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The grassy field was just as quiet as it had been that day.
The stars that look like they're about to rain down on us are emitting light everywhere, telling us that ‘they're here’ in the sky.
“*Pant*... Haa… I'm so tired… This communication equipment… is way too heavy, though…!?”
“That's why I told you to let me carry half of it.”
“Haa, haa, I already told you it's fine… At least let me do this.”
I thought of telling him that he shouldn't hide it if he wanted to complain, but when I saw Uu-chan covered in sweat and smiling, those words of mine started to wither away.
We set up the equipment that Uu-chan brought in order.
“You’re very skilled. As expected of Muu-chan.”
“Of course.”
“If I recall correctly, the plan goes like this: you're going to communicate with the aliens and make it known that UFOs do exist in this world. Then, you'll clear up the misunderstanding about your father.”
“Correct.”
“A misunderstanding, huh. You said that they started to assume that your father had an affair and ran away, right?”
Uu-chan's tone had a somewhat harsh implication. I slightly nodded my head in response.
“Your dad was indeed a strange person, but he definitely didn't have an affair. I guess adults just don't understand that kind of thing.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“...Do you think that your mother also had an affair, Muu-chan?”
“Even if you say that as a joke, I honestly don't know. However, I do know how she would find it pointless to endlessly wait for someone who’s already gone and would just move on.”
My mother, who loved my father, also cried about him for some time, but it eventually seemed like she decided to move on.
She said, “I’m prioritizing my child’s happiness first because I'm a mother,” and got remarried.
My stepfather’s personality was the complete opposite of my father's.
He’s eloquent, bright, and sociable. He hasn't talked about space, and he hasn't even thought of making a helmet as a present.
He hasn't even invited me to go to the grassy field to try to communicate with a UFO during summer vacation.
He's the type of person who plans a trip to a summer resort with his family months in advance.
He's someone who's doing their best to take care of my mother and me, someone who still doesn't like him.
That’s clearly being conveyed. However—
“...I really hate adults.”
Uu-chan muttered in a bored tone, but then suddenly realized something and immediately apologized to me.
“I’m sorry, Muu-chan. I didn't mean to include your mother in that.”
“It's alright, Uu-chan. I know that you’ve gone through a tough time due to reasons related to adults.”
The set up has been completed. It's almost time.
I dug up my memories of that day. Following what my father had tried, I first sent a morse code. Following that is a pulse that I had no clue how far it'd reach. Then, a radar that detects electrical reactions in the air.
Then, a radio telescope. A loud shout. A wish. A prayer.
However…
“...”
“... Nothing’s… happening.”
“Yeah.”
It didn't happen like it did that day.
All that happened was just the stars shining brightly, looking down at us who were standing there, dumbfounded.
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“Why did you sneak out of the house in the middle of the night and then come back home the next night!? I was really worried for you!”
What waited for me and Uu-chan, who both returned home in disappointment, was a scolding from my stepfather.
My stepfather’s a gentle person, and he hasn't even once raised his voice before, but it seems he could not overlook the fact that his stepson ran away from home after all.
“I apologize for my selfishness. I'm very sorry.”
When I bowed my head to apologize, my stepfather instantly looked like he was about to tear up.
“It’s fine… I'm just… relieved that you came home and nothing bad happened to you… Honestly…”
“I'm really sorry. How's mother doing?”
“She's resting in her bedroom. She… seemed to be in a bit of a shock.”
“I'll apologize to my mother right away… It'll be bad if I cause any harm to the baby in her stomach.”
“What?”
Uu-chan, who was also bowing his head because he got scolded along with me, lifted his head as if he had been repulsed.
“By baby, you mean… the one with your stepfather's?”
My stepfather silently nodded.
Uu-chan takes a deep breath, looks at the side of my face, then moves his head down again.
“I really hate adults. I'll be on Muu-chan's side no matter what.”
I couldn't see Uu-chan's expression, however… I can hear that his voice might have been shaking a little.
I repeat those words and that tone of voice in my head over and over again. I'm sure that from now on, I'll continue to do so.
Uu-chan.
Because you were by my side, I was able to have things that I didn't have to let go of.
“I'll take Ushio back to his house. Please comfort your mother, Muneuji-kun.”
With those words from my stepfather, the long night seemed to finally come to an end.
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I entered my mother’s bedroom.
Noticing my presence, my mother quickly stood up.
Her hair and her face were all a mess.
I ran up to my mother. I then hugged her so as not to hurt her from the impact.
“Mother, I'm really sorry…! I didn't mean to make you sad…!”
“I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for pretending to not see how you feel, Muneuji.”
My mother gently hugs me.
“You've been waiting for that person and have been wanting to protect that place for him, haven't you?”
“...Yes.”
My mother didn't blame me for anything, as she understood how I felt.
“The helmet that… he made for you.”
“Huh?”
“It was completed a long time ago… before that person disappeared. But… I had to forget about him. You and I had to move on… so I hid it and left it there.”
“...”
My mother then slowly stroked my head and spoke in a lovely tone.
“I returned it on top of your study desk earlier, Muneuji.”
“…!”
—End of Track 4
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Masterlist / Track 1 / Track 2 / Track 3 / Track 4 / Track 5
