(POV Kaito)
It had been a while since I stepped out onto the balcony. The surroundings had turned completely dark, and the lights from the street lamps flickered here and there.
When I looked over at the balcony of the neighboring house, there she was. Not the protagonist, no, that was not the right way to think about it. It was Chika-chan.
Her eyes were hidden, so I couldn’t fully read her expression. But she was looking at me. I had heard the rumor that she was waiting for me, so I thought I’d come to see if it was true… Did I keep her waiting for quite some time?
“I’ve been waiting,” she said.
“Sorry.”
“It’s alright. But before we discuss anything, can we catch up? It’s been a while.”
“That’s fine, but don’t you have something to talk about?”
“Yes, there is something, but I’d rather enjoy talking with you first.”
“… I see.”
I realized that I was highly regarded by her. I wondered when I had gained such trust. Oh, maybe it was because Chiharu and the others had been talking about me at school. She must have heard various things about me…
“Do you have someone you like, Kaito-san?”
“Someone I like, huh?”
“Oh, I mean in a romantic sense.”
“That’s a bit forward…. Well, um, no. There isn’t anyone in that sense. And, you should stop phrasing it that way, okay?”
“Understood. But, I see… So, there’s no one…”
The conversation didn’t progress at a rapid pace. It was merely an exchange of words, but strangely, my heart felt at ease.
This kid has a mysterious charm.
Oh, not in a weird way. Somehow, it feels like she can get along with Chiharu, Chifuyu, Chinatsu, and Chiaki. That’s the feeling I get.
“Excuse me. Can I talk about something a bit heavy?”
“Oh, sure, go ahead.”
“My… parents are strict, and sometimes, I feel like I don’t have much freedom.”
“…”
“But it’s not that I dislike them… It’s just that I don’t want to be treated like someone’s puppet, you know?”
“You want to make your own decisions?”
“Yes, exactly. I want to decide things for myself and do things for my own sake.”
“I see…”
…In a way, this child is like an outsider. It might not be right for me to meddle too much in her affairs, but…
But it seemed like I was being pushed to the point where she confided her worries in me. I must be just a stranger to that child. Yet, it could also be said that she was in a situation where she had no choice but to rely on even strangers.
If she was in such a predicament, maybe I, as Chiharu and the others’ guardian, as her friends’ guardian, could lend her some help.
“…Why don’t you try telling them? Be honest… It feels like there’s no other way but to talk it out.”
“…. It might be a little difficult for me.”
“I see. But I think you can do it. Having a conversation like this with someone who is almost a stranger, and an adult at that, takes courage.”
“…. telling my parents.”
What kind of parents did she have? I had no idea about that aspect. However, I could sense that her parents were strict in her upbringing, and I had some knowledge from the game about that.
Disciplining a child isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s only natural if it’s done out of care for the child.
“Is it still too hard?”
“…. Yes.”
“Well, maybe it’s not something to push you into. So, what’s the solution? I suppose, in the end, I’m practically an outsider anyway.”
Yes, I was an outsider. I wasn’t someone who should be meddling in other people’s parenting decisions. However, I couldn’t just leave this child alone when I sensed her distress. While I was pondering this, I suddenly heard a voice.
“Chika, what are you doing?”
“Oh, f-father.”
I recognized the stern and deep voice that reached my ears. I could hear footsteps approaching. The man with white hair emerged onto the neighboring balcony. His features were well-defined, and he seemed tall.
Though he appeared slightly aged, there was still an energetic aura about him.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, it’s not what it seems…”
“I said, What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me?”
“I’m sorry… Father. I was just talking to our neighbor…”
“Why do you think I bought you pencils, notebooks, and a study desk? Was it for chatting with unfamiliar adults next door?”
“No, it’s not like that… It’s for studying.”
“Then why… No, forget it, never mind for now.”
Upon saying that, her father clenched his fist and struck her head with his knuckles, hitting with the area around the second joint. A faint thud resonated in my eardrums.
It was too much… But she was another family’s child, and it wasn’t my place to intrude on their family matters. That’s just common sense.
“Ah~…”
“Listen to what I say, obediently. It’s for your own good.”
“…. Yes.”
She said so while bowing her head. I let out a sigh as I watched her, and then the father turned his face toward me.
“…. Why were you talking to my daughter?”
“…”
What should I say? I could be honest and tell him I was asked to wait for her, but that might worsen her situation.
Perhaps I should obscure the details a bit and convey the truth.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. You see, I enjoy feeling the night breeze, so I was talking to her while she was taking a break from studying. The cause for our conversation was that our children are classmates, so I was asking about how things were at school…”
“I see… Chika, is what he said correct?”
“…”
I nodded slightly, and Chika responded with a small nod.
“Yes…”
“I see… Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Huh?”
“To be chatting with someone else’s daughter at this hour. That’s what I’m saying.”
…Indeed, I also thought that striking up a conversation with an elementary school girl from my balcony at this late hour might not be appropriate.
“I apologize. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Make sure you never engage in such thoughtless behavior towards my daughter ever again.”
“Yes…”
“Sigh, it’s lamentable. Is this the youth who will carry the future? In my younger days, when it got late at night, I would return to my room and study. I never engaged in any improper activities late at night like you did. I don’t think you said anything strange, but I hope that’s the case.”
“Yes. I don’t think I said anything strange.”
I could understand his feelings to some extent. For me, those children were important, and it seemed the same for this person with Chika. That’s why he probably wanted to protect her and raise her carefully inside a “cage”. I couldn’t help but understand that sentiment.
I remained silent, knowing that it was not my place to intervene in someone else’s family matters.
“Ah, you see, I don’t know the specifics of your family situation. But the children you’re living with aren’t your daughters, right? From observing you now, I can make a guess. You’re just indulging them without providing them with proper education.”
Maybe he was right. Perhaps all I had been doing was indulging the girls. I felt anger rising at his words, but I couldn’t bring myself to retort.
“A child of that age can’t discipline themselves, and furthermore, a child who acts recklessly like you won’t turn out well. So you should be careful, especially with children like them.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
I involuntarily asked back. I understood the implications of a twelve-year-old girl talking to an adult over twenty at night.
He warned the young man not to let such a thing happen again, and I understood his desire to protect his daughter.
So, I had intended to say nothing. However, I couldn’t maintain my composure when those kids were brought up.
“That’s right. It’s been said that children with special circumstances find it difficult to have a healthy upbringing. That’s what I mean.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand,”
“….Sigh.”
He let out a sigh right in front of me, and I felt a chill in my heart. I felt inadequate for not comprehending his words. But I couldn’t grasp the meaning of what he was saying.
“Are you suggesting that those kids… won’t be able to experience normal happiness?”
“….. It’s highly likely. I don’t know what happened to them, though.”
“You can say whatever you want about me. I’ll admit I was reckless. But… don’t speak casually about those kids.”
It was a chilling tone. I was surprised at myself for speaking so coldly. It was almost like I was getting angry. But even so, the words came out. I knew my outburst would probably disappoint the other person.
Ahh, I couldn’t bear it any longer.
“…Sigh, anyway, don’t get near my chil―”
“――Shut up, you idiot!”
A voice echoed.
“Don’t you dare badmouth Kaito! He’s not like that! Don’t you dare say a word against him!”
It was Chiaki. She must have been there all along, silently standing behind me.
“And, what’s with that fist?! It looked like it hurt like hell! It makes me sad! Don’t you dare do that to your daughter!”
“…This is discipline. Besides, back when I was young, I―”
“I don’t care! Just because it happened to you doesn’t mean you can do the same to others!”
Chiaki said that, tears streaming down her cheeks. As she stared at him, her gaze made Chika start to cry too.
“… I’m sorry, father.”
“… “
“I told Kaito-san that I wanted to talk to him.”
“… “
“I have something I wanted to discuss.”
“… Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I can’t. You see… my worries were about wanting to live more freely.”
“―― “
The stern expression on her father’s face from earlier vanished. It was hard to describe, but his face looked as if he had just chewed a bitter bug.
“I… I hate the fist. It hurts so much… and the cram school is tough too. I’ll continue studying, but… I also want to go out somewhere and have fun. You may say that manga and games are unhealthy, but I want to do that too. Even at this age, you may call romance impure, but I want to experience that as well.”
“… “
“I know you’re thinking about my future, and I appreciate that. It makes me happy. But could you please let me do things my way, just a little bit more?”
“… Do as you please.”
He said so quietly and left.
“I’m sorry, my father. He’s not a bad person, but… well, his mindset is like an old stereotype man from the Showa period, or you could say it’s like the values of a middle-aged man before the bubble burst…”
“Yeah, I see. I know he’s not a bad person.”
“I’m really sorry. Even though you covered for me by lying…”
“No need to apologize. It was my own doing.”
“Thank you too, Chiaki-chan.”
“Yeah… it’s okay! Is Chika’s head alright?”
“Thanks. I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Not only me but Chiharu and the others were worried too!”
When I looked back, the three of them had their faces peeking out from the window. They must have been watching everything, no doubt about it.
“I’m sorry. I’ll stop here for today. Thank you for everything.”
With those words and a bow, she left. I don’t know what will happen next, but I believe she must have gathered the courage to express her true feelings.
■◆
(POV Chika)
For me, my parents were important people. I knew they showered me with love and care. However, there were times when I also wanted to be free from that.
I had moments when I wanted to express how much I had grown. But I had given up on doing that because of the entangled choices. It had become natural for me to obey and follow them without question.
However, when I met the irregular Kaito-san, something inside me wanted to change.
But it wasn’t that easy.
Even now, Kaito-san has lied for my sake and protected me. Chiaki-chan appeared too, crying and protecting me.
Can I just let it end without saying what I want to say? Impulses surge within me. If I miss this opportunity, there won’t be another chance for transformation.
My father will probably cut off all of my ties with him.
If that happens, I and Kaito-san will… When I think about it, the impulse becomes stronger…
Unintentionally, I ended up spilling everything.
Ah, I’m so simple-minded…
And, how easily influenced I am…
I thanked Kaito-san and the others, then headed home. And I headed toward my father.
I followed my father’s footsteps. And what I wanted to say is….
■◆
(POV third person)
On that night, while bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, Kaito stood there, gently swaying in the wind. Earlier, he had felt that what he was told by the girl’s father, except for the matter about the quadruplets, had hit the mark.
He kept thinking, searching for a better way, a solution. He regretted his actions multiple times, wishing to change his feelings. He didn’t want to burden the four of them with his anxious emotions. So, he decided to look at the beautiful moon and try to shift his emotions.
With that thought in mind, he gazed at the moon.
Time seemed endless, as the things he was told were resurfacing in his mind over and over again.
At that moment, the window of the neighboring house opened. A girl who seemed to have finished doing something on the balcony spoke to him.
He wondered if it was okay for her to be here at this time.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s my decision. I want to talk, that’s all.”
The girl smiled, her eyes shimmering like beautiful emeralds swaying in the wind. Kaito smiled back, albeit with a hint of reservation.
He sensed that they could now have a meaningful conversation.
However, his anxious nature took over, and he quickly felt the need to leave the situation behind.
“Sorry. I think I’ll head back after all.”
“Wait, please.”
“…?”
“Do you have a smartphone?”
“Yeah, I do. Why?”
“Well, I was thinking…”
The girl had an expression that said, “I knew it.” She had sensed that she was being lied to earlier. So, the revelation didn’t come as a surprise. Instead, she felt a sense of relief, as if she had already known the truth.
Her cheeks blushed ever so slightly. It was the first time she had spoken up, expressing her feelings for herself, and for her own sake.
“――Um, if you don’t mind, would you like to exchange contact information?”
Saying that she pointed her smartphone towards him.
***************
TN: In the title, thousand flower is read as Chika; Chika’s name means a thousand flowers or many flowers.
Leave a Reply