There’s Always Someone No One Can Beat.

“I don’t wannaaa! Don’t throw it away!”

“I never said I was going to throw it away…”

How many times have I looked up at the ceiling in the entrance hall?

The one hitting my chest in protest… is unmistakably my mom.

“I just wish you’d make a more normal lunch.”

“Normal…? Oh, Ryoma! Don’t say such childish things! What’s good for others isn’t always good for us!”

“No, no, no. This isn’t the time to say something so parental.”

Having a bento filled with heart marks was bearable, but I’m long past the age where a cute character bento is suitable. Yet, she always hands it to me with a happy face, so I haven’t been able to refuse. When I asked her to moderate a bit, this is what I get.

And if I suggest she doesn’t need to make it at all, she looks at me like I’ve slapped her with a disownment notice. I’ve lost three times with that approach.

“So, are you tired of me…!?”

“Mom! Mom!! What are you talking about!”

“If Ryoma gets tired of me, how am I supposed to live from now on!?”

“You’re making it sound way worse than it is!!”

I really wish she wouldn’t go outside.

“Ah… fine, fine. I’ll ask you to make it again tomorrow…”

“Really!? Hehe, you just can’t break away from me, can you!”

“Th-this…!”

I say again that this person poking me is indeed my blood-related parent.

“…So, uh, Mom. What’s for dinner…?”

“Of course, I have dinner ready! But Ryoma!”

“…What is it?”

“Tonight, we promised to watch a movie together, right!!”

“…While eating?”

“Yeah, let’s do that!”

Seeing her skip back to the kitchen happily, I decided to head back to my room. Peeking into my mom’s room, I saw my father’s memorial altar.

“…I’m home.”

I greeted him, but that was it.

After placing my bag in my room, I returned to the dining area. My mom and I made eye contact as she worked with a frying pan in the kitchen, which was connected to the hallway.

“By the way!!!!”

“Don’t yell from there… What is it?”

Not wanting her to strain her voice, I moved towards the kitchen.

“You were late today. Where were you?”

“Late? It’s only 6:30…”

“But you’re usually home by 6… and then you leave me all alone.”

“It’s just my routine, okay????”

What is she talking about? She makes it sound like I’m a cheating husband.

All I do is go for a run and do some exercises at the park. Today I just had a bit more on my plate.

“So, what were you doing?”

“Nothing important.”

I said lightly, not wanting to discuss the details.

But I had a bad feeling. She’s strangely sharp at times like these.

She immediately gave me a piercing look, lowering her voice a notch.

“…Ryoma, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

Even though she’s trying to sound serious, the effort is obvious. That’s Mom-quality.

“Teenagers have one or two secrets.”

But if I try to brush it off, she immediately sees through it.

“No way! I know exactly where everything is in your room!”

“Can you not????”

There’s nothing particularly incriminating, but still, it’s not okay.

“So, you can’t fool your mom’s eyes?”

“Do I have to tell you?”

“Yes. Otherwise──”

Before I could imagine the consequence, she said,

“I’ll cry loudly on the balcony, saying my son abandoned me.”

“Please don’t.”

We’re living in a cheap apartment, so the neighbors would hear everything.

“…Sigh.”

I sighed. When will I ever win against my mom?

“It’s nothing major. Just something I couldn’t overlook.”

“…Really?”

“Don’t look so pleased.”

Mom’s face brightened instantly with a happy smile.

Bringing the reheated dishes to the table, she said in a gentle voice, different from earlier.

“Ryoma may not like it, but your father was the same.”

“That’s why I don’t like it. Our tough life now is because Dad left us with nothing, always trying to please everyone.”

“We’re plenty happy. We have two side dishes for dinner.”

Mom said in a cheerful voice as she placed the small plates.

“…Come on.”

That’s all paid for by her part-time job and insurance payouts.

“I’m not going to end up like Dad.”

Even as I brushed it aside, Mom, sitting across from me, kept smiling. She would wait until morning for me to speak.

“But…”

“But?”

She tilted her head happily, and I sighed, giving in.

“Once I start caring, I can’t help it. Is it because of blood? Is my heart swayed by something like that?”

Today, too, I ended up meddling after seeing Kinoshita cry.

It brought me no benefit.

“Just because your father was like that doesn’t mean you will be, Ryoma. But please don’t make that face. Your kindness isn’t a flaw.”

“…Mom, you say that, but…”

But whenever I meddle, the result is always,

‘We should have left it to Goda from the start.’

‘You can just do everything.’

‘Yeah, yeah, you’re cool.’

…Nothing good comes from it.

People praise me. But it’s not what I want. I try to help someone fulfill their wish, but I end up working harder than them or going off-track. That was my elementary and middle school life.

I thought it was natural to work hard for what you wanted. I smiled and said, let’s work together. But I learned that even working hard requires talent.

‘I’m exhausted.’

‘I have dreams, but if I have to work this hard, I’m done.’

‘You have more talent than me.’

‘I can’t keep up with your energy.’

‘I didn’t ask you to go that far.’

So, helping someone is just unnecessary meddling.

Hearing that I resemble Dad only makes it worse.

Yet, I never learn.

“Ryoma, what do you think of your father?”

“A pathetic man who didn’t even have many people at his funeral. A useless person who left Mom struggling even after death. A fool who ruined himself with his meddling.”

“…Yes.”

Don’t look so sad…

“But you know, Ryoma. I still love your father more than anyone in the world.”

“And?”

“So, Ryoma. You’ll find someone like that too. Don’t suppress your feelings. Just do what you think is right. You’re amazing, Ryoma.”

Mom said, smiling from the heart.

Talking proudly about Dad, who left her with nothing.

“…I just don’t want to regret my actions.”

So, I’ll handle this moderately.

I may not find someone like Mom and Dad did.

Just then, I received a notification.

Minami has added you as a friend on LINE.