“Mom, ever since we started this game…and for a while before that, really…I’ve been grumbling about you. A lot. I’ve been a real unpleasant kid.”
He closed his eyes, remembering.
She would call his name, and he would barely respond. He would be cranky with her, lash out. He would even threaten to sever their familial ties. He’d done so much wrong.
They weren’t pleasant memories for any son.
“Honestly, part of me just couldn’t handle you. Especially how close you wanted to be and how you were all over me. And then there’s the way you look so young that it’s hard to believe you gave birth to me. It’s not a nice way to put it, but sometimes I even wondered if you were actually human.”
“Ma-kun…”
Speaking the truth was making her eyes wet with tears.
But before they could fall…
“But now that we’re adventuring together, I’ve been forced to rethink many things—because you were here with me. And I finally realized…it’s not your fault. I’m the one in the wrong. I couldn’t deal with my own emotions, got all frustrated, and then took them out on you. And I did so because I knew you’d spoil me and forgive whatever I did.”
Masato bumped his forehead against Mamako’s.
“Sorry for all the hardship I’ve caused you. And thank you.”
As he expressed his gratitude, he rubbed his head against hers.
“You’re my mom. And I’m your son. If you’re gonna spoil anyone, it oughta be me. Come here!”
He put his arms around her.
Everything he’d felt since entering this game, journeying together, poured into a single moment.
“Mom, ever since we started this game…and for a while before that, really…I’ve been grumbling about you. A lot. I’ve been a real unpleasant kid.”
He closed his eyes, remembering.
She would call his name, and he would barely respond. He would be cranky with her, lash out. He would even threaten to sever their familial ties. He’d done so much wrong.
They weren’t pleasant memories for any son.
“Honestly, part of me just couldn’t handle you. Especially how close you wanted to be and how you were all over me. And then there’s the way you look so young that it’s hard to believe you gave birth to me. It’s not a nice way to put it, but sometimes I even wondered if you were actually human.”
“Ma-kun…”
Speaking the truth was making her eyes wet with tears.
But before they could fall…
“But now that we’re adventuring together, I’ve been forced to rethink many things—because you were here with me. And I finally realized…it’s not your fault. I’m the one in the wrong. I couldn’t deal with my own emotions, got all frustrated, and then took them out on you. And I did so because I knew you’d spoil me and forgive whatever I did.”
Masato bumped his forehead against Mamako’s.
“Sorry for all the hardship I’ve caused you. And thank you.”
As he expressed his gratitude, he rubbed his head against hers.
“You’re my mom. And I’m your son. If you’re gonna spoil anyone, it oughta be me. Come here!”
He put his arms around her.
Everything he’d felt since entering this game, journeying together, poured into a single moment.
Softly stepping past his embarassment.
…Yep, that’s my mom.
Holding her tightly against him.
@Silent Sigh