"Thank you, Mom and Dad!" He took the initiative to hold their hands, Ash maintained a smile as bright as the sun. "Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday as usual!"
So, let us forget those unhappy things today and just enjoy the happiness as before!
"..."
Huddled under the table, Ash reached into the cake that was smashed on the floor, carefully dipped the dirty cream and put it on his tongue.
"It tastes terrible."
"I hate sweet things."
Even if he covered his ears, he could still hear the quarrel outside, so Ash licked his fingers again.
"It's really... it tastes so bad..."
Ash remembered.
This is the first time in my life that I cried.
It was also the time when I realized that some things cannot be changed.
After that, my parents separated, and the court ruled that I belonged to my father's side, so even my father changed after that.
The father who used to be clumsy and silent but who did love and protect me became even more... angry.
"It's all you, it's all yours - she suddenly asked for a divorce, because she suddenly said she didn't want children!"
I don't know if what my father said is true or not. Maybe he was talking nonsense after drinking at the time, but my father, who never used violence, did beat me and scold me.
"Even now! What a genius, he is just a drag! It's all because I have a child. No one is willing to find a new wife for me. No girl wants to find a single father! So you are a burden!"
I didn't blame him at that time, because what he said was indeed the truth. It's not that he doesn't love me anymore, he just wants someone to vent to when he's angry.
But I also hated this extremely ordinary and real father.
That's right, I'm just a burden anyway.
Then it's okay to completely give up all interest in everything and let this "genius" go to waste, right?
So Ash, who had never seen "love", figured it out on his own.
Why did I not get the "happy end" like the story despite all my efforts? By the way, all this is because this world is a boring world without heroes!
"So, this is what I hate, hate, a world that is so mediocre and boring that there are no shining heroes."
Is this the original reason?
"No!"
A deeper, painful sound made Ash interrupt himself.
"I still remember it!"
It's not like I hold onto my pain until I leave. Otherwise, I might have been broken before I had a chance to meet the system.
"There are other things that only she and I know!"
Chapter 204: The unforgettable past and joy (Part 2)
"Mom!"
When he saw the longing face of someone he hadn't seen for a long time outside the door, the same long-lost joy suddenly appeared on little Ash's face.
Compared to a father who plays the role of silence most of the time, the child will of course prefer a mother who is always playing with him and is always so gentle.
"Yes~"
After taking off the sunglasses on her face and putting on a new look, the mother who originally wanted to be more beautiful returned the same warm greetings to her son.
"Do you miss your mother?"
"Think-!"
"Well, let's go to the newly opened amusement park today, just the two of us?"
"But...!"
The happy expression just now was replaced by even more worry.
"Dad said he wanted me to stay at home and look after the house today."
That incident happened half a year ago. In the past six months, Ash, whether he accepts it or not, has had to become familiar with this kind of life.
"Shh~"
With her playful index finger raised in front of her lips to make a silent gesture, the mother picked up her son from in front of her.
"What I'm saying is that it's just the two of us going out together, so as long as you don't say it and I don't say it, no one will know about it~"
"Then...!"
"Ah ho ho ho ho—!!!"
It is impossible to say that children of Ash's age don't like to go out and play wildly.
"I must have a great time today!"
After all, dad is always busy with work or other things, so he doesn't have the time or money to take him to the amusement park to play.
"Don't run around~"
Holding on to his sun hat, Catherine, who was chasing behind, was still greeting him.
"Even if you are only 6 years old, it won't work, otherwise your mother will have trouble keeping up. Ash."
"I don't want it anymore! I want my mother to come after me!"
"Oh, you little rascal."
After taking off the sunhat, the mother who lifted up one side of her skirt also chased her son with a smile and a curse.
"Since I can't let you stay where you are, I will really come. If you are caught, your mother will spank you!"
"Haha, I won't get caught!"
Now that I think about it carefully, just like a child who always wants to attract the attention of adults, I also deliberately made fun of my mother at that time, right?
My mother is indeed such a gentle and beautiful person, always smiling at herself, accompanying herself in troubles, and responding to her with love in the end no matter what.
The beauty... seemed not to appear in reality, but as a character in a better story, which made him want to rely on the sense of security from his mother involuntarily.
"Hahaha!"
Sonic roller coaster, laser target game, physical haunted house... they are all rides that boys will like, because Ash wants to look cool in front of his mother, and she will always respond to her son's little thoughts.
Amidst the laughter, I and my mother spent such a wonderful day that day.
"Is there anything else you want to play, Ash?"
"As long as it's with mom, anything is fine!"
"But this time it's mom who's accompanying Ash."
Seeing his mother smiling like this, Ash also smiled even more happily.
No matter what happened before, Ash can feel that they are still the mother and son who love each other as before.
He was very happy, really happy.
This is his irreplaceable and precious memory.
"Then what do you want to eat? Is it Golden Arches?"
"No, I want to eat mom's food!"
After all, my father is not very good at cooking. Because of his work, Ash often has to go home from school to buy food by himself.
"Then let's fry your favorite Chinjao Rosu for you to eat later. Speaking of which, Ash is so awesome. Mom will cry whenever she eats a little spicy food, but Ash likes to eat it with hot sauce."
Sitting with her son, the pink woman also talked about the embarrassing things in the past with great nostalgia.
"At that time, when my mother shed tears, Ash wanted to wipe her tears with his little hands, but he forgot that the hot sauce on his hands made her shed more tears, hehehehe~"
Catherine is recalling the sweet moments at home, but the happier she looks, the sadder she becomes when she thinks of Ash in reality.
"Mom..."
When he spoke again, Ash's voice was filled with sadness.
"Mom, can't you come back?"
"Tell mom how your dad is doing lately?"
"Dad, he doesn't like to laugh less and less lately."
Somehow, Ash seemed to feel that she was actually not interested in her ex-husband's affairs, but Ash continued to talk about what she knew.
"Occasionally, I will bring some strange women home. Although they all left soon, I don't want to call these people mom at all!"
Even if it's a tantrum, I'm just a kid anyway!
"Why can't my mother come back and continue to be my mother?"
"Because..."
Somehow Ash didn't get the answer.
Whether she didn't say it or she forgot it for some reason, Ash doesn't remember it either.
But what he still remembered was the serious conversation his mother had with him after that.
"Then, does Ash hate dad?"
"Yeah, annoying."
"Is it to the point of hating you?"
"..."
Even though Ash didn't quite understand it at that time, he still shook his head.
"No, it would be a lie to say that there is no barrier to my father's subsequent changes, but."
"I think dad must have been unable to accept the reality after suddenly losing his mom."
Looking at the blue sky above his head, Ash finally got a glimpse of the reality inside himself after releasing the negative emotions in his heart.
"After all, mom is such a good person, dad must be reluctant to let go, right?"
In this way, at least his love for his mother must be genuine.
"So it would be great if I could work harder and use my so-called talents to understand your hearts."
Unfortunately, such a designation does not seem to be within the category of "genius".
"That's amazing, Ash."
Warm hands covered the little black hair, rubbing the warmth carefully.
"You're so young, but you can say something like this. It's like being a hero in those stories."
"Yeah!"
Speaking of this, Ash showed an even brighter smile.
"Since there are no heroes in this world, I will become the first one!"
"Ah, heroes always get hurt, so mom doesn't want little Ash to be a real hero."
For some reason, her eyes moved slightly, but she voted against it again.
"Well... then I won't do it."
If it makes my mother worry, then I won't be a hero.
"Well, if you don't want to be a hero, then Ash just needs to be someone more powerful and amazing than a hero!"
As she spoke, the gentle mother raised her little thumb in front of Ash, whose eyes glowed again.
"This is an agreement with mom. If it succeeds, how about mom continue to be your mother?"
"Yeah!"
Two fingers, one big and one small, hooked together, swaying gently like a pair of oars.