C20

Chapter 20: Quiet Anger

The door closes quietly.

After Reo left the examination room, Kawahira dropped his gaze to the medical chart once. After jotting down a few notes, he put down his pen. Before long, the door opened, and Reo's mother quietly entered.

"Please, have a seat."

Kawahira directed his gaze toward the chair opposite. Confirming that the mother sat down, Kawahira returned his gaze to the chart. How was he spending his time at home? Compared to usual, were there any changes? He needed to check that as well.

Kawahira directed his gaze toward Reo's mother sitting across from him.

"Would it be alright if I asked you a few questions?"

"Yes."

The mother nodded slightly.

"First, please tell me about Reo-kun's usual demeanor."

"His usual demeanor... you mean?"

"Yes. How did he spend his time at home?"

The mother thought for a moment.

"Well... he spends a lot of time in his room, it seems like he plays games."

Kawahira nodded while recording it in the chart.

"Has it been like that for a while?"

"Yes. Ever since he was little, he's been a child who liked spending time alone."

Kawahira nodded slightly and moved the pen in his hand.

"Up until now, has there been anything troubling at home?"

The mother lowered her gaze as if thinking for a bit.

"There was never really a rebellious phase to speak of... Ever since he was little, he's been a child who rarely worries his parents. There was hardly anything that troubled us; he was truly a low-maintenance child."

Moving his pen, Kawahira listened quietly.

"He talks about what's necessary, but he's not the type to share much on his own... Though I wouldn't have minded if he acted a bit more selfishly. Begging for things he wanted, throwing tantrums to be taken out to play... things like that almost never happened either."

"I see. From a mother's perspective, there might have been times when you felt a little lonely."

Nodding once, Kawahira moved his pen across the paper as if shifting topics.

"Then, before he fell ill, were there any differences from his usual routine, including meals and sleep?"

The mother looked down slightly and thought.

"I don't think there were any major changes."

Then, she raised her head as if suddenly remembering something.

"...Ah."

"Come to think of it, over the past few days there were some days when he came home a bit late."

Kawahira's pen stopped.

"His return times changed."

"Yes."

"Normally, he wouldn't be that late... so I was a little concerned."

Kawahira nodded shortly.

"Aside from his return times, were there any changes that concerned you?"

The mother thought for a moment.

"...Not particularly."

He dropped his gaze to the chart once and stopped the tip of his pen.

"Then, around when was it that Reo-kun said he wanted to skip school?"

"This Tuesday. He said he was skipping today..."

The mother lowered her gaze as if recalling that time. He recorded it in the chart.

"Before that, had he ever said on his own that he wanted to skip school?"

"No, never."

"Of course, when he fell ill it was different, but he's not the kind of child to say he wants to skip school on his own..."

The mother quietly shook her head.

"He didn't show any signs of disliking school, and in the mornings he would leave the house normally."

Nodding slightly, Kawahira dropped his gaze to the chart.

"Then, since he started skipping school, was there anything that changed at home?"

The mother lowered her gaze as if thinking a bit.

"...He started locking himself in his room."

Hesitating for a second, the mother continued.

"And, there was also a day when I heard a scream late at night..."

Nodding slightly, Kawahira wrote a few things in the chart, then slowly raised his face.

"From here, I would like to share what I heard directly from Reo-kun himself."

The mother's expression changed slightly.

"Reo did...?"

"Yes."

Kawahira nodded quietly.

"I confirmed it with him just a moment ago. When I asked if it would be alright to share it with you, Reo-kun gave his consent."

The mother lowered her eyes, looking slightly surprised.

"...Is that so."

Observing that reaction, Kawahira continued.

"Reo-kun was apparently confessed to by a student in his same class the other day."

"A confession..."

The mother murmured quietly.

"Yes."

Kawahira dropped his gaze to the chart.

"He said that afterwards, they ended up dating the other person."

The mother listened in silence.

"However..."

Kawahira paused for a moment as if choosing his words.

"He was reportedly told that the confession itself was a lie from the very beginning."

The mother couldn't react right away. She looked at Kawahira's face as if verifying the meaning of the words she had heard.

"...A lie from the very beginning, meaning...?"

Kawahira nodded quietly.

"According to Reo-kun's account, he was told that both being confessed to and dating afterwards were entirely a lie from the start."

The mother's expression froze.

"...Why?"

A small voice leaked out.

"Why would they do something like that..."

After a brief pause, Kawahira continued quietly.

"I don't know the detailed circumstances, but it seems multiple students were involved, including the person who confessed."

The mother looked at Kawahira in silence.

"However, at present, rather than confirming all the detailed circumstances of that event, we must prioritize Reo-kun's condition first."

Stopping his words there, Kawahira directed his gaze toward the mother.

"Reo-kun is not strongly protesting or dwelling on this incident itself."

"However, considering that he himself has brought up wanting to skip school, I believe it has been a considerable burden on him."

Kawahira continued quietly.

"Right now, rather than forcefully encouraging him to attend school, it is important to first set up an environment where he can spend his time with peace of mind."

The mother nodded quietly.

Kawahira dropped his gaze to the chart once.

"Regarding the future..."

He paused briefly.

"I think it would be best to share the current situation with the school side as well."

The mother's expression wavered slightly.

"In order to create an environment where Reo-kun can spend his time securely, we need to coordinate our response while consulting with the school."

Kawahira returned his gaze to the mother.

"If necessary at that time, I can also prepare a medical certificate to submit to the school."

Even upon hearing the word medical certificate, the mother didn't react immediately. She was simply listening quietly to Kawahira's words.

"Understood."

After a brief pause, the mother nodded.

"I will speak with the school myself."

Kawahira nodded quietly.

"Please do."

As if confirming the mother's expression, Kawahira paused for a moment.

"Creating an environment where Reo-kun can spend his time securely is the most important thing right now."

The mother let out a small breath just once.

"Yes."

The mother replied shortly.

◇

Inside the car, a quiet time flowed.

Reo gazed out the window.

The mother continued driving for a while, then spoke as if suddenly remembering something.

"Reo, is there anything you want to eat today?"

Reo thought for a bit.

"Mackerel simmered in miso."

"Understood."

The mother smiled slightly.

"Then, shall we buy some mackerel on the way back?"

"Yeah."

Casual conversation. Even just that offered a bit of reassurance.

Facing forward, the mother gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if suppressing the emotions welling up deep within her chest.

(...I can't forgive them.)

The people who did something to hurt her precious son for no reason at all.

The mother was quietly angry.

Author's Note

That wraps up Reo's side for now.

From the next chapter onward, we'll step back in time a little to the after-school hours of that day—returning to the school side on Monday.

While Reo's side progressed all the way to Friday, what was happening over on the school side?

Thank you as always for your continued support!