The second meeting between my parents and Fate-san… which is in the
form of a tea party, started with a very heavy atmosphere from the very
start.
No, it's not that there's a stormy atmosphere around us. However, I
could feel that both of them were so tense that it was visible in my eyes.
[...]
From Fate-san, I could feel her impatience, as if she was trying to get
even closer to them even more than the first time they met, while I
could feel confusion from Mom and Dad, as if they wanted to find some
conversation to break the ice.
To describe it simply, both of them were nervous, and since they felt it
in each other's eyes, they were unable to take action.
Hmmm, this is rather difficult. It's possible for me to interject here and
there, but I don't think it would do any good to talk about stuff while
they're that nervous.
I think I should ask them to calm down a bit to make things work, but
the long the silence continues, the harder it will be to get them to talk.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, thinking that I should start the
conversation, even if I was being a bit forceful, unable to stand the
silence, Mom awkwardly stood up.
[…Ah, errr, I'll get you another cup of tea!]
There were no other people in the room this time, partly because it was
expected that the room would be filled with an awkward atmosphere.
Illness-san had left a pot of tea and some teacakes on a cart for us.
Thereupon, as Mom went to refill the tea… something that looked like a
memopad fell to the floor.
[…Akari, you dropped something… Unnn? These are otherworldian
letters, right… Errr, "Dream Note"?]
Fate-san picked up the memopad that Mom dropped and tilted her
head when she saw the Japanese characters written on the cover.
Immediately afterward however, she placed her index finger on her
forehead, and after that finger glowed for a moment, Fate-san easily
said the title written in Japanese.
Is that the Translation Magic that is automatically granted to
summoned heroes?
[Ah, errr, that is… It's a memo that summarizes all my dreams and
goals.]
[Mom always used to write down her goals and mark them when they
came true. She said that this was a way of remembering what she
wanted to do and what she had accomplished.]
[…Hmmm… Ah, no, errr… can I look inside?]
When Dad supplemented Mom's words, Fate disinterestedly
murmured… but as if she thought about something, she asked Mom if
she could look inside.
She probably thought that just muttering "hmmm" would end the
conversation, so she hurriedly spoke more. I could tell from this that
Fate-san was trying her best to step up. It would be great if it turns out
great…
[Ah, yes. H- However, its contents were just hastily written from what I
remembered after I came back to life… so I don't think it's that
interesting.]
[I see… Heehhh… There sure are a lot here. I guess the ones with the
flower-like mark were the ones that came true…]
Fate-san muttered and continued to read the contents of the memopad,
but judging by her facial expression and the emotions I feel with my
Sympathy Magic, it didn't seem like its contents interest her.
Fate-san continued flipping through the memopad like that… before she
suddenly stopped and began to stare at a page in the memopad.
[...]
[Fate-san?]
Tilting my head at her different reaction, I walked behind Fate-san and
looked at the page she was looking at… a page talking about Mom's
most recent dream.
There, "I'll do my best to get along with Fate-sama!" was scrawled in
Mom's handwriting.
Fate-san stared at those words for a while… before she sighed with an
amazed look on her face.
[…I see… so that's how it is.]
[Errr, Fate-san?]
[Kai-chan, Shallow Vernal-sama had talked to me earlier. She said that
there was something I lacked for me to be interested in Kai-chan's
parents… And now, I finally understand what she meant.]
After saying this in a quiet voice, Fate-san looked up to the skies with
her hand on her forehead.
[Ahh~~ Geez, I'm such an idiot. I've lived for a long time, but I never
realized something so simple. Just because I can use my authority to
make others move however I want…"doesn't mean I know everything
about them"…]
[Was that what you were lacking?]
[…Isn't it quite obvious? I won't be interested in someone if I don't even
try to get to know them. What I should have done isn't just try to be
vaguely interested in them… but to make an effort to get to know them.]
After letting out a smile as if she had been freed from something
boggling her mind, Fate-san turned to the confused Mom and Dad… and
vigorously bowed her head.
[F- Fate-sama!?]
[W- What are you…]
[I'm sorry! I hadn't been interested in you two at all until now, and I
didn't feel the value of having interest in you at all. No, I just arbitrarily
decided that there's no value in having it. Even though I'm acting high
and mighty because I'm a God, I was too inexperienced that I didn't
even realize this. I think I made you two feel a lot of frightening
thoughts… so I'd like to apologize for that first.]
I wonder why? I felt as if a stagnant stream had suddenly started
moving, as if the gears that had been misaligned were now perfectly
meshed.
In order to change the values you have held for a long time, one would
need time or a big catalyst. Even though it was just a coincidence, that
catalyst came tumbling in.
She kept her head down for a while, before she looked up and spoke to
Mom and Dad.
[…I know it's selfish of me, but I want to be able to care about the
people important to Kai-chan too. So, I know it might be a bit late, but I
really want to get to know you two… Can you tell me?]
[…Then, in return, can you tell us about Fate-sama as well? We, too,
would like to know more about you, Fate-sama…]
As Fate-san's atmosphere softened, Mom and Dad's also smiled. When
Fate-san heard what Mom had said, she also smiled somewhat happily.
[Okay~~ Then, I guess let's talk about this together then?]
The flow of the conversation really is good. I've been thinking that this
catalyst might solve this problem… Then, I'll just make sure to follow up
with them at key points to keep the conversation going.
With that thought in mind, I smiled and joined the three of them in
their conversation.