Chapter 249 - Chapter 220 Goal: Normal
Sunday
"Hey~! I'm here~!"
My best friend Nat's voice came from outside the house.
It was just before noon, around the time I was thinking of making lunch.
"Everyone can come and go freely at your place, right? Come on in."
I opened the front door and called out to Nat, who was waiting outside the gate.
Our fathers were classmates, so the Kashiwahara Family and ours have been close since we were little. That's why it's basically understood that we can just waltz into each other's houses.
"Oh! Well, just in case."
Nat replied, opened the gate, and wheeled his bike in.
If I left him, he'd just come to the living room, so I left him to it and went back to the kitchen.
"This is from my mom."
"Ugh, I got some last week too…"
Packed in a large Tupperware was a stew of chicken wings and root vegetables. It was a delicious dish, simmered in sweet and savory soy sauce.
"She said to bring back the old Tupperware."
"Ah, sorry. I forgot to have Miki take it."
Miki was tutoring Nao-chan again this week. I was supposed to have her take the Tupperware from last week's Chikuzen-ni, but…
"What are you feeding me today?"
"Yakisoba is fine, right? Just sit and wait."
"Alright. I'll grab some cold tea."
Knowing his way around, Nat opened the fridge and poured cold genmaicha into a glass.
I started cooking, glancing at him as he sat down at the table.
"Yesterday's stream was a huge success too, huh?"
"Yeah, well. But… are Mion's and my streams really that interesting?"
"They're super interesting! All my friends who primarily focus on production skills gather together and watch it while chatting away."
Apparently, it's become trendy to eat and drink while watching my streams. Especially adults, with a glass of wine in hand…
"So that's the demand…"
"It suits you, that's good."
Nat said, laughing.
Food terrorism is becoming a staple for our channel, so that's a good thing, I guess. But there's a limit to coming up with new ideas every time.
Also, it seems people get excited about how I use my skills and how I enjoy myself on that island. …Yeah, well, that's the kind of stream it is.
"Alright. It's done."
"Oh!"
Two large plates of salt yakisoba, loaded with pork and vegetables.
It's been a while, and as payment for today's consultation, I made plenty of Nat's favorite.
"Ooh! Looks delicious!"
"Ah, wait a second. This is the finishing touch."
I sprinkled plenty of white sesame seeds over it, and it was done.
With that, I also sat down,
""Let's eat!""
Yeah, delicious.
The two of us silently ate our salt yakisoba…
"Hm."
"Hm."
I poured him some more tea when his glass was empty.
We each finished 1.5 servings of salt yakisoba and took a breather.
"Phew. Thanks for the meal."
"No problem."
"So, is this consultation about Izumo-san?"
It's helpful to have such an perceptive friend.
I put the empty plates in the sink for a quick rinse.
"While I was at it, I filled the electric kettle with water and switched it on."
"Coffee's fine, right?"
"Yeah."
I prepared the drip bags and sat back down.
I looked at Nat, who had a look that said, "Spit it out already."
"That Mion might be in love with me…"
"Now?!"
Nat sprung from his chair, leaning forward aggressively.
"No, no, I've actually been thinking 'that might be the case' for a while now."
"Really? Well, it is you, after all…"
Nat sat back down, still giving me a dubious look.
The electronic beeping sound went off, so I poured hot water into the drip bags placed in our respective cups.
Even Nat was quiet during that time, as expected…
"So, what's the consultation about? Bragging? You like Izumo-san too, don't you?"
"Well, yeah, I guess…"
Being asked outright made me super embarrassed.
Honestly, I think she's too good for me, but I'm incredibly happy that she likes me. And somehow, before I knew it, I'd already met her parents…
"Just get together already. I mean, the entire class already thinks you two are a couple, you know?"
"Huh?"
"Iincho issued an order for everyone not to tease you and Izumo-san."
"Seriously…?"
According to Nat, it seems that had been the case for quite a while.
I'd been wondering why people weren't smirking at me as much anymore, so that's what it was…
"If you ever make Izumo-san cry, the girls in our class—no, all the girls in our grade—might turn against you."
"Give me a break…"
Nat said this with a laugh, then slurped his coffee, which seemed bitter, so he dumped a ton of sugar into it.
"I mean, this isn't the kind of thing you'd consult me about, is it?"
"Yeah. How do I put this… Mion's and my relationship, doesn't it seem just like my dad's and mom's?"
"Oh, that…"
Nat seemed to understand, and made an unidentifiable troubled face.
Since we've known each other for so long and completely understand what each other's families are like, Nat is the only one I can discuss this with.
At my house, my mom works, and my dad is a stay-at-home husband. That's not unusual at all, and it's a matter of aptitude, so I don't mind it.
However, frankly speaking, my mom has zero maternal ability. All her talents are directed towards her current job, and she has no ability to create a happy home.
To call it laissez-faire sounds good, but in a bad way, it's child neglect.
She probably cares about Mashiro-nee, me, and Miki, but she's just someone who has no idea how to interact with children.
And it was my dad who allowed that.
It's probably better than having a bad relationship between husband and wife, but he's too soft on Mom, and the children suffer the fallout. How is that fair?
"I want to avoid going down the same path as my dad…"
"Mashiro-nee was really rebellious in middle school, huh?"
"Because Mashiro-nee was rebellious, I think I was able to stay calm. And Miki was there too…"
When Mashiro-nee fought with Dad and Mom, Miki always hid behind my back. I don't think I'll ever forget the sad look on her face then.
"But aren't you overthinking it? At least she talks so much during streams, she's not like your mom, right?"
"I think so, but…"
"If it bothers you, just make sure it doesn't happen, right?"
"Me, huh. Well, you're right…"
"How do I put it, aim for normal, just normal. Your family is too special, in so many ways…"
"Normal…"
When I picture 'normal,' it's Nat's family right in front of me.
His uncle is a civil servant, and his aunt is basically a stay-at-home mom who sometimes works part-time.
Nat and Nao-chan are there, both bright and honest…
"My family's normal, alright."
Nat laughed.
"Right? I'm jealous."
"What are you talking about? My mom always says, 'I want Miki-chan to be my child,' you know?"
There were times when Mashiro-nee was rebellious, so Miki and I often ended up being looked after by the Kashiwahara family.
From his aunt's perspective, it probably felt like she just gained another son and daughter.
"If you marry Miki, that's exactly what'll happen."
"…"
Nat turned away from my question.
Of course, I know why.
"You, seriously, just confess to Iincho already."
"Alright, let's play a fighting game! I'm gonna beat you to a pulp!"
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