I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School! - Chapter 39

39. I was forced to confess that I like her to her mother.

In conclusion, I ate everything.

If you ask me if it was too much, it was.

However, Shijouin-san’s enthusiasm for this luncheon was fully reflected in the dish quantity.

I kept moving my fork and spoon, rapidly filling my stomach with the food created by the hands of the person I love.

As a result, I could only see clean plates lined up in front of me.

(…I-It’s… tight …my belly is packed like a trunk…)

In retrospect, all I had to say was, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can fit anything else in my stomach anymore,” and no one would suffer, so why did I insist on eating it all?

The answer is simple, I couldn’t say that to the person I longed for, who did her best to prepare all these dishes for me.

It appears that my heart has more of a high school boy’s spec than I thought it had.

“Phew… yeah, it was delicious… it was really great, Shijouin-san.”

“Fufu… Sorry for the poor quality, I thought I made a lot, but I’m glad you ate it all!”

“Haha, it’s pretty light…”

In reality, I was sweating heavily and it was hard to move my body, but I faked it and put on a strong smile.

“After all, a boy’s appetite is amazing… my dad was saying recently, ‘It’s getting harder for me to eat fried food in large quantities… When I was younger, I could eat as much karaage as I wanted…’ And he looked a bit sad.”

Yeah, I know that sadness very well.

If I did the same thing with my 30-year-old body, I might have ended up in the hospital.

(It made me sad to feel old when I reached the limit of my oil tolerance just by eating one plate of kalbi at a yakiniku restaurant… and started to like Japanese food that had less flavor…)

“Speaking of your… dad, when you told your parents you were inviting me to your house, did he object or anything? When I talked to your mom earlier, she didn’t seem like she was…”

“Eh? No, he didn’t object at all. When I asked if I could invite my friend who took care of me during the test, they both nodded immediately.”

“Oh, I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

I thought her father might have had mixed feelings about his daughter inviting a boy over to their house… but apparently, my fears were unfounded.

He’s the president of a large company, and a very tolerant and generous father.

“Now that the lunch is done, I’ll bring the dessert!”

(What?!)

Aaaaaaaahhh! T-That’s right…!

Shijouin-san said, “I’ll make lunch and sweets for you!” That’s right! That’s right! There will also be dessert!

(No, no… with my current digestive power, I could probably fit in dessert after an hour or so, but right now, it’s impossible…!)

I can’t help it. I’m going to confess honestly how bloated I am now–

“Hmm, there’s no need to be so hasty, right Haruka?”

“Oh, Mom!?”

When I noticed, Shijouin-san’s mother, Akiko-san, was standing beside her.

But when they stand side by side, they look more like sisters than parent and child…

“Although I opened the door and came in, you’re not surprised… It seems you were both too engrossed in chatting.”

Akiko-san chuckled as she made fun of us.

“I think you should take a break before dessert since Niihama-kun ate a lot. I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy the dessert better that way.”

“Eh!? Yeah, yeah, …that’s right. It seems that some rest will increase the appetite.”

It surprised me to hear her sending me a rescue boat as if she saw through the condition of my stomach, I took it as a sign of goodwill and replied to her.

“Right? So, as a short break… Haruka should go to the kitchen to wash the dishes. In the meantime, please lend Niihama-kun to me for a while♪.”

“Ehhh? Why is that mom?”

“It’s not that often you invite a friend home, so I want to talk to him for a bit. I also want to ask you something before the storm arrives…”

“Yes? What do you mean by storm…?”

Shijouin-san tilts her head, but I’m also concerned.

Her words are quite disturbing to me…

“Ufufu, It’s a storm that everyone in this house is expecting, except for you. Just do your mother a favor and go to the kitchen.”

” Yes, yes… then excuse me, Niinhama-kun. I’ll be leaving for a bit.”

She didn’t seem convinced, but she couldn’t ignore her mother’s words and disappeared into the kitchen with the dishes.

“Well, once again, I’m Haruka’s mother, Akiko! Oh dear, I really wanted to talk to you! I’ve been curious to see what kind of person you are!”

“Y-Yes…”

Shijouin-san’s mother’s excitement level is incredibly high.

Somehow, am I really that interesting…?

“So, Niihama-kun. What do you think of my daughter’s cooking?”

“It was… very good. I have to admit, I was surprised to see it was much better than I expected.”

“Yes, it was good! She’s clumsy, but this time she practiced a lot and worked really hard to make it, so she should be very happy to hear you say that!”

Akiko-san smiled in satisfaction.

Akiko-san’s motherly words are fluffy and her love for Shijouin-san was conveyed strongly.

“But you must be very surprised at how many dishes there were, aren’t you? The other housemaids and I told her it was too much no matter how you look at it… but she said ‘Having more is better than not having enough! If it’s too much, you can just tell them to leave it, but if it’s not enough, you’ll disappoint them!’ And didn’t listen…”

I, I see… Shijouin-san’s earnestness was completely brought out…

“I think she has a point, but she still doesn’t understand a man’s heart that doesn’t allow himself to leave something simply because it’s too much.”

“Ugh…”

It appears that she has a lot of life experience, and knew that I forced myself to eat everything.

“Still, you ended up eating it all. This may sound a little bit mean, but can you… tell me why are you willing to go that far?”

“That… is…”

I stammered as Akiko-san asked me with sparkling eyes.

After all, there was only one reason.

“Because it was made by Haruka-san, I wanted to eat all of it , even if I had to push myself a little…”

“Ahhhh…! Yes, of course! That’s good! I love it when pure boys push themselves like that!”

In contrast to my blushing face, Akiko-san was very excited.

It seems that my answer satisfied her.

“Well… to be serious, it seems that you really helped Haruka a lot with her studies and other things, and as her mother, I’m very grateful.”

Akiko-san said with a serious face after settling down her excitement.

“It’s nothing that big of a deal…”

“It’s a big deal. She’s always been a little troubled, so her friendships have always been shallow and narrow, and even though she has a few female friends that she can talk to, I’ve never heard of anyone who’s been very kind to her. That’s why I’m so grateful to have you to take care of her in so many ways.”

“Haruka-san’s… troubles are… the fact that she is both beautiful and extremely innocent, causing some girls to be jealous of her?”

“Yes, that’s right…! She has a cute face and a fluffy personality, but she’s being jeered by the same gender, saying she’s pretentious and deceiving boys! It’s really terrible!”

I totally agree with that.

Those who are too jealous and try to mess with Shijouin-san are just poor minded.

“Moreover, she’s not really aware of the fact that she’s beautiful… and because she’s sincere and thoughtful, even when people around her are jealous of her… she tends to think that the problem lies with her own personality and behavior.”

“Yes, exactly! She always blames herself… But then again, you don’t really look like a high school student. It’s more like you’re already an adult.”

I’m sorry, but I’m an adult with 30 years of life experience in a adolescent body

Well, right now my senses are dragged down by my young body and my mind is in a 16-year-old mode.

“You seem to know a lot about her, so you’ve been keeping an eye on Haruka for a while now, right?”

“Well, it’s true that… we have had a lot of opportunities to talk lately.”

Looking back on it, I really have grown closer to Shijouin-san….

Unlike in my previous life, I’ve learned many things about her and even got invited to her house and spoke with her mother like this. I still can’t believe this is happening.

“So… there’s something I really want to make sure of. It’s a little embarrassing for me to ask you straight out, but…”

Akiko-san was fidgeting as she struggled to say something.

What is it? What is she going to ask me?

“You like… her as a girl, don’t you?”

“Buho!”

Seriously, Oi! What the hell is she asking me?

And don’t you dare blush yourself after asking!

She’s just as pure as her daughter!

“So, what about it…? If you only have a pure friendship, please, I want you to say so.”

“No, I mean–“

It’s not that I’m a good person who can’t tell lies, but I know that this is not the right place to tell a lie.

But confessing my feelings to her mother before Shijouin-san… What kind of play is this?

“That is… I like her. I’m really surprised at myself, but my feelings are still growing stronger.”

” Kya…! Kyaaaaah…! I knew it!”

When I told Akiko-san frankly without shame, her face lit up.

Whoa, her eyes are also sparkling.

“Oh, my! I like your straightforward youthfulness…! I see… so much affection for Haruka… wow…”

Akiko-san showed an ecstatic expression, but the more she was pleased with my statement, the more I felt ashamed, and I could tell that my cheeks were turning red.

“Ah…! Now that I’ve thought of it, it’s so embarrassing for me, as a mother, to get excited by hearing someone say that they like my daughter, it’s like a very perverted hobby…!”

“Please realize it sooner! It’s me who’s more embarrassed!”

It seems that Shijouin-san inherited her innocence from her mother

“Oh! I’m sorry. You’re really embarrassed, but as her mother, it was necessary for me to ask Niihama-kun about his feelings!”

Clenching both her fists, Akiko-san continues with her passionate speech.

“I welcome the fact that a good child like you has feelings for Haruka! I’m sure there will be some turbulence right off the bat, but I’ll support you as much as I can!”

O-Oh…?

Not that I had any intention of doing this at all, but can I assume that this means I got approval from… Shijuoin-san’s mother?

“Thank you very much. But, you know, please stop… saying things like that… Hearing it from her mother’s mouth… I’m dying from embarrassment here.”

“Ufufu, Sorry, If you want, I can give you some time alone with Haruka in her room as an apology.”

“What? No, no, that’s a bit…!”

“Fufu, you’re getting flustered~”

Akiko-san laughed innocently at my blushing and flustered face, looking like the grown-up Shijouin-san herself.