Because it’s the first time, things are growing

“All right, then, have a good day.”

“All right. Good luck at work, Dad.”

“Yeah !”

Weekday mornings begin with a few words with my dad like this.

After my mom died of an illness when I was young, I naturally spent more time with my dad, and although I’m not proud of it, I’m confident that we get along better than other families.

“……Remarried, huh.”

Remarriage…..the Kuratani girls become a family.

The sisters who are famous in school…..and are sometimes referred to as beautiful sisters……so becoming a family is a really strange feeling no matter how many times I think about it.

“But……somehow I have a feeling it’s going to work out.”

After yesterday’s exchange, I’m confident that it’s going to work out.

I still don’t know what will happen, but at least I think I’m getting to know Sayaka san better.

Well, with Yume san, I have no choice but to hope that time will settle things.

“Okay~”

I arrive at school while thinking that and enter the classroom with a thinly veiled greeting.

Some of my friends who I talk to often look at me and greet me back, but the rest of them don’t even look at me.

This is not an uncommon occurrence, and if you are not particularly close to anyone, you don’t care who walks into the classroom.

“Hey, Minato.”

The man who approached me as I sat down was Tsutsumishita Tokikaze, whose name was reminiscent of an actual warlord from the past, but looked like a handsome, modern boy.

“Good morning, Tokikaze. You’re looking good today.”

“Thank you. The times call for a fresh look, after all !”

I have a feeling about Tokikaze when I see him smiling and grinning in a good mood.

He is certainly handsome……but he is also an idiot–although he stubbornly refuses to admit it, he’s stupid……I’m a very good friend of Tokikaze.

“What’s wrong? You seem awfully nervous.”

“……Is that so?”

Fidget……I may indeed be fidgety.

It goes without saying that the reason for that was about her….just after thinking like that.

“Good morning.”

A voice as pleasant to listen to as a bell rang out and she…..Sayaka san appeared in the classroom.

The way she sways her silky black hair that seems to flow in the wind is one word for graceful. The atmosphere in the classroom that comes to life the moment Sayaka san appears is also familiar to me, but that person is becoming my family…huh.

“You’re staring at Kuratani…..haha～. Do you like her?”

“…………….”

I lightly poked him on the shoulder because he suddenly started to say something strange.

Judging from Tokikaze, it seemed like he was trying to hide his embarrassment, and I was also poked on the shoulder by him as if to take revenge.

“……Ah.”

I just realized that I shouldn’t say anything in the classroom yet, including about the remarriage.

Whether I say it or Sayaka san says it, either way, it’s like big news and it’s only a family matter…..eventually, Sayaka san’s last name will change and it will be passed on, and it’s not too late to do it then.

“……Hey Minato.”

“What?”

“……Kuratani…..she’s coming over here?”

“……Eh?”

When Tokikaze told me that, I turned my gaze and sure enough, Sayaka san was heading this way.

The way she walks confidently while receiving the gazes of the people around her is enough to make me respect her…Sayaka san approached me straight ahead and opened her mouth.

“Good morning, Minato kun.”

“……Good morning Kuratani san.”

It should have been just a simple greeting, but perhaps because it was something that had never happened before, it felt like the eyes of the whole class were gathering around me.

“Kuratani san……? Minato kun, did you forget about yesterday?”

For a moment, her cheeks puffed out, but the next expression was that of uneasiness.

I heard Tokikaze muttering [Yesterday?] she was so surprised that I called out her last name instead of her first name.

“Sorry……um…..Sayaka san.”

“Yes♪”

……Surely we will be a family in the near future.

However, it was only yesterday that it was discovered, and up until now, there was no clear connection between us at all.……I’m thankful that she’s getting along with me, but isn’t it a bit too expressive?

“It’s only natural for me to say hello in the morning. Well then, Minato kun, see you.”

“Y-yeah……see you.”

She turned away, waving her hand, albeit modestly, just as she had done when we parted yesterday.

Most of what I know about Sayaka san is through personal history, but…she really has a friendly personality, and it makes me feel like she has a strange charm that won’t make the other person doubt her.

“H-hey !”

And of course, Tokikaze opens his mouth.

“What’s going on, Minato? She……I never seen Kuratani come to greet a boy like that before,……it may be an overstatement, but it never happened before !”

“Which is it……ah~”

I’m not going to complain to Sayaka san, but if it’s just Tokikaze, it might be fine to tell him separately…but I’ll ask for Sayaka san’s opinion on that.

“I’m sorry Tokikaze. I admit that something is wrong,……but can you wait a bit?”

When I told him that, Tokikaze rolled his eyes and then nodded his head in understanding.

“…..Well, since it’s you, I knew there was something going on. If you’re going to go that far, I’m not going to ask any more questions from here. I’ll tell everyone that.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s all good.”

After all, what you should have is a friend.

But when I think about it again, not only will Sayaka san’s last name change, but it’s going to be really big news that she’s becoming a family with me.

It’s not every day that a classmate becomes a member of a family.

“The teacher should be here soon, so go to your seat.”

“Okay, I’ll see you later～”

Then the homeroom teacher, Matsumoto sensei, arrives, the morning assembly begins, and the day at school begins.

(……I guess that’s all it takes to get attention.)

It is well known that Sayaka san and Yume san hate guys, even if it is only a rumor.

Some of the guys confess their feelings for them without any concern, but most of them keep their distance because they don’t want to be disliked by the most popular and beautiful girls in the school.

If you think about it, I’ve never seen a moment when Sayaka san talks to the opposite sex either, except for what is certainly necessary……

(Well, we’re going to see each other at home whether we want to or not, so it’s no use worrying about it now.)

I’ll just make sure they don’t feel uncomfortable…. that’s the first thing I’ll do.

▽▼

“Sayaka? Aren’t you in a better mood today than usual?”

“Am I? Fufu, I guess so.”

I replied laughing at my friend’s words.

“What’s going on, is something happening?”

“I’m curious too !”

“Me too !”

If one of them said something like that, my friends would surround me like a chain.

Feeling a little bit of comfort and annoyance, I turned my gaze away from them and looked at him–yes, Minato kun.

(Shinji Minato kun….a boy….who will become my family……who saved our lives……)

Minato kun is happily chatting with his friends, just like me.

…….I think it’s strange….a little weird because……because……because I don’t want to look away from him. I

[……Haha, good for you, seriously.]

The words he said to me when he saved me and Yume……It was a voice that gave me a sense of security so much that it remained in my ears for a long time.

I’m not good with men……,and it’s no exaggeration to say that I hate them. Even so, not only can I not forget the time when he helped me, but I can’t forget the time when he hugged me even more.

“Hey Sayaka? You greeted Shinji in the morning……are you threatened in any way?”

“No, nothing like that. I won’t allow you to suspect him.”

“Y…yeah.”

“……You’re a little scary, Sayaka.”

Did I look that scary……

I’m conscious of smiling so as not to scare the girls, but I still think about Minato kun in my head.

“……Ah, I see.”

When I think about it……I’ve never been helped by a man like that, or even thought of them as someone I could rely on,……because I always wanted to be a strong person who could protect my mother and sister.

(This is first time I met……a man I could rely on……?)

The moment I muttered this inwardly, my body shook with a jolt.

What……? What is this feeling……I don’t know……but it is very comfortable and makes me want to stare at Minato kun more.

“……………”

What is this feeling……?

I kept thinking about it for a long time.

“Hm? Something fell out, Sayaka……eh?”

“Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun, Minato kun–“

Oh no…..the note has fallen off.