Papa no Iu Koto o Kikinasai! - Volume 3 - Chapter Pr

Prologue 

The oldest memory engraved in my mind is Nee-san wearing a kimono when she was younger. 
Though it is a hazy memory that I cannot recall even the time or location of, Nee-san’s expression and the pattern of the kimono on her are exceptionally vivid in my memory. 
Nee-san was probably a primary school student that time, and thus, this should be a memory from when I was three or four. 
Our parents were still present, so I think I was probably carried by dad or mom, looking at Nee-san’s silhouette. Not the least concerned with the long sleeves of the kimono, she ran quickly on the paved ground. 
I could still remember Nee-san running before a huge door, turning around to wave at me. 
On the kimono made of black cloth, there were beautiful pictures of flowers. When the sleeves that had a trace of maturity waved along with the movement of Nee-san’s hands, it looked as though the sakura petals were dancing in the wind as well. Nee-san seemed to like the kimono very much as well, and I would sometimes see her taking it out from her cupboard, staring at it in deep thought. 
However, the kimono disappeared some time before this. 
It happened when our parents passed away, when we had to live together, and the first time that Nee-san moved to another house with me. 
We tidied up the articles in the house, and sold the house that a family of four once lived in. 
The kimono was probably lost about that time. So that I could go to college, Nee-san gave up on a lot of things, suppressing a lot of feelings as well. The fact that Nee-san’s interests and smile were not lost in her hard life made me respect her very much. 
After that, Nee-san married her husband. Though their age was somewhat distant, he was quite nice, so she still managed to enjoy a happy life in the end— Things should have been so. 
However, Nee-san suddenly disappeared because of an air crash. 
The only thing that I can do now is to properly take care of the three daughters that Nee-san left. 
That’s right, I— Segawa Yuuta, became the ‘Papa’ of those children just like that. 

It was a bright and sunny day. We started our new life of a family of four at the Takanashi residence at Ikebukuro, and were facing an important phase. 
The youngest among the three sisters— My niece, Hina, that I am so proud of, is having her Shichi-Go-San. 
Not long after this, we are going to bring Hina to a shrine to pray. The sky of Ikebukuro today is sunny without a trace of clouds in the sky, as though it is celebrating the memorable day as well. After all, since Hina is so cute, the gods definitely like her as well. 
As the main character, Hina is currently changing her clothes. Oba-san specially came to our house, and put on a red kimono over Hina’s nagajuban. 
”Hina, extend your hands over here.” 
”The sleeves are so~ long! Oba-tan, what is this? Why is this so long?” 
Hina curiously waved her sleeves. 
”This is called a ‘tamoto [1] ’, Hina-san.” 
”Ta~ O~ To~? So this is a ‘taoto’ huh. Mnn, Hina understands. The taoto are so~ long ?” 
It’s a tamoto, Hina. Ah, so this is called a ‘tamoto’ huh, not a ‘sode [2] ’? To be honest, I just learned the word ‘nagajuban’ which would be the thin shirt worn beneath the kimono, myself. I originally thought that it was a yukata. 
”Oba-san, erm…… There doesn’t seem to be a sash……” 
Sora-chan worried after rummaging the bag containing the yukata. 
”Ah, you can just use this for a sash.” 
In Oba-san’s hands was a long cloth used to fix children’s yukatas, and it somewhat contrasted with the magnificent kimono. 
”Eh?” 
Sora-chan’s reaction exposed her confusion, and I did not understand as well. 
”Letting a three year old use a traditional sash will bring her discomfort, and there is ‘hifu [3] ’ as well, so that should be enough. It was worn like this in the past.” 
Oba-san, who finished putting on the accessories on Hina’s kimono, did not have a hint of slowness in her movements. 
Having a pale pink coat (that seems to be a ‘hifu’) worn over her red kimono, Hina looked overwhelmingly cute! If there was a beauty competition for children wearing traditional Japanese clothing, Hina would definitely be the champion. 

Though it was near winter, the scene with a trace of spring made Hina’s surroundings seem to have a hint of warmth. 
”Uuu~…… It feels hot.” 
That’s true, dressing up like that in the house will make one hot. After all, wearing a kimono means putting on quite a few sets of clothing. 
”You look very cute like this, Hina, so please be patient. Here, you’ll have to wear a hair clasp as well.” 
Miu-chan said while inserting a cute, colorful hair clasp that feels like it would be popular with the kids in Hina’s set hair. 
”That’s all…… Right?” 
”It’s going ding, ding, ding!” 
This time, Hina didn’t wave her sleeves, but her head that had a hair clasp on it. 
”Wow~ Ding, ding ding ?” 
”Hina, if you move your head too forcefully, your hair clasp will fall down.” 
”Hina-san, stand still and let me have a look.” 
As Oba-san walked backwards slightly to take a look at Hina’s clothing, I approached as well. 
After all, I must admire the cute appearance of our little princess in detail as well. 
”Hina, Hina, don’t move so much. Make a cute pose.” 
”Cute pose? Like this?” 
”Yes, yes! Just like this!” 
Making poses along with Miu-chan, Hina is absolutely, supremely cute! 
I am not exaggerating! I can assure you that she must be the cutest three year old girl in the whole world! 
”Well then, I shall go ahead first.” 
”Okay, thank you for your trouble.” 
Oba-san headed to the shrine a step earlier than us. It seems like she has to meet the people at the shrine and the Oji-sans of the Takanashi family, to deal with some matters for us. Not only that, even the kimono Hina is wearing right now, Oba-san…… 
Ding dong! The doorbell rang right after Oba-san left. 
”Huh? That’s early.” 
”Se~ Ga~ Wa~ Kun~! I~ am~ here~” 
A familiar sound came from outside. Hey, Sako-senpai, aren’t you a bit too early! 
”Everyone is waiting for you all at the shrine. I have to take photos from the moment Hina-sama steps out the door~ After all, I am Hina-sama’s personal photographer today!” 
…… The person who decided without further ado to take part in the ceremony of Hina’s Shichi-Go-San would be Sako-senpai, the president of the Road Observation Research Society. Raika-san and the others would most probably be there as well, and as I recall, Shiori-chan said that she would be present too. 
Oh well, it’s fine no matter how crowded the scene will be, as it’s our Hina’s Shichi-Go-San after all. 

Though we went through various situations like the hurried school festival, Sora-chan falling sick because of exhaustion, and so on, it’s fortunate that the wish of the whole family that Hina would show up grandly on the day of Shichi-Go-San is still fulfilled today. 
I think Nee-san and Nii-san are probably at a corner of the blue skies looking at Hina grandly dressed up as well. 
The clear blue skies today makes people believe so. 
1 Sleeve pouch 
2 sleeve 
3 A type of garment for the upper torso worn with a kimono.