CH 39

“Ren, We are going to the Shrine, okay?”

(T/N: Here she says “Hatsumoude” which means first shrine visit of the New Year. I couldn’t frame it properly so I just changed it to Shrine)

That’s what Mom said, but honestly, I didn’t want to go to the Shrine.

I just wanted to relax at home.

“No, do I have to go?”

“Eh? You don’t want to? Even though You could see Kaede-chan in a kimono…”

“… when?”

“What?”

“The Shrine”

Mom looked at me with a grin. Then she came closer,

“That’s right, it’s rare to see Kaede-chan in a kimono.”

“Shut up.”

I was ashamed of myself, but Mom knew it and teased me further.

“Huh? Come to think of it, where’s Kaede?”

“Yeah, I haven’t seen her.”

Yesterday, when I returned to my room after talking to Dad, Kaede was awake and sitting on my bed, looking a little embarrassed.

Her face turned red and she said, “I’m sorry!!” and dashed out of my room.

“I think she’s in Hina’s room.” I said,

Then she came down from the second floor with Dad.

When I saw that scene, I was honestly annoyed.

“What were you doing?”

“Yesterday I talked to Ren, so today I wanted to talk to Kaede-san.” Dad said,

“Hmm, so?”

“Yeah, I’d be happy if she became your wife” he replied,

Kaede looked down when she was told this, trying not to show her face next to me, but I was sure her face was red.

“Dad! What are you saying!”

“Because, you know? you can’t find a better woman than her.”

“That’s …. true, but”

This time, hearing my words, Kaede slumped down to the floor and covered her face with her hands.

Ah, I have done it, I thought as I brushed aside my bangs.

“Open the window and let’s cool off a bit.”

I was about to open the window when Mom grabbed me by the arm.

“Walk…you two should go for a walk together!”

“What are you talking about, Mom… Kaede, you don’t have to listen to what Mom says, okay?”

Then I looked at Kaede and saw that Kaede, who had been sitting on the floor earlier, was not there.

I looked around and couldn’t find her anywhere in the room.

Then Dad pointed toward the front door.

“Kaede seems to be ready to go, you know?”

“No way…..”

“Kaede-chan, you’ve only been here for a day, it would be dangerous if you get lost, okay?”

Mom said in an agitated and stirring tone.

Since there was no way I was going to let Kaede go alone, I decided to go with her.

“Kaede, I’m sorry about it, okay? My parents are so excited because you are such a nice girl.”

“…Ren-kun is a better boy.”

“What’s so good about me?”

I didn’t understand what Kaede was saying. At least I was sure Kaede was better than me.

“The part about you being nice to the women..”

“That’s not being nice to the women, that’s just being nice to you, Kaede, okay?”

“…. I’m a woman too.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

What is it with these fights in the world?…

“What are you two bickering about?”

Grinning, Mom opened the living room door and watched.

Kaede, as expected, reacted to her lover’s quarrel remark.

“Hey! Mother! We’re not even dating yet!” She replied,

“Then why don’t you just date?”

“…. That’s, that’s”

“Mom, Don’t tease Kaede too much.”

“That’s right, Reiko-san, Teasing isn’t good.”

You didn’t listen to a single word I said, but you immediately quieted down when Dad said it.

When Dad said that, the expression on her face that had been so joyful earlier was instantly replaced by sullen, lowered eyebrows.

Seeing this, I thought they would not say anything, but if I said something now, I bet Dad would tease me this time, so I decided not to.

“Let’s go, then.”

“Yes…”

With that said, I opened the front door and felt the cold wind against my skin.

It snowed a little late last night, and there was still snow on the ground where the sun didn’t shine.

Perhaps excited by the snow, Kaede looked around with sparkling eyes.

When I thought that she was still a child, she stared at me.

“Did you think I was a child just now?”

“I didn’t think that.”

“You’re lying!”

Then, in one go, she took a step forward so that the distance between me and Kaede shortened.

Because it was so sudden, I thought that Kaede could hear my  heart beating, and was nervous.

Kaede, too, approached me, but then she was at a loss for words and her face turned red.

I had come for a walk to cool my head, but this was pointless.

As we were walking, there was a park a little further on, so I told Kaede that we should take a break there, and she nodded silently.

“Then…”

Then a woman walked past Kaede. The moment I noticed this, I felt a sudden chill.

I got goosebumps too. How could I forget. She was a woman who could never be forgotten.

“Ren?”

From behind me, I heard a voice calling my name. Taking a deep breath I slowly turned around to see my ex-girlfriend.