Vol. 2 Chapter 42 – Hikaru vs. Hikari

“I-I see… You don’t know… Well then, we have to look for them…” (Reiya)

This time, the little girl nodded her head in agreement.

While sensing a strange atmosphere from beside me, I continued the conversation.

“So, could you tell me who you got separated from?” (Reiya)

“Mommy and… Takkun.” (Little Hikari)

“I see, then we need to find them quickly. Shall we go look together?” (Reiya)

As largely expected, she seemed to have come with family and gotten separated.

I didn’t know who Takkun was, but probably her older or younger brother.

If a park employee were nearby, we could just hand her over, but none were in sight at the moment.

Perhaps the staff were occupied with the event.

“Okay, I’ll go check the location of the lost child center, so Hikaru, can you watch her?” (Reiya)

“Okay, then let’s wait here with big sis until big brother comes back, okay?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru tried to respond gently without losing heart, but—

“No. I wanna go too.” (Little Hikari)

The little girl stood up from the edge of the hedge and held her hand out towards me.

Ehh…

It was helpful that she wasn’t shy around strangers, but this was also problematic in its own way.

This time, I looked towards Hikaru as if seeking help—

“Isn’t it fine? Just hold her hand.” (Hikaru)

She said this with a thin smile plastered on her face.

She’s mad, she’s mad… She’s totally mad…

“Well then… um… so we don’t get separated…” (Reiya)

However, right now, I needed to take care of this child first.

Trying at least not to look like a suspicious person involved in some incident, I took her hand, holding it lightly.

Leading her small, soft, childlike hand, I headed towards the location of the information board.

“Big brother, what’s your name?” (Little Hikari)

Soon after we started walking, she asked me a question this time.

“Me? My name’s Reiya…” (Reiya)

“Re-ya-kun.” (Little Hikari)

She called my name with satisfaction, breathing out softly through her nose.

“It took me over a month to call him by his first name…” (Hikaru)

A complaint was muttered from beside me, just loud enough to hear.

What… What is this situation…?

Did I do something wrong…?

“A-And your name is…?” (Reiya)

“Hikari. Like starlight, so I’d sparkle and shine.” (Little Hikari)

“H-Huh… That’s a cute name…” (Reiya)

My voice cracked at the overly coincidental match.

I couldn’t help but feel like someone was plotting against me.

“Re-ya-kun is cool too.” (Little Hikari)

“Ah, thanks… I-I’m happy to hear that…” (Reiya)

“How enviable~… Being so popular.” (Hikaru)

Again, a resentful-sounding voice echoed from beside me at just the right volume.

Is this hell?

They say everyone gets three popular periods in life, but it’s weird for it to come now, with this person.

“R-Right then… Where’s the lost child center~…” (Reiya)

Desperate to escape this bed of needles, I scanned the information board.

First, I found our current location, and from there, quickly located the facility in question.

“Found it! It’s not too far, maybe your mom is heading there too.” (Reiya)

“Yeah, maybe.” (Little Hikari)

I thought she’d be happier, but her surprisingly nonchalant reply caught me off guard.

I briefly doubted if she was really lost, but trusting her words, the three of us headed towards the lost child center.

Naturally, Hikari-chan kept a tight grip on my hand the entire way.

And, as if competing, Hikaru had taken hold of my other arm from the opposite side.

Normally, it feels like the natural arrangement would be to have the child between us, but the atmosphere right now wasn’t one where I could even joke about such things.

As I walked, feeling an inexplicable pressure from both sides, Hikari-chan suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong? Tired of walking? But it’s just a little further, let’s keep go—” (Reiya)

“…Panda.” (Little Hikari)

She muttered the short word, cutting off my voice.

Where she was looking, there was a large crowd, mainly families.

Further beyond, a cunning black-and-white creature was eating bamboo.

“Ah, right, they unveiled a panda cub, didn’t they… You like pandas?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, wanna see panda.” (Little Hikari)

Ehh…

“W-Well then, maybe we can ask your mom to bring you later when we find her…” (Reiya)

“No. Wanna see now.” (Little Hikari)

I was perplexed by her sudden tantrum.

Even though she was lost, she seemed quite composed, or perhaps just lacked caution…

However, I was ultimately just a stranger temporarily looking after her.

Even if it was a small detour, leading her around on my own wasn’t ethically right.

I silently sought help from Hikaru, asking ‘What should I do,’ but perhaps she was completely sulking, as she averted her gaze with a ‘hmph.’

“Well… if it’s just a quick look on the way…” (Reiya)

“Yay! Panda!” (Little Hikari)

Receiving my reluctant consent, she pulled my hand with surprising strength for a child.

The thought ‘If I had kids, would it be like this?’ flashed through my mind for an instant.

“How is it? Can you see?” (Reiya)

“…Not really.” (Little Hikari)

In front of the panda enclosure, crowded with many people, Hikari-chan puffed out her cheeks discontentedly.

She stood on tiptoe and jumped up and down, trying somehow to catch a glimpse of the panda she wanted to see, but her child’s height was simply not enough.

“In that case, maybe later with your mom—” (Reiya)

“Re-ya-kun, hold me!” (Little Hikari)

“Hol—!?” (Hikaru)

Before I could react, Hikaru next to me gasped at that word.

“S-Seriously, that’s… a bit…” (Reiya)

“Nooo! Wanna see!! Hold me!!” (Little Hikari)

Her voice, small until now, suddenly turned into a loud shout as she began to cause a scene.

Other nearby visitors also turned their eyes away from the panda to see what was happening.

“But, if I hold you, your cute clothes might get messed up…” (Reiya)

“It’s fine! Hold me!!” (Little Hikari)

“He hasn’t even told me my clothes are cute today yet…” (Hikaru)

Regarding the matter of there being no correct choice anywhere…

“Alright… Just for a little bit then…” (Reiya)

Having no choice, I put my hands under her arms and lifted her up to about my eye level.

“H-How’s… this…? Can you see now…?” (Reiya)

My weak arms, unused to carrying heavy things, were screaming in protest.

“Yeah, I see it! Panda! It’s black and white and fluffy!” (Little Hikari)

A happy voice echoed from behind her small back.

“Ugh~… Even I haven’t been held like that before…” (Hikaru)

Meanwhile, from behind me, the exact opposite, a resentful voice could be heard.

And so, while being tossed about by the pincer attack of Hikaru and Hikari, we somehow managed to reach the lost child center.

“Um… She was alone next to a vending machine near the elephant area, and when I spoke to her, she said she got separated from her mother, so I determined she was lost and brought her here…” (Reiya)

Sitting in a chair, I explained the situation to the female staff member across from me.

“Yes, understood. We haven’t received any contact from the mother yet, so we’ll try making an announcement throughout the park.” (Staff Member)

“Thank you. Please do…” (Reiya)

I was utterly exhausted from just those ten-odd minutes.

But now that things were finally settling down, I let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Hope your mom comes quickly.” (Reiya)

“Yeah! When Mommy comes, I’ll introduce Re-ya-kun!” (Little Hikari)

“Haha…” (Reiya)

All I could manage was a wry laugh, and Hikaru was still sulking.

Thinking about how much damage control I’d need to do later gave me a headache already.

Attention visitors, we have a lost child announcement. Hikari Hoshikawa from Tokyo is waiting at the Lost Child Center. Will the guardian please contact the nearest staff member immediately.

Not even a few minutes after the park announcement was made, a woman in her thirties arrived.

“Ah! Mommy!” (Little Hikari)

Hikari-chan, who had been sitting next to me, jumped down from her chair and ran towards the woman.

“Oh… Hikari… Thank goodness…” (Mother)

She was out of breath and sweating, likely having been searching for a long time.

She hugged her daughter who ran up to her, exchanged a few words with the staff member, and then came over to us.

“Thank you so much! You apparently looked after my daughter, I don’t know how to thank you enough…” (Mother)

“No, not at all… We just did the natural thing, no thanks are necessary…” (Reiya)

As we bowed our heads repeatedly to each other, Hikari-chan came over and tugged on her mother’s skirt, looking like she wanted to say something.

“Hey hey, Mommy.” (Little Hikari)

“What is it? Hikari, you need to properly thank the big brother and big sister too, okay?” (Mother)

“Okay! As thanks! I’m gonna marry Re-ya-kun!” (Little Hikari)

“Haha…” (Reiya)

What is this kid saying… I thought with a wry laugh, but only for a moment.

Immediately after hearing what sounded like something snapping behind me—

“That’s absolutely not allowed!!! I’m the one who’s going to marry Reiya-kun!!!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru shouted, unleashing the torrent of emotions she had been holding back until now.

What is this kid saying…