[LN] Shinmai Kyōshi No Maigoromo-san To Hajimeru Dōsei Seikatsu - Volume 1 - Prologue

 

Prologue - My First Love, It's For You Who's Older Than Me

 Do you remember when and who my first love was? I, Otosaka Yamato, remember it clearly.

 The winter of five years ago. My mother passed away young when I was in the sixth grade of elementary school.

 Since then, my body was weak and easily sick, so I often spent most of my days in bed, but I never said that it was difficult or painful, and every day my mother always smiled kindly and I listened to her trivial stories. And in the end, my mother always stroked her head,

『I'm glad you had fun today, Yamato.』

 My mother said so. Her hands were a bit cold, but her heart was always warm.

I love my mom very much, and I think the three of us will spend more time with dad.

 But my wish was crushed just like that, and I couldn't accept the fact that I would never see that smile again.

 Dressed in an unusual black outfit and holding a photo of my late mother, I sat next to my father, who was desperately holding back his tears, I must have looked like a soulless child to those attending the funeral. .

 At the dinner party after the funeral, adults in mourning clothes called out to my father, who was even more depressed than I was.

『I think it will be difficult from now on, but I will also do my best for Yamato.』

『If there's anything I can do for you, let me know anytime』

 The people who spoke kindly to my father were my grandparents and my mother's relatives. However, that was just the beginning of them all supporting my father like that.

It was things like ``You're still young so it would be nice to find someone else'' or ``If it's too hard why don't you leave your son with your relatives'', things like hell from my point of view with a calm face...

「There is no substitute for mom! Don't say anything selfish！」

 Looking back now, even though it was a little crazy, it was because a drunken adult was trying to comfort my father who was depressed because he had just lost mom.

 But there was no way I could understand at the time, and I was just very sad and ran out of the room. I wanted to see mom, I wanted to see mom again, laugh with her and mom would pet my head.

 Someone appeared who gently put her hand on my shoulder as I cried while holding onto a wish that would never come true again.

「Yamato-kun, are you alright?」

「Mai......Nee-chan？」

 That person is Mai Ichijo who lives next door to me. When I met her the other day, she told me that she is in her third year of high school and plans to leave her house and start living on her own when she enters university. I'm also close with her mother, and to me, she's a gentle older sister and someone I admire.

「It's okay! Even if my mom leaves, I'll be fine！」

 I didn't want that kind of person to see me crying, so I wiped my eyes that were wet with tears and forced myself to smile.

「You don't have to force yourself, Yamato-kun. It's okay to cry a lot at times like this」

Saying that, Mai-neechan gently hugged me to her chest. The tears I had been holding back by the affectionate embrace that gently warmed my cold heart flowed again. And so, there was nothing I could do.#

「Mommmmm......! Mommmmm......! Why, why did you die...!? I hate not being able to see you anymore...!

Mai-neechan didn't say anything as I cried and screamed. That's what mom used to do when she was alive, and her hands are just like mom's-

"It's okay if it's Yamato-kun. I'm sure you'll be fine even if your mom is gone. Besides, if anything happens, I'll come see you right away."

「But... Mai-neechan is going away soon, right?？」

「Even if I say I'm going away, it doesn't mean I'm going abroad, and I can come back whenever I want, so it's okay! Call me when Yamato-kun is lonely, okay？」

 At that sweet invitation, I almost nodded, but I stopped. I didn't understand why I didn't just nod my head at the time, but now I did.

 ── Since that moment, I fell in love with Mai-san──

「......Thank you, Mai-neechan. I'll do my best, I'll do my best even without mom」

「Fiuh. Yamato-kun is really strong. But sometimes you like to be spoiled by your older sister like before, right? I'll be lonely if you don't」

 I nodded slightly while hugging Mai-san who was laughing playfully.

「I'll keep doing this until Yamato-kun calms down. Why don't you stay at my house today and sleep on the same futon with me？」

「......Ummm」

「Phew. Then I should go back and ask Yamato-kun's father for permission！」

 I was brought back home by Mai-san, who had a cheerful smile on her face, and immediately asked my father for permission to stay at his house. It was surprising that I got his approval so easily, but instead of feeling depressed after losing my mom, I guess it was dad's concern for me that he wanted her to do what I wanted to do and get well.

「Mai-chan... Please take care of Yamato.」

「Yes, please leave Yamato-kun to me! Besides, I've already made an appointment with Kyoko-san.」

What promise did you make with mom? I don't know. But starting today, I decided to change.

 When I grow up, if Mai doesn't have a boyfriend, I'll confess to her. I'll do my best to be the man Mai-neechan deserves. Fortunately, Mai-neechan will be leaving town as a college student in the spring. In the meantime, I'll be a strong and cool guy!

 Five years had passed since I made up my mind as a child, and I would be in my second year of high school in the spring. At that moment, I received a sudden message sent from my father.

「Yamato. Sorry for the suddenness of the story, but since spring, father will be transferred to a rural area due to work matters. But don't worry. I've invited your roommate to this house so you won't be lonely」

「............Ehhhhhh?」

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