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".
However…
[…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…
[…Ummm.]
[Unnn?]
[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.]
[Eh? Ah, yes!]
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.]
[…Ahh, errr…]
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?]
[…Huh?]
[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!]
[Eh, ah, yes…]
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.
[…It's delicious.]
[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.]
[You're welcome~~]
I couldn't wrap my mind around things, so I decided to follow Lucesan'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 like this————— 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.