Volume 1 - Chapter 23 – RETURN TO THE LABORATORY (2/2)
「If he doesn’t eat, his stomach will be empty!」
「… so noisy」
Of course he would have no choice but to wake up with all the noise being made at the bedside.
「Aa, it’s morning, huh. Hanna, did you come to wake me up?」
「Un!」
For some reason Hanna looked at Reiko with a face of triumph.
「…」
Reiko hanged her head.
Jin got dressed and washed his face, then went to eat.
「Good morning Jin. It’s rare that you would oversleep」
It was rare that the Jin who was always an early riser to oversleep, Martha said.
「Ee, there were various things I did till it was a little late」
「Are you making something agaain? You really like to do that」
Because Martha knew Jin liked manufacturing things, with those few words it ended.
After breakfast.
Hanna left to the yard after helping with the dishwashing. And, there awaited Reiko. Hanna avoided Reiko and went towards the workshop Jin would be in but then,
「Hanna-chan, please wait」
Reiko called out.
「What? I’m going to the place where my Onii-chan is」
「Could I talk to you a little?」
「I have nothing to say to someone like you」
Reiko held onto the cold Hanna,
「It goes without saying. I want to hear a story about Father」
「Onii-chan?」
For matters regarding Jin, the Hanna who was about to leave stopped her feet.
「Yes. Father immediately disappeared after he rebuilt me… because he disappeared, yesterday was the first time I talked with Father」
「So that’s it…」
Because of that confession, Hanna though Reiko was a little pitiful.
「Hanna-chan, because you’ve lived together with Father for half a year, I think you know more about Father than me. Therefore please let me hear a story」
With that said, Hanna’s will to refuse was broken, and decided to start with the somewhat boastful story.
「… the first thing is that I was the one to find Jin-oniichan! When I went to the forest to pick up the leaves of the tea trees, Onii-chan had collapsed」
「When Onii-chan saw me drawing the water, because it was difficult for me, he made a pump for me!」
「Because he made a bicycle trailer for me, carrying the water became easier!」
「He made me a tool to sieve the wheat so that I could eat delicious bread!」
「For the stove, it has become easier to make meals. There is no need for firewood」
「He made me a ball and handball, and also played a game of tag with me. Onii-chan is really kind」
「He made the Golems Gon and Gen, and also made my Mr Horse, Mint, for me. It’s really fast!」
The chronological order was disconnected, but from the fervent speech displayed by Hanna, she could hear that Jin cherished Hanna.
「Is that so? Father seems to take good care of Hanna-chan」
So, those words spontaneously spilled from the mouth of Reiko.
「I guess… so」
「Yes. That is so. Yesterday I was finally able to see Father, and had him finally repair my body that was in bad condition」
「Really?」
Hanna, who had been almost hogging Jin to herself, started feeling a little guilty once she knew that Reiko had been alone for a long time.
「Ri…ght… Reiko-oneechan would be lonely if she couldn’t meet Onii-chan… I would be too…」
Hanna recalled that she was lonely after losing her parents, up until she met Jin.
「I’m sorry. Somehow, it felt like Reiko-oneechan was going to take Jin-oniichan away…」
Then Reiko gently caressed Hanna’s head,
「It’s okay. Last night, Father had said it. 『There’s my promise with Hanna-chan』」
「Promise…」
He would stay in the village until Spring, Jin told her that.
「I see, so Onii-chan said that!」
Hanna’s face brightened, to her Reiko,
「Hanna-chan, would you become friends with me?」
said holding out her hand. Hanna stared at that hand for a little bit, and eventually returned a firm grasp with both hands,
「Un! Reiko-oneechan is my friend! My best regards, Onee-chan」
「Yes, Hanna-chan」
Jin smiled while quietly watching the situation between the two in the shadows of the workshop.