──side Kaname──
Shougo and the others left the house to search for Natsuki, and I returned home from the Chihara residence in a car prepared by Asaki-chan, my stepdaughter Hinata’s friend.
I wasn’t in the right state of mind, and I thought it would have been better to use the car to search for Natsuki, but Asaki-chan said.
「Hinata-san aside, Shou-niisama and the others would probably arrive faster if they ran.」
As someone who knows the old Shougo, it was hard to believe, but I couldn’t imagine her lying in this situation, so I decided to trust Shougo and the others for now.
Next, I borrowed a mobile phone from Asaki-chan in the car and called the police.
I was asked for detailed information about Natsuki’s characteristics and the last place she was seen, and I answered the officer’s questions anxiously.
I was told they would start searching immediately, so I simply thanked them and hung up.
As soon as I got home, I informed my husband, Tatsumi-san, that Natsuki hadn’t returned, and perhaps because of the previous incident, he seemed very flustered and was making a phone call.
I thought he was calling the police, but it seems not. He spoke in a familiar tone.
「Yes, yes. Eh? It’s the same there? Then they might be together. I’ll contact you if we find out anything.」
Hearing that conversation, I guessed the other party was probably Amano-kun’s father.
Since I had already contacted the police, there was no need for him to call them, but I couldn’t understand why he contacted them first.
「It seems Amano-san’s son hasn’t returned home either. Maybe the two of them went out together?」
He conveyed this puzzling information to me. Does he think such information would reassure me?
「Then why can’t we reach them? If they’re together, wouldn’t it be possible to confirm by contacting their child?」
「That’s… Maybe Natsuki was embarrassed to answer her parents’ call while with a boy?」
「If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be normal for the boy to contact the parents to reassure them? I don’t understand why you would think that way.」
Indeed, the possibility that Natsuki has been involved in something is just that, a possibility.
But I’m beyond angry and just astonished at his overly optimistic statements.
「I’ve contacted the police. And I’ve asked Shougo and the others to search for Natsuki too──」
「Shougo-kun again… If you’ve contacted the police, what can he do?」
「Right. But at least Shougo went out immediately to search for Natsuki. So, is there anything more you can do?」
Whenever I mention Shougo’s name, he makes a bitter face and tries to belittle him.
Why is he so unwilling to acknowledge him? I don’t think he was like this before.
「That’s why I checked with Amano-san…」
「And what meaning does that have? I didn’t hear you ask them to check in the call earlier, did I?」
I asked frankly because I couldn’t understand what assurance that provided.
「…Anyway, if the police are on the move, all we can do is pray for her safety.」
「…Yes, that’s right. Let’s leave it to the police and Shougo and the others for now.」
「Fuun, Shougo, Shougo, you’re quite fixated too. Ahh, indeed, I was surprised when I saw that boy the other day. He’s becoming more and more like him.」
「!! Don’t be ridiculous!!」
There’s a limit to what can and cannot be said.
His words, as if I were looking at Shougo in his place, filled me with an indescribable anger.
At the same time, I felt I glimpsed a part of why my husband treats Shougo coldly.
「Aren’t you seeing her in Hina too!? That’s why──」
This is a futile argument. I know that myself.
Both claiming to see their lost loved ones as if they were replacements.
The fact that we both lost someone important to us has distorted our relationship.
Of course, for me, Shougo is nothing more than the son of my best friend and my daughter’s childhood friend. It’s extremely unpleasant to have even his existence mixed into this.
I don’t remember much of what we said to each other after that. It was such a meaningless argument.
Looking back, my mind may have already been made up at this point.
After arguing for a while, we fell silent, unable to continue the conversation, and just prayed for our daughter’s safety. At least I did.
Looking at the clock, not much time had passed since I left the Chihara house. But as someone waiting, it felt like an endless amount of time.
──Pururururu.
Suddenly, the sound of the home phone ringing reached my ears.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
I quickly picked up the receiver, and upon confirming that the voice was Hinata’s, I waited expectantly for her words, hoping they had found her.
「Kaname-okaasan? We found Natsuki-oneechan!! She seems to have hurt her leg a bit, but she’s safe!!」
「Thank goodness… Hinata, thank you.」
As I held the receiver to my ear, I could feel the strength draining from my body all at once.
「Where’s Natsuki? Can she come to the phone?」
「Umm, well… it might be a bit difficult right now.」
Although she said she was safe earlier, I wonder if something did happen after all. Something that prevents her from coming to the phone.
I suddenly felt anxious again and asked Hina what had happened.
「Please keep what I said a secret from Natsuki-oneechan…!! Natsuki-oneechan is clinging to Onii-chan right now, so it might be difficult for her to come to the phone.」
「Eh? Ahh, is that so…」
I could feel the strength draining from my body once more. Even though she’s my daughter… I can’t help but think so, but imagining that scene, I felt my energy returning.
「Well, as long as she’s safe. I’ll thank Shougo again myself. Everyone, be careful on your way back.」
「Yeah, the police are here too, so it’s okay. And about the culprit…」
Sensing Hina’s hesitation, I came to a certain possibility.
「Amano-senpai was chasing after Natsuki-oneechan with a bunch of men… When we found her, Onee-chan was captured, so if Onii-chan had been a little later…」
「I see…」
So it was. My doubts turned into certainty.
Anyway, if everyone, including Natsuki, is safe, the details can wait until later.
「Understood. Thank you too, Hina. You must be tired, so take your time coming home.」
「Yeah, Asaki-chan is going to give us a ride, so it’s okay. We’re coming back now.」
「Okay, I’ll be waiting.」
It seems Asaki-chan also rushed to the scene after all. I must properly thank those children.
「Has Natsuki been found!?」
「Yes, she was found safe. It seems she was about to be attacked by some men, but Shougo and the others saved her.」
「I see, Shougo-kun…」
For a moment, I saw a flicker of regret in my husband’s relieved expression. Why can’t he simply be happy and grateful?
「Also, it seems Amano-kun was the one who attacked Natsuki. According to Hina, Amano-kun was chasing Natsuki with a bunch of men.」
「…Haa!? On what basis──」
「Basis? It was caught in the act, wasn’t it? Is there a greater basis than that?」
Apparently, it was a hard thing for him to accept.
「No way… It must be a mistake. He would never do such a thing.」
「I think we should be happy that Natsuki is safe now, and Amano-kun’s matter doesn’t really matter.」
Why is my husband turning pale even though Natsuki is safe? Is a business partner, his job, really that important?
「It doesn’t matter? How can you say that!? What am I supposed to do from tomorrow──」
「Again with “what am I supposed to do”.」
At this moment, I think I completely lost interest in my husband.
「Think whatever you want and do whatever you want. I can’t deal with this anymore.」
「…Kaname?」
「Anyway, I have to welcome Natsuki and Hina home. There’s nothing more to talk about with you.」
Leaving my husband, who was standing there dumbfounded──the man I believed to be my husband, I went to prepare the bath and made some coffee, thinking we could talk a bit when they got home.
After a while, he started moving slowly, picked up his work bag and wallet, and staggered out of the house.
「I see, you’re running away.」
His body flinched at my words, but he left the house without looking back.
I might have wished for some kind of response here, but at this point, it would be impossible to repair our relationship no matter what was said.
「Haa, just when Natsuki was found safe. One trouble gone, another comes.」
Welcoming my daughters home is the most important thing right now, I told myself as I waited for their return.