(POV Chika)
I thought about talking to Chinatsu-chan first. Among the quadruplets, she had the strongest sense of caution, and seeing her getting along with me made me feel reassured about everyone else.
“Chinatsu-chan.”
“Chika, do you need something?”
During break time, I approached Chinatsu-chan, who was reading a cookbook in the library.
“I was wondering what you were reading.”
“A cookbook.”
“So you want to make something for Kaito-san, huh.”
“Well… that’s right. So?”
Chinatsu-chan asked me what I wanted, clearly still cautious. It seemed like she was guarding herself quite strongly. And somehow, I might not have been receiving very positive feelings from her. That wasn’t the case before.
“Well, I wanted to become friends with Chinatsu-chan…”
“Hmm.”
“Let’s use nicknames when addressing each other!”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yeah, just call me ‘Mama’ casually.”
“No, that’s not happening.”
“It’s okay, it’s just a nickname.”
“I might get weird looks from the class. Also, I don’t have positive associations with the word ‘Mama,’ so no way.”
I was clearly rejected… Chinatsu-chan seems strong-willed. Maybe it’s better to put this off for later.
“I see. Sorry for bothering you. Well then…”
“Wait.”
“What?”
“Isn’t it unfair if you just talk and leave?”
“Oh, yeah. Is there something else?”
“…What do you usually talk about with Kaito?”
“You mean on Line? We haven’t really discussed anything out of the ordinary.”
“I see… It’s just that, with Kaito…he’s always so busy. So, I’d appreciate it if you could keep it in moderation.”
Ah, Chinatsu-chan seems to be quite conscious of Kaito-san just by her appearance, so I wonder if she’s bothered by the fact that there’s a girl secretly communicating with him behind the scenes?
With me being quite a good-looking girl, it might be even more irksome for her. Maybe she’s thinking I might steal Kaito away?
“It’s okay, I won’t take Kaito-san away.”
“I-I see…”
“Does that make you feel better?”
“…Not really!”
Turning away, Chinatsu-chan resumed reading her book. I wouldn’t steal anything, to be honest. I actually have an image of going towards him as a wife.
I didn’t lie.
But Chinatsu-chan, she’s really cautious, and her demeanor is confrontational. There aren’t any kids in the class with whom she gets along with super well… Oh, there’s Mary-chan, I guess…
I wonder if she’s this aloof even when she’s with Kaito-san? It’s a bit intriguing.
◆◆
(POV Kaito)
Ah, Chinatsu and the others had mentioned bringing lunch boxes for tomorrow. As night descended, I found myself lying alone on the spacious bed my parents used, contemplating the morning ahead.
There wouldn’t be school lunch tomorrow, so the girls were planning to bring their own lunch boxes. Let’s see, there’s the rolled omelet and the leftovers from dinner…
Lost in thought over the contents of the four lunch boxes, the bedroom door suddenly creaked open. I thought Chiaki, who couldn’t sleep, wanted me to tell her an interesting story or something, so I turned my gaze and…
“Kaito…”
“Ch-Chinatsu…”
I involuntarily flinched. have her usual childlike appearance; she had grown into a tall, adult-like figure. Surely, the moonlight had played a part in her growth, but…
“What’s wrong?”
“…I wanted to be held.”
“Held…?”
“Yeah. I want you to hold me, even in this complicated appearance…”
“I see…”
She’s wearing my late mother’s pajamas. She dove onto the bed as if she was diving into a pool, and I caught her. She’s a bit heavy, but it’s not that different.
“Occasionally, I come to Kaito to be held.”
“I don’t mind, but why all of a sudden? Is there something wrong?”
“…There’s nothing in particular… Hey, what have you been talking to Chika about lately?”
“Like asking about her favorite food or something?”
“Hmm… Hey, can I take a look at your messages? I thought it wasn’t right to look without permission, but… Also, while we talk, could you pet my head?”
“Oh, sure. I’m okay with showing you, but I’m not sure about showing Chika’s messages without her consent.”
“…You’re okay with showing me, huh… Then, I don’t need to see. I thought you were sending something dirty, so…”
“No, I’m not. I’m an adult, after all.”
“An adult, huh… Yeah, you’re an adult… I want to become an adult soon, too.”
“It’ll probably come before you know it.”
“You think so? It feels long. I want to become one right now. I want to become one now and experience various things on equal terms.”
“…Ah, I might understand that feeling too.”
Chinatsu would press her head against my chest, rubbing it gently. She always did this, but when she grew taller, the rubbing became a bit stronger than usual.
“I might want to try getting married and all when I become an adult,” Chinatsu said.
“Oh, yeah. I think that’s a good idea.”
“But, with my self-centered nature, I wonder if I can really do it.”
“No, I think you can. Someone as wonderful as you can definitely do it.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Okay, then if I can’t do it, Kaito, you have to take responsibility.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah. You can stay at my place.”
“…You said it. I’ll remember that.”
She seemed to be relieved and drifted off to sleep. I stopped stroking her head, and gently placed her on the bed on the side. I had thought about carrying her to Chiharu’s room, but I was afraid of waking Chiharu and the others, so I abandoned the idea.
Since it was late at night, I decided to sleep too. Chinatsu had been holding onto my hand all this time.
***************
TN: the holding term used in this chapter is the holding for carrying a baby
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