“I used to come here a lot, but...not so much lately. Nowadays we can play games and stuff together even if we’re both at home.”
“Oh yeah, games these days are like that,” Orihara-san said earnestly. “I guess the culture of gathering at a friend’s house with a game console has died out.”
“Did you gather at your friends’ houses to play video games too, Orihara-san?”
“No, because I didn’t have any friends.”
“Ah...”
“...Huh? No, it’s not like that! I meant that I didn’t have any friends who played video games! I had friends! I had a couple! So don’t make that face like you just understood something! Stop looking all sad like you’ve just seen some painful scars of mine!”
“...You’re right. I’m sorry. Let’s go with what you said.”
“D-Don’t give me that kind look! You’re wrong! I’m not lying! Listen, Momota-kun... When I was a kid, there were fewer girls playing video games than there are now. So I had to play games all alone, but that doesn’t mean that I had zero friends...”
As we had our fun back-and-forth, we arrived at the entrance to the Urano residence. We stood in front of the luxurious gate and activated the intercom. There was a response, and after exchanging a few words, the door to the house soon opened.
A woman appeared from the inside and half-ran to the gate. She had long permed hair and calm eyes. She was wearing what seemed to be a brand-name outfit, with a stole on her shoulders. Her clothes and her face exuded grace and elegance. Much like her son, her face looked young for her age and she was quite small in stature. She didn’t look at all like she was nearly fifty years old.
“Momo-kun, long time no see.” Ura’s mother was the kind of woman overflowing with such serenity and grace that it made you want to call her a noblewoman. She smiled cheerfully when she saw me.
“It has been quite a while, Sae-san,” I said and bowed.
Ura’s mother’s name is Urano Sae-san. I’d been grateful to her for a lot of things since I was little. Whenever I would come over to Ura’s house to play, she’d often treat me to luxury candy from overseas, and she’d give me a ride home whenever I was heading home late.
“It really has been a long time. I’ve missed you since you haven’t come over lately. Kana-kun hasn’t really come over either since he started high school.”
“I’m sorry for troubling you so late in the day without any notice.”
“No, it’s all right,” Sae-san said, her face having a hint of sadness to it. “You came here to see Izumi-kun, right?”
“Yes.”
“...I’m sorry, Momo-kun. That boy won’t come out of his room. No matter how many times I call him, he won’t answer me at all.”
“...”
“However, he ate the food I brought to his room, and he finished his ten o’clock and three o’clock snacks.”
“...”
“Also, I thought I had to cheer him up, so I bought Izumi-kun that new laptop he’s been wanting for a while. But it seems like it wasn’t the one he wanted, so he got mad at me... Oh! If you like, how about you take it, Momo-kun?”
“...No, thank you.” She was still the same as ever, spoiling her only son to death.
Sae-san...wasn’t a bad person. She was nice and, for better or for worse, was very sweet. She didn’t get upset, and she’d buy Ura just about anything he wanted. She was the type of mother who spoils and dotes on her son.
“Goodness... My son is such a handful.” Sae-san gave a melancholy sigh. “No matter how many times I ask him why he’s shut up in his room, he won’t tell me anything... Did something bad happen at school again?”
“...” She was probably remembering when Ura stopped going to school in middle school because of the love triangle between him, Kana, and Ryu.
“So, did you come to save my son again?”
“...It’s not like I came to save him,” I said. “I just came to talk to him.”
I didn’t have any kind of presumptuous feelings like I was going to save Ura; I didn’t then, and I didn’t now. I wasn’t a great or capable person. I just hated how sickening the situation was, and I wanted to do something about it, so I was just giving it my best effort. Nothing has changed from what I did in middle school and what I’m doing now.
“I see... He he he. Izumi-kun really does have good friends.” Sae-san smiled happily and looked content. “Now that you’re here, Momo-kun, I’m sure that Izumi-kun will be fine. It makes me feel relieved.”
“You overestimate me.” I didn’t want her to get her hopes up. I came here because I wanted to do something about all this, but it’s not like I have some kind of master plan.
“By the way,” Sae-san said while looking behind me, “I’ve been wondering...who is this woman?” She seemed puzzled as she looked over Orihara-san.
Crap, I totally forgot about Orihara-san... I had Orihara-san come with me like it was natural, but when I think about it clearly, I probably should have just had her wait in the car.
“Is this your big sister, Momo-kun...? Before, I heard that you had a sister who was slightly older than you...”
“No, she isn’t my sister. She’s, um...”
“N-Nice to meet you.” When I couldn’t answer, Orihara-san bowed her head and spoke. “My name is Orihara Hime. I’m in charge of driving Momota-kun around today, and...um...”
“Oh. You’re Orihara-san?”
“...Huh?”
“I heard about you from Izumi-kun. You’re Momota’s relative who was in charge when you all went camping, aren’t you?” Sae-san said with a smile.
“O-Oh, yes, that’s right,” Orihara-san said and nodded firmly.
Oh, I see. I couldn’t really imagine Ura telling his parents about my girlfriend, so I thought there was no way that Sae-san knew about Orihara-san, but there was that time we went camping. He was going to stay the night away from home, so it was only natural that he’d tell his parents about the adult who was in charge. Also, it seemed like Ura told his parents that Orihara-san is a relative of mine.