Chapter 26 - Mob Heroine-chan’s Mom is the Easygoing Type
…So that’s why she didn’t come to school.
And here I was, thinking Mogami-san was having a mental breakdown. Or perhaps she had a cold, or maybe she disliked me. I was worried for those kinds of reasons.
“Mom! Why didn’t you wake me up!?”
“I’m sorry, dear. I thought it was still August thirty-first.”
"You're too easy-going—wait, why is Sato-kun here?!"
Mogami-san, who came clattering down the stairs, initially directed her cute complaints toward mom, but she became quite flustered when she noticed me midway through.
“S-sorry for looking like this, I just woke up!”
"No, I don't mind at all."
“I-I know my pajamas look so dorky, but I can’t sleep unless I wear something I’m used to…!”
“It’s fine. You look cute, so don’t worry about it.”
“…Ehehe.”
“Fuko, dear, I hate to interrupt your blushing, but shouldn’t you be hurrying?”
“Oh, right! I’ll go change into my uniform right away!!”
At mom’s reminder, she seemed to finally remember that she’d overslept, and hurriedly ran back up to her room.
“So then, Sato-kun, what brings you here? School's already started, you know."
"I'm the one who had to tell you that, remember?"
"I know. And that's exactly why I'm so curious."
“I came to pick her up. Fuko-san didn’t show up at school, and I got worried.”
“Oh my, oh my, oh my… how sweet. That’s youth for you.”
For some reason, mom hid her face with both hands and looked bashful. She looked just like her daughter.
Well, I could understand that. Once you’re an adult, moments that feel like youth make you happy somehow. Back in my past life, when I'd see a young high school couple walking hand-in-hand, my mood would brighten up, too. Mom must be feeling that same thing right now... although, right now, I'm not the one observing youth, I'm the one in it. But anyway.
“Fuko, dear~! Sato-kun came all this way to pick you up, so you’d better hurry~!”
“Really!? You came to pick me up... T-thank you."
Just as mom called that out toward the second floor, Mogami-san, already in her uniform, appeared almost immediately. She was in such a rush that she looked a little disheveled, but... just as I'd suggested to her the other day, she wasn't wearing her tracksuit anymore, and her skirt was a little shorter. She looked like a perfect, beautiful girl. I was relieved. I’d been worried that she didn’t want to come to school because she’d hated my advice but clearly, that wasn’t the case.
"Sato-kun, could you wait just a little bit longer? Just... let me get properly ready?"
“Sure, take your time.”
"I-I just can't let you see me looking like a total slob right after getting out of bed!"
“Me? I don’t really mind.”
“I mind! Just a second, okay? Sorry!"
“Fuko, what about breakfast?”
“I’ll skip it! Geez, it’s your fault for not waking me up, Mom!”
After that little exchange, Mogami-san vanished back somewhere into their house. It looked like I'd have to wait a little longer for her to finish getting ready.
“Oh dear, she’s in a bit of a mood. Sato-kun, you’ll have to cheer her up later, alright?”
“Leave it to me. I’m used to cheering Fuko-san up.”
"That girl has such a weak mentality, you know? She always gets down on herself super easily. I think she's a really good match for a confident kid like you, Sato-kun. You be sure to take the lead, alright?"
"Yes... that's true."
That was the one request I couldn't really nod along with due to some complicated circumstances on my part. Just as mom said, Mogami-san is definitely a good match for someone who is confident. However, I’m pretty sure that person isn't going to be me. It's going to be Sanada.
I felt bad for mom... but I just dodged the question with a vague answer.
Things had gone a bit differently than I’d expected. Still, I was already planning on refraining from interfering with Mogami-san's life any further. Which meant... this might be the last time I would ever see mom. Thinking that, I suddenly felt a pang of loneliness.
“Mom… thank you very much for loving Fuko-san.”
“Oh my, what’s this all of a sudden?”
"No, it's just... I just felt like I had to thank you for raising such a wonderful girl."
"Ufufu. I'm so happy to hear you say that. She's my pride and joy, you know?"
...Yep. I’m glad I did what I did. The fact that she didn't just end as a "mob heroine"... I was sure that was a wonderful thing, not just for Mogami-san, but for mom, too. Just a little while ago, I was doubting my own actions. I was worried that Mogami-san hated what I'd done. But there was no need for that. This exchange with mom helped me realize that all over again.
Well, at any rate. My final job... is to get Mogami-san to school.
And once I've seen her off to her classroom... I guess… it's time to go back to being just a spectator of their story once more—
