A nasal voice.

The high school we both attended was the same, but Hayashi’s nearest station was two stops away from mine. In the city, two stops can sometimes mean just a few minutes’ walk, but in the countryside, two stops can easily mean over an hour on foot.

Stepping off at Hayashi’s station, an unfamiliar world unfolded before my eyes.

“Let’s go.”

But of course, this was a world Hayashi knew well.

Without a hint of hesitation, Hayashi tugged me along toward the station’s ticket gate.

Come to think of it, we were still holding hands.

The distant hum of cicadas filled the air. My hometown is hotter than the city, and even now in September, the midday heat makes sweat bead on my forehead, unbearable and relentless.

“How far’s your house from here on foot?”

“About thirty minutes, I guess.”

“That’s way too far to walk.”

“Yeah, it is.”

At the ticket gate, we had to let go of each other’s hands for a moment. Hayashi released mine with a reluctant air, as if even my hand was something she wanted to cling to, dreading the return to her family home.

Just thinking about that made me feel a pang of guilt for bringing her here.

“Let’s take a taxi.”

“Sounds good.”

I went along with Hayashi’s suggestion.

At the station’s rotary, we hopped into a taxi waiting at the stand and headed toward her house.

Maybe because we were in an environment with someone else around, Hayashi’s chatter dropped off sharply. Lately, when we’re in public, she hardly speaks to me. I used to think it was because she disliked me, but today, it felt like something else.

Staring out the taxi window at the passing scenery, Hayashi exuded a nostalgic aura. Not long ago, she’d chosen to live with a guy and leave her hometown behind, probably thinking she’d never return. That’s likely why seeing this scenery again stirred such deep emotions in her.

“Fifteen hundred yen.”

We paid the driver and got out of the taxi.

We stood in front of a house in a residential neighborhood.

“…This is it?”

“Yeah.”

The air around Hayashi grew heavy, a stark contrast to earlier. It was clear she was nervous.

“…I’m gonna ring the bell.”

“Go for it.”

Hayashi steeled herself and reached for the doorbell. …But her index finger hovered, unable to touch it. It was as if an insurmountable distance separated her finger from the bell.

Her hand was trembling.

She’d prepared herself, but even so…

I didn’t offer to press it for her.

I’d come this far with her, but the issues between Hayashi and her parents were, after all, not my place to meddle in. It wouldn’t be right to push her into a choice.

Hayashi bit her lip in frustration. She wanted to press it but couldn’t. Her face said it all.

That’s when it happened.

The door to her family home opened.

“…Megumi?”

The person who stepped out was probably…

“…Mom.”

Hayashi’s mother, who’d come out casually, froze at the sight of her daughter, whom she thought she’d never see again. She covered her mouth, tears faintly glistening in the corners of her eyes.

“Where have you been?!”

Hayashi’s mother enveloped her in a hug, her voice quivering.

“…I’m sorry.”

Hayashi’s apology trembled too. Somehow, I understood her feelings in that moment. Maybe because we’d been living together for a month?

No, it was obvious just looking at her tearful face.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

…On the train, Hayashi had spoken about her resentment toward her father. But she hadn’t said anything about hating her mother. Hayashi’s the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve, so the fact that she never mentioned any grudge against her mom probably meant there wasn’t one.

That’s why she could express her true feelings so openly.

“…It’s okay. It’s okay. You came back to us, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah. Yeah.”

“And who’s this?”

The sudden attention made my body jolt.

…I’d been so detached I forgot, but yeah, I was about to get dragged into some drama.

“…Is he the boyfriend you mentioned before?”

“No…”

Hayashi sniffled, tears streaming down her face like a waterfall.

“Huh?”

Her mother’s gaze toward me shifted instantly to one of wariness.

…Well, yeah, that makes sense.

I gave a wry smile. Here comes the drama. I might cry too!

“I broke up with that guy… He was abusive. This guy… he saved me…”

Hayashi’s mother’s jaw dropped at her daughter’s bombshell revelation. It’s not like you can expect someone to process that kind of information right away. No one would want to believe their daughter had been a victim of domestic violence.

“If it weren’t for him… I… I wouldn’t have made it back here…”

Hayashi said through sobs, her nose running.

Her face was a mess, worse than I’d ever seen.

Even when I took her in and gave her a place to stay, she hadn’t shown this much raw emotion.

…No matter what, this place—this was her home.

The look in her mother’s eyes softened as she looked at me.

“…I see. I see… You’re lucky, meeting someone so wonderful.”

Hayashi’s mother gently stroked her crying daughter’s head as she looked down.

“And you… um…”

“Oh, I’m Yamamoto.”

“Yamamoto-kun… Now that I think about it, I might’ve seen you at a school open house.”

“You’ve got a good memory.”

I gave another wry smile.

“Yes… Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“N-no, please, it’s fine.”

Hayashi’s mother bowed deeply, and I flailed in a panic. I kept telling her to stop, but she didn’t let up until she was satisfied.

For now, I handed Hayashi some tissues I’d brought along.

Watching her daughter blow her nose with a loud honk, Hayashi’s mother seemed somehow delighted.

“…So, Mom, where were you headed?”

Still standing at the doorstep with red, swollen eyes, Hayashi asked her mother.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot.”

Hayashi’s mother clapped her hands playfully.

Then, with a slightly lonely smile, she looked at us.

“Since you’re here, want to come along?”

“Where to?”

“The hospital.”

A bad feeling must’ve hit her—Hayashi’s face went pale.

“Your dad’s in the hospital right now.”

That’s what her mother said.

I want to be honest with everyone. But there’s one thing I’ve been lying about all this time.

I’ve been agonizing over whether to say it or not. But lately, I’ve realized I have to come clean.

Taking this incident seriously and reflecting on it, I want to keep writing for all of you with even more sincerity moving forward.

So please, don’t be mad when you hear this.

That thing about posting two chapters a day? That was a lie.

I’m really sorry. I don’t even know how to apologize properly. But I’d be so grateful if you could forgive me.

I’m truly sorry.

I’m sorry for only managing one day of posting two chapters.