Chapter 9: Kudo Shigeru’s destination

Now that Kudo Shigeru felt better, he bombarded me with questions.

“Hey, Kumiko-chan, if you’re really 16 years and your mom is the same age as Tooru-san… Does that mean she gave birth to you when she was your age?” He asked with curiosity filled in his eyes. 

“Yes, she did”, I answered in a monotone voice. 

“And she raised you all by herself until now?”

“Yes…”

“Without even finishing high school?”

“Yes…”

“Heh…” Kudo Shigeru said in an impressed tone. “Michi-san sure is a hard worker, huh.”

“... Yes, she is.” I smiled as images of her coming home late from work flowed in my head. I remembered the time that she would make dinner and help me do my homework despite being tired from work. “She really worked hard to raise me well.”

“Is that so…” He smiled.

“But because of you, I have become a bad daughter to her today”, I said while glaring at him and he flinched at my words. 

“Hey, if it’s about school, it should be fine for a day…” He tried to keep calm but I could tell that he was panicking. “I’m sure she’ll understand that you would like to take a break from school for a single day.”

“Yeah, she might understand me. My mom isn’t such a strict person”, I agreed with him.

“Then-”

“But I was hoping to become an honor student with a perfect attendee score”, I cut him off. “Since my mother never finished high school and people talked badly about her, I wanted to prove to them that she raised her daughter perfectly despite the struggles.”

“Oh…” Kudo Shigeru sounded apologetic. “And I guess I ruined the opportunity to make your wish come true, huh.”

“... Well, at least you sound sorry, so I guess it’s fine”, I sighed. “And I don’t think that you’re actually wrong, Shi- Kudo-san. Missing a day at school isn't such a big deal in your life if you think about it.”

As Kudo Shigeru didn’t say anything, I fiddled with my phone to check if my future dad replied to my messages. 

“Nothing yet, huh. He must be busy”, I thought.

“You…” Kudo Shigeru started talking. “You can call me by my first name, you know.”

“Ah! Did he notice that I was struggling at calling him by his last name?” I cringed from embarrassment. 

“What do you mean? Since we’re not that close, it is only obvious that I called you by your last name, Shi- Kudo-san”, I tried to stay calm.

“See~ You keep forgetting!” He pointed at me through the rear-view mirror with an amused face. 

“Shit!” I quietly cursed.

“Hey, I can hear you”, he nonchalantly said.

“...” I stayed quiet from embarrassment. 

After a few minutes, which I felt was like an eternity to me, we arrived at Kudo Shigeru’s destination. 

“We’re here, Kumiko-chan”, he said as he took off his seatbelt while looking at me.

“Oh, ok.” I rushed outside the car with my school bag while Kudo Shigeru took his time to put on his black cap, his chunky sunglasses and his white mask. 

I stared at the building that was in front of me, admiring how huge it was, almost breaking my neck in the process. 

I looked back at Kudo Shigeru who was getting out of the car and asked while pointing at the building, “Is this where you wanted me to take me to ?”

“That’s right”, he innocently said, without properly understanding the severity of his actions.

“But this is a hotel though?!” I shouted.

“Yeah, I know. A five star to be exact”, he still didn’t realize that taking me there would be considered a crime.

I desperately tried to explain to him that what he’s doing is wrong, while he was busy giving his keys and giving instructions to a valet. 

“I’m a minor wearing my school uniform and you, the adult, are trying to enter a hotel with me in this broad daylight! Can’t see that something is wrong here?!”

“It’s not like it’s a love hotel. I don’t see why I can’t come here with you?” He was perplexed. “But it’s true that maybe your uniform is sticking out a bit.”

It didn't seem like he got my point but I was relieved that he was worried about my outfit and I thought that we would go somewhere else since we were attracting too much attention.

“Well, we can just buy you a new set of clothes in the department store over there to make you less noticeable”, he pointed at a luxurious brand store right behind him. 

“HAH?! That’s not what I mean! Just take me back home! I don’t wanna be here!” I finally snapped at him.

“No can do! You have to be here today!” He pulled my arm and led me to the hotel’s entrance. I tried to shake him off but with no avail, I was stuck in the revolving door with him.

“AAAAAH! I’m so weak!” I internally cried as he dragged me to the boutique.