Go-Toubun no Hanayome √AE

Chapter 30:A Branching Moment End

Itsuki:"Shimoda-san, you're visiting mom as well?"

Shimoda:"That's right, I was just going to inform her of your progress, but I got mega lost, I usually never come at night."

Itsuki:"...Did you bring any flowers?"

Shimoda:"Why would I?"

Itsuki:"R-Right, sorry for asking."

Shimoda:"Hey, Rena."

Itsuki watched as Shimoda sat on her knees and began talking to the grave. To Shimoda, it was as if she was really there, she mentioned Itsuki's time at cram school, her grades and much more. Itsuki wondered how Shimoda could see that. Shimoda assured the grave that her will would be passed on to Itsuki. Once she was done, she stood back up and stared at Itsuki.

Shimoda:"...Yep, you look just like her. Soon, you'll be just like Rena."

Itsuki:"I-I guess...I hope I can be as good of a teacher as her."

Shimoda:"Teacher, huh? Yes, that can work."

Itsuki:"Huh?"

Shimoda began to smell something.

Shimoda:"You have something in that bag?"

Itsuki:"Oh, yeah. I got a cake recently, I'm gonna share it once I get back."

Shimoda:"...Do you still have that habit of eating a lot?"

Itsuki:"I mean, I wouldn't call it a habit..."

Shimoda checked her phone.

Shimoda:"You're still doing that food review business too...Shouldn't you give up on that if you want to become like your mother? Rena wouldn't act like that."

Itsuki:"Does that really matter?"

Shimoda:"It sure does."

As she was walking away, Itsuki recalled how she met Shimoda. At first, she seemed like a slightly hyper girl that looked up to their mother, but once they began to know each other more, Shimoda slowly became more attached to Itsuki. At one point, she told Itsuki that she had given up on trying to be like her and that it was up to Itsuki to complete the cycle.

...

{Shimoda:"If you want to be like her, there are other ways."}

...

Itsuki:[You words have changed since then, haven't they?]

Shimoda turns around to see that Itsuki hasn't moved.

Shimoda:"What are you doing, Re...Itsuki?"

Itsuki:"H-Huh?"

Itsuki could've sworn she heard something else, but she thought it was a simple slip of the tongue. While she walked towards Shimoda, she grabbed the cake that was given to her and began to reminisce.

...

...

Six years ago

{Ichika:"Mommy!"}

{Yotsuba:"Uu-uu..."}

{Miku:"..."}

{Nino:"She didn't get better..."}

{Yotsuba:"She's gone..."}

{Itsuki:"No, she's here."}

{Yotsuba:"?"}

{Itsuki:"She's still here. Mom lives on inside of us...I will...I will become mom."}

{Miku:"Itsuki..."}