The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
Kanade’s mother, in stark contrast to the calm and composed demeanor she usually displayed when facing me, was visibly flustered.
The extent of her fluster was nothing short of staggering.
“Oh no, oh no!”
To give you an idea of just how bad it was: Kanade’s mother, who used to smile sweetly at the slightest thing… was now in a complete panic.
“K, Kanade. Please. Just don’t tell Dad. I’m begging you.”
“No way. I’m definitely going to tell him. I’ll tell on you!”
Kanade turned her head away, arms crossed, and puffed out her cheeks.
“If that happens, Mom, Dad’s going to get mad at you again!”
“Hii…”
“In our family, Dad’s the scariest one to make angry, after all!”
“Aww…”
“This time, it might not end as easily as that divorce drama from before!”
“Oh no…”
D-divorce drama…?
It seems there was a time when the Ichinose family was on the verge of breaking up—behind my back.
…I’m just a little curious about what happened.
“No way. I definitely don’t want Dad to get divorced.”
“That’s right. Mom’s totally head over heels for Dad, after all!”
“No way. No way…”
“When I’m not around, he sometimes carries her princess-style!”
“Ugh…”
“And sometimes, when Dad scolds you, it gives me a little thrill.”
“Well, sometimes it’s a reward…”
……Is it even okay for me—a complete stranger to the Ichinose family—to be listening to this conversation?
I’m starting to feel a little uneasy.
“But this time, it definitely won’t end with just a thrill!”
Kanade continued, her voice still angry.
“Because this time, Mom’s dragging A-kun into it too!”
……Oh, so that’s where I come in.
“Dad was mad after Akkun and the others visited us the other day, wasn’t he? He said not to cause Akkun too much trouble!”
“…That goes for you, too.”
“I agreed to it!”
“…Ugh. If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve made you sign a pledge beforehand.”
“Mom, it’s time to pay the piper…!”
… Somehow, the dynamic between Kanade and her mom right now has the same intensity as the final battle between a hero and a demon king.
“Give it up, Mom……!”
Kanade…… fired off a defiant declaration at her mother.
For a moment, Kanade and her mother fell silent.
It looked as if they were both sizing each other up.
…The one who broke the silence was.
“……Kanade”
It was Kanade’s mother.
“Don’t tell your father about what happened today.”
……W-what!?
I’d been expecting Kanade’s mother to come up with some kind of strategy… but what she threw at me was a straight ball right down the middle.
It wasn’t even a strategy—she’d simply gone for a head-on confrontation.
“Hmph. Absolutely not.”
Kanade was adamant.
“You’re always way too pushy, Mom. Even from my perspective as a ‘moderate’ (?), that’s just too forceful. Someday, that approach is bound to reach its limit…! It’s just that that day is today!”
“……Be quiet, Kanade.”
“……!”
“I’m your parent, you know? You should listen to what your parent says.”
“……H-hmph! Acting all parental like that. What exactly have you ever done for me, Mom?!”
…Well, that’s…
“What have you ever done for me…? …When I was on the verge of death, you were right there cheering me on. You paid for the huge medical bills. You even threw yourself into life in a foreign country where you didn’t speak the language, just to save my life. She even organized my lecture series based on my wishes. And she let me return to this country just as I started high school. …Ugh.”
…That’s true.
Kanade has definitely received plenty of parental love from her parents.
“B-but…! I won’t forgive you for dragging A-kun into this!”
“……”
“Just this once, I’m going to be ruthless!”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“……Hehe.”
“……!”
Kanade’s mother smiled defiantly.
“W-What’s so funny?”
“Is that okay?”
“……Huh?”
“Are you really okay with treating me like that?”
…Gulp.
Kanade’s mother… what on earth is she…?
“Kanade. If you’re going to be so stubborn, I have my own plans.”
“……Hmph. What is it?”
“I’m going to kill you.”
…My heart skipped a beat.
“Hehe. A life where your father hates me has no meaning. But I can’t very well kill your father. So, I’ll kill you—the child born of my union with him, and the next person I loved.”
“…H-hmph. Do you really think a bluff like that would scare me…?”
“That’s not all.”
…So that’s not all?
Well, since this is something she’d do after avenging her hatred toward the one who tore her apart from her beloved father, maybe she’ll take her own life afterward.
“I’ll kill Akkun.”
……Huh?
“It would be too pitiful to leave you all alone in the afterlife.”
…There was no light in Kanade’s mother’s eyes.
“……So, I’ll take Akkun with me. Isn’t that nice?”
……Hmm.
Well, I suppose all of this is just Kanade’s mother bluffing… but she really messed up this time.
Even when told her own life would be taken, Kanade didn’t flinch—so telling her I’d give up my life… there’s no way she’d be shaken by that.
“…Mom.”
Kanade was…
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sooo sorry! Just Akkun…! Please spare Akkun’s life…”
…She was bawling her eyes out.
…I see.
I guess even Kanade can’t bear the thought of a friend’s life being taken because of her own family’s circumstances.
“Hehehe. There, there. It seems this little one still has a long way to go before she can hold a candle to me.”
Kanade’s mother stroked Kanade’s head as she burst into tears, looking triumphant.
Maiasa