Despite being a 33-year-old housewife and a part-time flower shop attendant, Itou Moriko's beauty never faltered once and her beauty only radiated further when passed to her two beautiful daughters - Shizuku Itou, age 6, and Asami Itou, age 12.
Moriko's husband, Itou Tomoya, was a loving husband and hardworking father. He worked in a local firm and had a kind personality that mirrored his family members well. From a distance, that was all people viewed the Itou family, that as a middle-class family, their simple, little house was always full of big laughter and warmth.
But sometimes, no matter how much someone worked hard to keep something, there were instances that it had to leave and worst, never coming back.
On the way home after working for more than eight hours outside, Itou Tomoya, the kind and loving head of the Itou family, got into a traffic accident and died.
"What was even more saddening was the fact that he died on the day of his daughter's birthday. Ah, I really pity that family. What should have been a joyous occasion has turned to a sorrowful tragedy. The head of their family, gone in an instant," a woman said in a low voice.
Another woman was standing next to her. She moved closer, the basket of loaves and some groceries sticking out visibly, "It's this house, right? Oh dear, I wonder how they can move on from that day. To think Moriko has to raised her kids all by herself since then..."
"Well, it happened six years ago. Also, I heard they have adopted another family member recently. But, listen to this, I think it's a failure too."
"What do you mean it's a failure too?"
"Well, from what I heard, the child was premature and has mental defects when he came out of his mother's womb. Even at the age of seven, he hasn't spoken anything! Doctors tried to figure out what his illness really is but they couldn't be certain until now. Some say it's some psychological or mental illness, some say it's a divine curse and think it's impossible to treat anymore. Whatever it is, isn't it too tragic?!"
"Oh my, you are so right. Why did they even adopt him? This is too much misfortune ah. We should go to Moriko and see how this child is doing now."
"Well, he has grown up. From what I heard, he's already the age of seventeen or eighteen and they got him from another rich family who used to abuse him but who knows, I haven't seen him yet. Until now, nobody knows what he looks like."
"Oh dear, could it be he still has that illness so they are keeping him inside?"
"Nobody knows but I guess that's the main reason. Though I heard they're letting him see a teacher or something once in a while..."
"Moriko is really something, eh, too optimistic about that child..."
Hiroki was walking by the tree, his eyes following after the movement of the butterfly that visited his window an hour ago. He stood as he watched in silence when he suddenly heard of two voices speaking. Silently, he listened and figured the two voices belonged to old ladies who were passing by near the house.
For a while, Hiroki tried to assess their tone and way of speaking, silently wondering whether they meant harm or not by standing close to this abode. But based on what he had observed, these two women were just casually talking about a certain family with the name of Itou. Their movements were also slow, indicating that they preferred to spend more time as they conversed while carrying light purses filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and some other things Hiroki couldn't identify.
Silent, Hiroki watched them passed by. Then his head turned to the entrance of the house, his eyes sweeping across on the small signage that was hanging above the door entrance - Itou.
Itou.
He tilted his head to the side. Itou family?
Were those women referring to this clan in this house, after all?
Curious, he walked to the front door and stood before the signage, staring at it in silence and deep concentration.
"Hiro-kun! Oh dear, what are you doing here? You should be inside," the gentle-looking woman exclaimed as she entered the gate of the house with a gasp, her face full of surprise and worry as she spotted Hiroki at the door entrance.
Hiroki looked at the woman. "... Moriko?"
The woman suddenly stopped. She turned to Hiroki with a dumbfounded expression. "W-What did you say...?"
Hiroki blinked. He simply repeated, "Moriko." Wasn't that her name? Maybe he was wrong after all? Those women kept talking about the Itou family and judging by that sign on the front, they certainly were the Itou family. This meant the woman who just entered right now went by the name of Moriko, right?
The woman's wide eyes trembled. Then her gaze softened, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She dropped the white purses down and moved to Hiroki. "That's right," she said, "My name is Moriko. I can't believe this ― I'm, I'm so glad you remember it now, Hiro-kun. You are right. I'm Itou Moriko and you are Itou Hiroki."
"My name is Itou Hiroki...?" Hiroki repeated.
Moriko had a gentle smile on her face, the same scent and aura coming from her just as the first time she looked at Hiroki on that bed that made Hiroki's nerves soften slightly. "That's right! That's your name. Be sure to remember it especially when writing, okay?"
Itou Hiroki - that was his name.
Itou Moriko - that was the name of the woman in front of him.
Hiroki gave a slight nod. He would certainly remember this name until he died.
Moriko didn't wait for Hiroki's response as she grabbed the paper bags and scurried him over, "Come, Hiro-kun, let's go inside. I'm going to cook a huge meal for you!" She motioned Hiroki to follow her but stopped briefly as if remembering something. "Ah, but from now on, don't call me by my name. That's quite disrespectful, you see. From now on, I want you to call me 'mom'. Is that okay to you?"
Hiroki's face remained expressionless, seemingly sleepy even. "...Mom?"
Moriko nodded, her smile felt like warm morning light. "That's right. Always remember it, Hiro-kun. You are now part of this family. You are my son and I'm your mother."
Mother...
Hiroki blinked and stared ahead, suddenly feeling strange inside.
For some reason, this scene reminded him of the times people would ask to join him in some quests.
"You are our hero so you will be the leader and we will be your followers, okay?"
It was certainly similar to that line. They would ask Hiroki to become the leader and they in return be the followers. Contracts would also be used in some cases, depending on the level of difficulty of the quest.
Hiroki and his followers would team up and head to dungeons, slaying beasts after beasts until they reached their mission. The leader would lead the way and protect the followers, while the followers would do their part by sharing their power to the leader when the situation called for it. Doing it like this, the hero Hiroki would be able to defeat the monsters easier and faster.
However, in this world, he wasn't asked to be a leader or a hero.
Rather, he was asked to be a... son.
That was his role right now as that woman said.
Hiroki began to ponder, his eyes narrowing silently.
Just what kind of things a 'son' was supposed to do in this world exactly?
"Hiro-kun, would you like some tea first? Milk? Chocolate? Ah, that reminds me. Can you bring that paper bag over here? Some of it has your sisters' requests. He he he. Right, they have stopped by your Auntie's shop earlier. They must be on their way home, too. Let's prepare dinner quickly!" Moriko said from the kitchen as Hiroki obediently followed.
This woman told him to call her 'mother'.
Not knowing how to respond, Hiroki said and delivered the purse to her. "...Okay, mom."
Just like that, the retired hero acquired a new status and a new member on his Earth journey: he was now a son with a mother in his team.