"Silly boy~" Kyouko let out a soft laugh, pulling the cart with Haruki pushing it.
"I don't think I'm silly, Mom. You tend to get lost if you're in a new place." Haruki said casually.
Kyouko chuckled. "What do you think I am? I'm an adult. Your mother. No way I'm going to get lost."
"Really?" Haruki narrowed his eyes with a sly smile. "Ah~ I remember back then when I was 11. Summer festival at Sendai. You were too excited since it was rare for Father to bring you to places. And you got lost. I was the one who found you... weird... an 11-year-old kid finding his mom, lost." Haruki wiggled his eyebrows.
"Mou! It's not my fault~ You and your dad were the ones who were lost. I was trying to find you."
"Yeah? Really~" Haruki smirked slyly with an eyebrow wiggle. "Back during my second-year school festival. You lost your way and ended up near the boys' locker room. I was the one who found you crying because you thought we'd left without you."
Kyouko's cheeks flushed slightly at the memory. "That was different! The school was so big and confusing..."
"And last month when we visited the new mall," Haruki continued, his voice dropping to a playful whisper, "you wandered off looking at dresses and got lost on the 3rd floor. I don't know how you ended up in the men's wear section."
Kyouko's face turned pink. "I was just..."
Haruki's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Seems like I've always been the one finding you when you're lost."
Kyouko fell silent for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly on her handbag.
He's right... he's always been the one who finds me. Even when his father couldn't be bothered to look...
Kyouko smiled and glanced at Haruki. "Thank you, Haruki."
Haruki's heart skipped a beat, seeing her pure, grateful smile.
"Yeah... don't worry, Mom... you can count on me to find you." His voice softened, the playful teasing replaced by genuine warmth.
"Looks like it's time for us to pay for this." Kyouko glanced at the cart, seeing it full.
"Yeah... we already bought a lot." Haruki said with a soft smile and pushed the cart with her.
"Now that you mention the summer festival... I really hope we could go this year together. But your father is always busy busy busy." Kyouko puckered her lips.
"Father's always like that, Mom. It's not like it's your first time." Haruki side-glanced at her.
"But at least he could take one or two days leave and spare some time for us, his family." Kyouko exhaled.
"Mom... if you really want to go, we can go together, you know. If Father's busy. Besides, I'm on summer break now. We can go to Aomori, or Omagari." Haruki suggested.
"Really?" Kyouko's eyes gleamed. "Mm... but we have to ask your father first. He's not someone who can be left alone in the house or he'll make a mess."
Haruki let out a soft laugh as they reached the checkout.
The cashier scanned the items while Haruki put the packed bags on the cart.
Kyouko reached for her handbag and was about to pay the total.
"Eh?"
"Hmm? What now, Mom?"
Kyouko's eyes widened in panic. "I forgot my wallet in the room," she whispered in a hiss toward Haruki. "How are we going to pay for this? If we cancel, we'll be embarrassed."
Haruki exhaled and reached for his wallet, taking out his card. "I'll pay with my card."
The cashier nodded and gestured for Haruki to tap his card on the payment terminal.
As the machine beeped with approval, Kyouko looked at Haruki with grateful eyes.
"I'll pay you back when we get home."
Haruki shook his head with a gentle smile. "Don't worry about it, Mom. Besides, it's our food."
Kyouko tilted her head. "How do you have that much money? The total of the items you just paid is more than what your father gives you monthly for allowance."
"What? I know how to save money, Mom. I've been saving since my first year in high school."
"Really?" Kyouko narrowed her eyes, staring at Haruki as she walked beside him while he pushed the cart outside toward their car.
"Yeah. You do know I'm not someone who wastes money on things that aren't important." Haruki grinned at her.
Kyouko smiled. "Now that you mention it, you never ask us to buy you anything. Even when you kept getting good grades."
"Hmm? I don't think there's a need for that." Haruki looked at her face.
"But at least you should ask, right? Like other kids do when they want something?" Kyouko smiled again.
"Yeah... I'll do that when there's something I really need." Haruki smiled.
They arrived at their car and Haruki popped open the trunk while Kyouko headed to the passenger door and opened it.
"Haruki-kun!"
Haruki glanced toward the voice.
"Hi! Remember me?" The girl smiled at Haruki while waving.
Ugh! This girl. Sawagawa Natsumi. From my high school next class.
The one who's so annoying. Kept messaging me on LINE non-stop, thinking I was her boyfriend. Got jealous when any girl talked to me about club activities, even though we weren't even in a relationship.
Not to mention she kept changing boyfriends. Casually calling my name like we're close.
"What do you want, Sawagawa-san?" Haruki said without looking at her.
"Aw~ It's been so long since we met. You know~" Natsumi slapped his arm playfully.
"Yeah yeah... whatever," Haruki said while putting the bags in the trunk.
"Did you change your number? Give me your new number!" Natsumi stepped closer, wrapping her hand around his arm while leaning in, making her breast press against Haruki's arm.
Haruki casually removed his arm and took a deliberate step back, creating distance between them. "I'm busy right now."
Kyouko noticed Haruki talking with someone.
She headed toward him and saw the annoyed expression on his face. The girl's eyes were gleaming with interest as she leaned close to Haruki.
"Haruki? Who is this?" Kyouko asked softly.
Haruki exhaled and glanced at Kyouko. "No one... just a girl from high school."
The girl saw Kyouko. Beautiful, young, and elegant standing near Haruki with natural grace. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she turned away sharply and left without looking back.
"Haruki? Why is she leaving?" Kyouko tilted her head, confused.
"Don't know, Mom. Don't care." Haruki closed the trunk and looked at Kyouko.
"Haruki. That's not how you treat a girl." Kyouko said, worry evident on her face.
"Whatever, Mom. Let's head home." Haruki closed the trunk, his tone final as he moved toward the driver's seat, leaving no room for further discussion.
( End Of Chapter )