Vol 1 Chapter 69 – The First-Place Star in the Whole Sky【Vol 1 – Turning Point】

On the way back from my parents’ house, Kagemitsu-san said,

“Her yelling at us really helped, you know.”

You could even say that our goal this time was to get my mother to yell at us. The reason being that her yelling made me feel fear. In other words, they would treat it as intimidation. It seems this would allow them to demand she not approach me in the content-certified letter.

This content-certified letter would apparently be useful when petitioning a court for a protective restraining order. After all, both are petitions demanding no contact, so it guarantees consistency in our claims.

“Yeah…”

But I still couldn’t feel at ease.

“Were you scared?”

Mitsuru-san is always so considerate of me. She asked in a gentle, worried voice.

“A little… It made me think how easily people can change…”

When I was born, when I was little, they were kind parents who loved me. But now, they seem like demons.

But only a little. This is the second time I’ve seen my parents change so completely. The first time was when my growth stopped.

That’s a physical characteristic, something I can’t do anything about. And yet, my parents blamed me for it. The direction was different, but the complete change was the same. A sense of nostalgia lessens the fear.

“It isn’t easy. The change in you was just that massive, Rin-kun. You couldn’t work, and then you could. What was zero became a million, then ten million. Anyone who couldn’t imagine that is going to change how they act around you.”

Kagemitsu-san’s words made sense. That’s why Mitsuru-san hadn’t changed. From the moment she took me in, she was thinking about my potential. Although, there were times she changed. When she heard my singing, she went all-out to help me develop that talent. Also, the time we kissed might count as a small change.

I don’t care what she does to me. That’s how I feel, yet Mitsuru-san doesn’t ask much of me. All that’s asked of me is to stay with her from now on. That’s my wish, too. So I don’t feel like anything is being asked of me at all.

To me, this is unconditional love.

“I see, I’m the one who changed…”

Leaving that aside, if I really think about it, I’m the one who changed. Now I’m the world’s number-one VTuber, and I earn tons of money. The change is so great it’s like I was reborn into another world, so maybe it’s wrong of me to blame my mother.

That thought was immediately shot down.

“Still, I think a mother has a duty to love her child without changing.”

“Huh?”

Those words from Mitsuru-san were like a declaration of intent. Like a vow that she would continue to love me without changing, and that if she ever had a child of her own…

“Only a limited number of people can do that, including Mama!”

Kagemitsu-san said with a laugh.

I think so, too. Because everyone I’ve met in the Akiba family is a person filled with deep love. I think it’s a reflection of the depth of Mitsuru-san’s own love.

That said, I’ve only met a few of them. I have ten older brothers and sisters. Micchi Mama, Ryu-san, Sadakuni-san, and Kagemitsu-san. Those four are the only ones I know.

There’s one odd thing. Micchi Mama is a “Mama” but also an older sister. Among those I know, Sadakuni-san is the most senior VTuber. And though she’s a Mama, she’s Sadakuni-san’s younger sister. It’s a really strange relationship.

“Is Mama the strange one?”

“Not at all! She’s a model of what a mother should be. The best Mama ever, is what I mean!”

Kagemitsu-san showered Mitsuru-san with unabashed praise.

“Heheh.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hm? What’s up, Rin-kun?”

“Oh, I was just thinking how wonderful the Akiba family is.”

That’s why I was so happy. That I was able to join such a wonderful family.

“Yep! We’ve got nothing but kids we can be proud of in our house!”

I thought Mitsuru-san was strong for being able to declare that.

“Heheh, I’m a son to be proud of too, right?”

“Of course! When it comes to the power to protect people, you’re number one in the Akiba family, Kage-kun!”

Number one… Mitsuru-san’s number one. I was a little envious of that.

Maybe she noticed I was worrying about it, because the car suddenly went quiet.

When I realized it, Mitsuru-san was looking at me.

“Rin-kun, you’re number one in your power to move people. Ryu-kun is number one in his power to create. And Sada-kun is number one in his power to bring people together!”

I see. That’s the kind of person Mitsuru-san is.

“Everyone is number one?”

“Of course!”

I knew it. Everyone is different, and everyone is number one. And Mitsuru-san is the type of person who will always find that “number one” quality in everyone.

That’s why, when she boasts about her family, it’s equal for everyone. Everyone gets first prize.

And I thought that was just dazzlingly, wonderfully amazing.