Chapter 48 Dilemma

Dilemma

(When was the last time I slept with my daughter?)

(When she was in the early grades of elementary school, we used to sleep together like this.)

(I think she started sleeping alone when she entered middle school.)

(It was the first time since then, so I felt very nostalgic.)

“Mom, hug me.”

When Hana lay down next to Ichika, her daughter immediately hugged her.

“How are you? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes…Thank you.”

(Come to think of it, I used to hug my daughter like this when she was feeling down.)

As a habit from that time…Hana often hugs Takumi as well.

Ichika hugs Hana to cheer her up.

Seeing her daughter do the same in reference to what she did in the past made Hana really happy.

“Ichika…I love you more than anything.”

“Eh? What, what happened all of a sudden? Mom…I’m embarrassed.”

She couldn’t help but say it.

She was overflowing with love for Ichika from the bottom of her heart.

“I don’t want to leave Ichika. But what would you do…if I said I would go somewhere else?”

“That’s——of course I would follow you, right?”

It was an immediate answer.

She can’t think of leaving Hana’s side, as if to say.

“I will always be with you. We’ll always be together…even when I grow up, I’ll live with my mom, okay?”

“Araraa…one day you have to leave your mother, right?”

“Hehehe~ That can come a little later.”

Ichika was very sweet to Hana.

Takeshi became more rebellious when he reached puberty, but Ichika always remained obedient.

“Mom…you worked hard all the time and raised me all by yourself. When I grow up, I’ll show you a lot of filial piety, so just wait and see, okay?”

Ichika is very grateful to Hana.

She never takes her mother’s devoted love for granted.

She never says horrible things to Hana…because she really understands Hana’s efforts and thoughts and is able to convey her love in an easy-to-understand way.

“So, Mom…don’t leave me and go somewhere else, okay?”

——Hana bit down hard on those words.

She engraved them deep in her heart so that she would never forget them.

(If I get hurt, this child will be sad.)

(If I feel pain, I will make even Ichika feel pain.)

(If I sacrifice myself, I will also hurt my irreplaceable daughter.)

Hana cannot let that happen.

(For Ichika’s sake, I will…)

(My duty and obligation as a mother.)

(What can I do to protect my daughter?)

(I don’t know.)

(Should I keep trying to love Takeshi?)

(Or…should I give up already?)

The answer finally came.

(Takeshi——I can’t handle him anymore.)

(If I sacrifice myself for my son, I will hurt my daughter.)

So Hana made her decision.

“It’s okay. Ichika…I will never make you sad, I promise.”

She gently told Ichika, who had a worried look on her face.

Then she smiled as if relieved…and hugged Hana’s chest once more.

“Yes, I know. I believe you.”

“Yes…believe me.”

Hana nodded vigorously as she hugged her daughter.

There was no hesitation in her expression.

For her daughter’s sake.

For herself.

And also for the sake of the kind boy who lives in the neighborhood.

(I——I’ll take care of myself.)

She decides to put her own happiness first——