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Memory Of A Rainy Day
Rain continues to fall. Inside a dimly lit house. There were also no lights on. With my small hands, I stirred the white, sticky something inside a bowl. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
A meager allowance. And it was a little saving I had left somehow after I received it, sometimes not, and sometimes having it taken away without me even realizing it. I used them all to buy these materials. I don’t have any left, so I have to make this work. Everyone will be back soon. Not too early, not too late. I just have to bake it at the right time.
The old clock in the living room ticks heavily. It’s six in the evening. It is currently the rainy season, and it’s still not dark outside.
Yosh, it’s time to put it in the frying pan. The first time is going to fail for sure. That will be mine. The ones that will go well will be for father, mother, and my two brothers.
I tried my best but sure enough. The first one is a huge fail. It was covered in burnt spots and embarrassing even to show it. But, thanks to that, the second one turns out to be somewhat decent. And so, carefully, I finally made 5. I’ve run out of ingredients, so this is all the homemade pancakes I made.
I arranged plates on the old table in the living room. I place the pancakes there without adding the maple syrup. Also, the butter. Right, I have to place the fork too.
I look outside the window. The rain is still falling as usual.
There was a *boon* sound. It’s seven in the evening.
Strange. The store should be closed today. My mother went to pick up my second brother from cram school in the car. My father and oldest brother went out together, but I didn’t ask where they were going. I mean, it’s obvious. Today is my birthday, after all.
But still, the last pancake was done 30 minutes ago. The pancakes will end up cold if they are late. Somehow, it felt like even my heart had started sweating, and it began to get cold. Did I mess up something?
No, it’s still okay. I think the taste is slightly bad but that can’t be helped.
Father and mother had a big fight a few days ago. And father hit mother as usual, then mother broke the plates. I could do nothing but tremble in my futon at that time.
The two of them are now living together without meeting each other’s faces in silence. I regretted it. I was always so scared and didn’t do anything, so it became like this again.
Even so, it is my birthday today so I thought that at least everyone would come home today. I don’t think it will turn out well but I did my best. It will be good if everyone eats and talks while laughing.
But, it doesn’t appear everyone is coming back.
I could hear the sound of a car’s engine and tires sending mud from a puddle outside when it’s seven thirty. I got excited.
The sound of the car door opening. Then footsteps. Since they came back home, I’m going to say ‘welcome home’ with a smile.
But, something feels strange. The living room has a curtain, but I could still hear the sound from the outside. The sound of footsteps was unusually rough. And I also hear my mother’s voice sounding irritated. I don’t really understand what she’s saying but something bad must have happened.
As the front door opened, the sound of rain outside became clear.
「This idiot! You understand? Don’t embarrass me in public anymore!」
There was no time to say something like ‘welcome back’. Mother was extremely angry.
My brother looks down. There is a red mark on his cheek. He must have been slapped.
My mother and brother arrived in the living room just like that. No, it would be more accurate to say she pulled my brother’s ear and brought him to the living room. Mother looks around for an instant, and it looks like she also notices the pancakes, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she slapped my brother’s cheek, who stood silently in front of her. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
I was about to say ‘stop’ but I realized there was another sound outside. It’s the sound of another car. That means, father returned. I thought I wanted the situation to stop, but on the contrary, I quickly realized that it would just make things even more complicated.
When father entered the living room with my oldest brother, everyone’s eyes met and we all fell silent. But, mother soon started a conversation.
「Where have you been?」
It was a low tone. It’s like she was blaming father for having such a relaxed atmosphere.
「I can do whatever and wherever I want since it’s a day off, right?」
He’s already in a bad mood.
But, mother doesn’t stop questioning him.
「Tomiyoshi was caught shoplifting again! It was terrible for me!」
「I see」
Father replied, looking like it’s troublesome.
My oldest brother, standing next to him, has a serious look on his face. And mother asks him.
「Where have you been? Be honest and tell me」
「Kei, you don’t have to tell her」
「Just say it already」
He’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. As a child, he is forced to take sides between his parents. And there is no option to choose from. If he doesn’t say anything, he will side with mother, if not with father.
But, my oldest brother Keisei found the third answer. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「We were looking for a present for You……」
However, his eyes were swimming. And mother didn’t miss that.
「So? Where is the present?」
「Umm, that is.....」
Since the present itself didn’t exist, it was an idea that wouldn’t last.
No, maybe they intended to do just that when they went out. But, they ran out of money.
「You’re looking at the horses at the zoo, right? You did, right?」
I won’t say anything anymore. I can’t. That’s enough.
That allowed him to take an ambiguous attitude. He gave his mother an indirect hint while standing on his father’s side.
「Where did you get that kind of money?」
「Shut up, that’s my own business」
「Stop….」
I managed to interrupt their conversation even though my voice was as loud as a mosquito. Father and mother are looking at me. I felt like I had shrunk right after. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「U, umm, you know, I, I made some pancakes. I want you to try it」
I smiled - the best as I could - despite being awkward.
The father silently walked to the plate and looked at the pancakes. He just uses his fingers to take one, without a fork or a knife. Then he ate it. And he silently picked the plate. He remained standing throughout.
Just like that, he walked with big strides toward the window, pushed the curtain, and forcefully opened the glass window. The sound of rain hit my ears. He threw what was on the plate into the grey garden. Casually.
「The heat is not right. Some parts are burnt and some are still raw. It’s cold to begin with. Don’t serve something like this」
After saying that, he put the plate on the table and left the room.
Mother’s voice pierces through his back.
「Where are you going!?」
Father does not reply as he puts on his shoes and leaves. After a while, we can hear the sound of the car engine, and it drove away.
Mother was in a daze for some time, but she immediately flared up. In a rage, she grabbed the plate of pancakes in front of her and threw it on the floor.
「I’ve had enough!」
She dropped the things she was carrying and left the room with only a small handbag. The front door opened and closed.
As the sound of the engine faded for the second time, there was a rustling sound coming from the entrance. It’s my oldest brother putting on rain gear. It seems like he’s planning on going out.
Looking back, my second brother collected the remaining pancakes. One, two.....then he stopped. One of them had gotten mixed with the broken pieces of the plates on the floor, and the other one is a burnt failure. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
He said to me with a hoarse voice while looking at me with a glare.
「That, you eat it」
That was it.
I heard the sound of the front door opening and someone climbing the stairs, leaving me alone in the living room.
In front of me is the burnt, cold pancake. I picked up a fork. There was a cold metallic clink. After that, I couldn’t move my hands any further, I just stayed still.
The clock run *booon*. It was eight o’clock.
Suddenly, something hot welled up from the back of my throat. I was sobbing before I knew it. Tears won’t stop as they keep coming out.....
I woke up with a start.
The sound of rain continued. Rain.....right, rain.
I look around. An old wooden bed, a small chair, and a dressing table. The courtyard could be seen from the half-opened wooden window. A temporary tent had been put up as they probably couldn’t leave the tools exposed to the rain. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
This seems to be the room facing the east on the first floor, where it is sometimes used as a sickbay. South of here is the warehouse, and north is the dining hall. My consciousness gradually cleared up.
……right. I am, no longer Saiki You. I’m Fals, no, Noor.
「You woke up……」
I turned at the unfamiliar voice.
「Are you crying?」
My eyes were glued to the person.
The one asking me was the cutest girl I had ever seen until now. But that’s not the reason I’m staring at her.
She had black hair. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Author Note :
Saiki siblings :
Eldest ：佐伯 経世 (さいき けいせい) Saiki Keisei
Second son ：佐伯 富能 (さいき とみよし) Saiki Tomiyoshi
Main Character ：佐伯 陽 (さいき よう) Saiki You
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