Chapter 67: Chinatsu’s Turn?

(POV Chiharu)

The latter half of October.
It was at this time that the cold started to intensify.
During the morning homeroom, the teacher began speaking with a slightly somber tone, unlike usual.

“Everyone, I have some very sad news… Nishino-kun will be transferring to another school at the end of this month due to his parents’ job circumstances.”

“Eh?”

“No way!”

“Nishino?”

The kids in our class raised their voices in surprise.
Of course, I was also somewhat surprised.
Chinatsu and the others had expressions that weren’t necessarily sad but showed a hint of surprise.

“Teacher is thinking of having a farewell party for him.
We can play dodgeball or soccer and create some last memories, and maybe write farewell messages on colored paper.
Is that okay with everyone?”

“Yay!”

“Sounds great!”

“Count me in!”

With everyone expressing their enthusiastic agreement, the decision was made.

Once the morning homeroom concluded, the students who were close to Nishino hurried to his seat, offering their support and pouring out their heartfelt sentiments during moments of loneliness.
In various ways, they treasured the remaining time they had together, which would soon slip away. 

Chinatsu, Chiaki, Chifuyu, and even Sakura-san and Mary-san, along with some other students, simply observed from a distance without saying a word.
They didn’t even smile or utter a sound.

To be honest, they weren’t on friendly terms with him.
But they weren’t the type to celebrate or show joy upon hearing about someone’s transfer, so they weren’t sure how to react.
It felt wrong to ignore it and also wrong to join in the cheerful conversations.

I wasn’t sure what to call this kind of situation.
For now, I decided to go with the flow and refrain from saying too much.

◆◆

(POV Kaito)

As I continued typing on my computer, the clattering sound echoed through the office, and I suddenly realized that it was already my usual time to head back.

I should go back home now.

With that in mind, I bid farewell to Sasaki and made my way out of the office.
Just as I stepped outside, I bumped into Miyamoto-san.

“Kaito-kun, good job today.”

“Thank you.”

“I haven’t heard much about it lately, but how’s your parenting going?”

“It’s going well….I think.”

“I see… I was wondering, do you give the children an allowance or something?”

“No, if they want something, I believe it’s better to buy it for them.”

“Oh, I see.
There are people like that, but… don’t you think it’s better to give them an allowance? It helps them learn to manage their finances and make decisions.”

“I see… Thank you very much!”

Miyamoto-san always had a way of teaching me helpful things, reflecting the qualities of a good parent.
Perhaps it was time for our family to introduce an allowance system… I tend to want to buy everything for them just because they’re cute.

Actually, I had considered the idea of continuing to buy things for them, but I knew I needed to reconsider various aspects.
However, by giving them an allowance… I couldn’t just suddenly expect them to handle a whole month’s worth on their own.
It would be seen as me being overly indulgent with my daughters.

I am not sure what the right amount would be.
Maybe I can start with a trial period where they buy their own snacks for a week…

After finishing my conversation with Miyamoto-san, I left the place.
Parenting was truly a complex matter.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized there were various methods, and I couldn’t be certain if they were the right ones or which one was suited for which child.

It became overwhelming as my thoughts spiraled deeper into the abyss…

After I drove home safely, I was greeted by Chiaki and the others.

“Welcome back, Kaito! I made dinner tonight!” Chiaki exclaimed.

“I’m home, Chiaki.
Thanks.
So, what did you make?” 

“Hamburgers!” 

“I see.
Thank you,” 

Most of the time, when things were left for Chiaki, she would make hamburgers.
They were delicious, and I had no complaints.
Plus, it was adorable, and it saved me from having to cook.
There was nothing more to say but to express my gratitude with a simple “thank you.”

I took off my suit and changed into something more comfortable before taking my seat.
We all joined hands, had our meal while watching TV, and engaged in light conversations.

“Hey, Nishino is apparently transferring schools due to his parents’ job circumstances,” Chiaki said.

“Is that so… Well, if it’s his parents’ decision, it can’t be helped.”

Chiaki’s words came as a surprise.
Nishino, of all people, was transferring.
I didn’t have any strong emotions about it, and we didn’t have much interaction either, so there wasn’t much to say.
The other three seemed to be in a similar position.

However, we had been involved with each other in some way.
Although I hadn’t heard much about Nishino recently, based on the stories I had heard before, he seemed like a typical elementary school boy, acting his age.
It made me wonder if I had also been that innocent at some point…

And Nishino must have had feelings for Chiaki.
I wasn’t sure how their parting would be, but it would likely be a bit lonely for him to no longer see Chiaki.
It made me think there might be some conflicting emotions there…

I didn’t feel sorry for Nishino, nor did I feel completely indifferent.
Attachment? That didn’t seem quite right either.
It wasn’t a feeling of loneliness, either.
Hearing about Nishino’s transfer didn’t bring me joy, but… how should I put it?

I wonder if there was even a need to say anything about it.

“Oh, Kaito, how are the hamburgers?” Chiaki asked.

“They’re delicious.
The sauce is really good too.”

“Ehehe, Is that so? I put a lot of effort into them!” 

There was no need for me to dwell on other thoughts while enjoying the dinner that Chiaki had prepared with great effort.
It wouldn’t really matter how I felt about it.
I had other matters that required my attention.

“Can I have seconds?” 

“Of course!” 

Chiaki took the bowl from me and headed toward the kitchen with a cheerful expression.
I couldn’t help but think that she was truly a good child.
She was bright… But inside the game……Chiaki could be both rowdy and quiet, depending on the situation…

Well, let’s set that aside for now.

“Here you go! Seconds!” 

“Thanks,” 

I accepted the seconds from Chiaki, and we, the five of us, continued to chat and enjoy our dinner.

◆◆(POV Kaito)

After dinner, while I was watching TV, Chiaki came and sat on my lap.
With a beaming smile, she looked so happy that she was irresistibly adorable.
 Later, after I finished my bath, I returned to my spot in front of the TV.

The other four, being conscious of their appearance, had already gone upstairs, leaving me alone to watch TV.
Surprisingly, I often found myself spending a considerable amount of time watching TV by myself inside the house, especially during the night when falling asleep early wasn’t very easy for me.

So, I had to wait for sleepiness to kick in like this.

While waiting for sleepiness to arrive, I casually watched TV.
Suddenly, the living room door opened.

“Chinatsu, what’s up?” 

“Well… I just wanted to talk to you….” 

Chinatsu held a book in her hands and looked a little embarrassed.
 She was dressed in pajamas, her long blonde hair flowing freely instead of being styled in her usual twin tails.
I couldn’t help but appreciate how beautiful her hair looked.
Although the reason may involve the use of a high-quality shampoo, her hair already possessed a naturally exquisite quality.

“Talk?”

“Yes… I thought maybe we could look at this together.”

After saying that, Chinatsu showed me a book.
It was a cookbook, but did we always have something like that at home?

“Oh, I borrowed this from the school library.” Chinatsu said.

“I see.
Well, let’s look at it together.”

I couldn’t contain my excitement at the fact that she, who used to be so cautious around me, now wanted to read a book together.

Chinatsu sat down next to me.

“But wouldn’t it have been better if everyone looked at it together?” I asked.

“Well, you promised to teach me cooking alone, didn’t you?”

“Oh, right.
So you want me to teach you while we look at the cookbook together?” 

“…” 

Chinatsu nodded twice.

“Kaito-san, you’re always focused on Aki, and when I get the chance to learn, Fuyu and Aki come too close together… So, I thought this was the only way.”

“Oh, I’m sorry if it seemed like I was neglecting you…”

“No, it’s okay.
I’m not blaming you or anything.”

I remember Chifuyu saying something similar to me the other day… I have only one body, so even though I can’t fulfill everything, I need to work harder.

“Um, can you show me the book for now?” I asked.

“Oh, sure…” 

“What’s wrong?” 

“Well, um… Can I sit on your lap?” 

I couldn’t believe how affectionate she was being.
The fact that Chinatsu was asking if she could sit on my lap… I was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Sure… but why all of a sudden?”

“Because Aki looks so happy, and I was curious about why that is,” Chinatsu explained.

“I see.
It’s totally fine.”

“Well then, excuse me.”

Chinatsu bowed and settled herself on my lap.
In terms of weight, was it roughly the same? Or maybe Chiaki was slightly lighter…

“Did you just think of something?” Chinatsu asked.

“No, I’m not really thinking about anything.” 

“Is that so.”

I noticed a sharp glare in her eyes.
I’m not quite sure, but it must be a woman’s intuition or something.

“Do you think I’m heavy?” Chinatsu asked.

“No, you’re light,” 

“Who’s lighter, me or Aki?” 

“You’re about the same,” 

“…Is that so?”

I couldn’t help but feel surprised.
It’s not like she could read my mind, but she was truly sharp.
I found myself getting a little flustered, even though I didn’t show it on my face.

Afterward, Chinatsu opened the book and pointed at something.
There were some complicated-looking recipes written on the page.
Raw crab marinated in soy sauce and Japanese mixed rice… They seemed quite high-end.

“Um, please take a look at this,”

“Hmm,” 

“I want to try making this.” 

“Ah, simmered mackerel in miso?” 

“Yes! I want to make it!” 

“I see.
Shall we make it together?” 

“Yes, I’d love that.
But please, Kaito-san, don’t get distracted by Aki right away… Teach me properly, okay?” 

“Understood.”

She expressed a slight hint of dissatisfaction.
After all, we had made a promise that I would only teach her.
It couldn’t be helped, though.
Besides, she wanted to carry some burdens of her own.
It’s a relationship where if someone can do it, that someone will have to take care of it.

She wanted that to end, she wanted to shoulder her own burdens and move forward.
That’s why she said that I should teach her alone.

I need to respect those feelings.

“Um, can I ask you something unrelated?” 

“Sure.”

“Why did you… take us in, Kaito-san?” 

“…I guess I couldn’t just leave you alone.
As I mentioned before, I couldn’t entrust you to your relatives.”

“…Isn’t it a loss for you, Kaito-san?” 

“A loss?”

“Yeah, I mean, you’re spending money on us, right? It’s not just about money; taking care of us is also really difficult.
It’s like… we gain so much, but you don’t gain anything at all.
You’re not benefiting.”

“Just having the four of you makes me happy, and every day is enjoyable.”

“It’s not about that… It’s not about that kind of thing from an outsider’s perspective.
I’m sure you’re at a loss, Kaito-san.
You must have other things you want to do, and money can’t be infinite… You’re not doing anything for yourself…”

“I-I see? I do buy alcohol and stuff.”

“That’s all, right? … It just feels like you’re at a loss.”

“I don’t feel that way, though…”

“You really are similar to Haru.
Kaito-san, you’re… indifferent to yourself…”

Chinatsu brought up such a sudden topic.
I didn’t think I was at a loss, although I was occasionally accused of not having desires.
But being told that I was at a loss to this extent was a first.
Perhaps Chinatsu was contemplating something complex.
Not from an emotional standpoint, but from a practical perspective.

“I-Is that so…? Did it seem that way?” 

“Yes… I’m sorry.
I suddenly thought that way, so I just blurted it out…” 

“No, I’m honestly glad that you expressed what you thought,” 

“Is that so?” 

Chinatsu said so.
We both felt like the conversation had veered off track and fell into a brief silence, pondering what to do next.
However, Chinatsu began speaking again.

“…I will repay you too, Kaito-san.
Because I think you’re at a loss, and I won’t let you suffer more losses.
I want you to gain more, to have something to gain.
I’ll cook a lot for you, greet you warmly, and even give you shoulder massages.”

“…Thank you.
I’m looking forward to it.”

Chinatsu’s demeanor felt so different that I couldn’t help but wonder if she was a completely different person.
Perhaps this is what they mean by a strong-willed individual.

“Oh, I should probably go to bed soon…” 

“Yeah, getting some rest would be good.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.
Can we talk again sometime?” Chinatsu asked.

“Of course,” 

Upon hearing that, Chinatsu, who was still seated on my lap, smiled radiantly.

“Thank you,” 

It was like a bomb of smiles had exploded.
Chinatsu was so precious that it felt like my consciousness was drifting away and I was forgetting to breathe.

“Goodnight,” 

It was also adorable how she bowed flatly and left after getting off my lap.
This was a day when I understood to an indescribable extent how much a father’s love for his daughter could amount to.