Fujino understood what Mizunashi Rena was thinking. He slowly stepped forward and crouched down. "Besides, using someone else to replace the person you hold in your heart is actually very rude—both to that person and to the one being used as a replacement."
"Would you like being replaced?"
The child shook his head. "No..."
Fujino chuckled softly and said in a low voice, "That's why no one likes being treated as someone else. Using another person to replace someone who has already left is selfish. It disrespects the feelings of the past, and it is unfair to the person standing before you who is being treated as a substitute."
"Everyone in this world is unique and irreplaceable. No one can replace anyone else. No one can replace your mother, and no one can replace you either."
The child looked at Fujino and stammered, "But... but I really miss her."
"Then remember her properly!"
Fujino slowly rose to his feet and said solemnly, "Once someone disappears, they can only remain alive in the memories of others. If you miss her, carefully recall the memories you shared. Carefully feel the warmth you once had..."
"Perhaps those brief memories will be followed by endless sorrow, but so what?"
"If it hurts too much, hide somewhere and cry."
"You feel pain. You feel anguish. You feel lonely. That is because you are growing."
"Growing into a real man."
The child stared blankly up at Fujino, then slowly began to cry. In the end, he wiped away his tears and nodded deeply. "I understand!"
Everyone looked at Fujino, seemingly moved by what he had just said.
Yes, this child was like that—but wasn't Fujino the same?
They had always thought Fujino was incredibly strong, that his personality far surpassed those of his peers.
Yet they