I never knew my sister had an acquaintance like this. But thinking about it, it's not surprising. After all, it wasn't like my sister died right after I did, so it's only natural that she made connections somewhere along the way. It's strange that she remembers things from the previous life, but there must be a lot about her that I don't know yet. Someday, I'd like to ask her about it.
After some time, the person—Shinobu-san—finally responded.
"I'd like to help you, but is it really necessary to go through all this trouble?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. If you leave it to Yuu, you can get away from those parents without going through the hassle of adoption, right? Isn't that true, Yuu?"
"Sigh, how many times have I told you not to call me Yuu? Well, yes, it's not a big deal. I can easily earn money, and while it might take a bit of effort to rent a place, it's not impossible. But, you know…"
"Exactly. But that's not what we want. If we just run away, nothing will change. We've always been too close, asking too much of each other, and that's why things didn't work out. We need to separate, but we also need to face each other as a family. If we just disappear, our parents will never understand what went wrong. They won't have the memories we have. That's why I want to face them properly before we leave."
"…I see. So you still have some compassion for those parents. You're a good kid. I could never think like that."
"Hehe, it's not about being a good kid. It's more for my own sake than for theirs. In the end, I just want to know. I want to know what my parents were thinking, what they thought about me, about us. No matter what they say, it won't change the past, but I think some part of me will find peace by knowing."
Yes, this is just self-satisfaction. My sister also said we could just run away, but that's not enough. It feels like something would be missing. The answer is already decided, and I know talking won't change it, but I still want to hear it. I want to understand my parents' true intentions, and I want to tell them how I feel before I say a final goodbye.
"And with a regular adoption, the parent-child relationship doesn't have to be completely severed. So maybe someday, after we've both had time to cool down, we can meet and talk again. Maybe we can have a normal parent-child relationship, talking about the good times and asking each other if we're happy now."
My sister said that day would never come, but as long as there's a connection, nothing is impossible. If we break all ties or run away without a word, that opportunity may never come, but with this method, there's a chance we can build that kind of relationship someday.
"I see… You're quite something. But—"
"Well, I agree it's unlikely, but isn't it worth trying? It's not a bad deal for you either. And I know about your family situation, so don't think you can use that as an excuse."
I know almost nothing about Shinobu-san. My sister said she's a detective, but that's about all I know. But since my sister introduced her, she must be a good person. I hope things go well. As I wished for that, Shinobu-san sighed, looking a bit resigned but also as if she were seeing something bright, and muttered softly.
"Sigh, fine, fine. I never imagined I'd become a parent."
"Then…?"
"Yes, I'll take on the role. But there are two conditions. First, I won't be the one to convince your parents. You two will have to do that yourselves. And second, I can't provide financial support. I can handle the paperwork, but I'm just getting by myself."
"Of course, I understand. We'll manage like we did before, right?"
"Thank you so much."
Alright, that's one hurdle cleared. Now, the real challenge lies ahead. We spent the rest of the day discussing the details of our future life—where we would live, how we would manage financially, and so on. Although I felt a bit left out, my sister and Shinobu-san quickly worked everything out, as if they had done it all before. By the time we finished, it was already dark, and we decided to call it a day. Now, all that's left is to talk to our parents. That will be the hardest and most important part. It's time to bring closure to this chapter of my life and put an end to the strongest bond I've ever known. Only by doing so can I finally move forward. I believe that will allow me to stop looking back.
A few days after that meeting, when both my parents were home, I finally broached the subject.
"Mom, Dad, I have something important to talk about."