"Wow~ The chairs and desks look like some really good new products. They’re super comfortable."
With her starlit eyes sparkling, the child admired the neat appearance of the chairs the students sat on and the desks they studied at.
At the public elementary school she had attended more than ten years ago, the chairs and desks had been old and worn, and sitting on them for too long had made her bottom ache.
But time had passed, and as expected of a private school, the students’ chairs and desks were adjustable and ergonomically designed, so the child felt far more comfortable.
Kaoru agreed. With his tall 184-centimeter frame, he had to raise his chair a little higher, and he nodded when he saw that not only the seat but even the back and waist support could be adjusted.
"Mama~ Papa~"
"Kya-ha-ha-★ Are you happy to be at school too, Ame? You’re growing up so fast, you want to go to school already?"
"Kyaru~ Mama~!"
"You like it that much~? Fufu~ You really like it that much~!"
Ame, held in Kaoru’s arms, smiled brightly at the child. The child clapped her hands in a little bounce-bounce rhythm, wearing a smile that looked just like Ame’s.
A cool autumn breeze happened to blow in through the open window used for ventilation, brushing gently over the family.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window, lighting up the young couple as if under stage lights, and—
"……Wow."
"Oh my—"
"Honey! Go ask if we can take a picture!"
"…Huh? M-me?! B-but that’s a little…"
Aside from the suspicious group of parents gathered in the center, who were glaring at the Kaoru-Ai couple, the other parents—especially the mothers—stared blankly at them and let out one exclamation after another.
So this is what celebrities are like!
The Kaoru-Ai couple shone with an unreal brilliance, like a page from a glossy photo book, and then there was the beautiful, adorable face of the mysterious "third daughter" that the media had covered so extensively!
On top of that, most of the mothers were in their thirties, since many had graduated from college, worked for a while, and then quit after giving birth. Even the younger ones were, in the rarest cases, only in their late twenties.
But the Kaoru-Ai couple, among the first-grade parents, proudly boasted the fresh young age of being in their early twenties.
With the sheer force of the Kaoru-Ai couple, like an ecological disaster, most of the parents aside from the group seated in the center were already throwing dignity to the wind and trying to find some way to get acquainted with them.
Meanwhile, the very person at the center of all this attention only smiled and began reading the school schedule sheet that had been handed out earlier.
"…Let’s see~ The second-semester schedule sheet they handed out outside earlier… Ah! The second weekend next month is sports day, Kaoru!"
"Sports day?"
Kaoru read through the school schedule sheet the child had handed him so they could look at it together. Since it was first grade, there seemed to be more extracurricular activities than actual classes.
The child spotted the line at the bottom that read, "Ten days before sports day, we will survey first-grade parents about whether they will attend, so please participate!" and grew wildly excited, patting Kaoru’s shoulder.
"The twins’ sports day!!! We have to go! Okay? Kaoru! Make sure you adjust your schedule—pack lunch boxes for Aqua and Ruby too—and cheer them on when they do the relay race—kyaaaa—Just imagining it makes my heart race already!"
"Taaah~ Mama~~ Hehe-"
"Heehee-★ Ame wants to go watch big sister and big brother’s sports day soon too? Kyaaa—Ame, let’s cheer together with Mama?"
"Mama~ Onii~ Oba~"
"Puhuhu—so cute♥"
The child, having washed her hands clean with antibacterial wipes, lovingly stroked Ame’s cheek. Her wife’s eyes were overflowing with love.
Just imagining the sports day had already sent her into overdrive; Kaoru had no idea how she would hold herself together when she actually saw the twins at the observation class.
Smiling, Kaoru gently turned the wheel to the right and checked the back seat in the rearview mirror, confirming that Ame had fallen asleep in the child seat.
"……"
Ame was sleeping so deeply that she probably wouldn’t notice even if someone carried her away. Her sleeping face vaguely resembled the child’s and Ruby’s. Unlike the twins, Ame slept a lot.
Kaoru looked at Ame for a moment, then focused back on driving.
"Ah, I can see it!"
About five minutes later, the couple arrived in front of the school.
The school grounds were already packed with parents who had come to attend the observation class.
Kaoru parked the car in the parking lot and, after getting out, walked around to the other side to open the door for the child and Ame.
"Wow—there are so many people."
"There really are."
The child, who had gotten out first, looked around with sparkling eyes and let out a gasp of admiration.
As expected of a private school, the atmosphere was elegant and refined. The parents’ attire was also more polished than at a public school, with many clearly being from wealthy families.
Kaoru lifted Ame from the child seat and, holding her carefully, looked around the school grounds.
Then, as if he had spotted someone, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
There was a group of parents gathered in the center of the school grounds, all dressed in flashy, expensive-looking clothes. Even from a distance, they stood out.
Kaoru had already finished investigating their identities.
Among them were the wife of a major law firm partner, a real estate magnate from Tokyo, the daughter of a powerful political family, and the daughter of a famous medical foundation—people from families with influence and wealth.
As Kaoru had expected, they had already formed their own clique and were chatting with one another in a thoroughly exclusive manner.
Still, Kaoru had no intention of getting involved with them. He had no need to meet them separately, and no desire to form connections in the first place.
After checking his wristwatch, Kaoru bent slightly and whispered to the child in a low voice.
"Ai, I’m going to the restroom for a bit."
"Ah, okay~ I’ll hold Ame!"
"Tabuah~ Ababa~"
"Ame, let’s stay with Mama for a little while, okay?"
"Taaah~ Ababa~ Oma~ Ababa~"
While Kaoru went to the restroom for a moment, the child set Ame on the desk and carefully straightened the baby’s clothes with delicate, cautious hands.
Was the diaper secure? Was Ame hungry? Was she too hot or too cold? The child was already a veteran mother after caring for Aqua and Ruby, so she quickly checked everything.
"Ame~"
"Oma~★"
"Fufu—Mama’s here. Mama! You feel good, don’t you?"
"Kibuah~"
While the child played with Ame, the parents around them shifted in their seats or looked for an opening to strike up a conversation.
After all, this wasn’t some ordinary opportunity. A chance to build connections with Japan’s most popular celebrity was not something that came around often!
Then—
"Oh my~ The baby is so beautiful~"
One of the parents Kaoru had been watching closely—a plump woman covered in luxury clothes and jewelry—stood up and walked over to the child to speak to her.
The child’s starlit eyes sparkled as she looked at her for a moment, then smiled and gave a small nod.
"Yes~ She’s sixteen months old now."
"Oh my. She’s so pretty. She looks just like Miss Hoshino~ Hohohohoh~"
"Oh my, you’re right~ Hohohohoh~"
Following the plump woman, a thin woman wearing rimless glasses came over with a light, frivolous laugh and joined in.
The child’s starlit eyes flicked between the two women for a moment, then she gently lifted Ame and held her close in her arms.
"It’s truly fate that we met like this. My husband and eldest son are such huge fans! We watch your dramas all the time too! Hohohoh!"
"I’ve seen every movie your husband has been in too~ Hohohohoh~"
"Thank you for being fans of my husband-★"
"Aqua-kun and Ruby-chan are so pretty, and they’re both such good students, right? Hohoh~ My child always talks about your children when they come home~"
"Ah, is that so?"
"That’s right. And now that I think about it, your husband went to Kaisei High School and even graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, so of course he would be~ Hohoh~"
"You really do have to meet a smart man~ Hohoh~ If a man is stupid, the kids end up stupid too, you know~ Then they can’t even get into a good university!"
Light, shrill laughter filled the classroom.
But the child only kept a faint smile and said nothing else.
She had sensed that these two women were focused only on the visible surface of ability itself, not on her husband or on Aqua and Ruby as people.
"By the way, Miss Hoshino, have you lived in Tokyo your whole life? Where did you go to school?
I graduated from Ochanomizu Girls’ High School and went straight on to a women’s university~
I know about your husband from the articles, but I’ve been curious about you too. Oh dear, I’m sorry if it’s rude to ask such a thing when we’ve just met~?"
"Hohoh~ Really now, asking something like that so directly? Your husband also went to Kaisei High School, so surely—"
"Hehe, I quit high school because I was busy with work and taking care of the children~ I’m not gifted academically, so I don’t have some amazing educational background."
At the child’s answer, spoken with a starlit smile, silence fell for a moment.
"Oh… you, you dropped out?"
"Oh my, why? Did you—because you gave birth? Oh dear, how unfortunate. Dropping out of high school… which high school did you drop out of?"
"It wasn’t a famous one. I went on to an ordinary high school near my house."
At the child’s words, the plump woman and the thin woman looked at each other for a moment, then waved their hands dismissively and said,
"Oh my~ Hohoho… Still, it would be better to at least graduate from high school—"
"Hohoh~ Exactly. Of course, it would be nice to have gone to an elite high school and elite university like me, but since you’re already famous, maybe it isn’t really necessary? Still, it does seem like you’ve been losing out quite a bit~ Hohoho~"
"No."
The child’s clear, firm voice rang through the classroom.
Her starlit eyes shone brightly like the "morning star" in the night sky, and her unwavering smile was full of happiness.
The child’s aura and charisma blazed brilliantly as she looked straight at the plump woman and the thin woman and said,
"It is a shame that I couldn’t enjoy high school life, but I absolutely do not think I lost anything.
In that time, I made so many unforgettable, happy, precious memories with my children and my husband.
And my husband studied hard on my behalf, worked hard on my behalf, and for the sake of me and the twins, he always gives his all even when he’s busy.
I’m not gifted academically, so I don’t know much about that, but the twins are working hard on their own, and I’m truly grateful and proud of them.
My husband is also helping the children with all his heart and love.
As for me, if I can do what I’m good at instead of studying, and make my husband and children happy and help them, then I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Is there anything more rewarding than making the people you love happy and smile?"
"Ah… th-that…"
"Uh… hoh… um…"
At the child’s words, the plump woman and the thin woman turned bright red and were unable to continue.
At the unwavering voice filled with the strong bonds of family affection, love, and trust, and with pride in living one’s own life firmly.
The two women, who possessed social status through their education, wealth, and so on, found themselves with nothing to say, even if they had ten mouths.
No matter how much luxury they wore, how much they bragged about their husbands, their families, their education, or their money…
……
Holding her youngest daughter, who looked just like her, in her arms, they instinctively realized that they could never hope to surpass this spirited young woman staring them down.
But if they backed down now, with so many eyes watching, they would lose not only face but pride as well, so they couldn’t retreat.
The plump woman, determined to win by force of words if nothing else, opened her mouth. The pearl necklace resting on her thick neck trembled slightly.
At that moment—
"Would you mind stepping aside?"
A cold, indifferent voice came from behind the woman. Since they had been blocking the child’s side like a wall, the two women flinched and turned around.
"Oh, my—"
Blue eyes, icy enough to make one’s bones ache, stared straight through them as if to pierce their own eyes.
That sharp, expressionless look was unlike anything they had ever seen on TV or in movies.
Instinctively, under that ruthless aura that shrank people down, both the plump woman and the thin woman let out little yelps like dogs with their tails tucked and shuffled backward to the side.
Kaoru sat down beside the child, then deliberately took his wife’s hand in his and laced their fingers together as he looked at the women and said in a cold voice,
"Stop making rude comments and go sit down."
"……Hah."
Normally, these two women would have snapped back in outrage, but instead they could say nothing and scurried back to their seats in the center.
The kind of superior people they admired so much.
Now that the man himself had appeared, the sight of those who loved nothing more than sorting people into ranks finally realizing their own place was almost laughable.
Not that Kaoru had come here to deal with people like them in the first place.
But to dare show such filthy, ugly behavior in front of his beloved wife—
On the very first observation class, which should have been filled with joy, something like this had happened, and Kaoru’s eyes remained cold with anger, unlike his usual self.
"K-Kaoru. Ame made a soap bubble! Want to see?"
Trying to calm him down instead, the child hurriedly showed him Ame making bubbles with her saliva and patted her husband’s shoulder.
"Pwaaah—pwa—"
"…Hah. Hahaha!"
It really did look like soap bubbles. Ame’s sleepy blue eyes stared blankly at Kaoru.
A bright smile bloomed all over Kaoru’s face, which had been frozen cold just moments ago.
And yet, even then, he never let go of the child’s hand, gripping it even tighter.
Feeling the faint tremor, emotion, and warmth transmitted through her hand, Kaoru once again recalled the identities of the people who had nearly stained what should have been a day of joy.
-
At last, fourth-period math began!
The teacher had dressed especially prettily today, the writing on the blackboard was neat and tidy, and the teaching materials were arranged in order.
All the classmates were waiting for the observation class with sparkling eyes.
"B-b-big bro! M-m-mama and Papa!"
"I know… Ruby? Don’t turn around so obviously, okay?"
Aqua warned Ruby as quietly as he could, almost like ventriloquism.
Ruby ignored him and slowly turned her head like an owl, sneaking a glance at their parents standing in the back.
As expected—
"S-sh-shiningggg—♥"
Her favorite’s neat women’s suit and skirt! So elegant?! What is this, Mama? That hairpin is cute! That handbag—that’s the one Miyaemon recommended, right?!
Ame in Papa’s arms is so cute—!!! Did she just wake up? She looks so sleepy! Cute. I want to pinch her cheeks!!!
Huh…? No way, right? Papa’s suit… this has to be a lie…! How does it fit him that well?! And even then, he’s only looking at Mama♥
Aqua barely managed to calm Ruby, who was so excited she looked ready to spin in circles, by holding her shoulders. Of course, he also secretly glanced back at their parents.
The father holding Ame, and the mother staring at him and his sister with sparkling starlit eyes!
Aqua pressed his lips together and nodded, determined to show them that he would take the first observation class seriously and diligently.
"Now, now, everyone. Please look to the front~ Concen~tra~tion~"
"""""Concen~tra~tion~"""""
Because the Kaoru-Ai couple, who had attended with their youngest daughter, had drawn the attention not only of the children but of the parents as well!
The teacher had no choice but to ring the bell with tears in her eyes and desperately try to redirect everyone’s attention.
If possible, she would have loved to run straight to Kaoru, say she was a fan, ask for an autograph, and then use fan service as an excuse to give the married man a big hug…
"Ahem! N-now then, shall we open our books?"
The teacher cleared her throat and said, gathering her trembling nerves.
"…"
"Hmph."
Aqua and Ruby opened their books too, and feeling their parents’ gaze from behind, they suppressed the smiles threatening to spread across their faces.
"…Heh."
Seeing how quietly the twins were listening to class made the child smile on her own.
Kaoru hugged Ame tightly and patted her while looking at the twins with the same proud expression.
After class had begun, the teacher’s lesson continued for a while. But the highlight of an observation class was the presentations!
After finishing the outline, the teacher pointed at a problem she had written on the board in advance and said,
"All right~ Let’s solve this problem. Anyone know the answer? Hands up?"
It wasn’t a difficult problem. Of course, how hard could a first-grade elementary school math problem be?
Besides, many of the children here had already received thorough advance study through expensive tutoring and cram schools.
But that was that, and this was this.
All the students raised their hands high, each wanting to show their parents that they were diligent students who participated earnestly in class and deserved praise.
"……"
"Oh my~ Hohoho~ Then…"
The teacher, about to call on someone else, suddenly flinched.
Ruby’s eyes were blazing. Her lips were moving—
Pa pa’s bromide autograph photo fan service
Pa pa’s bromide autograph photo fan service
Like a devil’s whisper, Ruby was chanting those words with a fierce intensity.
The terrified teacher, trembling, pointed at Ruby and said,
"Ru, Ru, Ruby wants to try↗?"
"Yes!"
Ruby clenched her fist and sprang up from her chair, her starlit eyes shining just like Mama’s.
The first problem was 86+10-20.
"76!"
"Heh?!"
Surprised by Ruby’s confident shout, the child clapped and stamped her feet.
"Our Ruby is listening carefully in class and studying hard too?!"
As the child clapped with her starlit eyes sparkling, the nearby parents turned their attention over and smiled.
Anyone could see it was the happy face of a mother delighted that her child had gotten the answer right.
Kaoru couldn’t miss this moment either, so he quietly lifted his smartphone with one hand and filmed Ruby’s presentation.
The teacher, clapping for Ruby after she answered correctly, nodded and said,
"That’s right~"
"Fufu~!"
Now smug, Ruby flashed a V sign and sat back down.
Aqua quietly turned around again to check Kaoru and the child’s reactions. Their joy at Ruby’s first presentation was obvious.
People said the soul might be that of a man in his thirties, but the mind follows the body.
Already 90 percent fallen into baby-mode, Aqua found himself wanting, despite his embarrassment, those cheers and proud looks aimed at Ruby to be directed at him too.
For Aqua in his previous life—who had never had anyone come to his observation classes from elementary school through middle school and high school—
his parents’ love was like a magical substance. The more he tasted it, the more he wanted it.
"Now~ Who wants to try the next problem—"
"……"
Just like Ruby, Aqua’s eyes slowly began to burn. Before the teacher had even finished speaking, he shot his hand up and, with his other hand still down, held up three fingers while mouthing,
I’ll give you three signed photos from Father
I’ll give you three signed photos from Father
"A-Aqua wants to try?"
Seeing that something was clearly going wrong and breaking out in a cold sweat, the teacher pointed at Aqua. The other students began tilting their heads in confusion.
Ignoring all that, Aqua stood up confidently like the former medical student he was and looked at the second problem, then shouted the answer in 0.1 seconds.
"55."
"Heeet?!"
As Aqua answered in an instant, the child once again covered her mouth and gasped.
Clapping without making a fuss, the child looked at the twins with an expression that said this must be a dream.
Kaoru didn’t miss it either and filmed Aqua’s turn with his smartphone, smiling with satisfaction.
He had worried they might get bored in class because they were so bright for their age, but contrary to his concerns, the twins were participating earnestly, and it was admirable and impressive.
It seemed the other parents were starting to hope their own children would get the answers right too, because they began licking their lips in anticipation.
"Yes~ Then. The third problem is… Ah~ This time, Tooru…"
Tooru, who looked like he was good at studying, turned his head as he felt eyes poking at his cheeks.
"……"
Even though it was clearly his turn, Ruby was staring at him with blazing eyes, not lowering her hand.
Her left index finger, hidden near her chest, was pointing at him threateningly.
It was as if the finger was saying, If you stand up and present now, you’re dead.
Tooru finally felt his personal safety threatened, flinched, and lowered his hand—
and the moment he said, "Uh, uh, I-I’m not doing it," Ruby raised her arm high again and stared at the teacher.
"……"
"……"
At Ruby’s shameless, silent protest—why wasn’t it her turn?—the teacher shook her head.
Tooru’s parents were glaring at her fiercely.
But refusing was too hard when bromide autographs and photo-taking were such sweet offers.
"88!"
"Kyaaa~!"
The child could no longer hide her delight and clapped while gripping Kaoru’s arm tightly.
Aqua hadn’t raised his hand out of conscience, but seeing her so happy made his own hand itch terribly.
"Heehee… Why aren’t you raising your hand, big bro~ Mama likes it!"
Ruby whispered smugly into his ear, and Aqua shook his head.
Doing it as blatantly as Ruby was the mark of a complete amateur.
Aqua waited patiently for his moment.
While the other kids answered more questions and let their guard down—
"Yes~ It’s the last question. This one is a little difficult~"
Aqua finally raised his hand and shouted,
"46!!!!!!!!"
"……"
"?"
Maybe he was too eager. Before the teacher had even told them to raise their hands, Aqua had shot up from his chair and blurted out the answer, leaving Ruby blinking blankly and tilting her head at her brother.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Hohohohohoho!"
The classmates and parents finally burst out laughing at Aqua’s sudden move.
"So cute~♥ It’s okay, Aqua. It’s okay to make mistakes~"
The child also smiled at Aqua’s cute blunder, her starlit eyes sparkling.
"Y-yes, good job~ It’s 46! Aqua~ Next time, you have to raise your hand when the teacher tells you to, okay?"
"…Y-yes…"
Aqua sat down heavily, his face burning as if it might burst.
Ugh—he had gotten too eager. He felt embarrassed, but his parents’ reaction was actually even more effective than if he had gotten the answer right.
"Taaah~ Tataa~"
Ame was smiling so happily too… maybe this was still a win?
Aqua decided to harden his face against the sideways glances from his little sister.
-
After the observation class ended successfully, Kaoru had signed autographs and taken photos with the homeroom teacher and the other parents. The child was also busy taking photos and giving autographs to the other parents.
In the end, the Hoshino family practically escaped with the twins in tow and somehow made it back home.
"Thank you for the meal~!"
"Thank you for the meal."
"I’m eating~★"
"Eat up."
The family enjoyed the omurice Kaoru had cooked himself.
The twins were happy to have shown their parents such a great side of themselves today, and the child, who had been so happy watching the twins’ observation class, also ate the omurice with delight.
Watching his family eat happily, Kaoru felt nothing but joy.
"Taaah-"
Ame smiled as if the omurice was delicious. Kaoru wiped the corners of his youngest daughter’s mouth with a tissue.
Because this kind of everyday life was happiness beyond anything else.
"Aqua, Ruby."
"Hm?"
"Yes."
"If you want more, tell me. Dad will give you more. Thank you too for eating so well, dear. If you want more, just say so, okay?"
"Yes-★"
Kaoru lovingly stroked his wife’s hair, grateful for her unchanged bright smile in return.
Then he quietly picked up his phone and sent a message somewhere.
And a few weeks later.
"Aquaaaa!!! Runnnnn!!!! Rubyyyyyy!!!! Go go go!!! Keep it upppppp!!!"
The child waved both hands and cheered at full volume for Aqua and Ruby as they ran in the three-legged relay race.
Miyako, holding Ame and watching that ecstatic display, broke out in a cold sweat.
"Aqua! Ruby! You can do it!!!!"
Kaoru, veins bulging in his neck just like the child’s, cheered for the twins too!
Did their encouragement reach them?
At last, Aqua and Ruby crossed the finish line in style, shining as the stars of the sports day. Kaoru captured every moment on camera, clenched a fist, and smiled.
"Kyaaaaa!!! Kaoru, the twins got first placeeeeee!!!!! I’m so happyyyyy!"
"Hahaha!"
Kaoru hugged the child tightly in his arms and burst into happy laughter.
Seeing one’s beloved children running so brilliantly at a sports day is one of the joys of being a parent.
Of course…
< [Exclusive] Real-estate tycoon A… arrested and investigated on suspicion of tens of billions of yen in tax evasion… >
< [Exclusive] Suspicion of psychotropic drug abuse at a famous medical institution… Metropolitan Police Department launches immediate investigation… >
< [Exclusive] Psychotropic drug abuse… Is the family of the medical foundation head also involved? Metropolitan Police Department urgently arrests suspect K >
There are always people who cannot enjoy such happiness.
At the memory of the article he had read that morning, Kaoru’s eyes flashed coldly for an instant.
Kaoru quietly held his wife close and looked at the twins, who had become the center of attention amid cheers and applause from their classmates, with proud eyes.
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