Chapter 1: Mama goes out to play

T-48H

Summer had arrived in full glory. Rain was a bygone memory, and the days became long. The sun shone pleasantly, hanging in the sky for most of the day. The skies were clear with few clouds. Flowers were in full bloom, and unchecked grass tended to grow tall.

When days were this nice, people found the motivation to exit their homes and find some fun outdoors. It was a change from the stuffy indoors, a literal breath of fresh air. Even those who preferred slouching around indoors would eventually find their overheated bedrooms uncomfortable and seek liberation.

It was a time of motion. Released from their educational duties, rambunctious children were finally granted the freedom to run around — only to sit down on a bench and fool around on their electronics anyway. It was usually the older generations, who grew up with radios, cassette tapes, and other boring toys, who had no choice but to find enjoyment in the outdoors. Adults twice my age could be found taking leisurely walks along the street. The more proactive ones preferred to train aerobically, opting for jogs. It was joggers who were the truly wise ones. To keep oneself in motion was to keep the looming threat of old age at bay (I sounded twice my age just by saying this).

Bouncing up and down the pavement, engaged in a jog, was the mother of the Yuigahama family, who was frequently referred to as "mama". In short, she was the Yuigahama mama. In even greater brevity, she could be called GahaMama.

Her hair, which was the colour of milk tea, was tied behind her head in a bun. Instead of her usual beige sweater, she wore a tracksuit and trackpants. Her athletic gear was loose and somewhat drab, but somehow the cuteness of her panting face overcame all of that, putting her ahead on the adorableness scale. Actually, the cute sight of her huffing and puffing made you want to cheer her on.

GahaMama wasn't a meek housewife who rarely left the confines of her home. To maintain her figure and to acquire the stamina capacity to take care of her daughter, she needed to engage in frequent exercise. Attractiveness and physical fitness were things to work for and were not things that were handed to you on a silver platter, as she would explain to you with a raised finger. A little bit of sincere effort would go a long way, as she would gracefully lecture to you. Also, I forgot to mention that she took care of her husband too.

Actually, the living being that most exhausted her stamina these days had to be their excitable dog, Sablé. It was easy to imagine that the four-legged ball of energy used to string his owner along for a wild two-legged ride. Which end of the leash was really the subservient side? Of course, GahaMama's nurturing managed to bring the dog on high heavens back down to Earth, at least when the hand that fed belonged to said gentle lady.

GahaMama was still on the move, three paragraphs later. Though, she was actually on the last lap of her usual route. The final road ahead of her had neither twists nor turns, being completely straight. Because she no longer had the need to conserve her energy, she broke into a sprint.

There wasn't any wind, but wind wasn't necessary. Her body swiftly cut through the air, and the air collided with her face. Her sleeves fluttered about. Her bun of hair jiggled around like a merry bell. She was her own wind.

In an adult world where each footstep needed to be cautious and deliberate, she enjoyed thrusting herself down the route of reckless abandon. She let her legs carry her. She had nothing else on her mind other than breaking through an imaginary finishing line.

Finally, her feet stepped precisely where she designated the ending was — right outside of her apartment complex. She immediately brought her left wrist close to her face. She checked her watch.

Her time was better by fourteen seconds.

An immense wave of relief washed over her. She had proven to herself that, even at her current stage of life, she could still give it her all and achieve improvements.

Shackles were an invention of the mind. The body had limitations, yet there would always be some room afforded for growth. Discouragement, disparagement, abandonment — such things were for fools and bullies. With the right mindset, it was possible to change the world. More importantly, it was possible to change one's body. Calories begone!

"Finish!"

While reciting something from Mario Party, that lovely lady gave a most magnificent fist pump.

GahaMama returned to her home to refresh herself with a shower, shamelessly utilizing her daughter's shampoo and washing off her sweat from every nook and cranny. After her shower, she put on her familiar beige sweater. Wrong, it wasn't the same sweater but a similar-looking thinner shirt. It was an easy mistake to make as the cotton puffiness of its material gave it a cozy appearance. The thin material made it perfect for surviving in the summer warmth. She finished her outfit off with a skirt, one that was not quite so long.

Then, it was back out the door. Sablé followed her right to the door frame, but unfortunately, he had already been taken out for a walk earlier in the day. With both of her feet already outside, she gently shut the door in front of that expectant dog with a wagging tail. She used to feel sorry for doing this, until she realized that Sablé was not nearly as disappointed as she was and could easily switch gears and find other activities on his own to occupy his attention.

Besides, she couldn't take him where she was going. She needed to go to the mall to buy another bottle of her favourite shampoo, since it was depleted. There were also other things to buy, some of which were saved to a note on her phone, others of which were memorized.

Thus, she started her trek.

It was a long weekend, so she expected most of Chiba to be out and about. That turned out to be precisely the case. Crowds were suffocatingly dense, and lines were unbearably long. She had to stuff herself into the train with minimal personal space around.

It wasn't completely unpleasant. Humans were prone to look for the silver lining in any situation they were in. Some called it a coping mechanism. In any case, GahaMama was at least able to meet and greet a variety of familiar faces, several of which were working at their small businesses. Because of that, she found herself chomping a taiyaki while walking down the streets.

"I'm going to have to go for another run after this, aren't I…" she muttered to herself.

Coin and calories had an unintimate relationship. When above the poverty line, even those on the lower end of the salary spectrum could afford to squeeze in snacks. Even worse was when she was unable to refuse the taiyaki from the kind ojii-san. A sort of paradox formed in that very moment where zero yen given resulted in hundreds of calories. This resulted in a division by zero, and all hell would break loose, at the belly and waist levels.

…I'm already getting confused stares. Anyway, she eventually arrived at the mall. Speaking of which, "mall" was one of the few words where just by saying it, people immediately understood what place you are referring to. Neither the proper noun nor the directions were needed. A giant supercentre of consumerism was basically the centrepiece of everyone's lives, so not much more needed to be said for people to know what you were talking about. I think there were even some cultures where they simply called a particular sauce as the "sauce", since it was so ubiquitous.

A shopping centre was a place where mothers thrived. Armed with an arsenal of coupons, they relentlessly pursued value with a drive that would make an economist fall to their knees. Mothers knew exactly where to go to purchase something of a good quality at the lowest possible price. Subtleties were not lost on them either. Someone who was untrained may wander into a specialty store, thinking they would get the highest quality goods. They weren't wrong, but a mother would know that one who bought an equivalent item in a supermarket would suffer only a slight reduction in quality while enjoying a vast reduction in price. The gain in value would be immense. Such judgement calls could be made in the blink of an eye.

GahaMama weaved her body through the crowds in the packed mall, in the direction of a large department store.

There was a time where GahaMama would prefer going to a specialty store. She had fond memories of window shopping for the more expensive goods, such as bath soaps and perfumes, and occasionally even buying them. That was during the times when she and papa had much less expenses.

After GahaMama arrived at the department store, she acquired a shopping basket. Just like the protagonist of an RPG, she knew she would wander off the beaten path and put several items into her basket that were unrelated to her primary objective. If a Tarnished had the time to explore ancient crypts for loot on the way to mend a fractured ring, then GahaMama had time to browse the coffee and tea aisles.

After GahaMama had fulfilled her optional objectives, she turned her attention to her main scenario quest. Heading over to the toiletries section, she spotted a single bottle of her favourite shampoo. She reached over to grab it. However, when she made contact with one side of the bottle, another hand had reached out and took hold of the other side.

"Oops! Hmm…?"

It must be stated that GahaMama was a perfectly ordinary mom. There were, of course, more than one mother in Japan. Because of that, it was very likely that there existed another who had similar tastes as her.

That other hand belonged to a woman whose beauty could only be inadequately described as heavenly. Her healthy black hair was tied up in a bun behind her head, much like Gahamama's own hairstyle. Her surprised face had the gentleness of snow and was as finely crafted as an ice sculpture. What stood out the most, however, was her outfit. She wore a kimono. It did not have any modern bastardizations. It was completely traditional, from its design to how it was worn. She was the epitome of Japanese. Even though wearing a kimono outside of a formal event was unusual in the present day, she looked completely natural. She would probably look more unusual wearing a western blouse and skirt.

"Hello. It seems like we're both after the same thing," she politely spoke, "This is quite the conundrum."

GahaMama smiled in acknowledgement. The kimono-wearing woman smiled back at her.

For any other item, GahaMama would happily let go and give it up to the other party. Yet, for this shampoo, she would not budge. She quite liked it, after all.

The same could be said of the kimono-clad woman. For how gentle she initially seemed, her grip was ironclad.

There were two smiles and two unrelenting grips. A silent battle was happening. It was quite petty and maybe even out-of-character, but who had the credentials to judge? When something desirable was in the palm of one's hand, restraints were forgotten and appearances were ignored. In the competitive adult world, oftentimes a little extra effort, even if it came at a cost, was needed to secure victory.

For some reason, the air of that woman felt familiar to GahaMama. She also felt that it would be shameful to easily give in to this woman.

"Hmm, what should we do…" muttered GahaMama as she tugged on the bottle towards herself.

"Indeed, what would be the best thing to do…" the lady murmured as she pulled the bottle back towards herself.

The murderous tug of war would be enough to get an onlooker's sweat juices pouring. A poor soul who caught sight of this would definitely have shaky knees.

"U-Um… I-Is that the last one?"

Both GahaMama and the kimono-clad woman looked to their side. A girl young enough to be a daughter to either of them had asked with an anxious voice.

The two women looked at each other with guilty faces.

The premise of the earlier struggle was wrong in the first place. Stores had a wonderful trove known as the back room. There was a good chance that more of a product was present in the shop's inventory than could be seen on the shelves. That should have been apparent to the two women, had they not been wrapped up in their competition.

They could not be completely blamed. At many times, they've arrived too late at a supermarket and missed out on meat that was 30% off. If they wanted a chance, they had to be vicious and covetous. It was instinctive at this point, for better or for worse.

Fortunately, GahaMama came to her senses and asked a nearby clerk to replenish the shelves. In the meantime, the other woman let the girl take the shampoo. The girl trotted off, happily and satisfied.

"I sincerely apologize," the black-haired woman spoke in deference, "That was very shameful of me."

She bowed down in front of GahaMama. The sudden shift in behaviour caused GahaMama to speak quickly.

"No no, it was my fault too," said GahaMama as she shook her head, "Honestly, what was I thinking?"

It was expected that upstanding adults with heavy responsibilities acted in a befitting way, to be appropriate role models for the next generation. It was something that was instinctive but also influenced by the parental circumstances she found herself in. To GahaMama's credit, she does act in this way most of the time. She did hold herself well when a certain dead fish-eyed kid made rude jokes.

Yet, humans were also selfish creatures who chased after their self-centered wishes. When there was no child around to rear, no daughter to lecture, one became highly tempted to fall to those primal desires. Tell me, who doesn't slack off when their manager isn't watching? I've caught my parents drink or stream movies on the few days they worked from home. GahaMama was no exception, and, as evidenced from the crime scene, neither was that beautifully bowing lady (who was also beautiful in appearance).

"I would like to make it up to you," offered the black-haired beauty, "Let's see… There's a new teahouse that opened up. Why don't you join me for a light snack?"

That lady rested her index finger on her chin and tilted her head. Although GahaMama's first impression was that she was uptight, those motions looked rather adorable. Cute, even.

Loners had a tendency to shun interactions and reject invitations to meetups, finding them all a pain. GahaMama was the polar opposite of that. Rather, she was delighted with the opportunity to get to know someone new. Even better, the other woman was close to her age.

Meeting new people was something that students took for granted, as a new face was always around the corner. However, once the golden days of school were over, the opportunities to meet new people greatly diminished. The kind of people who enjoyed making new acquaintances would jump at any post-academic opportunity to socialize.

"Oh yes, absolutely!" exclaimed GahaMama.

If that woman didn't use their screw-up as an excuse to hang out, then GahaMama would have done so instead.

So, I'm going to be eating again, huh. I'm going to have to consider today a cheat day.

GahaMama played with her hairbun as she thought that. Another secret of adult life was that, so long as someone of sufficient authority said something, then that was the truth. Don't like something? Then just change the definition.

The two women temporarily went their separate ways to finish their shopping. Then, they exited the store and deposited their goods in a coin locker. Afterwards, they met up again and walked together to the teahouse.

GahaMama thought little of the other woman's usage of the word "teahouse". In her mind, she expected something like a quaint little café at the most. That's why, when she set foot into the teahouse, she widened her eyes in surprise.

The establishment was most certainly western and high-end. The entire teahouse was brightly lit, almost entirely naturally from the numerous glass windows on the walls and ceiling. A couple of grandiose chandeliers made up for any possible spots of darkness. The wood flooring was tastefully burgundy. The décor was also made of tree materials. The tables had artistic imperfections, looking like they were hand-carved from a tree trunk. Although a lot of the clientele were ordinary teenage girls and young adult women (such as themselves), some of the patrons were dressed in formal suits and dresses. Evidently, this establishment was fancy enough for a businessman.

GahaMama apologized to papa in advance. There might be missing numbers in their joint bank account after today.

The two ladies were seated not at a two-seater table but at a table that could comfortably seat four. It was a waste of two perfectly good seats but it was all that was available. Consistent with the other lady's use of the word "new", the teahouse was on the cutting edge. They weren't provided with physical menus. Rather, the menu was online, and they were forced to scan the QR code on the table to read it.

GahaMama fumbled around with her bag to withdraw her smartphone. Meanwhile, the other lady was already browsing the digital menu.

Tilting her head, that woman spoke, "If you'd like, you can take a look from my phone."

Despite her old-fashioned clothes, that woman seemed capable with technology. She didn't miss a beat.

"It's okay! I found my phone," said GahaMama as she shook her head.

With her experience of connecting with her mom-friends over social media, GahaMama wasn't an amateur with handheld computing devices either. With about as much tech prowess as her daughter, she got the teahouse's menu to appear on her own phone. Yes, she was secretly proud of that (not that it's a secret anymore! And beware of women and their divulgence of supposed "secrets"!)

Now, GahaMama wasn't at all uncultured. She knew her way around a fruit tart and could whip up a dinner faster than a teenage boy could escape from. However, on the plebeian scale, she veered toward the Toyota Corolla side. She was quite intimidated by the menu. Menu items were introduced in a barely-legible English cursive, with tiny Japanese text to accompany. What she was able to decipher in her mother tongue, she could barely picture in her head. Though, at the bare minimum, she could discern if something was an herbal tea or a pie. That sense of intimidation was something she hadn't felt in a while.

Meanwhile, that kimono-wearing woman had a serious expression her face. Most likely, she was actually able to decipher the menu and was making considerations in her head. She looked like she was used to reading menus like these, or at least had a decent idea and expectation of the food.

GahaMama thought to herself that she had met someone truly extraordinary today. The way that lady was dressed, her graceful conduct, her superior knowledge, it was as if that woman was on another plane of existence. Yet, she wasn't unapproachable. Aside from their earlier spat, she showed great consideration and was even quite inviting. It would be easy for someone like her to fall into a mire of seclusion, narcissism or mischievousness, but she was more than that.

However, GahaMama couldn't get rid of a sense of familiarity. She was sure that it was the first time that she met this woman, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu.

Raising her face from her phone, she asked GahaMama, "I've decided on several different things that I'd like to share with you. What about you?"

"W-Well, I think I'll go with this strawberry cheesecake. I'll also get hibiscus tea," GahaMama responded.

Pink and red, fruit and flower. See, GahaMama was super poetic too!

That seemed to earn that lady's approval as she nodded her head.

The waiter came over and took their orders. The two of them ended up ordering two kinds of tea, as well as a smorgasbord of light snacks for the two of them to nibble on, that cheesecake included.

After the waiter left, GahaMama leaned back on her chair and stretched. To be clear, it was not because she was suffering from joint pains. It was to relieve her mental fatigue from going through that complicated menu.

With the order out of the way, GahaMama posed an innocent question.

"You seemed pretty comfortable. Do you come to these kinds of places often?"

"I'm not sure about often, but I'm not opposed to little shops like these," the woman replied, "Sometimes with friends, sometimes with my daughters, but…"

Unexpectedly, the woman withdrew a fan from somewhere (GahaMama blinked at the wrong time). With practised motions, she spread it opened and obscured most of her face with it.

"Don't come with your husband to these places. It's not a date between an unmarried couple anymore, so they won't be able to keep up appearances," she spoke with a stern voice.

"Ahh…. Ahaha…."

She used softer choices of word to describe something vicious. She was saying that husbands tend not to want to go to a place that doesn't serve a steak or a beer. A boyfriend is a different story. They want to impress you, so they'll put up with it.

That's kind've a generalization, though. I'm sure that there's blonde-haired guys with a refreshing smile out there that don't mind going. Not that she or I are naming any names!

"You said you have daughters?" mentioned GahaMama, "I have one too."

Having daughters wasn't exactly something uncommon. Even so, from the perspective of a conversation, it was a great point of commonality and a treasure chest of talking points. You didn't have to reach for something weirder.

"Yes, I have two of them," she spoke while nodding, "I am quite proud of them, but they are both troublesome in their own unique ways. One of them, I'm not sure if she listens to me, and the other, I'm not sure if she doesn't listen to me."

She wore the familiar, weary smile of a parent, who had much attached to her yoke. With how suddenly wordy she was, it might be that she was facing recent troubles with her children.

"Hmm, I know that feeling. Like, they run around and get hurt, and it's hard to stop it from happening," said GahaMama with a tinge of desolation, "The only thing you can do is console them after-the-fact."

The other lady agreed with her with a slow nod. She collapsed her fan and gently placed it on the table. GahaMama had the feeling that the establishment earned her respect, and she considered their tables clean enough to place her precious items on.

"Speaking of which, I don't believe we've introduced ourselves. I apologize. For an unknown reason, I felt that no introduction was needed. Or rather, I thought that we had met somewhere."

She charmingly tilted her head. Although she frowned with a sense of regret and apology, her eyes held cat-like curiosity.

GahaMama responded, "What a coincidence, I had thought the same earlier. Then…!"

GahaMama introduced herself with her full name. The other lady followed up with her own.

Whenever one smashed their knee against something or touched a hot stove, the reflexes of pulling back the limb came first, then the agonizing pain came after. Now, I'm no walking encyclopedia like a certain someone else; it's just first-hand experience.

Sometimes, things just don't sink in until a little while later, especially if they're particularly shocking. It's why you roll around in embarrassment at night and not during the day. Your first instinct is to get away from the laughing crowds and awkward stares first. The settling-in part and writhing comes after.

"Yuigahama…san?" the kimono-wearing woman ruminated.

She tilted her head even farther to the side. If her hair wasn't tied up in a bun, it would have definitely touched the table. Though, she still managed to remember her manners and attach an honorific.

"Wait, 'Yukinoshita'…?"

It was a bit different for GahaMama. After rudely muttering "Yukinoshita", her mouth hung open.

It was no wonder that GahaMama felt a sense of familiarity. Her facial features and even her mannerisms matched quite well with an important friend of her daughter.

Unexpectedly, she had met up with the mother of the Yukinoshitas.

A pause or a line break can be a good way to transition to the next part of the story in an instant, allowing the listener to fill in the blanks with their own imagination. It can also be used for dramatic effect. Indeed, I am dramatically stunned, and I'm not sure I want to continue.

I really want to omit the next part, given some of the target audience, but I was not given a choice. Close your ears if you must, but the demand was that I tell the story in full detail.

When it came to her daughter, Yui, GahaMama thought and overthought. She was sure that it was like this for any other sane and moral parent out there.

Joy, happiness but also pain and sadness. GahaMama had many positives thoughts regarding the friendship between Yui and Yukinoshita Yukino. Of course, no relationship was completely smooth, and bumpiness was a guarantee. GahaMama recognized that irrefutable truth.

Even so, one particular event stood out in GahaMama's mind.

On that day, her daughter returned home later than usual. When she stepped through the door, she slowly crouched down and petted Sablé. It would have been an ordinary sight — save for the tears from her eyes. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no words came out. She rarely saw this behaviour from her normally talkative daughter.

She continually wiped her eyes with her hands. It was not good for her eyes. Dust, dirt, and other malignant elements could cause irritation. Thus, GahaMama gently grabbed her daughter and wrapped her in an embrace.

Your eyes will get swollen… okay?

After speaking that, her daughter unleashed her sobs into GahaMama's chest. GahaMama shared in her daughter's suffering.

It was easy for GahaMama to understand the reason. There was the recent time when Hikigaya Hachiman — Hikki-kun — visited. More than that, she proudly believed that she knew the gears that made her daughter tick.

During that recent visit, and even when GahaMama first met Hikki-kun, GahaMama already had a certain inkling. Not that she was narcissistic, but she was fetching enough during her younger years (she is still young by the way) to attract attention from the opposite sex. The way that Hikki-kun nervously peered at her daughter paled in comparison to the way he regarded that fine, docile lady with long, beautiful, black hair and an ephemeral visage of snow — Yukino-chan.

The spark was entirely different. GahaMama did put on her best behaviour in the recent visit and tried to raise the stakes. After all, a mother was always on the side of her daughter. Unfortunately, what was predicted by experience won in the end. Yui cried at her bosom while Hikki-kun had run in a different direction.

No one was at fault. It was actually an overall satisfactory result, since all parties followed their desires. Yet, GahaMama still held bias. The woman sitting across from her was the mother of the girl who had taken her daughter's hopes and desires.

The two women sat in silence for a while. The food and tea had arrived, but they only partook in a few sips.

GahaMama was sure that the other lady, Yukinoshita-san, had her own thoughts on the matter. Yui, Yukino-chan, and Hikki-kun were in their final year of high school, and they still hung out together. Yukinoshita-san would definitely have certain concerns.

Yukinoshita-san lifted a saucer of a tea and brought it to her lips. She drank from it, and it was clear that she was trying to keep a poker face. Though, GahaMama did not miss that brief moment where she slightly widened her lips in pleasure from its deliciousness.

After lowering the saucer, Yukinoshita-san spoke, "You must be the mother of my daughter's good friend. I thank both you and her for taking good care of my daughter."

She lightly bowed, as much as she could from a sitting position, anyway. It was might have looked awkward for everyone else, but Yukinoshita-san managed to pull it off eloquently.

"Oh no no, thank you instead. You see, Yui talks a lot about Yukino-chan," spoke GahaMama, "And they always go out together. Like last Sunday."

"Sunday…? I believe that Yukino went out with her on Saturday. Then, who exactly…"

She sighed. It seemed like this poor lady was facing teenage rebelliousness.

Everyone exhibited those kinds of childish behaviours at one point. Because of that, the purpose of that lie was obvious to GahaMama.

I think I brought up something bad. Wait, maybe from my perspective, it's actually good? GahaMama thought.

"She needn't have resorted to this. I would have been okay with it — so long as she returns at an early time and does not partake in tomfoolery," Yukinoshita-san spoke with a dangerous glare.

No, I'm sorry after all. Sorry, Yukino-chan, for the upcoming lecture!

Although, GahaMama knew full well she might think similar strict thoughts regarding her own daughter. It was interesting how lenient parents were towards kids that were not their own while restraining their own children with an iron grip.

Then, Yukinoshita-san began appraising GahaMama with a more critical eye. GahaMama felt on edge. She was definitely going to be posed with an annoying question.

"Speaking of people that Yukino gets along well with, I'm sure you need no introduction to Hikigaya-kun. Do you?"

"Haha… Nope! He's an interesting kid, for sure."

GahaMama laughed it off as naturally as she could. However, she could intuitively feel that the conversation was going to be driven in a messy direction.

Yukinoshita-san asked, "Do you happen to know if he is keeping up with his studies? How about his extracurricular activities? How seriously is he doing them?"

GahaMama nervously massaged her hair bun. The nosy questions definitely meant that Hikki-kun had already cleared several checkpoints. Having passed the interview, that poor (?) lad was now facing a background check.

She wasn't Hikki-kun's parent, so ordinarily she would have responded with an "I don't know". However, for better or for worse, her talkative daughter enjoyed spilling the beans to her mother.

"Let's see… I don't think he's doing that bad. I at least know that he gets better grades than my daughter. For extracurriculars, he attends the same club as our daughters everyday, so I think that counts?"

Yukinoshita-san pondered, "Hmm, that essentially confirms what I already know. Then, what I have been hearing about has been the truth."

She nodded to herself rather victoriously. She probably enjoyed putting puzzle pieces together.

"That club… the Service Club, I believe… Do you know what their activities usually entail?" inquired Yukinoshita-san.

She chose to drill down on the non-academic sides. That wasn't entirely unexpected. Those kinds of things round a person out. Trust me, you can get good grades and still be considered a freak. Actually, if you are the top performer, you could ascend to godhood, which is pretty similar to a freak. Both beings are avoided as untouchables.

"That… Well, sometimes they get involved in big projects," muttered GahaMama.

The prom came to mind. She even saw some weird stuff on social media about it. There were plenty of other events that she knew of from her daughter, some in great detail and some where details weren't articulated particularly well (whether that was on purpose or not). In any case, they've done plenty of things that they could be proud of.

Although, when there wasn't a big project, from what Yui tells her, it doesn't seem like they do much other than sit around and drink some tea. She refrained from telling Yukinoshita-san that. It would hurt Yukino-chan a lot more than it would hurt Hikki-kun.

"Indeed. I do know about some of the things they've done, but only through hearsay. Yukino does not disclose much to me, I'm afraid," she sardonically spoke.

"Really? But communication is so important," said GahaMama.

Feeling a bit famished, GahaMama finally took a bite of a macaron that Yukinoshita-san ordered. The only flavour she managed to figure out from that bite was the flavour of deliciousness.

"She is more open these days, but Yukino is still quite reserved. She doesn't seem to want to talk with me about certain things."

Traces of sadness lingered on Yukinoshita-san's visage. It felt wrong to feel elation from someone else's dejection, but GahaMama truly thought that her current expression would be a fantastic model for a watercolour portrait.

"I know every family has their own circumstances, but have you given her the opportunities? Actually, what I should really ask is if your relationship with her is casual enough to talk about this stuff?"

Divulgence of important things and being casual, those things seemed diametrically opposed on the surface. But were they really?

Who did you really want to talk to first, an angelic guy (whom you mustn't forget is male) that calls you by your first name and that you want to hang around with or some large guy that barely speaks in the same language as you and frequently gives you headaches?

From the beginning, GahaMama had decided that she would regard her daughter almost as casually as a sister (and not because she wanted to be mistaken as her sister!). The reason why her daughter was talkative towards her was not out of pure happenstance. She nurtured an environment and a relationship where the two of them could teasingly poke at each other and where Yui could ask her for help on even the simplest things, like how to cook. Thus, when it came time for Yui to speak of more important matters, she felt comfortable enough to share them with GahaMama.

"That… casual… So, you're saying how I treat her is incorrect?" slowly asked GahaMama.

"Maybe. What I'm getting at is the approach. If she becomes happy to speak with you, then she'll even do it involuntarily."

Yukinoshita-san once again retreated behind her fan and contemplated.

"I see… I've been focusing too much on the flaws of others. If I increase my own appeal, then that also achieves something similar to bettering others. Removing the speck in one's own eye before removing the plank in another's eye, I should have considered that."

"Umm, that's right?" murmured GahaMama.

GahaMama got the feeling that the two of them were speaking about slightly different things. She also felt like she was mistakenly handing out rations to the wrong faction of a war.

Retracting her fan, Yukinoshita-san poured GahaMama another cup of tea. Because two different pots of tea were ordered, Yukinoshita-san was careful not to cross-contaminate the cups. It was not a concern that you ran into everyday, but nothing was beneath the notice of that woman.

Their conversation had turned out to be quite pleasant.

At no point in their conversation had Yukinoshita-san showed wariness. Rather, she sought comfort and advice. GahaMama could guess that Yukinoshita-san thought things thoroughly, before she opened her dainty mouth. The concerns that she brought up weren't voiced on a whim. She must have been genuinely stuck and needed the opinion of another person.

Still, GahaMama found it surprising how amicable she was and how certain things were avoided.

It wasn't that GahaMama was looking for trouble. She's more the type to rip out the roots of trouble before they could grow and replant with healthier seeds. Her optimism was as bottomless as her daughter's, but a grown-up was always a step ahead. GahaMama was proactive in her optimism.

That's why, she wouldn't let a problem be hidden under a rug. The elephant in the room would be invisible no longer.

"Say, I think you know about it somewhat. About Yui's feelings for Hikki-kun. Hikigaya-kun, I mean," GahaMama began.

Yukinoshita-san spread her fan out once more. In an instant her friendliness vanished, but the impact of that change was dulled by hiding her face.

"…I see. Then it's true," Yukinoshita-san quietly spoke, "Why have you suddenly brought it up?"

"No big reason. I knew that we'd eventually hit that topic, so I wanted to get it out of the way now."

GahaMama maintained her smile. The best thing to do during these times were to lay things bare. Deception had its uses but so too did the truth.

"Yup, what you're probably thinking about, it's true. Strong feelings like those, they don't just go away that quickly."

"…Then, in that case, I would like to make a request," Yukinoshita-san requested.

She placed her fan on the table. She faced GahaMama unhidden.

"I would like you to dissuade your daughter from taking things any farther. As you know, Yukino and Hikigaya-kun's relationship is quite established. It would not be beneficial for anyone if conflicts were to arise. I am not asking for friendships to be broken, but boundaries must be made clear."

She, too, laid her desires bare. It was a brazen request.

By telling GahaMama that their relationship was established, Yukinoshita-san essentially admitted that she was fully supportive of their relationship, if that wasn't already clear from before. Parents (or brothers) were loathe to let any random punk take their kid's (or sister's) hand, and it was even worse with strict parents (or brothers). Hikki-kun must have made an enormous impression on her. By making that kind of request, Yukinoshita-san was basically at the point of fighting tooth-and-nail to protect her daughter's precious thing.

"I'm not one for conflicts either, but that's not a request that I can fulfill," responded GahaMama.

"May I ask for the reasoning?" immediately shot back Yukinoshita-san

Yukinoshita-san narrowed her eyes. She slowly brought her hands together under her chin.

However, GahaMama was not refusing out of ill will. Rather, she had a different premise in mind.

"I am supportive of my daughter. She's my number one priority. Whatever she decides to do, I am there to give her some backup or to pick up any pieces she drops. As long as she's following her heart, I'm going to cheer her on, whether it seems fruitless or not. That's why, it's not up to me."

GahaMama proudly placed her hands on her hips.

"It's up to Yui. If you've got a request, you should be asking her instead," whimsically finished GahaMama.

Yuigahama Yui was old enough to make her own decisions and to fulfill her own wishes. She ought to do what she thought was best and to reap both the fruits and the weeds. She might stumble, but that was ok. Mama would be there to patch her up so that she can get going the next day.

Should Yui cut her feelings short and find a new beginning? Or, should she relentlessly pursue, in spite of everything, to take back what she wanted? Those were questions for Yui alone.

GahaMama also realized that she gave permission for her daughter to be put in a tough spot by Yukinoshita-san. She wasn't worried, though. Yukinoshita-san was, in all likelihood, a reasonable woman.

"Then, you won't budge from that position? It goes without saying that I'm not budging, either," said Yukinoshita-san.

"Oh, it seems we have much in common, after all!" said GahaMama before giggling.

The two parents attempted to support their daughters in their own unique ways. They were shrewd mothers who only played fair within the family.

"What I must do is set in stone, then. I must increase the incentives within the Yukinoshita family."

"Well, I'll have you know that Hikki-kun absolutely devoured my cooking once," GahaMama proudly announced.

"Indeed… Restaurants do lack that familial touch," pondered Yukinoshita-san, "I'm confident in my own abilities, so I should free up some time for a dinner at our place.

Dinner courtesy of the Yukinoshitas? GahaMama thought that she would like to try that for herself, maybe even give a helping hand in the kitchen.

Despite GahaMama's earlier refusal, Yukinoshita-san currently seemed quite thrilled. She had the smile of a schemer. She was so animated that her beauty went up another six levels. Her present energy would even outdo a young girl in her twenties (in GahaMama's words).

It definitely seemed like Yukinoshita-san had reached a breakthrough moment. It was like getting a rare drop or rolling an SSR. You could also say that she achieved character development and all without needing a haircut or taking off a pair of glasses.

But wasn't the fact that Yukinoshita-san getting the upper hand bad? That thought flashed through GahaMama's mind for a second, but she brushed it away like dust on porcelain.

GahaMama disliked conflict. Neither would she allow herself to be shackled by them. She was a reasonable adult who could see pluses and minus and was used to navigating through grey areas — or at least that's what someone else would describe her as. Quite frankly, she simply enjoyed speaking with Yukinoshita-san. She enjoyed sharing happiness with her and giving her a helping hand. Even more plainly put, she was content with hanging out with a new friend.

The astute woman sitting in front of her didn't seem to have any grave concerns either. Just like GahaMama, she reached for the scones and sipped her tea. GahaMama guessed that Yukinoshita-san had to navigate through thorns and thistles three times more than herself. She also surmised that Yukinoshita-san relished these moments where her fan was comfortably lying atop the table.

"I wonder… Is what we ordered in excess?" Yukinoshita-san spoke.

As she was saying that, a waitress delivered another plate of treats.

People were inclined to fill something that was empty. Lonely hearts could be filled with anime, and an empty room could be filled with figurines. In a similar fashion, a big table that was meant to comfortably seat four people invited the two women to order enough food for four.

Numerous plates of hand-held snacks and even a few pies and cakes filled three-quarters of the table, leaving barely enough room for one's own plate.

Both GahaMama and Yukinoshita-san eyed the two empty chairs with worry.

"Umm, were you expecting to see someone later?" slowly asked GahaMama.

In a vain attempt, she hoped that someone would come by to assist with the food.

Shaking her head, Yukinoshita-san responded, "No. Are you meeting with someone else?"

"I wish."

GahaMama scratched at her hairbun. Yukinoshita-san put a finger on her chin and began to think.

Did they really want to bring home leftovers? These very expensive and fresh desserts lacked the preservatives to prevent them from becoming stiff and stale after a day. They were best enjoyed now, not later. If only they had two assistants with stomachs deeper than themselves to help wolf down the remainder.

"Hmm, is that…?"

Yukinoshita-san quickly stood from her chair and briskly sauntered over to the entrance of the teahouse. GahaMama was left sitting with a tilted head.

A few moments later, GahaMama came back with two teenage boys in tow. Like a bird of prey or a vengeful youkai, the sharp-eyed Yukinoshita-san snatched up willing (?) helpers that had happened to pass by.

Having absolutely no idea what was going on, the two astounded stomachs belonged to Hayama Hayato and Tobe Kakeru.

GahaMama probably met with Hayato-kun once or twice in the past, and his refreshing smile was enough to leave a lasting impression on her. She needed no re-introduction.

On the other hand, Tobe-kun absolutely needed to introduce himself to GahaMama. Yui barely brought him up in conversations with her mama, so he didn't even reach the point of "Tobecchi-kun". Poor guy. Tobe-kun was pretty cool about it though. He probably hears "have we met before" plenty of times when he's standing next to Hayama Hayato.

"Hayato-kuuuuun… We already ate lunch…"

Tobe-kun's exclaimed his selfish groans and moans. Yukinoshita-san looked slightly disapproving (but otherwise barely cared). GahaMama giggled a bit (but otherwise barely cared).

"Tobe, you're too loud, settle down," expressed Hayato-kun, "Also, it wouldn't be fair to them if we backed out after having agreed to it."

Yukinoshita-san had explained that Hayato-kun was a family friend. Because of that, she had no hesitance in politely treating him to a round of desserts or ten. Constantly wearing a bright smile, Hayato-kun was unable to refuse. Tobe-kun didn't refuse either, having thought that he scored a free win, though his optimism was quickly dashed to pieces after he saw how much was on the table.

The two unoccupied seats were filled now. Maybe the shop's manager was nodding approvingly at the full table, but little did he know, the two new guests couldn't possibly need to order anything, with all that was already on the table.

The dull Tobe-kun must've thought that he was free to silently eat while chewing loudly, because he didn't realize that sound could be generated by the chewing even without speaking. You didn't go into teahouses just to eat, though. It was an unspoken rule that any establishments that weren't a fast-food joint or family restaurants were places to socialize, with the food being there to fill in gaps in the conversations. This rule had priority over whatever Yukinoshita-san told them they could do, and she was well aware of that. Hayato-kun knew too. The only person that didn't know was Tobe-kun.

Hayato-kun frowned at him for a moment. Then, he turned to Yukinoshita-san.

"What brings you out here today?" he inquired.

"There wasn't a particular reason. I had been shopping, then I had a chance meeting with Yuigahama-san. We decided to unwind here," she responded.

She looked at him gently like a mother looking upon her child, a very poor and clichéd description. It would probably be better to simply say that they were close. I stumble over my own words, but it was evident to GahaMama that the "friend" part "family friend" was real.

"Mmm, then we ordered a lot, you see," GahaMama added.

With an ironic smile, Hayato-kun spoke, "If I didn't know any better, with how big this table is, I'd say that you were expecting more people to show up."

That was an uneasy thought. Were the two extra chairs a foreshadow? A curious question indeed.

"What brings you here today, Hayato-kun?" Yukinoshita-san asked, "I presume that you were simply enjoying yourselves?"

Hayato-kun shook his head, "I wish we were only doing that."

He shot an annoyed look at Tobe-kun. Now, Hayama Hayato usually came off as someone who was eternally friendly. Because of that, GahaMama was surprised to see any kind of real enmity from him, even if it was slight. Either he was just that exasperated or something was different since the last time she saw him.

"I'm here to listen to this guy's problems. After hanging out at a nearby café for a while, we decided to have a change of pace and head to the mall. Maybe even pick up a gift," explain Hayato-kun.

"How you worded it was a bit vague and confusing. It's surprising coming from you," spoke Yukinoshita-san, her head tilted, "Could you please rephrase that?"

Hayato-kun shook his head.

"That was mostly on purpose. I'd need Tobe's consent if I wanted to say more than that."

He looked towards Tobe-kun. It was a questioning gaze, more than a pressuring one. He gave Tobe-kun a chance to refuse. Yukinoshita-san's question was mostly small talk, so it didn't matter what Tobe-kun's response was.

"Hmm, like, I dunno. But you know, I guess there's no harm in askin' two ladies who've been in the same spot," brusquely answered Tobe-kun.

Hayato-kun frowned, and he crossed his arms. It wasn't out of spite; he actually seemed somewhat awed with that response.

"Words like that… You're awfully persistent about this," murmured Hayato-kun.

Tobe-kun gave him a toothy grin and a thumbs up. That was supposed to be a subtle approval for Hayato-kun to speak. Well, I guess it's as subtle as Tobe could get. Hayato-kun turned back to GahaMama and Yukinoshita-san.

"Well, there's a girl that Tobe likes. We were talking about ways to appeal to her," he explained.

Tobe-kun cut in, "Her name's Ebina Hina. We were homeroom classmates until this year, but we're still pretty tight."

Hayato-kun added, "A bunch of us were in the same class, until the class shuffles spread us apart. Still, Tobe likes to come by often."

"Ooooh, it's this kind of thing!" GahaMama excitedly exclaimed.

Love talks. How could that not stir the heart of any maiden? She put her hands together and slid her chair in.

"However—"

Hayato-kun suddenly spoke that word with a firm tone. While Tobe-kun was full of smiles before, he abruptly adopted a sharp frown.

"—I don't think it's going to work out, Tobe. You got rej— I mean, during that time, she said she wasn't interested in anyone."

"I ain't that dumb, so I get what happened. But you know, it's not like she said no to me directly! Actually, I didn't even get a word in! I was interrupted, remember? Not that I hold a grudge."

"You still think… No, that's irrelevant," spoke Hayato-kun as he shook his head, "Anyway, I don't think it's going to work out."

Tobe-kun groaned, "Man, you were so supportive that time. You know, saying something like it wasn't my time yet. What happened?"

Hayato-kun exaggeratedly shrugged. Tobe-kun dropped his shoulders.

Hayato-kun tried to make a big show of that shrug in order to make it seem more like a part of casual banter between friends. Yet, not giving a solid reason also meant that he was not willing to discuss about it.

GahaMama spoke up, "Wait wait wait, so what's happening? Tobe-kun likes someone, but Hayato-kun is saying not to confess."

"I guess when you put it that way…" Hayato-kun muttered.

"Yep!" Tobe-kun gleefully confirmed with nod.

Tobe-kun was strangely joyful at someone else being confused and figuring stuff out for themselves. It just showed how simpleminded this guy was. Or maybe he was dangerously optimistic.

"You two were speaking about an incident in the past. Do you mind explaining about it?" Yukinoshita-san asked.

Not a single detail escaped her notice. When things weren't clear, it was necessary to prod at the known unknowns.

For some reason, Hayato-kun seemed reluctant to respond. After thinking about it, he carefully opened his mouth.

"Well, a lot of things happened that night, but basically, Tobe tried to confess to Hina. Things went wrong, and Hina ended up saying that she didn't want to date anyone."

He spoke rather nonchalantly, obviously trying to downplay what was, quite clearly, something shell-shocking. Although he didn't seem to be lying, he also sounded like he was omitting something.

Regardless of the finer details, GahaMama thought that it was a pretty clear rejection.

"Yeah, but the sad thing was, I couldn't even get a word in before she walked away! I mean, I guess I was saved when she shot down Hikitani when he confessed out of the blue, but that wasn't very, uh, clean, I guess? And also, I haven't given up since then."

Hayato-kun hurriedly spoke, "Tobe, shut up for a moment."

Yukinoshita-san narrowed her eyes. They didn't order ice cream or ask for the air conditioner to be turned up, but the room felt like it dropped several degrees.

"A third party? Who was this 'Hikitani' interloper?"

Yukinoshita-san didn't ask Tobe-kun. She was staring directly at Hayato-kun.

For the millionth time, Yukinoshita-san was as sharp as a blade. No matter how repetitious I was being, that fact needed to be repeated again and again. Let your judgement lapse for even a second and you would be nicked by that blade. Commit it to memory and continue to recall it, otherwise you would be cut like Hayama Hayato.

That interloper could've been anyone, technically speaking. Yet, for the people sitting at this table, there was someone who immediately came to mind. GahaMama hoped that mental shortcut was wrong.

Hayama Hayato attempted to resist with several seconds of silence. But it wasn't enough. With a broken expression, he succumbed.

One word was spoken.

"Hikigaya."

"…"

Because it was that person, his intentions needn't be said. Indeed, the table fell silent.

Forget the freezing of the atmosphere, even time seemed to stop at that moment.

Hayato-kun closed his eyes, like a prisoner to be taken to his cell.

Tobe-kun continued eating for a few bites, but in a few seconds, even he was struck with the realization. He nearly bit into his fork.

Yukinoshita-san narrowed her eyes like a serpent. The fan that usually covered around half of her face instead went nearly past her eyes. Not quite sulking, not quite angry, not quite disgusted, the best way to describe her current state of mind would be betrayed. Though she was as sharp as a blade, she acted as if another blade was thrust into her own back.

Then, there was GahaMama. Her mouth was futilely agape, with the smallest possible distance between her lips. She stared in the direction of Hayato-kun but was not really looking at him.

Sympathy, empathy, connectedness, whatever word you wanted to throw out there, it wasn't really understood until it was brought in front of yourself. GahaMama felt like whatever she had told her daughter in the past must've rung hollow in her daughter's ears because GahaMama had not truly and literally been by her side during her crucial moments of suffering.

From the various hints and small pieces of info that GahaMama had gathered over time, from her daughter's pained faces and other sources, GahaMama had known that Hikki-kun opted to use unusual and doggedly pragmatic methods. Now that she knew the exact details of a significant incident, her definition of Hikki-kun had evolved.

Cruel.

Cruel to himself.

Painful for others watching that self-inflicted cruelty.

Cruel to others for inflicting that pain.

An overflowing feeling of weight filled GahaMama's chest. She didn't blame Hikki-kun or began hating him. It was sadness, simple but black, as dark as a shroud, enveloping and suffocating.

"Such methods… I highly disapprove of them. I abhor it."

Those quiet but powerful words came from behind the fan.

It was strict response that not only enacted discipline but also conveyed her clear rejection. Rejection meant not agreeing with and not understanding the particular mindsets. She merely said she abhorred it. She didn't provide a reason why because she didn't understand.

"Then… Well, things have remained the same," sullenly spoke Hayato-kun, "And even now, it isn't the time. Maybe when the time comes, it might not be with Hina."

His last sentence was spoken slowly and heavily, as if he struggled to eke them out.

Tobe-kun silently frowned. He was usually chatty, but he was out of words. He had probably heard those same sentences many times before entering the teahouse.

"So, I'd like to hear your opinions on this," finished Hayato-kun.

Yukinoshita-san was mired in thought. It was obvious that she had more than just Tobe-kun's situation in mind. She took a bout of silence to think.

GahaMama didn't know either. She had a look of pity, but she wasn't looking down on anyone. She had a few embers of anger, but it was because she had long lost the chance to console those who were involved. She also didn't understand.

What Hikki-kun wanted.

Why Hikki-kun agreed to do it.

GahaMama smiled weakly.

"I don't really know," she spoke, "Really, I can't say much, not unless Hikki-kun was here to explain some things."

The shock of Hikki-kun's actions weighed too heavily on her. She was not in the right state of mind to advise Tobe-kun. If she were to give Tobe-kun advice now, she might mistakenly overweigh the effects of Hikki-kun's actions on Tobe-kun's predicament.

"That's right. I apologize to Tobe-kun, but I would prefer hearing Hikigaya-kun's side of the story first. It would not be responsible of me to proceed without it," Yukinoshita-san agreed.

The two brooding mothers were stuck at an impasse of their own making. They would not allow themselves to proceed until that cruel boy explained himself.

But something like that couldn't happen without that person being present.

Realizing that, Hayato-kun spoke, "I could try to contact him, but I'm not sure if he's available to come right this instant."

As usual, that guy smoothed over his words. More insincerely put, that dead fish-eyed freak would probably come up with an excuse to skip anyway.

However, Hayama's suggestion ended up unneeded. Lady Luck was apparently blessing Yukinoshita's mother today, and I had suddenly acquired the luck-cancelling Imagine Breaker in my right hand.

Lacking her usual grace, Yukinoshita's mother essentially tumbled out the teahouse and caught my wrist with an iron grip as I casually passed by. I was scared out of my mind.

Her scowling face entered my vision.

I, Hikigaya Hachiman, had been caught red-handed, even as my face began turning pale.