V5: Chapter 61: The Past is Over and What Lies Ahead...?

Chapter 61: The Past is Over and What Lies Ahead...?

A profound silence enveloped the room, a silence that lingered deeply.

As if to dispel the slightly heated atmosphere, he let out a short sigh and sat back down in his chair.

Then, as if to reset the situation, the mother began to speak slowly.

"When Chinatsu was little, she loved books... she was quiet but serious and responsible, a very good child."

Her expression as she spoke of past memories with such gentleness and a conversational tone was undeniably that of a mother.

"She was a child who was a little shy about communicating with people...but I think that was partly because her mental age was already mature."

The fact that this family is now separated... speaks volumes about the horror of what happened in the past.

"That's why that magic might have appeared."

The Magic's name: [Thought Disclosure]

The ability to expose and unravel people's thoughts... it's not a Magic that can be turned on or off, but a passive type of Magic.

"It was when she was 10 years old that Chinatsu awakened as a Magical Girl."

"I think it probably started with a pure wish, like wanting to understand others..."

"At first, she was living a normal life. She was... living a normal life."

The mother fell silent at this point, and it was the father who continued.

"The trigger was something trivial. I was feeling terrible after a mistake was discovered at work...it was the day I came home."

"'Dad, are you okay?'..." That's what she said."

"To be honest, having my inner self, which I didn't want seen or touched, touched... what welled up inside me was intense anger and profound disgust. Such an act, like trampling on my heart... it was something that could never be forgiven... but by the time I came to my senses, it was already too late."

He clasped his trembling hands in front of his face, looking lost.

His downcast face was clearly etched with regret.

"Chinatsu... was terrified. It wasn't the kind of emotion you'd feel towards a small child, and more than anything, she 'couldn't forget' it."

Because she couldn't move on, that Magic alienated those around her... and, most importantly, continued to hurt her.

"I'm ashamed to admit it, but there was a time when I tried all sorts of things. I wrapped aluminum foil around my head, wore a costume, tried spiritual practices... but still, none of them worked."

It's absolutely impossible to laugh off that as wasted effort.

It must have been a desperate attempt, grasping at straws.

"I couldn't be a saint in every aspect of daily life. Our lives, our daily routines... slowly began to go awry. We argued more, my wife started taking her anger out on objects more often, and I spent more nights at work or in hotels instead of coming home. We spoke less and less, our consideration for each other dwindled... and that's how we got to where we are now."

The anguish he poured out was incredibly heavy... and dark.

"In the end, we weren't able to truly face Chinatsu."

"Ah..."

After listening to his story, I realized something.

This is a finished story.

Even if I were right there, I couldn't save it; it was a story that was already over.

The family relationships were already cracked and broken... they could never be restored.

"All we could do was at least keep her away."

They were kind, normal, and gentle.

She was confronted with the unbearable realization that she was to blame for destroying such a warm family.

Squire had watched her family slowly descend into madness from closer than anyone else.

She could never forget the kind family they once were.

What kind of feelings did she have as she went about her days?

"Being with Chinatsu means that."

"...Yes."

The old me was much more self-centered.

That's why, in the end... I didn't even care if my thoughts were being read.

But now, I can't be indifferent to others like I used to be.

I have more people to protect, more important people in my life.

"No one is perfect, and of course, everyone has things they're dissatisfied with."

Squire is secretive and seems to take her own life for granted.

I don't like that about her either.

...I know, who am I to say that?

"Certainly, there are things that make you feel dissatisfied in life..."

But in the end, my conclusion remains unchanged.

It doesn't matter if she reads my memories or my thoughts.

"Just because I've exposed all of my thoughts—my dissatisfaction, regret, anger, shame..."

—In the end.

"... Squire... Chinatsu-chan... there's no way she could hate me."

I have confidence.

Confidence that I'm loved, and confidence that I'm an attractive person.

Even if there is something she didn't like about me... would she really hate me?

That's impossible; there's no way she would leave me.

"Besides, I'll make her think she was happier with me."

"...That's quite a lot of confidence, even though you don't have any basis for it."

He muttered, deliberately pushing me away... even with all that, his daughter must still be important to him.

"I can only hope that it's not a mistake of youth..."

He looks displeased, and that's understandable... he has no basis for believing I can do it, and it's not surprising that he might take it as me dismissing their efforts.

I knew it was rude, but they didn't raise their voices... Their kindness was evident even in that, and a feeling of helplessness swirled inside me.

"No, perhaps it's precisely because of you that Chinatsu opened up to you."

"Dear..."

I don't think they trusted me.

Considering their past, it wouldn't be surprising if they had fallen into a much worse state of distrust.

Even so, they must have been desperate enough to grasp at straws.

They were truly kind and gentle parents through and through.

"We can no longer be by Chinatsu's side. It's a pathetic story in the end, but... all we can do now is ask you."

"Please... I ask of you... please stay with our daughter until the very end."

That is...

"I won't say "don't abandon me." When you no longer need me, end me with your own hands, okay?"　

They were somehow similar to the girl who asked me for a favor that day.　 　

"Leave her to me!"

All I can do is continue to prove myself through results.

That's all I think.

★

I opened the door with a click and stepped outside…

The sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky.

"Are you really sure? It's fine to stay longer…"

"It's fine. More importantly, please keep sending her emails. Chinatsu-chan… seemed happy about it."

"Uh, yes… please be careful on your way home, Shizuku-san."

I left Chinatsu-chan's parents' house.

They invited me to stay for lunch, but I politely declined.

I figured my presence would be a burden, and besides, they probably wanted to talk to each other alone.

And so I walked towards the station… Even though it was lunchtime, the winter chill was biting outside.

I exhaled a white breath and sank into a sea of ​​thoughts.

This whole incident.

Ultimately, she may have been given a chance to move forward, but the problems surrounding her won't be solved so easily.

No matter how far we go, we can't change the past.

Not everything goes smoothly; Magical Girls aren't gods, after all.

I think I'm being a little sentimental...

I quietly remove my gloves and type her cell phone number, starting with 080, into my smartphone.

["Hello?"]

"Hmm, it's me."

The person on the other end of the line spoke before it even rang once.

["What's up?"]

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

["I see."]

She must have been waiting by her phone all this time.

Well... I suppose she couldn't just sit still knowing I was meeting the two of them.　

["Have you met Dad and Mom?"]

"Yes, they're both... nice people."

["...Yeah."]

I feel like her voice has brightened a little.

It's a little hard to tell because she speaks in a flat tone.

I can sense such subtle changes, so maybe I'm starting to understand her better.

And from now on, we'll probably deepen our understanding of each other little by little.　

I can't change the past, and I can't read her mind, but...

"Let's continue to be friends, okay?"

["Yes, until the very end..."]　

Because the present and the future can be changed.