Chapter 63

Synopsis
The chairwoman, Saikawa, and Ryuuichi all have plans the same day, so no one will be able to look after Kotaro. Kotaro is given a choice of whose house to stay in, and he chooses Usaida's. During his sleepover, Kotaro discovers one of Usaida's secrets.

Long Summary
Saikawa informs the chairwoman that her event will clash with Ryuu's two-day, one-night school excursion. Thus, Kotaro will have no guardian to take care of him. At the daycare center, the children and their mothers excitedly look at Kotaro, inviting him to their respective houses to stay for the night. Ryuu, worried about burdening the mothers, tell them that he can stay home from this trip, but one of the mothers tells him that he must take school trips seriously. The children all eagerly tell him to stay over so they can play. Usaida says that this experience will be good, as Kotaro will be able to experience life without Ryuu. Ryuu asks Kotaro if he will be able to stay over at someone else's house without him. Before he answers, Usaida asks Kotaro if he is willing to do anything for Ryuu, to which Kotaro swiftly agrees. The children line up in front of Kotaro as he is about to choose. Kotaro looks at them all for a moment and then puts his hands on Usaida's knees, announcing that he wishes to stay over at Usaida's house. The children are stunned by Kotaro's apparent betrayal, and the mothers feel disappointed as well. The children even start to tear up and ask why Kotaro does not want to stay with them. Yayoi assumes Kotaro chose Usaida in order to avoid conflicts, but Ryuu denies this. Usaida asks Kotaro if he will be alright at his house, as the children will not be there to accompany him. The day of the sleepover arrives, and Ryuu and Hayato are wearing athletic clothing because they will be hiking up the mountains after the bus ride. Ryuu apologizes to Usaida for leaving Kotaro in his care while Hayato berates his brother for crying over Kotaro's choice. Ryuu tells Kotaro to behave himself while he is gone and, at the last minute, tells Usaida that his favorite storybook and pajamas are in the bag. Hayato tells him to hurry up so they can leave. Once they have left, Taka tells Kotaro that if he feels lonely, he can stay at his house. Kotaro reaffirms that he wants to stay at Usaida's house. Meanwhile, Hayato and Ryuu are hiking up the mountain with their classmates. Shizuka orders Usaida to hide any inappropriate things that may be in his house and takes Taka home, comforting him and telling him that they can invite Kotaro over a different time. On Usaida's way home with Kotaro, he encounters many aunties who assume that Kotaro is his illegitimate son and that he is having some sort of love affair. Usaida repeatedly denies this, but the aunties do not listen and start gossiping about who the mother could be. The aunties ask Kotaro what his name is, and Kotaro replies with Ryuu's name. Usaida tells him that that is his brother's name. The aunties are stunned, thinking that Usaida has another son as well. The aunties give Kotaro several gifts such as bread, candy, and vegetables. He accepts a paper bag and thanks the aunties. At Usaida's home, Usaida is impressed by how much stuff Kotaro earned him. He jokingly tells Kotaro that he will keep him as a son after all, intimidating Kotaro, who backs into a corner. Usaida tells him that he is only making a joke; Kotaro starts to move back but knocks down a stack of books, some of which are adult magazines. Kotaro looks at a book about education and teaching and points to the teacher on the cover. Usaida swiftly takes the book from him and hides it in his closet. He asks Kotaro if he saw anything while also neglecting to put away the adult magazines. Kotaro replies that he saw a teacher. Usaida tells Kotaro that he will have to keep that a secret, even from Ryuu. Kotaro becomes conflicted about keeping a secret from Ryuu, but Usaida instructs him to just do the best that he can. Kotaro agrees to keep the secret. Usaida's phone rings, and he gives the phone to Kotaro since Ryuu is on the line. Ryuu asks if Kotaro is having fun at Usaida's house, and Kotaro says that he is keeping a secret. Ryuu asks Usaida what secret he is talking about, but Usaida simply dismisses his comment. Ryuu starts to worry, and Hayato suggests that perhaps Kotaro had seen something inappropriate. After the call, Usaida brings Kotaro to the bathhouse with him. Usaida reads Kotaro a picture book and texts Ryuu a photo of Kotaro to show that he is fast asleep. Usaida pats Kotaro's head and thanks him for keeping his secret. The secret is not a big deal, but it is a little embarrassing. He looks at the back of the book, which reveals that the chairwoman's son, Morinomiya Youchi, is the author of the book. He looks at the author's note in the book, which says that the children are really adorable. Usaida thinks to himself that even though he is not his student, he completely understands his feelings.

The next day, Usaida gives back Kotaro and also hands Ryuu the bag that the aunties gave him. Ryuu asks about the secret Kotaro mentioned, but Usaida simply smiles and tells him that he and Kotaro have a little secret between them.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Morinomiya Youko
 * Saikawa Keigo
 * Kotaro Kashima
 * Taka Kamitani
 * Shizuka Kamitani
 * Umi Mamizuka
 * Kumatsuka Yayoi
 * Sawatari Yukari
 * Ryuuichi Kashima
 * Kirin Kumatsuka
 * Takuma Mamizuka
 * Kazuma Mamizuka
 * Sawatari Midori
 * Usaida Yoshihito
 * Hayato Kamitani
 * Saginuma
 * Usokawa
 * Ebizawa
 * Morinomiya Youichi (cameo)