CH 21

Chapter 21: “The barato Family’s Welcome”

Nanami-san referred to the man in front of her as her father. He had a large, muscular body and looked nothing like Nanami-san, to put it bluntly.

At first glance, he gave the impression of being a professional wrestler.

“Nanami… Let me ask again… Who is this boy?”

Despite his expression filled with anger, his tone of voice was surprisingly gentle. And he had a deep, attractive voice.

Perhaps he was just scary-looking and nothing more.

“…He’s my… boyfriend…”

“!! I see… It’s already late at night. Let’s continue this conversation at home.”

Nanami-san muttered in a weak voice, as if she had resigned herself. In response, her father’s reaction, though briefly showing a surprised expression, was more indifferent than expected.

It seemed that they were going to talk about family matters from now on… There’s nothing more I can say…

“…I’m sorry for keeping your daughter out so late. It’s because I stopped her… Please don’t be too angry with her.”

All I could do was apologize and try to make sure Nanami-san wouldn’t get too upset.

Nanami-san grabbed the back of my clothes from behind, and I returned her with a smile.

My role ends here… I thought I should leave, but unexpected words came from her father.

“It’s already late… I’ll drive you home. So, young man… I would like to hear what you have to say at our house too.”

…An invitation to their house… and it came from her father. I received an invitation to their house before Nanami-san did.

Huh? Why? Isn’t this going to be a family talk?

Honestly, I’m not mentally prepared for this, so I’d like to decline… but Nanami-san behind me whispered my name in a small voice.

A small, feeble, and anxious voice…

Yeah, I’ve made up my mind.

“I understand. I appreciate your offer. Ah… I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Misumai Youshin, Nanami-san’s boyfriend.”

“I’m Nanami’s father, barato Genichirou. Nice to meet you, Youshin-kun…”

Genichiro-san extended his left hand, seeking a handshake from me… Wait, doesn’t a handshake with the left hand mean hostility?… It seems that I haven’t been fully accepted yet.

Well, I guess it’s natural for a parent to feel uneasy when their daughter comes home late with a guy… I responded to the handshake.

“Well then, shall we go inside? It’s cold outside, and you might catch a cold.”

We followed Genichiro-san as he urged us. During the short time it took to reach their house… Nanami-san seemed to be trembling, so I held her hand.

I hesitated a bit about holding hands with her in front of her father, but it should be fine as long as his back is turned.

Nanami-san looked surprised and glanced at me, and I smiled at her, whispering softly.

“Don’t worry, I’m with you.”

Her trembling stopped, and she had a smile on her face.

Yeah, it’s my favorite smile… I love it. …I don’t have the courage to say “I love you” directly, though.

“Nanami… holding hands with a boy…”

As I pressed my temples and shook my head from side to side, I wondered if this person had eyes on their back. Nevertheless, their words, while filled with emotion, didn’t convey any anger.

I had expected to be scolded for holding hands, but what’s going on?

And so, we entered her house.

At the entrance were… a woman and a girl.

“Ara, welcome. Hehe, Nanami bringing a boy home, how unusual♪”

“So, is that your? He doesn’t seem very impressive… but well, he’s not bad, right? Doesn’t look like a brute… he suits you, Nanami, don’t you think?”

The woman, with narrowed eyes and a gentle smile… she must be Nanami-san’s mother, resembling her. Is this what Nanami-san going to look like as a grown-up?

Next to her was a middle school-aged girl with her hands on her hips… perhaps a younger sister? She also resembles Nanami-san, but her eyes are slightly slanted. Nevertheless, she was looking at her elder sister with a smile, finding it adorable.

“Why are both of you…?”

Nanami-san, at the entrance, had a puzzled expression, but the two exchanged glances as if finding Nanami-san’s confusion perplexing, and let out a big sigh.

Their actions were exactly the same as Nanami-san.

“are you serious? Usually, Nanami hardly ever puts on makeup when she goes out with Hatsumi and Ayumi san, but she prepared such a noticeable disguise… “

“Yeah, and… when did we end up with an extra lunchbox? And secretly, she’s been so happy making lunches… It’s impossible not to notice.”

Nanami-san shook her head, while their mother tilted her head and placed her hand on her cheek.

…Nanami-san. It seems like they found out, even though you tried to hide it.

Nanami-san, hiding behind me, blushed furiously, but it’s impossible for us to hold hands in front of her family, so I could only stand there, flustered as well.

The two women watched us with a smile that seemed to say, “How adorable.”

“Let’s leave it at the entrance. Shall we talk in the living room? Dear, please prepare some tea,” Genichiro-san said, coming to our rescue. We were guided to the living room.

Nanami-san’s sister waved her hand and said, “Do your best, Nee-san,” and returned to her room with just those words.

It seems like her only goal was to see her sister’s boyfriend… and once that was accomplished, she lost interest. It can also be seen as avoiding getting involved in something troublesome.

And so, we sat facing each other in the living room. Nanami-san and I sat side by side, while Genichiro-san and her mother sat next to each other.

In front of my eyes was Genichiro-san, but he was looking at Nanami-san.

“Nanami… there’s something that I’m a little upset about… Do you know what it is?”

His face looked stern, but his tone was gentle… a severe contradiction. However, it seemed that he was indeed upset… and Nanami-san anxiously voiced her thoughts.

“… Is it because… I kept my boyfriend a secret?”

“No… well, as a father, I do have some thoughts about it… but I also think it’s a very joyous thing,” he said.

Joyous… hearing those words also made my heart feel slightly lighter.

“So… what is it…?” I asked.

“Well, it’s about Nanami lying,” he replied.

Lying…

With that single word, I could feel Nanami-san’s unease next to me. And those words were piercing to me as well.

Perhaps the lie Genichiro-san was referring to and the lie we had in mind were different… but he didn’t know that. In reality, the true reasons why Nanami-san and I were shaken were different for each of us.

“What one finds embarrassing varies from person to person… so I can’t outright deny the means of deception. However, Nanami, you lied… and you were at your boyfriend’s house, right?”

“Y-yes…”

Nanami glanced at me with a sidelong glance, and our eyes met.

When she was at my house, she had also contacted Otofuke-san… she probably asked Otofuke-san to cover for her…

It’s a common plot device in manga and such, but… if it was already exposed, there was no need for them to coordinate their stories… We ended up worrying our parents for no reason.

“I would have turned a blind eye if it was just a date… but going to a guy’s house at night… your boyfriend’s house… I wanted you to tell us about it properly. Were his parents at home?”

“They… weren’t… That’s why… I wanted to make dinner for Youshin…”

With those words… Genichiro-san’s temper twitched slightly. But he remained composed. Impressive self-control.

“…The girlfriend going to her boyfriend’s house when his parents are absent… It might have been difficult to say… but I wanted you to be honest about it… Did you think we would oppose it?”

In response to Genichiro-san’s words, Nanami-san nodded silently.

Even I didn’t stop Nanami-san from lying because I thought they would oppose it. So, I am equally guilty in that regard. One could say that I made her lie to her parents.

“Well, yeah… I won’t deny that possibility… But still, as a parent, I wanted you to talk to us honestly. It might be the ego of a parent, though…”

Genichiro-san lowered his gaze at that point and then looked at me again.

“But Nanami, he is the person you happily make lunch for every day… And seeing that he went out of his way to bring you back at this hour, Youshin-kun seems to be a very good young man, just as I imagined. If we had known about his character through regular interactions, we wouldn’t have opposed you going to make dinner.”

In a calm and composed manner, Genichiro-san evaluated me with a smile. His smile is scary, but I felt a slight sense of relief.

“Well… if this had turned into a sleepover or something… I don’t know how I would have dealt with it,” he said.

But the moment Genichiro-san finished saying those words, my entire body started trembling.

“You… please calm down…”

“Oh, sorry, Dear. I got a bit carried away just by imagining it. It’s not good.”

For a brief moment… just a moment, something different from anger flickered in Genichiro-san’s eyes, and he struck me fiercely. My whole body trembled… is this… what they call a murderous intent?

I shudder as a chilling sensation runs down my spine, experiencing an emotion I’ve never felt in my daily life. So this is what it feels like to be overwhelmed by a murderous intent… I can’t help but imagine what would happen if this wrestler-like person were to attack me. I would be utterly defenseless and defeated.

While I enjoy casual weightlifting as a hobby, my level is nowhere near this person’s. It’s evident from his physique that he trains his muscles for combat.

“Nanami, who used to be bad with boys, has entered into a romantic relationship. It might have been difficult to bring it up, but this is such a joyous thing. I wish you had told us. Well, it might be embarrassing to report it to your parents… I can understand that,” Genchiro-san said.

“But… but wasn’t Dad who said that!” For the first time, Nanami-san’s voice becomes agitated. I’m taken aback by this sight of her in such a distraught state. She’s usually cheerful, teasing me occasionally and occasionally embarrassing herself, so seeing her like this is a first. Her anguished expression weighs heavily on my chest.

Gently observing Nanami-san’s distraught state, Genichiro-san, too, seems to be surprised at first, but he remains silent, waiting for her to continue.

“It’s because of Dad… because Dad said something weird… I couldn’t tell him I was dating Youshin,” Nanami-san blurts out.

“Nanami… calm down… I’m sorry, but I don’t recall ever making any comments about your romantic relationship… Can you explain what you’re talking about?” Genichiro-san wears a puzzled expression, and Nanami-san’s mother, too, looks slightly confused. It seems that even her parents are witnessing Nanami-san in this state for the first time.

My question is answered by Seventh Sea’s next scream. She stands up and shouts at Genichiro-san.

“Dad said he wouldn’t acknowledge my boyfriend unless he’s stronger than Dad… He said that when he was drunk…! Because Youshin can never beat Dad… That’s why I kept quiet…”

Huh? Her relationship with Youshin won’t be recognized unless he can beat her dad? Is such a story really possible? Alongside my astonishment, I can’t help but feel despair as I imagine myself having to fight him.

Certainly, if that’s the case, it’s impossible to reveal their relationship. No one would dare to speak up. It’s even more so if it’s a punishment game.

But for Nanami-san’s sake, I feel like I can give it my all. If I can challenge her father as many times as it takes, I’ll keep going until I win. And then, I’ll earn his recognition. That’s my determination.

Following Nanami-san’s scream, a few seconds of silence engulf the room. She standed, likely affected by her outburst, and breathed heavily. On impulse, I also standed and, before I know it,I found myself hugging her. I forgot that her parents are right here but I still comforted her.

Even I’m surprised by my own actions.

“It’s okay, Nanami-san. If that’s the condition… I’ll challenge your dad as many times as it takes. Remember what I said? I have no intention of letting you go,” I say.

“Youshin… Uuu… Yeah… Thank you…”

As I comforted a teary-eyed Nanami-san, her mother looks at me with interest and exclaims, “Ara Ara” but I had forgotten that her parents were present here. While Panicking, I looked at Genichiro-san, who had his arms crossed and his head tilted. Huh? Why is he tilting his head?

“Hey… Nanami… I’m sorry, I really am… but…” Genichiro-san words feel somewhat awkward, but I have a slightly uneasy feeling. It’s a terrible premonition, as if the premise of what Nanami-san said is about to be overturned. And such premonitions often turn out to be true.

Whether it’s the oddity of Genichiro-san’s reaction or the fact that Nanami-san is now sitting and tilting her head, both of them look perplexed. Ironically, their postures while tilting their heads are strikingly similar.

Then, with an apologetic expression, Genichiro-san opened his mouth. “Did I… say something like that? I really don’t remember…”

Upon hearing Genichiro-san words, Nanami-san, myself, and even Nanami-san’s mother sitting beside us are left dumbfounded.

Interlude : Seventh Sea being embraced

Y-Y-Y-Youshin?! We’re in front of Dad and Mom, you know?! I’m happy, but isn’t this too bold?! What should I do?!

Ah… but… what’s this… Youshin’s body… It’s a little stiff, but it feels incredibly comforting…

My heart… I feel so at ease… Should I also hug him back?

Youshin… Will you accept Dad’s condition? I’m so happy… I want to hug him back too…

Just as I’m about to think that and return the embrace, my body freezes at my father’s words.

TL notes: whoa what a cliffhanger…