"Sato, we're heading out first!"
"Mm."
Sato waved to Kirito and Saiki, watching the two leave the classroom.
After that, only two people remained in the spacious room.
Sato was one of them, and the other was Isshiki Iroha.
"Sigh... why do girls have to stay behind to do cleaning? Wouldn't it be fine to just leave this kind of thing to the boys?"
Isshiki Iroha pouted as she diligently swept the trash on the floor, muttering under her breath.
Sato was responsible for the other half of the classroom. Hearing that, he looked up at her.
Sensing his gaze, the girl also raised her head to look at him. They held each other's gaze for a moment, and then she suddenly lifted her delicate, willow-like brows.
"What are you looking at? Am I wrong?"
She spoke with confidence, puffing out her chest slightly.
Seeing this, a trace of helplessness appeared on Sato's face.
"Give it a rest. Ever since we first started doing duty, you come up with all sorts of strange ideas every time."
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm just expressing my opinion!"
Isshiki Iroha lowered her head and continued sweeping, sounding dissatisfied.
"Then at least make it match reality."
Ding!
Suddenly, Sato's phone received a message.
"Is it those cute little club members of yours?"
Isshiki Iroha glanced over from a distance and asked in a faint tone.
"No, it's my sister-in-law."
Sato looked down at his phone. Unexpectedly, the message was from his sister-in-law, Nohara Misae.
"Sato, can I trouble you to pick up Shinnosuke today? I'm at the dental clinic right now, and the line is way too long!"
Sato did not hesitate long and quickly replied.
"Okay!"
After replying, he looked up at Isshiki Iroha.
"Iroha, do me a favor later."
"What is it?"
She raised her head and looked at him curiously.
"I need to pick up my nephew later. Help me deliver a set of documents to the Light Music Club. Just give it to Yukinoshita."
"Huh? Yukinoshita? Why her?"
Isshiki Iroha asked with wide, pretty eyes.
"It's a request the Service Club took. I'm just helping her out a bit."
"What is it? Can I take a look?"
Sato glanced at her and lightly said two words, "No."
"Tch."
Isshiki Iroha puffed up her cheeks and glared at him.
...
[Futaba Kindergarten]
After handing over what he had written last night to Isshiki Iroha, Sato left the school and came to Shinnosuke's kindergarten.
The kindergarten looked no different from an ordinary one. It was even a bit smaller than most, with only a few small buildings.
But though small, it had everything it needed. All the facilities were quite complete.
There was an event today, so dismissal was a bit later than usual. At least when Sato arrived, school had not ended yet.
However...
Sato looked at the long luxury car parked outside Futaba Kindergarten with a strange expression, along with the bodyguard standing beside it.
That was not here to pick someone up too, was it?
Could there really be some young lady or young master attending this kindergarten? That would be quite strange, having such a person studying here...
Standing at the entrance, Sato could not help but glance to the side.
The bodyguard beside the luxury car wore sunglasses. The eyes hidden behind them also seemed to glance toward Sato.
...
The two of them exchanged sideways glances like that.
"Hello, I am Kuroiso (Mr. K)!"
The bodyguard in black suddenly extended his hand in greeting.
"Hello, I am Nohara Sato!"
Sato also extended his hand and shook his lightly.
After hearing his name, the bodyguard hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I ask, what is your relationship with Young Master Shinnosuke?"
Huh?
Young Master Shinnosuke?
Sato froze for a moment, then blinked and looked at Kuroiso.
"You mean that guy Shinnosuke?"
"Yes!"
Sato fell silent.
He reached up and rubbed his temples with some difficulty.
Wait.
Something was definitely off here. Since when could that guy Shinnosuke be called a young master? The Nohara family had been poor farmers for eighteen generations.
This... was probably just a polite form of address, right?
Sato thought to himself.
"I'm Shinnosuke's uncle."
"So you are Young Master Shinnosuke's uncle. My apologies!"
Kuroiso's expression immediately turned serious, and even his tone became much more respectful.
Sato could not help but bare his teeth slightly, feeling uncomfortable all over. It just felt strange.
"Then you are...?"
"Yes! I am Miss Ai's personal bodyguard!"
Miss Ai?
Sato narrowed his eyes, a possibility instantly forming in his mind, but... that could not be true, right?
Japanese School Bell ring.sfx!
Right at that moment, the kindergarten was dismissed.
Because there were school buses, only a few parents had gathered at the gate to pick up their children.
As a group of children filed out of the classrooms, Sato quickly spotted Shinnosuke near the front.
However, he looked rather troubled and helpless, his head drooping as if drained of energy.
Beside him was a lively little girl, constantly talking into his ear about something.
Tch, it was rare to see that kid like this. The one beside him must be Ai.
Sato watched the scene with interest.
Soon, Kuroiso confirmed his guess.
Somehow, he produced a roll of red carpet, laid it on the ground, and unrolled it all the way to the little girl.
"Miss Ai!"
With Kuroiso's actions, Shinnosuke quickly noticed Sato waiting outside the gate. His eyes immediately lit up.
"My dear uncle! You finally came!"
Shinnosuke ran toward Sato, his face full of hope.
He was finally about to escape his suffering!
Behind him, Suotome Ai looked at Sato with bright eyes.
This is... Young Master Shinnosuke's uncle?