Ch.249Epilogue. Hello (10)

After contemplating how to respond to my question for a while, Kagami finally opened her mouth.

Perhaps this was the most deeply considered statement she had made to me all year.

“I want to go.”

“I thought so.”

“Do you dislike the idea of me going to university?”

I thought about it for a moment.

Did I dislike it?

Truthfully, I was a bit scared. After all, I had accepted Kagami as my mother.

Since Kagami tended to be somewhat overprotective, I worried that she might be following me to university because of me.

But thinking about it again… she might genuinely just want to go.

Besides, Kagami hadn’t even mentioned which university or department she wanted to attend.

I had been worrying this much just based on the assumption that Kagami might want to go to university.

I felt self-loathing.

If it had been older parents instead of Kagami, would I have thought differently? Would I have simply supported them pursuing their dreams?

In the end, the only issue was the possibility that Kagami might attend the same university as me.

“No.”

After organizing my thoughts, that’s how I answered.

“If we don’t go to the same university…”

I’m not sure how my answer came across, but Kagami brought up something slightly different. I shook my head.

“That’s not it. I don’t care which university or department you go to, Mom.”

“…Really?”

As Kagami tilted her head, I nodded in response.

“Somehow, hearing your answer cleared my head. Yeah, you should go wherever you want to go. There’s nothing wrong with trying something new, right?”

Wouldn’t it be a good experience for Kagami to be called “senpai” by someone?

Despite the significant age difference… she’s literally old enough to be my mother, but if Shii ends up attending the same university as us, wouldn’t Kagami be called “senpai” by her?

I wonder if Kagami would be able to handle that without getting embarrassed.

I felt a bit uneasy until I heard Kagami’s answer, but now my mind feels clearer.

Right, who am I to say anything about her pursuing her dreams? I have no right. Even if we end up at the same university in the same department, we can just continue living together as we do now.

And thinking about it, Kagami attending the same university as me wouldn’t seriously infringe on my freedom.

Well, she might be incredibly shocked if I got a boyfriend… but I have no intention of getting one anyway.

“Kotone…”

Kagami spoke with a somewhat moved voice, then suddenly,

“Whoa!?”

“Wah!”

She abruptly pulled Koko and me into a hug.

It suddenly became incredibly stifling in the humid, hot weather under the blazing sun. If it had been winter, I wouldn’t have minded at all!

“Really, my daughters are just too sweet for their own good!”

But Kagami seemed unwilling to let go easily, keeping her arms tightly around Koko and me for a while, even rubbing her cheeks against ours.

Fortunately, Kagami isn’t the type to wear much makeup.

Otherwise, it would have been much more unpleasant with makeup smearing on our faces.

Maybe we should have just talked at home?

With some regret, I remained constrained, fully feeling Kagami’s body heat for quite some time.

*

All the third-year students were preparing for entrance exams. Since none of us had special admissions, we literally had to study to death to get into university.

But even so, following the tradition established last year in the Literature Club, all third-years attended the summer training camp and wrote pieces for the club’s anthology.

Moreover, we were all planning to participate in the cultural festival.

Oh, by the way, the Literature Club gained two more members.

A first-year who became friends with Shii and her friends joined, and a classmate of Tsugumi’s joined as well. Both had originally been in the “Go Home Club” with no after-school activities, but they joined to spend time with their close friends.

Fortunately, it was just a few weeks before summer vacation, so everyone could participate in the training camp together.

The Literature Club will function well even without us.

That thought was both reassuring and a little sad.

Well, this is our last year anyway. We’ll still technically be students of this school in early next year, but we’ll be busy in our own way then.

And around the end of summer vacation, I—

“…Well, I guess I won’t see you for a while.”

Yes, I quit my part-time job.

It didn’t feel great to leave a place where I’d been indebted for about two and a half years. Honestly, during my first few months in this world, I might not have even survived without this place.

“I’ll come back after I become a university student.”

“Yeah, yeah. There seem to be customers who come just to see you these days, so of course.”

“…Really?”

“There are guys who only come on days when you’re working.”

That’s a bit… well.

I mean, I understand. I’ve visited PC rooms with pretty part-timers myself.

Unfortunately, throughout my high school years, I only grew about 2cm taller with no other physical development. Even those 2cm were biologically questionable.

So, if there’s someone who likes me…

“Don’t make that face. You’ve become more mature too.”

I shrugged at the manager’s words.

Well, the regular customers could be around my age.

Souta was among them too, though he usually came to see his little sister.

“We’re not even having a farewell party~”

Miki said regretfully, but I shook my head.

“I’ll be back next year.”

“Miki, you need to study too. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to university?”

“I’m working hard~”

Since the manager is teaching her diligently, she might get into a decent place.

“Then let’s all meet again next year as university students.”

“Yeah!”

Hearing my words, Miki nodded happily with a bright smile.

After saying my final goodbyes for the year, I went outside with Shii.

“It feels… strange.”

Shii smiled awkwardly as she came out with me.

“Thinking that you won’t be here from next week makes me feel a bit lonely.”

“We’ll see each other often at school, though?”

I said with a smile, but Shii’s expression didn’t immediately improve.

Well, Shii started working here because of me.

She didn’t work every day, and she skipped many days. But still, it’s been quite a long time—about two and a half years.

During that time, I’ve regularly seen Shii here. We even worked together.

Thinking about it that way made my heart ache a little.

Even if I come back next year… we can’t do this forever. We’ll all eventually quit. It’s a maid café after all. We can’t keep doing this when we’re 40 or 50.

The manager might continue… well, maybe without the “maid” part, but anyway, it won’t continue in the way we remember it.

Will it fade into memories?

“…”

We walked in silence for a while.

It was the end of summer, but the night was still humid and warm.

“Let’s go eat ramen.”

I said.

Actually, there was no need to say it out loud. Every time Shii and I met alone like this, I was still buying ramen.

Somehow, I feel like even if we quit, that ramen stall will still be there even 20 years later. Maybe I’ll visit occasionally after becoming a working adult.

“Okay.”

Shii’s mood seemed to improve a bit as she smiled and answered.

On the way to the ramen stall.

We exchanged various conversations.

Slightly different from our usual talks. But not straying from everyday life. Conversations that would be a bit awkward to have except when just the two of us were together.

Like Souta and Nanami’s relationship. For reference, their relationship seems to be progressing ever so slightly.

The problem is that the pace is slower than a snail’s crawl, but well, they’ll figure it out. I wonder if terms like “normie” were used in this era.

Actually, maybe they were used precisely because of this era.

“You’ll be quitting next year.”

“I’m planning to come back soon like you, senpai.”

“You really like that place, huh.”

I smiled as I picked up a chopstick-full of ramen.

It was hot food on a hot day, but honestly, it was delicious. With noodles in a rich, savory pork broth, it couldn’t help but be tasty.

I wonder if the reason Shii’s body doesn’t gain much weight despite regularly eating such high-calorie food is because she doesn’t finish all the broth?

“Yes, I like it. Since I started working there, it’s been nothing but enjoyable.”

“I see…”

There were many difficult times, but there were even more enjoyable ones.

I truly enjoyed a “light novel-like school life.”

Out of three years, I only struggled for about one year, so is that acceptable?

“When that time comes, I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Oh, will you say ‘Welcome, miss’ to me?”

Look at her.

Now she can even make jokes like this.

I said with a smile.

“Should I? If you want me to. You can come as a customer, right?”

We both giggled and then slurped up a chopstick-full of noodles.

Coming back, huh.

It made me a little happy that this wasn’t the end.