Free Web NovelChapter 274: Mira Strange Behavior
At least, that was what Ayaka thought.
Strangely enough, Mira had been acting differently ever since her Father left. Instead of becoming even harsher, she had somehow become kinder and gentler, almost like the mother Ayaka had always wished for.
Just like today.
Mira woke up early and prepared breakfast for her before promising to take her to the shopping district since it was the weekend.
Ayaka had already prepared herself for the usual outcome. She thought Mira would find something wrong with her body the moment she tried on a new dress.
Maybe her arms had gotten bigger, or perhaps her waist had become wider. Somehow, it would all become Ayaka’s fault because the clothes no longer fit, and Mira would punish her by cutting her meals or refusing to feed her altogether, giving her nothing but water.
But today was different.
When the shirt Mira handed her refused to button properly, her face suddenly turned pale. It seemed that Ayaka’s chest had started to grow.
Of course, Ayaka didn’t understand that.
The only thing she knew was that she had gotten fatter, and with how strangely Mira had been acting these past few days, she was convinced her mother would become furious if she found out.
Panicking, Ayaka desperately pulled on the edges of the shirt, trying to force them together as though her life depended on it.
Suddenly, the curtain of the changing room was pulled aside.
"What is it, Ayaka? Is something wrong?" Mira asked gently, making Ayaka shiver even more.
"N-No... it’s just..." She bit her lower lip, unable to continue.
"Ohhh, I see. You’re growing. Why don’t we try a bigger size instead?"
Even though Mira’s eyes still looked empty, a gentle smile remained on her face.
For the first time in her life, Ayaka found herself thinking that maybe her mother was finally changing for the better.
After they finished shopping for clothes, Mira guided her to an ice cream shop.
It felt like something impossible.
Mira had always been strict about her diet, never allowing her to eat sweets or anything she considered unhealthy.
Turning toward her, Mira asked softly, "What flavor do you like? Do you want it in a cone or a cup?"
"U-Umm... I-I don’t think I want one."
It was the safest answer Ayaka could think of.
She still remembered the time the Suzuki couple had kindly given her an ice cream, only for Mira to beat her after she ate it. Maybe the same thing would happen again.
"It’s okay, Ayaka. No child dislikes sweet things and... now there are only the two of us. I don’t have to be so strict with you anymore."
As she spoke, Mira gently rubbed her shoulder.
Ayaka couldn’t understand what she meant.
Hadn’t Mira treated her that way because she hated her?
"You can order whatever you want."
Ayaka still wanted to refuse, but that felt even riskier. She didn’t want to upset her mother by rejecting the offer.
"Umm... okay. I want chocolate chips."
Mira let out a quiet chuckle. "You’re just like your father."
Ayaka tilted her head in confusion. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Her father loved vanilla ice cream and disliked chocolate altogether.
Who was Mira talking about?
’Is she starting to lose her mind?’
The shopping trip ended with Mira buying several new outfits for herself as well, something Ayaka had rarely seen before.
She had always hidden her appearance beneath old clothes and disliked shopping for anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary.
But today, Mira looked calm and relaxed, even more so than when Father was still around.
’I don’t understand... Does being abandoned and becoming a lonely, ugly widow actually make her happy? If Haruto ever left me... I’d rather die.’
***
However, when Obon arrived during the summer vacation, a period that was usually nothing but hell for Ayaka, Mira suddenly began cleaning out her Father’s room.
One by one, she burned all of his clothes and even the furniture he had touched until almost everything inside the house was replaced with something new.
Ayaka wanted to cry and scream at her to stop, but all she could do was clench her fists as she watched everything turn into ashes.
The only things left that reminded her of her Father were the diary she secretly kept and the fairytale book that Mira had never touched.
Only one room remained untouched. His office with the library stayed sealed, with Mira never allowing anyone to enter them.
Mira gently rested a hand on Ayaka’s shoulder and looked at the flames with empty eyes.
"From today onward, our new life begins. That bastard... he will die miserably for what he did to you and me."
Ayaka could no longer hold back her words. Even though she had slowly started believing that her mother might truly be changing for the better, a part of her was still angry.
"But Father loves me!"
To her surprise, Mira didn’t become angry.
Instead, she simply looked at Ayaka with an expression full of sadness.
"One day you’ll understand," she said quietly. "And when that day comes, you’ll realize just how evil your father really is."
After saying that, Mira turned around and walked back toward the house, helping the workers unload the new furniture she had purchased.
Ayaka rubbed away the tears gathering in her eyes.
That day would never come.
No matter what Mira said, the one who had always hurt her was standing right there.
Still, as the weeks passed, Ayaka could only watch her mother become stranger with each passing day.
Mira often locked herself inside Father’s bedroom for hours, sometimes the entire day, yet she never once forgot to prepare Ayaka’s meals or take care of her.
Even when Ayaka spent days at Haruto’s house or went on a short beach vacation with his family, Mira rarely left the room.
Ayaka realized just how serious it had become when she returned home after one of those trips.
She found her mother collapsed at the foot of the stairs.
Alarmed, she hurried over and immediately noticed how much weight Mira had lost. Her cheeks had become sunken, her skin looked unnaturally pale, and the dark circles beneath her eyes made her look almost like a ghost.
"Are you okay, Mom?"
The moment Mira heard her voice, she suddenly grabbed Ayaka’s arm and pulled her close until their faces were only inches apart.
"That bastard will die," Mira whispered into her ear. "I know it. This time, he’ll definitely die."
Ayaka’s eyes widened. She immediately understood who Mira was talking about.
Without thinking, she shoved her mother away and stared at her with disgust before running upstairs as fast as she could.
She slammed the door to her room shut and locked it from the inside, her heart pounding wildly against her chest.
Mira hadn’t changed at all. She had simply become even stranger.
However, only one day later, several police officers arrived at their house.
They had come to deliver the news of her father’s death.
