CH 20

I came to deliver something that Ayana forgot… well, I did consider the possibility of this happening. When the door opened and the person who came out was Ayana’s mother, Seina-san, I thought to myself that I might have messed up. However, I was confused by Seina-san’s somewhat lackluster demeanor.

However, I thought it would be better if I didn’t say anything at all, so I spoke frankly about my business.

“Oh, hello. Ayana left something behind, so I’ve come to deliver it.”

Just keep it up, and Seina-san won’t say anything strange ……,right?

I was inwardly nervous, wondering what she would say to me, but contrary to my expectations, Seina-san remained silent. I didn’t think she had a good impression of me from our past encounters until now, so I was prepared to be told to take the forgotten item and leave as soon as possible… but the situation seemed different. Perhaps Ayana had said something to her.

“…… forgot something. forgot something huh.”

“……Uhm”

……Is this person really Seina?　She looks so weak that it makes me think so. It is true that I am not very good at dealing with this person. But I can’t overlook the fact that a woman, and the mother of the girl I’m dating, is looking so distressed in front of me.

“Are you okay?”

“…… eh?

“You seem to be in a lot of pain.”

Anybody would say so, that’s how much I can’t look at Seina-san now. It’s strange to say that I would feel safer if she had just glared at me like she did back then, but she looks so much like the adult Ayana that I can’t help but be curious.

I also want to quickly finish my business for Ayana and go home, but that Ayana left something behind.

I thought about giving it to Seina, and that’s when she opened her mouth.

I was not expecting you to ask me if I’m okay. For you, I’m the one you don’t want to see, right?”

“…… that is.”

How could I nod yes, in front of the person in question?

But …… right. Maybe this is a good opportunity. If I am being rejected the moment I meet her, there is no way I can get anywhere with her, but now that Seina-san is talking to me, I think I can have a conversation with her.

“If I’m honest,……, you may be right. My impression of you is fixed from the first time we met.”

“……right.”

“Yeah. I was scared because I had never experienced a beautiful woman staring at me while I was a little boy.”

I was honestly scared. The way she looked at me, I thought I was going to hear a manga sound effect of a giggle. Seina is Ayana’s mother, and she is a beautiful woman. I heard that when a beautiful woman gets angry, it can be scary, and it really was. Well, I can laugh about it now.

I told her I was scared, but there was no change in her expression. …… This person is seriously hurt.

I know this may end up rubbing salt in the wound, but I’m going to take it one step further.

“I have to tell you something. I’m going out with Ayana.”

“I know ……. She told me about it. She told me that she had always loved you and couldn’t believe that she was related to me, who had said such horrible things about you.”

“……………”

Ayana said some pretty harsh things.

Seina never said those words to Towa herself, but I know what she said because it was revealed in the fan disk. When Ayana heard those words, she became filled with hatred… It was right after Shu’s mother had said various things.

But now I finally understand Seina’s situation. It’s not hard to imagine that having a beloved daughter deny her being blood related to her must be quite painful. Part of me feels sorry that I am at the center of it, but the other part of me feels …… sorry for Ayana’s feelings. It’s a tough call, really.

“…There’s something I told Ayana when she left.”

“?”

I decided to tell Seina-san, who tilted her head. What I told Ayana, that’s what I’m going to tell her.

“I don’t want us to be on bad terms forever, so I told her I would do my best to talk to you and get you to accept that we are on good terms. That’s what I told her.”

“……………”

“I love Ayana. I would have to be in contact with you a lot. That’s why I don’t want to have a rift with you. I’d rather laugh and have a good time than quarrel with you anyway, don’t you agree?　At least that’s what I think.”

As long as I’m going out with Ayana, I can’t avoid being involved with Seina-san. Even if I were to disregard Seina-san’s wishes and be with her, I don’t want Ayana to have to deal with her family-related problems. Family is a special thing, a special existence that cannot be replaced by anything else. …… Of course, this is true for me as well.

“Even if you don’t approve of me, I will come talk to you until you do. So please be prepared. I’m not a quitter when Ayana is involved.”

I would do this much for Ayana, that’s how I expressed my willingness.

Hearing my words, Seina-san surprisedly looked at me and then started to giggle.

“……Fufu…… ahaha. You’re not giving up so …..huh. You really are like him in every way. …… must be. You’d go that far for someone you love.”

“……uhm?”

I became worried about what had happened to Seina-san when she smiled as if she had understood something. Seina-san wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes and then looked at me… no, it felt like she was looking at someone else. But soon her gaze fell on me.

Seina-san took a deep breath and then bowed her head to me.

“I’m sorry. I was so rude to you… and said such terrible things. I know that an apology like this isn’t enough. But still… I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t just brush off Seina-san’s sudden apology with a laugh. She seemed so serious about it.

For me, it was something I had already moved past, so I wasn’t particularly bothered by it. But I thought that I would accept her apology for her sake as well. I felt that by doing so, Seina-san could also move forward.

“Yes. But please also tell Ayana. I’m sure she suffered too.”

“Yes… you’re right. But first, I wanted to apologize to you.”

Seina-san raised her face and there was no longer any trace of darkness in her expression. I felt a kind of atmosphere where she had let go of something, like a burden had been lifted.

…It might be a little sneaky, but would this request also be granted now?

“Um… can I still come here to see Ayana? Here, I mean.”

Seina-san nodded.

“Of course. It might seem convenient now, but I want to get to know you better too. After all, you’re the person my daughter has fallen for.”

“…………”

In just one day, my impression of Seina-san had changed considerably, and I felt a little bewildered. But I didn’t sense any falsehood in her words just now. I had wondered how things would turn out, but I suppose this can be considered resolved now.

“I’m a little confused. Ahaha…”

“I’m sorry. But you don’t have to worry about anything. It’s all my fault. I’ve just been carrying around something from a long time ago”

There was still a bit of awkwardness between us, but I felt confident that we could continue to build a good relationship. Things had gone smoothly in the absence of Ayana, but I planned to report to her later… That was my plan, but then I heard footsteps running down from the second floor.

“Mom! I forgot my smartphone, so I need to go get it… Towa-kun!?”

It was Ayana who came running down. Yes, Kana had forgotten her smartphone. So I couldn’t contact her directly to ask her to come get her forgotten item.

Ayana looked surprised when she saw me at the entrance, and then she turned her sharp gaze to Seina-san, but soon that gaze turned into one of confusion. And it’s no wonder, since Seina-san’s atmosphere was calm.

“Oh, so that’s what Ayana forgot. Hey, Yukishiro-kun… Can I call you Towa-kun?”

“Ah, that’s fine.”

“Since you’re here, why don’t we chat a bit more? But this time, Ayana will join us too.”

“Is that okay?　I’m sorry to bother you then!”

“Welcome, Fufu. I’ll go prepare some tea.”

Following her lead, I stepped inside the Otonashi residence for the first time in my life. I took off my shoes and straightened my appearance before heading up the hallway, where Ayana suddenly let out a loud voice.

“WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED!? AM I DREAMING OR SOMETHING!?”

Her voice was louder than any I had ever heard before, and I made a mental note that it might cause a disturbance to the neighbors.