“Wait, everyone, this is a misunderstanding!”
I needed to clear things up before the glaring faces around me became scarier.
“Chika and I aren’t in the kind of relationship you’re all thinking of!”
“Oh? And what kind of relationship is that, K-chan?”
“Chika and I… I mean, Tachibana and I are just childhood friends—”
“Oh, right! Kei-chan and I have been close since we were little, spending all day together and knowing even the most embarrassing things about each other!”
“...So there’s nothing inappropriate between us, just a perfectly wholesome—”
“But we used to splash around together in the bath!”
“Okay, let’s stop talking now.”
After sending Chika back to her classroom, I spent the remaining 30 minutes of lunch break trying my hardest to clear up all the misunderstandings.
I never thought I’d have to literally beg for my life in a real situation.
Somehow, I managed to survive the ordeal and get through the rest of my classes without incident.
After school, I was alone by the shoe lockers.
Truthfully, I wanted to go home with Chika, but after what happened during lunch, I figured it was best to avoid creating any more misunderstandings.
“Kei-chan♪”
“Whoa!?”
I turned around to find Chika standing there, grinning at me.
Wh-when did she get here!?
“You’re heading home, right? Let’s walk together!”
“O-oh… Yeah, I guess.”
Without hesitation, she grabbed my hand tightly.
“W-what are you doing!?”
“What do you mean? I’m just holding your hand.”
Don’t give me that innocent look! And it’s a lover’s grip!
“You’re not seriously planning to walk home like this, are you?”
“Of course! We’re childhood friends, so there’s nothing weird about it, right?”
No, it’s absolutely weird! We’re not a couple or anything!!
“Chika… What exactly do you think a ‘childhood friend’ is?”
“Hm? Someone who’d do anything for the other, always be together, and always support each other. That kind of relationship… I guess?”
That’s way too much! That’s practically beyond a couple and into married territory!!
“You’re so strange, Kei-chan. This is what you taught me, remember?”
“Huh? I don’t remember teaching you anything like that—”
“Well, whatever, let’s go home!”
“Wait a sec—”
Chika started walking, still holding my hand.
In the end, we walked home together, hand in hand.
I tried to ignore the stares from people around us, but it was nerve-wracking.
We arrived at Chika’s house, a large home with a garden.
Now that I think about it, Chika’s family was pretty wealthy.
“Oh, hold on! I just need to grab my suitcase. Wait here for a bit, okay?”
“O-okay? Wait, suitcase? Why?”
“Because from today on, you and I are going to live together, so I need to pack my things!”
WHAT!?
“W-wait, what are you talking about!? Live together? That doesn’t make any sense!”
“Huh? We’re childhood friends, so it’s normal to live together at this age, right?”
No, that has nothing to do with being childhood friends!!
“Oh, don’t worry! My mom’s been teaching me how to do housework since middle school just for this!”
That’s not the issue here!!
“Oh, right! Mom said she wanted to meet you. I’ll go get her!”
“Wait, hold on! We’re not done talking—!!”
Chika disappeared into the house before I could stop her.
A few minutes later, Chika’s mom appeared in her place.
“It’s been a while, Keiichi-kun.”
Her mother, Chiyuki Tachibana, stepped into view.
She looked so youthful and beautiful that it was hard to believe she had a high school-aged daughter.
“L-long time no see, Chiyuki-san.”
“Oh, come on, no need to be so formal. You can call me ‘Mother-in-law,’ you know?”
“W-what…?”
“Um, about Chika saying she’s going to move into my house… Could you maybe talk her out of it, Chiyuki-san?”
“Oh, there’s no need to worry. I fully support the idea. In fact, I’m the one who suggested it!”
Wait, you were the one who came up with this!?
“Keiichi-kun, didn’t your parents tell you anything about this?”
“My parents?”
“No, I haven’t heard anything…”
“Well, I suggested to your mom that the two of you try splitting living expenses and sharing a room to see how it works. She thought it was a great idea, and everything just fell into place!”
Mom, seriously!?
No one told me about any of this!!
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