The spear of dark love has caught you.
The sorrow of suddenly losing one’s family is immeasurable. The sadness felt at that time, and the loneliness that follows… regrettably, it’s something you get used to as time passes.
I first lost my father, and then, a few years later, when I lost my mother, it truly felt like a hole had been punched in my heart. Although I’m disliked by my father’s side of the family for various reasons, I was loved by my maternal grandparents. So, when I lost both of them, they told me to come over and asked if I would live with them.
“…Sorry, I like this House.”
Of course, I was grateful for my grandparents’ offer. But I didn’t want to leave this House, where my memories of the two of them remained. Well, there was that, and I also didn’t want to move from this place I had been familiar with for so long.
They were worried about me in various ways, but as I said earlier, regrettably, I got used to it as time passed. Living without my father and mother became normal, and now I don’t feel any strangeness in living alone.
…But there was only one feeling that never disappeared.
“Hayato.”
“Hayato.”
I sometimes imagine it. That the two of them are alive and still by my side, calling out to me. I repeatedly dream of a world where my beloved two haven’t disappeared, and I give up, realizing that it’s a world that can no longer be realized.
In other words, what I want to say is that the desire for the Warmth of family just wouldn’t go away. At times, when the House is quiet, I feel lonely, and I get a little sentimental.
Each time, I rouse myself, telling myself that dark feelings are no good, and I work hard to live in the present.
That’s right… it’s okay.
I’m sure I’ll be okay. It’s become a slightly serious monologue, but I’m not feeling lonely and thinking of leaving this world, or anything pessimistic like that. My friends are very lively, and now I enjoy talking to Arisa and Aina-san, too.
So it’s okay. Surely, no matter what happens, it’ll be okay.
“…!”
“Oh, you’re awake?”
When I suddenly opened my eyes, I was at a loss for words.
That’s because what was in front of me wasn’t a giant ball… but rather, a large chest wrapped in a knitted sweater.
“…Huh?”
My memories of what happened before aren’t stable.
I think I was asleep until now. As far as I remember, I was talking to Arisa, Aina, and Sakina-san. In the middle of that, I became unbearably sleepy… and fell asleep just like that… wait, what!?
“S-Sorry–”
“Fufu, it’s alright. Please relax.”
Sakina-san placed her hand on my shoulder, and I couldn’t get up.
The owner of this voice is Sakina-san, and it seems I was having a Lap Pillow from her. My face is hidden by her large breasts, but I’m absolutely certain that this is Sakina-san.
“…Lap Pillow…?”
“Yes. How’s the comfort? It might be harder than a pillow, though.”
Well, you can’t compare it to a pillow.
Although I was told not to get up, I took advantage of an opening and stood up energetically, saying that I was alright now.
“Ah…”
Sakina-san made a sad sound and looked at me regretfully as I got up. No, no, I’m troubled by being looked at with such eyes… Speaking of which, Sakina-san is here next to me like this, but where did the two of them go?
“…? What’s this?”
Then, a very fragrant smell of Curry wafted over.
When I turned my gaze towards the back, I saw Arisa and Aina cooking there. Both of them were wearing cute pink aprons and seemed to be in the middle of cooking.
“Oh, it looks like he’s awake.”
“I couldn’t wake him up because he was sleeping so comfortably… Mother is unfair.”
Sakina-san didn’t seem to care about Arisa-san’s gaze.
Even so, I see, it’s almost noon, so it’s Curry. I was planning to go home in the morning, but I guess this will turn into a situation where they’ll treat me to it.
“Is it alright?”
“Of course. Rather, the two of them are making it like that for your sake. Well, I was originally going to make it, but I was giving Hayato-kun a Lap Pillow like this.”
I’m sorry for the trouble.
When I lowered my head, Sakina-san smiled and said it was fine. As expected of Arisa and Aina’s mother, she’s really beautiful. Seeing her up close makes me feel that way even more. Honestly, I’d be more convinced if she was called an older sister rather than a mother.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Ah, no. I was just thinking that you seem more like an older sister than a mother.”
What am I saying so seriously?
Sakina-san widened her eyes for a moment but then smiled happily. That reaction was much more appreciated than being awkwardly at a loss for words.
“Thank you, Hayato-kun. I’m happy to hear you say that. But, there’s one thing I’d like to ask you, is that alright?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Hayato-kun, are you perhaps feeling lonely?”
“…”
…I was surprised, I never thought I would be asked such a thing by Sakina-san. I think Sakina-san realized it from my reaction. Her way of speaking, using polite language, gives her a gentle impression, but the gaze she’s giving me now is quite sharp. It’s scary, in a way, like she’s looking into my heart.
“…I’m sorry. Did I step out of line?”
“Ah, no…”
Sakina-san seemed to think so too, and she immediately gave me a gentle smile that put me at ease. Ah, really… I thought she was like an older sister earlier, but the gentle expression she’s making now is that of an adult. That’s right, it made me think that she’s definitely a mother.
“It’s totally fine. But as expected, you’re right, I think I am lonely.”
“That’s…”
“Sorry to keep you waiting~!”
“It’s done, Hayato-kun, Mother too.”
Oh, it seems like the Curry for lunch is finished.
Sakina-san and I stood up together and headed towards the prepared table. The Curry there is, in a word, a plain, ordinary Curry, but to me, it looks extremely delicious in two ways.
“…Looks so good.”
The main reasons were simply the delicious smell wafting over and the fact that the two beauties representing the school had made it.
“I’m glad you say that.”
“I guarantee the taste too. I made it because I wanted to be of help to Hayato-kun.”
Wanting to be of help is an exaggeration, I gave a wry smile at Arisa’s words and immediately sat down in the chair. I was grateful for the delicious Curry they had made and was about to partake.
“Thank you for the meal…?”
I took the spoon in my hand and was about to eat with gusto, but Arisa and Aina were staring intently at me. I felt a little awkward with the two of them staring at me without even blinking, but I put the Curry in my mouth.
“…Munch.”
“…………”
“…………”
The two of them are still staring intently at me…
Only Sakina-san was chuckling and laughing happily, and in a way, I thought that this was normal for the two of them. The moderate spiciness, the sweetness of the rice, and the combination of potatoes made it feel like Curry. That wasn’t in a normal sense, but it was really more delicious than any Curry I had ever eaten.
“It’s really delicious. Yeah, it’s really good. Thank you, both of you.”
The two of them finally smiled at my words.
…Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve sat around a table with someone other than my friends. When we gather to eat, it’s limited to events like Halloween, but eating in a casual space like this is probably the first time.
“…………”
It’s so Warm… really Warm.
The deliciousness of the Curry is one thing, but this space where Arisa, Aina, and Sakina-san are is really Warm. It’s probably the Warmth felt because all three of them care about each other.
“…!”
Come to think of it, did the Curry my mother made taste like this too? I don’t think there’s that much of a change in the taste of Curry, but perhaps because of this atmosphere, I remembered the family meals I used to have.
“Hayato-kun!?”
I heard Aina’s flustered voice.
Not only Aina but also Arisa and Sakina-san were looking at me in surprise. I tilted my head at the gazes of the three of them, but I was able to realize it immediately.
“…Ah.”
It seems that some tears were flowing.
I felt pathetic, but I wiped away the tears and said sorry.
“That’s fine, but…”
“Did it taste bad?”
I shook my head with a wry smile at Arisa’s words, saying that wasn’t the case.
I think they were taken aback by me suddenly crying, but maybe it’s okay to talk about the reason why this happened. My friends know about it too, and it’s not like I’m hiding it myself.
“Sorry, this space was so Warm that I was reminded of the old days.”
“The old days?”
I nodded at Sakina-san’s question.
“Well… I lost my father and mother early, and I’ve been alone ever since. This Warmth reminded me that family was like this.”
I’m sorry for making the atmosphere gloomy, I started eating the Curry again.
There’s no turning back now, it’s been found out…
I felt like someone was laughing.