1 x 1/2 ch8

p2
>I can't change the past.
>I can't turn back the clock.
>I can't undo the crimes I've committed.
>I...
>don't know anything about that person before she became "Mom".

>Wah!

p3
>Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap!
>>step step step
>I'm gonna be late!

>Why didn't you wake me!?
>I warned you, didn't I?
>I wasn't going to wake you up if you overslept.
>>chop chop

>You're way too unforgiving!
>>panic panic
>Geez.
>It's because you're so bad at mornings.
>Aren't I always telling you to go to bed early...?

p4
>Mom.

>...

>Now that I think about it, I get the feeling I allowed something outrageous to happen...
>Was this really for the best...?

>Ah.

>Oh yeah.
>Come here a moment, Mom.
>?
>>beckon
>What is...

p5
>>tug

>Thanks for the meal!
>~~~~...!!

p6
>Okay!
>I'm off!
>>shut
>...Geez.
>Where did she learn that...

>>peek out
>Ayako~?
>>flinch

>Wh-What is it?

>Where's the coffee maker again?
>>step step
>Ah.
>That should be...

>It should be in this closet...
>...

p7
>>sip...

>Are you reading the news on that?
>Yep.
>It's pretty convenient.

>Heh...
>Ah
>That reminds me...

>Are mother and father doing okay?
>Asuka got a fever over New Year's, so I haven't been able to pay them a visit.
>...
>Ah...

p8
>Yeah.
>They're both doing fine.
>...I see.

>Well then, I better get to work.
>Eh?
>>slam
>You're leaving already?

>C'mon now.
>Why don't you just take it easy?
>It's finally just the two of us and we've got so much to talk about, right?
>Don't use that tone with me.
>I don't really have anything to talk about.

>Hmm? Well I have something in mind.
>>twitch
>Ayako.
>Tell me.

p9
>What did you do
>with Asuka?

p10
>...Wh-

>What are you talking about...
>Oh? Trying to hide it?
>That hurts. And we're so close and everything.
>...

>>snicker snicker
>...But still, that "you-know-what" of yours
>>blush
>proved to be effective even against your own flesh and blood.
>That's surprising.

>I guess even you couldn't turn down your own daughter, huh?
>Or maybe...

p11
>You're actually serious about this?
>Huh!?

>What are you saying?
>There's no way that could be! She's my daughter!
>Is that so?

>Or rather, let me join in next time.
>I've always wanted to try out a mother-daughter threesome at one point.
>Akira.
>>shick
>Keep taking your jokes too far and I'm really going to get mad at you.

>......I'm sorry.
>>hand up
>Where did you get that from?
>...I'm just gonna say this once...
>It's a paper knife.
>If you ever look at Asuka in that way,
>I'll see to it that you'll never set foot on our doorstep ever again.
>This one's gone off the edge too...

p12
>I don't mind if it's me, though.
>You're okay with that!?
>I'm already used to it.
>That's pretty cold in its own way!!!
>And put that away already!!

>More importantly...
>If you've managed to notice it, then tell me what I should do.
>This is your specialty, right?
>I'm not really good with these kinds of things...
>Just what the heck do you think of me, Ayako?

>Hmm, but still...
>This is a pretty big problem.
>That girl...

p13
>Her tenacity is just like Atsushi's.
>...

>I mean, her face is pretty much identical to his to begin with.
>But why the heck is she falling for the same woman as him...
>Hm?
>>vrr vrr

>>beep
>Ah yes. This is Mori. If it's nothing important, please call back once my vacation is over.

>Asuka is...
>to Atsushi-kun...?

p14
>Eeh!?

>You went to Mom's workplace, Akira-chan!?

>...
>Yeah, I did.

>No fair!
>No fair, you say... It's not like I was going over there to play or anything.
>It was just a greeting. We're in the same trade, after all.
>It's still not fair! Going there while I was stuck at school...!
>It's a student's duty to study, right? Put some effort into it.

p15
>...Hey, you guys.
>Could you please be more quiet...
>>ache ache

>It's not fair that you get to see a side of Mom that I don't, Akira-chan!
>Huh!?
>You get to spend 365 days a year with Ayako and that's still not enough for you!?
>I haven't seen her for two years so you could at least cut me some slack!!
>>snap

>>grab

>>toss toss
>>Mori

>Eh?

p16
>A-Asako...?
>Me too...?
>Why don't you two go cool off your heads
>until dinner is ready, okay?
>>smile smile

>.....

>...Okay...
>>FamiRes
>>Value lunch
>>Pasta Fair
>>Gourmet Set - 980 yen
>>Pasta Fair
>Welcome!
>Please sit wherever you'd like.

>...
>...Look here...

p17
>Quit sulking and cheer up already...
>>sulk
>Mom scolded me.
>This is all your fault, Akira-chan!
>...No.
>That was 200% your fault.
>>slurp slurp

>Hah
>...Geez.
>Fine. Order whatever you want.
>Just make sure you leave room for dinner...
>I don't wanna get told off afterwards.

>Eh?
>You're sure?
>Excuse me. I'd like everything from here to here, please.
>Listen to me!

p18
>It's fine. The food Mom makes goes in a different stomach.
>...
>I see...
>>carefree
>These damn eternal mother-daughter newlyweds!

>...Well, whatever. This is good timing.
>There's something I want to ask you.
>>chomp chomp
>You...
>?

>laid a hand on Ayako, didn't you?
>!?
>>snap

>>cough cough
>How did you know, Akira-chan...!?
>...

p19
>Why...
>didn't you wait two years?

>Eh?
>>drip...

>>slice

p20
>Ow...
>>flinch

>>drip...

>>...

>>lick
>...Asuka
>certainly does
>look like Atsushi-kun.
>That goes without saying, right? He's her father.
>But...
>Is that really all it is?

p21
>I mean...
>Atsushi-kun is...

>...Eh?
>What? What do you mean by "two years"...
>Exactly what it sounds like.
>How old are you right now?

>I'm... sixteen.
>That's right.
>Now answer me this.

>What do you intend to do if things become awkward with Ayako?

p22
>Being as you are right now,
>if something like that were to happen,
>would you be able to take responsibility?

>Th-That's true, but...

>Don't get me wrong, here.
>I'm not saying this because you're mother and daughter.
>I'm saying that a brat like you who only thinks of herself and doesn't consider the other person's standpoint...
>shouldn't be doing it with Ayako.
>>blush

p23
>S-
>>grip
>Stuff like doing it or not doing it...
>>slam

>Quit saying stuff like that!
>Mom is not just some thing!!

p24
>Hah
>Hah
>H-Huh?
>Could it be...
>that's she not just trying to piss me off...
>...

>Hey.
>Akira-chan.
>...What is it?

>Akira-chan, do you...
>love Mom?

p25
>For me...

>not even a lifetime would be enough
>to earn the right to be in love with Ayako.

>I
>proably

p26
>don't know a single thing
>about Akira-chan
or Mom.

>Eh?
>You're leaving?

>You don't have to leave so early in the morning...
>Hm?
>Are you saying that everyone will be all lonely without me?

>I've gotten pretty tired of playing with Asuka too.
>Ah, crap. It's freezing.
>...

>...Hey, Akira.
>I've said this many times before already, but...

p27
>What happened
>wasn't your fault.

>I know that!

p28
>Thanks,
>Ayako.

>>open
>I'm home.

>Ah
>Mom!

>Geez!
>Where'd you go at this hour?
>>yawn
>There was noone around when I woke up.

>Huh? Where's Akira-cha...

p30
>Heh?
>M-Mom...

p31
>...
>Is it really neccessary for me to know?

>>pomf
>>badum badum badum
>Right now,
>Mom is here.
>That's all I need.

p32
>...Welcome home,
>Mom.

>Right now, everything else
>doesn't
>even matter.