Nice to Meet... You? (2)

My mother held my hand and wept for a while, then bit by bit seemed to regain her composure.

"I'm sorry… it must be hard, having some strange old lady suddenly burst into tears at you…"

"!"

So Kudou-sensei really had warned her beforehand that I had amnesia.

She knew everything about me, and I knew nothing about her.

Facing that vast, unbridgeable gap made my chest ache.

"… I'm sorry…"

Before I knew it, an apology had slipped out of my mouth.

"It's all right… just having you alive… asking for anything more would be tempting fate."

Wiping her tears with one hand, she looked me in the eye.

"You can take your time remembering, and even if your memories never come back, the fact that you're my son won't change."

She held my hand firmly, telling me she would accept me even without my memories.

Knowing she would welcome me as family, I felt relieved, and my heart grew a little lighter.

"Oh… we should start with introductions, shouldn't we. I'm Izumi Kaori. Your mother. ♡"

Smiling, Kaori-san began her self-introduction.

She'd called herself an old lady a moment ago, but with her gentle drooping eyes, her deep orange long hair tucked behind one ear, and the way she wore her suit, she didn't look at all like the mother of a fifteen-year-old. Yet despite those youthful features, the poise with which she carried the suit gave her an undeniably adult charm.

"I'm Izumi Shouya… pleased to meet you. Kaori-san…"

She already knew everything about me, but it felt rude not to introduce myself, so I did anyway.

"Kaori-san, you say…"

When I called her by name, Kaori-san's eyes widened in surprise.

'Kaori-san' was probably too distant… but jumping straight to 'Mom' was a bit much for me too.

"It makes me happy that you'd call me by my first name, Taku-chan, but if you can, I'd like you to call me 'Mom.' ♡"

"Yes… M-Mom…"

"Fufu ♡ Very good, Taku-chan ♡ Little by little is fine, just call me 'Mom,' okay? ♡ 'Mama' is fine too ♡"

"M-Mama is a bit much…"

When I called her "Mom," she smiled at me happily. Once again I felt that, to Kaori-san, to Mom, I was her son, memories or no memories.

After Mom and I had talked a while longer, Nakano-san, who had stepped out, returned.

"Kaori-san, visiting hours are almost over."

"Oh my, has it been that long already? Taku-chan, aren't you tired?"

"Mm… I'm… okay."

I was a little tired, but the time together had been pleasant.

Still, neither calling her 'Mom' nor dropping the polite speech came naturally yet. Mom kept smiling and saying things like, "You don't have to be so formal ♡," but she gave off the impression of a beautiful older sister far more than that of a mother, which only made me feel more awkward.

"Well then, Mom's going to head off now. I'll come back with your big sisters in the evening, okay?"

"Big sisters?"

So apparently the me of this world had older sisters. The plural "sisters" meant there were at least two. Beyond older sisters, there might be older brothers or younger siblings as well.

"I'll tell them about you before we come, so don't worry about a thing, Taku-chan."

"… Mm."

Knowing I'd have to wade through that heavy, painful air again made my chest tighten.

Was it going to be like this every time I met someone from before my reincarnation, from here on out?

"It'll be all right. Mom will be there with you… okay?"

The anxiety must have shown on my face. Mom gave my hand a warm squeeze of encouragement.

"All right, Mom's going to head off now."

"Yeah, see you later."

"Fufu, see you later. Nakano-san, please take good care of my son."

As I saw her off, Mom answered with a smile, gave Nakano-san a deep bow, and left the hospital room.

"Shouya-san, you must be a bit tired, so please lie down and rest until evening visiting hours. If anything comes up, please press the nurse call button, just like you did this morning."

"Yes… understood."

My stamina was pretty depleted, and my strength to resist drowsiness was steadily weakening; my eyelids felt heavy. To prepare for the evening visit, I'd quietly let myself rest.

"You really can call for me over anything, no matter how small, you know? If you want water, if you have an itch somewhere, please don't hold back."

She was really driving home the nurse call… well, in this body I can't do much on my own, that much is true… I'll take her up on it and lean on her.

Trying to move on my own would probably just cause more trouble.

"Understood. Please take care of me."

"Yes, leave it to me! ♡"

When I promised to properly use the nurse call, Nakano-san answered with a brilliant smile.

"Then please rest until evening. I'll come back when visiting hours are getting close."

With that, Nakano-san reclined the bed and drew the curtains shut.

The moment I lay down and the room dimmed, a powerful drowsiness washed over me, and I let go of consciousness almost instantly.