Akira glanced at Miu Matsuoka's suspicious eyes, took off his smartwatch, and handed it to her.
"Here, call the number yourself. Let reality teach you a lesson."
Miu took the watch without hesitation and began dialing the number from the bizarre flyer they had just read. The others, though skeptical, couldn't hide their curiosity.
The line connected.
"Hello! Who is it?" a rough male voice barked.
Miu frowned. "Why are you a man? Weren't you the one seeking a child for a generous reward? Can n give birth now?"
"Baka yarou!" the man cursed and imdiately hung up.
"Pfft—" Akira barely stifled his laughter.
Shouko, unlike Akira, imdiately walked up to comfort Miu, who stood frozen in shock.
"It's okay, Miu. These things are scams anyway," she said gently.
But Miu suddenly snapped back to life. Her eyes lit up with absurd excitent.
"I get it now!! Males can give birth! That's why a man answered the phone!"
"…."
"…."
"…."
"…."
The whole group collectively fell silent.
Akira sighed, took his watch back, and said with as much patience as he could muster, "Let's just go ho before your brain turns to tofu."
And so, the four of them parted ways and headed to their respective hos.
That evening, a middle-aged man with a thick beard arrived at the sa utility pole. He angrily tore down the flyer Miu had called about and muttered through gritted teeth:
"Baka yarou! Whoever wrote down my number is getting a one-way trip to Tokyo Bay…"
"Try this on, Shouko. I think it'll suit you," Miyamura Shizuka said warmly, handing her a beautiful yukata. It was mostly white, with orange accents and deep orange cherry blossoms.
"The fireworks festival is tomorrow, right? You already bought it?" Shouko asked, sitting on the tatami mat and examining the yukata with wide eyes.
Shizuka waved her hand with a smile. "Of course. It's been ages since I saw you wear one. Co on, let's try it on. I'll help you do your hair, too."
Without waiting for a reply, Shizuka tugged her up and led her into the master bedroom.
Left behind in the living room, Akira silently peeled an orange and watched them disappear.
Five or six minutes later, Shizuka returned with Shouko, now fully dressed in the yukata and her hair done up.
"Akira! Look over here. Isn't she beautiful?" Shizuka called out from the entrance to the living room.
Akira looked up and was montarily stunned. Shouko did look pretty. Her yukata fit perfectly, and her styled hair gave her a slightly older look. But still — she was in sixth grade, barely eleven. He'd watched her grow up since they were kids.
He wasn't a lolicon, okay?
"She looks great, Mom! Your fashion sense is top-tier," Akira said quickly, giving a thumbs-up to deflect any suspicion.
Shizuka accepted the complint proudly. "Of course. I spent thirty minutes picking that one out."
"I'll go change back into my regular clothes for now," Shouko said.
"Sure."
Once Shouko left the room, Shizuka pulled out another outfit — this one a gray n's yukata — and handed it to Akira.
He blinked. "Huh? Why do I have one too?"
"I couldn't buy one for Shouko and forget you."
"…Fine."
There were still a few hours to go until the festival.
Akira sat at the coffee table feeding orange slices to Shouko while checking their plans.
"Granny Nishimiya's not coming?"
Shouko nodded as she finished chewing. "She said it's too crowded and she wants to sleep early."
On the couch, Miyamura Shizuka and Nishimiya Yaeko were chatting when Shizuka suddenly called out, "You two, go change now. It'll be ti to head out soon."
Shouko gently brushed Akira's hand away as he offered another slice and stood up. "Okay! Auntie, can you help with my hair again?"
Her own mother, Yaeko, was still helping Yuzuru get dressed, so the request went to Shizuka instead.
Akira sighed, stuffed the last bit of orange in his mouth, and waved to Yaeko before heading upstairs to change into the gray yukata.
His mom had bought it — not wearing it would feel like rejecting her effort. Plus, sothing told him she had a motive: Dad had just brought ho a cara the night before.
And he knew what that ant.
A few minutes later, Shouko stepped out of the master bedroom, fully changed again.
Akira had just finished adjusting his outfit when he caught her gaze — and noticed she was staring.
"Stunned?" he teased.
"N-No! I just haven't seen you wear a yukata before," she stamred, quickly looking away.
Before he could say anything else, he noticed his mother crouched behind Shouko, cara in hand, snapping pictures.
"Mom, seriously?" Akira asked, deadpan.
"Don't mind ! Just act natural," she waved him off.
It was true, though — his mom had excellent taste. Shouko in her yukata looked like she stepped out of a catalog. She could probably be a brand ambassador for a kids' kimono shop.
(Miyamura Daiki: What about ?)
Just then, Yaeko stepped out of the living room holding Yuzuru's hand. She spotted Akira in the yukata and grinned.
"Hehe... Akira looks quite dashing in that. I wonder how many shrine maidens he's going to charm when he grows up."
"Oh please," Akira muttered.
Shouko joined in. "Yeah, right! As if Akira would charm any miko!"
"…"
Before Akira could defend himself, his dad, Miyamura Daiki, opened the front door and smiled.
"Alright, let's go. We'll drive over — it's not too crowded yet."
Everyone headed to the entryway to put on their shoes. The kids in yukatas wore traditional wooden clogs, while the adults opted for simple casualwear.
Before they left, they waved goodbye to Nishimiya Kei at the Nishimiya ho.
Hachiko, the family dog, stayed behind to keep Kei company for the evening.
--------------
POWER STONE!!!
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