Chapter 66: Home

"Shou-chan, could you help get the soy sauce from the convenience store nearby? We are running out of it, and without it, the food tomorrow would taste blander than usual." Hanako spoke from the kitchen as the sound of sizzling could be heard from the living room.

The appetizing smell of fried garlic and potatoes wafted throughout the house. Being influenced by their child since the day he helped cook, Hanako didn't plan to lose her position as a housewife and cook in the house.

Their financial state has been slowly improving with both Yaeko and her husband's help, allowing them to afford more commodities to increase the variety of dishes that could be cooked. There were plenty of children in this household, and Hanako didn't want any of them to be malnutrition because they only ate one thing day after day.

"Hai!" Shouko, from the living room, heard her future mother-in-law's request and immediately agreed. Although their family situation was pretty unique, she loved the way her current family was. She had two mothers, one of whom pampers her a lot, and the other had already lost her previous distant attitude and was one that she loved a lot as well.

Having lost her father since young, Fuutarou's father might not be the best replacement, but he was a father figure that she desperately needed both in the past, now, and in the future.

Yuzuru was no longer lonely - she had three other younger sisters to play with and didn't have to constantly put up tough fronts for herself. It was something that Shouko felt very guilty about before she had met with Fuutarou.

"Onee-chan?"

Currently, she was playing and taking care of her four younger sisters, ensuring that the youngest twins do not play or do anything dangerous. Both of them were seven months old and were just barely strong enough to crawl with difficulty. Thus, without any adult supervision, they were not allowed out of their cribs.

"Sorry, Yuzu-chan, Raiha-chan. Could you look after Sat-chan and Uzu-chan for me while I head out to the convenience store?"

"No problem!"

"You can leave it to us!"

Raiha and Yuzuru echoed with confidence. Shouko wasn't worried that they wouldn't live up to their words. Because of their complicated past, both had matured much earlier than they were supposed to. And while they were slowly gaining back the childishness that all children were supposed to have, they always snap back to focus when it comes to important things like family safety.

Shouko planned to ensure that Satsuki and Uzuki wouldn't end up like them, maturing earlier than expected.

Shouko's birthday had recently passed on the 7th of June, and she had received an adorable purse in the shape of a fox from Fuutarou that she treasured a lot. Taking that purse out and putting enough money in to purchase a bottle of soy sauce, she tied up her hair and secured it with a pin, which was also gotten from Fuutarou.

She had also received a phone from her family, but she didn't plan to take it with her since it was just a short trip alone.

"Stay safe, alright?" Hanako said as Shouko put on her shoes.

"I know. Ittekimasu (I'm leaving)."

Opening the door, Shouko was about to leave, only to realize that someone was in front of her. If it was anyone else, she would have screamed from shock.

But towards the ever-familiar boy whom she had missed ever so dearly for a month, she only had two things for him.

A hug and a phrase, "Okaeri (Welcome home)."

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"Tadaima (I'm back)," I replied as Shouko immediately hugged me without warning. Haven't felt Shouko's warmth for a month, I took my time to return and enjoy the hug, having no rush to go anywhere or do anything else.

The hug lasted for about a minute before Suzuki, who was still behind me, let out an awkward cough, snapping both Shouko and me out of our own bubble.

"Ahem, sorry about that display, Suzuki-san. Do you want to come inside the house?"

"I'll take you up on your offer then. I have some things to talk to your parents about as well." Suzuki didn't say anything further about our display of affection, and while I might not be embarrassed about it, Shouko was definitely very shy.

I don't think she had noticed Suzuki before hugging me right outside our house.

"Are you going out now?" Noticing her dress and shoes on, she seemed to be going out somewhere with the purse that I had gotten her for her birthday.

"Yes. Okaa-san wants me to buy a bottle of soy sauce from the convenience store." Shouko replied, and I nodded.

"Well, since I want to spend some time with you, I'll go with you after telling mum I'm back."

Shouko didn't reject and re-entered the house with an addition of two people.

∞

"You're finally back, Fuu-kun!" Shouko exclaimed once more after leaving my mother with Suzuki at home.

This time, she didn't plan to release me anytime soon as her hands locked with mine, refusing to let me go. Though, I didn't mind and just enjoyed the stroll to the convenience store with her. It was initially a 10-minute walk for one way, but we managed to drag it out an extra five minutes while just conversing about what we have experienced.

We might have our phones to communicate with one another, but it was nothing compared to talking face to face.

My journey of first picking Maruno up in Kyoto before taking a plane to Tokyo, followed by three days of intensive practice for our first round. In the end, we were prepared to spend even more time practicing for the following rounds, only to be shortlisted directly into the finals because too few people were shortlisted.

Then, we only ended after another week, thus bringing us to the end of the preliminaries.

"So why were you relaxing by the beach for two weeks?" Shouko pouted and pinched my cheeks in annoyance, "While you were enjoying yourself in the sea, we were all forced to study for our exams."

"Hahaha..."

It's not like I ever thought of that. I mean, I was once an adult. While I would want to relive my youth once more, it didn't just mean attending school every day with my friends. Especially when I had a system that enabled me to do things to great heights.

So every time I had the chance to try something new or go to school, I would always choose the former unless certain circumstances prevent me from doing that.

"Mou...why are you laughing..."

"Still, it doesn't seem that you were very lonely when I'm not around you, huh? Every time I call you, you would always have something to share with me about school and friends."

Shouko puffed her cheeks even more when I changed the topic, but it didn't stop her from happily replying.

"Yes. After all, I have to keep my part of the deal."

"It's not only the deal, right? You are just finally happy to have more friends." Patting her head, I returned back, earning myself the sight of Shouko's cute blushing face.

"Yes. And if it wasn't for your deal, I might not have realized it and stubbornly stuck with you only."

Well, it seems that my plan worked perfectly and beyond expectations. I never thought that the results would be this good, though.

"But your promise with us still stands. After going to Italy to play, you are not allowed to leave for more than two nights without us."

"Of course. Since you kept your part of the promise, I'm going to do so as well."

"Now, tell me more about your diving adventures! Your phone calls are always surrounded by so much background noise that I couldn't hear you properly. And don't leave out any detail, especially about the Kotegawa Chisa part."

Girls sometimes have the most selective hearing. Not being able to hear my adventure underwater yet being able to remember a passing sentence...

We spent the rest of the way towards the convenience store and back talking more about my adventures under the sea. And since I also learned that we were swimming for P.E. classes, I was also looking forward to being in the water once more.

Hold on a minute, am I addicted to being in the water after two weeks of continuous diving?

The next day was a Sunday, and since my father had stopped taking jobs overseas, for now, to help take care of the huge family along with Yaeko, our house is now usually filled with people.

And once again, since I skipped out on most parts over the phone with my parents, I now recounted them again to everyone, letting them see how amazing their son was.

And, of course, to allow the gazes of admiration from my little sisters. Definitely not because I have a sister complex.

We decided to stay at home the whole day just to make up for the time I spent in Tokyo and Owase, though everyone said they would like to try out diving someday, especially Shouko.

Kaori, after hearing that I had returned, also came to visit.

All in all, it was a great day.

∞

A new week began the next day, and I had to return to school again.

Now that we were in junior high, we didn't have time to fetch our sisters to elementary school anymore. Instead, with my mother taking care of our twin sisters, my father was now in charge of bringing Raiha and Yuzuru to elementary school before leaving for work.

However, I had to see the principal before I actually returned to my class, so after telling Shouko and Kaori to move on ahead first, I headed towards the principal's office.

Before I did that, however, I saw that Onodera came towards Shouko and Kaori and started talking.

It seems like Onodera became her friend as well. Fate works in interesting ways, seeing that Raku was my friend, and my girlfriend was his future first love's friend.

A smile hung on my face as another person soon joined their trio. Ruri Miyamoto, as I remembered her introduction from Day 1.

What a wonderful day~

*****************

"Come in."

Knocking on the door and waiting for a second, a voice replied, and I entered.

"Good morning, principal."

"Ah, you!" The principal exclaimed happily, "Uesugi-kun, good job on your performance in Tokyo. I'm very proud of you."

The principal was a man in his fifties, though his appearance could pass him off as a forty-year-old man. His brown hair was slicked nicely backward, as the creases near his eyes gave him a warm aura together with the slight smile on his face, making him look affable.

[Image here->]

"Thank you, principal. I appreciate your support."

"No worries, Uesugi-kun. You might not know it, but your performance actually boosted this school's reputation by quite a bit. Not to mention you're quite a looker, you'll be attracting plenty of people next year, which means more money for the school."

Contrary to his nice-guy appearance, however, the principal was more money-focused than others. As long as there was money, he would almost do everything, save for selling his dignity and pride. That, at the very least, wouldn't be sold for anything below a billion dollars. Dollars, not yen.

And because my family wasn't the wealthiest, he didn't care much about me or Shouko until I told him that I was participating in the piano competition.

That was when he started to pay extra attention to me.

Usually, I wouldn't get close to people like that, but the principal had his own limits and wouldn't force anything to happen for more money.

"I see. I'm glad to help out the school."

"I've got an additional request for you, though." The principal smiled as he leaned back on his chair.

"What is it?"

"Do you mind becoming a model?"

Model, huh? Looking at my schedule for the next two months or so, I don't think I would want to waste my time modeling. I still have to enjoy my summer holidays, spend time with Shouko, Kaori, and my family, and practice hard for the international stage.

"I would like to be sufficiently prepared for the international stage in one and a half months, so I don't think I would have the time to be a model."

The principal had a thoughtful expression as he nodded, "True, true. Do your best to become the number 1, alright? Hopefully, international students would also come to my school. They are a lot richer, after all."

"...If there is nothing else..."

"Oh, yes. That will be all from me. Work hard and study hard. Make sure you catch up with your studies, but at the same time, don't be too stressed. As much as money is essential, your health is important as well. After all, I, ahem, the school would only be losing money if you don't win."

This old man...

"I'll be returning to my classroom now. Please excuse me." Bowing to the principal, I turned to leave.

Now, time to go back to my ordinary daily life until August.

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A/N: Jesus, I was so focused on writing a DxD fanfic that I almost forgot to post today. Hahaha!