The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
“I think mother probably came by car,” said Amagi.
So we headed for the parking lot closest to the school.
On the way, I thought about what I should say to someone I didn’t know, someone who was a complete stranger.
If Amagi’s mother was as sociable as Amagi, there might have been room for me to intervene.
But that was probably impossible.
…But that’s probably impossible.
From what I saw, she didn’t seem like the type to listen to an outsider’s opinion.
If I messed up, it could make their relationship even worse. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.
What should I do? What should I say?
I kept worrying about it, and we arrived at the parking lot.
And then we saw it.
Something unbelievable…
“Uwaaaaaa!! Arisa said she hates meeeee!! I can’t do this anymore, I can’t~!! I’m not cut out for parenting!! I don’t want to do this anymore!!”
Crouching next to a car, the woman screamed like a child.
No matter who looked at her, she was clearly Amagi-san’s mother.
◆
I first heard the saying, “A sparrow cannot give birth to an eagle,” when I—Amagi Arisu—was eighteen years old.
I became pregnant with Arisa while still in high school and dropped out.
After giving birth, I raised her every day with the help of my parents.
[H-Hey, you! Arisa chan!!]
When Arisa was still two years old.
My mother showed me Arisa’s doodles with a shocked expression.
There was me, my parents, and Arisa… The drawing itself was incredibly skillful, but what was even more remarkable was that the artist’s name was written in the corner of the paper.
“Amagi Arisa,” in full kanji characters. Neatly written.
Arisa was intelligent.
She was exceptionally so.
To an unbelievable extent.
Not only could she read and write kanji, but by the age of three, she had already mastered multiplication and division.
She would read books around the house on her own, ask someone if she didn’t understand something, and absorb everything like a dry sponge.
She understood adult language well and could converse almost equally on topics ranging from neighborhood gossip to current events.
[A sparrow gave birth to an eagle.]
[Is that really that idiot’s child…?]
[I’d believe it more if they said she found her under a bridge.]
[That’s a bit harsh. Hahaha.]
[Arisa chan, I’m glad you didn’t take after your mother.]
My parents and other relatives always compared me to Arisa.
It can’t be helped. I’m stupid. I’m a dropout who couldn’t even graduate from a low-level high school.
I don’t have the strength to argue back, or the persuasiveness.
All I can do is smile awkwardly and agree with everyone, saying, “Yeah, right.”
But,
[Everyone, stop saying mean things about Mom! I look like Mom! I’m glad Mom is Mom!]
Arisa is different.
When she stood up for me in front of everyone, I realized for the first time that I was glad to be this child’s mother, and I resolved to be a good mother. It was a hot summer night when I was just 20 years old.
When Arisa started elementary school, we rented a room near the school and started living together.
It was simple, but every day was fun.
Around this time, Arisa started to take a keen interest in fashion, which made me happy. I thought, “Maybe I can be of some use to this child after all.”
I bought her various clothes, shoes, and accessories. When I didn’t have enough money, I made things by hand.
Every morning before school, I would style her hair as cutely as possible and send her off.
She wanted to wear makeup. She wanted to get her nails done. She wanted to dye her hair.
I fulfilled all of her wishes, every single one. That’s all I could do, being the fool that I am.
“Arisa chan.. you know, you’re starting to look more and more like her…”
When she was in upper elementary school.
When I brought Arisa back to my parents’ house, my mother said that with a serious expression.
Indeed…
I hadn’t really noticed before, but her appearance, her aura, her taste in clothes—everything about her was just like me when I was a teenager. She was like a carbon copy of me.
[Mom’s in this magazine! Mom, were you a model? That’s amazing!]
[Just a little bit, when I was working part-time. It’s not that big of a deal.]
[It’s amazing! It’s super amazing! I want to be like Mom too!]
After finding the magazine with my photo in it, she started to take an interest in the modeling profession.
She had worked hard to get into a prestigious middle school, and could have easily moved on to high school through the school’s system, but she insisted on going to a different school to pursue her career.
[It’s Arisa chan’slife, and I’m sure she’ll manage just fine, but… can’t we guide her toward a more stable path? You wouldn’t want her to end up like you, would you?]
mother said this, and I couldn’t disagree.
She’s so smart, yet she’s straying from the path in a way even I, who’s not very bright, can see.
It’s my fault. I taught her about fashion, and now look what happened. I should have thrown away those magazines long ago.
How can I help Arisa lead a good life?
I thought about it in my own way.
I tried talking to her.
But the conversation kept breaking down.
I don’t understand what Arisa is saying, but it feels absolutely right, and my own arguments seem trivial and meaningless.
I’m too stupid to convince the smart Arisa.
So,
[Stop wearing miniskirts. Don’t wear makeup. Do you want to be a model? No way, that’s out of the question.]
I was probably too kind before.
I shouldn’t have been so lenient. I need to be stricter. I need to change the way I interact with her.
I myself stopped dressing up flashily. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have any persuasive power.
Since she was imitating me in the first place, if I stopped, she might stop too.
She might start walking toward a happier path.
That’s what I thought.
—And the result?
[I hate you, Mom!!]
To be honest, I knew it in the back of my mind.
I vaguely sensed that she hated me.
But when she actually said it… it really hurt.
Arisa isn’t at fault. I am.
I was greedy, wanting to be a strict mother until I saw results, even though I had hardened my heart and become strict.
It’s just a story of a fool using her foolish head to do something foolish.
It can’t be helped. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s only natural.
I know. I know, but…
“Uwaaaaaaa!! Arisa said she hates meeeee!! I can’t do this anymore, I can’t~~~!! I’m not cut out for parenting!! I don’t want to do this anymore!!”
The moment I arrived at the parking lot, I couldn’t take it anymore and screamed. I didn’t care who was watching, I just let it all out.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t want this outcome.
I wanted to do something for her, I felt like I could do something, but I didn’t know what.
I truly, honestly, just want her to be happy…
If her mother were someone else, would she have done a better job?
Guiding an eagle is too much for a sparrow to handle.
“Mom…?”
I heard a voice from behind and turned around.
There stood Arisa and… a boy I didn’t recognize.
Maiban