Chapter 270: Different Ways of Dealing with Being Late
"Are you going to school too?"
Looking at the school uniform on Sakura that was the same as hers, Illya's face was full of anticipation.
"Yes, but I'm going to the first grade..." Seeing the excitement on Illya's face, Sakura, completely oblivious, poured a bucket of cold water on her.
"First grade?"
Sure enough, after hearing the grade Sakura was going to attend, the smile on Illya's face immediately froze. After hesitating for a few seconds, she turned to look at her mother and asked in a tone of negotiation: "Mom, why don't I go to first grade too?"
"How can something like that be changed on the fly!"
Hearing her daughter's naive words, Irisviel felt both annoyed and amused.
She had to remember that the only reason Illya could start school so quickly was because Hikigaya Hachiman had made arrangements.
Now that the arrangements had been finalized, how could she mess things up?
Furthermore, Illya was a full two years older than Sakura. Although her future height was uncertain, currently Illya was about half a head taller than Sakura. Putting her in a first-grade class would be too strange...
"It can't be changed."
However, the outcome was destined to disappoint Illya.
Even though Illya looked at him with pleading eyes, Hikigaya Hachiman was completely unmoved. Hikigaya Hachiman's reason for refusal was the same as Irisviel's—Illya was too old.
"Mmm..."
After being rejected twice in a row, Illya immediately puffed out her cheeks, presenting an expression of being angry. However, all this did was make everyone think she was quite cute, without having any deterrent effect whatsoever.
"Poke~"
Seeing Illya feeling down because she couldn't be in the same grade as Sakura, Komachi leaned next to her, extending a finger to gently poke her puffed-up cheek.
Caught off guard, Illya opened her mouth, and her entire face instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.
"Who are you?!"
Suddenly attacked, Illya only then noticed that Hikigaya Hachiman and Sakura were accompanied by a girl with a smiling face who looked quite dangerous.
Instinctively backing up a few steps, Illya immediately ran behind her mother. Only after firmly gripping the dress Irisviel was wearing and feeling somewhat safe did Illya peek out again to scrutinize the unfamiliar woman in front of her.
"My name is Komachi, and I'm Sakura's older sister~"
Raising her hand, Komachi greeted the mother and daughter enthusiastically.
Especially when stating her identity, Komachi was extremely excited internally. After all, in the past, when introducing herself to others, she always referred to herself as Hikigaya Hachiman's younger sister and talked about how her older brother had been looked after.
She hadn't expected that with Sakura's arrival, she could finally introduce herself as a senior relative!
"So you are Hikigaya-kun's younger sister."
Although Irisviel had already guessed Komachi's identity when she first saw the three of them, Irisviel still politely displayed an expression of surprise after Komachi officially introduced herself.
"I said, school..."
Seeing Irisviel and Komachi simultaneously show expressions like they were long-lost friends who would talk for hours, Hikigaya Hachiman, realizing the potential trouble, immediately spoke up to redirect the focus of the conversation back to the main topic.
"Ah, darn it! We're going to be late!"
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's reminder, Komachi took out her phone to check the time, and tragically realized the fact that she was about to be late.
"There's no choice, let's run." The time agreed upon with Sakura and Illya's homeroom teachers was also before the first class. Seeing that time was running out, Hikigaya Hachiman immediately picked up Sakura and ran towards the school with Komachi.
"Stare..."
Watching Hikigaya Hachiman pick up Sakura, Illya immediately turned to look at her mother.
"I can't run while carrying you, you know!"
The moment her eyes met her daughter's, Irisviel instantly rejected Illya's idea. If it was just carrying her, there naturally wouldn't be any problem, but if she had to run to school while carrying Illya, even with magic assistance, she would definitely be exhausted halfway!
"Fine."
Although she also wanted to be carried to school like Sakura, Illya was clearly aware of her mother's physical condition. But understanding is one thing. Looking at her own short legs, Illya had basically confirmed the fact that she would be late.
"It's okay." Just when Illya was feeling disappointed because she was going to be late on her first day of school, Irisviel's gentle hand rested on top of her head.
"Actually, even if we don't run, we won't be late!"
"Eh?"
Hearing her mother's words, Illya immediately looked up. Irisviel's face was radiating with confidence!
.
.
.
"Onii-chan, is it really okay to just leave them behind like that?"
After sprinting all the way to the school gate and confirming she wouldn't be late, Komachi finally remembered that they had left Irisviel and Illya behind because they were rushing.
"Don't worry about those two. They might even arrive at school faster than us..." Hikigaya Hachiman, having already witnessed Irisviel's 'money power' yesterday, wasn't worried at all about whether the mother and daughter would be late.
After all, in a car that had flashed past on the side of the road moments ago, he had already seen Illya sticking her tongue out at him...
"So slow!" Sure enough, outside the principal's office, Hikigaya Hachiman encountered Irisviel and Illya, who had already been waiting there.
"Someone who took a car to school has no right to say that!"
Seeing Illya standing with her arms crossed, questioning why he was so slow to arrive, Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but retort.
"Then you guys could have taken a car too!" Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's retort, Illya replied as a matter of course.
"No, I haven't gone completely insane to the point of treating a private car like a taxi..."
Thinking of the private car he saw on the side of the road, and imagining Irisviel holding a thick stack of cash and slapping the driver's face, Hikigaya Hachiman shrugged helplessly.
Sure enough, money really can do anything.
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