Chapter 40: Lies

Lies

A night had passed since I called Kaori “Mom.”

Determined to face it head-on, for the first time since becoming this person, I wished for change. Until now, especially since possessing this body, I had subconsciously clung to maintaining the status quo.

Completing extracurricular activities as if they were just another job.

Feeling jealous that Kaori had married a man who wasn’t me.

All of it had been proof that I was still myself.

But I had failed to understand.

The world I now saw was not my own—it belonged to a boy named Iori.

There was no one left who called me by my name.

Saito Iori.

That was my name now.

The small change I had desired.

It meant letting go of who I once was and living as Iori.

I was no longer me.

The lover I once had became my mother, and my career as a salaryman turned into the life of a high school student.

To be honest, doubts still lingered.

Was it truly right to abandon my past self?

Was it acceptable for me to continue living by borrowing this boy’s body?

It wasn’t that I felt no guilt.

But the long-standing sense of discomfort within me had undeniably faded.

Whether this small change was the right choice, I did not know.

But choosing to face it—surely, that was not a mistake.

“Good morning, Iori.”

Lost in thought while cooking in the kitchen, I turned to see Kaori rubbing her sleepy eyes as she woke up.

“Good morning.”

Steeling myself, I smiled.

“…Mom.”

I still didn’t know if it was the right choice.

But seeing Kaori’s exceptionally gentle and delighted smile, I felt certain—I had made the right choice as her son.

We ate the breakfast I had prepared together, washed the dishes, and took my temperature.

The fever that had tormented me the previous day had completely subsided—perhaps because my resolve had changed overnight.

January 4th.

Even for working adults, it was still the middle of winter break.

But as a freelancer, Kaori secluded herself in her study, determined not to fall behind on work.

Thinking that I should prepare lunch in place of my busy mother, I asked Kaori what she wanted to eat.

Kaori replied.

“I just got a message—Mirei-chan is coming over to make lunch today.”

Casually, she mentioned my classmate’s name.

When had they gotten so close?

“…That girl is really sweet.”

“Yeah. There’s no room for doubt about that.”

Kaori looked surprised.

She must have expected me to get flustered and brush it off as a joke.

But unfortunately, I wasn’t the type to hide my embarrassment or lie.

There was no reason to doubt that Tachibana-san was a good person.

When she heard I had fallen ill the previous day, she willingly sacrificed her precious family time to come and take care of me, offering both comfort and support.

“Hello.”

Tachibana-san arrived about an hour after Kaori had retreated upstairs to her study.

“Hello, thanks for coming, Tachibana-san.”

When I greeted her at the entrance, she widened her eyes in surprise.

“You’re up already? Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Yeah. I’m completely fine now.”

“…Your exhaustion is probably catching up with you, so you really need to rest!”

At Tachibana-san’s motherly concern, I could only offer a wry smile.

Tachibana-san was holding a supermarket bag in one hand. It seemed she had done some shopping on the way.

“I’ll carry that for you.”

“Go rest.”

She stubbornly refused to let me hold the bag, scolding me as she did.

“…Alright.”

Since she insisted, I had no choice but to comply.

But there was something I needed to say to Tachibana-san.

“Hey, Tachibana-san. After lunch, can we talk for a bit? Just the two of us—don’t tell my mother.”

“Huh?”

Her face was filled with genuine surprise, along with a hint of unease and anticipation.

“…Alright.”

Reluctantly, she nodded. Following her instructions, I climbed the stairs to my room, moving my fully awake body.

On the way, I passed Kaori, who had heard our voices.

“Tachibana-san told me to rest, so I’m resting.”

When I said that, Kaori chuckled.

Lying in bed, I idly scrolled through my phone.

After a while, a savory aroma drifted up from the first floor, accompanied by the sound of cheerful conversation.

Knock, knock

“Lunch is ready.”

“Okay.”

I nodded at Tachibana-san, who had spoken curtly, and got out of bed.

“Were you on your phone the whole time?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“I told you to rest.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

When I only offered an empty apology, she narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

The three of us ate lunch together.

Occasionally, Kaori teased me, but aside from that, it was an ordinary family meal with a friend present.

Afterward, I told Tachibana-san I would help with the dishes.

She stubbornly insisted I should rest, but when I kept repeating that I was fine, she finally relented.

Perhaps not wanting to disturb our moment, Kaori left the living room, likely returning to her study.

“Sorry about my busy mother.”

“Don’t say it like that. She works for your sake.”

“You’re right.”

Tachibana-san was truly remarkable.

…And yesterday, she had taught me the importance of facing things head-on.

Her words resonated deeply within me.

Reflecting on my past actions, I resolved not to repeat the same regrets.

To avoid repeating the same regrets, I had decided to face things and live as Saito Iori.

…But.

“Do you have a moment?”

“…Yeah.”

I could tell Tachibana-san was holding her breath nervously.

But I was in no state of mind to notice such small changes.

Because I was about to say something that would contradict everything I had just said.

The peace I had finally attained.

The sense of stability I had just found.

I was about to shatter it myself.

“…Actually, I’ve been lying about something.”

But it couldn’t be helped.

Right now, I was Saito Iori.

But I was… I was still me.

Thirty-five years.

My life had not always been filled with joy.

It may have been more hardship than happiness.

I had angered many. I had saddened many.

But just as much—no, even more—I had laughed and lived with many people.

I had lived…

“The truth is, I don’t have amnesia.”

I wanted to know.

“…What?”

“I remember everything.”

What had happened to me?

Why had I become Saito Iori?

I knew this path would be thorny.

I could have chosen ignorance.

Saito Iori and I were different people.

Now that I had resolved to live as Saito Iori, I could live on without knowing.

But this was my selfish desire.

“…I have thirty-five years of memories.”

And yet—I was about to drag someone else into it.

I had never intended to do so.

I meant to learn the truth and face it alone.

No matter what fate awaited me.

But my heart had changed.

…And the reason was.

“I’m here.”

I didn’t know if she would believe me.

But to the girl who had encouraged and supported me—

I wanted to ask for her help.

“I am not Saito Iori.”