#205

Is there any middle-aged man who would look so would look so out of place with his body leaning against the back gate, gazing out at the field?

Both externally and internally, he does not fit the mature look of a father.

I sigh at my own father’s appearance, which makes it seem that the relationship between father and son is not that great.

I was even more cold-hearted than usual since he had returned to Japan without prior notice.

“What are you doing here…?”

“Minato… were you here?”

“This is the high school I go to…”

What’s this…?

The only reason why this person would come to a place like this is because his son goes there.

Even if he tries to look cool and narrow his eyes and let out a sorrowful voice, it’s my father who’s saying it, so I don’t think anything of it.

I just want him to tell me what he needs and send him on his way.

My father gives me a disapproving look, then quickly drops his gaze to my hand.

All I have in my hand is a bag of rice balls from the school cafeteria.

I’m too old to be so picky.

“Kaede has a gymnastics festival too… so she didn’t have time to make bento.”

Like me, Kaede, who had Sports festival in the opposite direction, went to school earlier than usual.
As a brother, I felt bad asking her to prepare lunch for two on such a day.

However, that didn’t mean that telling the person in front of me would make any difference, so I just told him the truth.

“It’s from your mother, I’ve come to deliver it.”

He took out a bento from his bag on his shoulder.

The two-tiered lunch box, wrapped in a cute Japanese wrapping cloth, was the same one I’d been using since junior high school.

“Mom, you made it? I wouldn’t have bought this if you’d have contacted me…”

With that, I held up the bag hanging in my hand.

It doesn’t matter because I’ll eat when I’m hungry after the Sports festival is over, but I could have done that without reducing the burden on my allowance.

I turned my gaze towards him with such intent.

However, I’m happy to see that I had the mindset that I would miss having onigiri from the school cafeteria at a big school event.

The reason why I don’t see my mom behind my dad is probably because she is having lunch with Kaede.

It was my sister’s first Sports event, so it would be better for her to have lunch with her parents.

“So you’re here as the courier guy, thanks.”

Turning my body to the side, I thanked him briefly and started to walk to the shade of the tree where I wanted to go.

But, it was my father’s small voice that stopped me from advancing.

“He didn’t seem to be bothering Shizuku-chan and the others.”

“…”

I turn around and started to search for the meaning of his words.

My father’s eyes were not on me, but on Shizuku and Yuuto, who were having lunch with their classmates in a corner of the field.

I wonder what he’s referring to…

If I remember correctly, I feel like I’ve done nothing but cause trouble for these girls.

The words came out of embarrassment, unlike these thoughts.

“…You’ve been watching the three-legged race?”

In terms of time, the clearest thing my father would’ve seen must have been the three-legged race.

In other words, he also saw me get emotional and thrust my fist into the air.

Shame welled up in me, and I felt a slight heat rise in my body.

It is more embarrassing to be seen by parents than by fellow students.

Dad, perhaps realizing this, lets a smile slip from his mouth.

“Even I would show up at my kid’s event.”

“…”

The words out of my father’s mouth are so parental, so proud, that I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

The image of the person in front of me, who had told me so parenthetically and proudly, was a far cry from the image of my father that I remembered.

I had been to elementary school, middle school, and high school, but all I could remember was my mother and sister.

I don’t see my father next to them.

I attended both the junior high graduation ceremony and the high school entrance ceremony, but never once did my father voluntarily announce his presence at any of them.

I noticed that only one person disappeared, and before I knew it, this person was at home.

I can count the number of times he was in a club and the number of times he came to watch a game.

So it was a surprise that he showed up here again today.

“That’s not something that you would say…”

I said, turning my body to face him again, having once turned my back on him.

I felt annoyed at his son’s reaction and the way he just stared at him, without any sign of anger.

However, I never put into words the irritation I feel.
…I’ve gotten used to this irritation.

My father doesn’t talk to me much, probably because he feels like he’s looking at his old self.

The old me, with no strengths, weaknesses, or hidden talents.

“Hurry up and get back to Kaede, …you should be watching your kid’s big day.”

You’re going to see your child’s big day, right?

You should leave me alone and return as soon as possible rather than miss it and regret it.

“I’m leaving Japan on the last flight today.”

After a short speech, my father turns on his heel and returns to the car parked behind him.

On the way back to the car, he looked back at me once.

He may have something left to say, but he just stood there and said just one sentence.

“The two of you will get along well…”

“I see.”

Satisfied with my comment, he gets into his car and proceeds down the narrow road.

He turned left at the intersection just after proceeding through the back gate, and an involuntary sigh escaped my lips as I looked away from him until he was out of sight.

“What did I expect…?”

I muttered to myself, but the words fizzled out, drowned out by the sounds around me.

Even though I knew in my head that it was impossible, a faint hope swirled in my mind that maybe he had come to see me.

I looked up and stood there looking up at the bright blue sky.

“You’re glad that you don’t need your father to see the rest of it, right?”

From a short distance away, a familiar voice reached my ears, followed by the sound of sand being stepped on.

I didn’t even bother to turn around to hear the words.

“I’m no longer in the events, you know.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

President, who walked up to me with her long chestnut hair fluttering, stopped next to me and turned her eyes in pursuit of the figure that was already out of sight.

There is no meaning, no return, just an uninhabited road stretching out before us.

“There may be another Sports Festival next year, but this year may be the last one you will build with these girls.”

I don’t need to be told who the girls are that President mentioned in her words.

But that is only a trivial issue for that person.

“I’m not the kind of person who cares about such things.”

When I gave a wry smile akin to resignation, President looked a little sad.

For the President, this is her last sports festival.

It is inevitable that she would worry about the parent-child situation of the person with whom she has tentatively made an arrangement.

However, this is a matter for the Shinra family and not for President to worry about.

To reassure her, I lightly stretch my body and make my usual unmotivated expression.

President, as expected, does not interject any further and gently brushes away her long hair as if to shake off her thoughts.

“I see… so Shinra, come and have lunch with me.”

“…I don’t like hot places.”

When I reply, the president puts a smile on her mouth and walks toward the student council tent.

I walked with her behind me, and after turning around like my father for just a moment, I realized that the behavior was similar, and in my heart I could not help but feel irritated.

Archived Comments

crisiscore38 (on 2022-08-29 03:04:50):

His relationship with his father is a bit sad. They both are terrible at it. Thanks for the translation.