Chapter 100 - Hiiragi’s Mother — Part 3 (2/2)
“She probably feels a little bit bad for being rebellious towards her parents and going her own way, since she even came back today! She definitely wants to talk it out if given the opportunity. It’s scary being rejected all the time. However, if you’re always having that sort of attitude, of course, Hiiragi-chan wouldn’t have the courage!”
Just as I was about to stand up, Natsumi-chan pulled on my clothes to stop me.
“Th-thief-kun… calm down. Take deep breaths, deep breaths. Ah, how about some more tea—”
“I’m good now. Sorry.”
“O-of course…”
Fuuu, fuuu, I could hear myself letting out a haggard breath. Before I realized it, I had somehow gotten angry.
While being surprised Hiiragi Mama continued to look at me, and after taking a slight moment, she tilted her cup.
“She’s already turned 24. A woman that has already been touched by another person is something that no one would want. The only way for her to be of use to the Hiiragi family, is to become a wife anyway.”
“Stop treating her like an object! She’s the daughter that you raised, right!? Thanks to you, sexual intercourse is banned until marriage… W-we haven’t done anything yet though…”
“That last part was super quiet…”
Even in such a serious occurrence, Natsumi-chan was on the verge of snapping.
“Ummm, this is just for clarification, but I still intend to have a pure relationship…”
“Your voice is so quiet. It’s like you were a different person earlier.”
B-be quiet.
If I just leave this be, the future would just continue on like the Cold War, with no opportunity for them to talk. Hiiragi Mama knows nothing about Hiiragi-chan at all.
I finally regained my calm.
“You as her mother might not care too much about Haruka-san. However, that’s not true for her. Please try to understand and talk with her face to face.”
As if understanding something, Hiiragi Mama gave a calm smile.
“Even if I have no control over her, it seems that if you do something about it, Haruka will somehow end up listening.”
That might be the case, but what are you saying with a smile like that?
As I felt a chill, Natsumi-chan banged on the table.
“—If you do that, I definitely won’t allow it. It’s fine if she’s still on bad terms with Mama. It’s fine if they don’t make up. As long as Haru-chan is happy, I think that’s fine. However, if you plan on getting in the way of that, no matter who it is, I won’t forgive them.”
“It’s just a joke. Mind your words, also, your gaze. Stop it.”
“Yes.”
As Hiiragi Mama turned towards me, her mouth loosened.
“You really seem to have Natsumi all under control.”
“It’s for Haruka-san’s happiness, right? Also, rather than under control, we’re friends.”
“I’m sorry if I made you feel bad. I just meant that you are thought of quite well by others.”
Still, it was a line with a lot of thorns in it.
“About Haruka, if Sanada-san is serious, then, of course, I won’t give any opposition. This is a decision made after proper thinking, different from before.”
“For that, thank you very much.”
As I bowed my head, her index finger stood up.
“I have one condition. You’re persistence, appearance, courtesy, charisma—I have taken a liking to you… At some point, you will marry into the Hiiragi family. Or maybe adoption. That is the condition for dating and marrying Haruka.”
“Wah. That’s quite unreasonable…”
Natsumi-chan, with her eyes wide, looked at Hiiiragi Mama and me in turn.
“Ah. If it’s just that, then it’s fine.”
“That was quick.”
It’s not like having her as a bride meant anything to the Sanada family anyways.
Well, I’ll become a little bit like Masuo-san, and I might feel a little inferior, but if I can date Hiiragi-chan, and marry her, then that’s cheap. [1]
“It’s fine if your partner is Natsumi too you know?”
“Mother!”
With a red face, Natsumi once again hit the table and voiced protest. It was a slightly quieter voice than earlier.
Like this, without knowing if it was of merit or not, Hiiragi Mama had taken a liking to me.