Between classes, playtime, and practice, the weather turned colder, plum blossoms bloomed, and in the blink of an eye, winter arrived.
“Getting up is especially hard at this time of year…”
When Yoriko Arisu woke up, she was already sitting at the table, a fried egg for breakfast still dangling from her mouth, but she had no memory at all of washing up or getting dressed.
Tetsurou Kuroo marveled, “That’s amazing.”
Kenma Kotsume quipped, “That’s because her mom helped her get dressed and brush her teeth.”
Every winter, Yoriko’s startup process was particularly sluggish, so it always fell to Yurihana Arisu to get her daughter cleaned up.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Tetsurou Kuroo glanced at Kenma, then at Yoriko, “why do you both call each other’s mom ‘Mom’?”
He used to think he’d misheard, but now even Kenma said the same.
Yoriko Arisu and Kenma Kotsume exchanged glances, each trying to push the explanation onto the other.
“You explain.”
“You explain.”
“Talking is so tiring.”
“But Kenma explains it better than I do.”
After a brief standoff, Kenma Kotsume gave in first, reluctantly opening his mouth.
“…It’s because the two of them are good friends. They agreed when they were young that if they had kids in the future, they’d be each other’s children’s godmothers.”
Yoriko Arisu added, “But calling someone ‘godmother’ feels too distant, so we just call them ‘Mom.'”
Actually, Kenma Kotsume didn’t really understand what that meant.
He just remembered what his mom had said and repeated it.
As expected, Tetsurou Kuroo looked just as confused, his face blank.
Here’s how it went.
Yoriko Arisu and Kenma Kotsume had known each other since birth.
It all started with their mothers.
Their moms had grown up on the same Street, were about the same age, and were in the same class at School, so naturally, they became friends.
Yurihana Arisu was a bit naïve—she wouldn’t even notice if she was being teased, and would sometimes take the boys’ jokes seriously.
Miwako Kotsume was the opposite.
She was the fiery type, famous in her grade for her sharp tongue, and every time Yurihana Arisu was bullied, she’d step in and defend her fiercely.
Their personalities were polar opposites but complemented each other perfectly.
Without realizing it, they’d been close for years.
Even after graduation, they stayed in touch and agreed to buy houses next to each other to continue their friendship.
By then, Miwako Kotsume was already married, and as it happened, Kentaro Kotsume worked in Real Estate and had insider info.
He managed to snag two adjacent houses at a good price, and both families settled in.
As time went by, these two women from small towns who had come to Tokyo to make a life not only stayed close, but grew even closer.
Because of this bond, whenever Yurihana Arisu was busy with work, Yoriko Arisu would often eat and stay at Kenma’s house, almost like their second child.
Tetsurou Kuroo tried to understand: “So ‘godmother’ just means you’re really close?”
Kenma Kotsume replied uncertainly, “I guess so?”
Tetsurou Kuroo: “If you’re close, does that mean you have to be each other’s kid’s godmother?”
Kenma Kotsume: “…I guess so?”
“If Kenma has a kid in the future, do I have to be his godmother too?”
Kenma Kotsume imagined that scenario, his expression went blank, then he bristled.
Having a kid or something—how terrifying!
Yoriko Arisu joined in: “Aren’t you both boys? Then it should be ‘godfather,’ right?”
Tetsurou Kuroo thought seriously for a moment, then nodded: “You’re right.”
The two of them started riffing on the topic.
Tetsurou Kuroo asked, “So if Kenma has a kid, I’d be the godfather and Yoriko would be the godmother?”
Yoriko Arisu thought about it: “If Kenma’s kid calls us ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom,’ does that mean I have to be with Kuroo?”
“Eh…”
Tetsurou Kuroo’s eyes widened in a daze, his mind spinning so fast he even stopped walking out of instinct, “I-Is that how it works?”
His face flushed red in an instant.
“Y-Yoriko, are you going to marry me?” he stammered.
Yoriko Arisu thought about it seriously: “Sure.”
Kenma Kotsume suddenly felt uncomfortable and hurried to interrupt them: “Wait, why are you two suddenly talking about marriage all on your own?”
Yoriko Arisu looked innocent: “Wasn’t it Kenma who started it?”
“Huh?”
Kenma Kotsume stared in disbelief, “I didn’t say a single word, did I? And why is the whole conversation based on me having a kid?”
Yoriko Arisu and Tetsurou Kuroo looked at each other: “…It just came up naturally?”
Seeing how in sync they were, Kenma Kotsume got inexplicably annoyed, his tone stiff: “Do you two even know what marriage means?”
Yoriko Arisu: “It’s being with the person you like.”
She turned her head to look at Tetsurou Kuroo, her big blue eyes fixed on him: “Kuroo, do you like me?”
The blush that had just faded from Tetsurou Kuroo’s face came back, and he stammered, “Y-Yeah, I like you.”
Yoriko Arisu’s eyes curved with joy: “I like you too! Then we can get married!”
Watching the two of them chat so happily, Kenma Kotsume felt more and more uncomfortable.
His brows furrowed tighter and tighter, his cheeks puffed out, and without a word, he left the two behind and ran off toward School.
Seeing him dash off, the other two hurried after him.
Tetsurou Kuroo shouted, “Kenma, what’s wrong with you?”
This was probably the fastest Kenma Kotsume had ever run in his life.
He dashed ahead, the other two chasing behind, making for quite the spectacle.
Kenma Kotsume had short legs and poor stamina, so Tetsurou Kuroo, who was a year older, quickly caught up and grabbed Kenma’s hand.
Even in the dead of winter, he broke out in a sweat: “Kenma, don’t be mad! The three of us can get married together!”
“That way, the three of us can always be together, right Yoriko?”
He looked to Yoriko Arisu for support.
But Yoriko Arisu didn’t answer.
The black-haired girl, who had lagged a step behind, caught up and cautiously studied Kenma Kotsume’s face, puzzled: “Kenma, are you angry? Why?”
Tetsurou Kuroo quickly tugged her sleeve and whispered, “He’s jealous, obviously.”
All you had to do now was coax him.
Tetsurou Kuroo winked at her.
Yoriko Arisu looked even more confused: “But didn’t Kenma reject me before? Why would he be mad?”
At Tetsurou Kuroo’s gasp, Kenma Kotsume’s body instantly froze.
***
That was back when they were still in Kindergarten.
Because their mothers got along so well, the kids were often left together, and the topic came up by chance.
Watching Kenma Kotsume share his dessert with the girl, Yurihana Arisu smiled and said, “By the way, back in middle School, we agreed that if our kids were the same gender, they’d be Sworn Siblings, and if they were opposite genders, we’d arrange a Wedded Betrothal.”
“That’s right,” Miwako Kotsume’s eyes lit up at the memory, and she teased her son, “Kenma, do you want to marry Yoriko when you grow up?”
Having kids but not playing with them would be such a waste!
While the children were still young, teasing them was the best; once they grew up, it wouldn’t be as fun.
Kenma Kotsume didn’t know about his mom’s ‘evil intentions.’
He looked up, face full of confusion: “What is marriage?”
Miwako Kotsume patiently explained, “It’s being with the person you like forever, like me and Dad.”
Kenma Kotsume replied instantly: “No.”
He didn’t even like Yoriko.
They barely spent time together—one liked video games, the other liked to sleep, and this girl even fell asleep while gaming!
They had nothing in common.
Just because their parents knew each other, they had to get married in the future?
That made no sense.
Yoriko Arisu made a disappointed sound: “But I kind of like Kenma.”
Because Kenma had a small appetite, he always gave her his leftovers.
At that moment, her mouth was ringed with white cream from the cake she’d just eaten.
As respectful parents, Yurihana Arisu was regretful: “If you can’t get married, then you’ll just have to be siblings.”
To cultivate a sense of responsibility, Miwako Kotsume smiled and said, “That’s not bad either—Kenma is the older brother, so you have to take care of your little sister.”
The little sister, of course, was Yoriko Arisu.
Even though he was still young, Kenma Kotsume had a strong sense of self.
He understood this topic better than the last, but after hearing it, he naturally felt resistant.
His little face scrunched up as he bluntly refused, “No.”
They were almost the same age, in the same grade, just a few months apart—why should the older one take care of the younger?
It made no sense to him.
This time Yoriko Arisu wouldn’t have it.
She was shocked and a little aggrieved, her expression deeply wounded: “…Kenma, do you hate me that much?”
“Then I won’t talk to you anymore, hmph!”
With that, the little girl stomped out of Kenma’s house, and Yurihana Arisu hurried after her.
End of flashback.
At the time, Kenma Kotsume hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with his attitude, and later, at his mother’s request, he explained to Yoriko that he didn’t hate her.
He thought Yoriko Arisu had long since forgotten about it.
After all, the next time they met, Yoriko Arisu acted as if nothing had happened, cheerfully coming up to him.
But she’d remembered it all this time?
***
Because they were almost late, the three didn’t dwell on the issue and hurried off to School.
Time flew, and soon it was after School.
Tetsurou Kuroo had cleaning duty today, so only the two of them walked home together.
Yoriko Arisu seemed to have completely forgotten about the morning’s conversation, chattering away about her troubles.
She had another Essay to write today.
Although she loved reading stories, Yoriko Arisu didn’t seem to have any talent for writing.
Every time she had to write an Essay, she’d scratch her head like mad—thank goodness her hair was thick or she’d have gone bald by now.
Kenma Kotsume watched the black-haired girl complain and casually offered, “Want me to teach you how to write an Essay?”
Yoriko Arisu was startled: “Really?!”
“Yeah.”
She immediately brightened, her eyes curving like crescent moons: “Thank you so much, Kenma!”
With Kenma Kotsume’s help, Yoriko Arisu finished her Essay at record speed.
She cheered, “Yay!”
“Kenma’s the best!”
Kenma Kotsume couldn’t help but smile at her happy expression.
As Yoriko Arisu packed her bag, she said, “You and Kuroo are both so good at teaching! I finished my Essay in no time!”
Kenma Kotsume’s smile faded.
Why did Kuroo’s name have to come up here?
He stared intently at his childhood friend.
Her face showed no hesitation or inner struggle, as if he was the only one bothered by this morning’s conversation.
Even though he’d rejected Yoriko’s proposal before…
Kenma Kotsume looked at Yoriko Arisu’s face and quietly turned away.
Now, his feelings seemed to have changed a bit.
Kenma Kotsume tried to sound casual: “Do you really like Kuroo that much?”
Yoriko Arisu answered without a moment’s thought: “Yeah.”
“…Do you like him more than you like me?”
This time, Yoriko Arisu didn’t answer right away.
She looked at him with surprise: “Kenma, are you jealous? So Kuroo was right?”
“But didn’t you reject me before?”
Kenma Kotsume frowned in embarrassment.
Even though he looked away on purpose, he could still feel his childhood friend’s piercing gaze, and he answered weakly, “Feelings change… We weren’t that close before.”
Yoriko Arisu watched him for a while, then seemed to accept his explanation: “That’s true.”
Kenma Kotsume quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
“So does that mean you want to marry me, Kenma?”
Caught off guard, Yoriko Arisu suddenly leaned in close.
Moving so silently, Kenma Kotsume was completely unprepared and could only stare blankly at her face, now so close.
Kenma Kotsume went stiff all over.
He nodded awkwardly, a blush racing up his cheeks.
Yoriko Arisu beamed at him: “You should have just said so! Then the three of us can get married together!”
Kenma Kotsume instantly calmed down, his blush gone.
Kenma Kotsume: “Didn’t Mom say you should marry the person you like?”
Yoriko Arisu looked at him, puzzled: “Yeah, but I like both of you.”
Kenma Kotsume: Not happy.
He was the one who’d spent more time with her—how could her feelings for him be the same as for Kuroo?
He really wanted to say that out loud, but after rejecting Yoriko before, he didn’t have the confidence, so he just sat there sulking.
And the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
The little black-haired cat, growing more and more upset, stormed out the door with a sulky cat face.
Yoriko Arisu called after him, “Kenma, where are you going?”
“Bathroom!”
Watching the black-haired cat disappear, Yoriko Arisu scratched her head in confusion: “What’s up with Kenma again?”
Happy one moment, angry the next—so hard to understand.
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