Volume 2 Chapter 26
by Golden DragonVolume 2 + Chapter 26: [Hatsuka Route] Probing, Indifference
Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and as Yuna stepped out, she immediately saw me and Hatsuka standing by the elevator entrance.
Yuna’s gaze lingered for a moment on my hand clasped with Hatsuka’s.
Without asking any questions, Yuna pressed her lips together, lifted her head to look at me, took a few steps closer, and then handed over a book wrapped in kraft paper.
[This is the book my sister asked me to give you.]
[Thanks, Yuna.]
Taking the book, I tightened my grip on Hatsuka’s hand slightly.
[Hatsuka, do you have books like this at your place?]
[…No. Mom had Dad dispose of all the books related to the “Spirits.”]
Hatsuka shook her head, her expression somewhat somber as she replied.
[Great! In that case, Hatsuka, you come to where I’m staying now.]
[????]
Grabbing Hatsuka’s hand, I turned and dashed off, leaving Yuna to let out a startled cry.
[Huh?! Wait! Yuu!!!!!!!]
Ignoring Yuna’s calls, I had no time to explain right now.
[Yuu… is it really okay to ignore her like that?]
Hatsuka called out in fragmented breaths as we ran.
[It’s fine. After all, we don’t have time, do we?]
I turned back to Hatsuka with a smile, and she, who had been a little worried, broke into a smile as well.
I took Hatsuka to the nearby station, bought her a ticket, and we boarded a train that had just stopped.
On the train, I held Hatsuka’s hand tightly. The carriage was crowded, and we could easily be separated if we weren’t careful.
I took out my phone and sent a message to Teacher Shimizu.
[For a very special reason, may I bring a friend of mine to your home?]
After sending the message, I turned off the screen and put the phone back in my pocket.
[Hatsuka, you really need to exercise more from now on.]
Sweating profusely, Hatsuka gently patted her chest with her hand.
Panting heavily, she was too exhausted to even speak.
All she could do was nod, over and over.
When we reached our destination, I grabbed Hatsuka’s hand and started running again.
Having just caught her breath, Hatsuka was once more pulled along by me.
Seeing her expression of utter resignation, I couldn’t help but laugh unkindly.
After all, children really need to run more to develop a healthy body and mind.
[…Yuu… I… I… can’t go on…]
Hearing Hatsuka say that, I crouched down and offered her my back.
[…Yuu…?]
Still out of breath and unable to speak well, Hatsuka hesitated.
[Come on, just get on. There’s no time.]
Though she didn’t know what I was rushing for, Hatsuka closed her mouth, ready to refuse, and obediently climbed onto my back.
With Hatsuka on my back, I bounced her slightly to gauge her weight, she felt very light.
I started running again.
[Hatsuka, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.]
I spoke loudly, outlining what I needed Hatsuka to do next.
[First! You need to provoke your mother!]
[What?!]
Hatsuka was shocked, but ignoring her shock, I continued.
[Go as overboard as you can!]
[For example, say something like “I have more potential than you, so that’s why the Spirit chose me!” ]
[How about accepting the fact that you’ve been abandoned by the Spirit? You useless adult!]
[!!!!!!!!]
I heard Hatsuka gasp sharply beside my ear.
I continued with a smile.
[Can you think of anything even more extreme? Say it all out loud!]
[…Yes!]
Though Hatsuka had no idea why she was doing this, she still chose to trust me and follow my instructions.
This kind of trust is truly comforting to me!
Having never laughed like this before, I shouted once more.
[If you’ve got it, then yell it out!!!]
[The reason others don’t have this is because none of their children are as amazing as me!!!!!!!]
Hatsuka shouted it out loudly, her tone full of strength.
Well, seeing how well Hatsuka did, I’ll overlook the tears that dripped onto my face as she yelled.
[Well said! Anything else?]
[…I can’t think of anything else…]
Hatsuka deflated and slumped against my back.
[Haha… it’s fine if you can’t think of more. We’re here anyway, so we can take our time.]
I set Hatsuka down and pulled out my phone to see if my teacher had replied.
Unfortunately, there was no reply.
[Hatsuka, wait here a moment.]
I held up a hand to Hatsuka, signaling her to wait, then turned around to call Teacher Shimizu.
[Beep… beep… beep…]
Teacher Shimizu seemed very busy.
The beeping went on for a long time, and I waited patiently.
Just when I thought the call would be automatically disconnected, Teacher Shimizu finally picked up.
[Hello? What’s wrong, Yuu?]
Surprisingly, it was very quiet on Teacher Shimizu’s end. I didn’t dwell on such trivial details.
I explained the situation to Teacher Shimizu.
[Teacher Shimizu, I have a friend I really want to help right now. To help her, I need to bring her into your villa. I might even need to use the piano you lent me for practice.]
[I know this is an unreasonable request, but I can only turn to you for help.]
After speaking, I fell silent. In truth, it wasn’t as if there were no other options, as I had implied on the phone.
But going through Teacher Shimizu was the best and most convenient route.
First, Teacher Shimizu was among the top-tier “Spirit Users.” That might offer some implicit help regarding Hatsuka’s mother.
Second, Teacher Shimizu’s status could provide excellent assistance and share knowledge about “Spirits” that wasn’t written in any book, knowledge that existed only in her mind.
Third, it would save me a lot of time in coaching Hatsuka. It could be described as killing three birds with one stone.
However, there were risks. If I angered Teacher Shimizu and she changed her mind, no longer wanting to take on a student as troublesome as me, that possibility existed.
But it was impossible not to cause trouble for Teacher Shimizu. Even if it meant bothering her, I would still seek her out.
Whether it was my family issues or Hatsuka’s, both would cause trouble for Teacher Shimizu.
My family matters had yet to surface, but Hatsuka’s situation was urgent.
If Teacher Shimizu wouldn’t compromise for me over something as minor as Hatsuka’s troubles, then how could she step in for my family affairs?
This was a test. You could even say it was an ordeal I was setting for Teacher Shimizu. With a cold expression, I waited for Teacher Shimizu’s reply.
The teacher of a game’s male protagonist should be top-notch. She should be someone who can offer maximum help and guidance for the protagonist’s growth.
And for someone so important to the game’s male protagonist, what kind of help could she offer me?
[…It’s fine. Just do as you think best.]
[You’re my student. I gave you the key to the house and let you use that piano. You are their master now. Don’t think of yourself as an outsider who needs my permission.]
[If you do this again, I’ll be angry.]
Teacher Shimizu’s gentle words were warm and pleasant to hear.
As if the coldness I had shown earlier was a lie, I broke into a very happy smile, even though she couldn’t see me.
In an exuberant and lively voice, I replied,
[Understood, Teacher Shimizu!]
After bidding farewell and hanging up, the smile at the corners of my mouth gradually faded.
As expected, this feels much easier.
Turning my head to glance at a nervous and uneasy Hatsuka, I smiled naturally and took her hand.
[Let’s go.]
Using the key to open the door, I had Hatsuka wait in the living room.
From the room where I kept my things, I took out a notebook and a pen.
Hatsuka, who was still fretting about what she had overheard during my phone call at the entrance, fidgeted awkwardly.
I sat down next to Hatsuka and placed the pen and notebook on the table.
[Hatsuka, after this is over, you’re treating me to something to eat.]
Hearing my request, Hatsuka secretly let out a sigh of relief but still seemed a little restrained.
Seeing this, I added another condition.
[You have to treat me to a whole year’s worth of food.]
Finally reassured, Hatsuka returned to her usual self and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Thinking we could finally begin, I opened the notebook.
[Based on what your mother said, we can come up with many counter-statements.]
I took out the pen and wrote down numbers in sequence.
[Based on what you told me in the flower field, Hatsuka, we can temporarily settle on the following lines:
1. “I want you to see exactly who is more capable than you and has taken your ‘Spirit.'”
2. “It’s only because I was born that I could take the ‘Spirit’ that originally belonged to Mom.”
3. “I won’t die. Because even if I die, the ‘Spirit’ that left you won’t come back to you.”
4. “Because the ‘Spirit’ likes me more than it likes you.”
5. “The reason others don’t have this is because none of their children are as amazing as me!”
6. “Because I don’t want to die, having taken the power from Mom, without properly proving to you why the ‘Spirit’ chose me.”]
As I spoke, I wrote the words in the notebook.
To make it easier for Hatsuka to follow, I also wrote down what her mother had said on the left, corresponding to each number.
These words would be another wound for Hatsuka.
But they were also words she had to overcome.
Because according to my plan, these words still needed to come out of her mouth.
With my eyes lowered, I wrote each phrase beside the other.
[1. “Why did you have to appear before me!!!!!”
2. “Why did you have to be born!!!!”
3. “It would be better if you died!!!!!!”
4. “Why did I give birth to such a monster?!!!!!”
5. “Why hasn’t this happened to anyone else!!!!! Only me!!!!!”
6. “Ah, why won’t you just die already!!!!!”]
After writing the last stroke, I put down the pen and looked up at Hatsuka, who was silently crying again.
I am a rotten person. Though I have empathy,
I am still a very cruel individual.
Even knowing that this would hurt Hatsuka, I still did it.
Because this was the best method I could think of, and the one that required the least involvement from me.
Although I am willing to help Hatsuka like this now, if I had to be responsible for her future later on,
I would think of nothing but trouble.
This is Hatsuka’s own life. I can help her briefly, but I cannot help her forever.
I am not her family.
Nor am I willing to become someone who must always help her or bear the burden of her future.
So even if it’s cruel, this is a hurdle Hatsuka must overcome on her own.
I will not let my sympathy overflow for her again, nor will I help her further.
Because I don’t want to be entangled.
Watching Hatsuka cry in silence, I merely observed her coldly and mutely.
No comfort. No pity.
[Translator’s Note: Please join the Gravity Tales’ Discord Server, if you want to hang out.]
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