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She also didn’t expect to receive a call from me and she sounded really surprised when I called her this morning.

“Umm… It’s cold here, I think we should move first…”

“No, it’s fine. I have to return to the office soon. Why don’t we talk as we walk?”

After she said that, she turned around and started walking. I followed right behind her.

“Minato-san, you wear glasses?”

“…Well, I came here to talk to you about private matters and you could count this as a date, so I dressed up a little~”

It will take ten to fifteen minutes to get to the nearest station from the school. We were pressed for time, so I decided to cut the small talk and get to the main topic quickly.

I’m also interested in Minato-san’s side of the story.

“By the way, how is the thing with Dad?”

“He said that he has important business and as expected, he was flustered about it… But since it was an important call from his son, he said that he could spare some time.”

Before I called Minato-san, I called my dad first.

Of course he refused me at first because he was busy with his work.

After I graduate, I don’t know where I am going to live. Should I live at mom’s place or yours, dad?

When I told him that, he said that he’ll spare some time for me.

I guessed from our last conversation that he still hadn’t given up on taking custody of me, so I threw in that bait and he bit.

Of course, this was merely bait. I just needed him to come to the place I arranged beforehand, the venue of the Christmas party.

I told my mom the same too.

Neither of them knew that I called both of them to come at the same time.

Other than me, only Umi knew about it since she worked out the plan with me.

“When I first met you, I thought you were a quiet kid, I never expected that you’d pull something like this…”

“Normally, that would be the case. But for today, I wanted to be a mischievous brat and toy around with the adults’ feelings a little.”

After successfully baiting out Dad, the only thing that would get in our way would be Minato-san, who would probably be with him right until the last minute.

So, I contacted her and again, I threw in some bait. I told her that Dad had been acting unusual and convinced her to come and meet me.

“Still, Minato-san, I didn’t expect you to meet me. Am I not a stranger to you? We only met once, no?”

“It’s natural, after all the person that I love is acting strangely… And I want to help him if I can…”

“…As expected, you really love him, huh?”

“Yes. I won’t go into details, but back when I was a trainee, I was the worst among my colleagues. Your dad was the one who brought me to this point. He never abandoned me and kept supporting me, I had a huge debt of gratitude for him…”

Just as Umi and I had previously guessed, her feelings for Dad are genuine.

Minato-san was someone that would stick with him until the very end. That was why we decided to deal with her first before proceeding with the plan.

Seeing how our conversation was going so far, I could predict what she was going to tell me next.

“I want to be straightforward with you, Maki-kun… After you graduate, could you please stay by your dad’s side?”

After saying that, she bowed deeply to me.

“…Why?”

“Rather than me, that person needs you the most, Maki-kun… He needs his son to be by his side…”

Minato-san was the closest person to Dad currently.

I had my suspicions back when Dad showed his indecisive attitude back at the restaurant, but it seemed like he wasn’t that attached to Minato-san, or maybe he was, but he still wasn’t sure on whether to make her his new partner or not.

Since even I could come to that conclusion, Minato-san, who had been with him for a long time now should know about it too.

“Whenever Itsuki-san talks about you, he always showed me a nice face that he never showed whenever he was with me…”

“…That… Don’t you think that I’ll be a hindrance if I were to stay with him? If he keeps thinking about me, he’ll never be able to think about you.”

If I were to live with him, their relationship would probably revert back to ‘boss and subordinate’.

“…I know, but it is what it is… No matter how hard I try, someone like me will never be able to fill the void in his heart…”

“Are you okay with that, Minato-san? Don’t you love him?”

“Yes, I do. That’s why I’m asking you this, Maki-kun.”

Under the snow fall, Minato-san once again bowed her head deeply.

“I beg you, Maki-kun. Please stay with Itsuki-san…”

She said that clearly without any hesitation.

“…Minato-san, do you realize how selfish you sound right now? Even compared to what I’m doing?”

Besides, a grown up shouldn’t bow their head so easily.

“I know. I will be punished for lying and ditching work without his permission anyway… I’ve brought enough trouble for you and your mother, you probably think that I’m an eyesore, right? It’s fine, if you decide to stay with him, I will never show up ever again in the future.”

“…”

“I will also disappear from Itsuki-san’s life and quit my job… If that will help Itsuki-san even a little, I’m ready to do it.”

She looked straight at me with resolution in her eyes.

She was completely serious.

Considering her occupation, I didn’t think of her as a rash idiot. Even Dad approved of her, so she should be capable enough to earn that approval and normally, she should be able to make a better decision than this.

However, it seemed like her love toward my father had blinded her judgment.

‘Love’ was this troublesome, huh? Even a capable adult like her could be blinded by it.

“…I understand your feelings, Minato-san, but…”

“So it’s impossible after all?”

“Well, of course. I wouldn’t just yield because you begged me.”

I understood her feelings at least.

After all, if I were in her position, I would do the same thing to ease Umi’s suffering.

“Minato-san, can you make some time for me after this? …Well, I know you can’t but you should… No, you have to make it, otherwise, I will never forgive you.”

“Eh? Um… Yeah, I’ll see what I can do… But, Maki-kun, what are you doing?”

“Nothing much… I’m just messing around a little.”

I wished for the talk to go a little bit smoother, but it is what it is. This would be my last bit of selfishness anyway, so I should go all out.

But first, I’ll have to deal with Umi’s scolding after this.