To put it simply, Shino's family wasn't outrageously eccentric.
This was evident from the fact that Kotoha, who lived with her family, could easily come to my house. We were in the same neighborhood, or at least fairly close. The street was lined with upscale residences, a part of town I hadn't visited often.
It wasn't a mansion straight out of a manga, but the exterior alone conveyed a sense of considerable wealth. It was an elegant single-family home. The garden showed signs of someone enjoying gardening or perhaps even growing vegetables. While not an extravagant mansion, it was still a splendid house. The sight of the white walls stained orange by the setting sun was quite picturesque.
"Are you nervous?"
"Absolutely terrified."
Shino, who was just going home, was dressed casually, but I couldn't get away with that. Given that this was Tsurugi Shino's family, I imagined they were wealthy—heck, I still half-expect there to be a maid somewhere in the house.
Even if that wasn't the case, I was about to meet my girlfriend's parents. Honestly, I was so nervous I felt sick. I never thought I'd ever be in a situation like this.
We were supposed to have dinner together at Shino's house, so I'd come dressed in something vaguely formal, but not too stiff... I hope this is okay. I'm really worried. Shino keeps telling me it's fine and not to worry, but I can't help feeling...
"Don't worry, dear. You're the one I chose. No one else will have any say in this."
The sight of Shino's defiant smile during all this... it's a pathetic thing to admit, but it was incredibly reassuring. To be honest, it made my heart flutter a little.
Right. We can't stay like this forever. Just as I opened my mouth to say something bold and spirited—
Shino's index finger, held stiffly upright, swirled in a circle as if guiding my gaze, then settled onto the intercom.
"Ah, it's not over yet! Get ready! You did that on purpose, didn't you!"
"Of course I did. Let things take their course. Hit it and shatter it. Worrying yourself into a frenzy just creates a vicious cycle."
That's true enough, but is it really okay for me to "shatter" in front of her parents? I'd like to believe that's because I'm absolutely certain it won't happen.
Hearing the sound of movement beyond the door, I straightened my back as if bracing myself, and waited.
Listening to my heart pound, I stared at the opening door.
"Welcome home, Onee-sama. And welcome, Onii-sama."
The voice that greeted us was calm and smooth, like the gentle murmur of a stream flowing into my ears.
Standing there was a girl in a kimono, her gentle smile softening her features. Her bangs hung just above her eyes, while the hair at the back of her head reached nearly to her shoulders. Though she was a full head shorter than Shino, even in the concealing folds of the kimono, her budding curves hinted at a future figure that might surpass her elder sister's.
Tsurugi Kotoha. Shino's younger sister.
"Hello, Kotoha."
"Yes. Hehe, it feels so strange to see you here, Onii-sama."
Her voice was slightly higher than usual, betraying her excitement—she was clearly thrilled by my and Shino's visit.
I had grown completely accustomed to being called "Onii-sama," and it felt as if I'd truly gained a younger sister. As this thought crossed my mind...
"Ah... I've been waiting for this day for so long. I missed you, Onii-sama."
"But we saw each other just three days ago. You came to my place."
Kotoha slipped on her geta with fluid grace, then deliberately approached and quietly threw her arms around my waist.
"Three days for a man is said to be a long time, but for Kotoha, three days without seeing Onii-sama feels incredibly, impossibly long."
She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing blissfully.
Watching this girl move with such grace, like a living Japanese doll, and knowing she shared Shino's sexual fetish, I realized just how unpredictable life can be.
I patted Kotoha's back gently, and her smile widened even more, the corners of her lips curving higher. She nuzzled her cheek against my chest, then tilted her head toward me at a deliberate cough.
"Ahem, ahem. You're just the same as ever, Kotoha," Shino said.
"Yes, Kotoha's feelings never change. And you're well, Onee-sama?"
We smiled at each other, heh heh heh, but I couldn't shake the feeling our eyes weren't really smiling. It wasn't that we were arguing or anything; in fact, our relationship was quite good. The sparks flying between our gazes were because Kotoha, usually so reserved, had stopped holding back around Shino. But expressing her love for me by not holding back was sometimes a little awkward.
"So, Kotoha, where's your mother? I thought she'd at least be waiting by the door."
"Yes, I was waiting with Kotoha at the entrance until just a moment ago, but now she's in the bath."
"The bath? She already summoned us and her daughter's boyfriend, and now she's just doing whatever she wants!"
To distract myself from the slight awkwardness, I start considering my mother's personality based on their conversation.
The fact that she waited with Kotoha at the entrance suggests she was either trying to surprise us or couldn't wait. Given that she called us over because her daughter has a boyfriend, it probably means she's intensely curious and couldn't sit still.
I briefly consider the possibility that she's strict with her daughter, but Shino hasn't mentioned anything like that, so I figure that's not it. Shino's slight exasperation suggests she's always been this way, doing her own thing since forever.
In short, she's someone who takes initiative, loves surprising and teasing people, and follows her own path as a free spirit. Hmm, could that be Shino or Kotoha?
"Huh? We're already here?"
The voice that spoke was neither Shino's clear, ringing voice nor Kotoha's voice, which flowed like a babbling brook. Instead, it was a cheerful, lively voice.
Through the wide-open front door, a figure slowly emerged from the other side.
"I'm home, Mother."
"Ah, welcome back, Shino. Hehe, you seem to have grown a little."
"I haven't changed at all. I've been popping in to see you now and then, you know. Anyway, Mother, perhaps you should change your clothes. It's not proper to be seen like this."
"Huh? Oh... Hehe, I completely forgot I just got out of the bath."
The voice was slightly drawn out, but it still carried an air of calm and composure.
I can't help but mention her outfit: a camisole dress. The flimsy fabric, held up by thin shoulder straps, reveals a deep neckline that exposes the generous curves of her breasts and cleavage—more prominent than Shino's. It looks like something you'd see in a babydoll or negligee, but let's just call it a camisole dress for the sake of propriety. After all, it's not right to look at your girlfriend's mother with such thoughts.
Still, she's so beautiful that the thought flits across my mind for a moment. Her face, breaking into an embarrassed smile, looks much younger than I imagined.
Well, I figured that as the mother of Shino and Kotoha, she must be beautiful. But even so, I imagined she'd have at least a few faint wrinkles. Her long, oval face certainly looks mature, but her flawless white skin, radiant with moisture and luminosity, and the slight roundness at the corners of her eyes contribute to her youthful appearance. Her long, gently waved hair, which softly curls at the ends, might typically suggest a grown woman, but instead, it gives her an almost childlike charm.
She's even taller than Shino, about the same height as me. Given her voluptuous figure, if I hadn't known beforehand, I'd have believed without hesitation that she was an older sister, even if we were separated by a few years.
She's so strikingly beautiful that there's probably no one who can compare. But for some reason, it feels like I've seen her somewhere before. Well, since we live in the same town, we might have crossed paths before, but someone this gorgeous should have left at least a fleeting impression in my memory...
"You must be Shino's wonderful boyfriend who captured her heart," Utakoto Mama said, her skirt swaying gently as she turned to me with a soft smile, having concluded her conversation with Shino.
The phrase "the Virgin Mary's smile" popped into my mind. That gentle smile brought me a sense of peace and calmed my nerves. At the same time, the faintly sweet, fruity scent that accompanied it also played its part.
If she weren't wearing such seductive lingerie that exposed her shoulders, cleavage, and bare legs, I think I would be calmer. To evoke both calmness and excitement simultaneously—to inspire two such contradictory emotions—is no small feat.
Her features and bearing exude a refined composure, a royal and celebrity-like elegance. Yet her bewitching attire, accentuated by her full breasts and deep cleavage, undoubtedly ensnares many men with its dangerously alluring charm. "Pure-hearted gravure idol" might be the closest approximation to describe this woman's appearance, though the phrase itself seems paradoxical.
"H-hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Gouji Takatsuki, Shino-san's partner. It's nice to meet you, Kotoha-san, too—"
"Heh heh. Don't be nervous. I've heard all about you from Shino and Kotoha. I'm Tsurugi Hitomi, their mother. It must be quite a burden for just one of you to take care of them. You're so strong-willed. I'm truly impressed."
I froze for a moment when she offered her hand, but then took it and shook it. Her hand was smooth yet soft... This might be the first time in my life my heart has skipped a beat over someone's hand.
"Mother, what do you mean by that?"
"Yes, Kotoha is also curious about the meaning of your words."
"Heh heh. You two already know, don't you?"
At her words, the sisters, who had been looking slightly disgruntled, quickly averted their eyes. So they were aware of it after all.
But, but still... inside me, something far more pressing was happening.
Tsurugi Hitomi. That name connected to the fading memory and the sense of déjà vu I'd been feeling.
My heart raced, pounding rapidly. A mix of anticipation and disbelief surged through me.
The exhilaration made me want to shout, and I desperately tried to steady my trembling lips.
"Um, are you... Tsurugi... Hitomi...-san?"
"Oh my, you actually know me? I retired from acting quite some time ago, so it's such a delight to be recognized by such a young man. Perhaps I still have some life left in me after all... Ah, did Shino or Kotoha tell you about me?"
"No, they haven't said anything."
"Kotoha either?"
So it was...
The memory resurfaced.
The actress, Tsurugi Hitomi.
When I was a child. I begged my parents to rent an old special effects hero show.
She played the heroine, looking almost exactly the same as she does now—
She was my first love.