In the park after Kuro left, basked in the still silence of the night, I met the woman who looked exactly like my mother that I had met during the day again.
She had brown hair that reached just above her waist and black eyes. Pants that resemble jeans that are easy to move around in, a black jacket and a white shirt…… She reminded me of a bubbly girl, just like my Mom that I know of.
I think that’s why I reflexively called her “Mom”.
[……You’re quite rude to someone you first met, aren’t you? Do I look old enough to have a big kid like you?]
[Ah, n- no!? I’m sorry.]
[Ahaha, it’s not like I’m mad at you.]
The expression on her face as she spoke with a wry smile on her face, her gestures, all of her movements overlapped with the Mom within my memory.
Even though they resemble this much…… They really are…… different people huh……
[Thank you for your help earlier. I will return your money.]
[Don’t worry about it. I just happened to see you troubled there earlier, and besides, it’s just 2Rs.]
[No, that’s not something I can……]
[……Hey, hey, if people want to help you, all you need to do is accept their kindness.]
How should I say this…… Rather than being swept by her tune, I kind of feel like I can’t go against her words. I guess it must be because she looks like Mom.
It makes me feel as if Mom is telling me those words……
[Ahh, speaking of which, I’ve never introduced myself, didn’t I? My name is “Luce”, nice to meet you.]
[……Luce-san…… is it?]
[Unnn. It may just be fate that we met here again tonight. If you don’t mind, can I ask your name?]
[……I’m Miyama Kaito.]
Her face and voice were exactly the same, but her name was different. I should have known that would be the case, but I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of disappointment.
I guess I really was hoping for it somewhere within my mind…… That this person is actually my mother……
[Miyama Kaito? That’s an unusual name…… Ahh, could it be that you’re one of those otherworlders?]
[Y- Yes, that’s right.]
[I see~~ This is the first time I’ve ever talked to someone from another world. I kinda feel like I have an advantage compared to the others now…… wait, arehh? You don’t look so good.]
I’ve been told a lot of times that I’m the type of person who shows my emotions on my face. It seems like my depression seemed to have shown on my face, and Luce-san voiced out her concern.
This is bad. I should somehow fool her……
[I got it! You must be hungry, right?]
[Unnn, unnn, you can’t be lively with an empty stomach after all!]
[N- No, ummm…… It’s not like I’m hungry……]
[In that case, here! I’ll give you my special sandwich that I just happened to have!!!]
She isn’t listening to me at all!? Not only am I not hungry, heck, I’ll have you know that I just ate earlier, okay?
……Ah~~ Speaking of which, Mom was the type who didn’t listen to others either. Since their faces look alike, do their personalities also resemble each other?
I mean, this sandwich that she held out to me…… What should I do about this? H- Hmmm, even with my Sympathy Magic, I can only sense good intentions from her, so it’s kind of hard to say no.
[……T- Thank you very much.]
[You’re welcome. Now, now, go ahead and gobble it up!]
Pushed by Luce-san’s liveliness, I took a bite at the sandwich in my hand.
And at that moment, I was convinced that this person wasn’t my mother.
[Really? That’s great.]
This is different. This is not…… my mother’s cooking.
Mom was a very bad cook. She chopped vegetables in different sizes, added too much or too little seasoning…… and couldn’t even make a sandwich in such a neat shape.
She was helplessly clumsy…… but she was very cheerful and positive about things…… She was the kindest mother anyone could ever have.
Luce-san was just like my mother…… but she was different. This person isn’t my mother. She’s just another person who looks like her……
[A- Arehh? Why do you look worse than before? Could it be that you’re not feeling well?]
[N- No, I’m alright.]
[Hmmm. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard…… I think you should go home early and get some rest already.]
[……I guess you’re right.]
I knew there was a good chance that she was someone else, but when I became certain that she really wasn’t my mother, an inexplicable feeling flooded within my heart.
[I’m sorry, even though you’ve gone out of your way to call out to me……]
[It’s okay, you don’t have to worry about it. Let’s talk again when we get the chance.]
[Yes…… Ahh, thank you for the sandwich. It was really delicious.]
I couldn’t wrap my mind around things, so I decided to follow Luce-san’s advice and went back to Central Tower.
Bowing to Luce-san, who was greatly waving her hand in my direction, I began walking away from the plaza.
Dear Mom, Dad—————- Despite my disappointment, I was also relieved to find out early on that she was a different person. Unnn, I’m alright. I was shocked, but thanks to Isis-san and Lilia-san, I don’t feel that bad. I can properly take in something ————— The fact that Luce-san and Mom are different people.
[……I’m sorry…… Kaito. Forgive me for not being able to say anything right now……]
After seeing off the departing Kaito until he was out of sight, Luce…… no, “Miyama Akari” quietly muttered, before walking into a dark alley.
Her whisper was drowned out by the night wind…… never reaching anyone’s ears.