I managed to get over the barrage of questions at the doorway, and joined Amari and the others who seemed to have already gone inside to talk.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it, but I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

　It's true that I was worried about my future, so I had no choice but to shut up as if I were biting down a bitter bug.

　So we finished the wedding greeting along with the dinner Kuroone-cooked, and while Kuroone-and-Amana-chan were taking a bath, I had to reveal a series of circumstances related to that girl.
　This was decided after discussing it with Amari beforehand, and she also did not want to hide anything from my parents, who would be my family members, so she was going to tell them.

　After hearing all the details, my parents.....

"Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!　What a guy you are for being so young and going through all that trouble!
'Wa, you've done well~. Take care of it!　If you make Tenri-chan sad, her mother will cook a lot of meals, okay?

　He was in tears and started to praise Amanashi.
　Unbeknownst to me, he also praised my actions in preventing the mother and son from getting along, but he also asked me to take responsibility for that.
　Of course, I knew that.

　It's not that I don't want to eat my mother's cooking.
　If I didn't, I wouldn't!

'Oh, thank you...'

　In response to such kind words from the two of them, Amari returned the thanks, though she was afraid.

　Although she's calmed down now, she was delirious all the way to Amana-chan as well.
　In a way, that girl, her stepdaughter, is a grandchild in the eyes of her parents, so it can't be helped.

　I thought they wouldn't hate me, so I'm glad they accepted me right away.
　I patted my chest for now.

''So, I wonder when their wedding ceremony will be~?
'Ahhh, we just went to a ceremony consultation and we haven't decided yet. I was told it would probably be from next March at the earliest, but...
I see ... if you need a fee, you can always come and talk to me about it, okay?
Yeah, I'll count on you to be there for me if I have to.

　From there we switched to the topic of the wedding.
　As for the cost, I replied that, but I'm actually not too worried about it.

　I've got plenty of money saved up from all the money I've earned from transporting sea slugs, and Amari was able to make ends meet while raising Amana.
　But even so, the cost of the wedding ceremony would be quite a bit of money, since you would still have to pay for the venue, dress and suit rentals, and also prepare an engagement ring.
　That's why I returned the offer to rely on them if it really came down to it.

　Referring to the experience of the pioneers, my dad suddenly became quiet.

''Amari-san. Thank you for deciding to marry Kazu.

　Before I could ask him what's wrong, my dad bowed his head towards Tenri.
　I, of course, was shocked by this action, and Tenri was astonished with her eyes wide open.　

　But my dad didn't care about our reaction and continued.

''This guy found himself put himself on the back burner. But even from our brief conversation, I could tell that he had changed since meeting Amari and her daughter. I'm such a brat, but please take care of me.
'No, no. I........my daughter was able to remain a father and daughter because of Kazu-san. So I just want to thank you for raising him to be so kind and wonderful.
... really, it's a shame that my son doesn't deserve to look like such a good person...
It's not...

　At her parents' words of gratitude, Tenashi is puzzled and returns the thanks in reverse.
　However, her expression seems somewhat gloomy.

''Is there something you're worried about?　Amanashi?
'What? No!　I'll be fine, okay?

　I call out to him to see if he's not feeling well, but he brushes off the idea that there's nothing wrong with him.
　The guilt is clearly evident, but I can't decide how to get it out of him.

　Just as I was thinking what the hell........

''Amari-chan. Could it be that you're afraid of getting married?
What...?

　Suddenly, Mom interrupts and Amari rolls her eyes, wondering if she's figured it out.
　Questions start to swirl in my head, like how did you know and what does it mean to be afraid of marriage?

''Well as I told you earlier, the reason Yuna and Tatsuto-san got into the accident was because I encouraged them to go out in the first place. I was worried that if the same thing happened to them after marrying Kazu-san, I'd be worried if the same thing happened to them...
'Oh....'

　A voice leaked out at Amari's words as she revealed what was on her mind.

　The anxiety she was feeling came from a déjà vu-like fear that the same thing would happen.
　No matter how much time had passed, the accident had always stuck in the back of her mind.
　The accident was the driver's fault for driving the truck incorrectly, and Tenashi was only suggesting a breather out of concern for the two of them, so he shouldn't be responsible for it at all.

　She's planning to marry me, but that's not the same as this.
　It's not so easy to lose the fear of the unknown future that we all face.

　I'm not sure how to put it all together, and I'm holding my tongue at the state of mind I'm in when I'm in a near-marital blue, when my mother gently takes my hand.

It's natural to feel uneasy about someone who is so important to you, Tenri-chan....
....

　Tenri listens to her mother, who utters her sympathy in a soft voice tone, without a counterpoint.

'It's not just about the accident. It's not just about the accident, it's about Amana's future as a married couple, and there are a lot of things you're worried about because you don't know.　I wasn't able to take care of Kazu and Kurone very well, so I was afraid of being a proper mother.
Oh, you mean your mother-in-law?

　I was just as surprised as Tenashi was by the story Mom revealed.
　I certainly didn't remember having them come to my class visits or sports day, but I still respected my parents for that.

'No one knows what the future holds, so it's important to be prepared for it and be vigilant. ........but, you know what?　It's no good looking forward and despising the 'now'. We've made our feelings for each other and become a couple, so if we don't savor the happiness that's right in front of us, there's no point in regretting it, no matter how well prepared we are.
The happiness that is right in front of me...

　That's where Amari looks at me next to her.
　From the lapis lazuli eyes I had seen many times, the color of anxiety that had been dwelling in the blotting seemed to have faded.

''I'm ... sorry. It was rude of me to be this nervous about getting married, wasn't it?
'Nope. Amari's fears are justified, and we just need to support each other so that they don't become a reality.

"?　Why are you laughing?

　I encouraged Amanashi to regain his composure, but for some reason, he smiled at me.
　Did I say something strange?
　When I ask her about it, she prefaces her question with an "I'm sorry" before revealing the reason.

'I just thought you and your mother-in-law are very much alike.
Well, the part about not being able to cook is similar, but...
'That's not what I meant but I'm glad you're a wonderful mother-in-law.
Thank you.

　I don't know, but it's impossible not to be happy to be praised by my family, so I tell them thanks while looking away from their faces.
　Eventually, Kurone and Amana-chan, who had been taking a bath, returned, so we ended the conversation as it was.......