After I Saved Kirigiri San, a Cool, Sharp-tongued Gyaru, From a Pick-up, She Started Coming Into My House the Next Day
Kirigiri calmed down after eating some orange jelly and taking a cold medicine.
When I took her temperature again, it was back to normal. I was relieved to see that. At first I wondered what would happen, but I was glad to hear that she was better.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. Thanks for the medicine and jelly.”
Her complexion seems to have improved considerably, perhaps thanks to talking with Chinatsu for the first time in a while.
Kirigiri then looked down, looking apologetic.
“Also, I’m sorry for telling Chinatsu about your place…”
Perhaps it was because she had just recovered from an illness that she had become so sensitive; it seemed unlike Kirigiri.
“It’s nothing to be worried about. Honestly, it’s impossible to keep it all a secret. I knew someone would find out sooner or later.”
I didn’t think that after my mother, Chinatsu would be the next to find out.
Kirigiri then seemed to think for a moment before beginning to speak calmly.
“Chinatsu and I have been friends since grade school. We used to hang out a lot. I didn’t think we would end up together in high school.”
If they met when they were in elementary school, that means they had a fateful encounter in high school.
“Hey. Can I tell you about my family?”
Kirigiri said in a determined tone.
Kirigiri’s family…… I wonder if she has sorted out her feelings. But Kirigiri is still recovering from an illness.
If she talks about the past.
“I’m the one who said I wanted to know, but you don’t have to be in such a hurry, at least until you get over your cold……”
“No, I’ve caused trouble for Kinoshita, so I want Kinoshita to know that.”
Kirigiri looked at me with a serious look.
I was unsure whether I should get involved, but she wanted to talk to me, so I couldn’t just ignore her.
“Okay. Let me hear it.”
I took a deep breath and sat down next to Kirigiri, almost touching her.
“My mom is in the hospital……”
Kirigiri continued with a sad expression on her face.
“It’s all my dad’s fault–”
After she spat out the words, she began to reminisce about the old days.
◆ ◆ ◆
It was in the eighth grade—-
[Hey, buy me some booze.]
[Dear……you must stop drinking. Misuzu is here.]
[Ah? What did you just say?]
[I told you, enough drinking…..it’s not good for your health.]
[Don’t tell me what to do. You bitch !]
My dad—that scumbag–cursed and beat my mom every night.
Sometimes it lasted until morning.
[Dear, enough with the violence ! Why are you doing this……]
[ Look ! I’m tired from work
! You should know that ! Shit !]
Again and again and again and again.
[How could you do this to me…..you weren’t a violent person before……]
[Shut the fuck up ! All you do is cook me bad food every single day…..! I was a fool to marry someone like you
!]
All I could do was watch.
I thought that if I stopped him, I would end up like that.
[Mom……are you okay?]
[Misuzu……I’m fine.]
My mom, perhaps from the stress of her daily life, was growing thin and gaunt.
The face that had always been so bright and beautiful was now gone, and she lost her appetite and weight drastically. Late at night, I began to see her having nightmares.
All I could do was watch her. I should have supported her. I should have been on my mom’s side.
And then all of a sudden, it happened.
[Mom ! Mom ! What’s wrong ! Wake up ! Hey !]
When I went to the kitchen after school, I found my mom lying on the floor.
It was so sudden that all I could do was call out to her as she collapsed.
[I’m sorry. Misuzu……it’s my fault, this happened to you……you should live happily.]
With those words as the last, my mom lost consciousness.
Later, a couple who lived nearby called an ambulance.
When they arrived at the hospital, my mom’s body was so bruised and emaciated that they could hardly look at her.
[Depression.]
The name of the disease given by the doctor.
The daily stress of domestic violence. It caused my mom to become severely depressed.
That scumbag destroyed everything—-
◆ ◆ ◆
“I’m the worst….I turned a blind eye to the fact that my mom was being beaten. ….if I had been more firm, she wouldn’t have had to be hospitalized…….”
Kirigiri let out a few tears.
“Mom……I’m sorry…….”
Not knowing what to say to her, I gently took Kirigiri’s hand.
I thought that would be the best thing to do.
“Kinoshita……”
“It’s okay. Just take it easy.”
Kirigiri then nodded with tears in her eyes.
“How’s your mother’s condition?”
“She seems more stable than in the past. Her depression is getting better and she even started smiling when I went to visit her before.”
Kirigiri opened her mouth happily.
“Did you call the police?”
“I did, but they wouldn’t listen to me at all. And that scumbag was only good-looking on the outside, so I think that’s why he wasn’t seen as someone who would commit domestic violence.”
I was furious that the police, who are supposed to be the citizens’ allies, were not helping at all.
“And my dad–that scumbag started calling all kinds of women to the house after mom was hospitalized…..even though she’s still in a lot of pain…….”
What a lousy father.
He is driving her mother into a mental corner with domestic violence, and then he is getting his hands on new women to satisfy his own desires.
If Kirigiri’s memory serves her correctly, he was a kind and strong father in every family at first.
But for some unknown reason, his father was also broken.
“He’s getting remarried…….”
Kirigiri muttered as if it was someone else’s problem.
“The woman he brought with him is a rich woman who makes a lot of money in nightlife work…and he says he will no longer have to live in poverty….even though my mom is still in the hospital…..I knew it, men are scum…….”
Kirigiri spat out the words with tears in her eyes.
I felt that way.
“It seems like he doesn’t care about my mom at all. As long as he has money and lives a wealthy life, that’s fine…”
If there is happiness in the act of remarriage, that’s good, but that’s probably not what Kirigiri’s father is trying to do.
It’s best to assume that Kirigiri’s words will have little effect.
At times like this, children are helpless.
“I’m sorry. I know this is none of Kinoshita’s business.”
I couldn’t find the words to reply, so Kirigiri spoke softly to me.
“I’ll be going home soon. My dad is waiting for me at home…I’ll leave the money for your medicine and jelly here.”
“You don’t have to go back.”
“Eh?”
I tightened my grip on her hand.
There’s no way I, as a third party, should intervene in Kirigiri’s family matters.
But is that really the right thing to do? Sending Kirigiri home like this won’t solve anything.
If she goes back home, Kirigiri will probably break down someday. I wonder if she will end up like her mother who is in the hospital. A sliver of anxiety swept over my mind.
The best solution would be confronting her father, but that would be impossible unless the father wanted to have a dialogue with her.
From the way Kirigiri talks, it is almost impossible.
If that were the case–
“You can stay here until you get your mind sorted out, if you like.”
“But then it’ll be a nuisance…..and what about the money?”
“I’ve got my parents sending me money, so I’ll manage. If I run short, I’ll sell the games, so don’t worry.”
“Kinoshita…….”
Kirigiri looks at me with a face that looks like she’s about to cry.
“Of course not forever. It’s fine. You can go out whenever you feel like it. And you can talk to Chinatsu about it. She’s your childhood friend, so I think you would feel more at ease that way…”
It is unclear whether Chinatsu will cooperate, but as she is a childhood friend, she will likely be aware of Kirigiri’s family situation.
I thought that this could be relied upon.
Kirigiri then chuckled.
“Fufu.”
“W-what’s so funny…..”
“I just thought Kinoshita was really a worrier.”
Although I don’t think of myself as a worrier, when Kirigiri tells me over and over again, I begin to wonder if that’s really the case.
Well, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
“But are you sure about that? I’ve been causing a lot of trouble for Kinoshita up until now, and as you’d expect, I can’t….”
“I’ve already said it. Besides, there’s no way I can just send you home after hearing all this.”
“Fufu, I see…Kinoshita really is a worrier.”
Kirigiri gave off a gentle smile.
The cool impression I had when we first met had disappeared somewhere. Perhaps this expression was Kirigiri’s true face.
“I mean, how long are you gonna hold my hand?”
“Oh…….”
When Kirigiri pointed it out, I realized what I had done. I felt sweat pouring from every part of my body.
I let go of her hand and quickly put some distance between us.
Even though I was trying to encourage Kirigiri, I had really gone too far…
What was I doing…?
“Kinoshita, you’re too anxious. I’m not particularly worried.”
“I-I see…that’s good. Sorry for this…”
I was prepared for her usual sharp glare, but Kirigiri just gave me a bright smile.
“That’s fine. Anyway, let’s talk about what’s gonna happen next.”
“Y-you’re right…”
The contract between me and Kirigiri was thus extended from two months to indefinitely.
Although I was worried about whether we could live alone in a small room, it was exactly the same as before.
However, this does not mean that Kirigiri’s family relationship has been resolved.
I started my life with Kirigiri with a hint of uneasiness.
Maigetsu