Who could blame her for saying that his parents were gone?!
"Lele."
Seeing the change in the child's expression, the two old people froze for a moment. They quickly guessed what she was thinking.
They smiled bitterly.
"We weren't talking about what just happened."
Although what they wanted to say had been brought about by what just happened...
"...Lele."
The two old people exchanged glances.
Under Grandma Yu's urging gaze, Grandfather Yu smiled bitterly inwardly, but still spoke first.
"You..."
Grandfather Yu faltered.
He realized...
Some things that were left unsaid at the beginning only became harder and harder to say later.
Because they had gotten used to it...
They could say it later...
The child hadn't asked...
Those excuses...
But now that they really had to say it...
The words felt as though they were stuck to his throat.
He couldn't get them out.
But considering what had just happened, the two old people knew that some things could be put off. If they kept delaying them, they might actually get away with never saying them.
They could pretend the matter didn't exist.
But some things couldn't be delayed.
The longer they waited...
The more likely it was that something serious would happen.
They had explained away Lele's behavior today.
But they couldn't keep using the same excuse forever.
The child...
Needed to know the reality, too.
Grandma Yu desperately signaled at Grandfather Yu with her eyes.
Say it already.
Come on.
Grandfather Yu took a deep breath.
"You..."
Grandma Yu nearly choked on her breath.
And then?
Keep going...
Grandma Yu looked at Grandfather Yu, urging and encouraging him.
Grandfather Yu licked his lips.
He took another deep breath.
He looked at the child, whose face was filled with