arc3 · 143-ch143

Chapter 143: My Little Sister's Parent Observation Day

While sending Asahi to Yamamoto Electronics, I was eating lunch. Mom's gone to the hospital for a checkup, so she's not here. I'm worried about the results, but she went out full of energy, so she should be fine. We agreed she'd email me the results when they come in.

After finishing lunch, I left the house in the suit Umi specified. By that point, Asahi had arrived at Yamamoto Electronics. I talked with them a bit through Hayate, and it seems they'll start reinforcing Asahi right away. I decided to pretend I hadn't seen Sasaki-san's forehead twitching in the back.

Usually I just exchange a light nod with the ladies I pass and head to the entrance. But unlike usual, today I'm getting talked to a lot. It seems this suit suits me. As expected of Umi's choice. She's a girl with excellent taste, even if she is my little sister.

I headed to the bus stop near the condo. By the way, per Umi's orders, I'm not wearing a mask or glasses. Since I'm wearing a suit, I can't help it, but I'm not wearing a hat either.

While waiting for the bus at the stop, I felt like I was getting a lot of attention. I guess it's because I'm standing at a bus stop in a suit in the early afternoon. Maybe they mistook me for a laid-off salaryman.

I rode the bus to Umi's school. Or rather, I sat in the very back seat, but as soon as I sat down, the back suddenly got crowded. Why does this always happen to me? The front seats are still empty, aren't they?

After rocking along on the bus for a while, I arrived at the bus stop near the elementary school. I got off the bus, which was mysteriously only crowded in the back, and headed to the elementary school. If Umi walks this commute almost every day, it's kind of sentimental to think about it.

After walking a few minutes from the bus stop, I arrived at the elementary school Umi attends.

▽▽▽

"Huh, is that someone's dad? Was there ever such a young, handsome person?"

"Wait wait, is that person a celebrity? He's so insanely good-looking!"

"That's quite young. Is that someone's older brother? But still, he's handsome. I wonder if I could trade him for my husband."

As soon as I entered the classroom, where lessons had just started, the parents observing suddenly started making a fuss. As expected, everyone but me looked like moms. If a male college student walked into a place like this, of course there'd be a fuss.

"Wow, he's handsome!"

"A really cool person came!"

"Someone's dad? Older brother?"

"A really cool person came! Fugh!"

Because the adults started making a fuss, the children turned around after them. The homeroom teacher hurriedly told them to face forward. Sorry, teacher.

In the midst of all that, I found Umi. She was flashing me a thumbs-up with the most smug face you could draw. She must like that I came dressed just as she told me.

Well, obviously, this is the first time I've come to observe Umi's class. She occasionally tells me about her friends, but you can't tell just by looking. I'd at least like to remember her best friend Satsuki-chan.

"Alright, let's all think together about how to solve this problem."

Today's class seems to be arithmetic, and the teacher is writing the problem on the blackboard. But not a single person takes notes. That's because everyone has a tablet, one per person. Instead of writing in a notebook, they type it into the tablet. If you're lazy, you might just take a photo of the blackboard and paste it in and be done. It might just be an amateur's opinion, but I ended up thinking it's the kind of method that doesn't really stick in your memory.

Besides, the way lessons are taught seems to have changed a lot too. A while ago, the teacher would ask a question, and kids would raise their hands and the chosen one would answer. But now they have them talk it over with the kid next to them a lot, and instead of being taught how to solve it, they think it up or search for it themselves.

There are kids thinking on their own, and kids discussing with friends while they do it. No, rather than discussing, aren't they just copying off the kid who can do it?

Well, it's not for a college student like me to meddle, so I'll just quietly watch the class. Oh, is that girl discussing with Umi on how to solve it together, Satsuki-chan? Her hair is short and boyish, and she's really cute, just like Umi said. I remember her saying Satsuki was really thoughtful back when Mom collapsed, too.

When I looked at Satsuki-chan, I remembered what Umi had said and couldn't help but smile. Just at that moment, my eyes met Satsuki-chan's, and she looked down.

(Oh no, did she think I'm some weird guy!? Please, Umi, cover for me!)

While thinking such nonsense things, I was satisfied to watch Umi shine in the arithmetic she's good at.

"Onii-chan! How was it?"

As soon as the chime rang and class ended, Umi came and hugged my leg. Seeing that, the moms started making a fuss again.

"Umi, you were amazing! Onii-chan was so proud too!"

Ignoring the commotion around me, I patted Umi's head. There's something so cute about Umi's smiling face.

"So, is Onii-chan going to join the parent-teacher talk after this?"

Umi asked me that while still hugging my leg. Then the conversation of the moms, who had been buzzing until now, stopped dead. For some reason — it might just be my imagination — I feel like they're all watching how I answer...

"Um, there might be something important to talk about, so I was thinking of joining, just in case. Can you wait somewhere until it's over?"

"Yeah! I'll be in the library, so come get me when you're done!"

I see, since a lot of kids probably go home with their parents, the library is being used as the children's waiting area. With this, it seems safe to join the parent-teacher talk.

Because the return meeting was going to be held, the children returned to their seats. For some reason, the moms started playing rock-paper-scissors in the hallway. What in the world are they doing?

And then, when the return meeting ended, the homeroom teacher started moving the desks so they'd be in a circle. Hohou, so the parent-teacher talk is done in a form like this. Ah!? So that's what it is! The moms were playing rock-paper-scissors for this. Indeed, nobody wants to sit next to a guy they don't know. So the losers of rock-paper-scissors probably sat next to me. Sorry I didn't know.

After moving the desks and chairs, the homeroom teacher prompted everyone to take their seats. For some reason, nobody sat down, so I had no choice but to sit in the seat closest to the door. Immediately, seats on both sides of me started filling up. I gave a small apologetic nod to the two moms who lost at rock-paper-scissors and ended up next to me.

"Hau!?"

Some weird sound was leaking from both neighbors. Sorry, really sorry.

Anyway, the parent-teacher talk began, and the homeroom teacher explained the status of the class and the events coming up, and the talk went on from there.