Helping her with her homework, playing games with her, going out together with her …
Seiji had spent so much time together with Reo. Although part of it was an act, he truly wanted to help this girl.
"Brother Harano …"
The redness in Reo's eyes slowly faded after hearing his gentle and sincere persuasion.
The phantom disappeared, the large mouth and eyes disappeared, and the black mist dissipated. Everything around her returned to normal.
"I … don't know …" she muttered to herself.
"If you can't remember, you can slowly think about it."
Seiji smiled faintly.
"By the way, are you hungry? How about I make you something delicious to eat. "
…
Reo was rather confused now.
'Why did Brother Harano say that? Did I … really do something terrible to my mom? '
She couldn't remember at all, but Brother Harano didn't seem like he was lying.
He didn't say anything else in response to her denial. He was just as gentle towards her as usual, although … he seemed a little sad.
Time continued to pass.
Her mom's condition kept worsening, and she said that she needed to go overseas … to a foreign country for treatment.
According to Reo's understanding, that meant that she needed to go to a very, very far away place.
She wasn't willing to accept this!
Her mom smiled gently at her willfulness.
"Since Reo doesn't want me to leave, then I'll stay behind," her mom said.
"But if you stay behind, your illness won't be cured, and you'll die," Brother Harano said.
'Die … 'Reo felt a chill run down her spine.
It was as if she was peeking into a deep, icy darkness.
That darkness contained frightening things that she definitely didn't want to know about.
'Mom … will die?
'No … don't do this … '
In front of her, her mom was still smiling gently and looking in her direction.
Meanwhile, Brother Harano was looking at her with a sorrowful expression.
'Is it my fault?
'I don't want Mom to leave. Is it my fault? '
"Brother Harano … if Mom goes overseas … she'll be able to cure her illness, right?"
"I don't know … it's just that if she stays behind, her illness definitely won't be cured."
'Why is it like this? '
Reo felt that this was far too wrong.
She didn't know if she could cure her illness even if she went overseas, but if she stayed behind, she definitely wouldn't be cured … this wasn't right!
She felt uncomfortable and confused …
After visiting Reo, she left the hospital, and returned home … she was still in a state of confusion.
Brother Harano made dinner.
She didn't want to eat at all.
He didn't eat either. He simply sat across from her and watched her in silence.
"Brother Harano …"
"What?"
"I … what should I do?"
"That's for you to decide, Reo-chan." Seiji told her gently, "Perhaps it's too difficult for you, but since you've met it, you have to face it."
The little girl fell silent.
"Everyone's like this. When something painful happens, even if you don't want to, you have to face it, endure it, and get over it.
It's just like walking on the road and suddenly falling into a hole. You fall to the bottom and get injured, and it hurts a lot.
But just because you feel too much pain and don't want to move, you can't just stay down there forever.
Even if you tell yourself that you didn't fall, it won't work.
If you move, it'll hurt, but if you don't move, you'll feel uncomfortable as well. And, the longer you stay down there, the worse it will be.
You have to climb out, and if you can't do it yourself, you have to call for help. Someone will come to help you … such as me. "
Seiji looked directly at her face.
"I'll help you, but Reo-chan, you need to first understand your situation and make a decision.
Do you want to continue feeling uncomfortable, or do you want to bravely face the pain? "
Reo didn't respond.
That night, she didn't say another word.
She only spoke up when she went to visit her mother the next day.
"Mom … why don't you go overseas for treatment?"
"Is that alright?"
"Mommy has to go overseas to be cured, so …" Reo sniffled. "… I'll endure it."
Her mother had a gentle look in her eyes.
"Reo, you've grown up."
She revealed a gentle smile as she reached out and patted the little girl's head.
Reo felt this warmth and glanced over at her Brother Harano, who was beside her.
She saw that he also had a faint smile on his face.
"You've become braver. Excellent, Reo-chan," Seiji praised her sincerely.
Reo was delighted.
She felt that she had done the right thing.
…
'Mom left.
It'll be quite a while before I can see her again, but it won't be a problem. '
'Brother Harano will always be by my side until Mom returns.
'Mom's illness will definitely be cured. '
'I'll make paper cranes every day to pray for Mom. '
Reo endured her loneliness and waited with such a feeling in her heart.
Time passed day by day.
Many days passed.
Mom stopped calling her.
Brother Harano also rarely mentioned Mom.
When Reo asked him about it, she noticed that the sadness on his face was becoming more and more obvious.
He had a bad feeling.
He wanted to talk to Mom.
He wanted to see Mom again.
But …
"Why can't I!?"
After Seiji refused to make another phone call, Reo shouted out loud.
Brother Harano didn't respond. He simply looked at her in silence.
"I want to talk to Mom … it's been so long since I've heard her voice …"
"I've been holding it in since I can't see Mom, I've been holding it in …"
"But … why …"
The little girl revealed a pained expression.
"Why can't I even talk to you!!?"
Their surroundings changed once again. Terrifying things kept appearing, and black mist started spreading.
Seiji sighed.
"You do have a reason to be angry, but it's useless, Reo-chan.
As long as you don't act like this, I'll tell you everything you want to know, alright? "
Reo looked at him.
Their surroundings gradually returned to normal.
"Let's sit down and talk properly."
The two of them sat down in the living room.
"Reo-chan, do you remember what your mother looks like?"
Brother Harano asked a strange question.
"Of course I remember!"
Seiji looked at Reo's face and said calmly, "Then think back carefully. Seriously and clearly, remember the last time you saw your mother — Hinako Tachibana. What did she look like?"
The last time she saw her mother, she looked like …
Reo tried to recall.
Then, she felt that something was wrong.
Her mother's appearance … she couldn't remember!
How could this be!?
She was clearly thinking about it just now, and she could clearly remember it!
She did her best to recall it.
However, her mother's face was still hazy.
How could this be? Why was it like this!?
Reo fell into a state of confusion.
"You can't remember … is that it?" Seiji asked softly.
"Then let me change my question. Do you still remember what the 'mother' who lived here before looked like?"
Yet another strange question.
"The mother who lived here … was your mother."
"She was indeed the 'mother' that you mentioned, but do you remember what she 'really looked like?'"
What she really looked like …
Reo reflexively tried to recall, but discovered that she couldn't remember!
What was going on!?
Not only was she confused, she was also beginning to feel afraid.
"Why …"
"You can't remember again, are you?" Seiji was still looking at her.
"Brother Harano …"
Reo had an expression that seemed like she was about to cry. A hint of fear appeared in her eyes.
"Be brave, Reo-chan. I know that this will be painful, but just like before, you'll be able to overcome it," Seiji told her gently.
