Chapter 353.5: The Crybaby Girl
Sakurai Saki played with Rena all day long, and only when night was about to fall did the two part ways.
In the small park, Sakurai Saki looked up at the moon that had just appeared.
Where should he go to rest next?
...
At the same time, Rena returned to the place near the hospital.
It was a small villa with a garden — a house Nakano Maruo had bought, where the five sisters were temporarily staying.
Rena pushed open the door, passed through the hall, and walked straight ahead along the tatami-lined corridor.
"Miku? You're back?"
"Where did you go to play during the day?"
"Going out alone will make Mom worry, you know."
"What's that in your hand? A key?"
Rena — no, Miku — stepped into the room where her sisters were playing cards.
"Today I met a very interesting boy."
Miku sat down beside them.
All five of them were wearing identical white dresses; at a glance, you couldn't tell who was who — even their hairstyles were the same.
"An interesting boy?"
Miku nodded. "He can drink an entire can of coffee in one go!"
"That's amazing." Yotsuba exaggeratedly exclaimed.
For little elementary school girls like them, that was indeed impressive.
After chatting for a while,
Miku suddenly said, "I want to go visit Mom at the hospital."
"Do you girls want to come with me?"
After talking with Sakurai Saki earlier that day, Miku's mood had improved a lot.
"Umu." ×4
The other four didn't refuse, even though they had just returned from the hospital not long ago.
...
Inside the hospital, the room was filled with the smell of disinfectant.
A beautiful red-haired woman, though now looking weak and tired, gazed feebly at the man by her bedside.
"I'm sorry, Rena."
Nakano Maruo held her hand. Seeing the bruises left by long-term IV drips, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
"Maruo, that's enough." Rena spoke weakly.
"..." Nakano Maruo still felt it wasn't enough, but he had already sought out many doctors — even some famous ones — yet all of them said there was nothing they could do.
Despair — there was nothing more hopeless than watching the one you love slowly die before your eyes.
"I'll take good care of those kids."
Nakano Maruo looked at the ring on Rena's ring finger — the very one he had personally placed there.
The two had long harbored feelings for each other, but Rena had too many burdens and didn't want to accept his help.
In truth, Nakano Maruo didn't care whether those five daughters were his biological children or not — he even loved everything that belonged to her.
Unfortunately, Rena didn't see it that way; she didn't want to become a burden.
'…If only miracles truly existed in this world,' Nakano Maruo thought to himself.
But how could they?
Even though he'd heard that this world had strange people with special powers, those "masters" were not the kind of people a small hospital director like him could ever reach.
"Rena, get some rest. I'll come again tomorrow." Nakano Maruo said softly, his usually stern face showing an uncharacteristic gentleness.
The man who was always so cold only ever showed tenderness before this one woman.
...
Leaving the hospital room.
Nakano Maruo called a doctor over and told him to report the situation.
"Director Nakano, Professor Tanuma has agreed, but he also said he can't guarantee the success rate of the surgery — only that he'll do his best. However, since Professor Tanuma's surgery schedule is extremely packed, there might be some waiting time…"
Tanuma Shozo — one of the world's top ten renowned physicians, famous for his expertise in cardiac surgery.
Incidentally, he was the grandfather of Tanuma Tsubasa, who currently served the Shinomiya family as their private doctor.
"When?"
"Estimated in about two months."
Nakano Maruo's expression shifted repeatedly, yet he remained silent.
...
At the corner of the hallway, Yotsuba overheard the conversation between her stepfather and the doctor, and her heart filled with excitement.
Even though she didn't know exactly how skilled this Professor Tanuma was, since Nakano oji-san personally invited him, he must surely be able to save their mother! — Yotsuba was certain of it.
'That's great!'
Tap, tap. Footsteps echoed.
The doctor who had just spoken with Nakano Maruo walked toward the corner of the hallway.
Yotsuba pressed herself against the wall, making sure not to be seen.
As he passed by, the doctor recalled their conversation and sighed softly.
He muttered, "Haiz, what a pity… Director Nakano's wife likely won't be able to last another two months — her body…"
'W-What… what does that mean?'
Even though she was still little, she understood the meaning behind those words.
Her mother was about to die — that was the only thought echoing in Yotsuba's mind.
...
"Yotsuba, where did you just run off to?"
Inside the hospital room, Miku looked at Yotsuba's absent-minded face, not understanding what had happened to her sister.
"Um, I… just got a little lost." Yotsuba forced a smile.
The sadness swelling inside her chest made it impossible to act cheerful like usual.
"Yotsuba's such an airhead." Itsuki huffed softly.
"All right, stop arguing." Rena spoke in a firm tone.
Her way of parenting resembled that of a teacher — not too strict, but firm enough.
Her five daughters were all obedient children who had never given her much trouble.
"..." The five sisters fell silent.
"The matter about Mom getting married to Nakano oji-san… are you girls okay with it?" Rena asked in a soft, almost consultative tone.
Her voice was weak — after being hospitalized for so long, she had grown utterly exhausted.
In truth, if it weren't for wanting to find a stable future for her five daughters after her death, she would never have agreed to marry Nakano Maruo.
The sins of the past were hers to bear, but her children were innocent.
Her five daughters were her treasures — if she didn't do this, how could such small children survive once she was gone?
Even now, she still felt that marrying Nakano Maruo was a burden on him.
But she no longer had a choice.
"Didn't Mom already say so? I don't mind."
Compared to a somewhat unfamiliar new father, Nino cared more about her mother's health.
If marrying that oji-san could make her mother better, then there was nothing to object to.
"I don't mind either." Miku thought that as long as she didn't have to see her new father often, it would be fine.
Avoidance may be shameful — but it's useful.
"Yes, I agree too." Yotsuba rubbed her eyes.
Recalling what the doctor had said earlier, she wanted to cry — but she knew she couldn't.
Ichika and Itsuki didn't object either.
"You girls are all treasures to me… If you don't agree, then I won't remarry."
Even as she said that, Rena still felt relieved in her heart.
She looked out at the moon beyond the window.
She wondered if she would still be alive to see the next Mid-Autumn Festival.
...
Late at night, Sakurai Saki lay on a bench in the park, staring up at the sky.
Sleeping on newspapers in the park — comfortable, my ass!
A full-fledged Esper like him, forced to sleep outdoors!?
"Hu-hu——"
A bothersome sobbing sound echoed beside his ear, making Sakurai jump up and look toward where it came from.
Outside the small park, a pink-haired girl was crouching on the ground, crying her heart out.
Seeing that, he hurried over.
"What's wrong? I was only gone for a bit, and you're already crying?"
Was that Nino?
After all, among the five sisters, the one who cried the most — was undoubtedly that tiny little girl.