Shimizu-san and the Cold 2
“Oh, and who is this?”
The woman seed to have noticed standing next to Ai-san.
“My na is Hondō Daiki! I ca to visit Shimizu-san today!”
“Shimizu-san, as in Kei?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“What is your relationship with Kei?”
It was natural for her to be cautious, given that an unknown man had co to her house. I decided to honestly convey our relationship.
“Shimizu-san is my classmate, a fellow club mber, and soone very important to !”
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Ai, Daiki-kun seems a bit different from what I’ve heard?”
“Well, I didn’t expect him to say it so boldly...”
“Is he doing this without any calculation?”
“Totally natural...”
“I can see why Kei would be smitten over...”
“Um... what are you two talking about?”
I couldn’t follow the conversation.
“Sorry, Daiki-kun. I am Ai and Kei’s mother. I had heard about you from the two of them, and I was curious about what kind of person you are, hence my earlier question. My apologies.”
So she was Shimizu-san’s mother. I hadn’t realized because she looked so young.
“No, please don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you. Well, it’s not much, but please co in.”
I was invited into Shimizu-san’s house by her mother.
“Kei is still asleep right now, so please wait a bit until she wakes up.”
“Understood.”
A few minutes after arriving at the Shimizu residence, I found myself in their living room.
“This morning, we went to the doctor, and they said it’s just a common cold that will get better with so rest, so don’t worry. When we took her temperature earlier, it was just a slight fever.”
“...I see.”
“By any chance, Daiki-kun, did you have sothing to do with Kei getting wet on her way ho yesterday?”
“Ah?”
“It seems I hit the mark.”
Shimizu-san’s mother was smiling and didn’t seem angry.
“Why aren’t you angry?”
“I was surprised when Kei ca ho wet, but she didn’t look distressed, so I knew right away that it wasn’t because of sothing unpleasant.”
Shimizu-san’s mother, like Ai-san, seed to pay close attention to Shimizu-san.
“By the way, I haven’t asked, but what did you do with Kei yesterday, Daiki-kun?”
“That is...”
I explained the events of yesterday, starting from when Shimizu-san and I were alone in the family restaurant.
“I see, so that’s what happened.”
“Now I understand why Kei didn’t talk about it.”
Ai-san and Shimizu-san’s mother seed to have co to an understanding.
“Do you two know why Shimizu-san left?”
“More or less. What do you think was the cause, Daiki-kun?”
“I’m not really sure. I just know that I made Shimizu-san uncomfortable, so I thought I should apologize for that...”
I had been thinking about it since returning ho yesterday, but I couldn’t figure out which of my remarks had caused Shimizu-san to leave.
“Did you co all this way to apologize to Kei, Daiki-kun?”
“That’s part of it.”
“Part of it? So there’s sothing else?”
“Yes, there’s sothing I want to tell Shimizu-san. I’m still a little hesitant about whether to say it or not...”
Shimizu-san’s mother nudged Ai-san, who was sitting next to her.
“Hey, Ai. Is it really okay to let Daiki-kun go to Kei like this?”
“Pr-probably. What Daiki-kun wants to tell Kei isn’t what you’re thinking, Mom.”
“Is that so?”
“Daiki-kun isn’t the type to launch a ‘killing move’ on a weakened Kei.”
I wondered what they were whispering about.
“Daiki-kun.”
“Yes?”
“My husband can be very scary when he’s angry.”
“Excuse ?”
I was confused by the sudden change in topic from Shimizu-san’s mother.
“Ah, Mom is scarier when she’s angry...”
“Ai?”
“Mom is always beautiful, elegant, and kind!”
I felt like I had caught a glimpse of the power dynamics within the Shimizu family.
“We’ve gotten off track. What I wanted to say is about Kei.”
“About Shimizu-san?”
“Yes, Kei is actually quite sensitive and tends to take things people say to heart.”
“I think so too.”
Shimizu-san might be misunderstood because of her appearance, but I believe she is a delicate and kind person.
“And Daiki-kun, having heard from the two of them, I think you are a kind person.”
“That’s not true...”
I wondered how Shimizu-san and Ai-san had described to Shimizu-san’s mother.
“You don’t seem like you’re just being modest. It must be your true feelings. But haven’t you ever held back out of consideration for others?”
“That is...”
“Having such an experience already makes think that Daiki-kun is a kind person. Now, what I want to ask of you is to not hold back with Kei.”
“Holding back?”
“Yes, Daiki-kun, because you’re kind, I think there are parts where you unconsciously hold back with Kei.”
“Is that so...”
To be honest, I hadn’t really thought about it.
Was I holding back with Shimizu-san?
“Daiki-kun, earlier you said that Kei is soone important to you, right? I think it’s because you consider her important that you try not to hurt her.”
“But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it?”
“It’s not bad, but I think Daiki-kun should be more honest with his feelings. It’s okay to convey what you think directly to Kei.”
“But what if I end up hurting Shimizu-san...”
“Kei may be delicate in so ways, but she’s strong. Trust her.”
With that, Shimizu-san’s mother smiled kindly.
“...I understand. I want to convey my feelings honestly to Shimizu-san.”
“I’d be happy if you did that. Well, I’ve said what I wanted to say, and I’ll be heading out soon.”
With those words, Shimizu-san’s mother stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“To the supermarket. I haven’t been able to shop today because I was taking care of Kei, so I was thinking of making do with what’s left in the fridge. But since Ai ca ho early, I’ll go shopping. Can I count on you to look after Kei until I return?”
“Of course!”
“Then, I’m counting on you. And Daiki-kun...”
“Yes?”
“Please take care of Kei.”
Shimizu-san’s mother was smiling, but to , she seed a little lonely.
“Yes.”
“Then, I’ll be off.”
Saying that, Shimizu-san’s mother left the living room.
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