Volume 2 Chapter 34

Volume 2 + Chapter 34: [Hatsuka Route] Progress, Deception

After finishing breakfast, I also left a portion for Teacher Shimizu.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, it was only six o’clock.

I would still be on time for the first train. Confirming the time, I put on my coat, got ready, and headed to the station.

By the time I arrived at the hospital, it was already past seven. Taking the elevator up to the front of Hatsuka’s mother’s room, I raised my hand and knocked three times.

[Hatsuka went to the restroom.]

Hatsuka’s father came out and closed the door behind him. He didn’t seem surprised to see me.

He told me where Hatsuka was, then the man stared at me for a while.

[What is it?]

Thinking he might have something to say to me, I asked.

[No… well…]

The man wore a troubled expression, then crouched down in front of me.

[Is there anything I can do?]

He asked this, his black eyes filled with anxiety.

[Stay by Hatsuka’s mother’s side, and show her photos and videos of Hatsuka growing up. Besides that, please give me your phone number.]

[If there’s anything you can do, I’ll contact you.]

Hatsuka’s father, at a loss for what to do, placed his hopes on a child like me.

You could say he was so desperate that he would seek help from anyone.

I thought this was fine as well, it would make things easier later.

I did not mock his behavior in any way.

I noted down his number with a memo, then went to the restroom to find Hatsuka.

As soon as I reached the restroom area, I saw Hatsuka, who had come out at some unknown time.

She was standing blankly in front of the mirror by the restroom sinks, wearing a dazed expression as if she were still in a dream.

[Hatsuka! Hatsuka!]

I called twice in a row before Hatsuka snapped back to reality.

[Yuu…yuu…?]

[Yes, it’s me.]

[Are you still not awake yet?]

I stepped in front of Hatsuka and sandwiched her dazed face between my two hands.

[Are you awake now?]

[We’re going to start getting down to business!]

Staring sternly into Hatsuka’s startled eyes, I continued.

[Don’t get all cocky just because we got a good result yesterday.]

[Did you forget what you promised your mother?

If you’re satisfied with just this much, I won’t help you anymore.]

Thinking that this was enough would be a huge mistake.

It was finally the beginning, not finally the end.

Hearing my words, Hatsuka stopped floating on air.

[Good. Now let’s go to your house and get the things that can prove you are a family member of a Spirit Envoy.]

I released Hatsuka’s face, grabbed her hand, and said. Hatsuka nodded back very seriously.

————— 

After picking up the items, I brought Hatsuka back to Teacher Shimizu’s house again.

In the living room, we met Teacher Shimizu sitting on the sofa, on the phone.

Seeing the empty bowls on the table, I knew Teacher Shimizu had already eaten.

I led Hatsuka to sit across from the teacher.

Teacher Shimizu was speaking in an unfamiliar language, her tone melodious and elegant, giving off an aristocratic feel.

Seeing us, Teacher Shimizu smiled and gestured, then continued her conversation.

I, on the other hand, began laying out the things I had brought from Hatsuka’s house, one by one, on the low glass table between the sofas.

Hatsuka’s birth certificate, and the certificate proving that Hatsuka’s mother had once been a Spirit Envoy.

Thinking these two items should be enough, I looked up at Teacher Shimizu.

Seeing what I had laid out, Teacher Shimizu leaned forward a little, and while still on the phone, reached out to pick up the documents and examine them.

After looking over both items, Teacher Shimizu gave an OK gesture.

Knowing it was fine, I felt relieved and put the items back into my backpack.

After waiting a while, Teacher Shimizu ended the call and hung up.

[The person closest to Aoi-san will arrive early tomorrow morning.]

Teacher Shimizu shared some good news.

[Is that so? That’s wonderful.]

I smiled. It was really good that things were progressing quickly.

[Since you’re ready anyway, I’ll have them come pick you up earlier.]

After saying that, she immediately called to have the staff come earlier.

I really liked how Teacher Shimizu handled things so decisively and neatly.

Smiling at Teacher Shimizu, I had Hatsuka sit and rest on the sofa.

I got up and went to the kitchen to pack the things we needed, such as water bottles, tissues, and the like.

Hatsuka, unfamiliar with Teacher Shimizu, appeared very tense.

She sat on the sofa in a stiff, rigid posture.

Teacher Shimizu, meanwhile, kept an elegant smile on her face as she watched Hatsuka.

After I gathered the items, I sat down next to Hatsuka and waited with her for the people to arrive.

With me there, Hatsuka visibly relaxed, and even quietly moved a little closer to me.

She really is shy around strangers.

Somewhat helplessly, I didn’t say anything about it.

[Teacher Shimizu, over this next month, I plan to have Hatsuka stay in the same room as me to study.]

[Mm, that’s fine.]

Hearing that, Teacher Shimizu simply nodded, indicating no problem.

[If I’m not around, I’d like to trouble you to look after Hatsuka, Teacher Shimizu.]

When I said this, both Hatsuka and Teacher Shimizu showed puzzled expressions.

[…That’s fine.]

Teacher Shimizu stared at me for a moment, then agreed.

Hatsuka, on the other hand, looked frightened and tugged at my sleeve.

She was using her actions to tell me not to leave her behind alone.

But that was impossible.

I naturally couldn’t tell Hatsuka the reason, and as for Teacher Shimizu, before I could confirm whether my speculation was correct,

I naturally couldn’t present my suspicions as fact to her either.

So I just smiled at Hatsuka, and with my other hand, removed her fingers from my sleeve.

Then, with the hand nearest to her, I took hold of the anxious Hatsuka’s hand.

As a gesture of comfort.

In this silence, the staff members Teacher Shimizu had mentioned arrived very quickly.

Standing at the door to greet them, I strongly felt that they were official personnel.

Even though they were dressed in suits like anyone else, I could still tell they had received formal, professional training.

[…..Inoue Hatsuka….?]

Just by looking at Hatsuka’s birth certificate, the official showed a subtle, faintly odd expression.

The one who seemed to be the leader nodded to the person beside him.

And that person, seeming to understand something, stepped out alone.

[Please put these away. Students of Shimizu the Spirit Envoy, as well as their friends, may all enter.]

[You can keep these at home now. They are no longer needed.]

The official who said this wore a very kind smile.

The other staff member, who had left and came back not long after, nodded to the leader, who had immediately returned to a serious expression.

As if confirming something.

[Please get into the car, Watanabe-san and Inoue-san.]

Saying this, the leader held the door wide open for us and extended one hand in a “please” gesture.

The other staff member opened the door of the black sedan and also extended a hand in a “please” gesture.

I took the hand of Hatsuka, who was clearly startled by this treatment, and led her into the car.

I had the driver roll down the window, and waved to Teacher Shimizu, who was smiling as she saw us off.

[Teacher Shimizu, remember to eat properly.]

My reminder made Teacher Shimizu pause for a moment.

Forming the words “all right” with her lips, Teacher Shimizu waved back at me.

Once the window was rolled up, I could no longer see outside.

Even though it was daytime, the view outside the window was pitch black.

Inside the car, the lights were on. There was one person driving up front, and another official doing other tasks.

The staff member in the passenger seat had a Bluetooth earpiece. Even though I could see his lips moving as he spoke, I couldn’t hear any sound.

After a while, what looked like a partition also came down.

I could no longer see the view ahead or the people there. The protective measures were indeed very thorough.

Perhaps afraid we would get bored, they also turned on a small LCD TV for us to watch.

It was a very popular anime, with exquisite art and an interesting plot.

The kind of show a girl would like to watch.

They had even thought of this detail so thoroughly. I glanced at Hatsuka, who had been nervous but was now captivated, her purple eyes wide with fascination.

Even though she was completely absorbed, she didn’t let go of my hand.

Glancing at my hand, which she was gripping tightly, I sighed inwardly and turned my head to look out the dark window.

Hatsuka’s mother was a very gentle person.

So there was no way she would do something like that to her own child simply because she had lost the power of a Spirit Envoy.

In other words, there was another hidden reason. But what that reason was remained unknown for now.

Judging by Hatsuka’s father’s demeanor, he didn’t know the hidden reason either.

Confusion and helplessness were always visible on Hatsuka’s father’s face.

If he knew the reason, he wouldn’t appear so lost.

He was so stuck, not knowing where to start, that he would even seek a child’s opinion.

Furthermore, based on the information that Teacher Shimizu had gathered from contacting Hatsuka’s mother’s close friends and classmates.

It was clear that they, also being Spirit Envoys as well as close friends and classmates, likewise did not know.

Hatsuka’s mother’s parents were also no longer alive. So Hatsuka’s mother had told no one, and had no one to tell.

Such a hidden reason must not be a good story.

It would be best to send Hatsuka away to do other things and keep her from getting involved.

Because no matter what that story was, it surely had something to do with losing her Spirit Envoy powers.

Even if Hatsuka had not wished for her Spirit Envoy powers, if she found out, she would surely feel guilty.

If that happened, all our efforts would be wasted.

I have said before that I would rather force an adult than force a child.

So that sort of thing, forcing Hatsuka, once is enough.

Giving a child a happy, joyful, carefree environment where they can grow up healthy is the duty and responsibility of adults.

Hatsuka is only eight years old now. She should not be exposed to these things, nor should she have to bear them.

If one could blame the Spirits, anyone would want to.

But the Spirits are not human. Blaming them would lead only to emptiness, nothing meaningful.

So if the Spirits cannot be blamed, then one must find someone else to blame.

This is human nature.

These things, invisible, intangible, impossible to talk to, not even human.

Those things cannot be blamed.

Only those who can be seen, touched, talked to, and are human, 

Only when there is a tangible form can people’s pressure be relieved.

Otherwise, where are the emotions of grievance, unease, dissatisfaction, and anger supposed to go?

If kept inside the body, they will destroy the self.

And the human instinct for survival will once again seek out people or things on which to vent these emotions.

But this approach only treats the symptoms, not the root cause.

It can alleviate, but it cannot cure.

If one cannot accept one’s own incompetence, cannot face one’s own actions, cannot bear the consequences of one’s own choices,

Then when a certain point is reached, one will still break down.

Hatsuka’s mother’s secrecy, her mindset of wanting to die and be done with it, these things reflect some truths, and also reveal that whatever Hatsuka’s mother is hiding

Must be something extremely serious and cruel.

Something so unbearable that even Hatsuka’s mother, an adult, cannot handle it. Naturally, I will not let Hatsuka come into contact with it.

Even if it is a self-righteous deception, I will not let Hatsuka become involved in this matter.

[Deceive Hatsuka.]

Make her believe that as long as she can show her mother that the power of the Spirits has been properly inherited in her, her mother will live.

That single, simple thing is enough.

Anything beyond that is what an “adult” should accomplish.

[Translator’s Note: Please join the Gravity Tales’ Discord Server, if you want to hang out.]

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