Chapter 87: Proof of Existence.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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We were shown into a room.

I wondered if this was a drawing room. The decorations were what you might expect from a church, primarily consisting of subdued dark brown wood, white walls, and white ceramic objects. Part of the wall was stained glass; there was a fireplace directly connected to a chimney, and three sofas arranged around a low table. A two-seater was on the door side, and two single-seaters were further in.

Looking at it, I thought the layout somewhat resembled Ukai's office. Of course, I don't mean to suggest that just because it's a religious organization they shouldn't smell of money, nor do I think earning money is bad. However, precisely because this is a church, I felt a certain degree of disgust at a structure that had no intention of hiding its business negotiations.

It almost feels as if they are pandering to the common people. Of course, expecting some mystical atmosphere in a tainted place where rituals like the ones Michiru described take place might be the mistake here.

“I don’t like this.”

The words slipped out of my mouth. Then, perhaps wondering what I was thinking to say such a thing so nonchalantly, Chisato-senpai looked at Michiru again with eyes full of jealousy.

“Miyoko-san will be here shortly. Please wait a moment.”

Miyoko… that must be Michiru's mother's name.

“Don’t mind us.”

Even though I replied, the eyes turned toward me were just sad. It was a gaze that had stopped fighting and seemed only to envy.

It is rare to see a scene where the phrase “a woman’s greatest enemy is another woman” fits so perfectly. Even Chisato-senpai must realize that the one who barged in here, cursed, and is about to start some serious trouble isn’t Michiru, but me.

Yet, the brunt of her anger is never directed at me. However, Michiru didn’t say anything to her; she just clenched her teeth as if trying to keep her sanity.

…Well, there's no way she could say anything.

After all, she was surely your first friend. And she was the first person who sparked your desire for friendship.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting. Let's see, Takatsuki-kun, was it?”

Saying this as he opened the door and entered the room was a gentlemanly, middle-aged priest with neatly groomed white hair and a healthy complexion. His appearance was likely appropriate for one who serves God, and since he was wearing a cassock, had a large, exaggerated white cross hanging from his neck, and was holding a Bible, there was no mistaking him for a priest.

But why did he appear holding a Bible? Even without such obvious character acting, a high school student would know well enough what his profession is.

“…Tch.”

In that instant, Michiru looked away. Not from the priest's appearance. Nor was it because she saw her mother. It was much more localized; she had reacted instinctively upon recalling something specific from just one part of him.

I looked at the priest again. The Bible he was holding—if you looked closely, the corner was crushed in significantly. It bore the marks of having been smashed hard against something—or rather, as if he had smashed someone with all his might.

“Every time I look at this book, I remembered your cute face, Michiru. What brings you here today? Have you finally decided to come and apologize?”

…I thought his creepiness was no laughing matter.

As a premise, I am not good with violence and I dislike it, and I don't think Michiru's method was the only correct answer. But even so, this is a nasty way to torment someone. Even if he had been surprised and stumbled from the weak blow of a mere 12-year-old girl, isn’t it incredibly petty to hold a grudge this deep and dig it up now?

From his personality of pushing himself forward while leaving the summoned Miyoko-san aside, to his comments that are more than enough to merit contempt as a man, to that smirking smile feigning composure.

I hate this man.

“Because of you, I suffered a large wound on my head. Your mother also ended up shouldering a heavy penalty. I really don’t want to say things like this, but if you don’t make amends, the balance won’t be maintained.”
“Th-That is…”
“She sang in the choir and contributed to the church’s activities. That should be enough.”

However, it's fine.

I am calm, and Michiru is calm too. There is no need for us to get angry and compete with a man like this, who is nothing but a child in a gentleman’s guise.

Besides, if we dare to assign a winner or loser to the past incident, Michiru won. There is nothing to fear.

“Could you stop speaking as if you know everything? I am talking to Michiru.”
“I’ll say the same to you. In the first place, we didn’t call for you.”
“…What?”
“We came to talk to Miyoko-san. I don’t mind you being present as a supervisor, but I would like an outsider to stop speaking to her about personal matters.”
“Takatsuki-san, speaking to the Father like that is—”

The moment Chisato-senpai started to speak, I reached out my right hand and pointed my index finger at her to stop her. Because I would appreciate it if she didn’t mess up our path of romance any further.

“Please do not speak if you were not invited to this space. I don’t believe I am saying anything that difficult.”

…Did she shut up?

Seems like she shut up.

“Michiru, it’s your turn.”
“Yeah. It's been a while, Mom.”
“…Yes. It has, Michiru.”

The two spoke, albeit awkwardly. It didn’t seem to be an emotional reunion, and they showed no sentimental reactions. Do this mother and daughter simply not care much about each other? Just normally, quite naturally, the two exchanged small talk about how they've been lately.

A mother unconcerned with how her daughter has lived, and a daughter unconcerned with what penalties her mother suffered. Rather than a cold relationship, it was a relationship where there was no temperature to cool down in the first place.

In other words, indifference.

They never look back at the past. And I felt that their uniform attitude of not caring certainly proved that these two were indeed mother and daughter.

…Though, it is far too lonely.

“—So, I want you to tell me. Am I, without a doubt, Ukai Toru’s daughter?”

Then, Miyoko-san exhaled deeply before speaking quietly.

“There is no mistake. After all, he is the only man I have known.”

Considering this church has its rituals, I thought that was a truly silly lie, but I immediately dismissed that thought. Because when she answered that way, the priest’s face twisted terribly.

…I'll think about the reason for a moment.

In short, this is a lie to prevent the church’s rituals from being exposed. If so, the conversation with Miyoko-san that has been going on for a while now must also be entirely a fake conversation manipulated by the priest. Since I, an outsider, am here, if she's going to lie about one thing, it's only natural to lie about everything else too.

Come to think of it, Michiru was good at lying. Even though she's actually selfish and hot-blooded, she would calmly lie to protect what was important to her. Never showing signs of pain, she even deceived the whole school and played the role of an idol.

…She is.

Miyoko-san is that Michiru's mother.

“I'm already fed up.”
“W-What is it?”

Unexpectedly, it was Miyoko-san who reacted to my mutter. Reacting first means she is frightened. It is precisely because she is more on edge and careful than anyone else that she reacts instantly.

Beneath that guise of composure, she hides her terror of the priest. She keeps to what she was told beforehand, striving not to let the seams show.

…People who seek my help always have these eyes.

Eyes that say they can’t do anything on their own, yet realize that things are wrong, and just don’t know what to do anymore. Even though they have to fight, they don’t know how. It is a look stained with the suffering of hating their own helplessness.

Yamakawa had said it.

That girls like them have always been waiting for a guy like me. that weak people can't move forward unless someone kicks them in the a*s. That even without words, Takatsuki Shinji is supposed to understand that suffering.

“Takatsuki-kun. Aren’t you being rude?”

…Then, I will save her.

“Shinji-kun?”

Because that is my proof of existence.

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