76 After Days: One Day Daughter and Mother (2/2)
Then my mother looked at me with her eyes like she saw something subtle.
”... I don't think you want to tell me.”
”... why?
”Ufi or magic, which is more important?
I accidentally got stuck in words. He drinks it up before he blows it out, spitefully suppressing that he's about to blow out the tea he drank.
Do you say that either is important, that neither is important and that I can't give you superiority or inferiority, or that I'm not honest about lying, but I love Yufi, but I can't throw away magic...
”Look, look.”
I couldn't even argue with you. There's no gu noise either.
”This is how I like to leave me alone and play dirt. Be careful now, Anis.”
”Yes......”
I'm not convinced he's mad at me just because he's my father... but I remember him, so I feel like I shouldn't argue with him.
Then, my mother laughed out couscous.
”If you look at it this way, Annis and Orphans look alike.”
”... is that right?
Does your father and I look alike?... but I never thought about that when I was told again.
”Somehow you like people who can't abandon you. I tend to pull into my world. And being honest with people you like is bad, huh?
”……… object”
”There's room, there's room.”
... I didn't admit it, but even if I strongly deny it here, I will admit that I think so...!
”You're gonna give Yuffi some proper sweetness, aren't you?
”That's what my mother cares...!
”It's about the family. And Yuffi is carrying the burden of a queen? It'll crumble if you don't sweeten it so you don't care how much you stand and spoil it.”
”... I know that,”
It's good to spoil it, isn't it? But it's sweet... maybe I'm not good at it.
Then my mother smiled somewhere she seemed lonely. Gently return to the saucer as you peer through the edges of the teacup.
”It's my fault you make me look like that.”
”No, that's not why...!
”All I could do was talk loudly and treat you harshly when I met you. I fully understand that it is now time for me to teach you to be sweet to someone like that. And you're not going to blame me. I'm getting sweet.”
”Then be sweet enough. Me or your father. First, they're carrying too much. You should have treated me a little more.”
”I'd say the child in question should be...?
”Ugh.”
I don't deny that you're a problem child. Yes, it's my fault for the hard work! Yes, yes, I'm bad, I'm bad!
”... but I wish I'd done this sooner”
”Mother...”
”What kind of brother was Algardo to you? Anis.”
I didn't think your mother would give you Al's name, and I opened my eyes to a little surprise.
Since then, Al-Kun's name has been like a taboo between us. The story of Al Kun, who has been abandoned and flown out of the public and into a remote place, is a heartbreaking topic for everyone.
”... he was a pretty little brother. You used to be weak, didn't you? About my back, following my very own, getting angry and teary-eyed together...”
”Right.”
”I didn't protect Al. I couldn't protect him, and I didn't try to. So I was hoping that Al could take everyone's hand and push them out to whoever they wanted. I still want Al to be king.”
Even now that Yufi is king, I don't know if Al-Kun is king.
I didn't want Uffi next door, but if they were, those two would have been kings and queens.
That's what I might have liked to see. Though I don't know what's going on with me then.
”You don't think Algardo has talent?
”I don't. But... you shouldn't have seen it that way. Someone had to believe Al. In fact, Al has become so much a vampire. I've gained strength, work hard, work hard, spit blood back.”
Al doesn't have the talent to glow. I still can't deny that. But I don't even think that was right.
However, as a result, he could have gone as far as a step ahead of ruling the country without me anyway.
The means were just unacceptable, and Al-Kun went up there. That's all I can't deny, and I don't think I should deny it.
”... if there is magic in al-kun's hands”
If I had taken al-kun's hand instead of wanting extraneous power.
Oh, I thought about that. Then maybe there was a better future than now.
”I don't know what to say now. That possibility didn't take shape.”
”... Yes”
”But you can't even regret it.... Ha, we, our parents, were short on words. That pointer really hurts my ears right now...”
My mother exhales deeply. It's not like I've never exchanged words with my mother. I was looking forward to hearing about other countries' landscapes and cultures.
There were just no words to exchange hearts there. There was only a conversation, like a duty to each other, between the upper side of the interaction. Just ask for what it should be, look for it, and fit it in.
”... that's not going to happen, and we're going to have to start over. Little by little, even if you can't get it back, to build up more than that.”
”... right”
Getting the ideal time is like a dream that can no longer be fulfilled.
Still don't think I want to forget. Dreaming like that. I don't want to do anything that didn't come true anymore, even if it's a further wish.
My father was so enthusiastic about the dirt, my mother bawled, and I swung at it. There, Al, who became king, sees between them and calls out.
And have a tea party with my family. I closed my eyes softly, visioning such an unfulfilled dream.
(Al, how are you?)
I want you to forgive me as much as I pray. I want you to miss it if you just wish.
At least now, I need to make sure I don't let go of just what's left of my hand.
I exhaled softly as I looked at my mother's face.