora-san was here, but the latter never made a fuss about it, so I figured that there was no need to do so. Umi also never made a big deal out of it anyway.
Well, if Daichi-san was here, it might be a different story…
"Sorry for the trouble, Sora-san. We could just take the bus to get there, but we just had to trouble you for this, hadn't we…?"
"No, it's fine, I don't mind. I have to get some groceries for our house anyway, so I figured that it'd be more helpful to have you two help me carry them… Umi, don't make that face. Don't worry, I'll leave you two to go on your date alone, okay?"
"…I-I'm not making any faces! Right, Maki?"
"Huh? Well, y-yes you aren't…"
With her pinching my back, I couldn't just deny her words…
Well, in any case, the mother and daughter pair seemed as close (?) as ever.
Still, couldn't she hold back a little? Her pinch really hurt… Well, actually, I didn't mind it that much…
In any case, Umi had already finished getting ready just before I arrived, so we quickly got into Sora-san's car and went straight to the mall. It had been a while since I rid a car driven by Sora-san like this, so—
"Is something wrong, Maki-kun?"
"Ah, no… Nothing…"
…Let's just hope that everything will be okay.
Umi and I sat in the backseat. Naturally, we held each other's hand. Because both of us were wearing seatbelts, we couldn't exactly do anything more than this.
"Ah, right, isn't it almost time for the parent-teacher discussion? Masaki-san is busy with her work, isn't she? Are you gonna be okay, Maki-kun?"
"Yes, Mom would be taking a day off on that day… By the way, have they posted the schedule for your class, Umi?"
"Yeah, I checked it the other day, we'll take the interview on the same day as your class, Maki. Right, will you be hanging out with Masaki-obaa-san, Mom?"
"Well, if we get to take the interview on the same day, of course. It's been a while since we've hung out. Getting some alcohol— no, maybe tea would be better?"
"I'm sure my mom will be more than happy to go with you, Sora-san. Whether you'll be inviting her for some tea or alcohol, she'll be fine either way."
"Is that so? I'll invite her out later then."
The parent-teacher discussion, one of the events that all the second year high schoolers hated to participate in. That event will be held next month for around three days.
Umi and I had already decided the university we wanted to go to, and our grades were already decent enough, so, all we needed to do was to work hard to achieve our goals. But, not all second years shared the same fate as us. The rest of our group, Amami-san, Nitta-san and Nozomu, fell into that category.
"Still, I can't believe that my baby will graduate in a year and a half… It feels like it has only been a few months ago that she learned how to walk… Like they said, children grow up quickly… I thought I'd need to take care of both my children for a little longer, but it seems like that isn't the case…"
Umi and I, Riku-san and Shizuku-san. From Sora-san's perspective, everything would change drastically from what she used to. Riku-san would finally leave her for his new life with Shizuku-san soon, and if things were to go well, Umi would also do the same next year.
With Daichi-san away from home often and both her children leaving the house… She'd end up by herself most of the time…
I took a glance at her face using the back mirror. She looked as calm as usual, but I noticed a hint of loneliness on her face.
"…Well, my dear husband is still there, so it's fine. In any case, looking at you two made me think of the good old days. What do you think about it, Umi? Maki-kun?"
"…D-Don't ask me, ask Maki!"
"W-Why me?"
It was hard for me to comment on it since I was the one who took Umi away from her.
These days, it felt like I've been talking to Sora-san more than my own mom, so I resolved myself to take proper care of her too in the future. Thinking about the mother-daughter pair made me let out a wry smile.
…Anyway, it seemed like I had to deal with this kind of atmosphere for another hour. I wonder if I could last that long?