Chapter 5 – Mother and Father

After applying the ointment, I hold hands with onii-chan and go to see Mother.

「Good morning, Agus, Rina. You two are getting along well today as always」

Mother smiles at us holding hands. I know from Rina’s memories that this is normal, but it is embarrassing.

『They really are close. I have a younger sister too, but if I tried to hold her hand, she would definitely kick me. And hard』

Yuu, is not that because of your current age? I think it was different when you were a child.

「Ah」

She probably noticed the wounds on onii-chan’s and my necks. Mother’s face stiffens.

「We are fine」

Onii-chan holds Mother’s hand.

「Yes, you are right. You both defeated the curse and are here now」

『The mother also realized it was a curse immediately. This is truly a world where curses are right beside you. Scary』

Mother, who looks like she is about to cry, hugs me tightly. I reach out and pat her back.

I am sorry. The real Rina died from the curse. I am an impostor.

「Rina, does it hurt?」

Mother gently reaches for my neck.

「It is okay. Onii-chan applied the ointment for me」

It actually hurts a little. But I force a smile and act like it is nothing.

Both onii-chan and mother are so kind. Am I going to keep deceiving such good people from now on? It feels painful.

「You can say it if it hurts, you know?」

It seems my smile did not fool them. I made them look sad.

「Yes. It hurts a little」

Why did I end up possessing someone? No, if I had not possessed her, Rina would have died. Which outcome would have been better?

「I am home. What is wrong? What happened?」

When Father enters the house, he sees our condition and rushes over in a panic. Then he looks at onii-chan’s and my necks and widens his eyes.

「Don’t tell me, a curse? That woman? Damn it, next time I see her, I will demand an explanation for what she did――」

「Rigus, stop it」

Mother hastily stops Father.

「She is the younger sister of the Viscount. If we confront her, we will be punished for our bad attitude. Who knows what might happen to the children」

The noble ranks were Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron, and Baronet, right? A Viscount is low among nobles, yet we get punished just for complaining. It seems I have come to a very troublesome world.

「Sorry, I let my anger get the better of me」

Father pats onii-chan’s and my heads.

「I am sorry. Because of me, you two had to go through such pain」

「It is not your fault, Father」

Onii-chan grabs Father’s hand. I nod beside him.

「That is right. It is not your fault, Father」

「Agus and Rina are so kind. I am happy that you have grown up to be such good children」

Father smiles happily and hugs us along with onii-chan. He is stronger than Mother.

「Father, control your strength! You will hurt Rina」

When onii-chan gets angry, Father laughs and raises his hands.

「Sorry, did it hurt?」

Father looks at me with an apologetic expression.

「It is okay」

「Rina. If you spoil Father, he will forget to control his strength and hug you again. You felt pain before, right?」

Hmm? Ah, yes, that did happen.

「Come on, Rigus, wash your hands and let us have breakfast」

Mother taps Father’s shoulder and points to a certain door.

It is the washroom, I believe.

「Understood. Suna, were you okay?」

「She’s fine. I checked on her earlier, and she was sleeping soundly」

「I see」

Father goes to the washroom looking relieved. In the meantime, onii-chan and I help prepare breakfast. Today’s breakfast is milk soup and steamed potatoes.

Ah, Rina likes the milk soup Mother makes. I remember her drinking it happily two days ago.

「It looks delicious today too」

Once Father takes his seat, we all start eating.

「「「「Itadakimasu」」」」

『Heh, so this world knows that phrase. That means we cannot do that classic scene』

Curious about Yuu’s words, I glance at him while drinking my soup.

『You know, when the protagonist eats, they accidentally say ‘Itadakimasu’ out of habit. Then the people eating with them ask what it means, and when the protagonist explains the meaning of ‘Let us eat,’ everyone says, ‘That is nice.’ So, from the next meal onward, everyone starts saying ‘Itadakimasu’ together』

I should not say that, right? If this world does not have the culture of saying 「Itadakimasu」, and I say it here and explain the meaning, my family would wonder how I know such a thing. After all, I am part of a family that has always been together, yet suddenly I know a phrase and its meaning that do not exist in this world.

I put a potato in my mouth. The sauce on it is delicious.

『Hmm, I am not hungry, but seeing you eat so deliciously makes me want to eat too』

I glance at Yuu.

I somehow understand that feeling. But I do not like being stared at while I eat.

「「「「Gochisousama」」」」

While we are cleaning up, Father looks at my neck.

Is he still worried? My scars are worse than onii-chan’s.

「It seems like the scars will remain」

Father mutters sadly.

「If only we could buy medicine from the church」

Mother looks at Father with a troubled expression.

「It is impossible. We do not have the money」

「That is true」

There is a church in Rina’s memories, but no information about church medicine. It seems to be something special, but it requires money.

「Father, I do not mind」

I hold Father’s hand.

Ah, before I knew it, I was holding Father’s hand. Rina seems to like holding hands with her family.

「Really?」

「Yes」

Father pats my head.

How long has it been since Father patted my head? Hehe, Rina experienced this yesterday too.

「Rigus, it is time for work」

Mother checks the clock and urges Father.

「You are right. I must not be late. Agus, please take care of Kana and your two younger sisters」

「Yes, leave it to me. Have a good day」

Onii-chan waves to Father.

「Father, have a good day」

I also wave from next to onii-chan, and Father smiles happily.

「I am off」

After Father leaves for work, Mother brings a large basket.

「Mother, is today delivery day?」

Delivery?

Ah, Mother works as a seamstress at home. She is good at embroidery.

「Yes. By the way, I am very confident about this embroidery, so take a look」

Mother takes a dress out of the basket and spreads it out for us to see.

「Wow, amazing」

There are many flower embroideries on the chest of the dress. The colorful and delicate work is just as good as Mother claimed when she said she was 「confident」.

「Mother, it is very beautiful」

Mother smiles at onii-chan’s words.

「Right? I worked hard on it」

It is truly impressive.

「There is another one」

Mother takes another dress out of the basket and spreads it out. This one has flowers and butterflies embroidered on it, making it look very gorgeous.

「Mother, you are really amazing」

「Thank you, Rina」

「Rina. You should start getting ready soon」

Eh, for what?

「Agus」

「What is wrong, Mother?」

Onii-chan looks at Mother.

「Take a day off from school today and relax at home. You have wounds on your neck, after all」

Right, there is school.

「Ah, I see. That is true」

Onii-chan touches his neck with a troubled expression.

「What is wrong?」

Mother looks at onii-chan with a worried expression.

「Are you going to skip school until this heals?」

If so, that would mean taking a long break.

「No, just until it calms down a bit. It is red and hot today, isn’t it?」

「Yes」

『That is a fake sick day approved by parents』

That is not right. It is not an illness, but I am skipping due to injury.

Mother looks at me.

「You too, Rina」

「Yes, understood」

When I touch my neck, I feel a stinging pain and heat. Will it calm down in two or three days?