/ Chapter 110.5: Ichinose Arc: Silent Kindness

Does it have some strange attribute? Or did he simply not care?

Hmm, the strange reflection from those glasses is too noticeable; I couldn't see that.

Okay, let's assume it's the latter for now. Then we need to arrange a position for the Secretary Senior.

Sigh, she's a third-year student after all, graduating next year, which is a bit of a problem.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 118, Section 110.5: Ichinose- Silent Kindness

My family wasn't well-off.

Since I became aware of my own existence, I have never met my father. My mother has always worked hard, taken care of the family, and raised my sister and me to grow up healthy.

But because of societal prejudice against women, and because my mother's education level wasn't high, her job didn't earn her much money; her income was barely enough to feed our family of three. My sister's clothes were mostly hand-me-downs from my mother; and as I grew up, most of the clothes I wore were also hand-me-downs from my mother.

It's hard to believe that, now that I'm in junior high, the best-looking clothes I own are the school uniforms issued by the school.

Most of the furniture and household items at home are outdated models. The current trends that my classmates would excitedly discuss, such as idols, clothing, magazines, and comics, are irrelevant to me. My family doesn't have the extra money to support my sister and me's entertainment.

But I didn't feel wronged or upset about the situation. I knew my mother had worked very hard to raise my sister and me; she had given us everything she had. What could I possibly complain about?

Moreover, although she couldn't provide us with any financial security, she taught us many principles of life, which money can't buy.

So, it's okay if I can't join in my classmates' conversations, it's okay if they call me old-fashioned, it's okay if I don't make any friends... I still grew up healthy and safe, and was even able to work part-time to help ease the burden on my family, helping my mother take care of herself and my younger sister so she wouldn't have to work so hard anymore.

The story should have continued smoothly like this—I studied hard, entered high school based on my academic ability, found a well-paying job after graduation to help ease the family's financial burden, allowed my younger sister to grow up more comfortably, and ideally, let her go to university; life would gradually improve—that's how the story should have gone.

But... misfortune always seems to strike at its weakest point, and our family of three, already struggling through hardship, soon faced an insurmountable trouble.

The reason was that my younger sister became obsessed with a popular idol at the time and really wanted a hair clip related to that idol.

But she was very sensible and knew that her family couldn't afford such a thing, so she kept it to herself at first and never mentioned it to me or my mother.

However, the idol's fame seemed to have swept through her class at the time, and hearing her friends talking about him, her younger sister seemed to develop a similar desire under his influence.

Then, on the eve of her birthday that year, the year I entered my third year of junior high school, she told her mother about her birthday wish—she wanted a hair clip co-branded with that idol.

At that time, the idol was still very famous, but not as famous as when my sister first became a fan; even so, the hair clip still cost a full 10,000 yen—a price that our family still couldn't afford.

This wish was naturally rejected by the mother, but the younger sister, who had long been obsessed with the hair clip, was equally unwilling to give in, and the two had a big fight at home.

As a member of this family, and the eldest daughter at that, I naturally want to contribute to the family and fulfill my younger sister's wishes. But even if I do part-time jobs, I can't earn 10,000 yen before my sister's birthday.

So, so... I chose to fulfill my sister's wish in another way.

I remember it was a Sunday afternoon, the scorching sun was baking the earth, and the weather was very, very hot.

I made up an excuse to go out, took a bus, and went to a large store where I could buy those hair clips.

It was cool inside the store, but my body couldn't cool down at all. My heart was pounding, and sweat was gradually gathering in my hair.

I didn't head straight for the jewelry section where the hair clip was—that might give away my true purpose—but instead, I grabbed a basket and followed the flow of people, moving from one section to another.

At the same time, to avoid seeming too strange, I approached the jewelry section and pretended to pick up items from the shelf, looking at them as if I were quite satisfied before placing them in a basket.

But how could I possibly make sound judgments when I was completely on edge? Because I didn't have much money on me, I only had cheap and useless things with me.

Then, slowly, slowly, I walked to the jewelry section, and I saw the hair clip that my sister had said she really wanted.

Yes, that's it! The key that brings a smile to my sister's face and transforms our home back into that harmonious and warm place—I've seen it!

My eyes were fixed on the hair clip, while I glanced around out of the corner of my eye—aside from a group of three girlfriends and a man beside them, who was probably one of the girls' boyfriends, there was no one else there.

Besides, those three girls were currently comparing different small trinkets, so they couldn't possibly notice my movements.

The boy stood to the side, carefully selecting other accessories, probably planning a little surprise for his girlfriend, and was unlikely to notice what I was doing.

Good opportunity--

I tried my best to hide my excitement, keeping my eyes fixed on the shelf. I reached out and took the hair clip from it, put it in my shopping basket, and then casually slipped it into my shirt pocket as I turned the corner.

I felt my fingers going weak and trembling, and fine beads of sweat appeared on my palms and forehead in an instant.

But—no one saw it, no one noticed it, and that's enough!

I slowly walked to the counter with my basket, paid for the cheap items in the basket that neither I nor my family would need, and then strolled out of the store.

The moment the door opened, the heat from outside rushed towards me, but I didn't feel it was particularly hot. Instead, I felt a warm and comforting sense of security.

I carried the extra shopping bags, my other hand tucked into my shirt pocket, clutching the hair clip inside—it was damp and slippery from the sweat on my palm, but I still held it firmly.

Stealing is wrong. My mother taught me very seriously: never do anything wrong.

But if it can make my sister happy, stop her from arguing with our mother, and allow her to reconcile with her... I feel that making such a sacrifice is worthwhile.

Furthermore, I plan to talk to the store manager about this after I've earned back that 10,000 yen, and apologize to him properly.

That's right, in that case, everyone's wishes can be fulfilled, and a world where no one gets hurt will be realized!!

Yes, that's the best way...

Later, on my sister's birthday, I gave her the hair clip; although it wasn't in pretty packaging, she still accepted it with a smile.

"[Thank you, sister!]" -- I still remember her smile at that moment; it was the brightest smile I had ever seen from her.

See? The matter is resolved. As long as I take on a part-time job and make up for the missing 10,000 yuan as soon as possible, the 17,000 yuan will be successfully recovered.

And then, and then... I didn't expect things to get so bad.

Where did this hair clip come from?

The day after my sister's birthday, I heard my mother's angry voice outside my room. Her words made me feel like I had fallen into an ice cellar.

I rushed outside and saw my younger sister covering her head with her hands, and my mother holding a hair clip with an extremely angry expression.

There was still some hair stuck to the hair clip, as if the mother had forcibly removed it from her sister's head.

"This... this was given to me by my sister."

When my sister saw me come out, she looked at me as if I were her savior.

Then, my mother turned her angry gaze to me and repeated the question she had just asked.

"Where did this hair clip come from?!"

Although my mother asked that question, I felt that she already knew the origin of the hair clip—her eyes held not only anger, but also disbelief, disappointment, and self-blame.

It seems there's no point in trying to argue anymore.

"I stole this."

Snap--

As soon as I finished speaking, my mother angrily slapped me across the face. She hit me so hard that I fell to the ground.

Then, she collapsed to the ground as well.

"When... when did I ever teach you [to steal]?"

"Honami Er = Jiu·∶Si Ling He←⊙San●Wu Lu Si sOuSｵO:, Why would you do such a thing..."

As she spoke, she reached out and touched the fan marks on my face, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks.

Looking at my mother like this, the emotions I had always ignored, the feelings I had always deliberately suppressed, and the feelings I had been blind to surged up instantly.

I was overwhelmed by intense self-blame.

I did something I shouldn't have done.

I have disappointed my mother.

I am a sinner.

"I'm sorry, Mother... I'm so sorry..."

I hugged my knees, lowered my head, curled up, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"I did things I shouldn't have done, I made mistakes, it's all my fault..."

I recounted what had happened that day while crying; my mother didn't say anything more accusatory, she just patted my back and listened quietly.

My younger sister looked at us, who were hugging and crying, with a somewhat dazed expression, but she seemed to quickly realize the truth and started to cry too.

"No, it's all my fault. If I hadn't been so stubborn about giving out the clips, my sister wouldn't have done it."

Our cries were surprisingly harmonious, but I knew very well that this family of three had fallen apart.

It's all because of me; I'm the sinner of this family!

Once the tears dried, a blush returned to my eyes, and my eyes became dry again, I finally had the mind to think about my next steps.

Although I stole something, I haven't been caught yet. If I follow the original plan and return the money before being discovered, and explain the situation properly, I should be able to get forgiveness, right?

This way, the hair clip will be saved, and my sister... my sister will be happy too.

I wanted to do that, but my mother didn't think so.

"Honami, come with me to that store now to apologize, return the items, and make sure you apologize sincerely and ask for their forgiveness."

She held my hand, her expression brooking no refusal.

Yes, those who make mistakes should be punished; it's wrong to cover up one's mistakes.

I was quickly convinced.

So I let my mother pull my arm and led me to the store, where we met the store manager who happened to be there asking about my recent situation.

She pulled me down to kneel before the shop manager, humbly begging for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, this child did something unforgivable, I'm so sorry."

"If compensation is needed, I will. Please forgive her, considering she is still young."

My forehead hit the ground, and I couldn't see what was happening around me, but my mother's trembling voice and the chatter of the other guests reached my ears perfectly.

A flush rose to my face, and a wave of shame washed over me.

Yes, those who make mistakes should be punished like this, shouldn't they?

Moreover, I have also implicated my mother. She is someone who never bows and scrapes to others and always teaches us to be self-reliant and self-loving, but today she has to show her ugly side to others because of my mistakes.

Ichinose Honami, it's all because of you!! It's all your fault!!

A voice seemed to be saying this in my heart. (Papa)

But things seemed to change afterward.

"What [unforgivable thing]? Sir, you've misunderstood."

The store manager wasn't surprised by our appearance. He helped my mother and me up one by one and led us to the monitoring room inside.

"If it's this hair clip, we are indeed short one recently, but we've already paid for it, and we've already reprimanded the boy."

He went through the security footage and found the video of the day I [stole].

According to the surveillance footage, just as I was about to steal, the guy I thought was the boyfriend of one of the three girls in the group of girlfriends suddenly walked up to me and reached for another hair clip next to me. His action conveniently blocked the camera from noticing.

Then, as I was about to leave, he followed me, and coincidentally, his movements blocked my attempt to put the hair clip into my shirt pocket.

He followed me all the way to the cashier, and his presence made my figure in the security camera's view seem less lonely.

After I paid and left, he handed a 10,000 yuan bill to the cashier, glancing in the direction I had left while explaining something to the clerk.

That concludes the surveillance video.

Then, the store manager glanced at me and explained.

"The boy said his sister was the girl's friend. He went out with his sister and her friends that day and noticed the girl seemed distracted and even asked to leave early, which worried them."

"He thought she might be struggling to decide on a birthday gift for her younger sister, so he conspired with his older sister and her friends to secretly slip a hair clip into her pocket as a gift for her sister, and also as a surprise to cheer her up."

"However, he also said that the girl comes from a strict family and is quite upright and stubborn. If she doesn't know where the hair clip came from, she might think she stole it, and her parents might bring her to their house to apologize. So he asked me to explain to her to avoid any misunderstandings."

Hearing this fact, which was completely different from what I had said, my mother seemed to realize something, and my gaze also became somewhat dazed.

Is the "theft" incident really just my imagination?

I looked at the surveillance video again, at the boy, and at what he called "my friends."

With purplish-black hair and purple eyes, with what appear to be stars in them, he would be a very cute boy if his bangs were combed to the side so they didn't block his eyes.

However, I can say with absolute certainty that I do not know him, nor do I know those [my friends].

So, the theft is true, but he discovered my actions and even guessed my purpose, so he helped me... even though I don't know him at all, and even though he could never get anything in return from me.

Thinking of this, I felt that he was shining in my eyes.