Chapter 80: Yukinoshita Ayame's Secret
"You don't need to tell me that..."
Looking at the Little Girl before her, Yukinoshita Yukino's heart was in a mess. After all, she was currently just a High School Student who had never even been in a relationship, so how could she possibly have... Thinking of this, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but look at Yukinoshita Ayame again.
She hadn't noticed it at first, but the Yukinoshita Ayame before her, aside from having a slightly different personality than her own childhood self, was identical in other aspects... especially her appearance and expressions; the more she looked, the more alike they seemed.
"Forget it, let's drop this matter for now. You probably haven't had dinner yet, right? I'll make you something to eat first."
As she spoke, Yukinoshita Yukino quickened her pace and left the Bedroom. However, once she left, the indifferent expression on Ayane's face vanished, and she buried her face in her arms.
Her current mood was not a bit lighter than her mother's... Half an hour later... "Sorry, since the ingredients at home are limited, I just made something simple."
At the dining table, Yukinoshita Yukino appeared somewhat at a loss. Originally, she was a very rational person, but now she was facing an existence she had never imagined. At this moment, no matter how calm a person was, they couldn't help but feel a bit flustered.
"No, I'm not a picky eater... and, thank you."
Looking at the simple meal placed on the table, Ayane's face showed no dissatisfaction. She simply pressed her hands together, said "Itadakimasu," and began to eat slowly.
Ayane made very little noise while eating, and Yukinoshita Yukino happened to be able to use this time to think about what had happened today.
A daughter from the future traveling back to the present—no matter how one heard it, it sounded like nonsense. Yet now, this bizarre thing had truly happened to her.
"But besides that, there are many other things that aren't right..."
Recalling Ayane's tone of voice and expressions from earlier, Yukinoshita Yukino easily reached a conclusion.
"Regardless of whether the Little one is her daughter or not, one thing is certain: she has a negative perception of me."
This could be felt even without careful observation. Yukinoshita Ayame indeed held... 'hostility' towards her?
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't find another word to describe it, but using this word should be fine.
"Could it be that the future me did something unbearable to her?"
Yukinoshita Yukino pondered, but suddenly realized she had overlooked a key question.
Ayane seemed to have said earlier that her father's identity was a secret.
"Could it be that I divorced 'him'?"
Thinking it over, Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to find only this reason, but it didn't seem to fully explain things. Given her own personality, she wouldn't just hand over a child, and since she would have chosen someone she acknowledged, she wouldn't divorce easily either.
Then what could be the reason?
"I'm finished, thank you for the meal."
While Yukinoshita Yukino was still deep in thought, Ayane had already finished her dinner and started clearing the dishes.
"Um, leave the cleanup to me..."
Seeing Ayane's actions, Yukinoshita Yukino reflexively spoke those words.
"No, I used to do this kind of housework often. Since it's already a bother to eat a dinner I didn't make myself, please let me handle the cleanup."
Seeing Yukinoshita Yukino's outstretched hand, a hesitant expression flashed across Ayane's face, but she still refused.
"..."
Noticing that hesitant expression on Ayane's face, Yukinoshita Yukino realized that the other's feelings toward her might not be pure dislike; perhaps... there were other hidden circumstances.
Thinking this, Yukinoshita Yukino still followed Ayane into the kitchen. She didn't simply want to please her; it was just that she was still a child, and there were many dangerous spots in a kitchen. In other words... Yukinoshita Yukino didn't want her to get hurt.
After all, getting hurt would mean going to the hospital, and Yukinoshita Ayame had no identification or anything... Meaning, Yukinoshita Yukino's behavior was to save herself from trouble.
At least, that's what she told herself.
Sensing that Yukinoshita Yukino had followed her, Ayane pursed her lips and didn't refuse. However, she didn't show any expression of surprise or joy either; she seemed to ignore the matter.
"Do you hate me?"
While Ayane was seriously washing the dishes, Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly asked this question.
"It's nothing like that..."
Ayane explained flatly.
"But your tone and your expressions are all revealing this one thing. You... really hate me?"
Hearing Ayane's response, Yukinoshita Yukino became increasingly certain of this fact.
"I already said I don't hate you."
Ayane glanced at the girl beside her, but the small hands washing the dishes couldn't help but tremble.
"For what reason? Did I do something to wrong you, or is it simply because of my personality?"
"..."
Ayane didn't answer. She simply stopped washing and stood there quietly, motionless.
"You..."
"Stop talking..."
Different from her usual tone, Ayane's voice was somewhat heavy, as if she had been suppressing something for a long time.
"I'll be going back to my original world in a few days anyway. You can solve all these questions yourself in the future."
Seeing Ayane's reaction, Yukinoshita Yukino chose not to press further. However, at this moment, she was basically certain that the issues surrounding Ayane were very complex. The other person faced her with a complicated set of emotions, not pure dislike, mixed with things she couldn't read... Soon, Ayane had finished tidying everything up. During this time, Yukinoshita Yukino remained silent, but when she brought Ayane back to the Bedroom, she spoke again.
"Don't hide in the closet anymore. Sleep on the bed with me. I'll keep my distance."
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't know what kind of mood to use when saying such words. Was it sadness? Or pity? She couldn't say for sure herself, but what was certain was that after knowing the other's identity, she truly didn't want her to continue curling up in the closet.
"I understand..."
Hearing Yukinoshita Yukino's voice, Ayane's mood undoubtedly became even more complex. A feeling of grievance welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it again.
Whether it was helping her father get a bit of revenge on her, or preventing the two of them from being together, these matters were constantly pulling at her, weighing her down until she could hardly breathe.
Click
With the lights going out, the room instantly fell into darkness. However, in the dark environment, Yukinoshita Yukino didn't feel the slightest bit sleepy. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling; even though all she saw was blackness, she had no intention of closing them.
This situation lasted for over ten minutes. Yukinoshita Yukino, who had originally intended to sleep, suddenly felt movement beside her.
Immediately after, a somewhat warm little hand was placed on her shoulder.
After a moment of silence, Yukinoshita Yukino didn't intend to move the little hand away.
"Mom... Mama..."
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