I Want to Have a Girlfriend Too - Chapter 38

Feelings of Gratitude and Love

 

(Hiiyo’s point of view)

 

　To tell the truth, I feel that the time I am spending now is like a dream. I am truly enjoying the time I am spending with my father.

　I feel a little sorry to think that I am the only one resting and having a good conversation with him while everyone is working.

 

　I will have to thank you all later…

 

　Anyway, I am sitting at the end of the classroom, talking with my father for the first time in a long time.

　It’s really a trivial talk about my school, my friends, whether I’m doing well at home, etc., and it’s nice for him to know about me.

 

“I see… So, are you having a good time at this school?”

“Yes, there was a lot going on in the beginning, but now I am very happy.”

 

　My father smiled as if he was happy to hear what I had to say.

 

” By the way… “

 

　Suddenly your father turns to the man who is showing a visitor at the entrance.

 

“What is your relationship with the boy? “

“What…do you mean…? “

 

　I panicked a little when I realized who he was talking about.

　I’m a bit flustered because I’ve shown him some of my embarrassing sides lately…

 

“No… Honestly, I thought I should thank him sometime for Hiiyo.”

“Thank him….? “

 

　Did he do something?

　To be honest, I have a vague idea that it has something to do with my father’s presence here, based on their exchange at the entrance, but I don’t know what happened…

 

　Father turned to me and started talking pleasantly.

 

“He, you know, he called me yesterday out of the blue. Not to my personal cell phone, but to the company phone.”

 

　What is Tokimori-san doing…

　He probably called the head office of Saijouin Group, but there was no way an ordinary person could get through to him suddenly. And even more so if it was the president of the group.

 

“Of course, I would have refused the call at the reception desk, but when he said it was about my daughter… I couldn’t help but answer the call.”

“I see…”

 

　I was a little happy to hear that he was concerned about my well-being, even when he was at work.

 

“And when I picked up the phone, he said, [I’m on my way to see you now. Wait there.] Talking like that to the company’s president, I thought he had no respect for adults.”

“…Sigh”

 

　I involuntarily put my hand on my forehead and sighed.

　…What are you really doing?

 

“Soon, that boy came over, and I thought I’d lecture him. I knew he was probably a classmate of Hiiyo’s, but I still wanted to teach him some respect for his elders.”

 

　…Of course, you did. You should be angry.

　Tokimori-san is always reckless, so give him a big lecture.

 

“But to my surprise, the first thing he did when he entered my room was to put his head on the floor and ask me for a favor. ────[Please. Please show up at the Cherry Blossom Festival tomorrow.].”

” …… “

 

　I was at a loss for words.

　I was surprised that Tokimori-san had gone to see father, but I was even more surprised to know that he had done such a thing.

 

　Why did he do such a thing?

　That’s the question that comes to my mind.

 

“At first, I said no, but I was a little confused when he told me about Hiiyo working hard until she collapsed. I wondered if I should not go even when my daughter was working so hard… But I still had important plans for tomorrow that I couldn’t miss. So, I am sorry to the boy and to Hiiyo. I thought I would make it up later. Still, I won’t go… so I said no.”

“……”

 

　I knew that.

　Your father is the head of the Saijouin Group, which is now a big company.

　I can imagine how much loss he would have incurred by canceling the important appointment.

 

　Even though I knew it in my head, I still felt a little sad ……, I guess.

 

“But the boy still didn’t back down. He came at me saying that Hiiyo is working so hard and it’s not right that a hard worker should not be rewarded, and finally, he said,

[ Why can you do something that no one else can do as a company president but can’t do something everyone can do as a father?! ] “

” ……… “

“I felt like I was hit over the head with a blunt instrument… Since when did work become more important than my daughter?”

 

　Tokimori-san, I wonder how much impact those words had on my father.

　I know that now that I’m here.

 

　I was happy that he cared about me.

 

　But――

 

　I was most happy that Tokimori-san went that far for me.

 

“That’s why I came here today to do my best for my daughter from now on. I am grateful to the boy who made me think so.”

 

　The father muttered in a gentle tone of voice.

　Looking at him, I could feel that he was grateful to Tokimori-san.

 

“Then, it should be time to go to――the boy who looks so good in women’s clothes! “

 

　Father cut off the conversation and called out loudly to Tokimori-san, who was at the entrance.

　I guess he must have to go since he was looking at his clocks.

 

　……Truly, the good time goes by so fast, doesn’t it?

 

“Hey, who says I look good in women’s clothes? “

 

　Tokimori-san came toward us and spoke to my father in a reproachful tone.

 

“Deep inside, you are already aware of that, aren’t you? “

“Shut up! “

 

　When did they become friends?

　Tokimori-san seems slightly rude to him, but my father seems to be enjoying the conversation.

 

　I’m a little jealous…

 

“Are you… done with that? “

 

　Tokimori-san asks my father and me.

　I guess that means that it is time to end this good time.

 

　Because father also has his own schedule and… I was already very satisfied with it.

 

“Mou, I’m fine now.”

“…I see.”

 

　I said with a big smile, and Tokimori-san looked away, perhaps embarrassed.

　His ears are a little red… Is he embarrassed?

 

“You know, about what I said before, old man…”

“Yes, I know. I’m going to visit my daughter as much as I can from now on.”

 

　…You were even talking about such a thing.

 

　I am very happy to see father more often, and I am grateful to him for bringing father to the Sakura School Festival.

 

　…But why does Tokimori-san go to such lengths? Is it just for me?

 

　――No, he didn’t.

 

　He was that kind of person.

　When Alice and I were in trouble, he was always there to help us, and he had a strong sense of self-belief.

　That’s why he did so much for me.

 

“Well, you have work after this, don’t you? Get the hell out of here.”

“Haha, you’re cold to me.”

“Therefore, just get out of here.”

 

　Saying this, Tokimori-san leads father to the exit.

　Father turned around and said, ‘I’ll be back soon.’

 

　It was worth my effort just to hear those words.

　But those words and today’s events could never have come true if I had done it alone.

 

　All my efforts have been rewarded thanks to Tokimori-san.

 

　He is a man with no sense of delicacy, loyal to his desires, and always joking around.

　But he is always kind to everyone, always offers a helping hand to everyone, and always sees the effort of others as a wonderful thing.

 

　I saw him still not getting up from his seat and seeing my father off.

 

　I don’t know why my heart beats so much when I see him.

 

　Several times I have spent time with him, I have been agitated like this.

 

　What is this feeling?

　Maybe, deep inside of me, I have been aware of it, but I have denied it, saying that it is not possible.

 

　But today, I have come to a firm realization.

　…I can no longer deny this feeling.

 

” …huh, am I and Alice will be rivals?”

 

　I think about the future and let out a small sigh.

　We both have a goal to get a boyfriend and have taken a step forward.

 

　But if we keep going, at least one of us will never achieve our goal.

 

“Well, love is not always what you think it is… “

 

　But even if Alice and I become rivals, I won’t give in.

　This feeling has become so strong that I don’t want to give it up to anyone.

 

“…I love you, Tokimori-san.”

 

　I whispered to him, looking at his back and ensuring he couldn’t hear me.

　From now on, it will be more difficult to get a boyfriend.

 

　But I didn’t feel bad for some reason.

 

 

　All I have now is gratitude and overflowing feelings of love for him.