The day after Chika and Kaito exchanged contact information, the quadruplets got ready for school and left home. They took the bus and walked to their classroom. In their minds were the memories of Chika from the previous day. They were curious about what had happened and anxiously waited for her.
As students continued to arrive one after another, the classroom gradually filled with lively chatter and discussions about upcoming school events like the field trip and sports festival. Amidst the excitement, they eagerly awaited Chika’s arrival.
“We’re almost there, right? Sports festival, was it? Time flies so fast, the seasons come and go.” Chinatsu said.
“If I become the top performer in the individual race this year, I will make Kaito buy me a large ice cream from Ragen Dash!” Chiaki added.
“That sounds like a great idea! I’ll ask for a strawberry-flavored one.” Chinatsu said.
“I want a cooky and cream flavor!” Chiaki added.
“What about Fuyu?”
“Chifuyu wants…. if I make it, I’ll go for the chocolate mint.”
“That sounds good. What about Haru?”
“For me, it’s macadamia nut flavor.”
“Oh, yeah! It’s so delicious…”
“Uuu, hearing all of you, I can’t decide which flavor to choose now… I wish they sold half and half!” Chiaki said.
“Sorry, that flavor isn’t available.” Chinatsu retorted.
When Chiaki was pondering which ice cream flavor to choose, the classroom door opened, and Chika entered. She exchanged greetings with some classmates other than the quadruplets.
Afterward, she noticed the four girls and greeted them with a smile. However, since smiling was not her strong suit, her expression seemed somewhat awkward.
“Good morning, Chiharu-san, Chinatsu-san, Chiaki-san, and Chifuyu-san.”
“Yeah, good morning. It’s a bit long to say all our names, so why not go with the Three Angels and Chiharu?” Chiharu suggested.
“Yes, I understand. Let’s go with that,” Chika agreed.
“Oh no, that’s embarrassing, so I’d prefer you don’t do that,” Chifuyu replied.
“That’s right. Besides, it’s still long, so how about something like the Quadruplets?” Chinatsu proposed.
“And I’d be the Fallen Angel if we go with that…” Chiaki said.
Chika’s found the quadruplets’ lively and upbeat nature endearing. They wanted to ask her about yesterday’s events, but their homeroom teacher entered the classroom, interrupting the conversation.
During the first period, they had physical education, prompting them to hastily change into their gym clothes and head to the gymnasium. There, they engaged in warm-up exercises and played a game of dodgeball. During team breaks, they took a seat and chatted with their close teammates.
Chiaki and Chika happened to be on the same team, and during the break, they sat together, observing the ongoing game where the three other sisters were playing. After a while, Chinatsu went to the outfield first, and Chifuyu followed, passing the ball with a bounce to the opposing team, subsequently joining the outfield as well. Chiharu displayed some impressive moves but ended up in the outfield too.
Chiaki cheered for them, but as the three gradually went to the outfield, the cheers became quieter and gradually faded away. With a slightly nervous tone, Chiaki turned to Chika and asked with concern.
“About yesterday… Are you okay? Your head and all…”
“Thanks for worrying about me… I’m okay.”
“I see…”
As she spoke, Chiaki unconsciously stroked Chika’s head. Like Kaito had done for her before, she comforted Chika in the same way.
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s okay. It feels kind of nice. Chiaki-chan, your…”
(Perhaps I shouldn’t ask about her parents or anything like that… Somehow, Chiaki-chan and the others seem to have a complicated situation… But more importantly…)
“How long did Kaito-san and Chiaki-chan live together?”
“Um, it’s been almost two years, I think.”
“Heeh… After two years, you must know each other really well, right? Like Kaito-san’s likes and all.”
“Fufufu, Kaito likes me, you know! He tells me that often!”
“Oh, I see…”
“And he likes Chiharu, Chinatsu, and Chifuyu too!”
“I see…”
(Heeeh… The four sisters are truly loved, huh? I see, I see. They seem like such a loving family.)
“Feel free to ask anything else! Like Kaito’s specialty in cooking!” Chiaki asked.
“No, it’s okay, I think.”
“I see…”
(Oh, she looks visibly disappointed. She must want to talk. Well, I do like the slightly downcast Chiaki-chan; she’s cute. Besides, I did get his contact information, so it’d be a waste not to ask him himself, right?)
(I mean, running out of conversation topics would be really awkward, you know?)
(But, maybe I should engage in a little chat with her.)
“Hey, the sports festival is coming up soon.”
“Yeah! Kaito will make incredibly delicious bento for us!”
“I see, and we also have the school trip later.”
“This year, it’s going to be Kyoto! But… I’ll feel lonely and won’t be able to sleep well without Kaito around, so I’m a bit worried.”
“I understand; there are times when I miss home too, so I get how you feel.”
As they chatted, the dodgeball match ended, and it was time for their teams to play.
“Well, let’s get going, Chiaki-san.”
“Yes, let’s crush the opposition!”
And they did just that. Both Chiaki and Chika had outstanding athletic abilities, and they completely dominated the opposing team.
――There was a tacit agreement between the kids that Chiaki and Chika should never be on the same team again.
◆◆
At the Tokorozawa City Hall, Kaito was seen with a needle, diligently trying to mend a stylish red dress button that had come loose.
“Should you be doing this during your lunch break?”
Sasaki, who sat next to Kaito, muttered while sipping his cup of ramen, looking somewhat exasperated.
“I have some time, and this is Chiaki’s favorite, so I want to fix it as soon as possible.”
“I’ve been thinking for a while now, but aren’t you a bit too overprotective?”
“What exactly is the standard for being ‘overprotective’?”
“Hey, don’t answer my question with another question… Well, I guess people like you are the standard for that, huh?”
“Since elementary school, it’s not typical for children to do their own sewing. Besides, most families handle this kind of thing to some extent.” Kiato said.
“I certainly didn’t mend my own clothes when I was little either.”
“Remember how your parents did your laundry for you? They prepared meals for you too, right? That’s quite common. If I’m considered overprotective, then I guess everyone else is too. It’s an acknowledgment of how challenging it is to be a parent. I truly admire all the parents out there.”
“Oh, I see. Maybe my family was overprotective too.”
“Also, my family occasionally prepares late-night snacks or even breakfast for me. That can prove that I’m not overprotective,” Kaito asserted.
“Y-you can put it that way?”
“There is no other way to put it.”
As Sasaki watched Kaito, he couldn’t help but feel that he wasn’t just overprotective but perhaps a bit of a doting parent as well. After finishing his cup of ramen, he asked Kaito as if remembering something.
“What about the company trip in summer?”
“I won’t be going. Chiharu and the others are still in elementary school. I can’t just leave them alone.”
“I thought you’d say that… but isn’t it alright? Occasionally, leave them alone for a day or two. Besides, when it’s just me, there’s no one to talk to.”
“I don’t know about your situation… but I just don’t want to leave the house empty. I worry.”
“I think they’ll be totally fine.”
“It’s that carelessness that scares me… Alright, I’m done.”
Kaito cut the thread and put away his sewing tools and such. Seeing him like that, Sasaki couldn’t help but feel that he had completely succumbed to being a doting parent. Lately, he had been saying things like buying a high-performance camera for the sports festival.
“When I was in elementary school, there were times when my parents weren’t home for a few days.”
“…I had those times too quite frequently. Even in high school and middle school. It’s surprisingly lonely.”
“But you have quadruplets, right? They’re not alone.”
“Yeah, that’s true… but maybe I’m the one who’s lonely.”
Finishing up everything and fiddling with his phone, Kaito began to eat his lunch. Today’s lunch was a special creation by Chinatsu—a simple but earnestly made Bonito Flake rice ball.
Though it was plain, Chinatsu had put in a lot of effort. She struggled to wake up in the morning but managed to force herself out of bed and made it with drowsy eyes. Kaito gratefully savored every bite.
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong?”
Sasaki reacted as Kaito’s face turned into a puzzled expression, looking rather silly.
“…My grandparents are coming over.”
“Well, that’s fine. Oh, I’ve got an idea! Why don’t you have them take care of girls during the company trip?”
“No… I didn’t mention that I had taken them in.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t tell them about taking care of Chiharu and the others.”
“How are you going to explain that? They’ll end up coming, won’t they?”
“I’m thinking of trying to hide it… But Chiharu and the others aren’t the kind of kids you can easily hide. I’m proud of them, no matter where we go, though!”
“Well, I don’t know. Why not just be honest about it?”
“They’ll probably get angry, especially my grandfather…”
“Eh? Are you Scared?”
“Not so much scared as embarrassed at this age… About 20% embarrassment and 80% fear.”
“You’re afraid, huh? What will you do? Decline?”
“Well, they already said they’re coming…”
“How about telling them you have a girlfriend? Living together or something?”
“They’ll see through that lie… probably… my grandmother is sharp about those things.”
“What will you do then?”
“For now, I’ll try declining… or saying I have a girlfriend right now…”
“Let’s see how it goes. It’ll be interesting.”
Seeing Kaito’s troubled expression, Sasaki felt that it would be nice if Kaito could join him for the company trip so he wouldn’t be alone.
******************
TN: You may have noticed the change in Povs; this is not on me; this is how the chapter is written. Either the author got tired of Povs or this third person pov has relation to Chika…. or I’m just overthinking it.
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