"Good morning, Okabe-san."
When I entered the classroom, Okabe-san was lying on the desk. She grumbled as she looked back up at me.
"What the hell did I help you guys with?"
She brought out her phone and on the front page were the STARS-crossed lovers. Not only her, but the rest of the class was also chatting away about Sophia-san. Some sounded interested in her now, unlike how they used to be. Usually, the class would avoid her because she's so rough and mean. It made me wonder if this event brought her into a new light.
"It's a long story…but ultimately, you helped Taylor-sensei, Okabe-san."
She looked up at me and shrugged.
"Whatever…"
"I appreciate you, Okabe-san. Mari-san told me all about how diligently you worked to help us out."
I could see her tired face light up as she looked up at me. Her eyes were fierce like daggers.
"You mean your creepy stepmother?! Tsk, don't listen to anything she says."
She fell back into her seat. Tired, I assumed; she closed her eyes and laid her head on the hard desk.
"Mari-san is…a bit strange."
I giggled. She followed through and helped me…us out. In my mind, I wanted nothing more than to show my gratitude…and help her and her little sister. Internally, I made it a goal to help them indefinitely. Even if she liked it or not…I wanted to be there for her and Nagumi-chan.
"Have a good rest."
"Oh…shut up."
When I sat down, I looked at my phone. Earlier, Auburn-san messaged me, asking if I had time to chat with her later. I messaged her back, saying that I can meet her during my lunchtime if it wasn't too hard for her…
Now she planned to pick me up…so we can chat about whatever is going through her mind…
My stomach twisted. Something in me knew I wouldn't like what she wanted to chat about. Her being with my mother most days…and my mom acting strangely in the morning…
"Alright, class…"
Takanaki-sensei walked in, taking over my thoughts. Calmly, I began acting like a normal student, and I began to take notes for class.
As the day went on, I started to grow restless. I wasn't sure how Sophia and Taylor-sensei were doing together… and this strange chat with Auburn-san was causing me anxiety. I never spoke with her outside of my birthday, but there was one thing that I knew for sure about her…
She cares for my mom…
And if my mom expressed anything to her it was likely about Mari-san
…and me…
"I don't know what she wants… I need to relax and find out."
When the bell for lunch rang, I made my way outside of the school. Cloudy days were becoming the norm as late December was here. Outside, sitting in her car was that dark-complexioned beauty from my birthday. She sported the latest style and had glistening dark hair. I recalled she was a model before she met uncle. She was breathtaking as she waited there in her car, the engine still roaring to go.
"Oh, Madoka-san!"
She called out, causing the other students to look her way. I rushed over and got into the car.
"I'll have you back before lunch ends. There's a small café right around the corner."
She sounded bright and even happy as we raced off. I thought about it; mom had been in this seat a lot recently, I bet.
"…What did you want to talk about?"
I asked as she turned the corner.
"I'll get to that when we sit down to eat."
She was remarkable looking. Certainly, uncle caught the perfect woman as she had curves and such in all the right places. Not as though I was looking, but it was hard not to…as I tried to calm my nervousness down.
When we finally stopped, we got out and went to a small café by the name of Steam. It seemed the establishment was owned by a group of foreigners; that was a bit of a surprise to me. We don't have places like that around here, so I was a tad excited to give it a try. I never saw this place, despite it being located right next to my school.
When we entered, the eastern influence took me by storm. I was expecting more of a western theme but I guess that was due to my own ignorance. The cozy atmosphere brought a nice charm to the establishment. The two owners, who seemed to be at the bar, both had bright hair like Taylor-sensei. There was a dark-haired woman in the back, sitting the bar too.
"Over here…"
Auburn-san guided me over to a seat near the entrance. When we sat down, we were offered coffee and cakes without even ordering them. They looked delicious.
"I called it in before, don't worry about ordering."
She was efficient, and it took me by surprise. I wasn't sure what kind of person Auburn-san was and now…I guess I was going to figure it out.
"I'll cut right to the chase, Madoka-san."
Mary sipped her coffee and turned to the side.
"I've been speaking with your mother for the last month now…more so after your trip to the Inn and Onsen."
Her fingers gripped around the white cup.
"We've come to the obvious conclusion that something was happening between you and Koda-san from then on."
I expected that mom was suspicious about it, but I didn't expect Auburn-san to be the person who brought it up to me. I wasn't hungry as I turned to the side.
"You know…Madoka-san…your mother is crazy about Koda Mari-san."
I turned back to her…doing my best to look back at her. But something was different about her…her eyes looked sad...
"…I know."
"And I don't believe you want to hurt your mother, right? Ayumi…doesn't want to believe that you and Koda Mari-san were…doing things behind her back."
My body tensed up as I felt a rush of guilt wave over me.
"You don't…understand."
I honestly didn't want to talk about this…not with her. She was a stranger in every sense of the word. Likely feeling my apprehension, Aubrun-san calmly spoke up.
"That might be the case…"
With her lips back on her cup, she calmly sipped the afternoon coffee. Gently, she put the cup down and gazed back at me.
"Madoka-san…your mother is emotionally weak."
She coldly stated.
"I don't think you understand how emotionally weak she is. Do you know what happened after you fell into a coma?"
I nodded sadly.
"Yes…I heard what happened, Auburn-san. My mom… My mom tried to kill herself by taking too many sleeping pills...because she was lonely."
She closed her eyes as if recalling back a memory. Strongly, lifted her head.
"And she almost did…but by luck, Koda Mari-san came in and saved her. Koda Mari-san, the only person at her side back then…was her savior."
She crossed her arms.
"I don't think you understand how much that woman idolizes Koda-san. She loves you and Hana-san, but…her life revolves around that woman right now. Even in the face that something is clearly wrong…she wanted to deny it and move forward."
She looked up at me with eyes full of pity.
"When we went out for the last time…she said that she didn't want to continue prying into things…that she was scared to lose Koda Mari-san if she found out…the truth."
She clawed at her sleeve. I could see that she was struggling even thinking about it. This showed me that Auburn-san…truly did love my mother.
"…I love your mother, and I'm sure you do too…but you can clearly see that whatever relationship you had with Koda Mari-san is destroying her inside."
I accepted that this was what was happening. I…was the cause of my family's pain right now. Gently, I tried to explain how my feelings were though.
"It's…more complicated than that, Auburn-san."
"You know, Ayumi suggested something to me…and I thought it might be a good idea."
I looked back at her, and her smile was gone…she was serious now as she let the words slip from her lips.
"You're the problem right now, Madoka-san."
Taken aback, I went on the defensive as I slightly raised my voice.
"What do you mean?"
"Mari-san can't speak about it with your mom…because whatever happened between you two is still around her. She's afraid of destroying this fake family you have…because you're with them."
Annoyed, I lashed out.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"What I'm saying is simple, Madoka-san…If you weren't there, like when you were in a coma, they would be able to connect and settle this problem. But it's because you're out of the coma…that everything changed between them."
"You can't seriously be blaming me…because I woke up from my coma!"
She shook her head, causing that beautiful dark hair of hers to wash along her back.
"Of course not, Madoka-san. All I'm saying is…I think it'll be best if you aren't around them as they talk this out. If that leads to their breakup, so be it. But clearly, you are an issue that needs to be removed for now. Nothing can change…because you're there."
She was cold…but right. It was just like me and my feelings. They were always being drawn towards Mari-san…despite me not wanting them to.
It was just like Takade-san was saying on the phone. The same thing that Risa-san was saying in the car last night. I…needed to separate myself from them for things to improve somehow…or at least to come to a conclusion.
"But as I said…this is what Ayumi wanted to tell you…but she was too afraid to say it this morning..."
I couldn't imagine that…mom would have said any of this. The idea that mom…was thinking to eject me from her life even for only a little while… made me angry. I clenched my fist.
"You're lying!"
I shouted, causing the guest around us to turn to our table. She looked around, calmy waved to the workers at the bar, and leaned in closer to me.
"No, I'm telling the truth, Madoka-san. I think you're old enough to understand the truth."
Now embarrassed by my childish outburst…I calmed down as I listened to what she wanted to say.
"Ayumi…was thinking about giving you more freedom…and sending you to a boarding school. She wanted to give it to you as a gift…"
"Giving me more freedom?"
She nodded.
"That's why she allowed you to start going home alone. Also why she wanted to call you less about where you were going. She…had every intention of slowly making you feel more independent…before ultimately sending you away."
Everything she was saying made me look at my mom in a new light. Here I thought she was starting to see that I was growing up…but her words implied that wasn't the case at all.
"She…believed that if you want more freedom, getting you away from the house would be the best option."
Auburn-san closed her eyes as she confessed…
"For the last few weeks, we've been looking for a boarding school where you could have a job…and grow without being in the house. That way…her life with Koda-san and her daughter Hana-san…could continue…as if you never woke up."
"So, you're saying…that mom is trying to kick me out?"
She curled her hair.
"I'm saying that your mom…isn't there mentally. She's…going down a dangerous path, and if things aren't settled…she's going to make bad choices again."
"…Why are you telling me this then?"
I needed to know what her end goal in this was.
"Long story short…Ryuji doesn't know about anything right now."
She confessed.
"However, Ryuji doesn't like Koda Mari-san being with Nakagawa Ayumi…and the reason is likely because of Mari-san's political family. He hates her by proxy. But Mari-san hates him because he…doesn't care about Ayumi in a way a brother-in-law should."
Sadly, she continued.
"It's true…Ryuji really doesn't care for Ayumi all that much. He…didn't care when she overdosed; he told me. In the end…she's just his late older brother's wife."
I didn't know how to take that. Uncle Ryuji was someone I did think highly of…but hearing this started to warp the way I thought about him.
"I love your mother, Madoka-san…and I believe that if she ended up pushing you away…eventually it would destroy her. So…I have a proposal to make instead."
She reached out her hand and took mine. Looking me in the eye she asked…
"Would you be willing to separate yourself from the family for a while…just so Koda Mari-san…and Nakagawa Ayumi can have their time to settle this?"
"…And how would I do that, Auburn-san?"
"By moving in with me for a little while."
VOLUME 4 END