Mob Character Reincarnation Loner: As a Result of Supporting the Heroine Who Had Been Rejected, I Ended up Being the Recipient of Her Heavy Emotions…
“S-S-Serizawa-san!!”
“Oh, Bungaku. You’re early.”
After tutoring ended, I rushed over to meet up with Misuzu. Misuzu patted me on the shoulder as I panted for breath.
“Come on, calm down. Want to swing by Starbucks first?”
“D-Do we really have time to take it easy like that? ”
“Hmm. Maybe not.”
Unlike me, who was panicking, Misuzu was completely calm.
When I found out I’d been invited to a family meeting, I thought things must be really bad, but surprisingly, that doesn’t seem to be the case… or is it?
“Anyway, more importantly. Bungaku, did you cheat on me again today?”
“Huh? No, I didn’t.”
“…………Really?”
“…………Uh, what’s your definition of cheating?”
“Huh? Hmm… If you thought about another girl. I guess.”
That’s way too broad a definition of cheating.
“…………I did think about it. About another girl.”
Misuzu puffs out her cheeks, looking sulky and displeased.
“Cheater, no self-respect. Seppuku is a certainty.”
Misuzu protests by patting me gently with both hands. The force of her fists gradually increases… Ah, wait, that hurts. It really hurts.
“Phew, I’m satisfied now that we did something couple-like. Well then, let’s go.”
I take the right hand Misuzu, who seems satisfied, offers me, and we walk hand-in-hand toward the Serizawa residence.
“Um, why was I called to the Serizawa family meeting today?”
When I asked timidly, Misuzu let her gaze drift toward the sky as she fell deep in thought.
“Hmm, I wonder why. I don’t know either. Mom and Dad have wanted to meet you for a while, and maybe it’s because they’re both home today. It’s rare for the whole Serizawa family to be together.”
“Oh, I see.”
That’s a relief. I was worried I’d done something wrong and that’s why I was called in…
“Oh, but… this morning, while we were eating breakfast, Mom and Dad asked me about you, and when I said, ‘I’m going on a date to the Poop Museum next time,’ they suddenly started asking about your schedule. Maybe that has something to do with it.”
I’ve really messed up.
“Huh? W-wait, you actually said that? That you’re going on a date to the ‘Poop Museum’?”
“Yeah. I bragged that Bungaku asked me out.”
What the hell are you doing, Serizawa-san?!
Of course, I suggested the ‘Poop Museum’ because I was confident you’d enjoy it, and she seemed really into the idea and happy about it.
However, just as Tsukimi-san said, from an outsider’s perspective, it’s a shitty choice. At the very least, it’s not the kind of place a couple who just started dating would go to.
Hearing from my beloved daughter that their date spot was the “Poop Museum”………… A family meeting is inevitable.
“Well, even if I say ‘family meeting,’ it’s just us all having dinner together. You don’t need to be so scared.”
“Serizawa… if it comes down to it, I’m counting on you to put me out of my misery.”
“Were you even listening?”
Amidst that exchange, we arrived at Serizawa’s house.
Spread out before us was a mansion. The kind of mansion where a major league baseball star or the CEO of a huge corporation might live.
“Welcome to the Serizawa residence.”
Wow, it’s huge, so spacious!!
My shitty vocabulary only goes so far, but the entrance hall was way too big, and the wood-burning stove and natural stone and marble gave off a real sense of luxury.
“Anyway, I’ll show you to the parlor.”
No way. There’s actually a parlor… in a house.
“Alright, just wait here a moment.”
Misuzu said that and left the reception room.
For now, I sat in the corner of the sofa in the room I’d been shown to.
The corner… it’s really relaxing.
My moment of relaxation was short-lived, as I heard a steady knock on the door.
“Y-yes!”
“…Excuse me.”
The person who came in wasn’t Misuzu, but a woman dressed in a maid’s uniform. Her appearance, with a somewhat mysterious aura, was somehow—
“Nice to meet you. I am employed by the Serizawa family. My name is Sanae, the housekeeper.”
Oh, a housekeeper. Since she’s wearing a maid’s uniform, I assumed she was a maid. Wait. A housekeeper is kind of like a maid… isn’t she?
“I heard from Miss Misuzu that she brought her boyfriend over, so I brought some tea.”
With somewhat awkward movements, she placed a teacup of green tea and a dorayaki on the table.
Huh, why are there two servings…?
“Phew.”
For some reason, Sanae sat down next to me.
“Eh?”
“Oh, I was just thinking I could use a break myself, so please don’t mind me.”
Saying that, Sanae started eating the dorayaki.
What’s with this housekeeper? She’s way too laid-back…
“……Isn’t it kind of a hassle being around that girl?”
“Huh?”
“I’ve been working here as a housekeeper for a long time, so I have my own thoughts about her. She’s a little—no, actually, she’s quite eccentric.”
Sanae sips her green tea with a completely expressionless face.
“So, if you have anything you want to say, any complaints, or things you’d like her to change, please don’t hesitate to tell her. I’m sure it’ll be for her own good.”
Sanae’s expression remains unchanged. But there was a hint of concern for Misuzu in her tone.
“Well, to begin with, the mistress is a bit of a laissez-faire type… or rather, she’s always traveling around the world, so she hasn’t been able to keep a close eye on her, which probably isn’t helping either—”
“It’s true, I do get run ragged by Misuzu-san quite a bit.”
This is probably a question with no right answer. So, just like before, I’ll tell her exactly what I’m thinking.
“But I’m with her because I like Misuzu-san just the way she is. Besides, being with Misuzu-san is fun, and it makes me smile. Um, so, that…”
Oh no, I can’t think of a way to wrap this up.
“In other words, I want Misuzu-san to stay just the way she is, and I love her exactly as she is.”
How’s that!! I feel like I wrapped it up pretty well!!
“……Huh? Why did you suddenly start gushing about your relationship……?”
Sanae-san looks confused as she listens to me.
Uh, wait……? That’s not the reaction I was expecting.
“But, I see. So… you feel that way about Misuzu, huh?”
Sanae stares at me intently, her face expressionless.
Her eyes seem to be sizing me up in some way.
Then, she let out a sudden, almost involuntary laugh and said,
“Huh, just like Misuzu told me—you’re a really interesting guy.”
She’s starting to sound just like Misuzu…
“Oh, you were here.”
Misuzu’s voice suddenly rang out from behind me.
When I turned around, I saw Misuzu staring at me with a puzzled expression.
“Oh, Misuzu—”
“…What are you doing wearing clothes like that, Mom?”
…………Mom?
As I glanced nervously at Sanae-san, she gave me a double peace sign with a blank expression.
“Hello, Bungaku. Let me introduce myself again—I’m Misuzu’s mom, Serizawa Sanae. Yay!”
“Huh? Huh? Huh?”
“Bungaku’s totally confused. That’s hilarious.”
Leaving me behind as my brain struggled to process everything, Serizawa mother and daughter started chatting.
“Mom, why are you wearing a maid outfit?”
“I guess I wanted to try playing housekeeper. Also, I wanted to talk to you, Bungaku…”
“What…?”
“Misuzu, your ears are bright red. Eavesdropping isn’t nice, you know?”
“!! S-shut up…”
“Hehe. Misuzu’s face has turned as red as a squid-shaped hot dog.”
“~!! D-Dad’s calling me, so I’m going. Bungaku!!”
“Y-yes!!”
Called back by Misuzu’s voice, I left the room, following the Serizawa family.