Chapter 16: Saiko Nishimiya's Choir Competition

“Yo~”

The Hojo mother and child were still a good distance from the school gate when a lively shout came from ahead.

“It’s Sakura Ryo! Why aren’t you heading home yet?”

“Aunt Mikiko, hello! I’m waiting for you and Kyosuke.”

Though their way of interacting was rather quirky, Sakura Ryo stood properly and greeted them politely.

“Oh, I get it. You’re worried about Kyosuke, aren’t you?” teased Mikiko Hojo.

“Yeah,” Sakura Ryo admitted openly.

“That guy Ishida Masaya is so wild. I was planning to stay with Kyosuke in the office.”

“Aww, Sakura Ryo, you’re just too adorable! You must be my daughter-in-law someday,” Mikiko Hojo said, bending down to gently pinch Sakura Ryo’s cheek.

“Oh, right, come with us for a big meal!”

“But my family’s waiting for me at home.”

“I’ll call and explain it to Maki for you.”

“Alright then.”

Before Kyosuke Hojo could even speak, the two happily made their decision.

“Sakura Ryo, hand me your backpack.”

“No need. I finished my homework early today, so there’s nothing in my backpack,” Sakura Ryo said, wrinkling her cute nose proudly as she told Kyosuke.

“But the food you're about to eat still counts toward your ‘meal quota’!”

Hearing that, Sakura Ryo immediately deflated.

“You’re such a devil!”

“This is for your own health.”

“Aunt Mikiko! Look at Kyosuke!”

“Hehe, that’s not my problem. Just accept Kyosuke’s concern for you.”

Mikiko Hojo watched the children’s interaction with a wide auntie smile—no, more like a mother-in-law’s smile as she watched her future daughter-in-law.

The next day.

Ishida Masaya walked to the locker room and went to his shoe locker. As he slipped off his outdoor shoes and reached into the locker, he found it empty.

Strange, where are my indoor shoes?

Scratching his head, thinking the class was about to start, Masaya didn’t think much of it, assuming someone had mistakenly taken them. He grabbed a pair of emergency slippers instead.

Entering the classroom, Masaya immediately noticed the atmosphere was different from before.

Hirose Keisuke, who used to loudly greet him as he walked in, only glanced at him before turning back to chat with Shimada Kazuki. Shimada didn’t even look in his direction.

Confused about what was going on, Masaya sat at his desk. Even his neighbor, Ueno Naoka, didn’t say a word and continued teaching Nishimiya Shoko to sing alongside Kyosuke Hojo.

On the third day, some malicious graffiti appeared on his desk.

On the fourth day, his newly purchased indoor shoes disappeared again.

On the fifth day...

...

Time passed until the day of the choir competition.

The gymnasium was already full, with some parents standing at the back, invited to watch.

“Next, please enjoy the performance of Class 6-2’s ‘The Monster’s Epic’.”

The students lined up and ascended the stage, with Shoko still standing in the middle of the front row.

At the conductor’s baton swing, the students sang together in perfect harmony, without a single discordant note. Everyone cooperated beautifully.

Across the stage, Yaeko Nishimiya covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Shoko… Shoko did it.

Even with a neat choir, she was the first to hear her daughter’s voice—so loud, so clear, so confident.

“Thank you, Hojo-kun.”

Pulling out a handkerchief to dry her tears, Yaeko Nishimiya composed herself and returned to being the confident, strong single mother she was.

Watching Shoko smile happily and sing with her mouth wide open, she felt completely fulfilled.

In the end, first place was indeed awarded to Sakura Ryo’s class.

After the competition, Kyosuke Hojo and a few friends gathered behind the gymnasium. Well, the so-called friends were all little girls.

“Hey, Aunt Mikiko, how did I do?” Sakura Ryo asked cheerfully, her mother unavailable today, but Mikiko Hojo had already become an elder in her heart, equal to her mother.

“Wonderful!” Mikiko Hojo didn’t hesitate to give a thumbs-up, then crouched down to hug both Sakura Ryo and Shoko Nishimiya.

“And Shoko, you sang amazingly well too. Auntie was so moved, I almost cried.”

“Thank you, Aunt Mikiko.”

Shoko, initially shy when suddenly hugged, still smiled happily and glanced at her mother standing with crossed arms.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Seeing her mother’s tear-streaked face, Shoko quickly ran over, holding her hand with concern.

Listening to her daughter’s slow but clear and strong voice, Yaeko Nishimiya felt a pang in her nose again.

No, she couldn’t set a bad example for Shoko. Everyone must stay strong!

“Like Mikiko, Mom was also moved by your performance.”

Taking a deep breath, forcing a slightly awkward smile, Yaeko spoke gently.

“That’s good. It’s all thanks to Kyosuke-kun and Ueno-san.”

Shoko smiled brightly.

“Ah! I helped too, you know!” Sakura Ryo chimed in.

“You’ve got a nerve saying that. Every time Shoko comes to my house to study, you just play with her and Ueno, wasting so much time.”

“Well, how can playing be called just playing? Kids learn about the world through play. Look how fluent Shoko’s speaking now—it’s all thanks to me playing with her.”

“Your ridiculous logic just keeps getting worse. The school really lost out letting you study for free. You should write a book called ‘Sakura Ryo’s Guide to Serious Nonsense’.”

“Hehe.”

Hearing Kyosuke’s teasing, Sakura Ryo wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she hugged Mikiko Hojo and laughed nonstop. She loved how Kyosuke could both roast and tolerate her nonsense.

Ueno Naoka stood aside, watching the lively group with a hint of loneliness on her face.

“Naoka, I’m sorry we didn’t get first place.”

At that moment, Shoko approached quietly, apologizing softly to Naoka. She could now speak fluently, though her pace was slower than normal because she pronounced every syllable with effort.

“No, it’s not like that. Choir depends on the whole class’s effort, and I don’t think anyone worked harder than you!”

Looking at Shoko before her, Naoka no longer felt the resentment she had at the start when something precious was taken from her. These months of interaction had touched her with Shoko’s kindness and gentleness, and they had become good friends.

Well, the main reason was that she realized Kyosuke Hojo didn’t have the feelings for Shoko she had imagined. Instead, she herself had rapidly drawn closer to Kyosuke by using Shoko as a ‘bridge.’

Over these months, she had spoken to Kyosuke far more than in the past several years. Compared to worrying about the adorable Shoko, she felt she should worry more about the carefree Sakura Ryo.

“Yeah, Shoko, the only reason your class lost is because you went up against us! Hahaha,” Sakura Ryo came closer again, deliberately making a silly laugh.

“Alright, let’s all have dinner at my place today. My father sent some top-grade White Old Beef from our hometown.”

“Yay! I want teppanyaki!” Sakura Ryo’s eyes lit up as she grabbed Kyosuke’s hand, shouting.

“This dinner is for the losing Class 6-2. How can the winner like you come here to brag?” Kyosuke teased sorrowfully.

“Aunt Mikiko, look at Kyosuke!”

“I can’t help it… okay, okay, teppanyaki it is!” Mikiko Hojo wanted to just watch the kids’ antics like before, but she was nearly dizzy from Sakura Ryo pulling her around.

“I’ll drive everyone there,” Yaeko Nishimiya said, pulling the car keys from her pocket. Mikiko had already discussed the dinner plans with her, so she didn’t refuse. Their families had become very close.

“Mom, what about Grandma and Yuzuru?” Shoko asked.

“Yuzuru hasn’t finished school yet. After I drop you off at the Hojo house, I’ll pick them up to come over together.”

“Okay.”

Shoko nodded, then was pulled away by Sakura Ryo to discuss with Ueno Naoka how they would eat the beef later. Of course, Sakura Ryo mostly shared the various dishes she had eaten at the Hojo’s before.

After a pleasant meal, the Nishimiya family drove off; Sakura Ryo was just ten steps away from home; Kyosuke Hojo was walking back home with Ueno Naoka.

“Kyosuke-kun, do you know something?”

“What?”

“Do you want to know?”

Naoka, walking ahead, stopped and turned around.

Under the streetlamp’s yellow glow, her long black hair flowed behind her, exceptionally beautiful. She bent slightly and spoke playfully.

Naoka rarely showed this side in front of Kyosuke, fearing he might dislike her if she slipped up.

“Of course I want to know. Since when did you start acting like Sakura Ryo?”

“I’m not copying anyone. I’m like this all along; you just never noticed.”

“Alright, spill it.”

“Nope, Kyosuke-kun, you’re not sincere at all.”

“Please, tell me, Lady Ueno.”

“No, I’ll tell you at graduation.”

With that, Naoka turned and jogged a few steps ahead.

“I’m home. You should head back too. Be careful on the way.”

Without waiting for Kyosuke to reply, she opened the door to a nearby detached house and went inside.

What the heck?

Kyosuke stood there scratching his head, bewildered—not just by Naoka but because the “cursor” he thought he’d blocked suddenly appeared above her head, sparkling like a firework ready to burst.

Is Lady Ueno about to give me a reward? No, a bonus?