Chapter 41 Mother's Love

Mother’s Love

She is soft, calm, and kind, a gentle woman who always has a smile on her face, no matter what happens.

That is my impression of Itsumi Hana.

Ever since I met her when I was little, I’ve never seen Hana-san angry. No matter what kind of mischief Takeshi did or what kind of mistakes he made, Hana-san would always laugh and forgive him.

(If it’s Takeshi, it can’t be helped.)

I still remember her patting him on the head and saying that.

I was really jealous of Takeshi, who had a kind mother.

That’s why——I couldn’t believe that Hana-san slapped Takeshi.

“Takeshi. Enough!”

And it was the first time I heard Hana-san’s cold voice.

I felt like she was a different person.

That’s how much Hana-san couldn’t forgive Takeshi’s behavior.

“…eh?”

Like me, Takeshi was astonished.

He held his slapped cheek and stared at Hana-san with his mouth open.

There was no anger on his face.

It’s an expression that is a mixture of astonishment, confusion, and…slight sadness.

It must’ve been the first time in his life that Hana-san hit him.

No, or maybe…it was the first time he had been scolded.

“M-Mom? What are you doing…”

“This is my line. Takeshi…do you realize what you just did?”

Hana-san was dignified with the confused Takeshi.

Now she is not just a calm and gentle woman.

She is a firm “mother” who is both stern and firm, like scolding a bad child.

And yet, I also felt a sense of desperation…like a mother protecting her child.

“I can’t forgive you for hitting Takumi-kun. If you want to cause trouble, just do it to your relatives…If it’s me or Ichika, no matter what kind of burden you put on us, it’s your family. But don’t do anything to hurt him.”

As if to protect me from Takeshi

While squatting down, Hana-san glared at Takeshi.

Takeshi was horrified by the look in her eyes.

“Y-You’re siding with that guy instead of me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Takeshi…what you’re doing is wrong.”

“B-but I’m your son, right!? I-I can’t believe…the violence.”

What kind of mouth says that?

You raise your hand to me, but when someone raises their hand to you, you act like a victim.

(Takeshi…how did you end up like this?)

“Takeshi…why did you become like this?”

Apparently, Hana-san was thinking the same thing I was.

“If you say you are my son, live your life honestly. Become someone who understands other people’s pain. I don’t remember raising you that way.”

…Hana-san is angry. Her voice is cold, and her attitude is stern.

But I can tell.

(Hana-san hasn’t given up on Takeshi yet…)

Being nice is not the only way to love.

Pampering is not the only way to raise a child.

When you do something wrong, scold him firmly.

That is also a mother’s love.

Precisely because she really cares for Takeshi, Hana-san makes an effort to be serious with him.

She is not good at getting angry, but she bluffs…in the hope that Takeshi will be rehabilitated.

But that love——has no way of reaching him.

“Why…can’t you be on my side? Mom, why do you reject me? Is it because we’re not related by blood? Is it because I’m a stranger to you? Don’t be ridiculous, damn it…I thought you were the only one on my side!”

Takeshi was furious.

He didn’t care about Hana-san’s feelings, only his own, and yelled at her like she was having a tantrum.

Seeing her like that, I was convinced.

Hana-san…your desire to rehabilitate your son is wonderful, but this guy is impossible.

“It sucks…I wish I’d never been born.”

See. He says the worst words without thinking.

(He really is incorrigible.)

Takeshi has already become an incorrigible sc_um_bag——