Ch.10 A Call From Parents

"Ugh, to be humiliated like that..."

"Humiliated... so you do have some sense of shame."

"Of course I do! That situation was really embarrassing..."

I was going to have my clothes forcibly stripped off, and by someone I thought I might like, and a girl I had just become friends with today.

Well, what I learned from this incident is,

"The amount of shame you feel is completely different between showing yourself and being forced to be seen naked (underwear included)."

That is what I learned ja.

I see. So that is why in ero games, the heroine, who normally does not mind being seen in her underwear or naked, becomes so embarrassed when the protagonist sees her in the bathroom...

I can totally understand it now.

"I'm sorry, Mahiro-chan... I got carried away..."

"Well, 'tis fine, but... I would rather you not dress me in those kind of clothes."

"Sorry……"

"No need for apologies. I was the one who asked you to choose. I wish I could have accepted them all..."

'Twas impossible.

Generally speaking, 'twas impossible.

Well, women do take time to choose their clothes...

Moreover, if one were to go with a group of people, they will be choosing clothes for the others too, so the man will have to wait.

That being said, I think this time was a bit excessive, seriously!

"By the way, did you two come here alone?"

"No. Mishima-kun and Sasanishi are with us. They declined, saying that accompanying on Mahiro's necessities would be too much of a challenge."

"Those two were friends of Mahiro-chan, right?"

"Mu, do you even know that much?"

"I, I had the opportunity to look into it..."

"What opportunity..."

I agree with Miho.

I cannot help but feel that Mizuki is hiding something.

However, 'tis not something particularly harmful, but there is something else... well, maybe I should say 'tis some kind sexual disposition.

Well, 'tis just a hunch of mine, though.

...Could this be what they call a woman's intuition?

No way. There is no way I have something like that.

'Tis me we are talking about.

"Oh, isn't that Kengo and Yuya over there?"

"Oh really?"

"They seem a little tired..."

"...I can understand why."

In all likelihood, they were tired from waiting too long.

My apologies, but 'tis not my fault. 'Tis the two demons here who are to blame.

"Oooi, we are baack."

When I called out to them from a little distance away, they turned towards us, although their expressions showed that they were a little tired.

"You're finally here..."

"I'm a little tired of waiting. It took so long."

"Well, after we met Mizuki, she and Miho picked out some clothes for me, so it took a while..."

"Mizuki...?"

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Uishi Mizuki."

"Huh?! Wait, what happened that would lead you guys to meet the most beautiful lady in our school?!"

When Kengo found out that the girl with us was the most famous person at our school, he exclaimed in surprise, and Yuya's eyes widened.

"Is that how you think of me?"

"Well... You are quite a celebrity, are you mot? As expected, considering you are the daughter of the president of the Uishi Group."

"I'm just his daughter, it's not like I'm anything special..."

"But did you not always get the top grades in your grade?"

"That's true. I usually study hard. However, I feel like Mahiro-chan is usually around 20th to 30th place too..."

"Well, I do take my classes pretty seriously." (TL: While sleeping???)

"...Now that you mention it, Mahiro-san is at least serious about that one thing."

"Taking make-up exams and stuff is a pain. I would rather take care of the problem at hand than deal with the trouble later noja."

Also, if one is at that rank, they will probably be given some flexibility. 'Tis more like a way to improve one's grades.

'Tis a little different though.

"That aside, why is Uishi-san here too?"

"Well, actually. As we were on our way to buy some clothes, we happened to bump into her noja. She said she wanted to look at some clothes with us, so we went together. By the way, we became friends then."

"Haaa, I see... Mahiro, you've been making friends without even realizing it... and you're friends with almost anyone. You're kind of weird, aren't you?"

"Really? I just treat everyone equally, you know."

Changing your attitude depending on who one is talking to is something that only small-minded people or those with strange pride do.

I do not have any such pride whatsoever.

"So, Otoda-san, did you become friends with her too?"

"Yeah, I knew her from the start, but we became friends just now."

"Yes, I'm happy that I've made more friends. I didn't have anyone at school that I could call a friend..."

"Mu, why ja? You are easy to talk to, and you seem like you have friends..."

"Well... I'm the president's daughter, so no one fawns over me or talks to me because they feel intimidated by my title. I did say that I would volunteer to be the class representative, but..."

Mizuki said this with a slightly lonely look on her face.

I see…….

Rich people have it hard too, huh.

"In that case, why not be friends with these two as well? they are not the type to fret much over that stuff."

"Oh, really?"

"I don't mind. My thought is 'home is home, a person is a person' after all! "

"That's true. I don't really mind either. To begin with, Mahiro-san is someone I can become friends with. Even if he's a little weird or has his quirks, I think he's a good person at heart, so it's not a problem."

“Mishima-kun, you may think you’re saying the right thing, but you’re actually saying some pretty strange things, you know?”

"Really? Well, I guess sometimes I'm like that."

Yuya sometimes makes comments that are hard to follow...

That is the one thing I sometimes wonder about.

Well, I probably have no right to say that.

"I'm happy to have more friends. It's not that I'm not having fun at school, but I've been feeling a little lonely..."

"In that case, we'll be here from the second year onwards, so feel free to talk to us."

"Yes!"

"In that case, it would be good if we were in the same class. Well, the chances are pretty low though."

"That's true. Mahiro and I have never been in different classes. I think Yuya has been in the same class as us since middle school."

"That's right. I think it was around 3rd year."

"So you haven't known them for that long, Mishima-san?"

"In terms of bonding, time doesn't matter. We just have a lot of opportunities to hang out together."

"That it is ja..."

Come to think of it, even though we were in different classes, Me, Kengo and Yuya are still together, and we have been friends since our third year of middle school.

Well, we seem to get along quite well. Are they bad friends or something?

Miho has a different kind of comfort to her than the other two.

As for Mizuki, I wonder what it is. I sense something like an older sister's aura to her.

"Now, where should we go next--"

Grumble grumble....

Just as I was about to ask where we should go, my stomach started growling.

"..."

"Mahiro, are you hungry?"

"...That seems the case. Now that I think about it, after using that ability so much, 'tis only natural that one would get hungry. 'Tis really a power that consume so much fuel ja."

'Tis the so-called calorie consumption.

If I keep doing that, won't I burn calories so quickly that I end up skinny?

"So, do you want to go get lunch?"

"Yeah. The time is just right. So, where should we go? There's a food court on the 3rd floor. There's a restaurant area on the 1st floor."

"Let me see... let us go to the first floor. I want a kids' lunch."

"...You're amazing. Even though you're a high school student."

"Well, it does not seem like there would be any problem with this appearance. You know, Co〇n-kun often eats the kids' lunch, does he not?"

"Well, that's probably because they think he's an elementary school student."

"'Tis the same thing. My appearance is that of an elementary school student now too noja."

Looking like this, it looks like it would be no problem to eat a kid's lunch!

Personally, I want to do things that I can only do in this state, and eat the foods that I can eat.

"Kids' lunch, is it...? Perhaps a Western eatery in the restaurant district?"

"No, Mizuki, are you really going to take this guy's nonsense seriously?"

"What, is that just a joke?"

"No? I really want to eat it, you know?"

"Ehhh..."

Hearing what I said, Miho let out a slightly taken aback voice.

"Otoda-san, if Mahiro starts saying things like this, there's no stopping him. That's the kind of person she is."

"...Ah, you're right."

"I am not making a joke or anything, 'tis just that my stomach has gotten smaller in this state. To be honest, I cannot eat much."

As expected, it seems that getting smaller may have an effect on the internal organs as well.

I was already a small eater to begin with.

If that is the case, 'tis obvious that I cannot eat as much now as I could back then.

"Oh, so there was a good reason for that."

"...Do you think I am someone who just goes with the flow?"

"I do."

"What a cruel person ja."

"Just let me be... Well then, let's go downstairs and get something to eat. Mizuki, you okay with that?"

"Yes. I told my parents that I'll be having lunch at the shopping mall today."

"I see. That's good then. Let's get going."

Fufu, I am looking forward to the kid's lunch.

◇◆◇

The Western eatery Mizuki mentioned certainly had some delicious food.

In fact, it has been a while since I have eaten a kid's lunch.

Especially that. The fried rice served like pudding with a flag on it. Simple is simply the best. I love that.

It somehow makes me excited.

And the kids' lunch really did fill me up, to the point that it was a little painful.

I guess I am just not cut out to be a big eater after all...

I finished eating first and was taking a quick break when,

Beep, beep.

My smartphone started ringing.

"Excuse me. I got a call ja. I will be outside for a bit."

"Take care."

After saying so, I leave the store and answer the phone in a secluded area.

"Hello."

『Oh! Your voice really has become a woman's!』

"...That voice, is it you, father?"

『Yeah, that's right! Well, Shouko-san called me yesterday. She said that you had developed TSF syndrome, so Kaa-san and I hurried off work and came home!』

"What are you doing ja..."

To hurry off work...

"Did you not say that this job was going to be a long one?"

『That's nothing compared to the fun- I mean, misfortune that has befallen you! And Tou-san and Kaa-san are at home now. Where are you?』

"Oi, did you just say 'fun'?"

『You're just imagining it! So, come on, where are you? It's been a while since Tou-san's seen you.』

My father is still a bit annoying as always ja.

'Tis tiring to talk to him...

"...I am at shopping mall. The nearby one."

『Hohho. It's rare to see you, the lazy one, going out. Is it like that, Kengo or Yuya?』

"Today, Miho is also joining us, and there is also a girl from the same year who we bumped into along the way."

『So that means you have two girls. That's great! Make more female friends! You've always been popular with girls! The more girls you seduce, the more daughters I'll have, and that'll make me happy!』

"...What are you talking about, Father? If Mother hears about this--"

『Ara~ Darling? What on earth are you talking about? Looks like you need a punishment, hmm?』

See, I told you so.

My Mother is scary... and she is strangely harsh towards my Father.

"K-Kaa-san?! When on earth did you――Mmgh! Mmm?!"

What is happening? His voice has suddenly become muffled.

『Hello, Mahiro?』

"Mother. It has been a while."

『It really "Mugh!" iss~. We just got home and now "Mugh!" I want to know how you are "Mmm!" -- stop making noise! ​​"Mhhh!?"』

...What on earth is going on at the other end of this phone call?

But I definitely do not want to know.

『Ahem. I'd like to know your current situation too, so please come back. It's a big deal for my precious son.』

"...But I am out with some friends right now..."

『Ara, how unusual. For the lazy Mahiro to go outside.』

"Do you parents not make fun of me too much?"

『But you always say things like, ''Tis such a pain to move noja~' right?』

"...I cannot deny it."

『Right? That's why. But I want to make sure with tou, so could you please come back? I've bought you some souvenirs too.』

Fumu, a souvenir, huh.

"What souvenirs?"

『Let's see, it's yokan and karigane tea. What do you think?』

"...It cannot be helped. 'Tis about my future, so we do need to talk to after all. I understand. I will go home right away noja. I-I was not lured in with food or anything, okay?"

『Yes, yes. Well then, we'll be waiting.』

"Umu."

Call ended.

I wonder what happened to my father, but... Well, he should be okay ja.

Anyway, I have to tell everyone.

As soon as I returned to the store, I told Miho and the others about the phone call.

"Well, you should probably go home. It's a very unique illness. You'll need to explain it to them."

"That's right. It's only natural to tell your parents. We'll pay the bill, so you can go home without worrying."

"Actually, it's not good to not go home. You should go home soon."

"That's right, Mahiro-chan. Don't worry about us, you can go home safely."

"Thank you. Well then, I will be heading home. Well then... Oh, I forgot. Mizuki, I would like to exchange contact information."

'Tis dangerous, I almost forgot.

If I miss this chance, the next time we will meet will be at the start of the new semester, so I better get it done now.

"I-Is that okay?"

"Of course ja. We are friends, right?"

"Y-Yes! H-here is my contact information! Please feel free to contact me anytime, don't hesitate!"

"Umu, will do. See you then."

'Tis a nice thing to have more contacts.

Now, talking about my parents, huh?... 'Tis a bit of a hassle, but everyone is right, so I will just hurry home and get it over with.

...Oops, I need to grow up first. I have bought way too many clothes and it would be impossible to carry them all in this state.

It would make me a little hungry, but when I think about the yokan waiting for me at home, 'tis better to be a little hungry.

I feel a strange mixture of sadness and excitement in my heart.

What a hassle ja...

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