Hey, why are you so taken with me?
We've only met once, after all.
After dinner, Chiose took Soyo out for a walk, and found herself absentmindedly humming an old song — one that had belonged to a friend from long ago.
It wasn't until the second line left her lips that she realized she'd actually been singing out loud.
"What song is that?"
Soyo, her small hand caught in Chiose's, walked quietly alongside her. She quickened her pace just a little to draw up beside her, then tilted her head and asked.
"This song? A dear friend of mine wrote it. She had quite a following for a while — but eventually faded into obscurity."
"Oh? Is that the friend Mama mentioned before?"
"Probably? I honestly can't remember. So many people have come and gone along the way — I've lost track."
How could she forget. She simply had no desire to bring it up. Some words, and some people, were better left unremembered.
Soyo seemed to understand. She let the question go.
[Mama said she fell ill around that time, and then there was the loss of a close friend on top of that… it must have been a truly awful period.]
She had no wish to let a topic like that — one that might cast a shadow over someone — dissolve the comfortable warmth between them right now.
An after-dinner stroll with her mother. This was something she hadn't dared even dream of before.
Thank goodness for Chiose.
Thank goodness — for Chiose.
"Don't be too hard on Miss Nagasaki, little Soyo. She's… landed another big contract recently."
"I know. I don't blame Mama."
Her mother worked so hard to build a life for her. The time they spent together was scarce, yes — but she had never once let Soyo go without, not materially. Soyo felt nothing but gratitude. How could she possibly hold it against her?
She had her birth mother for the material things, and Chiose for everything inside. Soyo felt like she'd won the lottery in life.
[If the rest of my life could just stay like this…]
Soyo let go of Chiose's hand and looped her arm through hers instead.
A life like this was more than enough. Happy. Contented. As long as it could go on like this—
"Soyo? Is that you!"
A girl's voice rang out from somewhere ahead. The moment it reached her, Soyo's eyebrows gave an involuntary twitch.
She'd heard that voice earlier today. She was certain of it — it was—
Sakiko Togawa came walking over with a smile, a little bag hanging from her arm.
She looked like she'd just finished a shopping trip and was heading home. At least, that was Soyo's read of the situation.
"Hello, Sakiko."
Sakiko was a good person. Warm, responsible, with the earnest energy of a shōnen manga protagonist.
Which made it all the more unfortunate that she had just stolen precious alone-time with Chiose — even by a few seconds, it was enough to leave Soyo faintly displeased.
Sakiko didn't notice anything off about Soyo. She stepped forward naturally and looked toward Chiose.
Yoshiiro Chiose smiled back — a small, easy smile in acknowledgment.
"Oh? Soyo, who is this?"
"Ah, she's my—"
"Hello there! You must be a classmate of our little Soyo, yes? I'm Soyo's godmother — my name is Yoshiiro Chiose."
"Nice to meet you, Chiose-nee! I'm Sakiko Togawa!"
Sakiko was quick on the uptake. Chiose had introduced herself as a godmother, and clearly wasn't that much older — calling her auntie would have been awkward and a little rude.
Something felt slightly off to Soyo, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what.
It was the first time she'd heard anyone other than herself refer to Chiose as anything like "Chiose-nee." She herself no longer used that form of address — and yet, hearing it from someone else still struck a strange, unfamiliar note.
Sakiko had only intended a quick hello before heading off, but Chiose had no intention of letting her leave so easily.
"Sakiko, would you like to walk around with us for a bit?"
"Oh, I couldn't — I need to get home. See you Monday, Soyo!"
Sakiko had spent the whole afternoon combing for details about the bullying incident. She genuinely wanted to help. But it was getting late, and if she came home too long after dark, she'd be the one in trouble.
Soyo waved goodbye to Sakiko, and didn't let herself fully relax until the other girl's figure had disappeared from sight.
"Hmm? What's gotten into little Soyo."
"Nothing."
She only got so little time with Chiose each week — and someone had to come along and take even a fraction of it. Even just a few seconds of stolen time was enough to sting.
Chiose took in every small shift in Soyo's expression and posture.
[As expected — the cricket-fighting plan is perfectly viable.]
"Feeling low again? You're not still dwelling on that whole incident, are you."
"Maybe a little. I know how to handle it now, but it still hurts."
"In that case——"
Yoshiiro Chiose let her voice drag out deliberately, and while Soyo was still leaning in to listen, grabbed her hand and jumped straight into the puddle.
"Wha—?!"
The puddle left behind by yesterday's rain erupted in a burst of splashing water.
Muddy droplets, caught up in the spray, speckled the hem of Soyo's skirt in mottled patches.
"Mama!"
How outrageous! She was just as bad as Soyo's own mother!
Soyo's face was a picture of stunned disbelief — but her thoughts had entirely abandoned Sakiko and all the petty business from before.
Her gaze was now completely locked on Chiose's grinning, impish eyes. It was the first time Soyo had ever seen this side of her — the mischievous little-girl version of Chiose.
"Na-na-na-na-nah, if little Soyo doesn't like it, jump back at me!"
Chiose took Soyo's hand, her voice bright and lilting.
"You're so childish!"
But Soyo did it anyway.
She hesitated, staring down at the puddle — then made her choice, and leapt, just like Chiose had.
The familiar streetlights. The rushing air. The still, quiet water. Nagasaki Soyo was in freefall.
She landed with a heavy splash, sending water flying over both herself and Chiose.
"Pfft — Soyo-Soyo, you're such a disaster, you got it all over yourself too!"
"I did not! Mama started it!"
"Ohh, little Soyo is so adorable." Chiose laughed and pulled Soyo into a hug, and Soyo found herself helplessly swept up in Chiose's laughter.
[This is the first time I've seen Mama like this… this side of her — I must be the first one to ever see it.]
Just knowing there was an entire night ahead — no, a whole weekend to spend wrapped up in Yoshiiro Chiose's world — was enough to fill Soyo with a joy she couldn't contain.
She loved this feeling so much. It was real, it was true, it was the first time in her life anyone had ever given her love like this.
Yoshiiro Chiose…
Yoshiiro Chiose!
And Chiose, for her part — what was going through her mind?
She savored the feeling of this girl, soft and warm as jade. She'd always been partial to Soyo when she smiled — that hadn't changed.
The System… that thing truly had no heart. To cook up a scheme like that — effective, yes, but revolting.
Even Chiose herself hated the feeling of being bullied. Let alone Soyo.
But patience, Yoshiiro Chiose!
One day, when the opportunity came, she was going to make her dear, adorable, insufferable little System pay dearly for this.
Using [Haizuka Kyoumoto] as a character name in the simulation. Only you could come up with something that low.
Soyo was smiling. Chiose could feel it — she was happy from the inside out.
Setting aside every plan and every script: as Soyo's mother, Yoshiiro Chiose understood, more than anyone, what it meant to be Soyo's daughter.
"This weekend, we're going to properly relax."
"Yes!"
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