Chapter 9 Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love

Apparently, I sleep with a lap pillow.

Of course, I was embarrassed. But I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes because I was too comfortable to refuse.

So, without saying anything, I kept my eyes closed and turned my body to the side.

When I was on my back, Hana-san was looking at me, so I wanted to at least shift my gaze to reduce the embarrassment.

“…If you’re comfortable with the way it is, you can go back to sleep. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Saying that Hana-san put her hand on my head.

She crawled her fingers like gentle strokes…a little rough, but strangely soothing.

… It’s strange.

Until a while ago, I felt like I couldn’t sleep at all.

But then she covered me with the futon, and when Hana-san put me on her lap, I immediately felt sleepy.

By the time I thought, oh, maybe I can sleep…my consciousness had already faded. I was half in a dream world.

“I’m sorry, Takumi-kun…I’m sorry I hurt you so much that you couldn’t sleep.”

That’s why I heard those things…but to be honest, I couldn’t decide if it was a dream or reality.

“The wound on your face also looks so painful…really, I’m sorry. At least I’ll…stay by your side until you get better, Takumi-kun.”

The words of apology were repeated over and over again.

It is not Hana-san’s fault.

I wanted to tell her that, but I was already asleep and couldn’t say anything.

No, or maybe…I didn’t want to say it because I’m comfortable with the situation right now.

Even the love that comes from redemption is very warm to me.

If I had a mother, would she be like…? When I think about it, I feel like I can’t say anything.

And so I went to sleep——

——I had a dream.

The person who came out was, worst of all…Takeshi.

“Takumi, I’m sorry. I made you go shopping with me.”

“What the…you’re more polite than usual. Are you really Takeshi?”

“Shut up. I know how to be polite.”

In the dream, we looked a little younger than we do now.

We were walking in a shopping mall near the…station.

I was looking at the scenery and somehow I understood the whole dream.

This is a memory. It was the day when I was in the first year of junior high school…and Takeshi and I went shopping.

“I was surprised when you told me yesterday that you were going shopping for a Mother’s Day gift…and that Takeshi was becoming more mature.”

“Ugh, shut up! Don’t make fun of me…I’m embarrassed too.”

Takeshi was much cuter than he is now.

He wanted to buy a gift for his mother on Mother’s Day and asked me to go with him, even though he was in his first year of junior high school and in the throes of puberty.

I remember how relieved I was to know that he cared about his mother and sister, even though he usually said “annoying” things about them.

I guess I cherish that memory…so much that I dream about it.

“My mother must’ve had a hard time…with me, but she raised me well. On days like this, I should give her a gift to appreciate her a little, right?”

… At that time, I didn’t understand the truth of that statement.

But now that I’ve heard Hana-san’s personal story, I understand.

Takeshi is not related to Hana-san by blood. That was probably why he was grateful to her for raising him.

“You, that thing? Maybe you’re a…Momcon?”

“No, it’s not like that! It’s not like that!”

I teased him as a joke, but Takeshi was seriously offended.

I had hit the nail on the head. Takeshi loves his mother very much.

“Well, well, calm down. Look, there’s a hair clip that would look good on Hana-san. And while you’re at it, why don’t you give that girl a gift, too? You’re a Siscon too.”

“I’m not a Siscon! Takumi…don’t get carried away!”

While saying that, he bought a gift for Chika-chan.

I teased him, but I thought Takeshi was a very…nice guy who cared about his family.

“I hope my mom and Ichika will be…happy too.”

On the way home. What did I say to him when he mumbled something worried?

I don’t remember much after that. Maybe that’s why my dreams were vague and foggy.

The only thing I could see clearly was Takeshi’s profile.

I could only see the face of that guy smiling at his mother and sister.

…Even though he made a face like that.

How could he betray them?

It’s okay to betray me.

But why did he do something that…would hurt Hana-san and Chika-chan if they knew about it?

While I was thinking about it, my vision suddenly went dark.

I opened my eyes——it was already evening.

“Nn…?”

I awoke with sleepy eyes.

At first, I couldn’t remember why I was in the living room, but…soon I remembered the situation just before I fell asleep, and this time I looked around.

Yes, I had fallen asleep with Hana-san’s lap pillow.

I was worried that maybe Hana-san was a lap pillow over me all the time …

But that turned out to be a groundless fear.

There was a pillow where my head used to be. Hana-san must have put it there after I fell asleep.

I didn’t notice that the pillow had changed at all…that’s how I slept so deeply.

I think I had a dream, but I can’t really remember what it was. I think I saw Takeshi, or maybe not…Well, I don’t care what I dreamed.

“Phew…”

I took a deep breath and stretched a little.

I feel much better now that I’ve slept. I was hungry, so my appetite had returned.

Maybe Hana-san had made lunch or dinner for me, so I thought I would eat it…and finally realized that Hana-san was not here.

Instead, there was a note on the table.

[Dear Takumi-kun. Ichika’s coming home, so I’m leaving too. The food is in the fridge, so please heat it up and eat it. I will be back tomorrow. Take it easy today and rest.]

In addition to Takeshi, the Itsumi family also has a daughter. Her name is Itsumi Ichika——Chika-chan. She is a very pretty girl like Hana-san and used to call me “Takumi-nii” and was very close to me.

She stopped talking to me much when I was in the upper grades of elementary school…I think she will be a junior this year.

She’s big now. I’m sure she’s forgotten me too…I miss her, but what can I do?

I’m sure she’s forgotten me, too.

At that time I had no way of knowing that Chika-chan would come to my house at night——