p2
>Is this in spite of you always being by my side?
>Or is it
>because you were always by my side?

>Yamada-san.
>Your required dosages have decreased quite a bit, huh?
>It looks like the treatment is going well.

>Well, you know.
>I have no intention of dying just yet.
>Thank you for always taking such care of me, madam.

p3
>No problem.
>>smile
>Please take care of yourself.

>>Medicine
>>Prescriptionist Office
>>Mizuno Medicine Preparation and Pharmacy

>Thank you.

>>slide

p4
>...Sorry to keep you waiting.
>I'll be calling your numbers in order so just wait a little

longer, please.
>>Wah
>Asako-san!
>I'll wait! I'll wait as long as it takes!
>Um! If it's okay with you, maybe we could get some dinner

afterwards...
>This is a pharmacy!
>Please be more quiet.

>Are those people even ill?
>Woah.
>Ahaha
>I wonder about that.
>Would you mind taking care of this, Saya-chan?
>Okay.

>>clatter

p5
>...

>I'm
>in love with you, Mom.

>Asuka...?
>Wh-What
>are you saying...?

>...
>You don't get it, do you?

p6
>I...
>I don't understand.
>>dizzy
>Asuka.
>Am I still drunk?

>Mom.
>Mom.
>If you're
>just playing around...
>...
>Mom!

>Calm down...

>>flinch

p7
>...
>>tighten...

>Asuka...

>Sorry for saying something so weird all of a sudden.
>>open
>I'm gonna go sleep for tonight.

>Good night.
>Mom.
>>shut

p8
>...When I woke up this morning
>I hoped that it was all just a dream.
>But that would just be way too convenient... That girl hasn't

come out of her room since this morning...

>Ah, it's no good... My head won't stop spinning.
>Maybe I should've taken the day off after all?

>It might be possible that she was just pulling a prank.
>But it doesn't seem to be the case. Her expressions always give

away what she's thinking.
>Which means she's serious? About me?
>Is that even possible?
>Did she even mean it in the romantic sense? Maybe I misheard

her...
>>spin spin spin

>Hah
>...Could it be...

p9
>She's entered what's known as
>the rebellious age!?

>I see... the rebellious age...
>That would explain everything.
>>mutter mutter
>It's a bit late for a girl to be going through that
>but that girl always was a late bloomer...

>?

>What's taking you so long?
>>badum
>Eh!?
>>drop
>Ah!
>!?
>>trip

p10
>...
>Maybe you should call it a day?
>...............Yes...
>Sorry...

>...
>...Asuka.

>Did she make sure...
>to eat lunch properly...?

>>Asuka

p11
>>doooom...
>....

>...It's over...

>I'm done for!
>She definitely hates me now!
>In fact, she hates me!
>It's over!
>Just kill me now!
>Stupid! Stupid! I'm so stupid!

>>fluff [sound of coming out of her blanket]

>Mom...

p12
>She looked troubled...
>Of course she would be.
>What would you expect when your blood-related daughter confesses to you?
>Not to mention forcing it on her like I did is pretty much a crime, isn't it...?
>Weeeh...

>...
>I've hurt her...
>haven't I...?

>>tearing up

>>clatter
>I'm home.
>>startle

p13
>Eh?
>M-Mom?
>No way! Why? It's not past noon...
>Asuka.
>You awake?
>>knock knock
>N-
>Not yet!

>My heart isn't ready yet...
>...

>>woosh

p14
>>click
>You're awake, aren't you.
>>open
>Gyaaaaaah!
>D-Don't just enter someone's room...
>without permission...
>Haven't you heard about good manners even between friends!?
>>shiver shiver
>Do you really have the right to be saying that?

>>tug
>...Um.

p15
>We need to talk.
>Could you... spare a moment...?

>>silence
>...

p16
>Th-
>This is awkward... Eh, what's with this atmosphere?
>>menacing
>Ah, what should I do? My stomach's in pain...

>Hey.
>Asuka.
>>flinch
>Yes!?

>Asuka, are you...
>Um...
>interested in girls?
>...Having this kind of conversation with your mom is worrisome...

>Hm?
>Erm...
>>Humans
>>Boy
>>Girls - Mom
>I've never really given it much thought but
>something like that, I guess...?
>...I see...

p17
>...

>About last night.
>I'm really sorry.
>Bringing up something like that so suddenly
>must've surprised you, huh?

>But
>I-I wasn't joking.
>I'm
>really serious.
>I really am

>in love with you,
>Mom.

p18
>I know very well.
>That kind of thinking isn't normal.
>I know that saying something like that... would cause you all kinds of trouble.
>But when I try to keep these feelings in check, they just become stronger and stronger.
>Seeing your face every day, Mom... It's kinda... really painful...

>...Asuka
>What is it you want to do?
>...

>>blush
>...I want to...
>t-touch you, Mom...

p19
>To be honest with you,
>I don't know what I should do.
>I don't know what words... are the right ones to be saying to you right now...
>...Yeah.

>But y'know

>If you've been like this,
>unable to ask anyone for advice, unable to speak your own mind...
>suffering by yourself
>this entire time...

p20
>Then I'm sorry.
>>stroke
>I haven't
>noticed anything at all.

>That's why...
>I'm sorry.

>The reason why this sadness won't stop...

p21
>I've known it all along.
>No matter how much I chase after her, no matter how far I reach out to my hand.
>The only thing I'll ever be to this person
>is just a daughter and nothing more.

p22
>Wh-
>Why?
>Fweh
>Why are you apologising?
>Why!?

>You haven't done anything wrong, Mom...
>That's
>just strange..
>Uuh
>UUuh
>...
>You're wrong, Asuka.
>?

>Everything is
>probably
>all my fault.

>About Ayako-san...

p23
>She was your underclassman in university, wasn't she, Keiko-san?
>Yep.
>Has she always been like that?
>>pour
>Like what?

>Eh... I mean... She's a bit extraordinary, isn't she?
>She sometimes brings in patients who have prescriptions from other pharmacies.
>Seriously!?
>Those must be some lively patients!

>Ineed...
>She certainly has been a beauty since back then.
>Though I guess that's more due to genetic makeup than anything else?
>She was something of a celebrity among the campus.

p24
>Kisaragi Ayako.
>She had no no expression when she first enrolled, completely different to the girl we know today.
>She even received the nickname "The Never-Smiling Goddess".

>>vrr
>>vrr
>>vrr

>>Mori Akira
>>Missed call
>You have reached the answering machine.
>Please leave a message after the beep.

>Ah.
>Hello?

p25
>Hey, listen to this.
>Guess where I'm at right now? The airport!
>Can you believe it? I received a notification of transfer just yesterday.
>I'm gonna beat the crap out of that shitty boss when he gets back to Japan.

>Well, I was getting bored anyway.
>I've been wanting to see you too, y'know?
>I don't particularly mind the transfer, since I can now spend New Year's at my leisure.

>So there you have it. Look forward to me coming over at the start of the New Year.
>See you soon~
>>kiss

p26
>I love you.
>Ayako.