It’s finally the day of the entrance ceremony.
Ririi and I have checked again and again if we forgot anything, and when we open the door… I suddenly stop.
Why? Because standing in front of the door are Sieglinde in her uniform of the ministry of magic, and Kaya in her usual casual outfit.
“You’re late. There’s not much time left.”
“Let’s go already. I’m hungry.”
They say at the same time.
No no, hold on a second, I don’t get this. Why were you waiting for me? You have nothing to do with the entrance ceremony.
Kaya doesn’t care about my confusion, as she starts going around Ririi. I get Sieglinde being here, but seriously, what’s Kaya doing here?
“Is Miss Kaya coming too?”
“Of course I am. It has come to my attention that they serve food in the entrance ceremony. I can’t miss that.”
Kaya and Ririi have fun talking. I don’t know why, but Ririi started getting along with her before I knew it.
Before when we ate pancakes together, Kaya stole the fruit that Ririi was saving for the end, and Ririi fired back by eating Kaya’s pancakes. They were really going at it, but I guess fighting like that means they’re friends.
I hope Ririi makes friends in school, but Kaya might be her first friend. What a real shame.
“But anyway, you’re all dressed up, Ririi. That robe really sparkles.”
“Ririh likes all the sparkly.”
“And what are these jewels!? You look like a princess or something.”
“Hehehe. Princess Ririh…”
“That sounds real nice. Ahh… I wish I could be a princess and spend all day not moving and eating tasty things. That hundred thousand zeni is already gone too.”
They really sound friendly.
Sieglinde is watching with a sullen expression. She keeps trying to become closer to Ririi through trial and error, so she might be trying to look for hints.
I don’t think any of it will help. It’s probably just that their mental ages are around the same. She’s closer to Ririi than us in actual age too, so she might see her as a sort of older sister.
But as Sieglinde said, we don’t have much time until the entrance ceremony, so we start walking to the magic school.
I’m walking next to Sieglinde, with Ririi and Kaya in front of us.
“Why did you come to our house?”
The opening ceremony of the magic school is a big event. Sieglinde is wearing her uniform, so I assume she’s going there as an official of the ministry of magic on official business, but…
Then why not go there directly? She probably has things to prepare, and shouldn’t waste time waiting for us.
She starts mumbling and stammering until finally words come out.
“…Do you remember your promise?”
“Promise? That I’d help you with your work?”
“…That you would help me become a mother.”
“Ah, that. I do, but what about it?”
I feel like her plan to become a mother started stumbling before I started helping. It’s not like Ririi doesn’t like her, but she’s far from being close enough to call her mom.
I’m a pretty unfit parent, but Sieglinde might know even less about being a mother. I think she should start by changing that… But as I think that, she says something crazy.
“Please… Can I be Ririi’s mother during this entrance ceremony?”
◆
There’s really no other choice but to consult the person in question about something like this.
And so, I try asking Ririi about Sieglinde filling in the role of her mother, and for some reason, Kaya starts complaining.
“No fair! I was going for that!”
“Shut up.”
“Eek…”
Kaya immediately quiets down, as Sieglinde glares at her. Apparently Kaya was thinking about acting as Ririi’s mother to sneak into the post ceremony party. Her age means that plan never had any chance of working.
“What do you think, Ririi? If you don’t like it, you can say so.”
“Hn…”
Ririi thinks about it while looking at Sieglinde.
…I really don’t know what side this is going to fall on, but Sieglinde’s nervous expression is making me nervous too. The only sound we hear is Kaya yelling about what she’s supposed to do now, which we ignore.
“Ririh doesn’t mind, maybe.”
“Really!?”
“Wah, scary…”
Sieglinde immediately rushes Ririi. See, that’s what I’m talking about.
“Miss Sieglinde is going to be Ririh’s mommy today?”
“Yes… That’s right. Thank you, Ririi.”
“Yes.”
“W-what!?”
Ririi grabs Sieglinde’s hand, and she freezes. First Beary, and now this. Maybe she’s not used to touching living beings at all.
Seeing Ririi and Sieglinde holding hands feels really weird to be honest, but it’s fine if it eventually becomes the norm.
“Daddy, hold hands too.”
“Hn? Sure.”
I grab her other hand, and she starts swinging in the air.
“Today is the entrance ceremony♫, Ririh’s gonna be a sorcerer♫.”
She pulls us as she walks forward.
Suddenly I’m curious about Sieglinde, so I turn her way, and she has a creepy smile on her face. Is that supposed to be a happy smile?
“…This isn’t bad.”
The mother looks a bit iffy, but when we walk around holding hands like this, we really do look like two parents and their child.
“Hold on everyone! What am I supposed to do!?”
“I’ll say you’re related to the ministry of magic, so be quiet already.”
“Really!? Thank you Miss Sieglinde! My goddess!”
That day a year ago when I picked up Ririi feels like a distant memory at this point.
Was it good that someone like me, who still doesn’t really know what it is to be a father, was the one to pick her up?
Would she be better off with a fellow elf?
Should I look for her real parents?
I’d be lying if I said I never think about those kinds of things.
But…
“Are you looking forward to going to school?”
“Yes! Ririh’s gonna make lots of friends!”
“I’m sure you’ll be popular right away.”
All I can focus on right now, is treasuring that little warmth in the palm of my hand with all I have.
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