Crossing Paths, Traumatized, and Yet…

CH 43

The summer vacation quickly came to an end with only one week left.

During the month of August, Daiki played with his high school friends and got to know them better.

His father was also on vacation, so the two of them rented a campervan and toured various places.

Again, they had a lot of experiences and made some of the most enjoyable memories.

When his father’s vacation was over, he decided to go back to his hometown.

When he got home, his mother and Tsukasa-san told him that they had something to report and made him sit on his knees in the living room.

“Daiki, I have a report to make.”

He told me with a serious face.

Daiki straightened his back and listened.

“Daiki will be a big brother”

He said.

“Daiki is going to be a big brother.”

She said with a high tension.

At first he didn’t understand what was going on, but then he realized that his mother was pregnant.

“Eh?”

Then he hugged his mother.

“C-Congratulations!”

Finally, he understood and congratulated her.

His mother said,

“Aren’t you happy, Daiki?”

She asked anxiously.

“Of course I’m happy!”

She burst into tears and hugged him.

He asked Tsukasa-san for help, but Tsukasa-san was sobbing even harder than his mother.

“Thank you, Daiki, thank you, Daiki, thank you for being so happy for me.”

He said with a messed up face.

Until they calmed down, he did as he was told.

When they calmed down, they told him the due date of the baby and that they did not know the gender yet.

Daiki was relieved and frankly happy that things were going well for them.

However, as a high school student, one would know how to have a child.

On the one hand, he was happy, but on the other hand, it was complicated, but he did not say so.

It is still a matter of congratulations.

Because of this, Daiki was in a better mood than usual on the day of the festival.

On the day of the festival, Wakaba insisted on being picked up, so he went to pick her up.

She said she refused to be picked up by Shiraishi because it was in the opposite direction this time.

Having not seen each other since Golden Week, he was nervous.

He arrived in front of Wakaba’s house and waited for her to come out.

When Wakaba came out, he gasped.

She came out in her yukata and looked beautiful.

She was much more beautiful than before.

Now that she was in high school, her face and style were even better.

He had a feeling the same thing had happened before.

“Do I look good in it?”

she asked, this time in a ladylike manner.

He said nothing.

“Hey, are you listening?”

He was told.

Daiki was not embarrassed and said

“It looks really good on you.”

He was able to tell her.

“Thanks.”

Wakaba said shyly.

After a long time, he and Wakaba walked to the restaurant.

Not knowing what to talk about, Wakaba told him a lot of things.

The conversation was about everyone and school, so he was able to talk about normal things.

Daiki also told her about his mother and Tsukasa.

Wakaba, too, was surprised.

“So Daiki is going to be a big brother, I see”.

She was happy to hear that.

“That means I’m the eldest one!”

She was joking around, but it made his heart tighten a little.

She was joking around, but he felt a little choked up because he thought that even now, she still saw him only as a little brother.

Talking about such things, they arrived at the meeting place just as we were talking.

After arriving at the meeting place, Shiraishi came by right away as usual and started talking with Wakaba.

Daiki looked behind him and then went to another friend’s place.

The festival itself was just as enjoyable as every other year, but as the time for the fireworks approached, they decided to move on.

“Daiki, you know we’re all trying to get Wakaba and Shiraishi to hook up, right?

I want to leave you two alone during the fireworks, will you help me with that, Daiki?”

He asked.

Daiki had no choice but to go along.

“I’ve already discussed this with the others, so you and I will go that way, okay?”

So, he decided to go along with them.

As they were walking, Sasaki said to him

“Daiki has become a good-looking guy.

Have you got a girlfriend?”

She asked.

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.

He answered.

She asked many questions, but he answered without hesitation.

After that, everyone else joined the party, but Wakaba and Shiraishi were the only ones missing.

Just then, the fireworks started.

While watching the fireworks, Daiki said

“When was the last time I watched fireworks next to Wakaba?”

He felt indescribable.

The fireworks were over and Wakaba and Shiraishi joined them.

Wakaba was complaining angrily, but Shiraishi was laughing with his friend shyly, as if it went well.

Seeing this, Daiki’s heart tightened.

He desperately tried to act normal.

He was supposed to go home with Wakaba, but Shiraishi said he would drop her off, so he lied to Wakaba and went home with another friend by a different route.