Kallen's Resolve (5K)

A pain that pierces the heart, a pain that cuts to the bone...

"... What have I done...?"

Kallen couldn't help but squat down, hug her legs, and burst into tears.

Fool? Who's the fool here?

Just as Mahiro said before, Kallen actually knew all along why her mother wanted to stay here, but she refused to admit it or believe it.

She never believed that her mother had sought refuge with the Stadtfeld family for her sake.

Because of the persecution they suffered in Britannia after Japan's defeat, women chose to do this, and had no other choice, in order to protect their daughters.

Because she wasn't strong enough. Because she couldn't protect her daughter with her own strength.

Therefore, the woman chose to sacrifice herself, hoping to reduce her daughter's suffering in this way.

Just as she had expected, Kallen lived a life of luxury from then on, never having to worry about making a living, and never having to fight, struggle, or get injured outside for a piece of bread or a bottle of water.

She herself remained in the house with a humble status, and it didn't matter if she was bullied by the other servants.

She felt "happy" just to be able to see her daughter's back from afar.

But what kind of happiness is this?!

Knowing the whole truth, Kallen felt as if her heart had been torn apart. Recalling her cold words to her mother, she wished she could go back to that moment and slap herself a few times.

But just then, a warm embrace enveloped her.

"Don't cry, Kallen, Mommy's here, I'm right here..."

Feeling her mother's thin yet warm embrace, Kallen couldn't stop her tears from flowing, soaking her mother's clothes.

Seeing her mother still lost in the illusions of the past, yet at this moment, in Kallen's eyes, she was so beautiful, so great...

Kallen also vowed in her heart that she would take good care of her mother from now on, no matter what!

Even if it means leaving this home, I will never let my mother suffer any more humiliation!

But at that moment, for some unknown reason, the woman suddenly leaned backward.

"Mother!"

She quickly reached out and hugged the woman's slender body, only to find that the woman had completely fainted.

Eyes tightly closed.

No matter how she called out to her, there was no response.

At this moment, Kallen completely panicked.

Is this a side effect of the medication?

What to do?

She felt helpless again, just like when Naoto Kozuki's brother died and was brought back to her as a cold corpse.

But the next second, a rather improper figure suddenly flashed through her mind.

"Oh right, Teacher Mahiro!"

Yes, she was thinking of Yotsuba Mahiro, the man who guided her to reconcile with her mother, seemingly omniscient and omnipotent!

So she quickly took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, teacher? This is Kallen Stadtfeld. Please help me, save my mother..."

Chapter 268 Kallen's Resolve (5K)

Everyone has dreams, and each person's life is unique and wonderful.

Kallen felt she understood the true meaning of those words; her mother didn't crave wealth or status, nor did she hope her former lover would return.

I just hope I can live a better life...

"This is a special ward in the best hospital in the Tokyo Settlement. If your mother stays here, she will recover quickly with proper care. However, because the contraband can cause some damage to her nerves, it will probably take some time for her to fully recover."

As for the school, I've already arranged a long leave for you. Use this time to spend quality time with your mother; it will help with your recovery..."

In the pristine white hospital room, Kallen's mother lay quietly on the bed, a faint smile on her pale face, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Beside the hospital bed, Kallen, dressed in her Ashford Academy uniform, sat in a chair, holding her mother's hands and gazing at her tenderly.

Her fingers were rough, and the skin on her hands was covered in calluses. Touching those faint wrinkles, Kallen felt a pang of self-reproach and sadness.

Her mother had done so much for her, yet she not only failed to see her mother's hardships, but also blamed her.

Whether as a child or as a person, she felt that she had really gone too far.

However, thanks to him, thanks to this teacher who seemed a bit unconventional but always taught me a lot.

If he hadn't been guiding himself, helping him understand himself and realize his mother's hardships, he probably still wouldn't have known about all the unspeakable difficulties his mother had faced.

This immense kindness is something that can probably never be repaid in a lifetime.

Kallen slowly raised her head and looked at the tall, slender figure standing by the window.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and a gentle breeze blew in through the half-open window, softly swaying the carnations the man had just brought.

Her red hair obscured her eyes, and Kallen gracefully reached out to gather it behind her head.

The only figure in her sight was that man.

It's unbelievable that the Shadow who faced the Knights of the Rounds's attack without flinching on the Lake Kawaguchi, and even utterly Yotsuba Mahiro Britannia, who plays the somewhat unconventional teacher role at school, actually possesses such a caring and gentle side.

Not only did she help her mother resolve all her hospitalization issues, but she even had the time to bring the patient a bouquet of flowers.

What an incredible person...

Unlike ZERO, although it's unclear how he managed the disguise, he showed no intention of hiding his true identity, and even when his real identity was discovered, he readily admitted it...

What exactly is this man's purpose?

Could it be that what I said that day was just a passing fancy?

I don't think so...

Kallen was lost in thought and didn't notice that Mahiro had already walked up to her.

"Hey, are you listening? Snap out of it!"

A hand was waved in front of Kallen, finally bringing her back to her senses.

"Ah, sorry, I was daydreaming, Mahiro- sensei."

Kallen lowered her head slightly to show her apology, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Sigh, never mind, I understand how you feel. But it's alright now. It was discovered in time, and your mother has a good chance of recovering. Besides, I've already made arrangements for her. You don't need to worry about anything else; I'll take care of everything."

Mahiro words of comfort to Kallen.

But then, as if complaining, he jokingly said:

"But you'll have to talk to ZERO yourself, otherwise, your Black Knights and that ZERO guy might think I've kidnapped their lovely Knightmare pilot."

Kallen chuckled as she listened to Mahiro's incessant chatter.

"What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, I just feel that you don't really know which side is the real you. Sometimes you're frighteningly cold, sometimes you're frivolous like a playboy, and sometimes you're like a great philosopher..."

But sometimes, he's an exceptionally gentle person.

"Is it possible that all these facets are me, and that through all of them, I, the being named Yotsuba Mahiro, am formed?"

"Is that so..."

Kallen smiled softly. For some reason, her tense mind slowly relaxed, and she felt inexplicably happy as she talked to him.

"Alright, now you should spend more time with your mother. I'll head back to school now."

Mahiro turned to leave, Kallen called out to him.

"Um... wait a moment Mahiro- sensei, could you come with me for a moment? I have something... I want to tell you."

"Huh? What can't be said here?"

"You came just because I told you to!"

Kallen looked at her mother lying on the hospital bed, then looked up at Mahiro. Thinking of the secret she wanted to reveal, the strong girl turned her head away shyly.

Seeing the girl's expression, he must have understood that there was something she couldn't say here.

So Mahiro nodded and left the ward with Kallen.

The girl led him to the rooftop of the hospital. In the gentle breeze, Mahiro leaned on the rooftop railing, watching the crowds coming and going below.

"Teacher, I want to share a secret with you..."

Kallen spoke quietly and softly, her eyes gradually filled with memories of the past.

For Kallen, there is only one land that can be called her "homeland"—

It was a small fishing village.

Kallen lived there until months before the outbreak of war Britannia and Japan.

But after that, she traveled from place to place, mainly because of her identity; she was the child of Britannia and Japan.

However, despite the growing Britannia sentiment around her, Kallen was rarely bullied or teased by the other children.

One of the reasons was that she wouldn't allow others to do that. It sounds strange, but even though she was a girl, she was stronger than other children.

She will not hesitate to strike back at anyone who dares to speak ill of her, even if the person is a boy.

She wanted to make the other person understand in this way that she was both Britannia and Japan.

Unfortunately, even though she had excellent grades at school, her teachers didn't rate her well, simply because of her mixed-race heritage.

Therefore, she was forced to travel to different places because of the adults' affairs.

The one enduring unbearable pain was the mother.

Wherever she went, people would point fingers and criticize the woman who had given birth to a child for Britannia. Because she was not formally married, the criticism was even more intense.

However, what Kallen hated most was her cowardice.

Am I an obstacle for my mother?

Kallen once asked this question to his face.

At that moment, her mother smiled weakly and hugged her without saying a word, which made Kallen's heart grow even colder.

Why doesn't she clearly deny it? Why won't she talk to me? Is she unable to give a negative answer because that's what she's thinking? Is she unable to talk to me because it's true?

If you think I'm an obstacle, then don't have me in the first place!

Deep within Kallen's heart, a silent accusation was being made.

After the war ended, the situation worsened.

Because she did not have Britannia citizenship, her mother was unable to Britannia concession.

Even more tragically, she had nowhere to stay even in the Japan -populated areas.

Without a job or a place to live, she could only rely on her brother to earn a meager living.

My mother never left the house, or rather, the shack that didn't even have a door.

Every day I stayed in the dimly lit little house, looking at the only, simple shack that I couldn't give up.

And so, the final place they arrived at was the Stadtfeld house.

Of course, Kallen herself was strongly opposed.

"I absolutely will not go!"

Have you forgotten what the Britannia did in Japan, and how much misfortune they caused our families?

Don't you know how shameful it is to accept the pity and charity of the Britannia?

Moreover, I'm the only one who can officially acknowledge it.

What should I do about my brother?

What should Mom do?