"f*ck!　That little pig boss is a real jerk!

　Tuesday, a few days after I talked to Saniya about meeting Amana's mother.

　While I was frustrated with the signal, which didn't change much, I remembered that yesterday, I was informed by General Manager Hinomoto that the delivery schedule had changed.

　This time of year, just before the Golden Week.

　In other words, we've got another job to do.
　No, I know that in the industry, it's more of a long weekend like this that's the best time to make money, you know?
　But this means that the amount of work I have to do is also increasing.

　The darkness of the service industry is taking its toll on my mind.

　Furthermore, Amana-chan's absence of a healing boost has left me in a state of mental and physical disarray.
　The stress has left me feeling a bit sleep-deprived, and I feel like I'm on a high.

　It's what I call the late night tension.　
　But it's evening now.

　And the main source of such irritation is........

'....I'm hungry........

　I bought two rice balls at a convenience store I stopped at on the way to the airport and ate them as soon as possible, but there was no way my stomach was going to be filled with them and I didn't even have time to get another meal.

　So, I'm very, very hungry.
　I feel as if my back and my stomach are already attached to each other.
　The combination of hunger and stress is making my consciousness unsteady.
　I'm even more nervous not to have an accident while driving, and that's putting even more pressure on my body and mind.

　Well I'm doing a good job, aren't I?

　This is how I arrived at Amana's apartment building, "Everyday Smile", where she lives.
　Normally, I would feel refreshed in anticipation of being able to receive her healing, but I can't do that due to the promise I made to her mother, Minami-san.

　That said, I understand that it's not right to resent Minami-san.
　She just did what a mother should do, and for me to complain about it is just an accusation.

　For now, I'll try to show her as much energy as I can so that she won't have to worry about me.

　With that in mind, I press the intercom.

''Yes!''
"I'm sorry. I'm a sea cucumber transporter.
"I'm coming, sir!

　─ Ah, even through the speakers, Amana's voice soothes me........

　While I was feeling the happiness from my ears, the front door was slowly opened and Amana-chan greeted me from inside with a seal in hand.

　Today she was dressed coolly, with her bright brown hair tied back in a short ponytail and a pale yellow short-sleeved dress, as May was approaching.

　In other words, it's cute.

'Hello, Onii-san!　Always a very good time!
Hello, Amana-chan.

　She greets me with a flowery smile, and I return the greeting with a superficial calmness.

　Aaahhhhh~ This is it.
　That's right, I don't necessarily need to receive any charity from Amana-chan.
　Just by seeing her adorable figure like this, I didn't care about the d*mn boss in the blink of an eye.

　
　Well, now I'm concentrating on my work!

So, do you mind putting your stamp on this?
Yes!

　She gave me a stamp of receipt in the same energetic tone as always.
　I put my luggage in its usual place and turned to face Amana.

I'll see you another time then.
'What?　Are you going to leave already, mister?
Ugh...!

　As I was about to leave quickly to keep my promise to Minami-san, Amana gave me a forlorn look.
　I feel a tightening pain in my chest at the cuteness of it, and the fact that I let her look at me like that.

　To tell the truth, I don't want to go.
　Of course I want to spend time with Amana.　　

　But her mother, Minami-san, told me to stay out of it, and I've accepted that myself.
　After making a promise, the next step is to violate the contract, which is a negative start at best, but it would be even more distant from trust.

　If that happens, the worst thing that could happen is that they will report you.

　Thinking that this was a bad idea, I decided to answer Amana's question with a heartfelt response.

'I'm sorry, okay?　I've been, well, I've been busy at work today...
'Oh....'

　Personally, Amana let out a little gasp when I told her the #1 excuse that the child would not want to hear.

　And then she turns her face down........

''.........I'm sorry for being selfish in spite of the fact that I'm a pediatrician.......''

　He said this weakly with a slight tremble in his voice.

　─ Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　Ouch!
　It hurts like a knife in my heart!

　I was in unprecedented pain for making Amana sad.
　What's bad is that she backed down so quickly, only because she's a seriously smart and attentive girl.
　I could tell that he thought I was bothering him because he was a good listener.

　I would like to withdraw my previous statement of 'that's not true' right now and do my best to take care of him, but the promise to Minami-san flickers in the corner of my mind and comes to a halt.

　The guilt of making the little girl feel lonely because of my own cuteness stimulates me to do this.

'.........good luck with your work!　
Ggh......

　Furthermore, Amana-chan looked up and gave me a smile that she had forced herself to make and came over to give me a pep talk.
　A healthy cuteness and an apologetic feeling of not being able to care about her hit me at the same time, and it was all I could do to let out a gagging sound.

　Still, trying to somehow move her heavy footsteps........

　─ ─ Guh~~~............

　At the worst possible time, a stomach bug came complaining of hunger.

Are you hungry, mister?
'No, no, this is...'
I'll just be a minute!
Oh, Amana-chan?

　Without listening to my reply, Amana goes to the back of the corridor as if she had come up with something.
　Within a minute after that, she came back.....







　─ With a plate and a spoon with a bowl of pudding on top of it in her hand.

　As she was dumbfounded by the scene, Amana scooped up a bite of pudding with the spoon.......

"Onii-san, is this going to make you hungry?
....

　With a thoughtful expression on her face, she held out the spoon with the pudding on it.

　.........

　Ah, I see.
　So you've sensed that I'm hungry, and you're sharing the pudding that you were in the middle of eating?
　That's right, I see~.

　After realizing the true meaning of her actions, I covered my eyes with one hand, looked up to the heavens and then slowly.

　This is too precious to refuse.

　I broke.
　The balance, which had been wavering between Minami-san's promise and Amana-chan's healing, was easily tipped by the mere act of kindness.
　My reasoning was easily broken, to the point that I couldn't help but think about the cause of my defeat in Kansai dialect.

"....I'll just take a bite.
Really?　Then yes!　Ahhhh!

　Huh ↑↑!
　Isn't that a little too cute!

　As soon as you received the courtesy, your lonely expression just a moment ago brightened up like a lie.
　You already have a big smile on your face.
　I had a vision of a flower blooming around my face that I often see in cartoons?　

　And uh-oh!
　Ahhhh!

　I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this is an angel that has landed on earth.
　No, that's exactly what it is.
　That's how deeply Amana-chan's healing touches my heart.

　Well, I don't have time to stay in agony forever.
　Amana-chan has taken the trouble to feed me her pudding herself, so let's enjoy it to the fullest.
　Let's savor it to the fullest.

　I took a bite of the pudding on the spoon that was offered to me and chewed it thoroughly to savor the flavor.
　I think it's twice as sweet as the pudding I usually eat.

'Onii-san, is it good?'
Oh, it's so good.

　I return Amana's question with a hearty smile.
　My stomach isn't small enough to be full from this, but my heart is full.
　Then I parted with Amana, who had regained her composure, and decided to return to work.


　After this, I was scolded by Minami-san.