V3Ch2: Change of Heart part 2

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Translator: Soafp

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Why her father had committed such bizarre acts, Haru did not know.

For Haru—and for her mother—her father had truly been an exemplary father.

He was personable, deeply trusted by his subordinates, and highly competent at his work.

Occasionally, he would invite colleagues or subordinates over to the house, discussing both work and personal matters, laughing together.

Haru was well-liked by her father's coworkers, and the living room was always filled with smiles and laughter.

There should have been no dissatisfaction with his workplace. At least, based on what she knew of her father's relationships with his colleagues, Haru thought so.

Neither Haru nor her mother noticed the changes in her father's mindset leading up to his bizarre behavior.
Her mother often said that was the family's fault.

By now, Haru didn't even know what was true anymore, or what could possibly be atoned for…

She had considered leaving this town. It wasn't a particularly convenient metropolis to cling to, and towns like this could be found all over the countryside.

It was a town with nothing to recommend it except being a hot spring and tourist area.

But Haru had no confidence she could live alone in another town.

Her father's case had made major news at the time.

And in weekly magazines, Haru's own photos had been published as the family of the perpetrator.

Haru, who had endured the malice of countless people in this town, had lived clinging to the memories of this place and this house.

If she lost both her home and these memories,

and at a time like that, were to experience human malice again, like in this town—Haru had no confidence she could survive.

Still, there was a reason she chose to stay in this town.

It was Sho.

For the first time in a long while… really, for the first time in ten years, she felt the kindness of another person.

Since her mother died, it had been the first time she had spoken to someone normally and laughed at another's words.

“That guy… he really was astonishingly kind…”

Even recalling it brought a smile to her face.

She couldn't help but think that someone who could be this kind to a complete stranger existed even in a town like this.

Even disregarding the fact that she was the daughter of a criminal, if a violent incident had occurred in a park late at night, most people would probably have looked away, thinking it was too much trouble.

If she was lucky, someone might have reported it to the police and walked away.

But Sho didn't care about the trouble.

He simply opposed it, standing up because Haru was being attacked.

“He didn't seem that strong, though…”

The young man was not the heroic figure she had imagined; he was slender and delicate.

Yet Haru's interest in him kept overflowing.

“I wonder… where does he live? Is it close by…?”

Things she could hardly ask him face-to-face spilled out as muttered questions.

She hadn't felt genuine curiosity about another person for a long time.

Even if she did, she thought that once someone knew about her, they would immediately distance themselves.

“…Ah, if I was going to feel like this, I should have made something better that night. Like okay, porridge… anyone can make that, though.”

Haru hadn't expected to feel this way that night. Yet recalling that night brought unavoidable regret. It was partly an expression of her growing awareness of Sho as a person of the opposite sex.

“Does he… have a girlfriend…?”

At that thought, Haru suddenly snapped back to reality.

“What the hell. Even if I feel like this, it changes nothing for me…”

It was enough that she alone felt excited. To expect more would inconvenience him. Haru had always drawn boundaries in her relationships with others.

If something coincidental happened and she became acquainted with someone, it was enough to remain just acquaintances. Her own feelings might ease a little, and it wouldn't trouble the other person.

But what if it was a person of the opposite sex, and their relationship developed into friendship, close friendship, or even romance?

If they learned about her family, they would surely hesitate to continue being with her. They would consider the potential harm they might experience.

Surely, they would distance themselves from her.

She had already resolved that in her heart.

If the other person chose to cut ties, that was best.

But if the other person was kindhearted, and as a result endured harassment or unreasonable violence…

Then becoming close to anyone wouldn't be good for them, and it would hurt her too. Haru thought that way.

“That guy… really was kindhearted…”

Even so, she couldn't stop thinking about Sho.

She didn't know another man so full of justice.

The only males she knew were the boys from her middle school days.

“Boys… when they grow up, can really be like that…”

Every word she spoke brought Sho's image to her mind.

“No… I'm useless today. What's wrong with me…”

She vaguely remembered feeling like this before.

Back then, a senior at middle school had stirred similar feelings in her.

He was the captain of the soccer club, fresh-faced and handsome.

In the end, he had a girlfriend in his grade, and all Haru could do was watch from afar…

“What's he doing now…?”

That same feeling had resurfaced in Haru, ten years later…