chapter 15

Hinata!! Come here! Fast, hurryyy!!

I hear Mothers loud voice out of the blue, and I end up dropping the book that I was reading. Youre going to bother the neighbors if you shout so loud. Its embarra.s.sing, too. It seems that she is calling me, but I really have a bad feeling about this. I really dont want to go. Just when I think of pretending to be sleeping, Mother has come into my room.

Hinata!! Why didnt you come?! I called you.

Knock first, Mom. So, what happened?

Its terrible! I cant open the lid of this strawberry jam! Open it!

I couldnt even care less about that, I feel exhausted.

What can I do with you

I receive the jar from Mom and tries to open the lid, but its quite tight in place. Next, I put more strength as I turn the lid like I am trying to pull it apart.

Hnngg!!

pop

Oh, it opened.

Kyaa! I knew I could count on your brutish strength, Hinata!

Did you mean that as a praise, Mom? Im not too happy about it though, Mom.

My hand hurts because I was grabbing the jar tightly. While Im rubbing where it hurts, I make a scowl at my frolicking Mother. But, since she is looking into the jar, she doesnt notice my glare at all. It feels somewhat vexing.

Hmm, I wonder if this is still edible.

For some reason or other, she is sniffing at the jar. Really, what is she doing?

Its three months past its expiry date, after all~ Ah, Hinata, can you try a lick?

Throw it away! Right now!!

Dear Mother, are you trying to make your daughter do a poison taste? Expiry date is placed for a reason. Not to mention that its already three months over.

Mom argues that its a waste to throw it away, so I silence her by saying that Im going to buy her a new one. Its tiring that I have to go out for this, but its much better than suffering from an upset stomach.

Ah, can you buy me some chocolate while youre at it? The strawberry one.

Okay, okay.

I get up from bed and grab my purse. Then, I go out as the errand girl.

I quickly bought the requested items and leave the supermarket. I have nothing else to do in particular, so Im planning to head straight home and take an afternoon nap. Spring break is going to end in the blink of an eye, so I have to make most of the time by lazing around. I want to sleep all I want during the break, but I also feel like spending time to make some confectionery. If only we got longer breaks like in summer.

Hic, sniff, uuh

?

While Im pondering about how to spend the rest of my spring break, I hear the sound of a crying child from somewhere. After looking around, I find a girl crying nearby. She should be about 5 or 6 years old shes wiping her flooding tears with her small hands while crying out loud. Although the pedestrians are looking at her with worried faces, they arent calling out to her at all. Not able to leave her alone, I slowly approach the girl.

Hic, M-mom ugh, w-where are you

Did you get separated from your mom?

I crouch to match the height of my eyes with hers before I gently talk to her.

Y-yeah. Shes suddenly g-gone.

I see in that case, do you want to search for your mom together with Onee-chan?

R-really?

Shes looking at me with her large, teary eyes, which have turned beet red from crying.

Yup. Ah, I know, do you want to eat some chocolate?

I take out the strawberry chocolate that Mother asked me to buy. Then I give it to the crying young girl.

Can I, have it?

Sure

I make the gentlest smile I can muster to give her a piece of mind. The girls sad look turns bright soon enough.

Thank you, Onee-chan!

Yup, its good that shes happy now. Shes eating the chocolate merrily. Its Mothers chocolate though. Well, I just need to buy another one later. Alright, now I just need to find her mother. But in reality, I dont even know what her mother looks like, much less where she would go. It seems that I have no choice but to search earnestly.

Yosh, lets try walking around the area.

Say, do you like being carried in the arms, or a piggyback?

Mm the arms.

Okay, the arms it is. Up you go.

I decide to hold her up in my arms so that she would be able to find her mother easier as I walk. Itll be easier for her mother to find her, too, like this. I ask the girl about her moms traits, like her hair, her clothes, and I try looking out for a person who matches the description.

Who knew that after searching for Saki and Tsubaki yesterday, this time I would be looking for the mother of a lost child. Ive gotten so busy somehow after moving here.

So, your mom isnt here.

Yeah

We have been looking around, but we still couldnt find her. I tried calling out some people who look similar to the description, and Ive also asked the shopkeepers, but it was in vain.

Ah, thats it.

Its late for me to realize, but in situations like this, we should go to the police box instead. Theres a chance that her mother has visited the police box when she noticed that her daughter has gone missing. Strike while the iron is hot. With that decided, I head towards the nearest police box.

The police box here had been demolished?

Eh? Yeah, it was torn down and moved to another district about seven years ago.

I, I see.

The place that was used to be a police box is now a beauty parlor. When I ask the storekeeper, it seems that it was moved quite a long time ago. According to him, the new police box is located pretty far from here.

Uwah, what do I do now? The girl looks at me, worried, so I smile to a.s.sure her that everything will be okay. Theres nothing to achieve by staying here, so I decide to return to where we came from for the time being.

Are you tired? Do you feel thirsty?

No, Im okay.

There, there. Youre a good girl~

Ehehe.

While carrying her with one arm, I use my other hand to pat her head. She gives a pleasant look as she narrows her eyes. Looking at her, I really want to reunite her with her mother as fast as I can.

Hinatsan.

Eh?

I hear someone calling my name and I turn around to find Tsubaki there. Shes carrying a shopping bag, so I guess she is back from shopping.

Shopping?

Yes. Um is the girl you are holding, your acquaintance?

She looks as if shes just discovered a rare thing.

Mm-mm, it seems that she got lost. Were looking for her mom together, right?

Right

I look towards the girl and we both smile. Although the girl was cautious at first, she gradually opens up to me after a while. Watching our actions, Tsubaki makes a charming and gentle expression.

I was thinking of going to the police box. But apparently, it has moved somewhere else. Im lost about what to do.

The police box is quite far away from here Ah, there is a community center nearby. I believe you should go there instead.

Really?! Mind telling me how to get there?

I will guide you there.

Eh? But, are you sure? Youre in the middle of shopping.

I have finished. Im currently free, too. Please dont mind about it.

She gently pats the girls head as she smiles at me. Really shes such a good girl.

Well sorry, Ill be counting on you.

Yes.

I walk next to Tsubaki who is leading the way. Then, I stealthily take a look at Tsubakis side profile. Her well-featured face looks pretty. Now that I think about it, I feel like Ive been seeing her every day ever since I moved here. Well, our chance of meeting is high because were neighbors. But still, you know

Um is anything wrong?

Shes realized that Ive been staring at her, looking somewhat sheepish. There is a faint blush on her cheeks. I wonder if shes just shy.

Its nothing. I just thought that we meet each other a lot coincidentally.

Now that you mention it, that is the case.

It gives off the feeling like its fate, doesnt it?

Eh? Eeeh?!

You dont have to be that shocked.

I feel that the faint blush on her cheeks has gotten more obvious now. I didnt think that it would shock her that much, it makes me feel guilty.

Um, Im sorry for saying a stupid thing. I was just joking around.

Y-yes.

She looks downcast, like shes having a mixed feelings about it. Hmm did I really offend her that much? Im reflecting on my actions.

Ah.

Hinatsan?

Shes asleep

Is she tired? The girl has her eyes closed while letting out a cute sleeping sound in my arms. She has a lovely sleeping face.

She must be tired.

I guess so. Sorry, but can we walk slowly so that we wont wake her up?

Yes.

We walk at a slower pace to reduce the shaking. Naturally, we stop talking, too. We walk forward in silence. Although, it will get harder to find her mother since she is asleep. I continue to watch out for people that might be her mother.

Hinatsan, were here.

This is the place?

Yes.

I stand before a building with Community Center written on the doorplate. There is also the word Receptionist written in a paper patch. Just when I am about to enter the building, my shoulder is suddenly grabbed from behind.

Yumi-chan!!

..eh, yumi chan?

I turn around to find a lady who seems really fl.u.s.tered and tense. She frightened me a bit I mean, a lot. I pretend to be calm on the surface, but my heart is actually beating like crazy. The lady is looking at the girl in my arms, so maybe she is the mother. This girl is called Yumi-chan, I totally forgot to ask her name.

Are you her mother?

Yes, I am! I wasnt looking for a bit, and shes suddenly gone. Ive been looking for her all this time Um, could it be that you have been taking her into your custody?

Well, I guess Yumi-chan, its your mom.

I feel sorry to call her when shes still sleeping, but weve found her mother and all. I gently shake her to wake her up. Although, she seems to be pretty tired, she isnt waking up at all. After shaking her a few more times, she finally opens her sleepy eyes. Then, when she looks at her mother with her half-opened eyes, she suddenly opens her eyes.

Mom!

Yumi!!

I slowly pa.s.s the girl over, and she hugs her mother tightly. The mother also returns her hug lovingly.

Ooh, a touching reunion.

Thank goodness we managed to find her safely.

Tsubaki and I watch over the reunion of the mother child without interfering. Nevertheless, thank goodness we managed to find her mother safely.

Um, Im very sorry for the trouble! Its all because I didnt properly watch her.

The lady looks really apologetic as she lowers her head, so I shake my head to the side in a fl.u.s.ter. She doesnt raise her head until a few minutes have pa.s.sed, with some persuasion from me. Its troubling how much she keeps thanking us, but well, its not a bad thing. It makes me happy knowing that Im useful to someone, and being thanked is a fortunate thing.

Thank you very, very much.

Bye bye, Onee-chan.

Bye bye~

I wave at the smiling girl as we part. Her mother gives us a slight bow and holds her childs hand as they walk home.

Oh well, thats one case closed. I guess time for me to go home, too.

I concur is it all right for me to accompany you on our way home?

Of course.

Our homes are next to each other, so well be going to the same direction. Theres no reason to refuse. Besides, walking together is more fun than walking alone, isnt it?

The police box here had been demolished?

Eh? Yeah, it was torn down and moved to another district about seven years ago.

I, I see.

The place that was used to be a police box is now a beauty parlor. When I ask the storekeeper, it seems that its been moved since quite a long time ago. According to him, the police box is pretty far from here.

Uwah, what do I do now? The girl looks at me, worried, so I smile to a.s.sure her that everything is okay. Theres nothing to achieve by staying here, so I decide to return to where we came from for now.

Are you tired? Do you feel thirsty?

No, Im okay.

There, there. Youre a good girl~

Ehehe.

While Im carrying her with one arm, I use my other hand to pat her on her head. She gives a pleasant look as she narrows her eyes. Looking at her, I really want to reunite her with her mother as fast as I can.

Hinatsan.

Eh?

I hear someone calling my name and I turn around to find Tsubaki there. Since shes carrying a shopping bag, I guess she is back from shopping.

Shopping?

Yes. Um is the girl you are holding, your acquaintance?

She is looking at us like she just saw rare thing.

Mm-mm, it seems that she got lost. So were looking for her mom together, right?

Right

I look towards the girl and we both smile. She was still cautious at first, but she gradually opens up to me after a while. Watching our actions, Tsubaki makes a charming and gentle expression.

I was thinking of going to the police box. But apparently, it has moved somewhere else. So Im lost about what to do.

The police box is quite far away from here Ah, there is a community center nearby. I believe you should go there instead.

Really?! Would you mind telling me how to get there?

Then, I will guide you.

Eh? But, are you sure? Youre in the middle of shopping.

I have finished. Im currently free, too, so please dont mind about it.

She gently pats the girl on her head and smiles at me. Really shes such a good girl.

Well sorry, Ill be counting on you.

Yes.

I walk next to Tsubaki who is leading the way. I take a look at Tsubakis side profile stealthily. Her well-featured face looks pretty. Now that I think about it, I feel like Ive been seeing her every day ever since I moved here. Well, our chance of meeting is high because were neighbors. But still, you know.

Um what is it?

Shes realized that Ive been staring at her, and she looks at me somewhat sheepishly. There is a faint blush on her cheeks. I wonder if shes just shy.

Its nothing. I just thought that we often meet each other coincidentally.

Now that you mention it, that is the case.

It gives off the feeling like its fate, doesnt it?

Eh? Eeeh?!

You dont have to be that shocked.

I feel that the faint blush on her cheeks has gotten more obvious now. I didnt think that it would shock her that much, it makes me feel guilty.

Um, Im sorry for saying a stupid thing. I was just joking around.

Y-yes.

She looks downcast, like shes having a mixed feelings about it. Hmm did what I say really disturb her that much? Im reflecting on my actions.

Ah.

Hinatsan?

Shes asleep

Is she tired? The girl is closing her eyes while letting out a cute sleeping sound in my arms. Her sleeping face is lovely.

She must be tired.

I guess so. Sorry, but can we walk slowly so that we wont wake her up?

Yes.

We walk at a slower pace to reduce the shaking on her body. Naturally, we stop talking, too. We walk forward without saying anything. Although, it will get harder to find her mother since she is asleep. I watch out for people that look like her mother as I walk.

Hinatsan, were here.

Is this the place?

Yes.

I stand before a building with Community Center written on the doorplate. There is also the word Receptionist written in a paper patch. Just when I am about to enter the building, my shoulder is grabbed from behind.

Yumi-chan!!

..eh, yumi chan?

I turn around to find a lady who seems really fl.u.s.tered and tense. She frightened me a bit I mean, a lot. I pretend to be calm on the surface, but my heart is actually beating like crazy. The lady is looking at the girl in my arms, so its possible that she is her mother. So this girl is called Yumi-chan, I totally forgot to ask her name.

Are you her mother?

Yes, I am! I wasnt looking for a bit, and shes suddenly gone. Ive been looking for her all this time Um, could it be that you have taken her into your custody?

Well, I guess Yumi-chan, its your mom.

I feel sorry to call her when shes still sleeping, but weve found her mother and all. I gently shake her to wake her up. Although, she seems to be pretty tired, because she isnt waking up at all. After shaking her a few more times, she finally opens her sleepy eyes. Then, she suddenly widens her half-opened eyes the moment she notices her mother.

Mom!

Yumi!!

I slowly pa.s.s the girl over, and she tightly hugs her mother. The lady also returns her childs hug lovingly.

Ooh, a touching reunion.

Thank goodness we managed to find her safely.

Tsubaki and I watch over the reunion of the mother and child without interfering. Nevertheless, its good that weve managed to find her mother safely.

Um, Im very sorry for the trouble! Its all because I didnt watch her properly.

The lady looks really apologetic as she lowers her head, which makes me shake my head to the side in a fl.u.s.ter. She doesnt raise her head until a few minutes have pa.s.sed, as well as some persuasion from me. Its troubling how much she keeps thanking us, but its not a bad thing. It makes me happy knowing that Im useful to someone. Being thanked is a fortunate thing to have.

Thank you very, very much.

Bye bye, Onee-chan.

Bye bye~

I wave at the now smiling girl as we part our ways. Her mother gives us a slight bow. Then she holds her childs hand as they walk home together.

Oh well, thats a case closed. I guess time for me to go home, too.

I concur is it all right if I accompany you on our way home?

Of course.

Our homes are next to each other, so well be going in the same direction anyway. Theres no reason to refuse. Besides, walking together is more fun than walking alone, isnt it?