Nanami-san stared blankly, a look I had never seen before. Despite that, her cuteness remained unchanged, which I found amazing.
It was revealed that the part I had been worrying about all along was something her father didnāt remember.
Well, no wonder she would make such a face. I wonder what she must be feeling insideā¦
āFatherā¦!!ā
āYouā¦?ā
Nanami, who had been absent-minded, snapped back to her senses and was about to explode whenā¦ her mother next to her spoke up.
In a terribly cold tone and with her gaze directed at her own husband.
Her expression remained the same gentle smile as before, but it was terribly terrifyingā¦
āYouā¦ How could you forget something so important? Iāve never heard of it eitherā¦ Of courseā¦ It would make it difficult for Nanami to say it, right?ā
āWait, Dear! Nanami, when did I ever say something like that? I really, really donāt remember!!ā
Frantically, Genichiro-san, Nanami-sanās father, sought help from her, and while returning a cold gaze, Nanami-san answered.
āWhen I was in middle schoolā¦ Onii-san, Oto-san, was drinking with my brother, Itsumi, at home, and he said itā¦ā
Nanami-san tears had receded. On the other hand, Genichiro-san twisted his head, trying to recall that time.
Her mother smiled with a cold gaze, and Nanami-san maintained a cold expression, while Genichiro-san held his head under such gazesā¦ What is this situation?
What should I do?
āAhā¦ā
Then, Genichiro-san lifted his head. His eyes widened, and cold sweat started to form on his cheeksā¦ It seems likeā¦ he remembered.
āIndeedā¦ I may have said itā¦ Maybeā¦ā
āSee!! I knew you said it!!ā
āNo, Nanami! That was in the flow of conversation with ichiro-kun!! Moreover, it was more of a way to encourage ichiro-kunā¦!!ā
āTo encourage Onii-sanā¦?ā
The conversation continued without waiting for me. However, I felt somewhat relieved that Genichiro-san wasnāt really serious about defeating himself.
I had thought that maybe I would have to start training at a martial arts dojo or somethingā¦ But it seems like I might be able to avoid it.
āAt that time, he was worried about the guys who were bothering his sister. So, he said that he would only recognize a man who defeated him as a conditionā¦ saying that if I were him, I would only accept a man who defeated meā¦ā
āCertainlyā¦ Itsumi was very popular in middle school, butā¦ something like thatā¦ā
āWellā¦ I never expected that the sister who was so moved by his words would end up dating him, her brother-in-law, with the intention of getting married once she became a high school studentā¦ā
Did you push the two of them forward?
Well, I donāt think thatās a bad thing, but they really do seem like characters out of a manga, those Misumai and Nanami folks. Their personalities are quite intense.
As the revealed truth made Nanami-san furrow her brow, she placed her fingers on her temple as if trying to endure a headache.
āSo, even if youāre dating Youshin, thereās no need to fight against your father, right?ā
āYeah, I swear on these muscles Iāve trained and my beloved mother. Besides, I didnāt train to fight someone in particular.ā
he showed off his muscular physique and demonstrated his relationship with her mother, who blushed and seemed delighted.
There was a stark contrast between her previous icy smile and her current expression.
Nanami-san seemed relieved, but I had another question.
āUmā¦ Nanami-san, your fatherā¦?ā
āIs this the classic moment where youāre supposed to call me āfather-in-lawā? No need to be formal, just call me by my name, Misumai-kun.ā
āAhā¦ I see. Umā¦ So, is Genichiro-san, even though heās incredibly well-trained,is he a martial artist?ā
āNo, Iām just an ordinary salaryman.ā
ā¦Is it really possible for an ordinary salaryman to have muscles like that? I bet his suit must be stretched tight over his musclesā¦
āSo, why did you train so much? I also do some weightlifting as a hobby, but normally people wouldnāt go that far within the realm of hobbies, rightā¦?ā
āAh, youāre right. Youshinās upper body muscles are defined, but theyāre still faintā¦ My father, on the other hand, is like a solid wallā¦ā
The moment Nanami-san said that, I felt the temperature in the room drop.
The cause was obviousā¦ It was the killing intent emanating from Genichiro. Moreover, it was even stronger than before.
āā¦Misumai-kunā¦ Did youā¦ Did you show my daughter your upper body naked? In what situationā¦? Surelyā¦ Surely itās not aboutā¦ engaging in such activities already, right? Itās not, is it? Can I trust you?ā
āN-No! Thatās not it!! Itās complicatedā¦ My clothes got wet, and when I was sleeping in the infirmary, the teacher happened to take off my wet clothesā¦ and she just happened to see me!ā
āThatās right!! Youshin was helping me!! Donāt pry into strange things! We havenāt even kissed yet, you know!!ā
Wellā¦ we did have an indirect kiss, thoughā¦ Wait, Nanami-san? Why are you placing your hand on your own lips and blushing after saying those words?
Wouldnāt that have the opposite effect on Genichiro-sanā¦?
However, it seemed that Genichiro-san was satisfied with those words as he withdrew his killing intent. Insteadā¦ he squinted his eyes and offered some reproachful words to Nanami-san.
āNanamiā¦ Iāll believe you this time. But you see, if you keep piling up small lies, gradually that trust will be lost. As a father, I want to believe in you, Nanamiā¦ I donāt need to know everything, but from now on, I want you to openly say that youāre going on dates with Youshin-kun. If itās him, I can rest easy.ā
āThatās right. If Youshin-kun is Nanamiās boyfriend, Iāll be relieved. Heās kind of cute, isnāt he? He might be slender, but he seems to have some musclesā¦ Nanami, I love your father who trains so muchā¦ I wonder if you take after me in that regard?ā
Nanami-san blushed at her motherās words and lowered her head without confirming or denying anythingā¦ Well, itās a good thing that their family gets along. When I smirked a little, Nanami-san gave me a slight glare.
āThe truth isā¦ thereās a reason why Nanami is not good with boys, and thereās a reason why I started training my bodyā¦ā
Genichiro-san suddenly began answering my previous question. While the conversation had veered off track, that was the very question I had wanted to ask from the beginning.
Genichiro-san clasped his hands in front of his face, like a commander in an anime, and began speaking quietly.
āNanamiā¦ Do you remember when you started feeling uncomfortable around boys?ā
āWellā¦ I think it was before entering middle schoolā¦ Around the sixth grade in elementary school, I suddenly started feeling uneasy around boysā¦ā
āYeah, thatās rightā¦ Andā¦ that was also around the time I started training my body.ā
āMom said it was probably just a phase of adolescence, so I didnāt think about it too deeplyā¦ But what does that have to do with you training your body?ā
I glanced briefly at her mother, who wore a troubled smile. I had heard that girls in higher grades often found boys their age childishā¦ Could it be something like that?
Then, as if he had come up with an idea, Nanami-sanās father stood up silently and brought a photo album.
As he opened the album, I saw numerous photos of young Nanami-san stored inside.
Looking at young Nanami-san, who was so adorable, I couldnāt help but feel a warm and nostalgic feeling. And among those photos, there was also the figure of Genichiro-san from that time.
ā¦Back then, Genichiro-san was trulyā¦ of an entirely average build. In fact, he was even slimmer than I am nowā¦ Umā¦ Itās amazing how training can transform the human body. The mysteries of the human body are truly astounding.
āAs you can see from these photosā¦ Nanami was incredibly cute even back in elementary school. I mean, she was cuter than any idol you could find. Donāt you think so, Misumai-kun?ā
āI do.ā
āHey?!ā
Well, I canāt really say āI donāt think soā at this point, and thatās my honest opinion anyway. Nanami-san was adorable since childhood.
However, while Nanami blushed beside me, Genichiro-san wore a pained expression, as if she had bitten into a bitter bug.
āYesā¦ That cuteness became her downfallā¦ When Nanami was in elementary schoolā¦ she was pursued and tormented by boys her age, to the point where it almost caused an accident.ā
āHuhā¦?ā
Our words overlapped. The sudden heavy topic left me looking at her face, and she appeared bewildered. For the time being, I held her hand to reassure her.
āYoushinā¦ā
Normally, you wouldnāt do something like this in front of your parents. However, I felt that it was necessary for Nanami-san in her current state, so I chose to hold her handā¦ Well, I already hugged her earlier, so it shouldnāt be a big deal now.
ā¦It seems that my choice was the right one, as Genichiro-san and Nanami-sanās mother both nodded in agreement.
āIt must have been something typical of boys trying to get the attention of a girl they likeā¦ But an accident almost happenedā¦ Fortunately, a teacher quickly came to help and everything turned out fineā¦ Butā¦ Nanami didnāt remembered that incident, probably due to the shockā¦ she didnāt remember it.ā
Gennichirou-san didnāt go into detail about the accident. It was probably to prevent Nanami from inadvertently recalling it. Nanami still couldnāt remember it now and wore a bewildered expression.
āBut it was fortunate, because there was no need to forcibly bring back the memories of something scary and painfulā¦ However, from that time on, Nanami started developing an aversion towards boys.ā
ā¦So something like that happenedā¦ Even if her memory was lost due to the shock, she still carried a trauma towards boys. Thatās why she became uncomfortable around boysā¦ She hasnāt remembered it until nowā¦
It was fortunate in a way that it didnāt leave a strong negative responseā¦ Or should I say it was a silver lining in an unfortunate situation?
āSince then, I started training my body to be able to protect Nanami from anythingā¦ And also to show Nanami that men arenāt just scary, I began practicing martial artsā¦ Thatās where I became friends with Souichirou-kun.ā(ichiro-kun)
āCome to think of it, I first met Hatsumi at the dojo when I went with Dad, right?ā
āThatās right. From then on, Nanami was blessed with friends, and her aversion towards men gradually faded over timeā¦ And today, she finallyā¦ brought her boyfriend home.ā
Nanami-san looked at her parents with nostalgic eyes, and Genichiro-san wore a joyful expression. So thatās what happenedā¦ Genichiro-san and Nanami-sanās mother had tears in their eyes.
She had previously said that there wasnāt any significant reason for her aversion towards boysā¦ but to think something like this had happenedā¦
Nanami-sanās hand gripping mine tightened. Knowing that something like this had happened to her, she must have become anxious againā¦ Thatās why Iā¦
āItās alright, Genichiro-san.ā
I deliberately changed the way I held Nanami-sanās hand.
Our fingers intertwinedā¦ the so-called hand-holding of lovers. My heart started beating faster at this first experience, but I couldnāt pay attention to that right now.
With this action, trying to alleviate her anxiety even just a little, Nanami-san showed a surprised expression, but then she smiled happily and firmly held my hand again.
āI willā¦ I will protect Nanami-san from now on, forever. I will never let go of her hand and I wonāt let her feel sad. I promise. Soā¦ I ask you againā¦ Please approve of my relationship with Nanami-san.ā
Not only Nanami-san next to me, but also Genichiro-san and her mother next to him had their eyes wide open, surprised.
ā¦Did I say something strange? Genichiro-san must be worried, so I intended to protect Nanami-san in places where he couldnāt seeā¦
Nanami-san next to me turned bright red and opened and closed her mouth.
āOh myā¦ I approve of the relationship itself, but when you put it like thatā¦ itās making me blushā¦ Heheā¦ What a passionate proposal, I wonder?ā
āOhā¦ so it seems I finally have a son-in-lawā¦ I already approved, but if youāre prepared to that extent, then I will approve once again, Masumi-kun.ā ( TLN :Ā lmao that escalated quickly)
Huh? This reaction is different from what I expected? Waitā¦ a proposalā¦?
ā¦I reflect on my own words.
ā¦Yeahā¦ depending on how you interpret it, it does sound like a proposalā¦ I blurted it out without considering that we were just pretending to date as a punishmentā¦ I just wanted to reassure Nanami-sanā¦
Next to me, Nanami-sanās eyes sparkle with excitement.
Genichiro-san wiped away tears of relief from his eyes.
Her mother smiled with joy on her face.
ā¦Well, itās fine. I just have to do my best from now on. In that sense, nothing really changes.
With a renewed determination, I shook hands firmly with Genichiro-san. This handshake, tooā¦ was with my left hand.
āOh, sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Iām actually left-handed, so I tend to use this hand when shaking hands. Thereās no special meaning behind it.ā
Whatā¦ It turns out I misunderstood and panicked, thinking they didnāt approveā¦
And so, our relationshipā¦ became officially recognized by Nanami-sanās parents.
Interlude : Nanami-sanās reaction to the proposal
Youshin?! He changed the way we held hands, and then my parentsā¦ is this reallyā¦ like a proposal?!
My dad and momā¦ is this a proposal? Can I think of it that way?
After feeling anxious hearing about the forgotten past moments ago, all that anxiety disappeared in an instant. Thereās only joy in my heart.
ā¦A proposalā¦ but itās too early to get married right after graduationā¦ First, letās continue our relationship smoothly during high schoolā¦ and then after entering collegeā¦ whaā¦ whatā¦ living together? Will we do that?
Oh, if that happens, what kind of home would be good? An apartment? Even a small house would be fine for just the two of us, but in that case, at nightā¦ we would snuggle up together and sleepā¦? Eheheheā¦ (From here on, the daydream continuesā¦)