Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The Neighboring Teacher’s Desired Repayment

Hiyori was shocked to learn this fact, her eyes widening in surprise.

After regaining her composure, she looked away, her expression troubled, and opened her mouth.

“Um, I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay. My dad and I have come to terms with it.”

Toru replied with a wry smile, assuring Hiyori that it was fine, even though she apologized for making him say something unnecessary.

It was true that they had been deeply saddened when their mother passed away, but after four years, they had come to terms with it to some extent.

However, while Toru and his father had, Kana hadn’t.

“Since she passed away soon after Kana was born, Kana doesn’t know anything about our mother except through photos. Maybe she’s being considerate at her young age, but she doesn’t ask us much about our mother’s personality, which makes it even harder.”

“When To-kun and Papa talk about Mama, you always have sad faces…”

“…Something like that.”

“So that’s how it is…”

Following Toru’s explanation, Kana, while looking down, explained why she didn’t ask about their mother.

Hiyori couldn’t hide her agitation at Kana’s thoughtfulness, even at such a young age.

However, if that was all there was to it, he wouldn’t have brought up their mother as the reason for Kana’s selfishness.

Toru gently covered Kana’s ears with both hands and continued.

“I heard from her nursery school teacher that children are innocent and don’t hold back. That’s why they often say things like, ‘It’s so sad that Kana-chan doesn’t have a mommy.'”

“That’s…”

Hiyori’s expression turned pained at the cruel pity that couldn’t be dismissed as mere childishness.

Even she, an adult, winced at hearing those words. Toru couldn’t imagine the shock Kana must have felt when those words were thoughtlessly thrown at her.

It was only natural that he had covered her ears before speaking.

Since the difficult topic was over, he uncovered Kana’s ears and continued.

“The other parents apologized about that, so it’s okay. But maybe because of that and other things, I think Kana has a sort of longing for the existence of a mother.”

“Longing?”

“She draws pictures of our family with four people, or when she plays house with her friends, she wants to be the mother… Things like that.”

“…”

Hiyori fell silent after hearing about Kana’s situation from Toru.

Toru inwardly sympathized with her reaction and continued.

“So, um… this might sound rude, but maybe the reason Kana is attached to you, sensei, is because you match the image of a mother she’s been longing for.”

“Eh!?”

Hiyori was greatly perplexed to learn that the reason Kana was attached to her was related to the story about her mother.

It would be difficult for any young woman to remain calm after being told that a little girl saw her as a mother figure.

While Toru felt apologetic, Hiyori, with a troubled expression, turned her gaze towards Kana.

“Um… Kana-chan, did you think I looked like your mother?”

“? Hyo-chan isn’t Mama. Hyo-chan is Hyo-chan.”

“Eh, eh…?”

Kana tilted her head cutely and denied Hiyori’s question.

Feeling let down, Hiyori let out a confused sound.

Then, she puffed out her cheeks like a child and glared at Toru.

He could sense, even without her saying it, that she felt embarrassed for having been made to feel conceited about being compared to Kana’s mother.

He swallowed the urge to say she was cute, knowing it would only upset her further, and then opened his mouth.

“No, well… I never said you looked like her or anything.”

“Th-That’s true! But still…!”

Hiyori understood Toru’s explanation, even though he felt awkward justifying himself, but she still wasn’t entirely convinced, feeling humiliated not once but twice.

She covered her face with both hands and trembled, and he couldn’t help but find her adorable, even though he felt sorry for her.

“W-Well, anyway, I think it’s true that you fit some kind of criteria that only Kana knows, even if it’s not related to my mother.”

“Ugh…”

The connection to his mother was just Toru’s speculation.

In the end, only Kana knew the real reason.

Regardless, they couldn’t stay at Hiyori’s house forever.

Toru quickly picked up Kana, partly to change the atmosphere.

“! No! I don’t want to say goodbye to Hyo-chan!”

“Kana, you can’t keep being selfish and troubling people.”

“To-kun, you’re mean!”

“Yes, that’s right, your brother is being mean today.”

“Hmm!”

Kana, desperately not wanting to leave, struggled in Toru’s arms, but there was no escaping due to the obvious difference in strength.

Determined not to trouble Hiyori any further, Toru deliberately acted like the bad guy, causing Kana to puff out her cheeks and glare at him with tears in her eyes.

Ignoring his sister, Toru turned to Hiyori.

“Sensei, thank you again for finding my little sister when she was lost. Please let me repay you somehow soon.”

“I was happy to help, and you don’t need to worry about it, Kuwa-kun.”

“But I won’t be satisfied if I don’t. I’m just a student without a part-time job, so I can’t do much, but I don’t want to be someone who does nothing in return.”

“Hmm…”

As expected, Hiyori said there was no need for thanks.

Perhaps she had a teacher’s pride that made her uncomfortable accepting gratitude from a student, but Toru insisted that he didn’t want to be ungrateful.

Seeing his unwavering stance, she looked troubled and began to hesitate.

“Nooo! I want to be with Hyo-chan!”

“Kana, stop it.”

Perhaps sensing that they were about to leave, Kana cried and reached out to Hiyori for help.

She was still in Toru’s arms, but this situation could only increase Hiyori’s sense of guilt.

“…”

Toru suddenly noticed that Hiyori was silently watching them.

He felt a cold sweat run down his back, thinking he had made her uncomfortable.

Just as he was thinking it would be better to continue this conversation at school, Hiyori said, “Well then,” and continued.

“—Can I play with Kana-chan on my next day off?”

“Huh?”

“Nyu?”

Toru’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected response.

Kana was equally surprised, stopping her crying abruptly.

“Um… wouldn’t that mean I’m not repaying you at all?”

“That’s not true.”

Hiyori slowly shook her head in response to his question about not being able to repay her kindness.

“As you can see, I live alone, right? So sometimes I feel lonely… You might think it’s silly for a grown-up to say this, but I think those feelings would disappear if I’m with Kana-chan. See? There’s a benefit for me too.”

“No, but…”

Even after hearing her reason, Toru wasn’t convinced.

After all, it didn’t change the fact that he would be troubling Hiyori.

Seeing Toru’s unconvinced expression, Hiyori smiled wryly and continued.

“Besides, even if I just silently see you off, I’ll be worried about you and Kana-chan…”

“Uh…”

A sharp pang of guilt pierced Toru’s heart.

He had tried not to trouble her, but now he had caused her to worry.

Even if he stubbornly refused Hiyori’s offer, all that awaited him was trying to appease a crying Kana.

It would be much faster to accept than to flatly refuse.

And Hiyori, the one who mattered most, didn’t seem like she was going to back down.

After agonizing over it, Toru slowly exhaled and put Kana down on the floor.

“If that’s what you want, sensei, I have no objections. I’d rather not be hated by my sister.”

“Fufu, thank you.”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

“Don’t worry about the details. It’s a promise.”

“…”

Toru turned his face away, trying to cool his flushed cheeks as Hiyori smiled brightly.

Did she realize?

Seeing Kana again meant seeing him again.

In other words, it meant interacting with each other outside of school again, just like today.

Before any logical thoughts about whether it was appropriate for a teacher and student to make such a promise, Toru felt a sense of happiness.

He couldn’t hide his confusion at this strange feeling, as if he wasn’t himself.

While he was still puzzled, Kana, who had been watching the proceedings, clung to Hiyori’s leg.

“Hyo-chan, can we see you again?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare some delicious snacks next time.”

“Yay! Snacks!”

Kana’s eyes sparkled when she heard there would be snacks, whether they were store-bought or homemade by Hiyori.

He couldn’t understand how she had become so attached in less than half a day.

In any case, if Kana was happy, then it was good that he had agreed.

Coming to that conclusion, he quietly calmed his still-racing heart.

He picked up Kana, who was finally in a good mood, and headed for the door.

“Kuwa-kun.”

“Yes?”

As he opened the door, Hiyori, who had come to see them off, called out to him.

He turned around casually and met her gentle gaze.

As he felt a slight flutter in his chest, Hiyori smiled and opened her mouth.

“See you tomorrow.”

“S-See you tomorrow…”

“Bye-bye, Hyo-chan!”

With his heart pounding, Toru stammered a reply.

Unlike Kana, who waved goodbye cheerfully, he couldn’t help but worry if he seemed strange.

Hiyori didn’t seem to notice Toru’s state and waved back with a smile.

Feeling bewildered by the warmth in his chest, Toru bowed slightly and left Hiyori’s apartment.

Even after closing the door, he couldn’t move from the spot until his heart calmed down.

“? To-kun, your face is red?”

“…I’m just a little tired. How about you, Kana?”

“Kana’s fine!”

“I see.”

After patting his sister, who had noticed the change in him, Toru headed towards his own apartment.

It was right next door, so it only took about ten steps to reach.

‘I don’t think I can stay calm when I see sensei tomorrow…’

With that nervous thought in mind, Toru returned home.