The Story About How I Was Fired From My Company and Then Picked up by a Possessive Streamer With Over 5 Million Subscribers - Chapter 134-135

Chapter 134: Regression

“…Kanna is unconscious and resting. She’s stable for now, so there’s no need to worry.”

“I see… Thank you.”

After Kanna collapsed, Kyoko-san and I answered questions from the police and then rushed to the hospital where Kanna was admitted.

As Kyoko-san said, Kanna’s physical condition seemed normal—at least physically.

“…They said there might be some mental abnormalities, though.”

Kyoko-san’s expression darkened, and seeing her like that, I felt my own face cloud over as if infected by her worry.

“…By the way, who are you? Do you know Kanna?”

Trying to lighten the mood, I asked her a question. Kyoko-san cleared her throat as if she’d just remembered something and began to speak.

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Yonagi Kyoko. I used to help out with housework for Kanna and her family.”

“…You’re that person.”

So, she’s the one who worked for Kanna before I was hired. I think Kanna once said she had to quit because the family couldn’t afford it anymore.

“And you must be… Kojima Yusuke-san, right?”

“Uh? Yes, that’s me… but how do you know my name?”

“Kanna contacted me and told me a lot about you. I have a general idea, so no need to explain further.”

“I see…”

…Normally, I’d feel annoyed, wondering why Kanna was sharing my personal information, but right now, I didn’t have the energy to care.

“You want to know, don’t you? About Kanna.”

“…Yes. To be honest, I don’t understand what’s going on.”

I had suddenly been brought into this situation, learned that Kanna’s parents were missing and presumed dead, and now this. Until now, I had just been stunned into silence.

Kyoko-san, noticing my bewilderment, sat down in a chair and began to explain.

“You know Kanna is an orphan, right?”

“Yes. She told me that herself. But I don’t know the details…”

“…Kanna was abandoned by her parents.”

“Abandoned?”

Not abandoned—left behind?

“Her family seemed like the perfect picture of happiness. Every day was filled with laughter, and they cherished Kanna dearly… But then they were caught up in a tragic incident.”

“An incident? What happened?”

“Have you heard about the random killings that became infamous 20 years ago?”

Twenty years ago… Wasn’t that the series of stabbings by a random attacker? I remember my mom constantly warning me not to walk home alone.

“The culprit was eventually caught, and the case was closed… But during that time, Kanna’s parents went missing.”

“…That’s horrible.”

So that’s why she says, “Don’t leave me behind.”

Those occasional mutterings in her sleep—they were about her parents.

“I was shocked when I first learned about this. After that, I distanced myself from Kanna and began searching for her parents.”

Hearing this flood of new information, my mind was overwhelmed, leaving me speechless and confused.

As I tried to process it all, I heard hurried footsteps approaching from a distance.

“Eiji-san!!”
“Eiji…!”

“Sayaka, Rinmei?”

“I called them over. They deserve to know, too, don’t you think?”

When did she manage that? Still catching my breath, I watched Sayaka and Rinmei clutch at my sleeve.

“Eiji-san, what happened to Kanna-san? Is she okay!?”

“…Is it an illness? Or an accident?”

Unlike their usual demeanor, both of them were clearly distressed. While I tried to calm them down, I overheard Kyoko-san talking to a doctor who had just exited Kanna’s room.

After their conversation ended, Kyoko-san thanked the doctor, and he left.

“…All three of you, listen. What happens next might be shocking, but please try to stay calm.”

Kyoko-san’s ominous words left us all puzzled, but we nodded.

When we opened the door to Kanna’s room, we saw her sitting up, gazing out the window.

We stood there, dumbfounded, as she turned her head toward us. Tilting her head slightly, she spoke in my direction.

“…Dad?”

That single, shocking word.

—

Chapter 135: Mental Illness

I couldn’t believe my ears at Kanna’s words.

Surely Sayaka and Rinmei felt the same. What did she just call me? Father?

“Dad! You’ve come back! Come over here quickly and give me a big hug!”

Kanna was sitting on the bed with her arms stretched out toward me.

…It wasn’t a hallucination.

I glanced at Kyoko. She nodded silently, prompting me to approach Kanna and embrace her.

“Hehe, I’ve been waiting for you, you know? You’re always so late coming home. Oh, Mom, come here too! Let’s talk together!”

“…Alright, I’ll join you,” Kyoko said.

Kyoko gently pushed Sayaka and Rinmei, who were still stunned, toward Kanna. As she approached, Kanna tilted her head curiously when she noticed the two of them.

“? Mom, who are those people? Are they acquaintances?”

“!? K-Kanna…?”

Sayaka gasped as if in shock, calling out Kanna’s name. Rinmei, too, blinked repeatedly, his expression bewildered.

As I held Kanna in my arms, dumbfounded, Kyoko spoke gently.

“They’re your friends. Don’t you remember?”

“Really? Hmm… Oh well! If you say so, Mom, it must be true!”

Kanna let go of me and took the hands of the two, who still seemed dazed.

“Nice to meet you both! I’m Kanna!”

“…Ah, yes. Um… nice to meet you. I’m Sayaka,” Sayaka stammered.

“……………Rinmei,” Rinmei muttered.

“Sayaka-chan and Ria-chan? Both are such cute names!”

Kanna, seeming chatty, began talking without concern for the bewildered pair. Meanwhile, I turned my gaze to Kyoko.

“…What is going on? Why is Kanna calling me Dad?”

“The doctor explained it to me. Right now, Kanna’s mind has regressed to a younger state. It’s a way to escape from reality.”

“So, her mental state has regressed?”

Kyoko nodded firmly in response to my question.

“The doctor called it a type of mental illness. The reality of her parents’ death left a deep scar on Kanna’s heart. It’s no surprise, really; she had been waiting for them all this time.”

“…Is there no way to cure it?”

Kyoko shook her head. Unlike physical illnesses, there seemed to be no definitive cure for mental ones.

“Listen to me. Our role is to stabilize Kanna’s mind and help her regain her memories. If we’re not careful, her mental state could collapse entirely.”

“…What if she doesn’t return to normal?”

“In that case… we’ll erase all her memories.”

“What!?”

I was stunned into silence by Kyoko’s shocking words.

“She’ll lose all her memories, but it will spare her from reliving her trauma. I don’t want her to suffer too much.”

“…Is that truly necessary?”

I couldn’t accept it. At the same time, a part of me wondered if it might be better than letting Kanna suffer. But if her memories were erased, what would happen to the Kanna we’d spent so much time with?

“Don’t misunderstand me. Erasing her memories is the absolute last resort. It was recommended by the doctor, but even I don’t want to do that.”

“…Right, of course.”

“For now, there’s only one thing we can do. We have to become her father and mother and stabilize her mind. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

Nodding deeply to Kyoko’s words, we watched Kanna, who was laughing joyfully—though her smile carried a faint shadow of sadness.