“Himura”
My head was foggy, a slight dizziness creeping in as I stared blankly at the sweat dripping onto the wooden floor. Suddenly, a towel was draped over my head from behind.
“Let’s take a break and pace ourselves. No need to overdo it.”
“A break? It’s only been, like, an hour.”
“Considering the effort you’re putting in, that’s already pushing it.”
“Ha, I didn’t think I was overdoing it… Alright, fine.”
“That’s just how it is, coming back from an injury.”
It was just a few weeks of deliberate rest, but I realized how much regular daily movement contributes to maintaining stamina, even in ordinary life.
To be in this state in mid-June—will my body hold up until the main event?
“Hino Hana, is it okay if you get home late today?”
“That’s fine. But about what we talked about earlier…”
“My parents should be home today, so if I ask, Mom will probably drive you back.”
I said it’d be fine, but she furrowed her brows, looking somehow dissatisfied.
“…Your parents are home?”
“What’re you talking about? I wouldn’t just invite you over when they’re not around.”
“Normally, people would find it harder to invite someone over when their parents are home…?”
“No, I mean, what if something happens?”
When I couldn’t help but ask, Hino Hana’s dissatisfied gaze shifted to one of suspicion.
“Whether it’s a friend or a childhood buddy, letting someone else’s kid into our house means my parents take responsibility if anything goes wrong. I can’t put that on them.”
“…Why are you so responsible about stuff like that?”
It stung a little, the way she said it, as if I’m not responsible about other things.
As Hino Hana pointed out, I do try to be as careful as possible when it comes to matters involving the house.
It’s mostly for my little sister, who’s usually home, but there’s also the fact that my dad, who’s on a solo assignment for work, is a police officer. I can’t afford to mess around.
“Anyway, that’s how it is at home, so you don’t have to worry about getting back.”
“…Got it.”
Hino Hana seemed convinced, so after hydrating and taking a break, I continued practicing until evening.
After practice, as Hino Hana requested, I brought her back to my place.
“Hm?”
I stopped short at the front door.
“Himura, something wrong?”
“…Dad’s back.”
I could see my dad’s car parked in the carport.
Wonder what’s up.
For now, I confirmed both my parents were home before stepping inside.
“…I should probably say hi.”
She’s met them before, at a summer festival when we were kids, so they’re not total strangers.
As I unlocked the door and stepped into the entryway, Hino Hana froze just inside.
“Himura, these shoes.”
Hino Hana pointed at a pair of plain loafers. They blended in perfectly among the shoes lined up in the entryway, two pairs side by side.
The smaller pair belonged to Kohaku, so the other one…
“Kaori’s here, right?”
“Does she come over often?”
“Usually when one of my parents is home, but otherwise, sometimes. She helps Kohaku with her studies.”
“…I see.”
Hino Hana nodded, though she didn’t seem entirely satisfied. Not that it’s my problem.
“I’m home.”
As I said it and stepped into the living room, I saw my parents eating dinner.
“Huh…?”
“…Who’s that…?”
Naturally, it was my parents who looked bewildered.
It was 7:30 in the evening.
For a moment, the living room was filled only with silence and the ticking of the clock.
I would’ve liked at least a “welcome home” before their shock, but my parents froze the moment they saw Hino Hana standing next to me.
Hino Hana, on the other hand, calmly gave a small bow.
“Akihiro-san, Riri-san, it’s been a while. I’m Hino Hana, who’s been supporting Aoi-kun as a dancer for some time now.”
Is this how she is at work, too?
Seeing Hino Hana offer such a polite greeting, something I rarely witness, felt oddly refreshing.
Hearing her voice, my parents exchanged a glance.
“…I’m shocked, it’s Toki-chan!”
“Seriously, it’s been forever!”
Since they rarely get to attend things like summer festivals, it’s hard to say how long it’s been since they last saw Hino Hana.
My parents, welcoming Hino Hana warmly, seemed to forget all about me, focusing entirely on her.
It’s been a while, sure, but this enthusiastic? I gave a wry smile and called out to Hino Hana before heading to my room.
“Sorry, mind if I take a quick bath? I can’t stay like this.”
“Got it. I’ve got plenty to talk about with Akihiro-san and the others, so take your time.”
With her permission, I hurried to the bathroom to wash off the sweat.
I didn’t run into Kaori, so she’s probably in Kohaku’s room, helping with her studies.
About twenty minutes later, I came out of the bath and found only my dad, Akihiro, in the living room.
“Welcome back, Dad.”
“I’d say ‘I’m home,’ but sorry, I’ve gotta head back tonight. Next time I see you will be at the summer festival—though I’ll be working.”
“Got it… Wait, working? Why’s a detective like you doing security?”
“My boss pulled some strings for me.”
That kind of flexibility is rare, so his workplace relationships must be pretty solid.
“…Cool.”
I hadn’t meant to worry, but knowing Dad was doing well at his assignment put me at ease.
“Oh, right. I talked it over, and I’ll drive Toki-chan home. You make sure to walk Kaori-chan home properly.”
“Got it. Want something to drink, Dad?”
“Yeah, got any non-alcoholic stuff?”
I went to the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge for drinks.
“Man, I was really surprised. Kaori-chan and Toki-chan have both gotten so cute.”
“They haven’t changed that much, have they?”
“Nah, they’ve definitely grown up, real mature-like.”
I wouldn’t argue, but had it really been that long since he’d seen them?
Hino Hana aside, I feel like I’ve seen Kaori around pretty often.
I handed Dad a non-alcoholic beer and poured myself some barley tea.
“By the way, did you check in with Kohaku?”
“Nah, she was studying with Kaori-chan, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Come on, that’s no good. At least have a quick chat with her.”
“I get it, but she’s at that age, y’know? Getting too close might not be great.”
“Even so, at least keep a normal parent-daughter distance. You barely get to see her as it is.”
When I said that with a slight accusatory tone, Dad shrugged and gave a wry smile.
Despite his youthful face, which barely looked like it belonged to someone in their forties, there was a trace of exhaustion in his expression.
“You’re right. My job’s been putting too much on your plate.”
“I don’t really mind the burden… It’s nothing new.”
“Nothing new, huh? Fair enough. Just… don’t end up in a job that makes your family feel lonely, okay?”
I almost brushed it off, saying that’s too far off to think about, but I stopped myself.
After graduating high school, I’ll be an adult. It’s not that far off.
Getting a job, starting a family—those are things I’ll need to start considering soon.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good, do that. So, what about you? Got a girl you like? Or are you dating Kaori-chan or Toki-chan?”
“Wait, are you drunk? That’s non-alcoholic, right?”
He’s about to drive and head back to work, so if I accidentally gave him alcohol, I’d feel awful.
“I’m not drunk, idiot. What, you’re that age and don’t even have a single girl you like?”
“It’s not like you just fall for someone that easily.”
“What’s that? I’ve fallen in love at first sight a hundred times in my life!”
If that’s true, it’s a miracle he stayed faithful to Mom without ever cheating. Is “love at first sight” really that casual a phrase?
I let out a sigh and stood up.
“Where you going? We’re not done talking.”
“Hino Hana’s in my room, right? I can’t just leave her alone. Just… make sure you talk to Kohaku, okay?”
“Hey, wait!”
This was getting a bit tedious, so I decided to head back to my room.
Before leaving the living room, I glanced back at Dad for no reason, and he shooed me off with a wave of his hand.
Hot and cold, that guy’s all over the place.
“Heh.”
“Huh…?”
Reassured by Dad’s familiar behavior, I chuckled softly, only to hear a startled voice from the top of the stairs.
Looking up, I saw Kaori standing there, eyes wide with shock.
“What’s wrong, Kaori?”
“Uh, n-no, nothing!?”
What’s got her so flustered?
Whatever, it’s not a big deal, so I climbed the stairs.
“Hino Hana, I’m coming in.”
It’s my room, so I said that and opened the door—
“…Oh, I forgot to lock it.”
Hino Hana was lying on my bed, hugging my pillow to her chest and burying her face in it.
“…H-Huh? Toki-chan, were you planning something that required locking the door?”
For some reason, Kaori was peeking over my shoulder. What’s she been doing, lingering on the stairs?
“…If your parents weren’t downstairs, I might’ve.”
“Hold up, what were you planning to do if they weren’t here?”
“Just kidding.”
Was it really a joke?
And what was she actually planning to do?
“A joke? That position doesn’t exactly scream ‘joking,’ does it?”
“At the very least, it’s not whatever you’re thinking, I bet.”
…Hang on, what are you two even imagining to have this conversation?
Talking about “if my parents weren’t here” and stuff— if someone else overheard, this could get really out of hand.
If my parents or sister started suspecting me of something weird, what then?
“…More importantly, why’s Nanami here?”
Hino Hana abruptly changed the subject, though it seemed like something she’d been curious about all along. She was acting the same way at the entrance.
“Why? That’s my line! Why’s Toki-chan lounging in Ao-kun’s room like it’s her own!?”
Kaori’s question was perfectly reasonable.
After all, this was Hino Hana’s first time in our house, yet she was making herself at home in my room like it was nothing.
“Well… a home date?”
For some reason, Hino Hana tilted her head and said it like a question directed at me.
☆Afterword──────────────────
I thought this was going to be a nice, cozy family moment, but it turned into a total mess. Some of you predicted it in the comments, didn’t you?
By the way, the next chapter will be number 30 already.
It’s been about a month since I started posting daily from Chapter 1, and right now, we’re dominating the rom-com rankings—daily, weekly, and monthly!
I also checked the yearly rankings, and we’re in the twenties.
But honestly, I’m even happier that Hino Hana’s been getting so much love lately.
I’ll be fleshing out the other heroines in detail too, so stay tuned!
