CH 18

I told the woman in front of me that I had always liked Chisome.

Well of course that's how it is.... Because I remembered this world through Chisome, enough that I've always said that Chisome was my favorite character ever since.

"You like her, you said? Moreover from the moment you met?"

"Yeah. Calling her a monster and abandoned her, you who have thrown her away will never understand this feeling though."

“.........”

I smile wryly at her who rounds her eyes.

To be honest, I'm not sure if it's that much of a surprise, but if I had met Chisome without any prior knowledge, I'm sure I would have had reacted in the same way――that is even if I knew about her, I would be frightened by the strange atmosphere she gave off.

"... I don't understand what you mean... such a monster――"

"It's Chisome."

"..."

"That child's name is Chisome. It's not a monster, that child's name is Chisome."

Only there I will pierce the nail so as to make a clear correction.

Losing the momentum from earlier, the woman stares at me dumbfounded as if she doesn't understand what's going on.

The attendant who is watching this from a little distance is worried about the woman's condition, but seems to be waiting for until her calls.

"Um... I too without knowing anything about the circumtances, and if it's about your position and your thinking and your feelings, though I wouldn't want to understand it, I might be able to make an understanding of it."

"e?"

“After going through the trouble at great pains of labor, and the child you gave birth to has a special power, and this special power has the ability to easily kill someone.... it is certainly scary, and I can understand the feelings of wanting to ask why.”

It's frustrating, but when I think about it objectively, I can understand her feelings... I'm sure, not just her, but even anyone would also feel the same way.

But I want to say it like this, even if others would think of me as cheeky or impudent...even if no one would want to hear it, this alone I want to it to be conveyed.

"She has in her own way suffered and suffered, and now she's finally smiling from the bottom of her heart. This, do please take a look at it."

Saying that, I took out my smartphone and showed her my treasured collection.

When we first met, there was still a photo of the black-haired Chisome with a smile on her face, and now, with silver hair, her smile has become even more beautiful.....her appearance was far from being described as a monster.

"Chisome...it could be yes, in the future she would have become a more terrifying existence. But at least the current her is now different. The girl who spends her time with as my little sister is such a cute girl like this. Looking at this smile, can you still say she's a monster?"

"......."

I continued to speak to her who was silent as if to press for an answer.

"I don't know why you contacted me this time. There is also such saying that I just caught your eye, or that you were curious about that child. You abandoned your child... so you don't have the right to say anything about her anymore――you're no longer her parent."

The woman didn't say anything back.

Well, she must have abandoned Chisome because she thought that she was a hindrance from the bottom of her heart, so even if I said it like this, it wouldn't hurt her at all I guess.

But I don't want to be misunderstood, I want her to look hurt or something, I don't think any such thing at all.

"But... from my point of view, I am grateful to you."

The woman raised her face.

"Thanks to your judgment, I was able to meet Chisome. From the bottom of my heart I wanted to protect, an existence with whom I could say I love you. That's why thank you."

"....What are you"

"And then, please do leave that child to me. You may wonder what a brat who hasn't grown up yet is saying but, even so I'll be watching over her from now on. Hence as her big brother, I will protect her smile."

Even if I never met her like this, I don't think my feelings would have changed.

After that, the woman stopped saying anything, so to me things couldn't be anymore awkward... It was just when I was about to get up, thinking it was time to go home.

"I don't know...I really don't know. Why do you think that way, I absolutely can't understand it at all. Even though it was just a whim that I met you this time, if it would made me enough to feel like this then I wish I hadn't met you."

Un, this is, it does seems like I ended up being most hated.

I don't care whatsoever if she hates me for saying that about Chisome, but it's a bit heartbreaking to hear her say this because she looks exactly like Chisome.

"It was a waste of time, really... but it was also a meaningful time."

"That is...."

"I can't change that child's view anymore. No matter how much you tell me, it won't change...that's why I can't change from being the worst parent anymore."

The woman looked straight at me.

With an expression that hasn't changed since we met, she lastly said,

"From now on, I will not be meddling with you two. It was within my expectation that he died, but we don't care about each other, so let us forget of this matter―― and about that child, do please take care of her."

I immediately replied to those words.

"Well look who's talking."

“Fufu, even with this, I want her to be born soon when she’s still in my belly… I was full of feelings that I want to dote on her as early you know. Well then, this will be our parting, though we won't see each other again, please do stay healthy.”

That's how my encounter with her came to an end.

After all, she left without giving her name until the end but... for some reason, a thinking came to me just now.

At first I was thinking "what is with this person", but I think there were many really gentle expressions towards the end... When she said to please take care of Chisome, when she also said to stay healthy her expression was really kind.

".....Could it be that, the opposite is happening to me?"

Chisome's power is both powerful and often unknown.

I don't know what Kuro Chisome was in the first place, or in what way it came to dwell in Chisome, and I may never be able to figure it out in the future as well.

Because of such a mysterious power, I thought of it like this.

Contrary to the strong affection I have for Chisome, that woman might have lost the affection she had for Chisome against her will... that's what I thought.

"... Well, I was thinking about that person's inconsistency that I felt in my own way. It's because she had a really kind woman's face around at the end."

There are various things that makes me curious, but as she said, it seems we won't see each other again.

I don't know why, but somehow I feel that way.

Perhaps it's because we had such a quite strong conversation, I wanted to see Chisome right away, so I rushed home running.

"... Phew, as expected, it's already fine, right?"

I've been outside for about two hours, so I guess it's already fine.

I felt like taking a shower first, but the moment I opened the front door and went inside――Chisome and Kuro Chisome hugged me as if they were waiting for me.

"Otto....."

"Welcome back Nii-san! You might be a little late!"

"...so I got late huhhh"

It seems that the preparations were completed sooner than expected.

I told them to let go because of my sweat, but they didn't want to at all, they grabbed my arm and started walking as if they didn't mind getting dirty with sweat.

"Try going in and see, Nii-san."

".....Sure"

After saying that, I entered the living room.

Then, it was a bit different from the usual living room, and although it was simple, decorations were attached to the walls.

And the big big 【Happy Birthday Nii-san】letters make my eyes getting hot.

"ah, Nii-san cried again!"

Well of course this bound to make anyone cry right..... because this is the first time I have my family celebrated me like this, you know? It's the same tears I had before with Chisome as well.

I hugged them with all my might as they comforted me not to cry, and I enjoyed their warmth for a while... Kuro Chisome, you're always cold aren't you.

"Ehehe, If you're this happy, then I'm glad for making those preparations. There is still a little bit of time until dinner, but I did prepared a lot of food~"

"Was it so?"

"Un. That child cooked an egg in the microwave and caused a big disaster, but after that there were no particular problems I think."

"... Fu~n?"

Turning my eyes to Kuro Chisome, she slowly averted her gaze awkwardly.

I mean, eggs in the microwave are something you should never do, but they're not broken, right? Judging from how Chisome looks, I don't think it was that fatal.

"......Nee Nii-san"

"Un?"

"Not just this year. But from now on and always, for many years to come, we'll go celebrate. As a family, as a sister, forever we'll go celebrate okay."

"......Chisomee!"

"Wawa♪"

This is no good anymore..... any word she says makes me tear up.

Not just photos, while thinking I want to also let her see Chisome's smile up close... let us really forget about that woman this time.

"Naa Chisome"

"Wha~t?"

".....Thank you for coming to my side. I am happy to be Chisome's brother."

".....That sort of thing will be me instead who would want to be thanking you!"

After that, the two wouldn't leave from me until dinner.

Needless to say, my birthday became the best memory ever, and to me today has become a really important day for me.

Naa Chisome, I really love you.

Even before we met I've always, always loved you.

[Afterword]

If Chisome was inside the stomach all the time, I think I would have loved her.

[TL's Note]

By anonymous : It's a reference to pregnancy. He meant that if he, somehow, was the mother, he wouldn't give a damn about Chisome's powers and just kept loving her anyway.