“You‘re late, Senpai.”
Ritsuka mumbled as she swallowed the last Takoyaki ball.
“At this rate, I‘m going to become a pig, you know?”
Ritsuka had already crossed the river of no return. Her belly, swollen like that of a pregnant woman, rose and fell like an elevator with every breath.
It was because the food was too delicious. Ritsuka attempted to rationalize it to herself.
How many kilograms had she gained? She had just resolved not to step on the scale even after her bath today.
A familiar shadow appeared at the first-floor entrance.
Hair clear as a flowing river. A mature figure that had captivated countless students in the school.
Up to this point, it was the Senpai she knew well. However.
“Sen... pai?”
The Senpai she was waiting for was not alone.
Maria, exuding a gentle yet somehow insidious aura. Who on earth was that girl stumbling along while Maria had a hand on her shoulder?
Her face was strangely erotic, and she was busy gasping for breath.
“You, I really won‘t forgive you...!”
The faintly heard voice added to Ritsuka's confusion.
Forgive? What does that mean? Ritsuka's precious Senpai seemed quite close with this strange girl.
Even when the exotic-looking girl pushed Senpai‘s shoulder or whined, Senpai didn‘t stop her.
“Eyy, Marie-chan. You say that, but... you like me, right?”
“Wh-Who says I like a woman like you?!”
No, far from stopping her, she was actually encouraging the girl's cheeky behavior!
Ritsuka felt stunned, as if she had been hit on the back of the head with a rock.
She couldn't clearly understand why she was shocked.
Her chest felt strangely tight.
The lump in her chest didn't dissolve until Senpai spotted Ritsuka and walked right up to her nose.
“Sorry. Did you wait long?”
“No. Aside from being a little bored, it was fine.”
It was uncomfortable.
Senpai just spoke with her usual indifferent expression, looking as if everything in the world was a bother.
Originally, Ritsuka liked Senpai's nonchalant expression.
Others were busy looking up to her, calling her chic, but Ritsuka knew that Senpai's emotional expressions were varied.
That‘s why they could become friends without reservation, and build a deeper relationship than any other student.
“You should introduce me too. Or are you telling me to introduce myself?”
“I lacked manners. Sorry, Marie-chan.”
Until just a moment ago, she thought so.
“Ritsuka, this is my pet, Olga Marie. Shortened to Marie-chan.”
“I am not a pet?!”
Olga Marie was closer to Senpai than Ritsuka was.
Compared to Ritsuka, who just followed her around, Olga Marie played pranks without hesitation.
“Look at this. If I say ’Hand‘, she really puts her hand out?”
“I‘m trying to hit you! I‘m going to hit you until you cry your eyes out!”
“Oho. Marie-chan. You must maintain your dignity.”
“Go die!”
Senpai even liked that.
As if her relationship with Senpai was nothing more than a joke.
“Um... You seem very close with Ms. Olga Marie?”
“That‘s right. Marie-chan can‘t even go to the bathroom at night without me. Every night she kisses my photo and...”
“Kyaaah! What are you saying to someone we just met?!”
I‘m envious.
Ritsuka spoke unconsciously.
“I could do a good job too....”
This incident later became one of the very important triggers for Ritsuka Fujimaru volunteering for Chaldea.
The buffet ended too. The 100 dishes from 100 chefs ran out, and people started burping and lying down on the floor or benches.
This is a graduation ceremony?
At least there were some people still maintaining their consciousness.
“Now that we've laughed and chatted, it's time to really wrap things up.”
“Boo! Do more! Call the singers!”
Anyone watching would think they paid to enjoy this party.
Despite the cheeky remarks, the host didn‘t lose his smile. As expected of the National MC.
“Since the sky has darkened, we will finish with fireworks. It‘s too sad, isn't it? Right?”
“It‘s sad! Sa... d?”
You probably thought it was the end. Not a chance.
“We will now begin Part 2! JUMP!”
“Wooooaaaah!!!”
A roar loud enough to bring down castle walls erupted.
Simultaneously, colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky.
Bang, bang, pop-pop-bang....
Feeling the essence of surround speakers placed all over the playground, the parties among families began.
A beautiful scene where graduates, parents, and children gathered to play.
Ritsuka was catching up with her family nearby. Seeing her wave when our eyes met, it looked like she would come back.
Marie went into a sulk and hid somewhere. She‘d come if I called, but I should wait until she cools down a bit.
Now. The most important event remains.
“Where is my family?”
Click. I unconsciously bit my nail. Though I don‘t particularly groom them, my neatly trimmed nails became jagged.
I‘m anxious.
Why haven't my immature Mom and Dad shown their faces yet?
The anxiety grew. I wandered the crowded playground endlessly.
I had already exchanged greetings with all my seniors, juniors, and the adults I knew. Now there was really nothing left to do.
Should I go home? Or should I wait a little longer.
I swirled the glass containing juice in my hand.
It was around then that I realized a curtain had been drawn across the stage at some point.
The curtain, which I thought signaled the closing, was strangely flashy.
The MC, crawling out from behind the curtain, showed off his vocal volume again.
“A stage you couldn't even imagine has just been prepared!”
“What? There‘s still something left?”
“I thought it was over?”
The MC pointed to the sky and shouted.
“Everyone, please look at the sky!”
“Oh my? What is that?”
“Helicopters? Why helicopters?”
Above the buzzing heads of the people, two or three helicopters were flying in the sky.
The helicopters were equipped with massive searchlights used when tracking criminals.
It was only natural that people's eyes gathered where the lights shone,
And that place was the dead center of the curtained stage.
“I think... I hear singing?”
“Huh? I feel like I‘ve heard this somewhere?”
The stage curtain rises again. The dazzling lighting equipment activated once more.
The lights weren't shining on just one person.
Four... five... six?
Six people were standing and waiting slightly behind the center of the stage.
Six, huh. There‘s a certain family that has exactly six adults.
Their faces weren't clearly visible. The sun had set, and the helicopter lights were too bright.
“For the final performance, people you never imagined will appear! Lights! Cue!!!”
The first one is... Ah.
“The Witch of Fairy-Britain! Eternal Youth! It is Chairman Morgan!”
I touched my forehead, and the people went wild.
“If it‘s Chairman Morgan, I know her! That legendary businesswoman who made all the business partners fall for her beautiful looks, dragging out a deal that would take a day for over a week!”
“We shouldn‘t forget she has fan club members on the scale of a decent-sized nation!”
“Praising the fame of the Chairman who built a company with the 2nd highest market cap in just a few years, we call her, Her Majesty Morgan!”
Why do these juniors know my Big Mother‘s circumstances so well?
Fans... I guess? They must be.
The look in their eyes is unusual.
Anyway, she must be busy, but she came to this graduation ceremony.
I‘m happy but... I have a burning desire to ask why she is on stage.
And why the police uniform...?
“Uh-uh, look there! The second person coming out is, conversely, the King of Babylonia! It‘s Gilgamesh-sama, number 1 in market cap!”
“Ah! If it takes over a week for Her Majesty Morgan to make a deal, conversely, Gilgamesh-sama doesn‘t even take 1 hour! Because the moment you see those crimson eyes, you get charmed just like me!”
“D-Damn it! To think I, ranked 14,432nd in Her Majesty Morgan‘s fan club, would be charmed like this! Kugh!”
Honestly, I expected Small Mother.
Because yesterday, the vroom-vroom golden sports car with Enkidu appeared on a friend‘s story.
Small Mother is someone who never misses a party like this and is rather hell-bent on being the leader, so it‘s not awkward.
However, that outfit is, how should I put it... I don‘t know if Dad allowed it or what...
Isn‘t that outfit inappropriate for a married woman?
“Ooooh! Topless fashion...!” (Note: "Topless" here implies extremely revealing/bare midriff/shirtless style common to Gilgamesh).
“Th-That, surely that isn‘t real, right? If her hair sways a little, surely!”
“Hnggg! Gilgamesh-sama. I‘m dying!”
I‘ve memorized your faces, so I‘ll see you later.
“The third is... I don‘t know?”
“I don‘t know either... but she‘s more erotic than Gilgamesh-sama earlier!”
“Th-That daring fashion! The red dress reveals much more area than it covers!”
“I... actually, I guess I liked bright red tattoos like that!”
“The horn decorations on her head also have an effect of looking too erotic! It goes beyond simple cosplay. That is the Emperor of the Empire!”
Auntie Draco came too...?
Don‘t tell me. Did everyone come? Really?
I‘m really happy they came for my graduation but... I am happy, but!
Could you please tell me why you attached a musical mic to your cheek and are preparing to dance?!
“Sh-She‘s here! Rome, Paris, London—the Yokai of Japan whom the entire fashion world focuses on and luxury brands are desperate to sponsor! It‘s Tamamo-sama!”
“If a Japanese high school boy doesn‘t know Tamamo-sama, he‘s a spy!”
“Those ripped jeans! Just the tied-up cotton t-shirt alone creates a violent silhouette! Indeed, a model!”
“Ah! She‘s posing so it‘s easy to take pictures?! What are you doing! Take the picture quickly!”
Hey, you said you were a fan of Her Majesty Morgan. Keep the dignity you boasted about with your 10,000-digit rank.
I made eye contact with Tamamo-chan, who was scanning the stage.
What is she saying with her mouth...?
-Hello~
“I‘m not very hello (fine) at all!”
It‘s embarrassing! Why are you doing that?!
Tamamo-chan smiled coyly and beckoned with her hand. Men, whether students or married, all dropped dead.
You‘re going to suffer when you get home. You guys.
Suddenly, I felt a chill.
All the mothers came out. Only one hasn‘t come out yet.
The person whom it would be stranger to think wouldn't come out.
The embarrassing one.
My biological mom....
“Ahhh! She‘s here! The first love of all Fuyuki men!”
“It is Johanna-sama! Our Holy Mother! The number 1 person you want to bump into on the street! The demonic married woman who makes people say the reason they go to open class days is not for their son or daughter, but to see a fellow parent!”
“A mother who is as kind as her beautiful looks, and gentle enough to laugh at small jokes!”
“Even possessing the demonic charm that makes market shop owners always want to give her extra freebies because of her clumsy attributes inside!”
“Hnggg! Mama!”
What about her clothes?
Maybe because all the other mothers dressed so provocatively, overalls and a cotton t-shirt seem okay... No!
Who wears overalls that size so small?! Are you bragging that your boobs are big? Men are looking at you weirdly!
You could fit a fist in the space between the strap and your underbust!
“I really can‘t live like this!”
Mom doesn‘t exactly enjoy the stage. Compared to the Emperor and Her Majesty before her, she is close to a tiny petty citizen.
But that‘s because the comparison targets are too hardcore.
That, that scandalous married woman unconsciously seduces men! She‘s the worst of them all!
“Honey... Where are you looking right now?”
“Huh? No! I wasn‘t particularly looking at Johanna-sama‘s royal face?”
“Johanna ’-sama‘? ’Royal face‘?”
“Uh-oh!”
Look. Another family is breaking apart.
Furthermore, Mom is just passive; she doesn‘t get nervous on big stages. Should I say she has nerves of steel by nature?
Since she‘s the same as usual wherever she goes, people like that consistency even more.
Mom is only looking at Dad!
...Wait. Dad?
“The last one is... What. It‘s a man.”
“He‘s here, he‘s here.”
Finally, Dad reveals himself under the lights.
It‘s embarrassing... it‘s embarrassing, but. I have to admit this.
He really dressed up well.
Slicked-back hair with a few strands falling loose. A sophisticated suit that fits his body perfectly.
That signature smile for seducing women on his lips.
Dad always says it‘s a business smile, not for seducing women... but who believes that.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“It‘s Senpai‘s father, right? Right?! Kyaa!”
“...Please don‘t grab and shake me.”
Look. Even now, he‘s making eye contact with the girls one by one and smiling.
Is that not flirting? Really?
“...Um, honey. You criticized me so much earlier when I looked at Ms. Johanna.”
“Why? I‘m just looking at the Father-in-law? Are you saying I did something wrong?”
“No. But still, the light stick is...”
“This is a supply distributed by the Parents‘ Association. Don‘t mind it.”
This is driving me crazy.
The introduction of the characters is over. The curtain has fully risen. The intro of the music is almost over too.
Finally, Dad, standing at the very front, opened his mouth.
Up to this point, he is a sophisticated handsome young man....
“My beloved daughter Maria! Happy Graduation!”
“Aaaaaaaagh!!!!”
Dad‘s embarrassing behavior didn‘t end there.
“Kiss (Bbo-bbo) Mwah!”
“Kyaaaaaaah!!!!”
Stop! Don‘t look at me!
Stop turning around!
“Wo... wow. Senpai, you must be really loved.”
“Sh-Should I move aside a little...?”
You guys, who were cheering looking at other people‘s mothers just a moment ago, don‘t do that!
What you guys were doing is the biggest nuisance!
People around me are moving away from me. They have no choice.
“I love you, my daughter! Mom practiced really hard for today‘s stage, you know? Watch me!”
“Ehhhhhh.”
Because one by one. They come forward and give me well-wishes.
The stage is over there, but the gazes gather on me.
Embarrassing. I feel like dying.
Mom on stage is blushing just the same.
But for a different reason than me.
Mom, who was slightly covering her face, covered her mouth with her hand and then extended it like a blooming flower.
“M-Me too... Kiss!”
“Hey! You Ajumma (Auntie)! Are you crazy?!?!”
What kind of embarrassing behavior is that for a married woman with a daughter about to become an adult!
Honestly, I don‘t remember what performances happened after that.
-Ain‘t nobody bringing us~♫
-Down! Down! Down!
A song accompanied by the passionate backing vocals of unidentified male cheerleaders—I think there was a dance the mothers gathered to dance to.
Ah, my Mom was left out. Because she can‘t dance at all....
Instead, Mom had a solo stage like Dad.
-Days of chasing shadows~
With cute choreography....
The most absurd performance was at the end.
-Hey, Ritsuka. What... is that?
-Huh? Of course, it‘s Senpai‘s Father‘s light stick!
-No, I mean that podium....
-This? You‘ll find out soon!
I should have predicted it from the moment Ritsuka passionately ran ahead with a weird light stick....
I didn‘t know why she stood on that small podium and took a deep breath.
-I want Father‘s abs!
-Shut up!!!!
I think I actually fainted for about a second.
I had truly never heard of a song that starts with such a chant.
The song itself was okay, but the dance was truly nonsensical.
When she danced in sync with Enkidu who came up on stage from the middle, it was truly....
Setting aside when the two of them practiced, why take off the shirt?
Because of that, high-frequency screams poured out from everywhere.
“Thank you all for celebrating my daughter‘s graduation!”
“Since when did the school graduation become my graduation!!!”
“Everyone smile! Smile~”
“Smile!”
“The protagonist of the day in the center too, smile!”
“S-Smile.”
Having developed a slight grievance, I called Dad just before the shutter was pressed.
“What is it, Daughter?”
“I‘m going to move out (become independent).”
“...Oh, WHYYYYYY?!”
Dad‘s dumbfounded expression was captured in the graduation photo as is.
My plan to prank Dad was a huge success.
There was a side effect that Dad bothered me for a week after the graduation ceremony,
But in conclusion.
I think it was fun anyway.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 127
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T