Chapter 16: Mahiru and Kaede
"So Mom, you still don't believe what I said?"
Inside an Apartment, Shiina Mahiru was looking somewhat seriously at the Little Girl before her.
"No one would probably believe something like this, and I don't know your dad at all. How could I possibly have a daughter..."
"Mom and Dad have already met—it's the person who gave Mom the umbrella. That's Dad."
Shiina Kaede's words immediately plunged Shiina Mahiru into silence. The Little Girl before her was shrouded in mysteries; not only did she know all her secrets, but Mahiru herself felt an inexplicable fondness for the Little Girl. Could she really be her future daughter?
"But I still can't believe it..."
Looking at the child who bore an eighty percent resemblance to her younger self, Shiina Mahiru had a premonition in her heart, but she still couldn't admit it aloud. The scene before her reminded her of her own parents. Though the circumstances were different, this feeling of being arranged for filled her with disgust from the bottom of her heart.
"It's okay if Mom doesn't believe me."
Seeing Shiina Mahiru looking somewhat distressed, Shiina Kaede quickly took her hand. The sudden warmth made Mahiru feel a bit better, but after regaining her composure, she instinctively pulled her hand back.
"Um, sorry..."
"It's okay... Would Mom like to hear about the past?"
Looking at the flustered Shiina Mahiru, Shiina Kaede didn't react much. She simply maintained an appropriate distance before trying to strike up a conversation.
"The past? You mean the future?"
"Mhm, but Mom might not believe it, so just treat it as a story."
Though her mother still didn't believe her identity, Shiina Kaede wasn't too anxious. She just quietly watched her mother, her eyes hiding an indescribable emotion.
Hearing this, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but feel a bit distressed inside, but she controlled her emotions and quietly sat down beside Shiina Kaede.
"Let's just treat it as listening to a story."
She thought to herself.
"Mom and Dad also met on a rainy day. Mom never told me the specifics, but that umbrella has always been kept in our home~"
After saying this, Shiina Kaede seemed to recall something happy. She stood up and picked up the umbrella Mahiru had brought back, but after examining it carefully, she placed it back on the floor.
"I forgot—this umbrella should be one Dad just bought..."
"Pfft~"
Noticing the Little Girl's adorable action, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but laugh, but she felt it was inappropriate and quickly tried to calm her expression. However, no matter how hard she tried, the hint of amusement in her eyes betrayed her.
"It's not funny, Mom. You used to say this umbrella connected you and Dad—it's your love token."
Seeing her mother laughing at her, Shiina Kaede pouted in dissatisfaction. She carefully put away the umbrella and solemnly placed it on the table.
"Sorry, I just thought you were too cute..."
Halfway through her words, Shiina Mahiru realized what she was saying and quickly closed her mouth, but the blush on her fair cheeks betrayed her.
"Hehe~ Mom used to praise me like that often..."
A look of reminiscence appeared on Shiina Kaede's face, but it was soon followed by a sense of loss. She could no longer return to her own time. Though her parents were right before her, they didn't recognize her at all.
"Is that so?"
Seeing the somewhat dejected Little one before her, Shiina Mahiru felt a pang of heartache. Even though she didn't know this child, the pain she felt when seeing her dejected was so real.
"Let's just treat it as raising a little sister."
Shiina Mahiru pondered in her heart, giving herself this reason before reaching out and pulling the other to her side.
"Huh?"
Looking at Shiina Mahiru holding her hand, Shiina Kaede's eyes flashed with delight, but she resisted the urge to pounce and just stared intently at her mother.
"Though I still don't fully believe it, you can stay here. Treat this place as your own home."
Her hand involuntarily rested on the other's head. Even though it was the first time doing this, Shiina Mahiru felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had done it often before.
"Mom... Mom!"
Feeling the warmth on her head again, Shiina Kaede could no longer hold back and threw herself into her mother's arms. From the nervousness of meeting her father in his student days to the comfort of being stroked by her mother now, her heart felt like it was on a rollercoaster. She feared not being accepted by her parents and also feared disappearing. But when the warmth on her head returned, she finally couldn't resist throwing herself into her mother's arms.
"Mmm..."
Feeling the child in her arms crying, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness, but she didn't shed tears. Instead, she patiently waited until the crying stopped before slowly loosening her arms.
"Sorry, I was a bit rude."
Having just calmed her emotions, Shiina Kaede felt a bit embarrassed thinking about how she had cried in her mother's arms. After all, the other still didn't acknowledge her, and her actions had indeed exceeded what was normal.
"It's okay. If you like it, you can keep holding on..."
Looking at the loli who looked so much like her, Shiina Mahiru seemed to see her younger self. She hadn't forgotten that her wish back then was for her mother to hold her. Now, she had become the one capable of fulfilling that wish. One couldn't help but say, fate is truly intricate.
"So? Does Mom acknowledge me?"
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's words, Shiina Kaede's face immediately lit up with joy.
"For now, yes. But outside, you have to call me'sister,' or it'll cause misunderstandings."
Looking at the Little Girl whose face was now filled with happiness, Shiina Mahiru still made a request. She hadn't forgotten she was a student—if this got to the school, it would be troublesome.
"Mhm, Mom, don't worry. I'll listen to everything Mom says."
Having gained her mother's acknowledgment, Shiina Kaede let go of her restraint and threw herself into Shiina Mahiru's arms. From now on, she had a home in this unfamiliar world.
"Don't worry, I'll never let you live the life I had as a child..."