"You don't need to answer right now. You can think about it tonight."
"Before I answer that, I need to know... what about Mom?"
"Sorry, I can't quite follow. What about her?"
"Dad... are you telling me to leave Mom alone?"
"Well, if you want to stay with your mother, that's okay, you know. I'm just saying that you can live with me."
"And what about your wives? Are they okay with me? Or are you living alone?"
"Oh... you were concerned about them? Don't worry, they're okay with it."
The more I hear, the more displeasure I feel. But I still hold myself back. This is another world—I understand. My common sense doesn't apply here.
"So you live with them? But why isn't Mom with all of you? Did something happen?"
"Did you forget? Well, you were quite young back then. Your mother and my other wives had a fight. Since then, your mother decided to raise you alone."
"Do you know the reason?"
"Since you've already grown up, you deserve to know what happened. You see, your mother didn't like how my four wives interacted with you—saying things like 'be a man who loves all girls' or 'make all women happy,' something like that."
"Well, knowing my mom, I understand why she didn't like that."
"Haha... your mother is kind of overprotective. No wonder—after all, you're the only male among my children."
"I see... wait, I have siblings!?"
"Yeah... and you met them last year, remember?"
"No, I was just wondering... you know... if they witnessed the fight." — That was close.
"Only your older sister knows about it. Your other three sisters don't."
"I see..."
"Well, if you want to come with me, just say it. Don't worry about school, I'll drive you there. And about your mother, you can always visit her on weekends. It's already late, so Tomoki, good—"
"I'll stay here."
"What?"
"I'll stay here with my mother."
"If that's what you want, it's okay with me."
Why is he so indifferent about mom? No, I need to calm down. This is normal. I just need to end this conversation...
But I couldn't.
"How long will you stay here?"
"Tomorrow I'll be going back to my home."
"To your home... I see... I get it. And when will you visit us again?"
Stop it! Just accept it already!
"Sorry? Tomoki, are you okay?"
"Why are you asking?"
"I mean... why are you looking at me like that?"
I don't know what he's talking about. Unfortunately, I don't have a mirror to see my own face, but I'm pretty sure I look normal.
It's just that...
I realize I'm talking to a man who resembles my father.
"Maybe because I cried earlier... kind of embarrassing to say... So, are you planning to visit us again?"
"Tomoki, is there something you want to talk about?"
"I just want to know when you'll visit us again! Is that damn difficult to say?"
"I don't like how you're talking to me! Is this how your mother taught you?"
The moment he said that, my memories of my mother flooded back intensely.
[Walking alone!? Have you lost your mind!? Get back here right now!]
[I never thought it would hurt so much to see him with others.]
[Just know… Mom has enough savings for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.]
[You forgot to put oil in the pan!]
[… Well, you definitely need a lot of practice. But you know, I enjoy teaching you.]
[Come here, my sweetheart. Mom's here, okay?]
...
[Welcome home, Tomoki. Today I made a special dish for you! Tomorrow will be a special day for you, so cheer up! Oh... and don't worry, your father will come to watch your graduation ceremony. Maybe he's busy, but he never breaks a promise. You already know that, right?] — You're right, Mom... I know that.
"Sorry, sir. Maybe the way my mother raised me on her own wasn't up to your standards."
"Tomoki! Tell me already what you want!"
"Didn't I ask you a minute ago when you'll visit us again! You're the one who should just admit you never cared about Mom in the first—"
SLAP!
Suddenly, my mother rushed into my room and all she said was something I didn't want to hear.
"Sorry... Sorry... it's my fault, okay? Please, don't hate your father."
"No... wait... what have I..." — I couldn't hear well what he wanted to say... not that it mattered.
Regardless, I need to cool my head. I can't let my emotions get the better of me that easily. Now only I can help my mother. I need to stay strong.
"Please Mom, don't say that. I really said something I shouldn't." — Then I glanced at him. — "Sorry, Dad."
"That's... okay. I'll go to the living room. Good night."
Then he left my room, leaving only me and my mother, who was crying.
"Tomoki... my sweetheart. You don't need to worry about me. Just visit me once per month, okay?"
"Mom, I'll stay here. This is my choice, and I won't change my mind."
"Why? You always wanted to live with him, right? Your father was arranging a space for you in his home."
So that's why he didn't come here for months!? Amazing. Maybe I've been misjudging him. Maybe this is just how things work around here.
"He asked me, and I just answered—that's all. I want to stay here. Besides... yeah, how will I learn cooking without you, Mom? You still need to pass down your secret."
"Come on, Tomoki, you can learn that even from the internet. You just need to be careful with—actually, you have a point."
"Seriously, Mom? Don't you trust your own son? Hahaha... it seems I have a long way to go."
"Sob... You're right... you still have a long way to learn."
After Mom calmed down—actually, after we both calmed down—she left the room. I couldn't hear well, but I think she said something.
"Tomoki, good night. I love you."
I lay on my bed with wide-open eyes, staring at the ceiling. I wasn't sleepy at all, but at the same time, I wasn't in the right mind to study or read Ayame-san's book.
I was just wondering why I behaved like that. Was I really that angry? That's true, but I'm aware I'm in another world where it's normal for a man to have multiple wives. I already had a discussion about it at school. I already made up my mind about my current parents' situation. So why did it bother me whenever he explained things to me?
Oh, I see. I understand now.
I was just disappointed in him.
♦♦♦
Early in the morning, his wives were waiting in the car to pick him up. My mother and I were seeing him off.
"Goodbye, honey." — he said to my mother.
"Goodbye, darling."
"Goodbye to you too, Tomoki... Sorry about yesterday."
"That's okay. I'm sorry too."
Then he entered the passenger seat and closed the door.
I could see two women kissing him while the other two in the front seats were arguing about it being "unfair"... maybe they wanted to be beside him too.
Then I looked at my mother, just smiling while seeing the whole scene. To be fair, I don't know how a woman feels about all this. Are they happy? Because if it were my mom from the previous world, she would take a crowbar and destroy that car right now. Believe me... she would do that.
When the car started to leave, I could only see a guy driving away with other women, leaving me and my mother behind.
[Son, if one day something happens to me, take care of your mother for me, okay? She is strong, of course, but she gets lonely easily too. That's why—can I count on you? Hahaha... don't worry, I don't intend to leave you two anytime soon. Hahaha...]
Don't worry, Father. I'll keep my promise.