GenderSwitchs Vol. 4 (English)

Epilogue

It had been about 30 minutes since we woke up and, strangely, my mother was also awake. After Atsushi and I washed our faces and brushed our teeth, we went to make breakfast. However, we were silent most of the time.

It was hard for me to look into his eyes without feeling strangely nervous and anxious.

I couldn't help but feel embarrassed knowing that I did something so shameful, and also knowing that Atsushi noticed it. There was a strange tension in the silence between us. We didn't say a word, and only passed each other the things we would use for breakfast.

At that moment, my mother comes down from the second floor, and comes toward the kitchen, yawning. 

"Uwaaah, it smells so good!" She said in a childish tone.

"It'll be ready in a moment; you can go sit down."

"Okaaaaaay!" She heeded my prompting, and as if she were a child, she went to sit in the dining room.

Once Atsushi and I finished breakfast –still in silence—, we headed towards the dining room, and served the food for the three of us. Afterwards, we sat at the table, so that Atsushi sat across from me, and I sat next to my mother.

"Oh?"

My mother looked at us as we sat down.

She seemed to notice something, since she saw that we had slightly strange expressions on our faces.

We silently began to eat.

"Bon appétit." I said quietly, in tried not to look at anything but my plate.

My mother was silent for a few moments, but smiled and began to eat. Once she ate a piece of the grilled fish we made, she made a strangely satisfied expression.

"Wow, this is really delicious!" She said touching her cheek, and enjoying the bite she shoved into her mouth.

"Ah, thank you so much, I prepared it." Said Atsushi, who was smiling and trying to act as serene as possible.

"..."

I could tell he was a bit tense too.

I guess it's my fault...

I thought, and blushed. I looked away, trying not to look at Atsushi.

As we were eating, my mother said:

"This food is really delicious... I feel that with the three of us being here together, the food is more enjoyable."

"Huh?" I stopped, and turned my gaze to my mother.

"It's like they say out there, the more people there are, the more you enjoy the food." She said.

"I-I guess you're right..." I said as I lowered my gaze a little, and tried not to look nervous.

"Thank you for being here, Takahashi-kun."

"It's nothing, it's a pleasure to be here."

"Takahashi-kun, you can come anytime you want. You have my full permission." She said suddenly.

"Huh?" Atsushi looked surprised.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday? This is also your house now, so don't worry about ask before you come."

"No, but that..."

"It's fine, it's fine. I know you and Ryu-chan will be fine together." She said, moving her hand –which was face down— back and forth. "If anything comes up, feel free to come here." She said with a smile, but with a look of confidence.