I forgot to do the most important thing.
The little mushroom-haired girl murmured.
She...
had forgotten.
She was too scared.
The quiet, unfamiliar surroundings had put her under a lot of pressure.
It had squeezed her throat shut.
She couldn't make a sound at all.
"Silly girl."
Child's Mom hugged her again.
"Next time something like this happens, you have to call Mommy and Daddy right away."
"Mommy and Daddy will come straight to you."
"Understand?"
The little mushroom-haired girl nodded.
She understood.
"All right."
Child's Mom let go of her.
"Now that Anna's awake—"
"Are you really okay?"
Child's Mom still wasn't quite reassured.
"Maybe we should have you checked anyway?"
They had examined the child while she was unconscious.
But that had been while she was unconscious.
The way she acted after waking up had frightened her.
Her child had always been shy and timid, with a bit of a cowardly streak...
But perhaps it was just her imagination...
Lately, her child seemed... much more fragile.
She cried easily.
She startled easily.
She scared herself easily.
That wasn't a good sign...
Child's Mom suppressed her worries.
Then she tried to persuade her again.
"Anna, will you let them examine you?"
"That way, Mommy and Daddy can stop worrying."
"Don't worry."
"Mommy and Daddy will stay right by your side."
"Anna."
The little mushroom-haired girl pursed her lips.
Her face was full of uncertainty... and she gave a slight nod.
Mommy had asked her so earnestly...
She couldn't refuse her.
"Wonderful."
Child's Mom was delighted.
"Then let's go get you checked first."
"After that, Mommy and Daddy will take you out for a big meal."
"You're hungry, aren't you, Anna?"
"Whatever you want to eat, we'll get you."
The little