The phone felt heavier than a brick.
Harumi held it with both hands, staring at the number written on the paper as if it were a nuclear launch code.
— ...I'm calling.
Silence.
It didn't last long, though, because Sora was busy eating his third melting ice cream.
— You've been saying that for five minutes since we got home.
Takeru, leaning against the wall:
— Just call already.
— I KNOW!!
She took a deep breath.
Typed the number.
Deleted it.
Typed it again.
Deleted it.
— What if she answers and hangs up?
— Probably will, said Takeru.
— What if she yells at me?
— Also likely.
— What if she—
— Harumi.
— Fine!!
She pressed the button.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Each ring sounded like a war drum.
Then—
Click.
— ...Hello.
The voice was quiet.
Calm.
Cold.
Harumi froze.
— I-I-I—
— I can't believe it.
Pause.
— You actually got my number.
Harumi swallowed hard.
— W-wait! I swear I'll be quick! It's not some crazy idea! I swear! I swear, I swear, I swear! Please just hear me out!!
Silence on the other end.
Then:
— ...Get on with it.
Harumi blurted everything out in one breath.
— I JUST WANT TO PUT THE KIDS UNDER MY GUARDIANSHIP BUT I NEED YOUR SIGNATURE AND CONSENT SO PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU AGREE OR NOT!!
Silence.
Harumi sweating.
Sora whispered:
— Did she die?
Takeru:
— Shhh.
From the other side:
— ...That's it?
Harumi blinked.
— Yeah.
— Why didn't you say so earlier?
Harumi nearly cried.
— I TRIED!! I asked at reception, I asked through the intercom, I tried sending notes, I tried climbing up a drainpipe—
From the other side...
A sound.
Very faint.
A laugh.
Harumi froze solid.
"SHE LAUGHS??? SHE HAS EMOTIONS???"
Mizuki sighed.
— You're still noisy.
— Sorry...
— ...And you're really going to take care of them?
Her voice changed.
Not cold.
Just... direct.
Harumi took a deep breath.
Calmer this time.
— I am.
Pause.
— They're doing well. Healthy. Eating properly. Going to bed on time...
— ...Our vaccination records ended up in the trash, muttered Takeru.
Harumi elbowed him.
— And... I love them.
A lot.
Silence.
A long one.
On the other side of the line...
Mizuki said nothing.
(Memory — Mizuki)
An old kitchen.
The smell of cigarettes.
Her mother's voice echoed through the room.
— What a disgrace. Your child is going to suffer without a father. When people ask what his father does, what are you going to tell them?
A younger Mizuki stood still.
Hands clenched.
— At least you knew who your father was, her mother continued. This boy won't even have that.
— I know who his father is.
— Then ask him if he's going to take care of you and your child. Of course he won't! It'll all fall on me because otherwise—
She mimicked knocking on the door.
— The welfare office will come knocking!
An uncomfortable silence filled the house.
— You're nothing but trouble! Damn it!
Plates slammed together.
— You're going to raise him all wrong. You can't even take care of yourself. Look at that job you got. If you took it just to leave home sooner, congratulations, because you only made things worse for yourself.
Heavy silence.
Mizuki staring at the floor.
— That's not true. I just wanted to help pay for school.
— Oh really?! Her mother took a sharp breath. And out of every job in the world, it had to be that filthy one?! Just look where you are at sixteen. Even I was doing better than you.
Thinking:
"She's right, you idiot. Don't say anything. You'll just hurt her too."
"If I don't get close to anyone... nobody can reject me."
Thinking:
"And what about him? What about Ryoji?"
"What am I supposed to do?"
"If I let go first... it won't hurt as much."
(Back to the call)
— ...Mizuki?
Harumi's voice brought her back.
— Are you still there?
— I am.
Pause.
— I'll sign it.
Harumi stopped breathing.
— ...What?
— I'll sign it.
— ...REALLY???
— Did you want me to say no?
— NO!!
— Then that's settled.
Harumi started trembling with relief.
— Thank you... seriously... thank you so much...
— What do we need for all this paperwork?
Harumi immediately started explaining.
— Well, there's forms, certification, in-person signatures, maybe a notary, maybe witnesses—
— Stop.
— ...Huh?
— I got lost already.
Pause.
— Let's do this instead.
Harumi went quiet.
— I want food.
— ...Food?
— I want that soup... and tea... and something sweet.
Pause.
— Tomorrow, I'm coming to your house. We'll sign everything then.
Silence.
Harumi froze.
Mizuki was already bracing herself.
"Idiot. She's going to say no."
"She's going to tell me to mail the documents."
"She's going to say she doesn't want me seeing the kids."
— ...
Mizuki almost said:
— I'm kiddi—
— AAAAA OF COURSE YOU CAN COME!!!
Explosion.
— I'll prepare everything for you!! Don't worry about the time! Come whenever you want! If you need a wheelchair, I'll get one! My neighbor has one! If you need medical assistance, I can arrange that too! If you want to rest, I'll get pillows, blankets—
Mizuki went silent.
A faint warmth spread across her face.
"This woman... is impossible."
She almost smiled.
— It'll be quick, said Mizuki, trying to keep her voice neutral. The kids probably don't want to see me.
At that exact moment—
— WHY ARE YOU YELLING??! Takeru's voice came from the background.
Harumi whispered.
Loud enough for half of Japan to hear.
— MIZUKI IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE TOMORROW!!
— ...You're kidding.
— WAIT A SECOND, KID, I'LL EXPLAIN!!
Mizuki heard everything.
And then it hit her.
"...I'm really going to see them."
After all this time.
She fell silent for a moment.
— ...Then that's that, said Mizuki.
— YES!! Thank you so much, seriously!! And sorry about that day at the hospital... for kicking the door... and yelling... I really needed to apologize for that.
Mizuki blinked.
Harumi hadn't waited for an apology in return.
She hadn't expected anything.
She had simply apologized for what she'd done.
"...She's strange."
"But... she's honest."
— Fine, said Mizuki. Tomorrow.
— Tomorrow!!
— Don't throw a party.
— I'll try!!
— Don't try too hard.
— ...Okay.
A brief silence.
— Goodbye, Harumi.
— Goodbye, Mizuki!
Click.
The call ended.
Harumi stood frozen.
Phone still in hand.
Eyes wide open.
— ...
— ...She's coming, she said in shock.
Sora:
— She's coming??
Takeru stayed silent.
Expressionless.
But his fingers tightened slightly around the hem of his shirt.
Harumi took a deep breath.
— ...She's coming.
And in that moment...
It wasn't just a signature anymore.
It was the beginning of something much bigger.