Hayakawa-san's expression as he called out to me as I was squatting down was one of serious concern for me.
　He was wearing the same work clothes I had seen when I first met him, and I could tell that he was still delivering things.
　Mr. Hayakawa, who has been watching my face for a while, suddenly becomes surprised and starts to panic.

I'm crying, are you okay?
'　No, no........I'm sorry for worrying you......it's nothing now....

　His words reminded me that I was shedding tears and I wiped them away as I stood up.
　The embarrassment of being seen made me try to put him off early by saying something I wasn't expecting to say.

　That, too, was fragilely broken by the next words that were thrown at me.

'How dare you... wasn't today Amana-chan's class visit day?
"...?　How did you know that?　Did Tenna tell you that?

　How did Hayakawa-san, who was supposed to be an outsider, know that today was Tenna's class visit day.......
　　

'Oh, no, that~, I just met Amana's friend when I made a delivery yesterday, and she told me about it in the course of a conversation!　I never broke my promise not to overinterfere!
Well.....

　I didn't feel the frivolity of knowing that the words were a lie, but I guessed that they were true.

　He seems to know Tenna's friends as well.
　From my daughter's example, apparently he is easily liked by children.

''And by the way, you even told me the time of day.......shouldn't it be about time?
...It's none of Hayakawa-san's business.
That being said, but........Amana-chan, those girls said they were really looking forward to Minami-san's visit.
I...

　By the time he told me how Tenna was feeling, and I was aware that my once calm emotions had started to flare up again, I had packed up on Hayakawa-san and grabbed his chest.

''I know better than anyone that she was looking forward to today!

　Despite the traffic, they shouted at him loudly.
　But Hayakawa-san didn't argue or get upset, he just remained silent.
　That's a good thing, and I explode with the frustration I've been pent up in the past.　

But I can't always get a chance to see Tenna's sunny appearance up close and personal at the crucial moment... Even today, I had told her I would be taking a day off beforehand, but I had to go to work in the morning as a form of paying the bill for a junior colleague's day off, and when I thought I had finally finished my work... If the train stops because of an accident... this is not happening!　How am I qualified to be her mother when I'm the one who made a promise and then betrayed her and made her sad...how am I supposed to face her!

　The tears that I wiped away in the middle of my speech start to flow again and bury their faces in Hayakawa-san's chest.
　I don't think that just venting my frustration now will help.
　Still, I couldn't help but let it out.

　Since that day when that man passed away and I decided that I would raise Tenna.......the tension that I kept tensing up to avoid showing any weakness seemed to dissolve.

　Most importantly, even though she was confronted with such frustration, Hayakawa-san did not say anything.
　He just seemed to honestly accept my feelings, and I felt a kind of comfort.

　Thinking that far, I finally realized that I had been sorry to him.

'Oh, soooo sorry!　How rude to Hayakawa-san...

　I hurriedly move away and apologize while briefly combing my broken bangs.
　Hayakawa-san, on the other hand, had a mysterious expression on her face, and for a moment I thought I had offended her.

''──Minami-san,''
Yes?
Wait here for a moment.
What?

　But when he said this, he didn't even hear our reply and got into a delivery truck parked nearby.
　He seemed to be contacting someone on his phone, though from a distance.
　I didn't know why, so I just stood there and waited as I was told, and then Hayakawa-san got out of the driver's seat and came back.

　I don't know why he was smiling bitterly at that time, but the words he continued to say made it impossible for me to question him.

　After all.........

".........Please get in the car.
What....?

　He suddenly said so, and he took me by the hand and led me to the delivery truck he had been riding in earlier.
　When my brain finally understands, I step on it as soon as possible and resist.

'Stay, wait!　What is this all of a sudden?
'I'll take Minami-san to Amana-chan's school. Oh, you can show me where, please.
Yes?

　I can't help but be upset at the suggestion, which is so ridiculous.
　It's because I can't understand why he would go to such lengths.　

　No, before that.....

'Isn't Hayakawa-san still delivering?　You're not going to be able to work if you're driving me to elementary school!

　It's about 20 minutes by train from where I am now to the elementary school that Tenna goes to.
　
　I can't believe that he, as a courier, doesn't think about the fact that even I, as a layman, can easily imagine how much trouble such a time loss would cause in a delivery business where time is of the essence.

　When I refused to accept Hayakawa-san's invitation because I felt guilty beyond the joy of being able to make it to class on time, he turned to face me and said........

'I'll get it, but I've informed him I'll be late, so it won't matter what I do.
Ha....

　I was at a loss for words for a moment as he said it off without a care in the world.

'You're an idiot!　How can you put your own work on the shelf to help people and what about your promise not to interfere with us!

　But it was too ridiculous for me to take umbrage with.
　I told him implicitly that I would call the police if he took him away and warned him to change his stupid idea.

　When he heard what I said, he stopped and turned to me.
　I listen to Hayakawa-san's words while appealing to him with my eyes, saying if you have any complaints, go ahead.　


I made a promise to Amana before Minami-san," he said. I said I would always be friends with her.
What...?

　The words returned were something I hadn't expected to hear.
　I was so upset that I couldn't believe it, but Ms. Hayakawa continued, "I don't want to make her sad as a friend.

As a friend, I don't want to make Amana sad. That's why I've decided to take you with me. If I don't, I'll be breaking my promise to that girl.

　So," he breaks off the words before continuing.

'Now shut up and rely on me for that boy's sake!　You'll think about the rest later, just think about your own daughter like you always do!
I...

　As I was persuaded to do so, I weakened my ability to resist.

　Truly........I am an unfit mother.
　Because I was reminded that Hayakawa-san, a stranger to me, puts Tenna first.
　I had given up easily and was at a loss, but he's willing to sacrifice his own work for Tenna's sake to take her like this, isn't he?

　Generally speaking, Mr. Hayakawa's behavior would be considered insane.
　But in reality, he's such a good-natured person that he's indirectly trying to help me, without any malice whatsoever, purely for the sake of Tenna.

　There's no way I could sue such a person............　

"........no matter how much you say it's for the sake of hurrying, please don't neglect safe driving, such as ignoring traffic signals and checking your left and right....
Of course. There are loads in the back that need to be packed to prevent breakage, so safety is the most important thing.

　To the advice I gave him to make sure, Hayakawa-san replied without a care in the world.
　As she speaks so proudly, the impatience she had been feeling until a while ago has quieted down, and her heart has become relaxed.

Hmm, that's right. Well, then, it's nice to meet you.

　I can't help but smile.

Hey. Just drive like you're in a truck.

　Then Mr. Hayakawa drove the delivery truck with me in it.