After that, we separated from Angela, and Rei drove me home. We talked about some things on the way home, but that’s not something for you to concern yourself with. Anyway, when it was finally time, I left to go pick Sora up from school. And now here I am.
“Mama~!” Yes…just by listening to her voice, I can instantly feel my mood getting better. I crouch down and open my arms wi~de as Sora runs up to me. She then jumps into my arms, and I hug her as if I’d never let her go again. …Not that I can do such a thing. I’d wish! Oh, how great would that be?! But the best I can do is shower her in kisses whenever I have the chance! How cruel can life be?! How pitiful can I be?!
“Baby~! *Mwah*! *Mwah*! *Mwah*! *Mwah*!”
“Hehe, Mama—Mama! Sto~p! Hehehe!”
“I missed you so much~! How was it today? Did you have fun?” After taking an extra few seconds to shower her in kisses, I pick her up from the floor and stand with her in my arms.
“Nn! Nn! Nn! Very fun! Played lots, lots!”
“That’s great~!” I gently rub my hand on her head, making sure not to mess up her hair too much. Well, it doesn’t matter too much, because we’re heading home right away, but still; I like to have my baby girl looking good and neat at all times. “Shall we get going, the—”
“Oh~! Sora’s Mama! Hi!” As I was turning to leave, a little girl called out to me while waving her hand. Ah, that red hair…she’s Achilles’s daughter, isn’t she? Hmm, what was her name again?
“Ah, Lily~!” Ah, so that’s it. Sora waves her hand at her friend in an energetic way. Seeing her like that, I hesitantly let her down, so she can be on ground level with Lily. Sora quickly runs up to the girl and grabs her hands and smiles as I look around the courtyard.
“Ah, Lily. Is your dad still not here?” That greek-named guy is nowhere to be seen. Well, it makes sense. I more or less got here exactly at the time we were supposed to pick up our kids—not a minute more, nor a minute less—so it makes sense he’s not here yet. …Yeah, I was a bit impatient to meet my baby girl, ‘kay?! What’s wrong with that?!
“Mhm! Not here, Sora’s Mama!” W-What’s up with her way of calling me? N-No, I mean, she’s not wrong…and it does make me feel a bit happy. What can I say? I’m a simple person.
“I see…do you want us to wait for him here with you?”
“Nn! Nn! Mama, can we?!” Sora doesn’t wait for Lily’s answer before looking at me with pleading eyes. Hahaha, I was originally worried she would have trouble making friends—like I did—but seeing her like this, I guess I was worrying for nothing.
“Sure, we can. If Lily’s ‘kay with that?” Lily immediately nods to my words, and drags Sora off to the playground in the distance while laughing. Fufufu, she sure is lively; it brings a smile to my face. This is why it’s soooo much better to deal with kids than with grown ups, they’re just so filled with pure and simple joy. Well, nevermind that; I should go look for a bench or somewhere I can rest while waiting for Achilles.
“…Oh, fuck.” While I’m looking around, I accidentally lock eyes with Ms. Alice, who’s standing beside the front door, smiling and waving at the kids as she lets them out the building. Wait, what are you doing? Wait, nonononono, don’t come here, noooooo! Why are you coming this way?! Our eyes met by accident, you know?! That wasn’t a way of calling you over!! I-I was just looking for a bench, there’s no need for you to—
“Ms. Saeki, welcome~!” …I’m gonna cry. I don’t like talking to people, even more so when they are people who I’m not really on good terms with. Well, I wouldn’t say Ms. Alice and I have a bad relationship, I mean, we just met yesterday, after all, but…it is true that our conversations yesterday weren’t exactly pleasant. I can be a bit sensitive toward nosy people, so I might have come off as a bit disrespectful toward her. I should apologize.
“...Thank you very much, Ms. Alice.” Saving a mental note of my last thought, I respond to her friendly smile with one of my own. I would’ve preferred if she hadn’t approached me, but now that she’s here, there’s nothing I can do but be polite.
“Are you waiting for your daughter, miss?”
“Ah, well, not exactly. Sora wanted to wait until her friend’s dad came to pick her up, you see, so they’re playing right now as we wait.” Saying that, I turn away to look at the playground and wave over at Sora and Lily, who are going down the slide hugging each other. …H-Hey, even though it’s a heartwarming scene, isn’t it a bit dangerous to do that?! What if they fall and hit their heads?!
“Fufufu, your daughter was very well behaved today, and made lots of friends, let me tell you. She is a very good girl. You must be doing a good job at home, miss.”
“A-Ah, no, well, uhmm………thank you.” Though I initially try to deny it, I give up halfway through and simply accept her words. I am not perfect; not even close. I don’t have much experience in life, and as much as I hate to admit it, I can be very immature, just like earlier today. I like to think I am doing my best, but sometimes, you know…I think that I’m not fit to raise her, that maybe she’d be better off being raised by a ‘normal’ family. Every day, I shower her in love to the best of my ability, but…I can’t provide her with that ‘normal’ environment, with a mom, a dad, and perhaps even siblings and grandparents; it’s impossible for me. I’ve read that growing up without a dad can be especially harmful for children’s development. So I worry…thinking that, maybe, I’m being selfish by trying to raise her by myself. Those thoughts disappear the moment I see her smile or call me ‘Mama,’ but…it still concerns me a bit. That’s why hearing someone tell me I’m doing a good job…makes me really happy.
“...” Ms. Alice seems confused. She probably didn’t expect her small compliment would make me smile this way. I can’t help but let out a small giggle, which makes her show an even more shocked expression. Okay, now that’s a bit rude. I know I wasn’t the most friendly person with her yesterday, but still.
“...”
“...”
A couple minutes of silence follow as neither of us want to open our mouths. In my case that’s because I’m busy watching Sora, but I don’t know what’s going through Ms. Alice’s mind.
“...Ms. Alice, actually, I wanted to apologize for yesterday.” Sensing she’s not going to open her mouth anytime soon, I decide to take the lead in the conversation, trying to use it as a chance to clear up the tense air between us. “My attitude was by no means appropriate, and I’m afraid I might have offended you. If that was the case, I apologize, I assure you it wasn’t my intention.”
I don’t really like all this boring talk between adults, but I’m going to suffocate if I have to deal with this heavy-ass air between us every time I come here. Even more so when I was the one who made it like this in the first place. True, she might’ve been a bit too pushy yesterday, but my reaction is still my own fault. If I want Sora to learn that she has to take responsibility for her actions, then I must start by doing so myself. As Rei would say, ‘it’s common sense, are you stupid?’That’s why I’m apologizing.
“No, miss, that should be my line. I apologize for my intrusiveness yesterday. I overstepped my boundaries and made you uncomfortable. As such, your reaction to that behavior isn’t something for you to be blamed for. Rather, it was my fault from the beginning. I’m sorry.” Ms. Alice bows so deeply that I widen my eyes a bit in shock. My first impression of her wasn’t the best, so seeing her be this—in my opinion—sincere, really improves my opinion on her. Ah, wait, I can’t get lost in thought and keep her apologizing like that forever.
“...In that case, let’s assume both of us were in the wrong, and leave it at that. Is that alright with you?” Ms. Alice raises her head following my words, and seems a bit dazed, as if she wasn’t expecting my words. I dunno why, though…I think my suggestion was a pretty good way to solve the problem…was I wrong? Maybe I should’ve just shut up and accepted her apology and let that be it…though that would’ve been really awkward, ‘cause it would’ve felt as if she did me a favor by taking all the blame. I don’t like being indebted to anybody, you know? Urgh, what to do…
“Then let’s do just that, miss.” Ms. Alice, perhaps noticing my conflicted expression, giggles ‘ufufu’ for a second before joining her hands in front of her. Then, as if having completed what she came here for, Ms. Alice takes her leave by saying, ‘ah, I should return to my duties, fufufu!’ and returns to the building’s entrance. I smile at her while she’s in sight, and then turn my attention back to the front.
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