Spring is the season when a new year begins.
The start of the school year for the academy means the season of entrance ceremonies.
Miku, who is set to enter the academy this spring, stood before Kousuke, wearing a dress prepared for the entrance ceremony.
“D-do I look good?”
Seeing Miku blush and look up at him with slightly upturned eyes, Kousuke almost hugged her instinctively.
He resisted the urge, knowing it would wrinkle the dress, and was content with just thinking it.
Putting that aside, he had to properly respond to Miku’s request.
Kousuke smiled and nodded firmly at Miku.
“Yes. You look wonderfully suited, Miku.”
Kousuke isn’t one for many compliments, but at that moment, he mustered all his effort to tell Miku.
Floria shook her head from side to side where Miku couldn’t see, but he pretended not to notice.
Fortunately(?), Miku seemed happy enough with that and returned a bright smile.
“Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. More importantly, it’s a nice dress, so be careful not to ruin it, okay?”
When Kousuke said this, Miku puffed out her cheeks for some reason.
“I’m not that much of a tomboy!”
It seemed Miku misunderstood, imagining Kousuke still running around energetically.
Kousuke shook his head, laughing.
“No, it’s not that. It’s a beautiful dress, so it’s better to cherish it, right?”
When she was younger, perhaps, but especially since she started playing the Streep, Miku has been sitting still more often.
Of course, she’s undergone training with Peach, so she’s not bad at moving.
In fact, in terms of sheer physical ability alone, she might be the highest among Kousuke’s children.
In a way, Miku could be said to have the biggest gap between her siblings.
Peach added to Kousuke’s words.
“Miku, your father is right. We don’t know if you’ll have another chance to wear it again, but please take good care of it.”
This isn’t to say that Miku won’t have opportunities to wear a dress, but rather the opposite.
Miku’s status as a Streep performer is already known to many, and once she comes of age, she may be invited to various events.
Considering that, the chances of wearing a dress are likely higher than average.
What Peach meant was that Miku, who is still growing, will only be able to wear the dress she has on for a limited time.
Incidentally, dresses are heavily influenced by trends, so it’s not uncommon to put them away after wearing them only a few times.
Such used dresses are often worn by children from ordinary families at their special events.
Even at an academy attended by children from wealthy families, very few students wear luxurious dresses on a daily basis.
Therefore, it’s possible that Miku’s current dress will only be worn this one time.
Miku, who had been pouting, silently nodded at Kousuke and Peach’s words.
Floria, watching them, said with a laugh to Kousuke and Peach,
“Hahaha. Well, don’t be too harsh. Miku knows who made that dress, so she’ll surely take good care of it.”
The dress Miku is wearing was not ordered from a clothing store on the fifth floor, but made by Igirid’s wives.
While Igirid is skilled with her hands and often creates crafts, she can also make things like these if she sets her mind to it.
However, for clothes like these, they usually only make them for themselves, and they rarely go to others.
This time, they outsourced the design to a general store, and the dress was made by the hands of Igirid’s women.
Miku’s dress is a congratulatory gift from Shurein to Miku.
By the way, all of Kousuke’s children are wearing handmade clothes from Igirid to their entrance ceremony.
The conversation about Miku’s dress ended there, and moved on to the entrance ceremony that followed.
“By the way, Kousuke, you’ll be watching the ceremony this time too, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course. – So don’t worry, Miku.”
Kousuke smiled reassuringly at Miku, who had been staring intently at him after hearing Floria’s words.
Miku showed a relieved expression upon seeing his smile.
Despite everything, Miku still loves her father.
Seeing Miku’s expression, Seiya and Shia, who had been silently observing, started to chuckle.
“Miku really likes Father, doesn’t she.”
“Will she be okay going to school?”
“I think she’ll be fine more than Seiya and Shia, you know? She’ll probably make friends quickly too.”
Before Miku could retort to their words, Colette quickly chimed in.
“I-I’ve made friends!”
“That’s right! We’re talking to them properly!”
Seiya and Shia hastily replied to Colette’s words.
It didn’t seem like they would be okay at all, but perhaps thanks to Peach’s training, they were steadily improving.
In any case, it was undeniable that Seiya and Shia were a bit unreliable as seniors.
No one here would pile on them further, but Miku, sensing the atmosphere, turned her gaze to Kousuke.
“Where will you be in the venue?”
“Hmm, sorry. That’s a secret, I guess? If you look too much, you might give it away, you know.”
Kousuke would be hiding somewhere in the venue to watch the ceremony.
If Miku kept looking there, someone sharp would notice immediately.
Therefore, he would refrain from telling her now.
Miku, understanding the situation, didn’t ask any further.
Just knowing Kousuke would come to the ceremony was enough for her.
“Okay. I understand.”
“Now, Miku and the others should be leaving soon. Make sure you take the carriage, alright?”
After seeing Miku nod, Floria emphasized.
The reason for taking the carriage was not only because Miku was wearing a dress, but also because it would be too conspicuous with Seiya and Shia accompanying her, making them three in total.
It’s already known that Seiya and Shia are Kousuke’s biological children.
It would be immediately obvious what relationship Miku had with them if she was seen acting with them.
Therefore, traveling by carriage was necessary to avoid troublesome people along the way.
Of course, with the abilities of Miku and the others, they wouldn’t lose to common thugs.
Prompted by Floria, Miku and the others headed towards the carriage that should be waiting outside.
Until now, Kousuke and the others had been talking in their mansion on the fifth floor.
Peach, of course, would also be participating in the role of guardian.
Kousuke, Floria, and Silvia would follow later and sneak into the venue.
Whether it was due to these strategies(?), Miku’s entrance ceremony concluded safely, and Kousuke was able to witness Miku’s splendid appearance.
When milestone events like this come up, Kousuke and the others are getting older… no, it’s more that Miku and the others have grown, making one feel deeply.
Incidentally, next year Tobi’s entrance ceremony is coming up.
It’s debatable whether I’ll write about it in such detail though haha.
