1 x 1/2 ch10+a

p1
>Hey, does your family
>not have a dad?
>...

>It happened so long ago that I don't remember what prompted me to ask
>but
>it's been sleeping in the corner of my mind even to this day.

p2
>It's a sweet
>and slightly salty memory.

>By Ayako-san, you mean...
>That Kisaragi Ayako-san?

>Yeah.
>She's Mori-san now, though.

p3
>I happened to run into Akira-san the other day.
>She said Ayako-san's looking for a full-time pharmacy job since her kid is entering elementary school.
>My dad's getting to that age so... It's perfect timing, don't you think?
>I see.

>Still, it's surprising.

>That Kisaragi Ayako-san's kid is already in elementary school...
>>blink...
>Time goes by so quickly.

>I remember her well. She was quite the celebrity back then...
>You could even call her a goddess.
>Indeed. Although thinking about it now, it's like "what the heck?".
>Brings back memories. Her underclassmen were all such big fans.
>The bars were all filled with tears when they heard she got married... It was quite troublesome.
>>rub

>She was beautiful and had great grades, and she had quite the expression after she got married...

>But man, karma's a bitch.
>In addition to losing both of her parents so quickly...

p4
>she lost her husband too.
>It was really so sudden.
>...
>...Indeed it was.

>So, about her daughter, Asuka-chan.
>I was thinking she could stay over during spring vacation.
>What are they talking about...?
>sneak...
>That sounds good. Those two haven't come over here before, after all.
>She'd be worried about leaving her home all day, right?

>Ayako-san is such a worrywart, though.
>Hah
>I'm not sure how to convince her.
>You could say it'd be good if she could become friends with Rui, who's the same age as her.
>Besides...

p5
>Our Onii-chan over here
>is very reliable.
>!

>>hide

>What are you smirking about?
>It's creepy.
>>smile smile
>Oh, nothing.

>...
>Onii-can, huh...

>I was very much a gullible and obedient kid back then.
>Wow, you're so cool, Jun-kun.
>>shopping
>I would always get carried away with my Dad's cajolery.
>That's our Onii-chan!
>Hey, greatest in Japan!!


p6
>Okay!
>Here I go!

>Swings
>There!
>Noooooooooooooo!!
>!!!?? (Jun)

>Seesaw
>>Up and down
>Aaaaaah
>>flail flail
>Ooooooooh!?

>Asuka-chan, let's go to the jungle gym next!
>Nooooooooooo!
>>drag
>Uwaaaah! Wait wait wait!

>Th-Th-Th-This is bad. At this rate it's gonna turn into a serious accident before I know it!
>What should I do? Maybe I should tie Rui to that tree over there...
>*Skipping rope
>Huh?

p7
>>clatter clatter
>Can't you get down, Asuka-chan?
>Oh dear.
>I'm too late...!

>C-C-C-C-C-C-Calm down! Just calm down!
>You're the one who needs to calm down, bro. (Rui)
>It's okay, don't move, I'll come help you...
>>slip

>Ah!
>>fall

>Aaaaaah!

p8
>Gyu...
>>sob sob...

>!
>squelch
>...

>Ooh, nice catch, bro!

>Being an onii-chan
>was really tough.
>Welcome home, everyone!
>Woah, Jun-kun. You're covered in dirt.
>Alright, snack time!

p9
>>irritated irritated
>...It's all...

>>snooze
>this girl's fault...
>She's asleep

>>glance
>Changed clothes.

>>space out...
>...
>...
>For some reason...

p10
>She seems different...
>She was screaming with tears when she was being dragged all over the place by Rui...
>But now I have no idea what she's thinking...

>What's...that?
>Hm?
>Ah, it's sakura mochi.
>You never eaten one before?
>>stare...

>Aah

>!

>...
>I guess she likes it...?
>Maybe she's actually easy to read, after all...?
>>nom nom

p11
>...
>The leaf is coming off

>Hey.
>Does your family...
>>snooze..
>Mmm

>not have a dad?

>...
>>astonished

>Hah
>Oh crap...

p12
>Did I just step on a landmine...?
>Is she gonna cry...!?

>..
>A dad...

>What's a dad again...?
>I've heard of it
>Eeh...?
>I have to start from there...?

>Erm, a dad is...
>A dad is like the person who's not your mom... A guy...
>Ah, you don't have two of them to begin with, is there...?
>Hrm
>How do I explain this...
>>chop chop
>The person who's not my mom...
>Two of them...

>You mean like Akira-chan?
>Akira-chan?
>Who's that??
>Yeah.
>Akira-chan is...

p13
>Someone who lived with us before.
>Heh.
>>puff puff
>She made a really big castle.
>But then she tried to kiss Mom so now I kinda hate her.
>I-Is that so?
>Ayako-san's boyfriend, perhaps?

>Hmm, but Akira-chan is a girl, so...
>She's a girl...?
>This Akira-chan sure is a mystery.

>Ah
>I guess I do have a dad.
>Huh? Is Rui-san asleep?
>Yep.

>That
>person in the photograph.

>?
>I don't really get it, but...

p14
>You don't seem lonely.
>?
>How come?

>How come, you ask... Wouldn't you normally be lonely?
>Hmm...
>I don't know... I mean...

>I've never met this Dad person even once in my life.

>...
>He's a stranger who I can't meet
>so why would I be lonely?

p15
>Besides
>>open
>I have...
>Asuka.
>Sorry, I'm late~
>Ah!
>Mom!
>step step

p16
>Have you been a good girl?
>Yeah!
>Hey, I went to the park just now!

>>snicker
>Now now, no need to get so flustered.
>You can tell me all about it on the way home.
>>dumbfounded

>Thank you, Satoshi-san.
>Sorry to do this during the holidays...
>Don't worry about it.
>Asuka-chan is a good kid so she didn't cause any problems.
>See you soon, Asuka-chan.

>Thank you for today too, Jun-kun.
>Hah
>Ah.
>It was nothing.

>Come on, Asuka.
>Won't you say goodbye to the onii-chan who played with you all day?
>Okay.

p17
>Thank you, Onii-chan.
>Bye-bye.

>Mm...
>>blink...

>...
>Bro...?
>>sit up

p18
>The pain I felt in my heart at that moment
>was probably
>because the smile she gave wasn't directed towards me.
>...

>>open

>Oh.
>Welcome back, bro.

>...Yeah.

p19
>What's with the pissed off expression?
>Did you get dumped?
>Well excuse me for being pissed off.
>My expression was always like this.

>Well, I have no reason to tell you to begin with.
>>sit
>If you say I got dumped, then I got dumped.
>If you have to laugh, then laugh.

>Hmm...
>How should I put it...
>Asuka is stubborn like that too.

>>bump

p20
>...

>Was I being too meddlesome?

>...
>...No.

>In fact
>I feel kinda refreshed.

>...I see.

>What do you want for dinner tonight?
>....
>...Mapo tofu.
>Roger.