Shouko didn't tell Heisuke everything about the despair she fought against for months. She left the gruesome details of Little Riceball's death while talking to the boy. Both of them sat under the tree while their eyes occasionally watched the children playing near the river bank.
"...Don't think that it's your fault when you knew Auntie fainted at that time. It's just... I've reached my limit."
The coming breeze lifted up the hem of her long skirt, revealing her ankles with green grass fluttered next to her feet. It was a nice summer day, thought Shouko as she cast her gaze on the surface of the clear river opposite her.
Heisuke was quiet after he heard Shouko finished her words. Little did he expect the auntie whom he barely knew got so many scars trapped in her heart. He was still young but he understood that no mother could tolerate her child's early departure.
