A Warm Place

XV Along With a Lost Child

"Hinata--!! Come here! Fast, hurryyy!!"

I hear Mother's loud voice out of the blue, and I end up dropping the book that I was reading. You're going to bother the neighbors if you shout that loud. It's embarrassing, too. It seems that she is calling me, but I really have a bad feeling about this. I really don't want to go. Just when I think of pretending to be sleeping, Mother has come into my room.

"Hinata!! Why didn't you come?! I called you."
"Knock first, Mom. So, what happened?"
"It's terrible! I can't open the lid of this strawberry jam! Open it!"

--I couldn't even care less about that, I feel exhausted.

"...What can I do with you."

I receive the jar from Mom and tries to open the lid, but it's quite tight in place. Next, I put more strength as I turn the lid like I am trying to pull it apart.

"Hnngg!!"

Pop.

Oh, it opened.

"Kyaa! I knew I could count on your brutish strength, Hinata!"

Did you mean that as a praise, Mom? I'm not too happy about it though, Mom.

My hand hurts because I was grabbing the jar tightly. While I'm rubbing where it hurts, I make a scowl at my frolicking Mother. But, since she is looking into the jar, she doesn't notice my glare at all. It feels somewhat vexing.

"Hmm, I wonder if this is still edible."

For some reason or other, she is sniffing at the jar. Really, what is she doing?

"It's three months past its expiry date, after all~ Ah, Hinata, can you try a lick?"
"Throw it away! Right now!!"

Dear Mother, are you trying to make your daughter do a poison taste? Expiry date is placed for a reason. Not to mention that it's already three months over.

Mom argues that it's a waste to throw it away, so I silence her by saying that I'm going to buy her a new one. It's tiring that I have to go out for this, but it's much better than suffering from an upset stomach.

"Ah, can you buy me some chocolate while you're at it? The strawberry one."
"Okay, okay."

I get up from bed and grab my purse. Then, I go out as the errand girl.

*

I quickly bought the requested items and leave the supermarket. I have nothing else to do in particular, so I'm planning to head straight home and take an afternoon nap. Spring break is going to end in the blink of an eye, so I have to make most of the time by lazing around. I want to sleep all I want during the break, but I also feel like spending time to make some confectionery. If only we have longer breaks like in summer.

"Hic, sniff, uuh..."
"?"

While I'm pondering about how to spend the rest of my spring break, I hear the sound of a crying child from somewhere. After looking around, I find a girl crying nearby. She should be about 5 or 6 years old... she's wiping her flooding tears with her small hands while crying out loud. Although the pedestrians are looking at her with worried faces, they aren't calling out to her at all. Unable to leave her alone, I slowly approach the girl.

"Hic, M-mom... ugh, w-where are you..."
"Did you get separated from your mom?"

I crouch to match the height of my eyes with hers before I gently talk to her.

"Y-yeah. She's suddenly g-gone."
"I see- in that case, do you want to search for your mom together with Onee-chan?"
"R-really?"

She's looking at me with her large, teary eyes, which have turned beet red from crying.