Hayashi Megumi’s Encounter
The woman next to Shiho-chan smiled gently at me, despite my slightly stiff expression.
“Nice to meet you. So you’re the famous Megumi-chan?”
Yamamoto’s mother spoke to me.
It seems Shiho-chan had mentioned me beforehand, as she was already aware of my existence.
“Yes, nice to meet you too.”
I bowed politely.
…Now then.
Yamamoto once told me that his mother is a laissez-faire kind of person. I wonder how she’ll treat me?
“Oh, you’re back.”
“Yo, I’m home.”
Yamamoto peeked out from behind me.
And so, with few words, the Yamamotos celebrated their reunion.
A brief silence followed.
“Sorry, could both of you step outside for a bit?”
It was Yamamoto’s mother who made that suggestion to Yamamoto and Shiho-chan.
“Huh, why?”
“Shiho, let’s go.”
“Wait, why?”
“Just come on. When she’s like this, it’s better to listen.”
Yamamoto said this to Shiho-chan with a hint of exasperation.
…Hearing that, I’m honestly terrified of being left alone here after they leave.
The carefree Yamamoto.
The worried Shiho-chan.
With contrasting expressions, the two left the living room.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Oh, sure.”
Prompted by Yamamoto’s mother, I sat down at the dining table.
Across from me, Yamamoto’s mother took a seat.
…Why on earth did Yamamoto’s mother want me to stay here alone?
Maybe she’s misunderstood something.
Perhaps she thinks I’m some kind of leech, a villainous woman mooching off Yamamoto.
I mean, I am living in the apartment he rented without contributing much… I’m plenty villainous already…
What should I do?
Maybe I should start with an apology to set the mood.
And then, I should probably explain, in detail, how pure and proper my relationship with Yamamoto is.
Yamamoto and I are still minors.
It’s only natural for a parent to worry at our age.
“Megumi-chan, may I ask you something?”
“…Yes.”
I braced myself to bow my head.
There was no room for hesitation.
My pride, or whatever reluctance I had about bowing, was far less important than the time I got to spend with Yamamoto.
So, it’s fine.
Bowing my head?
Getting scolded?
If it meant I could stay with Yamamoto, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Yamamoto’s mother slowly opened her mouth.
“Is he doing well, living his life energetically?”
“…Huh?”
A much simpler question than I expected.
A much more ordinary question than I anticipated.
“Yes.”
I answered.
“He’s, um, probably the same as he was at home. I don’t know what his life was like back then, but… he’s always cleaning whenever he has a spare moment. If he finds even a second, he’s cleaning. That’s how he is.”
“…I see.”
Yamamoto’s mother smiled gently.
That expression… it didn’t match the image of her that Yamamoto had described.
“Um, why ask me?”
“Because I thought you’d give me a more accurate answer.”
“…Would I, though?”
I’ve only been living with Yamamoto for a few months.
I don’t have the slightest confidence that I could accurately convey his current state.
“It’s fine. You’re spot on.”
“…How do you know that?”
“Because that boy has an annoyingly good eye for people.”
“…Annoyingly?”
“Yes, annoyingly. There’s no way a kid like that would choose to live with someone bad.”
“…Is that so?”
I looked down.
I couldn’t let Yamamoto’s mother see my face right now.
I was on the verge of tears.
Because what she was saying meant… Yamamoto truly acknowledges me.
I was ready to give up anything.
If it meant staying with Yamamoto.
To know that the person I care about so much… if, as his mother says, he truly accepts me.
If that’s really true…
I’m happy.
So happy… I could cry.
The heroine, who’s gradually becoming a better person, is turning into someone I barely recognize.
Right now, she’s about 0.7 parts a stranger.
I bet the videos she watches these days have shifted from satisfying “gotcha” clips to cat videos.
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