Hospital Room
After returning, Kazusa sat on the sofa with a somber expression, not saying a word.
Even when Miyoko greeted her, she received no response.
Noticing the faint redness around Kazusa's eyes, Youko let out a soft sigh—she understood what had happened.
She realized she had underestimated Chisato. Putting aside everything else, just his decisiveness and straightforwardness in handling things were enough to show his boldness.
Was he truly that confident? Did he genuinely believe that even after learning the truth, Kazusa wouldn't leave his side?
"Miyoko, it's getting late. My condition is nothing serious, so you should head home and get some rest."
"No need to visit me again. In a few days, if my health checks out, I'll be discharged directly. Oh, right, take this…"
Youko took a sticky note from the bedside drawer and wrote down Chisato's bank account number.
Leaning in, she instructed Miyoko to transfer 100 million yen to that account.
Miyoko looked surprised and confused, but recalling Youko's usual free-spirited way of handling things, she didn't ask any questions and simply agreed to take care of it.
Five minutes later, after gathering her belongings, Miyoko left the hospital room, leaving space for the mother and daughter to be alone.
Youko sat on the other end of the sofa, a relaxed smile on her face.
"You look terrible. Let me guess—did Chisato just tell you something?"
Kazusa lifted her head and looked at her mother. Realizing something, she responded in a muffled voice, tinged with a hint of nasal congestion,
"You knew about this all along, didn't you?"
"More or less."
Youko's lighthearted tone, as if this were none of her concern, irritated Kazusa. She instantly stood up, her voice slightly losing control.
"What kind of mother does this?! You knew and still didn't tell your own daughter?!"
Youko patiently explained,
"I didn't know much earlier than you. Just this afternoon, in fact. If he hadn't confessed on his own, I'd still be in the dark."
Kazusa lowered her head, her frustration and anger deflating in an instant. She collapsed back onto the sofa in defeat.
"That bastard…"
"So, now that you know the truth, what are you planning to do?"
"..."
"Are you going to break up with him? Or have you already broken up?"
"..."
The girl remained silent, shaking her head slightly in distress.
She felt lost. Even now, she was struggling to accept reality, let alone decide what to do next.
"This isn't the time to be aimless. Face your feelings head-on. Identify what you want the most and act on it—don't leave yourself with regrets."
As she spoke, Youko seemed to recall something from her past.
Her expression turned melancholic for a brief moment, but since Kazusa had her head lowered, she didn't notice.
"…I don't know. I really don't know."
"You're just like me in some ways, but in others, you're completely different."
Youko sighed helplessly.
"If you really don't know what to do, and if dragging this out is only making you more miserable, then letting go is also an option. Look at me—I've lived freely even without a man, haven't I?"
"..."
"If you keep refusing to talk, even your mother won't be able to help you, you know?"
"…Mom."
"Alright, alright. No crying now—you're a high schooler already."
Youko gently embraced her daughter, patting her shoulder with a hint of affection.
"Let's not dwell on this for now. If you really don't know what to do, then don't think about it for a while. Time will give you the answer."
Time was the fairest judge. It treated all things equally and was the best medicine for a wounded heart.
Youko thought Kazusa's situation was hardly unique in today's society.
But because the one experiencing it was her daughter, it left her with a deep, lingering sense of helplessness.
"Once you've made your decision, no matter what it is, your mother will support you."
"..."
Kazusa felt her eyes grow damp as she whimpered softly, burying her face deeper into her mother's embrace.
…
That Night
After coming out of the bathroom, Chisato stared at his phone for a long time.
In the end, he decided to send Kazusa a message—just a simple greeting.
But even after a long while, it remained unread.
That was to be expected. Given how Kazusa felt right now, she probably couldn't even be bothered to look at messages from him.
There was no point in rushing. He should give her some time.
Hearing Eriri call for him, Chisato placed his phone on the bedside table and stepped out of his room.
He wasn't particularly hungry, but he didn't want to let his negative emotions affect Eriri and Utaha. So, he forced himself to eat something.
After dinner, they all leaned close to each other on the living room sofa, enjoying the rare peaceful moments together.
Later that night, the three of them returned to their respective rooms.
Lying in bed, Chisato left the small night light on.
Staring blankly at the white ceiling, he didn't know how long he had been lost in thought—until he heard a gentle knock on the door.
"The door's not locked."
With his response, the door slowly creaked open, and Eriri cautiously peeked her head inside.
"I had a feeling that you wouldn't be able to fall asleep easily tonight, Chisato. Looks like I was right."
She smiled gently, as if pleased with her own accurate prediction.
Chisato didn't think too much about it.
Instead, he was momentarily captivated by how cute she looked, peeking her little head through the doorway. He instinctively patted the space beside him on the bed.
Eriri stepped fully into the room, closed the door behind her, and crawled over to his side on her hands and knees, settling herself against the pillow he had prepared for her.
Chisato leaned down, burying his face against her chest.
She was wearing a silk camisole nightdress, its texture soft and smooth against his skin.
Combined with her sweet fragrance, the sensation alone was enough to make him forget his troubles—at least for a little while.
He felt as though he could just drown in this warmth, using it to escape from everything he didn't want to face.
Eriri gently stroked his hair and spoke candidly.
"If you're feeling upset, Chisato, you can talk to me about it."
"Mm…"
Chisato shook his head as he rested against her.
Pouring his heart out about his relationship troubles with another girl to someone who liked him?
That was way too thoughtless, even for him.
"This is enough. Just let me hold you for a little while."
He nuzzled closer and slowly closed his eyes.
"Heh~ What's this? You're acting like a little kid…"
Eriri looked down at Chisato resting in her arms. Her fingers, which had been running through his hair, now moved to gently trace his face.
Her movements softened even more.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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