episode_0009

“Would you like to go and live in Japan with your mom?”

Immediately after Aki’s mother, Iroha Fujiwara, asked a bombshell question.

Aki and I had sharply different reactions.

“… … !”

“… … Eh?”

I, who was listening to the conversation a step back, flinched, thinking, ‘Did I just hear correctly?’ Aki made a dumbfounded noise as if she was taken aback by her mother’s sudden suggestion.

Then, Aki glances at me, slightly shocked, and stutters to open his mouth.

“Japan… … . Uh, when?”

“Mom’s flight date is exactly three days later. So, maybe that’s it, right?”

“In four, three days… ?!”

Since Aki’s mother does not speak Korean, all conversations were conducted in Japanese.

However, since I had learned Japanese from Aki and was able to have simple conversations, I was even able to notice that Aki’s mother had suggested to Aki, ‘Why don’t you go live in Japan?’ and that the return date to Japan was three days later.

“… … Mama!”

Aki turned his head.

“Then what about Uju~chan? Aki, can’t I meet Uju~chan anymore?”

“Ugh, that’s not it. Just because you go to Japan to live doesn’t mean you can never come to Korea, right? You can come to Korea sometimes and hang out together.”

“How often, how often?”

“Well, my mom has a job too, so 3 months at the shortest. It would be about 5-6 months at most, right?”

“Yes? Oryuk dog wow… ?”

Aki’s mouth dropped open.

It’s like five or six months, but it’s almost half a year, and if there’s a lot of work, it could be longer than that, right?

6 months, or 1 year. Maybe we won’t be able to meet any more than that.

‘… … no way.’

A question crossed my mind.

That’s the question.

‘What if Aki goes to Japan with his mother?’

If that happens, will Aki and I no longer be able to meet? … ?

“… … .”

“… … .”

As soon as an ominous thought arose, our eyes met, as if Aki was also thinking the same thing.

And Aki’s mother, Iroha Fujiwara, was quietly looking down at us, or rather, at Aki.

‘… … Yes, we just need to move in the right direction from now on.’

Thought.

Four years ago, the loneliness and sadness that 6-year-old Aki must have felt while staying in a country other than his home country, when he was still missing his mother’s embrace.

The longing and pain that my sweet daughter, who only looked for her mother every day, must have felt as she was torn apart from her mother due to the force of her grandfather.

“… … Akiya.”

A small, delicate hand that fit comfortably in the palm of her hand.

As I held Aki’s hand, which was soft and not rough, Iroha Fujiwara felt like crying.

“Has it been very difficult so far?”

I can’t believe I let my daughter, who was so young, and her fingers weren’t even fully grown yet, grow up alone in a place without her mother.

──After all, a daughter should be raised in the presence of her father.

No matter how much my father-in-law insisted, I shouldn’t have done that.

For Aki’s sake and for my daughter’s sake, I shouldn’t have done that.

Iroha Fujiwara once again painfully felt the same fact that she had felt acutely throughout the four years she stayed in Japan alone, even though she had a husband and daughter.

And, I made a decision in my mind as I held Aki’s hand tightly with both hands so that it wouldn’t hurt even if I put it in my eyes.

It’s a little, no, a lot late, but let’s correct the mistake from now on.

For Aki, who must have been feeling very lonely in a place without her mother, let’s take her to Japan, even if it means negotiating with her father-in-law.

Let’s take Aki to Japan and be happy again like we were 4 years ago.

“Now, let’s live with mom.”

Fujiwara Aki, who truly thought so, spoke out while making a big decision.

however.

“… …やだ!”

“Yes, Mom wanted to live with Aki too… … . huh? You say you don’t like it?”

“… … ?!”

The words that came out of Aki’s mouth were far beyond everyone’s expectations.

The main universe was watching the conversation between mother and daughter, and so was I. Aki’s mother, Fujiwara Iroha, also didn’t expect Aki to immediately say no.

“Ah, Akiya. Did you just say no… ?”

“Ugh, I don’t like it! Aki is not going to Japan.”

“Huh? Why why? You don’t want to go to Japan with mom? … … Otherwise, do you just hate your mom now?”

“No, Mama is good. It’s great! So, actually, I want to live with Mama Akido. But, just… … .”

Aki, who trailed off his words, shook off his mother’s hand, came close to me, and crossed his arms.

“Watashi (I) decided to marry Uju~chan! So I can’t go to Japan.”

“… … .”

Aki’s mother looked at Aki with the look of a freedom fighter who had lost his country.

And then, like a broken robot, it creaked and turned its neck to look at me.

“… … .”

“… … .”

I had nothing to say.

I didn’t really do anything wrong, but I felt like I had committed some serious crime, so I looked away.

Aki’s mother, Fujiwara Iroha, stayed still, very still, with an indescribable expression.

‘… … Well, he was handsome.’

I thought to myself as my daughter looked up and down the boy she had marked.

‘I followed him around earlier to make sure he doesn’t mistreat Aki, and he’s also polite. Big eyes, thick eyebrows… … .’

The overall face is cute, and even though she is still young, her eyes are big and her eyebrows are thick. And most importantly, she has a charming smile that would captivate any girl her age.

If I keep growing like this, won’t many girls around me cry… … .

‘… … ‘Aki, you must go through some trouble to be your boyfriend’s jailer, right?’

Iroha Fujiwara was shocked for a moment by his daughter’s declaration that she chose love over family, and then laughed.

“Akiya, if you only like handsome boys, you will regret it later… … ?”

This is because it reminded me of the time when I and my husband were dating.

I met an Asian man with a serious personality, handsome face, and good family who showed interest. It turned out that there were many women around him who liked him and followed him around.

“You don’t know how much trouble I really went through to get rid of those people. Aki, if you choose a boy based on his face… … . Ah, uhm… .”

What am I saying to the child now?

Clearing his throat, Iroha Fujiwara squatted down in front of Aki.

“Akiya, don’t you want to live with mom?”

“Ugh, I want to live with my mom. But I don’t want to go to Japan.”

“I have to go to Japan to live with my mom?”

“Ah, heeing… .”

“… … .”

‘… … ‘Your ears are cute!’

Iroha Fujiwara’s heart sank at his daughter’s sudden cuteness.

To her, Aki uncrossed her arms and walked over to her, gently grabbing her sleeve.

“… … .”

Aki didn’t say anything, but just looked at Iroha Fujiwara with moist eyes.

The inner thoughts in those big, pretty blue eyes are, ‘Please don’t go back. mom… .’

“… … !”

Although he didn’t say anything, Iroha Fujiwara looked into his daughter’s eyes, pleading earnestly with him.

‘Should I just live in Korea? Ah, but then the contract and this exclusive offer… … .’

While struggling between his day job and his cute daughter’s request.

“Mama… .”

“… … .”

At some point, the pendulum in my heart swung to one side.

Fujiwara Iroha gritted his teeth and grabbed Aki’s hand.

“… … Okay, okay! Mom, I’ll live in Korea too!”

“Oh, really? Mama also lives in Korea… ?”

“Ugh, yes. Just live with Aki and mom!”

“… … .”

As I watched the mother and daughter embrace, which seemed quite touching at first glance, I muttered to myself.

‘It’s on the main street… .’

A young girl with eye-popping pink hair and an adult woman are hugging each other while whispering in Japanese on the street in full view of the crowd, so I can feel passers-by looking at them like, ‘What on earth is that?’

I was thinking of hinting at that fact.

‘… … ‘Let’s not talk.’

I felt like I was breaking the mood for no reason, so I just stayed quiet.

Then, the mother and daughter, who had been hugging and patting each other affectionately, suddenly stopped hugging, probably because they felt the gaze of others.

“… … Oh, that’s right. Did you say Uju-chan?”

“Ah, yes. that’s right. Mother.”

“Yes, yes… . I see.”

Aki’s mother looked at me quietly, level with my eyes.

What should I say? Nothing much was said, but it was as if, ‘Yes, you bewitched our daughter…’ I’m standing there embarrassed because I feel like he’s saying ‘?’

“I’m not married yet, but my mother is a bit like that. From now on, call me Aunt Iroha. Got it?”

“Aha, I understand. Aunt Iroha.”

“… … wait for a sec! Why does Uju~chan call Mama by her name?!”

“Huh? Well, it gets confusing if you call me Fujiwara. Me, your dad, and Akina, we’re all the same Fujiwara?”

“Uju~chan calls Watashi (me) Aki, so there’s no need to get confused if you call him Fujiwara! And Mama actually has a name!”

“Hehe, why is our Aki so excited? Are you jealous of your mom right now?”

“… … Ugh!”

Aki looked at his mother and puffed out his cheeks.

Aki’s mother looked down at Aki and muttered, ‘Still, he still has some of his old self.’ Then she smiled, and then smiled just like Aki’s and gently patted her head.

“Our Aki, who does she look like to be so cute?”

“Hmph, I don’t know! Mama I hate it… !”

“Hehe, it’s cute… .”

Aki’s mother petted Aki for a while, but at some point she turned her gaze and glanced at me.

“Hey, Uju-chan?”

“… … Wooju-kun, mama calls you space-kun!”

“Ugh, yes. Space Force?”

“Yes, Aunt Iroha.”

“Do your parents know how to speak Japanese?”

“You are both diplomats, so you speak French and Japanese well. You will never have trouble communicating.”

“Oh, really? That’s good. Then, could you please tell me if I could meet you sometime in the near future?”

“Mama, why are you meeting Uju~chan’s parents?”

“Well, I have to tell my daughter to take good care of her in the future too?”

“Ahh… .”

‘… … I also want to say thank you for being good to my daughter.’

Although I couldn’t see him in person because I was busy with work, there is a story I heard from him.

According to him, Wooju’s parents have been kind and gentle to Aki, almost like second parents, while he was away, ever since Aki was 6 years old.

Even though I’ve never seen them in person, I’m sure they are good people.

Aki’s mother, who was so sure, smiled brightly and gently stroked the hair of Aki, whose cheeks were slightly blushing.

“But Mama, since when have you been living in Korea?”

“Well, it’s difficult right now because there is a problem that needs to be solved. Perhaps I will be able to come and live within a month? Anyway, he got the house.”

“Huh, really? Then, in a month, I can live with Mama… ?!”

“Hmm, probably so, right? But in Japan, administrative processing is slow, so it’s not certain, and it might take a little longer… .”

“Mama, I love you-!”

“Oh my, my… !”

Aki was happy that he could live with his mom and dad and was held in his mom’s arms.

“Wooju~chan, did you just hear that? From now on, Aki can live with mom and dad too!”

“Ugh, congratulations. Aki!”

‘How was it resolved… .’

As I was watching it, I truly thought that I was glad that it ended well.

… … and.

Some time passed after Aki came to live in Korea with his parents.

After Aki’s mother came to our house and expressed her gratitude, Aki and I have now become closer not only to ourselves but also to our family members.

[Wooju~chan, Wooju~chan!]

[Don’t be surprised when you hear it!]

[Yeah, what is it?]

[I bought middle school uniforms with my mom today!]

──Following kindergarten and elementary school, we went to middle school together.