A Silent Voice: My First Kiss Was with Nishimiya Shouko

"Remember to comfort Shouko when Yaeko talks to her about it."

Miyamura Shizuka gave Akira a nudge with the teapot after pouring herself another cup. She downed it in one gulp and then rubbed his head to break him out of his daze.

Akira blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Mhm, mhm. Got it."

"I'm not sure if Shouko will even remember that guy anymore," he muttered.

Shizuka gave him a light smack on the head. "Don't worry about the details. Just keep an eye on her mood when the time comes."

"Okay, okay," Akira nodded again, this time quickly—half sincere, half trying to avoid another tap.

With Shouko still asleep and nothing else to do, Akira drifted off again into thought. Shizuka, seeing this, decided to go help Mito Junko's mom and grandma prepare lunch.

As for Junko, who'd overheard the whole conversation, she had no intention of gossiping. She'd seen for herself how terrifying her aunt could be when angry. And since her aunt didn't care that she'd heard it, there was no reason to go spreading it.

Mito Iori, for his part, was still glued to the Action Kamen episode playing on TV, his presence nearly invisible.

Around 12:30 p.m., Shizuka's voice echoed from the stairwell:

"Lunch is ready, everyone!"

The trio in the living room stirred—some heading down, some turning off the TV, and others going to call those still in their rooms.

Akira walked into the guest room.

"Shouko, get up. It's lunchtime."

Shouko groaned, barely registering his words. "Stop shaking me…" she slapped his hand away and rubbed her blurry eyes.

After putting on her hearing aid, she blinked up at him. "It's already that late?"

"Lunch is ready," Akira said.

"You should've woken me up earlier!" she frowned as she began fixing the messy bedding.

"No one's rushing you," Akira replied casually. "Take your time."

"This is still your fault." She turned and gave him a playful slap.

Akira sighed in defeat. "…"

The Miyamura family stayed in Osaka for five or six days, hitting all the well-known attractions—Osaka Castle Park, Shitennoji Temple, the Kaiyukan Aquarium, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori…

Akira also got to witness the terrifying shopping synergy between two generations of women. Their age gap didn't affect their shopping stamina one bit.

When it was finally time to leave, the ones most reluctant to say goodbye were Akira's grandparents.

Mito Iori, meanwhile, had completely given up any illusions about Shouko. After spending a few days with them, he had seen Shouko's double standards in action—and it crushed what was left of his heart.

"Come visit again next holiday," Akira's grandfather said warmly, rubbing he's head at the door of the hot spring inn.

He had figured things out by now: this girl was definitely Akira's future wife.

He had asked Akira privately, and the boy had vehemently denied it. But he'd also asked Shouko—who blushed and nodded after a little hesitation.

Tsundere, he thought with amusement. That's what the kids called it nowadays.

"Don't worry, Dad," Shizuka said as she waved goodbye. "We'll visit again when we can."

The ride home took four or five hours.

Along the way, Shizuka stopped at a phone shop and bought flip phones for both Akira and Shouko—black for him, white for her.

Before purchasing, she asked the store clerk specifically, "Are these couple models?"

It was a promise she had made to Akira during the trip, but she didn't forget Shouko either. After all, she was her goddaughter—and both of them were in junior high now. A phone would be useful for safety and schoolwork.

They were just basic flip phones, capable of calls, texts, and some basic web browsing. Nothing too fancy.

"Akira, why did you buy this for me?" Shouko asked curiously from the back seat, holding a strange-looking device that resembled a flashlight.

Akira reached over, took the device, and demonstrated its use.

"It's a stun gun—for self-defense," he explained calmly. "Even if I'm around, it's better you have something to protect yourself with."

Shouko blinked. She didn't fully understand, but she nodded and held on to it tightly. The fact that Akira had thought to buy it for her was enough.

Right now, though, she was far more interested in her new phone. She kept texting Akira—even though they were sitting next to each other.

Eventually, Akira sighed and told her to stop.

Still, Shouko was excited. She was already imagining texting him late at night, just to hear his voice—even if her hearing aid didn't always catch every word clearly.

When the car pulled into the garage, Miyamura Daiki turned around.

"We're here. Time to get out."

Akira yawned and opened his eyes, and Shouko yawned immediately after him.

They both stepped out of the car slowly.

"Sister!"

"Woof!"

Shouko looked up and saw Yuzuru dashing toward her, Hachiko right behind.

"Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to fall!" Shouko caught her in a hug and gently pinched her cheek.

Yuzuru, after holding her sister's hand for a moment, turned to greet Shizuka and Daiki politely. Then she looked back at Shouko with big, expectant eyes.

"Did you bring me any souvenirs from Osaka?"

Before Shouko could reply, Akira's voice rang out from behind.

"Yep. We got you Osaka-style schoolwork. Elementary school level. Every subject."

Yuzuru squinted suspiciously and turned back to her sister. "Is he serious?"

Shouko smirked and nodded—playing along without needing any cues.

"Come on, Hachiko," Yuzuru huffed. "We got the wrong people. My real sister must still be in Osaka."

"Woof!"

Hachiko barked, tail wagging, before trotting after her down the path.

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