Chapter 76: Aragaki-san is Still Working Hard
"What, I thought you'd be interested..."
Seeing Aragaki Takiya refuse, Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't force the issue. She knew his family situation, and besides, Takiya seemed to be in a much better state than Hachiman Hikigaya, so she let it be.
"Then this classmate... Eh? Why don't I have any memory of you?"
Looking at Kato Megumi standing next to Aragaki Takiya, Hiratsuka Shizuka was about to say something, but when she saw Kato Megumi's face, her brain seemed to blank out, unable to retrieve any memories.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, Kato is the person who sits in front of me."
Aragaki Takiya reminded her from the side.
"Ah? Desk mate? Sorry, maybe I've been drinking too much lately, hahaha..."
The teacher in the white lab coat attempted to use laughter to cover her embarrassment, though the twitching corner of Hachiman Hikigaya's mouth nearby proved that this tactic was ineffective.
"Hmm? What is it, Classmate Hikigaya? Do you have an objection?"
"None at all."
Classmate Hikigaya chose to follow his heart completely.
"Um, I won't be participating either, because I'm used to being alone. clubs aren't really for me."
After Hachiman Hikigaya's voice faded, Kato Megumi also gave her answer... "Kato isn't interested in clubs? I thought you would have agreed."
Walking on the way home, Aragaki Takiya couldn't help but look at the girl beside him. He had thought that Kato Megumi, who wanted to increase her presence, would join the club, but her answer once again proved his assumption wrong.
"Then why did you think I would agree, Aragaki?"
Kato Megumi didn't answer Aragaki Takiya's question but instead threw one back at him.
"Because I think that club is actually quite good. Hachiman is a reliable partner, Classmate Yukinoshita is an exceptionally excellent person, and with Hiratsuka-sensei's recommendation, those conditions are all very tempting, right?"
Aragaki Takiya thought for a moment and answered seriously.
"Hmm, that's true, but I'm still not interested."
Kato Megumi didn't elaborate; she just blinked and then reached her conclusion.
"I see."
Hearing the girl's answer, Aragaki Takiya simply assumed she wasn't interested in the club, so he didn't think too much about it and accompanied her all the way to the train station.
"Then I'll be going first, Kato..."
At the train station, Aragaki Takiya prepared to head in another direction. His home and Kato Megumi's home were not in the same direction. The reason he walked this far was just because he wanted to buy some snacks for Aragaki Moeha, yeah... that was it.
"Mm, see you tomorrow, Aragaki."
Kato Megumi waved. Her face, which usually lacked distinct expressions, showed a smile at this moment.
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Aragaki Takiya didn't notice this; he just waved back and then walked off in the other direction.
Kato Megumi knew that Aragaki Takiya's home wasn't this way, nor was the train station.
In that case, why would he intentionally take the long way?
There were many reasons, such as needing to buy something or having other errands to run—in short, many, many reasons.
If that was the case, why wouldn't Kato Megumi choose her favorite reason?
Maybe he really did choose to take the long way for that reason... "Sigh, my memory really is declining. The Pastry Shop Moeha likes isn't even this way, so why did I intentionally take the long way?"
On the other side, after wandering around, Aragaki Takiya finally realized the problem. Even though he knew where the Pastry Shop was, he had started walking in circles after leaving Kato Megumi.
It must be because the recent pressure was too high, causing his memory and focus to slip.
The young man comforted himself.
"Hello, I'll take this, this, and this..."
"Alright, that will be..."
Click Click
In the evening, Aragaki Takiya returned home as usual. The first thing he saw was still that cute Blonde Loli, but unlike before, she didn't rush over this time. Instead, she stood obediently in place and opened her arms.
"Ah~ sorry, Moeha, something else came up today, so I'm back a bit late..."
While explaining, Aragaki Takiya handed over the "fruits of his labor" from the Pastry Shop—a bag of snacks that were still somewhat warm.
"Mm, thanks Papa~"
Aragaki Moeha mumbled, but she had no intention of letting go.
There was no helping it; she was too bored staying home alone with no one to talk to. Now that her closest person was back, he naturally became the support she didn't want to let go of.
"Alright, hurry up and go wash your hands to get ready for the snacks."
Feeling the warm breath of the Little one against his neck, a touch of warmth naturally rose in Aragaki Takiya's heart, but it was followed by a lingering trace of worry.
He found that he seemed to be becoming more and more inseparable from them, whether it was the current Moeha or yesterday's Kaede. In the past, he would usually go to work at a shop after school, but now... Aragaki Takiya couldn't help but fall silent.
He had officially quit those part-time jobs a few days ago. Now, he was working hard to recall the memories of his past life that felt like a dream.
For some reason, things he used to consider dreams had been appearing in his mind frequently lately. Although many parts were blurry, fortunately, he hadn't forgotten things like the language of Japan. Now he had started taking on some small online translation jobs; even if they didn't earn much, it was enough for the two of them.
"But I don't want to stay like this forever..."
Thinking this, Aragaki Takiya urged Aragaki Moeha to wash her hands while his gaze fell on several books sitting on the table.
He wouldn't give up on his goals just because a problem was temporarily solved. Whether it was studying or other ideas, as long as it was something he worked for, he would do his best to try and achieve it.
"Papa, you go wash your hands too. We have to eat the snacks together..."
Coming out of the kitchen, Aragaki Moeha saw her father still dazing off, so she stood with her hands on her hips and spoke helplessly.
"Mm, I'm going now."
Hearing Aragaki Moeha's call, Aragaki Takiya instantly snapped back to reality. However, when he saw the way she stood with her hands on her hips, half of the fighting spirit that had ignited in his heart instantly vanished.
"It seems that spending more time with her now doesn't count as being lazy or slacking off..."
Thinking this, Aragaki Takiya couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch the Little one's cheek.
"Mm, does Papa want to eat too?"
Feeling the touch on her face, Aragaki Moeha took out a still-warm Mille-feuille from the snack bag and handed it over.
"Uh, you eat first, Moeha. I haven't washed my hands yet."
Seeing how enthusiastic Aragaki Moeha was, Aragaki Takiya said, caught between laughter and tears.
"It's okay, I'll just feed Papa."
As she spoke, the small hand holding the Mille-feuille moved forward a bit more, and even a hint of longing flashed in her deep blue eyes.
"Alright... Mm, it's delicious. Hurry and eat, Moeha."
Chewing the snack he had brought, his mood at this moment was incredibly pleasant.
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