Chapter 31

The Next Day

When I walked into the living room around noon, I found Yuu and my mom huddled together, peering at something in their hands.

I’d noticed it since breakfast—the two of them had gotten oddly close. Yesterday, Yuu had seemed tense around Mom, but by this morning, that tension was completely gone.

They’d stayed up late last night doing something, so I figured that must’ve been when things changed… but what exactly happened?

"...And then… at the…"

"...Right, right…"

Curious, I edged closer. From a distance, it looked like they were flipping through an album.

"This is from when he was in middle school."

"Wow… He looks so different now."

…Wait a second. Hold on.

Are they looking at my photo album?!

The unexpected realization made me freeze mid-step.

"He’s alone in this one too…"

"Well, he didn’t have many friends—"

No, no, no.

Seriously, hold up.

"M-Mom?!"

"Oh! Shin, you’re here?"

"You’re here?" That’s not the point. Could she at least look at me instead of guiltily avoiding eye contact? What kind of stories had she been feeding Yuu behind my back?!

"Sorry, I just… couldn’t help it…"

Mom actually apologized.

She should feel bad. And what does "couldn’t help it" even mean?!

My past is nothing but a graveyard of cringe. Honestly, even remembering it is painful. And now Yuu knows about it? I wanted to vanish on the spot.

Hesitantly, I glanced at Yuu—only to find her wearing the same awkward expression.

"U-Um, sorry… I was the one who asked about your past."

"O-Oh… I see…"

Yuu bowed her head, looking genuinely remorseful.

…Damn it. It’s hard to stay mad when she says it like that.

Now that I think about it, she has asked me about my past a few times before. And I was the one who dodged the question every time because I didn’t want to sound pathetic.

"I-It’s okay, Shin! I was alone too before I came to Japan!"

Maybe because my face was doing something complicated, Yuu jumped in with an attempt to comfort me.

I appreciate the thought, but the embarrassment of her seeing my shameful past isn’t going anywhere.

…Wait, isn’t she talking about her time in the other world? Y’know, when she was treated like a monster? That’s… not really the same thing.

"Oh my, look at the time! Shouldn’t you two be heading out soon?"

Mom’s voice was theatrically bright as she checked the clock. The hands pointed to 11 AM—the time we’d agreed to leave for shopping.

(That’s actually why I came to the living room in the first place. At breakfast, we’d all decided to hit up the nearby mall together.)

"...Sigh. Let’s just go."

I had plenty to say, but I swallowed it.

If I’m being fair, it’s my own fault for never giving Yuu a straight answer when she asked.

"Sorry, Shin…"

"We’re sorry, Shin."

"...Nah, forget it."

I waved off their apologies. They’d already said sorry, and harping on it won’t change anything.

I nudged them to finish getting ready, met up with Dad, and we all headed to the mall.

Before long, we arrived at the shopping mall.

Right now, Dad and I were waiting for Yuu and Mom.

The two of them were still inside a store, picking out clothes.

At first, I’d been dragged in too, but the sheer agony of lingering in the women’s clothing section drove me to escape.

"……"

"……"

Dad and I stood in silence. No conversation, but that wasn’t unusual—he’d always been a man of few words.

"...Want me to grab some coffee, Dad?"

"...Please."

After about thirty minutes with no sign of them, I figured they’d take a while longer, so I went to buy coffee from a nearby vending machine and handed one to Dad.

"Here."

"Thanks."

We stood side by side, sipping our drinks.

"...Shin."

"Yeah?"

A long stretch of quiet passed before Dad finally spoke again.

"Are you happy with your life there?"

"...Yeah. Lately, I really am."

There was a time I wouldn’t have said that, but now? It’s the truth.

Hell, it’s why my visits home have gotten shorter.

"Is that thanks to Yuu?"

"Yep."

"...I see."

Dad smiled and nodded a few times.

And with that, the conversation lapsed back into silence.

We kept waiting.

Yuu and Mom finally finished shopping—an hour later.