I’ve Been Working My Hardest as Manager of the Girls’ Track and Field Team, but Ever Since I Retired, the Team Members Have Been Coming at Me Like Crazy!?
“…Is this a coincidence?”
Right after inviting Yukimura san—one of my mom’s clients—into our house, I got a little flustered and locked myself in the bathroom.
Yukimura.
I’ve only ever heard that surname before.
Yukimura Mai.
Could she possibly be that girl’s mother?
Now that you mention it, I feel like they look alike—both in their slender build and their sharp, beautiful features.
……I’d like to think I’m mistaken, but Yukimura is the only person with that last name at my school.
She did say her daughter was under my care.
She mentioned her family was coming over later, but surely not……
“Mitsuru, what are you doing? Come out here already.”
“……Okay.”
Hearing my mom’s voice, I reluctantly got up and went outside.
It’d be a hassle to make Mom mad later on.
Please, I hope my hunch is wrong.
“Oh, Mitsuru. Hey there.”
My wish was crushed in an instant.
When I went back to the kitchen, sitting next to Yukimura-san from earlier was, sure enough, Mai Yukimura.
“…Hi.”
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you tired, by any chance?”
“Well, I just got home. Aren’t you tired, Yukimura?”
“Not at all. When I heard your mom invited me over today, all my tiredness just flew right out the window.”
Just as Yukimura gave a little smile, Mom came in with some coffee and sat down, saying happily, “I never would have guessed that Yukimura san’s daughter was your classmate.”
“Really, I’m surprised that Senba san’s son is such good friends with my daughter.”
“Mai-chan, my son is always causing you trouble.”
“No, on the contrary, we’re the ones who are always being looked after by Mitsuru.”
Seeing Yukimura stand up and bow deeply, my mom seemed more impressed than usual by his polite manners.
“She’s such a nice girl. She’s pretty, too—aren’t you two more than just friends?”
Whispering that to me beside her, Mom had a giddy look on her face.
“Not at all. We’re just clubmates.”
“Oh, what a shame. But since you’ve gone to the trouble of coming today, I want you two to relax and enjoy yourselves.”
Mom cleared her throat, straightened her back as if to compose herself, and turned to face Yukimura and her mother.
“Thank you both so much for coming to visit today. It’s a small place, but please make yourselves at home.”
After her polite greeting, she bowed deeply to the two of them.
I followed her lead and bowed as well, but Yukimura’s mother said, “Now, now, you two are here in your own home, so please relax.”
“Hehe, you’re right. Hey, Yukimura san, do you drink?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Oh, well then, beer would be better than coffee. And Mitsuru, you go entertain Mai in the next room.”
Mom hurriedly took a can of beer out of the fridge and set out some glasses.
“Mitsuru, let’s go next door.”
Without hesitation, Yukimura stood up and took my hand.
“Ah, no, um…”
“Mitsuru kun, please keep my daughter company.”
“Uh, sure.”
Dragged along by Yukimura, I was led into the living room next door.
◇
“Mitsuru, I brought some tea and snacks from over there.”
Once we were alone, Yukimura dropped her formal, reserved demeanor and returned to her usual self.
That’s when I really pulled myself together.
“Yukimura, is this a coincidence?”
I asked Yukimura first as she returned from the living room with tea and snacks.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. Is there really such a convenient coincidence for you?”
“That my parents and your parents knew each other? It’s a small town, so that’s totally possible.”
“You say that, but you’re lying.”
“Oh, did I get caught? As expected of Mitsuru, you really know me well.”
“How on earth could a high school student like you connect your parents through work?”
“It’s no big deal. I just looked at the business cards my parents brought home and found one that said ‘Senba.’ I just asked them to be nice to that person.”
“So she actually listens to you that easily?”
“My mom usually listens to what I say. Hey, hey, anyway…”
Yukimura didn’t sit across from me—she deliberately sat right next to me.
“H-hey.”
“The adults over there are having a good time drinking. Let’s have a toast, too.”
She held up her cup of tea and turned it toward me.
“…Just so you know, we have our family here, so don’t get any funny ideas.”
“Oh, so you’re saying it’d be okay if there are no family?”
“W-well, that’s not what I meant.”
“Hehe, just kidding. Cheers, then.”
There was a dry clink as our cups met.
Yukimura stared intently at me as she slowly sipped her tea.