Maybe anyone else would have cowered at the sight of a frail old woman spitting out words that harsh.
But for me—for some reason—everything seemed to feel… easier.
At the very least, the instinctive urge to just run loosened its grip. Not completely, but enough that I could move my legs the way I wanted them to again.
The one thing that didn't change was the feeling of constantly being watched wherever I wasn't looking.
But with Mom watching my back, the weight of it all felt easier to carry.
With a cheery smile, I gave Mom an enthusiastic nod. "Sure! Let's eat together. I always look forward to eating with you."
Mom smiled back, her voice returning to that same caring pitch from earlier. "I'm happy to hear that."
Both of us made our way to the dining room. I took the seat in the corner of the table, my back to the wall. Mom, meanwhile, took a brief moment to prepare a small meal for me before setting it down and sitting across from me, her back facing the stairs.
It wasn't anything big—just a small bowl of hot soup. Not enough to make me full, but enough to satisfy me before I went to bed.
I picked up the spoon she'd set out and took the first sip. I figured Mom'd take this opportunity to eat the leftovers I'd given her, but she never once touched the meal I gave her. She just sat completely still, watching me eat.
As expected, I couldn't taste the soup. But at the very least, it felt…
"Warm."
"Hm?" Mom asked, my words snapping her out of her daze. "What was that, Mei?"
"It's… warm."
Nothing changed as I ate. It was just soup, after all. And yet, the fatigue that had been grinding down on my mind and body seemed to ease, and for a moment, I could forget where I was.
It was just me and Mom sitting at the dinner table.
I took another spoonful. Swallowed. Then dipped the spoon in for more.
With every bit, my eyes grew heavier, and my thoughts fizzled out into the background. Almost as if a comforting fog had rolled in to fill the space where something much harder had been sitting since I got home.
Mom's smile seemed to grow all the wider, drawing soft wrinkles near her cheeks and eyes. "Really? I'm glad you like it, Mei."
It was only then that Mom opened the take-out box and began eating alongside me.
"So," she asked, chewing carefully. "How was your day today, Mei?"
"It was… good…" I replied slowly, my words coming out close to a whisper. "I had… fun, today…"
Mom let out a small giggle. "Hehehe. I can see that. It looks like you had so much fun that you're about to fall asleep at any minute."
I tried to giggle back, but I didn't even have the energy to do that.
Just before my mind drifted off, a sudden thought occurred to me, causing my heavy eyelids to shoot open.
"By the way, why did you call me to ask where I was? Don't you have my location?"
It wasn't something that bothered me, just something I was curious about. And besides, the topic would keep me awake until I finished the soup. I didn't want Mom's hard work to go to waste.
"Oh, that? Well…" She scratched her cheek, embarrassed. "I do have it—but I don't like using it. It feels like I'm invading your privacy. And besides… I'd rather just call you and ask! Why check on an app when I can check on you?"
It was such a nonsensical answer—since checking my location was simply quicker—and yet, I found myself letting out a soft chuckle. "I guess… you're right."
By the time our conversation ended, I had finally finished my soup.
The instant I did—with nothing else left holding me back—my consciousness started slipping away.
The spoon fell out of my hands. The clatter as it hit the table reached me in a muffled blur, as if it were somewhere far away.
And then—I started falling.
Ah—this isn't good.
I… still have to respond to Hoshino.
I still haven't thought about our date.
And I'm still… not in my room.
The last thought petrified me. So much so that my nerves flared, jolting through me one last time and fighting against the wave of drowsiness.
Maybe that would've kept me awake in any other scenario. But with Mom there, and the warm soup settling in my stomach, my mind shut down. And shortly after—
My world faded to black.
Mei's Mom POV
I made it in time.
I'd thrown myself up from my seat and caught Mei before she could fall headfirst onto the table.
I slowly lifted her up and set her back against her chair.
For the first time since I'd seen her tonight, her breathing was… normal. Slow. Calming, even.
And then there was her face. The face of someone at peace—of someone finally at rest.
Times like these were the only chance I got to see her this way.
Before I even realized it, a warmth had spread from my chest and gathered behind my eyes as I stared at my Daughter's sleeping face.
You're beautiful… Mei.
A strand of her hair slipped down over her face. I doubted it'd bother her, but even so, I carefully lifted my hand and tucked it behind her ear.
"Thank you for the meal, Mei. It was good."
She couldn't hear me, and that was fine. I just couldn't let the day pass without telling her that.
With a deep breath, I stood up and took a step back. I was barely an inch further from where I'd sat, but the moment I left her side, it felt as though a part of me had been torn away.
It's okay. Let's just finish this quickly.
I'd already finished with the meal, so all I had to do was throw the take-out box in the garbage and set the dirty dishes into the sink.
All of that took only ten seconds before I returned to Mei.