To describe Harumi’s words a bit more accurately, it wasn’t just a simple suggestion to go to the sea.
Since she liked manga so much, Harumi’s personality was one that wanted to try most of the things that appeared in those comics.
Perhaps during her kindergarten days, our encounters were mostly limited to just the kindergarten itself, so she didn’t play around with me much, but it seemed like her thoughts changed a bit once she became an elementary school student.
Well, she is still quite young, but it’s also the age where one starts to perceive the surrounding situations much more clearly.
If the fantasies of the kindergarten days were random tales that were hard for adults to understand, then the fantasies of elementary school students were much more concrete.
“I want to do something. I want to be something. I want to have something.”
Well, that said, it wasn’t entirely devoid of her usual fanciful thoughts, but anyway, that’s how it was.
“Let’s go to the ocean, the valley, the mountains, and the festival!”
Um.
To do all that, it seems our vacation would be very busy.
Even doing one of those things a week.
For us, it’s vacation, so we can just relax, but the adults have to work except on weekends. Especially Fukuda, who can’t take a break easily. After all, he has to be responsible for my future.
“……”
I felt a bit gloomy thinking about that fact for no reason, so I focused on Harumi’s excited words.
“My dad said he can find time, so it’s okay!”
Um.
Yes, when you’re young, it must be great to have your parents play with you at home. Taking you out here and there, buying you toys.
It’s better to realize that playing isn’t just purely positive much later on.
Besides, Mr. Fukuda isn’t just playing; he’s someone who can relatively freely adjust his workdays.
Anyway, according to Harumi, it seems that it wouldn’t be a big problem even if our parents don’t join us because Mr. Fukuda will be with us.
“Can my sister come too!?”
“Yes, yes! She can come!”
Is that okay?
It seems like Mr. Fukuda would allow it, but isn’t there a bit of a different atmosphere between a first-grade elementary school student and a middle school student? What if it feels awkward when she comes?
No, wait.
Thinking back, it seems like Mr. Yamashita and Mr. Fukuda know each other, so Miho and Mr. Fukuda might also know each other.
Miho clearly shows she’s still in middle school, so if it’s just her and Mr. Fukuda, it might be different, but if we’re there too, it would just look like an older sister with a little sister and her dad, or uncle.
Well, I’m just in the position of following along, and others see me as just one elementary school kid, so it would be weird for me to take charge of things.
I just need to get permission from Kagami, and that’s it.
“……”
Kagami, huh.
Has Kagami ever gone somewhere fun in the summer?
I have memories of going here and there with Kagami. I haven’t gone far, and I didn’t participate in events scheduled, but I’ve gone out during Christmas to eat warm and tasty food, and I’ve gone out briefly in summer to eat something cool.
Not too long ago, I even went to Disney Land.
However, I don’t have any memories of playing at the beach together or going to a festival, or seeing fireworks.
“Hey, Harumi.”
When I cautiously spoke, Harumi, who had been happily chatting with Yuuki, looked at me with a smile.
“Yeah, Koto Ne!”
Seeing that lovely expression on Harumi’s face, I hesitated a bit and said,
“Isn’t it better to go on Saturday or Sunday?”
“The ocean?”
“Yeah. And the festival too.”
I wonder how it was before I was born.
Did I ever play with a boyfriend at a young age? Or was there some other reason I came to be? I still haven’t asked about that reason.
Just asking Kagami about my birth would make the atmosphere overly tragic. It’s similar to the question, “Why don’t I have a dad?”
I like Kagami. I think of her as my mom, and I deeply feel she’s my only family.
I don’t want the one who dedicates herself to me to be hurt because of me. I’ve always hoped to be someone who brings happiness to Kagami.
So, if I’m going to the ocean for the first time and to the festival for the first time, I want Kagami to be beside me.
Wearing swimsuits together, building sandcastles, lying side by side to enjoy the warm sand, and playing with a ball.
I want to wear Yukata together and watch fireworks.
All of those things are memories.
I didn’t want Kagami to be missing from my memories.
“Why?”
Harumi tilted her head.
It wouldn’t make sense to suggest that we only go on weekends when there’s so much more to do during the weekdays.
Honestly, I can’t explain it logically either. I just wanted my mom to be with me when I do something for the first time.
“……”
What should I say?
If I say it’s because I want to go with my mom, I might seem too childish even just a few years older. Especially for those in upper elementary school, middle school, and high school, it’s embarrassing to feel like one can’t do things alone that others can.
Even I sometimes feel that way. My body is that of an elementary school student, and even if I’ve become accustomed to living as a child for several years, my mind has long since solidified.
I fiddled with the hem of my clothes, pouting my lips in hesitation before finally speaking up.
“I want to go with my mom…”
I felt my face heat up entirely.
I think it’s age-appropriate behavior, but doing it in front of my little friends is a whole different issue.
Besides, if I were to go on this trip, it would be with the help of Harumi’s dad, Mr. Fukuda. Just like how Kagami couldn’t take me to the theme park on Children’s Day, it might be a burden to spend and buy a swimsuit I could only wear for a year.
Has Kagami intentionally not taken me out before?
No, I’m sure there was a reason. Maybe there wasn’t enough time or funds.
“Um…”
As I spoke, Harumi paused for a moment, her finger on her lips deep in thought.
I got a bit nervous, wondering what that little kid’s reaction would be.
“Okay!”
Fortunately, Harumi accepted my words without much deliberation.
“My dad said that would be more convenient!”
Even if the schedule can be adjusted, it seems it’s still a burden to take a break on weekdays.
I let out a small sigh of relief.
*
However, that doesn’t mean all problems are solved.
Even if they can adjust the schedule, if Kagami can’t move on that day, it wouldn’t mean anything.
I understood, only after becoming an adult, why my father used to sleep at home on weekends. After working outside all week, people understandably want to rest during the weekends.
Especially if going far, one definitely has to drive, and taking a train or bus can be exhausting in its own right.
When adults take young children, they must tend to the children, so resting isn’t really resting at all.
The only ones having fun are the children who play.
I could easily imagine how the task of raising me alone wasn’t easy for Kagami.
That’s why I felt a bit guilty just telling Kagami the story I heard from Harumi.
“Of course, we should go!”
But Kagami said it with such conviction, as if it were the most obvious thing.
“The ocean sounds great! Festivals are great too!”
Kagami’s eyes sparkled as she said that.
Now she’s twenty, but her eyes still reflected a childlike wonder.
I remember hearing that in this country, people her age can’t even drink alcohol yet.
“Ah, then we need to buy Koto Ne’s swimsuit too!”
She had a school swimsuit, but Kagami probably wouldn’t be satisfied with that. I’m sure she’d want to buy the cutest swimsuit in the world.
That… was a bit complicated for me, in many ways.
Just like when I first wore the kindergarten uniform.
I clung tightly to Kagami’s clothes and nestled in, pouting slightly.
“Then, mom’s too.”
“Huh?”
I regretted saying that a little.
If we end up playing in the water all weekend, it’s sure to be tough for Kagami.
Plus, buying her swimsuit will definitely cost more money.
I thought that Kagami wouldn’t want to be a burden to Mr. Fukuda either.
But Kagami pulled me close and said,
“Of course, we have to buy it.”
Kagami lightly kissed the top of my head and let out a chuckle.
“I have to have fun with my daughter.”
“……”
Her voice was so sincere that I couldn’t respond, just staying snugly close to Kagami.
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