I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!

Chapter 71 The Astonishment of Mama Niihama

And in the living room filled with such a peaceful atmosphere, the sound of tires splashing through the wet asphalt and the rumble of a car engine could be heard.

Oh Looks like mom is back.

While we, the students, are on summer vacation, my mother, who is a working woman, had to go to work today.

(This morning, mom said to me, You guys have summer vacation, huh with a sigh, and now, in my second life, I understand that feeling)

Working adults dont have summer vacations.

Not only that, they dont have spring breaks or winter breaks either.

So working adults envy students who can freely enjoy their summers, yearn for long vacations that they wont have until retirement, and reminisce about their irretrievable student days.

By the way, in a normal company, they would have a Bon vacation or a few days of special summer leave, but in the shitty company I worked for, such luxuries were out of the question.

While thinking about such things, I heard the sound of the front door opening, and familiar footsteps approaching the living room.

Im home! Phew, it was pouring rain!

Wiping the droplets off her hair with a handkerchief, my mother appeared in her suit.

She doesnt look as young as Shijouin-sans mother, Akiko-san, but she still looks much younger than her age, which is the age of a high schoolers mother.

She sets her wavy short hair neatly every day to go to work, and she takes good care of her skin and makeup. Shes a full-fledged career woman with no shortcuts.

Originally Yes, shes a very cheerful person.

Unless some idiot son shows her how worn out he is from working in a black company, she can lead a very healthy life.

Mama, welcome home. Youre early today.

Yes, the rain was getting heavier, so I decided to come home early Oh?

At that moment, my mother seemed to notice the presence of someone other than our family and blinked her eyes.

Oh, sorry, Im intruding!

In a flustered manner, Shijouin-san stood up and bowed to my mother.

It was a beautiful bow that showed her good upbringing.

Oh, um Well Kanakos friend?

No, Im Haruka Shijouin, a friend of Niihama-kun, I mean Shinichirou-kun. Nice to meet you!

Oh, thank you Um This childs friend?

Slightly nervous, my mother returned the bow with her usual smile, still trying to sort out her thoughts.

H-Hey, Shinichirou, whats going on?! For your friend, shes Shes too beautiful, dont you think!?

What do you mean?!

Well, compared to me, its undeniable that shes on a different level!

Um, but really, whats the situation? Your friend is such a cute girl, and now that I look closely, shes wearing your shirt Huh, huh, huh?

Oh no, not only the situation, but my mother is also completely confused because Shijouin-san is an unbelievably beautiful girl.

Well, for Mom, it must be like One day, I came home and my unimpressive son brought home a princess-like beauty. Something like that, right?

Unimpressive is unnecessary, you idiot!

Or rather, it was you who brought her home, not me!

Personally, Im really happy to see Shijouin-san again after a long time, so secretly Im like, Way to go, my sister! But thats just my thoughts!

Well, um, Mom, calm down and listen, I just heard the story from Kanako

I began explaining the situation to my mother, who seemed completely unable to imagine how her son managed to bring such a beautiful girl home.

I-I didnt realize! How can I possibly express my gratitude!

After explaining to my mother about how Shijouin-san had returned Kanakos wallet and the events that followed, my mother repeatedly bowed to Shijouin-san.

N-No, please dont bow your head. Ive already received thanks from Shinichiro-kun and Kanako-chan, so I feel more apologetic than anything

Shijouin-san, who had received bows from everyone in the Shimahama family, seemed a little troubled. She probably thinks that what she did, running in the rain, was really nothing special.

(But still Calling me Shinichirou-kun sounds really nice My heart feels all fluffy when Shijouin-san addresses me by my first name)

Suddenly, I started daydreaming.

We had reached a sweet relationship where Shijouin-san naturally called me that.

Shinichirou-kun!

Ah, what is it, Haruka?

Hehe, I just wanted to call you that.

(Nice Its a classic, but I can imagine Shijouin-san doing that)

Just as I was blushing at the thought, Kanako muttered, Brother, your face looks gross, bringing me back to reality. ((TLN) Rude, Imouto!)

Oh no, it seems like Im also quite elated to see Shijouin-san again after a long time.

But anyway, shes so cute that I was shocked Wait, Shijouin-san Could it be the girl Shinichirou often talked about?! Huh, huh, huh?! She really exists!?

What the hell have you been thinking all this time!?

Every time my mother asked me, Hows school lately? in this life, I would talk about Shijouin-san. I did it to reassure my mother, who was worried about her son, who had always been shy and prone to bullying, that his high school life was fulfilling. But

N-No, its just I thought you were pretending to have a cute and kind girl as a friend, boasting about it! I never thought she would be a princess-like girl and actually be you friend!

At first, Kanako thought the same way, but she considered it just a fantasy!

Well, it might be understandable for a parent to treat it as a sad fantasy if their introverted, otaku son suddenly became friends with a beautiful girl, even if they were the parent!

Um, well Niihama-kun Im happy that you talk about me at home, but have you, by any chance, exaggerated the stories? Im not that cute

No, no, no, Haruka-chan is super cute. If anything, Hes not exaggerating enough in his stories about you, Kanako said, blushing and embarrassed.

K-Kanako-chan!?

Kanakos words, blushing and shyly spoken, seemed to affirm, With that level of beauty, its impossible not to be cute, and my mother and I nodded in agreement without saying a word.

But still Since Shinichirou-kun is always taking care of me, I feel even more grateful. I hope Im not causing any trouble

N-No, its nothing like that! Its entirely my pleasure! I cant thank Shijouin-san enough!

Is-Is that so?

Surprised by Shijouin-sans enthusiastic response, my mother showed a shocked expression.

Yes! Especially during the final exams Niihama-kun has been helping me study after school, and hes really good at teaching

(H-Hold on Shijouin-san!?)

For some reason, Shijouin-san started energetically talking about the episodes involving me, and now it was my turn to blush.

After all, she keeps praising me. She talks about how I prepared materials specifically for studying, how I dedicated my time to help her study, and how impressive it is that I can still find time to focus on my own studies.

S-So, um, what did he say during that time?! (Mom?)

Im really curious too! (Kanako)

Yes, she said, Im happy that you trust me and rely on me, and I want to meet that trust until the end I was so happy. (Haruka)

Whaaaaat?!

No, its not like Im hiding anything, but its quite embarrassing to have every single line of dialogue exposed to my family!

Seriously, you two are getting way too excited, mother and daughter!

So, I achieved my best grades ever, and Shinichiro-kun was ranked first overall! Not only that, but he has been a great help in various events and everyday life! Shinichiro-kun is truly amazing and wonderful!

With a clear smile resembling the azure sky, Shijouin-san declared.

It was evident to everyone that she was expressing her true feelings, and while that made me incredibly happy having it heard by my mother and sister was the pinnacle of embarrassment, causing me to instinctively cover my reddening face with my hand.

Hey, Kanako Could it be that this girl is not only beautiful on the outside but also pure and beautiful on the inside?

Yeah, a real angel. After all, today she dashed through the rain for a stranger like me.

My mother, witnessing Shijouin-sans angelic smile, murmured softly to Kanako.

By the way, I could clearly hear her words since I was right next to Kanako.

And this atmosphere! Could it be that she doesnt just see him as a friend, but has feelings for Shinichirou!?

Well, its hard to tell with her natural airheaded-ness but it seems like youve become a significant presence in Haruka-chans heart, big brother.

What should I do? Shes such a good girl that I feel like I want to fill in the gaps for her with all my might!

Hehehe, Mama, Ive been feeling that way from the start!

With that, my mother and Kanako nodded at each other and exchanged smirks.

Hey, what are you two doing, forming some strange alliance?

And to make matters worse, the speed at which both my mother and sister are increasing their favorable impressions of Shijouin-san is ridiculously fast!

With a smile and a thumbs-up gesture that said, Good luck! or something along those lines, I could only respond with a perplexed expression.

Ummmm Ive never experienced this before, but its incredibly awkward to have my mother cheering me on in my love life

(TLN) The stuff in parenthesis and italicized is me. Trying to make it easier to tell who is talking.