Chapter 165: Its so hard when the kids are going through puberty

Hanae and Hazuki were now eleven years old, already in the fifth grade of elementary school. Our youngest daughter, Nonoka, was now four and had started daycare. This meant I was finally free from the shackles of childcare that had constrained me for the past decade!

“Nonoka, have a good day at daycare!”
“Yes! Mommy, have a good day at the hospital!”

Nonoka waved her tiny hand and smiled brightly.

Oh, she’s so cute…!

However, today wasn’t just a day of peace. It was the day for the parent-teacher conference at Takamari Academy Elementary School.

It felt like just yesterday Mom came to my parent-teacher conferences, and now I was attending as a mother myself…

“Haa…”

A sigh escaped me, realizing how old I’d become.

And one more thing. The old saying that Hanae was calm like Aya and Hazuki was lively like me was completely false. Now, both of them were ‘crystallizations of oversized egos,’ born from a chaotic fusion of every complex personality trait between Aya and me.

They used to be such sweet and well-behaved children…
When did they start rebelling against their mothers and acting so strangely? Teachers at school praised them as model students, but at home, they were completely different.

‘Okay, don’t think about it. Thinking about it means losing.’

I picked up my bag with a wry smile and left the house. I had hospital work in the morning and parent-teacher conferences in the afternoon. And… I had eventually completed my residency and become a specialist, earning the title of ‘doctor’ at the hospital.

****

I arrived at Takamari Academy, walking along the same path I had as a child. Looking around, I saw the Takamari Middle School building, which I had so desperately wanted to attend in elementary school. On the other side, stood the Takamari High School building, where we had spent our youth.

“…These are memories.”

In two years, the children would enter Takamari Middle School, and in five years, they would enter high school. Then the children, like us, would have brilliant school lives, and three years after that…

“Graduation…?”

Thinking about the children graduating and becoming university students made me feel a pang of sadness at the passage of time. By then, Aya and I would be in our forties…

Ah.
I shook my head. Yukikawa Rina, 31 years old. I was at an age where if someone called me ‘auntie,’ all I could manage was a stammered, ‘Uh, uh, ugh…’

Stepping through the elementary school gate, I saw a now-familiar teacher waving from the end of the classroom hallway. She had a neatly tied bob, a tidy knit sweater, and a pleated skirt. She looked about ten years older than me. This was Hanae and Hazuki’s homeroom teacher.

“Yukikawa-san… Hello, you’re here for the conference, right?”
“Yes. I’m here for today’s scheduled conference.”
“Yes, it’s a pleasure. Please, come this way.”

Warm sunlight streamed into the classroom. Small desks and chairs, neatly arranged bags, and mobiles made of flower petals, crafted by the children during art class, swayed on the wall, creating a quaint atmosphere. I sat down at a suitable spot, and the teacher sat across from me, speaking in a soft, calm voice.

“Lately… Hanae-san and Hazuki-san, both have changed a little.”
“Ah… I noticed that too.”

I nodded. The teacher’s words were familiar. The children had become particularly sensitive lately. They wouldn’t talk much, and they would fight with each other… no, they always fought, but it had become more intense? Anyway, we had given them separate rooms, and they spent more time alone in their rooms.

“Hanae-san used to be the kind of child who would raise her hand first in class and take the lead among her friends. But lately… she’s become much quieter. She spends more time alone, and when asked a question, she just says ‘It’s okay.’”
“Yes, she’s been muttering to herself and getting angry more often at home too.”
“That’s normal. They’re still learning how to manage their emotions, so they react more intensely.”

The teacher continued cautiously.

“However… that quietness sometimes feels like distance these days. I wonder if there’s been any change in their relationship with their parents?”

Uh, well…
A change in my relationship with Hanae…
Hanae had grown so much that I now thought she resembled Mizuki more than me. She was already 155cm tall, almost at my eye level, and sometimes treated me like a friend, which could be a little hurtful. But she had been like that even when she was little.

“Hmm… I’m not sure. Even if she’s become quieter lately, there haven’t been any major changes.”
“Is that so? Still, please keep a close eye on them. Shall we talk about Hazuki-san now?”
“Yes.”
“Hazuki-san used to be a very quiet and gentle child, didn’t she? But lately, her tone has become firmer, and she tends to start conversations by abruptly interjecting.”
“Oh…? Hazuki?”
“Yes. When a quiet child changes like that, their friends sometimes feel intimidated. She’s a diligent child, but she sometimes can’t control her anger and snaps. It creates an atmosphere where everyone wonders, ‘Why is Hazuki suddenly like that?’”

Ah… I see.
Hazuki really did take after me. I was always the type to be calm and diligent, but if things didn’t go my way, I’d lose my temper. In high school, Aya was a huge inhibiter, so I would only blush and wave my hands, but still…

“What I’d like to ask of you, Madam… is to continue to care for them well at home, and always embrace them with warmth.”
“Yes, thank you, Sensei, for your thoughtfulness.”

The conference ended. And… as soon as it finished, the children came in, greeting me cheerfully.

“…Mommy.”
“Oh, Hanae. How have you been?”
“Mommy~!”
“Hazuki too, hehe…”

They were tall enough to meet my eye level now, but they were still my adorable children.

“Shall we go home?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go home, quickly.”

But Hanae’s change… it was truly dramatic. Hazuki’s puberty was similar to mine, so I knew how to handle her, but Hanae was like a ticking time bomb, making me extra cautious.

****

The reason was revealed surprisingly quickly. Hanae had started menstruating. Aya had said she would be late tonight because of overtime, and the children didn’t like my cooking, so I had ordered takeout and was lounging on the bed, reading a Korean web novel.

“Kyaaaa! Mommy, Mommy~! I’m bleeding… I think I’m going to die.”

Startled by Hanae’s sudden scream, I threw my phone aside and jumped out of bed.

“Hanae, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“Mommy… Blood… So much blood… Am I going to die?”
“What are you talking about?!”

I was about to grab my phone to call our bodyguard, thinking she might have been stabbed or injured, but then I saw where Hanae was pointing and couldn’t help but burst out laughing. I finally understood why Hanae’s mood had been so erratic lately. Oh, so it was her first period… Already…

“I should ask Aya to buy some red bean paste.”
“Uh, uh… Th-Then…?! This is…”
“That’s right, Hanae, you’re not going to die. It’s okay. Every girl goes through this.”

Children these days received early s*x education, so Hanae knew the basics.

Come to think of it… I had also panicked twice. Once when I first arrived in this world, and once again after regaining my past life memories. The memory made me want to laugh, so I covered my mouth.

“Mommy… but… but there’s so much blood… Am I really okay?”

Hanae, her face filled with terror, sobbed and buried herself in my arms. Seeing my usually proud daughter suddenly become a helpless child made me both amused and incredibly fond of her. I gently ruffled her hair. No, hugging her like this made her seem even taller.

“Okay, calm down, breathe, and Mommy will explain everything.”

I patted Hanae’s back, soothing her, then patiently explained everything. Hanae, who had been flustered and awkward at first, slowly calmed down as she listened to my explanation.

“Are you okay now? How do you feel?”
“…Yes, I’m glad Mommy is here.”

Hanae mumbled softly. Seeing my usually haughty child suddenly clinging to me like a little girl, I realized that children were still children.

“Hanae, are you okay?”

Hazuki, who had been watching the entire process, approached with a worried expression.

“Hanae, don’t be in pain…”
“Hazuki, I’m okay… Thank you.”

They usually bickered constantly, but at that moment, they were taking care of each other more than anyone else. They were sisters, after all.

“Unnie, does it hurt?” Nonoka’s belated question was a little unsettling, though.

****

Aya arrived late that night, carrying red bean paste. Hanae, tired, went to bed early, and Nonoka, being a baby, also went to sleep early. Only Hazuki was still awake, studying in the living room.

“Rinaa~”
“Oh, Aya…!”
“I’m so exhausted… My presentation is finally over today, so we won’t age anymore.”
“Huh…?”
“Conquest of aging complete!”
“…Eh?”

Aya’s research, which she had been working on for almost five years, had finally passed clinical trials and was ready for practical application. Honestly, I was shocked. We wouldn’t age anymore? I still looked like I did in high school.

“Oh, and Hanae… did she start menstruating?”
“Yeah… She was panicking earlier, but she’s asleep now.”
“Hehe, Hanae really is just like Rina.”
“No, she’s more like Aya.”
“Then let’s have red bean rice for breakfast tomorrow. I took a week off. I want to spend it with my family!”

Aya said, bustling with excitement, then hugged me tightly. I vaguely heard Hazuki, who had been reading, mutter, ‘Well, I’ll be…’, but… we were born from their love, after all. Anyway, we still loved each other very, very much!