81 78 Nanke I don't know





 I was about to leave after receiving an apology from Watahira-san and a healing from Amana-chan, but I didn't want to interrupt the family reunion....

"Since you've come all this way, please have lunch with us.

 I couldn't refuse Mayumi's enthusiastic recommendation to let me share the table with her, saying that I was sorry if I asked her to come just to hear her apology.
 Watahira-san looked unhappy, Amari smiled bitterly and Amana-chan laughed happily, but I felt grateful and indescribable.

 Amari and Mayumi are all together in the kitchen, Amana has gone back to her room to do her summer vacation homework, and Watahira is next to me at the moment.
 But that doesn't mean I'm going to do anything, I'm just silently watching the TV.
 I don't know why he didn't say anything when he came at me a while ago to the point of hating me.

 It's just that kind of eerie feeling, like a cat that has been whining and screaming all the time suddenly becoming silent.

"...Oi.
Yes?

 So I was a little freaked out when he spoke to me out of the blue.
 Not long after I felt shameful, Watei-san continued.

'How much do you.......know about us?
Ehhhh, I see.

 For a moment I didn't know what she was talking about, but I guessed it was Amari's husband.......or even Amana's father.
 Come to think of it, it's already been four months since I talked to Amari at that time.
 Unlike until now, when I didn't have many memories of anything other than work, since I met Amana-chan, my days haven't been boring, which makes me feel very emotional.

 I have to answer Watahira-san's question, putting off getting lost in my thoughts.

As I recall, your husband passed away soon after Amana was born, didn't he? I heard that after that, she spent her time as a single mother with the help of Watahira-san and others.
....

 I told him as much as I knew, but Watei-san wrinkled his brow and fell silent again.
 What a feeling of being overwhelmed by the fact that I was expecting a reply right away.

''I see...''
Watei-san?
When I found out that my daughter was in high school and pregnant, I was too surprised to say anything. Of course I wanted to blame him for trusting me, but my determination to be with him, even to the point of abandoning my family's relationship with them, overwhelmed me.
That's kind of awesome...

 I can't help but be dismayed at my own lack of vocabulary from my impressions, which are far from understanding.
 It's not that I don't have something to think about for narrowing the future of the still-young Amari, but if I say that, I'll deny Amana's existence.
 I mustn't say that, so I exercise restraint and listen to the rest of the story.

'She became a mother at a young age, and her surroundings were always full of enemies. She was cut off from her family and we couldn't always be there for her. The fact that she was able to continue raising her child in such an environment is nothing short of a miracle.

 That's why," Watahira said, breaking off his words once and continuing.

I can't help wondering why they trust you so much. I heard that you only delivered food to the restaurant two days a week.
"...I haven't done anything special. If you're going to say what happened, I'm sure it was Amana-chan who triggered it.

 That first day I met her, I was saved by the pure kindness of Amana-chan.
 I never thought that a girl who had just entered the first year of elementary school would behave in such a way towards an adult who had never met her before.
 That was probably the result of a combination of Tenashi's upbringing, but more importantly, that girl's own temperament as well.

'Isn't Tenna a good girl? He listens well, doesn't say anything selfish, and is kind and caring. He's not even seven years old yet.
'He's losing his face as an adult, isn't he? But I think she's been expressing herself well in her own way lately.
'Oh. Especially when you're with someone who doesn't like it.
Ha ha ha....

 I had to chuckle at the spikes of words that came in subtle stabs.
 I can't say that she even gave me a kiss, even if it was on the cheek, to me, a friend of a year apart.

 Even without that, Amana has missed me very much.
 Our relationship would be quite special in the current society, where we often feel barriers in the way we interact with each other in the midst of the constant incidents of children being victims on a daily basis.
 I'm aware that this is not something to be admired, but Amana easily broke down that wall of reservation.

 There's no plan, no ulterior motive, just a tired adult.
 If it had been a matter of a grudge against me, I wouldn't have been able to form a bond with Amana.

As a result, I'm glad that we agreed to allow them to get married and give birth to Tenna. Her happiness is our wish, too.

 That's right, all the people in the world are people who could have become a different person, not only in terms of personality, but also in terms of gender, appearance and ability, with a difference of only 0.1 second.
 It is only natural to wish such a miraculous birth into this world to be happy.
 In fact, the people of the South family are working hard for that purpose even if their father isn't there.

 It may be presumptuous of them, but it makes me proud to be a part of that effort, even if it's just a small part.

Momma, I'm done with Kyou no Shukudai!
Thanks for your help, Tenna.
I even had a little fight before sunrise!
Oh, my God, you're good.
It's almost time for lunch, so please wait at the table.
Yes! 

 When the conversation was settled, Amana came back into the living room after finishing her homework quota.
 Just as Amanashi and the others are about to finish the dishes they are preparing.

 So the grilled salmon set meal for lunch was as delicious as ever, as Amanashi had made it.
 Although Amana-chan seemed sad as we were leaving, I patted her on the head and encouraged her that we would meet again at the next job, and it warmed my heart to know that we were able to exchange goodbyes with bright smiles on our faces.

 ........Furthermore, it was a different story when she was sulking about how she wanted to eat Amari's food from Kuroone when she returned home.