──side Natsuki──
「I’m hoーwa!!」
「Natsuki!!」
She must have been really worried. As soon as I returned home, Okaa-san embraced me.
As I feel sorry for causing her worry, tears well up from the relief and joy of returning safely.
「I’m sorry for making you worry…」
「I heard the situation from Hina too. Thank you, Hina, for helping Natsuki.」
「I didn’t really do anything though…」
Hina is being modest, but that’s not true. Just coming to that place must have taken courage.
「I’m late in thanking you. Hina-chan, thank you.」
「Even Natsuki-oneechan… We’re family, so it’s only natural!!」
She says words that make me even happier.
If only Shou-chan were here. I think, but now that I’ve heard a bit about the situation on the way home, it’s clear that Shou-chan decided to stay away to not worry us, so it can’t be helped.
If anything, knowing the situation now makes me want to be close by to support him even more.
「Huh? By the way, where’s Oji-san?」
Hina voices her question.
Now that I think about it, Otou-san should have heard the situation from Okaa-san. I thought he would be worried and come running when I returned home…
「Ahh… if you’re talking about him, he left.」
「「Eh!?」」
Okaa-san, looking a bit tired, informed us that Otou-san had left.
It was so sudden that I couldn’t predict what had happened, and I was just confused.
「More importantly, you must be tired, right? I’ll prepare some drinks, so wait in the living room. Ah, Natsuki, your foot is injured, isn’t it? Take your time.」
Following Okaa-san’s suggestion, Hina-chan and I headed to the table in the living room, sat down on chairs, and waited for her.
Before long, Okaa-san returned with coffee for the three of us.
I added milk and sugar, stirred the cup with a spoon, and waited for Okaa-san to start talking.
「I’m sorry. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this, but─」
With that preface, Okaa-san began to speak slowly.
That Otou-san didn’t accept Shou-chan and sent him back home.
That he didn’t accept the fact that Amano-kun was the main culprit behind today’s events.
That while worrying about me, he was also concerned about his relationship with Amano Hospital, a business partner…
Especially not knowing that Otou-san had kicked Shou-chan out, I was stunned by that fact, and then anger welled up.
Couldn’t he have at least said a word to us? Especially regarding Hina-chan, who is his real sister. It seemed inhumane, to say the least.
「No way… Oji-san…」
Hina-chan bit her lip, looking sad. Of course. Until now, Otou-san had seemed to dote on Hina-chan as if she were his own daughter.
And yet, not even informing her that her real brother had returned, it’s an unbelievable betrayal even coming from my own father.
「There’s a reason why he’s treating Shougo and Hina differently… I’m sorry. It’s about our past.」
Okaa-san apologizes to us, looking regretful.
The fact that she won’t go into details means she’s not ready to talk about it yet. Or perhaps she thinks it’s not the right time.
I did want to know, but I believed she would tell us someday, so I didn’t press the issue.
Moreover, Otou-san seemed to be trying to push my relationship with Amano-kun forward.
So while I can somewhat understand why he might not believe it right away, considering Hina-chan was at the place she contacted Okaa-san from, and Okaa-san conveyed it to him, there’s no reason not to believe given the circumstances.
Additionally, the fact that he was concerned about his relationship with Amano Hospital. I can no longer defend him on this point.
Sure, work is important. We understand and are grateful that we can live comfortably because our parents work and provide for us.
But that’s a separate issue.
Regardless of his inner thoughts, shouldn’t he at least prioritize his family in front of them? Or do all fathers in the world live solely for their work?
Come to think of it, since he started dealing with Amano Hospital, Otou-san has been prioritizing work more. By then, I was in middle school, so I didn’t feel lonely for not getting attention, but I think we started having meals together less often.
The final straw was my relationship with Amano-kun.
As it turned out, he was the stalker, but I’m grateful for the fact that he saved me from being attacked by a pervert.
But even so, was it necessary to recommend someone I barely knew to me?
In the end, while saying it was for my happiness, Otou-san might have been thinking only about work.
He said he worked hard for his family, but looking back at Otou-san recently, I felt that the means and the end had been reversed.
「But mom. Do you know where dad went…?」
「I don’t know. But he surely won’t come back soon.」
Then, Okaa-san continued.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「Actually, I’ve been thinking about this since Shougo’s situation…」
With that preface, Okaa-san took out a piece of paper.
「This is…」
「I was planning to wait until you two graduated from high school. But today’s events confirmed it for me.」
The paper, which at first glance seemed a slightly dark green, clearly had “Divorce Papers” printed on it.
「I thought about not doing it today, but with him gone now, I thought it was a good opportunity. Natsuki, Hina. What do you want to do?」
There was a slight anxiety in Okaa-san’s eyes. But the answer is obvious without even being asked.
「Of course, I’ll go with mom.」
「Me too…」
「Hina, you can go back to Shougo, you know? We can even restore your family register…」
That would be the natural choice. I thought so too. Regardless of me, wouldn’t it be better to return to the Chihara surname?
「No, I can see Onii-chan anytime, and I’m part of this family too.」
「Hina…」
Okaa-san wipes the corners of her eyes at Hina-chan’s words. Hina-chan cared about us so much…
I almost started crying too.
「Ah!!」
Suddenly, Hina-chan raised her voice.
「That’s it!! We should all go to the Chihara house!!」
「Eh?」
Hina-chan puffs out her chest as if it’s a brilliant idea. Indeed, Shou-chan is living alone now, and since it’s Hina-chan’s family home too, there’s no problem in returning. But…
「Um, Hina? That’s very kind of you, but wouldn’t it trouble Shougo…」
「But I want to live with everyone too, and Onii-chan will surely accept it if we explain the situation!!」
「Well, Shougo probably wouldn’t say no…」
「Besides, Natsuki-oneechan, you want to be with Onii-chan now that you’ve finally talked to him, right? Right!?」
「Y-Yeah. I want that too, but…」
Completely overwhelmed by Hina’s momentum, Okaa-san and I ended up giving a slurred response.
「If that’s decided, I’ll immediately tell Onii-chan…」
「W-Wait, Hina. We haven’t prepared anything yet, and I’ll talk to Shougo about it first, okay?」
「Y-Yeah, Hina-chan. I’m not mentally prepared yet…」
We dissuaded Hina-chan, who seemed ready to rush to the Chihara house right now, and decided to postpone this conclusion for another day.
「Ahh, by the way, Natsuki. You were able to talk to Shougo in the end, right?」
「Ah, yeah. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this, but I properly said “welcome back”.」
「Natsuki-oneechan was clinging to Onii-chan the whole timeー.」
Hina-chan drops a bomb.
「My, my, that’s nice to hear.」
Where did the previous atmosphere go? It’s irritating how Okaa-san looks at me with a sly grin.
「Geez!! That’s enough talk for today!!! I have school tomorrow, so I’m going to bed!!」
「Yes, yes, that’s right. It’s time for bed.」
I cut the conversation short before being teased any further and stood up from my chair to head to my room.
「Ah, right, Natsuki.」
「What? If you’re going to tease me more, I’m not talking.」
I warn her just in case.
「Make sure to hold onto him properly this time, okay?」
「……Yeah.」
I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or teasing me, but I intended to do that from the beginning. I never want to feel like that again.
「Fufu, then good night. Natsuki, Hina.」
「Good night.」
「Good nightー.」
After exchanging good night greetings, we head to our bedrooms.
Not because Hina-chan said it, but I remember the sensation of hugging Shou-chan, and I can’t help but feel my cheeks relax.
The somewhat unreliable boy in my memories had somehow become a well-toned man, his face completely changed into that of an adult.
My heart raced at that change, and I remember being half-dazed while hugging him.
Although I was confused by the sudden change, the Shou-chan I finally talked to was still Shou-chan.
I’m sure we’ll be able to talk normally from tomorrow.
With my heart racing for the school life starting tomorrow, I spent a sleepless night.