A Warm Place

XVI In the Present, in the Past, Never Changing

“That girl looked so happy to see her mom.”

While we’re walking side by side, I hear her mutter those words.

“Yup, you’re right.”

She smiled so wholeheartedly when she reunited with her mother; a face that she didn’t show the whole time when she was with us. Her mother must have looked for her child so desperately, too. I could tell that she looked happy and relieved when she found her. They must be getting along well.

“………”
“Tsubaki?”

Concerned about Tsubaki, I look to my side. She is showing no emotions at all. Her expressionless face looks really similar to my childhood friend. My chest is suddenly filled with pain, like it’s being torn off.

“I’m envious. They looked so affectionate…”

I wonder if she is comparing their relationship with her own… She’s making a lonely smile. I don’t want to see her like that, but I have no idea what to say. In the end, I remain silent.

“Speaking of which, Hinata-san’s dad is working away from home, isn’t he?”

“Ah, aah, yup. He’s working in Russia. He’d planned to return for some time when we moved, but he ended up staying. Seems he suddenly had more work to do.”

“…Don’t you feel lonely?”
“Hmm, I have Mom and Saki, so I think not. Well, I’m already used to be separated from Dad.”

Dad would have cried if he heard me say that, so I chuckle. Dad looks scary on the surface, but inside, he’s just a doting parent.

“Tsubaki, you don’t have a dad anymore, do you?”

I say it to her timidly. Tsubaki shakes her head and shows a weak smile.

“Please don’t mind about it…… I heard from Mother that Father had already died by the time I was born.”
“I… see.”

“That’s the only thing that Mother ever mentioned to me, so I don’t know what kind of person Father was at all. I don’t really feel like wanting to know about him… but I would be lying if I say that I don’t want to know at all.”

It’s possible that instead of wanting to know about her father, she just wants to talk more with her mother. She feels lonely. Of course, it could be that she’s also curious about her father.

“……Ah.”

Tsubaki looks startled as she fixes her gaze on something. I turn to see who or what she’s looking, to find a woman that looks very similar to Tsubaki standing there.

“Mom.”
“Tsubaki.”

Speak of a devil. Tsubaki’s mother calls her name and approaches us.

“Why are you here at such an hour…? What about your work?”

“I left early today, and I’m on my way home… Perfect timing, I have something to talk with you about.”

“Talk, is it?”

Tsubaki’s expression turns dark right before my eyes. Perhaps she’s guessed the content of the talk, and she doesn’t want to listen to it. Her mother, on the other hand, has a nonchalant look as she stares at her daughter. Then, she looks at me, seeming that she’s just realized that I was there.

“You are… from our neighbor.”
“I’m Hayase Hinata. Um, it seems that you want to discuss about something important. I will be taking my leave now.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“See you then, Tsubaki.”
“……yes.”