1 x 1/2 ch10

p1
>It's been so long that I no longer remember the reason or what caused it.
>But one day I just notced
>I couldn't avert my eyes
>as she walked away while being pulled by Ayako-san's hand.
>That's all it was.

>>whoosh

p2
>Oh.
>You're awake.
>Jun.
>Rui.

>Do you two have a moment?
>What's all this so early in the morning, Mom?
>Rui's still asleep...

>...Come on, Asuka.
>Say hello to Jun-kun, won't you?

p3
>This is Mori Asuka-chan.
>She's the same age as Rui and starting elementary school this year.
>Starting today, we'll be in charge of her while Ayako-san is working downstairs.
>So make sure you look after her properly during spring break, okay?
>Jun.

>It's been ten years since then.
>Even now
>I still haven't given a name
>to these feelings.

>Jun-nii.
>Y'see...

p4
>I'm in love
>with my Mom.

>...Huh?
>Um...I'm already aware that you're a huge mothercon.

>What does that have to do with our current conversation...?
>Well, that reaction is to be expected.

p5
>Like I said.
>>caw caw
>I love Mom!
>In the romantic sense.

>....~~~~~?? ~~~~~! ~~~... ~~~~!?
>Could you...
>...give me a moment...?
>Take your time.

>...This has gotta be a joke, right...?
>Are you and Rui playing another trick on me or something...

>No
>Even I know the difference between a good joke and a bad one...
>It's nothing even funny...

p6
>...Are you serious?
>Yeah.
>It's really...
>that kind of love?
>...Yeah.

>I see...
>>glance

>...You grossed out?
>Hah
>Never mind grossed out. I'm still trying to understand it.

>Now that you say it, all of our previous conversations suddenly make sense...
>Does Ayako-san know about this?
>...Ah...

p7
>...Well...
>>fidget fidget
>Earlier... on that day when we had our fight...
>I kissed her...
>and then pushed her down.

>Huuuuuuuuuuuh!? No, no, no, you shouldn't do that even if she isn't your parent...!!
>It's a crime!
>We better go home now.
>I-I mean, I've been living with that every single day, right!? The frustration was making me go crazy...!!
>Uwaaaaah! Stop it! I don't want to hear that kind of relation about your relatives...!!
>And with your mother no less!!!

>...Why are you always so straight forward about strange stuff like that!?
>You should try to
>think about the consequences a little...

>As you are now,
>if something like that were to happen
>would you be able to take responsibility?

p8
>...I know that...
>But...
>But I can't help it...
>Because...

>I love her...
>after all...
>>twitch

>No.
>That's no what I meant.
>>snap snap
>It's not like
>I'm trying to lecture you or something...

p9
>...

>...Hey.

>Can I... ask you one thing?

>When was it that you realised it?

p10

>When did you start
>looking at Ayako-san like that?
>...Eh?

>When, you ask...?
>Asuka

>Asuka.
>That's...
>Hey, does it feel good?

p11
>Asuka-chan?

>...
>>swish
>Ah...

>I don't really remember...
>Why do you ask?

>...No.

p12
>It's not something that can be understood so simply.
>The borderline representing love between people is pretty vague.
>Especially when it's with your mother.
>Aren't you scared?

>What if she rejects you?
>What will you do if the relationship you've had until now changes?

>Wouldn't it be better
>to keep things as they are...?
>...

>...Well, I get what you're saying.
>Sorry
>for blabbering about become independant from your parents.
>Jun-nii.

p13
>...But still.

>I'll just say this.
>You're a complete moron who is completely ignorant of the ways of the world.
>>point
>What the!?
>What's this all of a sudden!?

>This isn't a joke, so listen up.
>Even under normal circumstances, your face always shows what you're thinking.
>Don't carelessly expose your weakness. Choose your words carefully when talking to others.
>Who knows what might happen because of your stupidity.

>If that happens
>it'd be a problem for me.

>...
>...Why...?

p14
>Why haven't I...
>realized it until now...?
>There's no reason for falling in love with someone.
>The way they express it is different from person to person.
>Just using words all the time
>isn't the right answer.

>...Thanks.
>Jun-nii.

>...
>Hmm...

p15
>The childhood friend onii-san and his sister's best friend...
>When you put it like that...

>you do see that combination a lot in society.
>Jun-kun has always been a good boy.
>He would always let me know if something happened...
>Hey!
>Rui, no bullying children in the house!!
>Eh~ We were just playing?
>No, no, no! Look, she's clearly crying!!
>Waaah! Mommy~


>>gloom gloom gloom

>>vrr vrrr
>Yes.
>Hello, Akira...
>Ah, you there, Ayako~?
>I just got sent a whole bunch of hair crabs from my kouhai at the Hokkaido branch.
>They're not gonna fit in my fridge so do you mind if I send you so-
>>boop
>>Mori Akira.


p16
>>vrr vrr vrr
>Why'd you hang up on me!?
>Sorry. I'm not in the mood to talk with you right now, Akira.
>Hah...
>Aren't you being pretty harsh today, Ayako?
>Did something happen?

>>sparkle

>...H-
>Hey, Akira.
>There's
>something I want to ask you.

>...Eh?

p17
>Have you noticed anything different about Asuka?
>Hah
>It's cold.

>Anything different...
>What is it? Did that girl do something again?
>Ah...erm...
>It's not nothing, but it's not what you're thinking...

>I mean, Asuka's already in high school, right?
>She probably has some things she wouldn't tell me.
>Besides...
>You're also a lot like a parent to her too.

>She hasn't...
>told me any...thing...
>Hm?

>What's wrong, Ayako?
>You're not usually one to dodge the question.
>Is there something you want to know about Asuka?
>Uh

>That's cos...
>Um...

p18
>It seems like that girl...
>has someone that she's d-dating...
>>mumble mumble


>...
>Phew...

>...Hey, Ayako, just to check,
>are you really not aware?
>...Hm...

>I'm aware that I'm overprotective at times, if that's what you're asking?
>That's not
>what I meant.
>But I can't help but be curious...

>Well
>if you haven't realised it yet then forget it!
>I'm kinda pissed off for some reason.
>I'm not gonna go out of my way to send salt to my enemy. [TN:Japanese proverb meaning "show humanity, even to your enemy"]
>?

p19
>Don't worry about it.
>What do you mean by that?
>As far as I'm aware
>There has never been a single moment where that girl has showed an interest in any human being besides you...

>...Aah.
>But there was that weird phase for a brief moment.

>You remember, right?
>It was a little before I was transferred.
>Back then, that girl was strangely well-behaved.
>She was acting kinda distant...

p20
>She seemed back to normal when I got back so I totally forgot but
>what was that all about in the end?
>Adolescence??

>....

>>bubble bubble...

>>glance
>Hmm?

>Geh, she scribbled on my notes.
>...
>Now that she mentions it...

p21
>I think it was around... the winter of the second year of middle school.
>It really lasted for just a moment so I had forgotten, but...
>She did seem kind of absent-minded.
>As if...

>she was looking at a far away.
>>bubble bubble...

>...Hm?
>sniff...
>....

>Hey!
>>turn
>Mom, is something burning!?

>Eh?
>>smoke smoke smoke

p22
>Woah!
>This one's boiling over too!
>Geez, Mom, are you feeling alright, today?
>Want me to take over?
>To Mori Ayako-sama