The case where I was gradually getting buried in the heavy love of my childhood friend who had miraculously recovered from their illness was perfect! - Chapter 25 : Rion's Enemy?

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back, Nagisa.”

I successfully navigated through my first week as a high school student.

Upon returning home, my mother greeted me with a smile, eagerly taking my school bag and jacket as if she were a wife welcoming her husband… Huh, what am I even thinking?

“What… are you doing?”

“Fufu~♪ Well, well, sit down first.”

I was urged to sit by my mother, who wore a sly expression. Something was definitely up.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t complain about having my belongings taken care of. In fact, I was the one who should be thanking her, so I decided to play along.

“Now, what’s the matter, Mom?”

“Nagisa, how was your first week at school?”

“What do you mean?”

“I am obviously talking about your progress with Rion-chan, Rion-chan, Rion-chan.”

“Argh… Aren’t you only more curious about Rion than your own son!”

Well, it was my mother, so I had expected something like this.

But, you know, at times like this… as a son, I couldn’t help but wish my mother would think about me a bit more.

“Is everything okay with me?”

“If something happens to Nagisa, I’ll know right away, so don’t worry. Because I know there’s nothing wrong with you, I can ask about Rion-chan with peace of mind.”

“…I see.”

Well, she’s really playing the role of a mother, huh?

Although she seemed to be on good terms with Kurumi-san during their phone calls, she probably asked about Rion at that time. Well, she probably wanted to hear it from my own mouth.

“Rion seems to be having a lot of fun. She probably has already become the center of attention among the girls in the class, you know?”

“As expected of Rion-chan. Even in middle school, a lot of people gathered around her… Hehe, in that respect, Nagisa is the same.”

“Though I haven’t made as many new friends as Rion.”

“Well… Rion-chan is amazing. Nagisa, why don’t you just go at your own pace? You seem to have made some new friends too.”

“…Well, yeah.”

Come to think of it, I realized I had something I wanted to ask my mother.

It was about the phenomenon that occurred when I had a high-spec childhood friend like Rion around—something that should have happened, but hadn’t until now.

“Hey, Mom.”

“What is it?”

“Rion and I… are too different. Apart from whether our bodies are strong or not, Rion is overwhelmingly amazing, right? But you’ve never compared me and Rion even once… Well, I’ve been scolded many times about things like amiability and relying on my parents, but you never compared our abilities. I was wondering about that.”

“That bothers you, huh?”

Yeah, that’s what I wanted to know for a long time.

My mother seemed surprised at my question, then smiled as if she had been amused by such a concern.

“I never expected you to bring up something like that.”

“It bothers me.”

My abilities were just too different from Rion’s… It’s not that I wanted to belittle myself, but Rion was just too amazing.

I had thought a lot that she might say something like, “Can’t you do it like Rion? Why are you by her side if you are just going to be useless?” at least once, even as a joke. However, it never happened, not even in a joking manner.

Why was that? My mother easily provided an answer.

“To me, you, my son, are the most important in every way.”

She said it with such strength, looking directly into my eyes.

My mother approached me, gently stroking my head while continuing to speak.

“For parents, their children are extremely precious… like treasures, you know? I think of you, my son, as the most amazing. There’s no need to compare you with anyone in any way. For parents, it’s not about superiority or inferiority — taking care of a child’s heart is the responsibility of the parents who brought that child into the world.”

“…Mom.”

Uh-oh, my cheeks were getting hot due to embarrassment. This was dangerous.

I had never experienced anything like this before, so I never expected such an answer.

My mother seemed to be in a very good mood, after seeing my embarrassed state.

“Parents believe in their children’s unlimited potential. If limits come, they’ll be there to support until you’re at ease… It’s the responsibility of parents to protect their child.”

“…Mom, you’re really amazing.”

“Is it too late to notice that? You’re too slow to realize.”

“You think I won’t make you cry?”

“There’s no way you’d do that. The only time I’d cry is when you become a delinquent and leave us alone at home.”

What’s with that… If that’s the case, my mother will never cry in her entire life.

Even if the environment is a little worse than it is now, I didn’t have the courage to leave home as a child, and, above all, leaving such wonderful parents behind would make me an irredeemable unfilial child.

“I’m glad that I’m your son, Mom.”

With memories of my death, I used to worry about whether I could become the child my parents wished for.

I had even considered the possibility of being discovered as different and being disliked or hated… but for some reason—although I would never say it out loud—even if it were known, I felt that my parents would accept it with a smile.

“I know without you saying it. I’ve always thought that you, who were born into this house, wouldn’t make me regret it… That’s how I’ve always treated you, and you have the best parents, right?”

“That’s true… but aren’t you a bit too confident?”

“In matters like this, confidence is everything.”

With a proud expression, my mother puffed out her chest.

…Somehow, she’s really strong. My mother is like that, and my father too… Oh, but so were Kurumi-san and Takuma-san.

Hey, Rion — did we really luck out with the best parents?

“Oh, the conversation got off track. Don’t worry about Rion; she’ll be fine. If anything happens, I’m here.”

“You’re so cool. If that’s the case, I have nothing to worry about.”

Nagisa and Rion seemed to have successfully made the best possible start.

Of course, they needed to be cautious and continue to be careful, but… well, the idea of problems arising seemed laughable.

“Ah, come to think of it, are you going out with Rion-chan tomorrow?”

“Oh… how do you know?”

“I heard it from the person herself. Tomorrow, she’ll borrow you, is what she said.”

“… I see.”

Rion, that girl… she doesn’t need to go out of her way to tell Mom.

“Don’t make that face. For me, it’s a good excuse to talk to Rion-chan, and it’s killing two birds with one stone to show our unchanged closeness from the past.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, it is. Well, sometimes Rion-chan spits out poison, but that’s also one of her charms.”

“Even to you, Mom?!”

“She complains about Nagisa to me.”

“…..”

Could it be that sometimes when Mom looks at me and giggles for no reason, that’s what’s going on?!

I decided that I should confront Rion about this tomorrow.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

“I know what you have been secretly talking about me with my mother.”

“Fufu~, knowing how Misato-san is, she would surely have hidden the important talk we had.”

“…..”

Isn’t she being too nonchalant…?

Rion puts her hand to her mouth and continues speaking with an elegant chuckle.

“For me, Misato-san is one of the few people with whom I can show my true feelings, so I can say various things because she’s your mother.”

“Hmm?”

“Of course, the person I can be most at ease with is Nagi-kun.”

“I see…..”

Well, let’s think of it as a good thing to get along with. Now, since we’re going out on a holiday, we’ll be in casual clothes… Rion’s attire is unified in a casual style, giving off an impression of a refined young lady.

“Nagi-kun, what were you thinking just now?”

“I thought you looked really cute today.”

“Even if you lie, I can tell. Now, confess the truth.”

This pressure… Rion is too dangerous sometimes. In the end, I didn’t say what I was thinking out loud… why is this girl so sharp, I thought again.

Soon, it became an outing with Rion, and I witnessed a certain person there.

“…Is that?”

When Rion went to the restroom, I found a fellow classmate.

Moreover, she belonged to Rion’s group of girls and was clearly walking with a rough-looking delinquent-like guy.

Could it be that she’s being threatened…?

I thought so, but apparently not. She seems to be with him of her own free will.

“So, is that girl annoying you?”

“Yeah, yeah, she’s been standing out since the first day of school. It’s irritating how she gives orders with that refined face. Those kinds of people need to be broken, right?”

“Haha, you were unlucky to catch her attention!”

…Is that girl someone who talks like this?

But from my perspective, I understood in an instant who this conversation was referring to. Should I go there right away and question her… no, that would be too reckless, I shook my head and thought of certain future plans.

“I’m back.”

“Huh? Oh, welcome back.”

“Nagi-kun?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Rion…?

Rion was definitely smiling… but I quickly realized that despite her smile, her eyes were assessing the enemy.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

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TL : Zenon#4120