Chapter 57: Self-Redemption, and a Vow of Life and Death
Yaeko Nishimiya took a deep, steadying breath.
Should she listen to her daughter?
Let them be?
Impossible!
What kind of joke was this?
What could Shoko possibly do?
She couldn't even take care of herself properly. Agreeing to let her stay here would be the height of irresponsibility!
'I absolutely cannot allow this.'
She didn't know if, in this moment, she was genuinely concerned for Shoko, or if she was simply falling back into her habit of trying to control her daughter's life.
"No!"
"Shoko, think this through carefully. You can't take care of anyone here. What skills do you have? Do you really think his family will let you be his caregiver? Listen to me. Come home." She hardened her tone again, stepping forward and reaching out her hand.
However, Shoko didn't budge. Instead, she looked at her mother with a gaze so intense it was almost terrifying.
"Mom, do you want me to die?"
"..."
Yaeko's hand froze in mid-air.
"Mom, I've grown up. I want to make my own decisions."
"Haruka is the love of my life. I will work hard to earn his family's approval. Even if I fail, I won't give up."
"I know you're worried about me. You think I'm incapable of taking care of anyone. But I've been taking care of him for two months already. I can take care of others, and I can take care of myself. Mom, please... stop treating me like a child, okay?"
"But... but..." Yaeko's lips trembled, but the words wouldn't come out.
Shoko didn't wait for a response. She continued speaking, turning her gaze back to Haruka, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
"Besides, I love him. He taught me so much."
"I used to think I was a burden. From the time I was little until now, I've always felt inferior. Even after receiving his love, I couldn't escape that nightmare. In fact, the brighter he shone, the more I felt like dead weight. I thought I shouldn't hold him back. I thought I should just end it all, just leave him. But... but..."
"If I left, what would happen to him?"
"Did you know? He told me that if I committed suicide, he would go with me. And I know he wasn't just saying that..."
"I was so selfish before. I was so wrapped up in feeling like a burden. It wasn't until he collapsed that I realized... For the past two months, I've tried to do the things I thought I couldn't do, and I realized how hard it actually is."
"Only then did I understand how much he sacrificed to protect me. And yet, I had the audacity to feel touched by my own suicidal thoughts, thinking it was 'for his own good'..."
"For his good? That was betraying him... I really was disgusting..."
"So, I don't want to be like that anymore. I know the road ahead is hard, but I won't run away again. I want to change. I want to face reality. I want to take care of him. I want to walk this path with him."
"No matter how much effort it takes, no matter how many scars I get, even if it ends in death, I won't regret it."
"For him, and for myself."
"..."
!!!
Yaeko Nishimiya's hand dropped powerlessly to her side.
Looking at this child who had grown up entirely under her strict planning, she suddenly felt like she was looking at a stranger.
But, she seemed to have... truly grown up?
Would the old Shoko have ever dared to speak like this in front of her?
Shoko's eyes seemed to be sparkling.
What was that light?
Yaeko didn't understand it, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't stop her daughter anymore.
It was a mother's intuition.
"...Suit yourself. Just don't regret it."
Yaeko turned and walked toward the door. But just as she reached the threshold, she stopped. "No matter what happens... there is a place for both of you at home."
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Shoko watched her mother's retreating figure, and the smile on her face finally softened.
Her mother loved her, after all.
It was just that, in this world, they didn't always have the luxury of choice...
Just then. A handkerchief landed in her lap.
Sora, who had been watching coldly from the side, was staring at her with a strange expression.
"Wipe your tears. Don't get Onii-chan's blanket wet."
Shoko picked up the handkerchief and wiped her cheeks, looking a little embarrassed.
"Do you really like Onii-chan?" Sora suddenly asked.
Shoko nodded firmly. "Of course."
"From high school until now, I have always, always loved him."
"If possible, I hope to live with him for the rest of my life."
"But your snobbish mother wasn't wrong. You and Onii-chan aren't married. Staying here might not be the best choice for you," Sora said, her tone biting.
"Being with him is the best choice."
"..."
Sora looked at Shoko, her expression softening just a fraction.
"Do you really want to stay with Onii-chan? He's... right now, he's..." Looking at Haruka, Sora's voice choked up.
"No matter how many times you ask, my answer is the same. If he doesn't wake up, I'll stay with him forever. If he leaves one day, I'll follow him. We'll meet again on the bridge to the afterlife." Shoko said these words calmly, without a hint of hesitation.
"..."
Sora bit her lip hard until she tasted the bitter, metallic tang of blood.
"I understand. From now on... I'm entrusting Onii-chan to you."
"Mm." Shoko looked at Sora with gratitude.
Sora turned her head away, unable to meet her gaze.
Outside the door.
Haruka's parents, who had arrived quietly, stood in silence.
Haruka's father sat on a bench, lighting a cigarette. The swirling smoke obscured his expression.
Haruka's mother twisted her fingers together, lost in thought.
"I think that girl is good."
Haruka's father suddenly broke the silence.
"..."
"...She's alright, I guess."
Haruka's mother said, lowering her head.
Then.
A nurse stormed over. "Don't you know smoking isn't allowed here?! It's bad for the patients!"
"Ah, this... sorry..."
...
[Shoko made a change.]
[For you, and for herself.]
[She gained your family's approval.]
[Afterward, Yuzuru Nishimiya secretly came and apologized to your family.]
[Time passed; another two months went by.]
[Shoko continued to take care of you. Thanks to Kaguya Shinomiya's possibly existent conscience, you received the best medical care available.]
[Shoko memorized every corner of the hospital and every staff member.]
[Aside from staying with you and caring for you every day, she played the piano and posted videos on short-form media apps to earn ad revenue.]
[In reality, Kaguya Shinomiya had already covered all the hospital bills, and your family was willing to give Shoko money. However, although Shoko didn't refuse the help, she was still trying to find new ways to be independent.]
[The internet was her choice.]
[She spent a huge amount of time every day learning about nursing, massage, maintenance, muscle relaxation, storytelling...]
[However, you still showed no signs of waking up.]
[Deep within your brain, you were still holding on.]
[Massive amounts of memories played constantly over these few months.]
[But the playback was finally reaching its end. You felt like you were about to wake up.]
----
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