Approaching Meetings and Individual Struggles

"Parent-teacher meetings, huh…"

While grateful that Itsuki and Chitose were discreetly gathering

information on Mahiru's wishes in the most roundabout ways possible, Amane continued to work hard at his job. He was carefully preparing for Mahiru's birthday bit by bit, so as not to make her suspicious.

But then one day, pieces of paper were distributed among the class.

Written on them was an announcement that was not particularly welcomed by the students. Right after the cultural festival, the school had conducted two rounds of surveys: the first being a confirmation of guardians'

schedules, while the second had been a future career aspiration survey for students. Now that it was November, it was soon time to encourage major coordination between the students preparing for exams and the school.

These discussions would involve students reconfirming their desired career paths with a guardian present, taking into account both academic

ability and attitude toward life. Glancing over the notice to check the details,

Amane noticed that his meeting was scheduled for one of the earlier sessions, so he decided it would be best to inform Shihoko as soon as possible.

Given that her job was flexible enough to allow her to work around the times the meetings could be scheduled, it was already agreed that Shihoko would be the one attending the meetings. Amane was grateful that she could arrange her schedule to participate despite living so far away, but

honestly, he wasn't looking forward to it.

Well, she'll be happy to be here.

Since Shihoko was always willing to dote on and fuss over her

son—well, mainly Mahiru—she was likely thrilled by the idea of visiting once again. Amane could imagine her throwing both hands up in the air out of pure joy.

"Ugh, my mom can't make it to mine, so I've gotta rely on Dad instead. This actually sucks." Meanwhile, Itsuki, for a completely different reason, looked visibly annoyed. A trace of disgust flashed across his face as he held the notice up to the light, further adding to his dejected expression. He'd remained seated with a grim face even after homeroom had ended and everyone else had left, so he was clearly dreading the occasion.

Itsuki's dislike of the situation was plastered so heavily on his face that Amane, who personally wasn't bothered by the meetings, could only force a slight smile.

"You really can't handle it when your Dad gets involved, can you?" Amane commented.

"You really can't blame me, though. I can already see the nagging coming from a mile away. He'll go on about how my grades are this, my behavior is that, or how I should choose some school for my future."

Amane's perception of Daiki and Itsuki's perception of Daiki were far too different, both in how they felt and how they saw in him. While Amane couldn't agree with Itsuki's view, he had no choice but accept that to Itsuki, that was just the kind of person Daiki was.

Chitose also came over and murmured with a slight troubled look on her face. "Hmm. I've got my mom coming—she's probably gonna dress up like there's no tomorrow."

"Yeah, my mom's coming too…" Amane replied. "But why do parents get so fired up for this in the first place? Some of them turn up like they're dressed for war or something."

Needless to say, Amane wasn't suggesting they wear something overly casual, like loungewear for example. That being said, there was just something awkward about walking side to side with a parent dressed in an outfit that screamed 'Bring it on!' It could be hard to bear when a parent looked entirely different from what their child was used to seeing.

Shihoko often wore formal attire for her job, so Amane was somewhat used to seeing her in fancy clothes. Even so, the thought of her dressing up

in an overzealous outfit still gave him chills.

"To be fair, it pretty much is one, don't you think?" Chitose reasoned. "Their kids are throwing themselves into a fierce battle, after all."

"I do get that exams are like a war, but still."

"I think they just wanna show off a bit, y'know? They'll be seen by other classmates at school, and they might say this or that when everyone's lined up. It's kind of embarrassing for a kid, isn't it? So I think some parents just do it so that they don't want to embarrass themselves or their child."

"Yeah, I get that, but…I can already tell my mom's going to be super pumped up."

"Aha ha, I can sorta imagine that." "Just be normal, please…normal…"

While Amane was certain that Shihoko would choose an appropriate outfit, after factoring in that it was a chance for her to meet Mahiru and discuss her son's future, on top of their school being his father's alma mater, there was no getting around her enthusiasm. Amane found it disheartening to think about just how excited his mom would probably get.

Even just the thought of it was daunting to him, so Amane decided to push aside thoughts about his mom for the time being. Instead, he cast a fleeting glance at Mahiru's seat, which was currently empty. Mahiru had stepped away to attend to something in the library, and Amane was slightly relieved that she wasn't there to hear their conversation. If she had, it likely would have upset her.

…I have to be careful what I say.

Amane hadn't heard of Mahiru's parents attending an event like this before. Had they attended, it was likely that they'd have become a hot topic of conversation around school if they'd been spotted by a classmate. Thus, it was safe to assume that her parents had never come. Amane wasn't even sure whether Mahiru had told her parents about any previous meetings at all. Given how she felt about her parents, and how her parents felt about her, she had likely chosen not to tell them even a single thing.

Although her father, Asahi, might attend if Mahiru informed him, Amane had a feeling that Mahiru herself would decline. To Mahiru, Asahi's presence and involvement were things she considered no longer

meaningful, so she would likely choose not to inform him.

"You know, just thinking about my meeting is making me upset too, so let's not dwell on it!" Chitose interjected in a cheerful voice to lighten the atmosphere, before lowering it again, grinning like she was plotting something. "Anyways, My Lord, I've been secretly gathering info for that matter we discussed earlier. Heh heh heh."

"Your face. Mind your face," warned Amane. Internally relieved that the topic had changed before Mahiru returned to the classroom, he then peered at the note held in Chitose's hand.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

The day of the parent-teacher meetings came sooner than expected. Amane's meeting was scheduled after school, so Shihoko had planned to arrive slightly ahead of time. From afar, he caught sight of her standing at the visitors' entrance.

Ah, she's really gone all out, he immediately thought.

Provided she kept quiet, Shihoko looked just like a gentle and composed woman. However, today she had opted to wear a suit, supplementing it with makeup that offered a more dignified look compared to her usual gentle style. It was likely a refined version of her work attire. Something about it made her hard to approach—in a stark contrast to her usual self, she now exuded a sharp and intimidating aura. It felt as though she had even adjusted her posture to match her serious attire.

Despite being his own mother, Shihoko's excessively youthful and

age-defying appearance drew discreet glances from nearby students, some of whom had stayed behind for club activities and others had meetings during the same time slot. This made it incredibly difficult for Amane to approach her. However, as hesitant as he was, the time for the interview could not be changed. He mustered up his courage and called out, "Mom." In response, her face instantly lit up with a bright smile.

"Oh my, Amane! It's been about a month, I'm glad to see you're looking well," Shihoko said, smiling. All traces of her previously intimidating atmosphere and expression vanished, which was very much like her.

Amane suddenly felt exhausted. Amused at his response, Shihoko teased him by saying, "Oh dear, are you so happy to see your mother again that you've gone weak?" to which Amane narrowed his eyes and retorted, "As if."

Perhaps to nobody's surprise, Shihoko acted no differently despite being dressed to the nines. She giggled merrily, after which they began to leisurely walk down the hallway.

Even though she wasn't familiar with the school's layout, Shihoko marched forward, confident that Amane would guide her as necessary. Since there was still quite a bit of time left before his meeting, Amane sighed and began following Shihoko.

"You never contact me unless you need something, Amane. It's quite troublesome, indeed."

"Am I supposed to…?"

"Aw, don't be like that. A little chat here and there wouldn't hurt." "You always talk about the most mundane things though, Mom." It

wasn't that Amane disliked those kinds of conversations, but that Shihoko could be too overwhelming at times. A single response from him often led to ten more messages from her, and this happened constantly. Just keeping up with the conversation became exhausting in itself.

"Isn't that what small talk is all about? The point is to keep communicating."

"Just please, don't go too far with it. Also stop sending Mahiru photos behind my back."

"Whaaat?"

"Don't give me that."

Despite having scolded her once already, his photos were still secretly and steadily making their way into Mahiru's hands. Amane knew he had to firmly refuse once again, making it clear that it needed to stop.

"Then I'll create a group with you and Mahiru-chan, and share them there. This way, it won't be behind your back!"

"What about my consent!?" "I'm just kidding."

Amane grimaced as hard as he could. To him, that casual statement of hers sounded nothing like a joke. She then chided him, saying, "My, if you

keep making faces like that while you're young, it'll stick when you're older." Then if I get a bunch of wrinkles when I'm older, I'm blaming you for it. "Anyway, you've been working hard on your studies, I hope?" Once

Amane's face returned to normal, Shihoko asked, maintaining her frank tone.

"You'd know by looking at my report cards so far."

Amane always sent anything related to tests, rankings, and report cards directly to his parents. He'd never hidden anything, so there was no reason for Shihoko not to be aware of his academic performance.

"True, but it's also a fact that the teacher might have another perspective to give. It's a good idea to hear what your teacher has to say, don't you think?"

"…I'm trying my best in my own way. I'm confident that I haven't slacked in the effort department. I…might not be able to say I'm living a life I'm proud of yet, but I'm making an effort to get there."

In his first year in high school, Amane knew that he had an earnest nature and naturally good grades, but he was only driven by the expectation to maintain them. He had no clear purpose. He had no particular passion or obligation. He studied simply because that was what students were supposed to do.

It was during his second year that Amane's mindset began to change.

Motivated to stand beside Mahiru without her being disparaged because of him, and to hold pride in himself, he began to strive for the sake of their future.

One might even say that it was his mentality itself that had changed. Along with his newfound motivation and attitude, rather than aimlessly maintaining his grades, the most significant change was that he'd become more enthusiastic towards improving himself, enabling him to work even harder toward his future. So far, his grades this year were even better than the year before, and Amane anticipated that, at this rate, he'd receive significantly better grades by the end of the year. This fueled his motivation even more.

"Ah, well, yes. I already knew that," Shihoko acknowledged. "C'mon…"

"Once you decide on something, you'll see it through to the end. That's what you're like after all, right?" Shihoko stated without a trace of doubt. Her words were straightforward enough to stop Amane from voicing any complaints he had. "You're my son, after all. I've been watching over you for seventeen years—I know you very well. You're quite disciplined in that sense. For everything you've poured your all into, you've achieved results in some form or another. Plus…"

"Plus what?"

"You can't afford to be sloppy with Mahiru-chan around, right? Boys love to show off, after all." Shihoko winked at him with a teasing, mischievous smile.

Amane pursed his lips and turned away. "Be quiet. C'mon, it's almost time, Mom. Let's go."

"My, my. Perhaps I hit the nail on the head."

Brushing off his mom's unnecessary comments, Amane quickened his pace, paying no heed to the amused laughter behind him as he led the way.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Initially planned to last only about ten to fifteen minutes, the parent-teacher meeting concluded much faster than expected. Amane's exemplary

honor-student-like behavior and strong academic ability allowed the meeting to proceed very smoothly. Additionally, as his current grades more or less matched the requirements for his university of choice, there wasn't much to discuss.

That had been the final parent-teacher meeting held before his critical third year of high school. Amane had anticipated that it might require a longer discussion or more in-depth conversation about preparing for his upcoming exams, but it turned out to be nothing more than a confirmation of intentions between him, his mother, and his teacher. All in all, it was surprisingly brief.

After thanking his teacher and leaving the meeting room, Shihoko discarded the serious mother act she had put on during the discussion and her usual, light-hearted smile had returned as they walked away. This was

partly due to her maintaining a composed front during the meeting, but also due to her relief after hearing the positive feedback from his homeroom teacher.

"Well done. Not that I was worried, but it's reassuring to know that even the teacher thinks you're a great student, and hearing that directly from the teacher makes me even happier since I now know that you're working even harder than I thought."

"Well, I mean, doing well in school was the condition for me to live on my own."

Even though the difference in motivation Amane had between his first and second years was night and day, his grades during his first year had already been satisfactory. He never thought his mother would need to reconfirm that, but a promise was a promise. He understood it was her right to ensure there were no complaints about his part of the agreement.

"Ahh, I only said that to keep you on your toes. Honestly, I figured you'd keep your grades up even if I didn't say anything. For what it's worth, you were always a diligent boy."

"What do you mean, 'For what it's worth'?"

"My, you've always been diligent. Before, it was in a more reticent, steady way, which made it difficult to notice your enthusiasm at first glance. Now, you're no longer satisfied with just one goal. You keep finding and grabbing new ones over and over—it's like a power-up, if you will? It's a wonderful thing."

" …Well, thanks."

"Looks like your grades have improved significantly since your first year too, so you have no complaints from me. It's almost as if the switch for your motivation is right beside you."

"Just so you know, I'm not doing it for Mahiru. It's for myself. Still, I can't deny that looking at her pushes me to do better. It lights a fire in me."

Amane was aware that he had been diligent, but it seemed almost presumptuous to compare that to Mahiru's level of diligence. He had never met anyone as self-disciplined as her, and he knew that the effort she put into improving many facets of herself to live up to her reputation was nothing short of extraordinary. The difference between them was

embarrassingly stark.

Mahiru had already studied through most of the high school curriculum and had moved on to consolidating her fundamental knowledge in preparation for university entrance exams, so the scope of her efforts so far was immense. Once, she had casually mentioned that "Working hard now to make things easier later isn't as arduous as one might think." Her tone had been so nonchalant that it worried Amane. He was concerned that she might be pushing herself past her limits.

Despite that, being by Mahiru's side had inspired Amane even more. Seeing Mahiru working so hard made him loathe resting on his laurels. Consequently, Amane followed suit and began to focus even harder on his studies, as a way to improve himself.

"It's so wonderful that you can uplift and encourage one another. You're so passionate about each other—in many ways."

"Come on, Mom…"

"Oh dear, don't scowl at me. I'm actually complimenting you. It's true that you and Mahiru-chan get along so well, so what's there to be unhappy about?"

"Nothing. It's the way you interpret things and then tease me about it."

While Amane had an unusually close relationship with his mother compared to others his age, that didn't come without its own set of issues.

Mom always says stuff she shouldn't.

Whether it was her nature, deliberate, or simply a result of her fiery desire to make Mahiru her daughter-in-law at all costs, Shihoko had a tendency to prod Amane about any and all matters involving Mahiru. It was as if she was trying to rush him along or ignite a flame in him.

"Goodness, how harsh. It's just a little conversation," Shihoko replied, exasperated.

"Continuing to do something that someone dislikes isn't good conversation."

"All right, all right, I was in the wrong."

Despite saying that she was wrong, Shihoko didn't seem particularly apologetic. Amane shot her a glare before sighing audibly, trying to make her feel even slightly guilty as a way to settle the matter.

As the unrepentant Shihoko made her way down the hallway with light steps, Amane massaged his forehead and began retracing his path when Shihoko suddenly stopped and looked out a nearby window. Curious, Amane also paused, and for basically the first time, he picked up on the sounds of students in the middle of club activities, their shouts carrying through the air.

Instructions were given in strong, clear voices, chants were made to synchronize breaths, and there were bursts of jubilant cheers, perhaps celebrating something, punctuated by the signal of a whistle. Amidst these sounds, music from the brass band echoed from a nearby classroom, almost as if they were playing to cheer on all the students engrossed in their activities.

"Ah, the sounds of youth. How lovely," Shihoko remarked with a wistful smile, gazing fondly at the distant figures of the students. "Anyway, Amane, you're going to put your all into studying for your entrance exams from now on, right?"

Just as Amane was about to ask if something was on her mind, Shihoko's usual expression returned. She looked at him with the same old gaze she always had. Knowing that if he asked now, he wouldn't get an answer, Amane decided to ignore the earlier look of nostalgia and envy in her eyes.

"…Well, yeah. A year from now, the students with recommendations will already be taking—or maybe have even finished—their exams. So there's only a year left to prepare."

Amane considered that continuing to work part-time during such a crucial period was a reckless move, but he quickly dismissed the thought as he had already decided to balance both. No matter what, he was determined to make it work.

"Then next year will surely be a busy time for you," commented Shihoko. "Pretty much. That's just how it goes from second to third year, though I

can't say I'm fond of how packed my schedule will get, though."

"Alas, that is the path every student preparing for exams must take."

Nobody actively wanted to be buried in studies. It was merely a necessity, something that had to be done for their own sake, in order to seriously tackle the entrance exams. Amane, having already resigned

himself to the busy period in his future, received a nod of approval from Shihoko.

"You're well prepared. You've already taken this into account as well," she said with a smile. "Do come home this winter. With your exam next year, you won't have much free time."

"…I knew this already, but thinking about what's to come is still unnerving."

Shihoko chuckled. "What a grim look. Well, I suppose it's never a fun period. I saw my own fair share of hell back in my student days."

"Were you smart back then again, Mom?" "Am I to assume that was an insult?"

"Why would you take it that way!? I mean like, in terms of grades!"

As Amane knew her now, Shihoko was highly intelligent. She had accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge—though some of which she was probably better without—and the way she spoke was incredibly rational. While Amane figured that she was considered a smart person, he found it surprisingly hard to imagine what her grades actually looked like.

Amane's seventeen years of experience with his mother told him that once her mood soured, it could take a while for her spirits to return. Thus, Amane had hurried to clarify what he meant to prevent any misunderstandings. Shihoko shot him a cold stare for a brief moment before dismissing the matter with a simple, "Goodness me."

Shortly after, she began to think. "Hmm. Of course, out of me and Shuuto-san, I wouldn't claim to be the smarter one. I suppose my grades

were rather average back then. I excelled in no particular area, so one could say that I was just your typical student."

"Your typical student, eh…"

"What's with that skeptical look? Though I may not look it now, I was a very plain and quiet girl at the time."

"Plain and quiet, eh." To Amane, the idea that the flashy and outgoing Shihoko was once plain and quiet seemed more akin to a self-proclaimed image than reality.

"If you have something to say, then out with it, okay?" Shihoko urged. "It's absolutely nothing."

"Goodness me."

Despite being glared at, Amane knew better than to say anything that might make his mother even angrier. Because he understood how to handle his mother somewhat, Amane chose to stay silent. Shihoko realized that pressing the issue further would be futile, so she turned her face away with a huff, muttering, "What a stubborn boy you are." Despite that bait, Amane doubled down on his silence.

"Regardless, I wasn't particularly diligent or outstanding enough to earn anyone's praise. I did pick out the path I wanted eventually, which was great and all, but since it was quite a sudden decision, I had to cram at the last minute for the exam. Those times were really quite something—I think the impression I gave was totally different."

"Impression, as in?"

"I basically looked like I was about to keel over, or like I had no breathing room whatsoever, I believe. My friends back then used to tell me I had quite the ghastly look, like I was being driven into a corner going insane. It was quite bad, apparently."

For Amane, his mom's usual soft appearance made her friends' description of her appearance being ghastly all the more difficult to believe. Surprised, he instinctively turned to look at her. Shihoko promptly nodded, showing no hint of her past demeanor. "Well, I can say in hindsight that I had no concrete plan to speak of," she said, showing her signature gentle look. Even though it wasn't unheard of for a mother to appear different to her child than her friends, Amane still found it hard to imagine his mother showing any kind of desperate behavior.

His mom was wearing a bright smile as she shrugged in response to the look Amane gave her. "In your case, Amane, I'm not particularly worried.

Unlike me, you've always been one to prepare well in advance, and you work hard to nail your foundational knowledge. I trust that you won't make any careless mistakes, and that you understand your own abilities well enough to make informed choices."

"Yeah, of course," Amane affirmed.

"You've already planned out how you'll prepare for your exams, haven't you?"

"Naturally. I've tailored it to match the entrance exams of the university I want to enroll in."

"As a parent, I'll support you wherever you want to go, but it's only natural for me to be curious. I understand why you might not discuss it with us much, but if you have a clear goal in mind, it helps if you tell us. That way, we can support you properly." Shihoko spoke in a kind and tender tone, trying not to sound like she was scolding him. Instead, her words were nothing more than a gentle reminder. Now, feeling as though he was being terribly ungrateful, a sharp sense of guilt pricked Amane's heart. He knew that even if he chose not to speak up now, Shihoko would not blame him for it. However, as her son, he also understood that her words came from a place of parental concern, so although hesitant, Amane slowly looked down, taking a moment to gather his own feelings.

"…I don't quite have a specific goal in mind. Truthfully, if I can secure a job that allows me to live a comfortable life with Mahiru, then I'm not really fussed about the specifics," Amane confessed. Though he had consulted others regarding his choice of university, his decisions were largely made on his own, nor was he fixated on any particular institution in general. "My choice was less about chasing my passions and more about picking a university and major that will open the most doors for me

employment-wise, after considering my abilities. Of course, the prerequisite was that it had to be something I was at least interested in."

The university Amane chose offered programs in the fields he was interested in learning more about, and it matched his current academic abilities and the effort he planned to put in. Moreover, it appeared to have great prospects for future employment. Compared to other students who had a clear vision of their future careers or specific goals for their university experience, Amane's thought process might seem somewhat lacking to some. Amane knew this all too well. As a result, he'd been reluctant to discuss his choices too eagerly. While he was fully committed to preparing for university and planned to exert his best effort to avoid bringing shame to himself, his confidence waned when it came to picking a specific future career he aimed for.

"My priorities are, first of all, to maintain a comfortable lifestyle once I

start working, secondly, to have some free time, and lastly, to find a job I like that enables me to live a healthy life. Sure, the main point of university is to study specialized fields, but I don't have the passion to make a decision based on that alone… I want to prioritize what comes after."

Although Amane had a great deal of determination to succeed in his university entrance exams, he still lacked a vision for what exactly he wanted to do afterward. He had yet to find the passion to commit to what he wanted to study there. Amane groaned mentally. This contradiction of being passionate without a passion left him feeling internally conflicted.

Observing her son's inner turmoil, Shihoko responded with neither anger nor sadness. Instead, she looked at him with a calm, understanding gaze that seemed to say, I see, so that's it.

"It can be hard to tell whether you have a dream or not. Being such a pragmatist is very much like you, Amane."

"It's not so much being a pragmatist as it is making a list of priorities due to not being able to make my mind up." Usually, one would start by deciding what they want to do, and then choose a profession after graduating by comparing the conditions among various companies. At the moment, however, this wasn't something Amane could do. "I envy those who have a clear idea of the path they want to take," Amane continued. "I came here—my dad's alma mater—because I wanted to live quietly, away from home. It's been great getting used to a new lifestyle and finding my place here…but when it comes down to it, I don't have a clear vision of what I want to become or what I want to do."

"I enrolled into art school enthusiastically on a whim, so I can't say much myself, but whatever you choose, make sure you won't have any regrets, Amane. It's your life, after all."

"It's an important decision in life. I understand."

The foundation of one's life was often laid during their student years, which was the reason why Amane was agonizing over his choices. For important decisions like these, his parents respected his autonomy, allowing him to make all his decisions for himself. However, this only added to his anxiety.

Compared to students whose paths were decided by their parents or

had to give up on further education due to financial constraints, Amane's circumstances might be a privileged problem to have. However, the freedom to choose for himself also meant that he bore full responsibility for those choices. It would be a decision he made himself—even if he made a grave mistake, it would be his alone to bear.

"We'll only be here until you two can stand on your own two feet. From there, your lives will be in your own hands, right? It's a path you must carve out for yourself. Think it through properly and make your decisions carefully."

"I understand."

"Either way, what you want to be or want to do can change at any time.

When that time comes, make sure you are knowledgeable and skillful enough so that you won't have much trouble choosing your new path. Adding more cards to your hand should be the priority while you're still a student. You might find it hard to gather the time and money to do so later, so rely on your parents while you still can."

"…Okay."

"Don't worry. It might not seem like it, but Shuuto-san and I have been saving diligently together. We've been building it up so that you can safely spread your wings when the time comes. Feel free to rely on us as much as you need."

Shihoko always valued Amane's freedom. As she believed in him and was constantly ready to lend her support, she understood his concerns and gave him a simple push. Even if Amane found her bothersome at times, it was during moments like these that he was reminded of her true essence as an admirable and supportive mother. This realization warmed Amane deeply, a comforting heat spreading through his heart.

Whether Shihoko was aware of Amane's feelings of gratitude and admiration or not was uncertain. Her signature smile still on her face, she brought her hand to her chest in a show of utmost confidence. "Hah, you always try to handle everything on your own, so lean on us a bit, won't you? Oh, but I'm not too confident about helping with studies, so it's best you ask Shuuto-san for that."

"The way you singled out studies is very much like you, Mom."

"It's all about finding the right person for the job."

"That's basically the same as admitting you aren't great at studies, you know."

"Did you say something?" "No, nothing."

"My goodness. Oh, but feel free to ask anything you want about fashion, okay? Your Mom is more than happy to go all out for you!"

"Yeah, I'll pass."

"Oh, come on!"

A dull, heavy thud soon ran down Amane's back, but it wasn't painful. Instead, it was as though a gust of wind had swept through him, blowing away the timid and anxious parts of himself that had amassed in the depths of his heart.

Influenced by Shihoko's boundlessly warm smile, Amane found himself cracking a small smile of his own.

I thought I'd become quite tough, but it looks like I can still be sensitive at times, Amane thought, amused.

"All right, let's head over to Mahiru-chan's place, shall we? Is her meeting today too?"

"Mahiru's is tomorrow."

Shihoko may have just said that in passing, but Amane felt that there was nothing more he could say. He predicted that the parent-teacher meeting would commence with only the latter being present. Broaching the subject might be akin to driving a small thorn into Mahiru's side. Shihoko, likely somewhat aware of the circumstances, didn't voice the concerns in Amane's mind. Instead, she simply said, "Oh, is that so? Had it been today, we could have gone shopping together on the way home," showing slight regret.

"Perhaps I should drop by to say hello. It hasn't been that long, but it somehow feels like it's been a while since we last met."

"Then feel free. Mahiru would be thrilled."

Shihoko giggled. "I see you aren't trying to stop me."

"It would be pointless to try and stop you, but even so, why would I? You two really enjoy each other's company."

Given the choice between worrying about Shihoko filling Mahiru's head with strange ideas or getting to see the joy Mahiru felt when she was with someone she truly adored, choosing the latter option was an easy decision for Amane. While Mahiru liked being spoiled, she could only open up to her boyfriend, Amane, or Shihoko, a fellow woman who cherished her like a mother. Amane would never deny Mahiru the happiness of seeing such an important person in her life. That being said, Amane still couldn't shake the worry that his mom would tell Mahiru things that she shouldn't, so he of course decided he'd keep an eye on them.

Mahiru is pure of heart, and Mom takes advantage of that by putting strange ideas in her head.

Without Shuuto there to keep things in check, Shihoko, often carried away—or perhaps all too happy to do so—tended to tell Mahiru things that might be premature for her, or divulge unnecessary details about Amane. In that regard, Shihoko was a person whom her son placed little trust or reliance on.

"You've become quite kind, haven't you?"

"I bet I'd be even kinder if you would just calm down a bit," Amane retorted.

"That's a terrible thing to say, that I'm not calm."

"Mom, please, just lower your voice a bit and cut down on the gestures.

We can start from there."

Amane often thought that he could respect his mother more if she overcame her tendency to act younger than her age around him, though he never voiced this out loud. Shihoko simply shrugged. She gave him a look as if to say he was being overly sensitive.

"…I wonder where all your cuteness went."

"Say what you want. I was never cute to begin with." "See, that's precisely what I'm talking about… Oh?" "Hm?"

Shihoko was the first to notice.

She blinked several times and focused her gaze down the hallway.

Amane followed suit and turned his head in the same direction, where he saw two familiar figures. One was Itsuki—his mood was visibly sour, and he

had uncharacteristically fastened every button on his shirt. The other was a man dressed in a sleek, well-fitted suit, whom Amane hadn't seen since the cultural festival.

The look Daiki had given Itsuki—his son—was far from soft. However, upon noticing that Amane and Shihoko were there, his eyes turned gentle and he smiled calmly, a warm light filling his gaze.

"Hello, Daiki-san," Amane greeted. "It has been since the festival."

"Ah, Fujimiya-kun, and your mother as well. Greetings. It's good to see you both looking well," replied Daiki.

"Tch." Amane noticed Itsuki click his tongue at his father's warm smile—a smile he hardly directed at his own son. Amane wasn't sure whether to comment on it, but it was clear that Itsuki was in a particularly bad mood. He'd known that they had been at odds for a while, and had heard about their family issues from Itsuki directly, so their friction wasn't surprising. However, today, the sparks between them seemed especially intense.

…They must have fallen out just before this.

Although Itsuki had already been upset about the parent-teacher meetings, Amane hadn't at all expected the situation to worsen even further. Amane shifted his attention to Itsuki, keeping his gaze fixed on him.

Considering how pouty he had been, Itsuki now wore an expression that could only be described as laden with thorns. Itsuki noticed Amane looking at him and turned his head to the window awkwardly.

"My son has been in your care. Thank you," Daiki displayed his appreciation.

"My, that really should be my line… Amane seems to have really opened up to Itsuki-kun, and is often helped out by him."

Aware of the fierce discord between Itsuki and Daiki, Shihoko continued to smile as she spoke. Having to listen to their parents converse was always an awkward and uncomfortable experience for children, but Amane figured that if it could help ease Itsuki's irritated mood, then it was worth it.

"My son often talks about him." "Wait, Mom…"

While Amane was hoping for a distraction to ease Itsuki's tension, he

hadn't meant for Shihoko to reveal something like that right in front of him.

Shihoko turned towards the flustered Amane, curiously asking "Something wrong?" She wore an expression of feigning ignorance, and Amane was once again reminded of how shrewd a person his mother could be. In all likelihood, Shihoko had made the comment intentionally in order to break the heavy atmosphere. Amane couldn't help but feel like he'd suddenly been stabbed in the back and exaggeratedly raised his eyebrow at her.

"Mom, come on…" "Oh, was I mistaken?" "I mean, no, but still!"

"Even as your mom, I can tell that you place great trust in Itsuki-kun. You rely on him often, don't you?"

"What kind of idiot admits that right in front of them, though!?" "It won't get through unless you tell them directly, Amane."

"I say it all the time!"

"Oh, really? Is that true, Itsuki-kun?" With a cheerful and innocent smile, Shihoko turned the conversation to Itsuki, who had been silent until now.

Although slightly flustered at first, Itsuki eventually nodded. He scratched his cheek, a bit embarrassed. "Ahh…well, yes. Um, he does take me by surprise occasionally."

"Heh heh, Amane has become quite honest with himself, hasn't he?" Shihoko's laughter was merry yet dignified. She enjoyed the moment before turning her warm smile toward Daiki, who had been silently observing their exchange. "Truly, thank you so much for everything. This boy of mine isn't very direct, so having Itsuki-kun around has been a great help to say the least."

"…It appears so," Daiki affirmed, his voice somewhat stiff and matter-of-fact. Although Itsuki didn't openly grimace at his father's response, the slight twitch of his brow was hard to miss. Noticing this, Daiki's sharp eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You look like you have something to say."

"Nah, not really," Itsuki shot back.

Deducing that Itsuki had no intention of dropping his stubborn attitude,

Daiki heaved a sigh before pointing in the direction Amane and Shihoko had been standing earlier.

"…I'll step out for a while. Be in front of the meeting room before it's time to start."

"I get it. Just go already."

Even Amane, who was curter than most, was taken aback by Itsuki's current attitude. Calling Itsuki curt wouldn't even begin to cut it—he instead seemed outright hostile, unwilling to accept Daiki even in the slightest. As someone who knew their situation, this kept Amane on edge the entire time. Daiki, on the other hand, had either given up reproaching Itsuki for his rude behavior or decided against doing so while in front of others. With another deep sigh, he accepted Itsuki's defiance without further comment and slipped past Amane and Shihoko without a word.

Even though Daiki was on friendly terms with Amane and Shihoko, the tension between him and Itsuki was palpable. When Daiki's footsteps finally grew distant, Amane couldn't help but let out a deep breath. He wasn't accustomed to such intense situations, and as he naturally sided with Itsuki, Daiki's attitude was especially hard to stomach. With him now gone, the atmosphere softened, which reflected blatantly in Itsuki's expression.

Amane offered him a gentle look. "Oh, right. Your meeting is today too. It completely slipped my mind."

"You already finished yours?" Itsuki asked. "Yeah. It ended pretty quick."

"I see. Mine's the one after the next."

Their exchange was rather dry. The reason was likely due to the tension lingering in the air from their encounter just moments ago. Although the atmosphere had mellowed to a certain extent, beneath the surface, it was still tense. Itsuki, too, had picked up on this. He looked down at the floor uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. His irritation may have vanished from his face, but Itsuki was unable to suppress his inner turmoil. His eyes, which he kept turned away, appeared almost trembling.

"I don't get the point in these parent-teacher meetings. I mean, there isn't really anything to talk about. I don't even have a clue if he's willing to listen to what I have to say," Itsuki shared.

"What do you plan to do in the future, Itsuki?" Amane then asked. As his friend, there likely would have been many opportunities to talk about it, but the circumstances with Daiki made that difficult.

Was this really the right time to ask? Amane asked himself, but since he'd already voiced it, there was no taking it back.

"I've decided what I want, but whether or not my dad will approve is a different story. He has his own ideas for where I should be."

"And your mom?"

"She's all 'Can't we just let him do whatever he wants?' I guess," Itsuki answered. After talking about his mother instead, Itsuki simply shrugged, slightly exasperated. The sharpness that had earlier kept people at a distance seemed to have now diminished.

Having never actually met Itsuki's mother, Amane couldn't say much with certainty, but she appeared to have quite the laissez-faire attitude.

That much was evident from the way Itsuki described her. This

freedom-centric approach of hers was likely a kind of salvation for Itsuki. "Talk about polar opposites…"

"It's not so much her being hands-off as it is her thinking 'Our son isn't one to let himself get bossed around, is he? Rather than risk him reacting poorly and going down the wrong path, it's better to let him do what he wants,'" explained Itsuki.

"She sure has you all figured out," Amane remarked, laughing at how accurate Itsuki's mother's prediction had turned out. As his friend, Amane saw Itsuki embody the exact kind of rebellious behavior she had worried about.

She's as frank and clear-cut as they come, Amane couldn't help but think despite her not even being his own mother. He was certain that her refreshing, merciless, yet understanding nature was a saving grace for Itsuki.

As proof of that, the once rough atmosphere had settled considerably. "Thing is, Dad's the only one who hasn't relented yet. I understand his

thought process and reasoning, but having them pushed onto me just isn't it," Itsuki said.

"Yeah."

"Sure, as things are now, they'll be paying for my tuition…but that doesn't mean I'm okay with him completely disregarding my wishes. If that happens, I'll run away from home for real."

"I doubt Daiki-san would go that far." Having spoken with Daiki when Itsuki wasn't around, Amane knew that he wouldn't force decisions that completely disregarded Itsuki's wishes. However, from Itsuki's perspective, he still felt oppressed, believing that his father might act in such a way. As an outsider, the situation was a frustrating one to witness.

For better or worse, Daiki's stubbornness and inscrutable personality only seemed to incite Itsuki's rebelliousness even further.

"Hah, who knows? He might be calm now, but what he'll say next is anyone's guess. Does he not realize how badly he messed up being so overbearing with my brother? I'm not my dad's second chance at life, nor am I my brother's replacement," Itsuki said, his voice ringing out with bitterness and pain as if spitting blood. His clear denial encouraged neither comfort nor sympathy from Amane.

Amane's parents were letting him do as he pleased. They expressed their love in ways he could easily understand. With this in mind, he realized that saying anything else would only hurt Itsuki further, as his family had a vastly different dynamic.

Itsuki, having vented the bitterness that had built up inside him, seemed to register Amane's expression. This caused him to look down at his feet awkwardly, likely unable to gauge how Amane had taken the conversation.

"…My bad."

"No, you shouldn't apologize for this. The one hurt by it all is you… This isn't really my place to say, but you should try talking it out with him."

"…Yeah, I know." After a moment of hesitation, Itsuki nodded and then followed after Daiki.

No matter which direction things went, he likely understood that he needed to talk things out if he wanted to move forward.

There were always people out there who, no matter what, you could never find common ground with. While Amane didn't believe that Daiki fell into that category, he acknowledged that Itsuki might never be able to see eye to eye with his father. The possibility of their relationship always

remaining at an impasse was very real. In that case, Amane was determined to stand by Itsuki. Although still a minor and limited in how he could help, Amane wanted to support his friend to the best of his ability, offering to assist him however he could.

Although Amane was ready to support Itsuki, he still hoped that somewhere along the line, Itsuki and Daiki might find a way to understand each other. He couldn't interfere in someone else's family matters, but he couldn't help but hope for a resolution.

"Itsuki-kun seems to have his own family struggles too," Shihoko remarked after silently watching Itsuki with her gaze as he ran off. She had blended herself into the background to avoid interrupting the conversation between two friends.

"Ahh. Yeah, he does."

"As a parent myself, I can understand wanting your child to pursue a path that you approve of. Parents become skeptical if their child chooses a path that won't lead them to a successful career. They naturally want their child to walk the road with the fewest unnecessary hardships."

As Shihoko's position was different from that of Amane's, she could see the relationship between Itsuki and his father from a more realistic perspective. She sighed softly and shrugged her shoulders. "Parenting is a difficult thing," she murmured.

"In my eyes, I believe that children should be the ones who lead their own lives. If parents interfere too much, it impedes their ability to develop independence. A moderate amount of involvement is the way to go. Only if they are heading down a dangerous path should a parent step in and guide them back. That should be enough."

"Mom, you're really rational about all this."

"Because no matter how you look at it, interfering too much is clearly unhealthy for children."

Shihoko, firm in her conviction, didn't waver as she said her piece. "Parents who place unnecessary restrictions on their children do it more for themselves. Using 'it's for their own good' as justification, they narrow down their child's opportunities for their own convenience. I don't like that at all."

Shihoko loved and cared for Amane dearly, but not once had she forced him to do anything. She always respected his autonomy and showed him the various paths he could take without leading him by the hand. Instead, she watched over him from behind, ready to step in and stop him with a grab of his shoulders if clear danger was ahead. Otherwise, she quietly waited by his side, no matter how much he agonized over which path to choose.

Experiencing this firsthand, Amane sensed Shihoko's unfaltering stance as a parent.

"Once you become independent, you must live using your own strength. If parents try to dictate their children's will and forcibly chain them down, it will only bring them both suffering in the long run. The real hell starts when the parents are gone. For the child, it will be like living with your legs broken—you might've forgotten how to even stand. They would just experience a slow and steady state of decline," Shihoko explained decisively. "Nobody could ever make me think it's beneficial for the child," she added, cutting through the topic with ease.

Seeing the expression on Amane's face, Shihoko smiled bitterly. "Well, Itsuki-kun's father seems more awkward than fixated or controlling. I don't sense any malice from him at all. Nevertheless, it's not like he's unwittingly binding Itsuki-kun either. You can see the guilt he feels. He's likely poor at communicating himself properly and can't bring himself to take back what he once said—he's just like my own father."

Amane could only cock his head. He would never have imagined Shihoko to compare Daiki to her father—in other words, his grandfather. To Amane, he was a gentle, kind-hearted old man who was talkative and loved to smile. As far as he could remember, his grandfather bore no resemblance to the person Shihoko was comparing him to.

Making out Amane's confusion, Shihoko chuckled and said, "He's just soft with his grandkids. He was actually quite stubborn and was never good with words." It seemed Amane had been cherished by his grandfather more than he had realized. As he processed this information which took him a whole seventeen years of living on this planet to learn, Shihoko rocked with amusement. After nodding in satisfaction, she glanced down the hallway

where Itsuki and Daiki had disappeared.

"Well, as long as they understand reason and common sense, it's best to leave the rest to their own abilities and thinking. But in return, we teach them to ensure they can properly take care of themselves when they become adults," Shihoko stated firmly.

"I'll keep that in mind," Amane replied.

Shihoko chuckled. "I don't worry much about you, really. After all, you are the son of Shuuto-san and I."

"Well, I am pretty sure I think the same way Dad does to a certain extent, yeah."

"To think you would leave me out of the picture. It appears I haven't taught you well enough."

"I'm just kidding. So please, stop crushing my toes."

Amane groaned, having slipped up and earned his mother's reprimand. Meanwhile, Shihoko—his assailant—laughed heartily and gave Amane a pat on the back.