Chapter 36

My happy day with Misaki continues, and in no time it’s already July. And today, I’m going to participate in parents meeting once again.

Since this is already my fourth time coming to the community center, I already knew the location of our meeting room and so I proceed to get in and sit down in the room smoothly.

Inside the room there’s a few of foldable chairs and long tables stacked on each other, in the parents meeting there’s an unspoken rule that implies the person that arrives early had to prepare the table and the chairs for other people that’d arrive later.

And same as the last time, me who has arrived a little early and also Tec-chan who arrived at the same time as me, two of us prepared the chairs and table together. After that we turned the air conditioner on while saying stuff like “It’s already summer isn’t itー” and waiting for the others.

Ten minutes before the meeting two young woman appeared, they’re Kurokawa-san and Kazami-san, the only people that aren’t here yet are only Sato and the co. and also Yui-chan’s mama.

“……So she’s not coming here to day huh.”

“Oh well, it’s always like this and we can’t really do anything about it can’t we.”

“But she’s the leader after all so at least I’d like her to be on time.”

I muttered those words out unconsciously, but Tec-chan and the person with earrings responded to it. I starts thinking about the reply I should give for a bit, before lightly waving my hand and said.

“Ahh no I didn’t mean Sato and co., I was actually talking about Yui-chan’s mother.”

“Ahhh, so you’re talking about Tosaki-san.”

Tec-chan said in a carefree tone. So Yui-chan’s surname is Tosaki huh, I never knew that.

“Well, I actually have never met her even once.”

“Yes. I have never met her before too.”

Said, Tec-chan. And when I take a look at the two young moms, both of them made a troubled looks and shake their head.

“So nobody has ever met her before huh……”

“If it’s Sato-san then, I think she should have met her before at least once isn’t she?”

Said, the earrings person. It’s exactly as she said if it’s the leader then it’s possible that she has met her before but……

“Oh my, how can I be of service so you?”

Uwaa it’s Sato isn’t it!? Suddenly appearing like this really shocks me, besides you’ve been listening to our chat isn’t it!

“I’m so sorry that I’m lateー”

“Myー myー, it’s really hot isn’t it.”

When the other obaa-san entered the scene, it feels like the temperature inside the room has already risen up by four degrees.

“And, how can I help you?”

Sato sat down on one of the foldable chair and it shrieks with a creaking sound. While I was feeling sorry toward that chair, I asked Sato.

“Have you ever met Tosaki-san before?”

“Yes of course. Actually, she’s even younger than what I thought, well in my eyes she seems like a serious person.”

Serious…… so she means something like strict person right? But even so Yui-chan seems to love her dearly nonetheless……

“Well let’s get over with that topic and begin our meeting immediately. The season right now is summer, and summer means pool. Let us go to the pool again this year. Alright with that settled, let’s quickly go back home since it’s hot after all. See you all then.”

The elderly quickly left the meeting room leaving us being dumbfounded just like that. As I thought there’s no meaning to this meeting at all isn’t it?

The remaining four people look at each other and laughs bitterly, perhaps we all are thinking the same thing.

“Tosaki-san’s daughter, she’s the girl that’s together with Tendou-san during the string figure class right? So, I thought that you knew her before.”

“Well, my daughter is just friend with her daughter, but I’m actually not an acquaintance of her parents.”

Suddenly the person without earrings called me, I have to stop and think about the words I’m going to speak out for a bit before replying to her. After that she reply with “Ahー” before nodding exaggeratedly several times, and chuckled.

“But even so, although I’ve seen them only on that day, girls are really obedient isn’t it. My son is really, really, on the other day we went to buy a mobile phone, but he just kept rolling on the floor selfishly saying that he want to go to other places…… Haaa, I just can’t, I really don’t like him being like that.”

“Ahhhー I do understand your feelings. I can’t leave my son at home alone since I’m worried so I have to go shopping together with him, reallyー he’s such a naughty boy.”

All of the sudden mama-san’s talk begun, and I can’t keep up with it.

Is there really a big difference between boys and girls I wondered. Well I don’t really understand that part but, anyway the content of their conversations aren’t that pleasant.

“But still, isn’t there is a saying that they’re cutest at this age.”

“Ahー, Nagura-san you already have a grown-up child right? Is their rebellious phase that difficult as they say?”

“My, rather than difficult…… well, I think that’s the word for it.”

“Is that so…… Wellー, I think that the child who let us spoils them is really cute but even so. To have to spoil him all the time like this, I think is a bit.”

“I agreeー I’d like him to learn about TPO1, or rather just being able to read the atmosphere is enough.”

And before I knew it Tec-chan has already joined in the conversation between the two, his same-as-ever plain face looks troubled, or rather he have an empty smile on his face.

The conversation between the three starts to becoming more and more heated.

My looking back at me, my feeling only sink deeper and deeper.

“That’s right. Tendou-san’s daughter, she’s Misaki-chan right?”

“……Eh, ahh, yes.”

That scared the hell out of me. I was suddenly talked to…… Crap, what’s the topic right now?

“Misaki-chan is so small and cute right! She’s so obedient, if I ever had a daughter, I’d like her to be just like Misaki-chan!”

“Ahー I totally understand your feelings. Actually, I also had another son that’s even younger, but he’s also a naughty one too…… Haa, I really want a daughter.”

……These guys, what are they talking about?

“Tendou-san, is Misaki-chan acts the same when she’s at home?”

“……She’s the same both inside and outside the house, yes.”

Wanting a child like mine, you absolutely can’t say that isn’t it.

It’s sounds as if the child you currently have isn’t necessary in your life anymore.

“Tendou-san? What’s wrong?””

The person with earrings asked me, and the remaining two look at me.

“……Uhh, well, suddenly I feels worried about Misaki.”

“Ah, is she perhaps alone at home?”

“Yes, something like that.”

“I’m so sorry. Then you really should go back home quickly to her.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, excuse me.”

I actually wanted to leave this place as soon as possible too.

Immediately before I left the room, my eyes met with Tec-chan’s.

For some reason his facial expression is as if he’s hiding something.

……That’s weird.

On my way back. While I’m slowly walking back, the conversation earlier resounded in my head.

The thing about spoiling kids, is it a bad thing to do. Or is it because I’m not like others so I don’t understand them? Well sure I never spoils any kid, but Misaki also doesn’t seems to be the type that wants to be spoiled all the time too.

But still, that doesn’t exactly mean she doesn’t want to be spoiled at all.

I don’t really understand much about Misaki but, on the day that I did string figure, seeing children being spoiled by their parents to the fullest like that put some thoughts into my mind. And more than anything, Yui-chan’s expression at that time is always in my head. That’s when I realized that there’s also kids that want to be spoiled but didn’t get what they want.

No that’s wrong, I shouldn’t be thinking something like this.

A more, much more simple thought is better.

……The kids has nothing but their parents. Especially young kids.

But well, if they just kept asking to be spoiled all the time it might really be very annoying who knows.

But still, that’s also one of the responsibility of being a parent isn’t it.

Because for the kids, the only time they can be spoiled by their parents to the fullest is only right now.

If you lose this chance, there won’t be the second time.

For this reason, on this only chance you should make the best memories possible in their lifetime.

And that is also parent’s responsibility is what I thought…… But that might be wrong too.

……A good parent, huh.

I stood still, and for some reason looked up at the sky. I immediately frown because the sunlight directly hit my eyes, but still keep looking at the clear summer sky. It’s almost seems to be a cloudless sky, but there’s still clouds floating around here and there. There’s small clouds, also big clouds, all of them are of different shapes, but all of them flew in the same direction. I wonder, if they’re going to the same destination or not.

Participating in parents meeting, getting in touch with a lot of different parents, I had thought that doing that would clear out this vague image of mine. But in reality, it only serves to make it even more vague.

We’re actually different in everything, me and those parents.

I didn’t wish to be a parent. Misaki got forcibly pushed into my care after all. But as of now, I don’t think that was a bad thing at all.

But for those parents, they should’ve given birth to their kids on their own wish. And together with their loved one, they should’ve been happy to have a kid. And yet, hearing what they’ve said earlier, it’s as if they just regretted it.

Maybe it’s just because my dissatisfaction that my thoughts exaggerated. Maybe it’s just because I didn’t exactly understand what they’re saying. Maybe it’s just because I thought of my kid first before my life, that’s why I got ahead of my self and acts all proud about it. And the reason as to why these feeling of discomfort and the feeling that as if something is wrong are not drying away, it’s all because I’m still just a kid.

I closed my eyes, takes a short breath.

Let’s go back quickly. Misaki’s waiting.

Today is the day as well, that Misaki’s reading a manga.

A tattered page that has been read over and over countless times.

The little girl who has been at home alone, when her father finally comes back home she plunged herself and hugged him with all she has to offer.

For Misaki, that scene is very dazzling to her.

She wants to do it just like that too.

But, it’s scary.

And today too, that Ryo-kun has come back home.

Ryo-kun is kind.

Surely if she hugs him, then he’d pat her just like when they did the string figure.

But, scary thing is still scary.

“Welcome back.”

“Oh, I’m back.”

That’s why for Misaki, this is the best she can do.

“Misaki, you really like that book huh.”

“……Un.”