After the Soran Bushi dance.
Half an hour later.
Sakurai and Shirogane simultaneously headed toward the viewing stands.
"Darling…" Jinguji Tamaki hadn't even finished speaking when Sakurai General Affairs interrupted her.
"Mom, you came so early today." He changed the subject, frantically winking at her.
"Of course. This is the Sports Festival my most, most, most proud son is participating in. As a mother, I naturally have to come." Ms. Jinguji's tone softened. Paired with her black kimono embroidered with butterflies, she exuded the aura of a Yamato Nadeshiko.
Her precious son was starting to dislike his mother… It was a bit sad.
After the two finished their conversation, Shirogane Miyuki greeted them.
"Hello. I'm Sakurai-kun's friend—Shirogane Miyuki." This was the first time the Student Council President had met the other party's mother. Though he had heard about her from Sakurai, he hadn't expected her to be truly this beautiful.
"Oh, hello." Jinguji Tamaki's tone suddenly turned cold.
Shirogane Miyuki: …
Was he disliked? She was the mother of his best friend, and she disliked him on their first meeting. Was this really okay?
"Good morning, Uncle. It's been a while since we last met." Sakurai Saki said to Shirogane's father.
He was quite familiar with him due to frequently visiting the Shirogane home.
"Sakurai, you haven't been to our house in a long time either." Shirogane's father's words were vague, hard to decipher. "Do you want to come visit today?"
Sakurai felt that this person was not easy to get along with. Even he found it difficult to understand his thoughts.
Student Council President Shirogane reluctantly explained: "Kei has been wondering why you haven't come lately."
He didn't want his sister to interact with Sakurai any more than necessary. There's an abyss ahead! Kei! It's still not too late to pull back from the brink!
Sakurai shouldn't make a move on my sister, right? Shirogane Miyuki momentarily doubted his relationship with Sakurai Saki. It's fine if you're a scumbag—just don't make a move on my sister!
"Who's Kei? What a cute name." Jinguji Tamaki suddenly interjected with a smile.
For some reason, a chill ran down Sakurai Saki's spine. He frowned.
"…She's Miyuki's younger sister. A second-year middle school student." He explained. Both people present were Shirogane, so he had to change the address.
"Oh, so it's his sister." Tamaki entrusted Shirogane: "Miyuki-kun, please take good care of my good-for-nothing son in the future. He has significant personality issues. I'll trouble you."
"Of course!" Shirogane Miyuki nodded, saying earnestly, "I will take good care of Sakurai."
What? Sakurai's mother is very gentle, isn't she? Her coldness toward me just now must have been an illusion!
A few minutes later, Shirogane and his father left to get something to eat.
"Mother, Miyuki was scared by you just now." Sakurai sat in the viewing stands beside his mother, his tone full of helplessness.
His mother didn't like communicating with men. He was the only exception.
"But we agreed." Jinguji Tamaki looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes the next moment.
This posture, coupled with her delicate face, was very unfair. A few tears dripped from the tear mole at the corner of her eye.
"Mom, this is school." Sakurai Saki took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, reminding her while changing his address. Calling her "Mom" was mostly used by children; "Mother" or "Old Lady" would be more normal for high school students.
"Darling, are you very concerned about what they think?"
"Not really."
"Then—"
"But if you want to be a normal person, you have to learn to blend in." Sakurai Saki put away his handkerchief, realizing that his mother was indeed faking her crying. "Let's not talk about this."
"That child over there—isn't she the one you mentioned being somewhat interested in last year?" Jinguji Tamaki linked arms with Sakurai, her gaze fixed on the distance.
Sakurai Saki looked over. Fujiwara Chika seemed to be preparing for the hundred-meter dash, lightly bouncing to warm up. She wore a single ponytail today, exuding the aura of a sporty girl—very cute. Her black bow had been replaced with a red ribbon.
Today's Sports Festival was divided into the Red Team and the White Team. Chika was on the Red Team. The cheering squads also had red and white groups, and in the afternoon, there would be a cheering battle—a competition between the two squads, of course in the form of a performance, not a bloodbath.
Sakurai Saki and Kaguya Shinomiya were both assigned to the White Team. He was not very satisfied with this. Everyone else in the Student Council was on the Red Team, as was Ai-chan. Sakurai really wanted to cheer for his girlfriend. But cheering for the opposing team—wasn't that an act of betrayal?
"Hello, student. Could you please take a photo for me?" Suddenly, a bespectacled man in a suit approached, holding an SLR camera.
"Yes." Sakurai Saki smiled.
"Student, you might have misunderstood. It's not to photograph me, but that person over there. I have something to attend to next." The man pointed to Fujiwara Chika not far away.
Sakurai Saki sized him up. Their faces bore some resemblance.
"Are you her father?" Sakurai asked tentatively.
"Yes." Fujiwara Chika's father nodded. "You must be Sakurai-kun, right? I'm Fujiwara Daichi. Pleased to meet you."
Sakurai Saki stood up and bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sakurai Saki."
"I've heard about you from Chika." Fujiwara Daichi chuckled a few times. "She said at the beginning of this school year that she wanted to defeat you and win back all the games she lost last year."
"You already know?" Sakurai Saki said awkwardly.
The Fujiwara family didn't allow their children to be addicted to entertainment.
"Of course. After all, I'm her father." Fujiwara Daichi handed him the SLR camera. "Thank you for indulging her nonsense. This child has been worrying since she was little."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Jinguji Tamaki. His expression showed some surprise before he reined it in. This person seemed unwilling to speak to him. He shouldn't make a fool of himself.
Sakurai watched Fujiwara Daichi pick up his phone. The moment he dialed, his expression changed from friendly to inscrutable—which made Sakurai Saki inwardly sigh. As expected of a politician. He speaks to people like a person and to ghosts like a ghost. Perhaps he wears more masks than I do.
It's a miracle that Chika-chan could be raised this way.
Fujiwara Secretary's father left while on the phone.
Sakurai Saki turned back, raised the SLR camera, and aimed it at Chika.
Watching her serious expression and vigorous running posture, he couldn't help but smile faintly as he snapped photos.
Indeed, seeing Chika always brightened his mood. She possessed such magic.
This scene was witnessed by Ms. Jinguji.
Jinguji Tamaki gazed at his face, feeling that he had changed a lot. Though she liked the cold Sakurai from a year ago, the current Sakurai was also very good—his appearance was comparatively more mature, and he had learned to treat others besides himself gently. She felt joy at her child's growth, but at the same time, she felt a little lost.
If that person were still here, what would she say upon seeing this scene?
Inheriting her surname and her expectations, her adopted son's life was not easy.
Saki—meaning "bloom" and "open"—was often used to describe flowers, for example, cherry blossoms. Sakurai Saki disliked cherry blossoms. He even had hay fever. But he still used this character for his name, and even his surname included Sakura, simply because that person had liked cherry blossoms.
Living for others is pathetic.
Jinguji Tamaki felt a pang of sadness at this thought.
"Mom, why are you crying again?" Sakurai Saki heard a sniffle, turned around, and saw his mother crying.
He put away the camera and wiped her tears again. You're such a grown-up, yet you're always shedding tears. This doesn't quite suit your demeanor, my dear mother.
"Seeing you happy makes Mommy so happy. I can't help it." Jinguji Tamaki said with a choked voice.
Sakurai Saki looked at her expression, feeling a touch of helplessness yet also finding it amusing.
"Let's go to the cafeteria together later," he suggested. "Our fried tofu udon here is delicious."
"Mmm~" Tamaki responded, and after a few seconds, whispered, "Darling, is Mommy like this very embarrassing?"
"No." Sakurai Saki said to her with a smile.
After wiping her tears and turning back, Chika had already finished her race and was resting. Not far away, Chika also saw Sakurai and was waving at him. After a while, she ran over, sharing her joy.
"Saki-kun!! I ran first place!"
"That's amazing." Sakurai Saki praised her.
Running with weights and still getting first place—Kaguya Shinomiya must be very jealous.
Chika glanced at Tamaki and greeted her: "Hello, big sister!!"
Fujiwara Chika's single sentence opened up the whole situation.
Jinguji Tamaki covered her soft lips and let out a light laugh.
This child has good taste! If her precious son liked her, having her as a daughter-in-law wasn't out of the question!
"Chika, this is my mom." Sakurai Saki said helplessly.
Chika froze for a few seconds, then let out a shocked sound.
"Eh!!!! Mom? Isn't she Saki-kun's older sister?"
She really couldn't tell.