LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 209
For a moment, I wondered how I had come up here in a wheelchair. As I recalled my memories, I remembered there was a ramp for the disabled next to the stairs. Was it mandatory? I don’t know, but it seems that sometimes these things can be helpful.
Without saying anything, I opened the door. As expected, Mira’s father and mother looked at me with astonished faces. They might know who I was, but they probably didn’t know the details.
If they encountered me in such a situation, I might just look like an ordinary child to them.
“Hello. I am Seol-guk.”
“You are… no, who are you?”
It seemed like Mira’s father didn’t recognize me. He might know the name Seol-guk, but he was momentarily flustered and couldn’t recall.
“…That child who was on TV, or is it you?”
It was Mira’s mother who figured out my identity. At those words, Mira’s father appeared to remember, showing a look of disbelief.
No matter how much they talked about me online or on TV, I was the very existence that shattered their common sense. It was only natural that recalling that in real life would be difficult. It must be hard to believe too.
“Yes, I am probably the person you are thinking of.”
“What is your relationship with Mira?”
Indeed, Mira hadn’t spoken about me. Once again, it was Mira’s mother who spoke first. While she certainly didn’t look very healthy sitting in the wheelchair, her eyes didn’t seem weak.
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Where is Mira?”
“She went to work. She’ll be a bit late returning today.”
“Is it alright if I bring the wheelchair inside?”
When Mira’s father asked, I gladly permitted it. He was a sick person, so what could be done? Getting the floor dirty was just a matter of cleaning up afterward.
“Yes, it’s fine.”
I made a pretense of trying to help, thinking there might be something I could assist with, but Mira’s father declined, saying he was fine. The wheelchair entered the house without any issues, and Mira’s parents took their seats at the table.
“Coffee? Or just water?”
“Oh, just water, please.”
I prepared two glasses of water and handed them to the two of them. Mira’s father immediately gulped down one glass, while Mira’s mother just stared at her glass for a moment without touching it. Sitting across from them, I faced both of them.
“I think you have many questions.”
“Yes, um… may I ask what your relationship is with our Mira?”
Mira’s mother was using very polite language, but there was a hidden sharpness in her words. A passive but strong aggression, as if saying that if someone touched her daughter, she wouldn’t forgive them. That sharpness must have been nurtured by concern for her daughter.
“It’s a relationship of gratitude.”
“Has something happened to Mira?”
“On the contrary.”
I summarized the events that I had experienced at the time. What sort of expressions would parents have when they hear about their child’s good deed? Mira’s mother showed signs of worry, while Mira’s father gradually displayed a bit of pride.
At this point, it became clear.
Mira’s parents certainly did not hate her. They clearly loved her. Whether their way of showing it was right or not, I couldn’t say.
“Mira did such a thing…”
“To be honest, I survived thanks to Mira. I am truly grateful. You’ve raised a wonderful daughter.”
“…We didn’t do anything. It was all Mira.”
That might be true. However, ultimately, it was because they existed that Mira was able to be born.
“I didn’t get to meet Mira for quite some time after that, but after the college entrance exam, I happened to encounter a crying Mira.”
“…She never cried in front of us.”
“She’s a strong child. She probably didn’t want to worry you both.”
Mira’s mother wore a sad expression. It was as if she had been told she was not a comforting presence for her child. And knowing well the reason for my visit today made her feel self-pity.
Such a relationship was very unfamiliar to me.
“That led to Mira visiting my house from time to time to rest. She even became friends with my master’s daughter, who often visits this place. Although there is quite an age difference, I have received a lot of help from Mira and consider her a friend.”
“…I see. The age difference…”
“May I ask how old you are?”
“I’m twenty-nine this year.”
“…You don’t look that old.”
“I hear that a lot.”
I wasn’t naive enough to get riled up over such remarks now. Besides, it wasn’t a statement intended to attack me; it was said sincerely. It would be foolish to get angry over nothing.
“Then is that why you are letting Mira stay over?”
“That’s not all, but for now, yes.”
Mira’s mother took a moment to choose her words.
“…Thank you very much for taking care of our Mira. However, we have to take her home.”
“Oh, as for looking after Mira, we would like to offer some form of compensation…”
“No compensation is necessary. And whether she stays or goes is Mira’s choice. She is an adult now.”
“Still, she has just become an adult. She is practically still a child.”
“That’s true. She is still a child.”
Now I understood things to a certain extent. A sick but sharp-eyed mother, and a father who seemed somewhat clumsy yet held a bit of pride. Together, they felt like they could produce Mira. Naturally, that’s what you would expect from a daughter.
“I don’t intend to interfere with the education methods of other families, but I know that Mira is living her life incredibly diligently. I heard that you told her to give up on retaking the college entrance exam and to find a job, is that true?”
“Did that child say that?”
“Yes.”
“Hah…”
Mira’s mother let out a deep sigh, while Mira’s father wore an expression that combined guilt and injustice. It was rather strange.
“First of all, that’s… true. I did say that perhaps she should stop retaking the exam and consider finding work instead.”
Was it Mira’s father who took the lead in that decision? After all, Mira seemed to be a bit angrier with her father than with her mother. The characteristics that were mentioned seemed to suit her father more than her mother.
“But I didn’t mean to imply that she should completely give it up. You may or may not realize this, but we are struggling a lot. My wife is sick, medical expenses are enormous, and it’s difficult to manage with my income alone. I know that Mira is doing her best. Although we aren’t spending a lot, she contributes to the household expenses. But it’s ultimately like pissing on frozen feet. To be blunt, we need money right now. So, I suggested to her that she can retake the exam later, but for the time being, could she help us until her mother gets better.”
That wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t my place to interfere, either. But it was selfish. No matter how unavoidable it was, that fact didn’t change.
“If she stops studying and works here, the retaking of the exam will become significantly more difficult compared to now. I think you realize that.”
“But it’s not impossible, right? I know the college entrance exam is important. If she hadn’t messed up the exam, I wouldn’t have brought up this topic. But now that we’ve reached this point, can’t we explore other paths? The entrance exam isn’t everything in life. Once things settle down at home, we plan to support Mira as much as we can in the future.”
“For a child at that age, the college entrance exam can be bigger than everything else in life.”
Perhaps Mira’s father’s statement could have been considered rational. Putting out the immediate fire was more important. Either way, neither of those views was wrong. But that discussion ultimately lacked Mira’s perspective.
“That is…”
“You are right, honey.”
Even Mira’s mother eventually agreed with my statement.
“I did agree with my husband, but if Mira rejects this, I would accept it. However, my husband… just a bit.”
“I got a bit overexcited and spoke harshly. I think that’s why Mira left.”
“That’s unexpected. You don’t seem like someone who would do that.”
“…It’s all my fault. I said it after drinking.”
That’s really the worst.
“But I haven’t changed my mind. For now, I want Mira to help us. And I believe this is not something for you to interfere in, teacher.”
“That’s correct. It’s not something I can interfere in.”
For some reason, I felt aversion toward these two people. It wasn’t because they were Mira’s parents. It wasn’t because of personality clashes, differences of opinion, or that they were unpleasant people—none of that was the case.
“So I would like to make a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“If it’s about running away from home, we are not accepting that.”
“Let us hear it first.”
Why I didn’t like them was too simple to explain, and I found it amusing.
“In the end, isn’t money the issue? If I cover all the expenses for Mira to retake the entrance exam, will you allow her to do it?”
Your surprised expressions right now are rather annoying.
“Why? Why would you go that far…”
“Is it because Mira saved me? But even if that’s the case, the costs won’t be insignificant.”
“There is a reason.”
The look of calculation in their eyes wasn’t annoying at all. It didn’t matter to me.
“You’ve heard that Mira fell ill on the day of the entrance exam due to a variant of influenza, right?”
“Yes.”
“…That illness might have been transmitted to me.”
“Excuse me?!”
“I was in an incubation state for that illness at the time. It’s possible that I contracted it during the process of Mira saving me that day. It’s not certain, but the timing matches perfectly.”
The difference in reactions between Mira’s parents was amusing.
Mira’s father could not hide his resentment toward me, while, conversely, Mira’s mother looked at me as if I was foolish.
“Even if that were true, it doesn’t seem to be your fault, teacher.”
“You, wait a moment.”
“Just a moment, dear. I don’t want Mira to have to go through that again. It is a proud achievement, but it was also a dangerous situation. As a parent, I can only hope that such things don’t happen. But once it’s happened, all I can do is feel proud. I don’t want to think that this proud achievement caused Mira to fail her college entrance exam. I don’t want my child to become one who leans into dangerous situations, but I don’t want her to regret the good deed she did either.”
I truly disliked that person.
“More than anything, is this proposal made with Mira’s consent?”
“…No.”
“Then we absolutely cannot accept it. As you said, Mira is an adult now.”
She has to make her own choices. Right?
“…That’s true.”
The reason I disliked these two people was now clear.
Right or wrong, selfish or not,
These two loved Mira.
And that made me uncomfortable. It was a feeling that was too strange for me.