Seishun Buta Yarou Series - Volume 7 - Chapter 3.3

3

As they stepped out of the hospital, Mai said, “Oof, I completely forget there’s absolutely nothing in the fridge.”

So they stopped at a grocery store on the way home.

They bought food for the next few days. Sakuta took the big bag, and Mai the little one, and they kept their free hands clasped together the rest of the way home.

Outside their buildings, Mai didn’t pull away. She followed Sakuta onto the elevator in his building. It was obvious she was planning on spending the evening at his place. Since this was entirely a good thing, he elected not to mention it.

At this rate, odds were high she’d cook for him.

Looking forward to that, he opened the door. He immediately had second thoughts about bringing Mai with him.

There were shoes lined up in the entrance—and he didn’t recognize all of them. The first pair were Kaede’s—she’d clearly kicked them off the second she got back and left them fall where they may. But the second pair were neatly lined up, heel to heel.

“Oh, you’re back!”

He heard socks sliding along the wood floor.

His sister, Kaede, had come running out to meet him. It was still weird seeing her hair cropped to shoulder-length. It had only been a few days since their trip to the hair salon. And Kaede had spent most of that at their grandparents’ house, so Sakuta hadn’t really had time to get used to her new look.

“Oh, Mai! Welcome home.”

“Thanks for having me,” Mai said, tearing her eyes off the extra pair of shoes.

Kaede was definitely not the only one here. And there wasn’t much doubt about who the other person might be. It was obviously Sakuta’s father, having driven Kaede home.

For a second, Sakuta debated whether to stop Mai from taking her shoes off.

But since they were already here, he decided it was best to own it. And since they didn’t live with their father anymore, maybe this was a good chance to formally introduce Mai to him. No need to give anyone more reasons to worry, and no reason to keep putting it off.

It was just a little embarrassing. That was the only real problem.

“Dad! Sakuta’s home,” Kaede said, calling down the hall.

His father poked his head out of the living room.

“Welcome back, Sakuta,” he said quietly.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Not about to lose this fight, Sakuta kept his tone every bit as subdued. He saw Mai bob her head out of the corner of his eye. His father did the same.

“So, uh, Mai…this is my dad,” Sakuta said. “And this is my girlfriend, Mai Sakurajima.”

He wasn’t sure how else to put it, so he just decided to go for the direct approach.

This wasn’t their first time meeting. They’d bumped into each other at the hospital during the trouble with Kaede, so they were at least aware of each other. His father was past the point of being surprised by the arrival of a famous actress.

“Thanks for taking care of my son.”

“Please forgive the delayed introduction—and sorry to spring it on you like this.”

“No, I know you’re busy.”

“Even so…”

“……”

“……”

Running out of formalities, they settled into an awkward silence.

“I’m not used to these things,” his father said, smiling awkwardly.

“Get it together, Dad.” Kaede elbowed him in the ribs.

“I know, but it’s unreal enough having the girl from the TV in front of me, and then when you say she’s Sakuta’s… I don’t know what to say.”

“You’re totally embarrassing me.”

“Kaede, you freaked out, too.”

“I know, but…”

“Sakuta,” Mai said, poking him in the back. “I’m gonna head on home.”

“No, I was just leaving,” their dad said. He did have his briefcase in hand. “Can’t leave your mother on her own for long.”

That comment was for Sakuta. But he knew Mai understood. He’d explained the situation a long time ago—how Kaede had been bullied, how she developed Adolescence Syndrome, and how their mother had lost confidence in her parenting abilities and had a nervous breakdown.

Sakuta put his shoes back on.

“I’ll walk you down,” he said.

“No, you’re fine.”

Sakuta ignored his father’s protests and stepped out the door first. Mai followed. Kaede waved good-bye at the door, and they left her to guard the fort. The three of them took the elevator down.

It made no stops on the way, and they headed right back out the front doors and paused in the street outside.

Sakuta’s father looked at him and then turned to Mai.

“We don’t live together, so I may not be able to speak with much authority. But I know Sakuta agreed to live like this for his mother’s and Kaede’s sake. I believe that’s indicative of a considerate soul.”

Blindsided by this speech, Sakuta was immediately deeply uncomfortable. He did not want Mai hearing any of this and desperately wanted to interrupt. But his father was clearly speaking from the heart so he didn’t dare say a word.

“I’m also acutely conscious of the burden I’ve placed on him. Perhaps I don’t have the right to ask, but I hope you’ll stay by his side.”

“Happily,” Mai said softly. “I’m the one who wants to be here.”

His father looked relieved. He smiled faintly. Sakuta had never seen his father smile like that. He was taken aback but also relieved. Mai had helped reassure him.

“Take care,” Sakuta said.

“Come see your mother after New Year’s,” his father said and turned to walk away. He must have been parked in the lot toward the station.

He was soon out of sight.

Mai sighed in relief. “That was nerve-racking,” she said.

“Even you get fazed sometimes, huh?”

“What do you think I am?”

“My bride-to-be?”

“Well, that’s not gonna happen if your father hates my guts,” she said, matching his jokey tone. “Some people just have it in for celebrities.”

“It doesn’t seem like that’s gonna be a problem.”

“Well, he is your dad.”

He wasn’t sure how that was relevant, but talking about his family was always awkward, so he elected to change the subject.

“I guess I’ll have to meet your parents one of these days.”

“Pfft, hardly.”

Mai rejected the idea outright and headed back inside. Realizing she couldn’t get in without a key, she pulled the spare out of her pocket. She still had the key he’d given her yesterday.

He quickly followed, and they got on the elevator together.

The rift with her parents—especially her mother—was bad enough that she didn’t even want to discuss them.

“I dunno if I should tell you this…,” Sakuta began with some hesitation.

“……”

Mai kept her eyes on the floor number.

“But after the accident…in the other future.”

He could feel his heart starting to race, but he forced himself to keep speaking.

“At the hospital, your mother came running. She was desperate. Pleading with the doctors to save you.”

“……”

Mai said nothing.

“She also slapped me really hard and demanded I bring you back.”

“I know she still cares.”

“……”

“But I don’t want to hear whatever opinions she might have about you. So not…not now.”

“Okay.”

The elevator dinged.

He opened the front door, and they stepped in. Kaede came padding back out with Nasuno in her arms. She seemed like she’d been waiting for them for a reason.

“Sakuta,” she said, looking tense.

“What?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“I’m busy flirting.”

“Eww.”

“Nothing matters more than— Ow!”

Mai had rapped the back of his head. In lieu of further scolding, she said, “I’ll just borrow your sink,” and headed farther in.

“So? What?” Sakuta said, meeting Kaede’s eye.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“More allowance?”

“No.”

“Whew.”

“I mean, also that, but…”

“Oh? Our finances are in crisis.”

“I want you to help me practice,” she said, scowling.

“Oh, that? Sure.”

“Do you actually get it?” She looked dubious.

“School, right?”

“Y-yeah,” she said, somewhat taken aback. Did she really think he wouldn’t understand?

“You’re starting there third term, yeah?”

“Mm.”

She nodded.

He felt like this was a promise she’d made to the other Kaede.

“So tomorrow…”

“Have your uniform ready.”

“I already did that.”

She glared at him, as if resenting being treated like a kid. But if she didn’t want that, she should probably stop making sulky faces.

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Mm!”

Kaede nodded emphatically and headed back to the living room. She still seemed a bit tense, but Sakuta thought making this promise was a real accomplishment.

When today was over, it would be tomorrow.

And once it was tomorrow, they could do tomorrow things.

Taking it one day at time, as the future drew near.

Whatever tomorrow held, they had to go to it. Sakuta had chosen a future that had a tomorrow in it. He would live the life big Shouko had given him.