Blood on the School Tracks: My Overprotective Mom and Secret Boyfriend - Public execution snacks

The classroom at lunchtime was bright with the June light pouring through the windows. Osabe Seiichi was at his desk, about to open the bento his mother had made. He untied the pale blue cloth. Inside were tamagoyaki, cherry tomatoes, octopus sausages, and spinach ohitashi. All of it, nothing but Seiichi's favorites. Every morning, Shizuko made it while tasting as she went, adjusting little by little so that Seiichi would eat every bite. (Today it's Mom's taste again.) Seiichi picked up his chopsticks. That was when it happened. "Hey hey, Osabe-kun!" A bright voice cut through the classroom chatter and flew straight at him. He looked up. Standing there was a girl with a chestnut ponytail swaying behind her. Her hair bounced with every move. Big, round brown eyes stared straight at Seiichi. The dimples that appeared when she smiled flickered in and out now, betraying a touch of nervousness. A small flower hairpin caught the light from the window and glinted. Mizuno Shiori. A cheerful, energetic girl in his class. She'd been in the same class as Seiichi since they started school. "Oh, yeah. Mizuno-san." Seiichi set down his chopsticks and turned toward her. Shiori stood in front of his desk, hands clasped behind her back, leaning forward just slightly. Her ponytail bounced against her shoulders. "Um, I have something I want to ask you." "What is it?" Shiori looked down for just a moment, then raised her face. Her cheeks were faintly pink. "Want to go see a movie this weekend?" Seiichi's fingers unconsciously fiddled with his uniform cuff. "A movie...?" "Yeah! There's something that looks really good playing at the cinema by Kiryuugaoka Station. I've been curious about it for a while." Kiryuugaoka Cinema. A five-screen theater that had gone up in the station-front redevelopment. It was a little stylish for middle schoolers, and on weekends it was always bustling with couples and families. "So, um, if you'd like, I was wondering if you'd come with me." Shiori's voice was a little quieter than usual. But her eyes never left Seiichi. His mother's face floated into Seiichi's mind. —Come straight home. No detours. —Mommy gets lonely, you know. Shizuko's smiling face. Her gentle voice. But her eyes weren't smiling. (I can't. I have to say no.) Seiichi started to open his mouth. "Sorry, I, um—" "Oh, do you already have plans? Sunday works too, if that's better." Shiori spoke a little faster now. "It's not that..." "Then what? You don't like movies?" "It's not that I don't like them." "Then it's settled!" Shiori's face lit up. Her dimples appeared clearly. Her ponytail swayed as if it were celebrating. Seiichi searched for the words to refuse. But Shiori's smile was so dazzling that his mind went blank. "...Yeah. I'll go." His own voice dissolved into the air of the classroom. He'd said it. Seiichi was the most surprised of anyone at the words that had come out of his mouth. (I said I'd go.) A warmth spread slowly through his chest. His heart was beating a little faster than usual. "Really!? Yay!" Shiori pressed her hands together and hopped with joy. "What time works? How about Saturday afternoon?" "Yeah, that's fine." "Then let's work out the details tomorrow!" With that, Shiori headed back to her seat. Her steps were so light she looked like she might skip. Seiichi, still feeling his heart pound, opened his bento again. (A movie, huh...) (How many years has it been since I've been to a theater?) Just once, when he was little, with Shizuko. (How do I tell Mom?) The moment that thought surfaced, the warmth in his chest cooled a little. But when he remembered Shiori's smile, somehow he felt it would be all right. (If I explain it properly, she'll understand.) Seiichi put a piece of tamagoyaki in his mouth. Sweet. Shizuko's taste. (Mom is kind.) He decided to believe that. After school. The chime rang, and the classroom erupted into noise all at once. As Seiichi was stuffing textbooks into his bag, a voice came from behind him. "Osabe-kun, want to walk home together?" He turned. Shiori stood there hugging her bag. "Yeah, sure." Seiichi replayed his mother's "come straight home" in a corner of his mind as he left the classroom alongside Shiori. The two of them walked the path to the school gate. The evening light dyed the school walls orange. The trees in the courtyard swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling softly. "You know, Osabe-kun, you always walk home alone, don't you?" Shiori said it while peering up into his face. "Yeah. My house is close." I see. I live on the other side of the station, so it's a bit far for me." As she walked, Shiori bounced along like she was skipping. Her ponytail swung left and right each time. "Hey, Osabe-kun." "What?" Shiori slowed her pace just a little. "You know, I moved to this area when I was in fourth grade." "Is that so." "The first day at a new school is so nerve-wracking, right? I didn't even know where to sit." Shiori gazed toward the school gate as if looking into the distance. "That day, I was by the window all alone. Nobody talked to me, and I just kept looking down." Seiichi looked at her profile. The girl who was always so cheerful had a slightly distant look in her eyes. "And then, a boy came over and said, 'Want to walk home together?'" Shiori turned toward Seiichi. "That was you, Osabe-kun." Seiichi stopped in his tracks. "...Huh?" "You don't remember?" Seiichi searched desperately through his memory. Fourth grade. A transfer student. By the window. (...Sorry. I can't remember.) "Sorry, I don't really remember." When Seiichi answered honestly, Shiori smiled a little sadly. "I see. But for me, it's a really important memory." Shiori touched her flower hairpin. "Ever since then, I've always been watching you, Osabe-kun." Seiichi's face went hot all at once. "Always...?" "Yeah. You're always so kind, Osabe-kun. You smile and say 'it's okay' to everyone. I always thought that was amazing." Shiori's words seeped into Seiichi's chest. (So that's how she saw me.) It felt embarrassing, and happy, and a little ticklish, all at once. "...Thank you." That was all Seiichi could manage. They reached the school gate. "See you tomorrow!" Shiori waved big. Her smile, backlit by the setting sun, was bright as a picture. "Yeah, see you tomorrow." Seiichi gave a small wave back. Shiori walked off toward the station. Her ponytail grew smaller and smaller. Seiichi watched her back for a while. (I'm looking forward to the movie.) A soft, warm feeling spread through his heart. (I'll talk to Mom properly.) Seiichi started walking home. When he reached the Osabe house, he unlocked the front door. "Welcome home, Seiichi." Shizuko was waiting in the entryway, as always. "I'm home." Seiichi took off his shoes and headed for the living room. Shizuko followed behind him. Her well-kept black hair swayed softly against her shoulders. Her narrow black eyes watched Seiichi's back. "Did anything happen at school today?" Shizuko asked in a gentle voice. Seiichi answered as he set down his bag. "Yeah. Um, Mom." "What is it?" "I made plans to go see a movie with a friend this weekend." Seiichi said it as casually and smoothly as he could. Shizuko narrowed her eyes for just an instant. Just an instant. But to Seiichi, that instant felt terribly long. "Oh, is that so." Shizuko smiled pleasantly. "Which friend?" "A girl in my class named Mizuno-san." "A girl?" Shizuko's voice dropped just slightly. "Yeah. She invited me to go see a movie with her." "I see. That's wonderful, Seiichi." Shizuko gently stroked Seiichi's head. "Mommy is happy that you've made friends, Seiichi." Her hand was warm, just as always. But Seiichi felt a slight discomfort in that warmth. (Mom is smiling.) (She's not angry.) (Thank goodness.) Seiichi told himself so. After dinner. Seiichi was doing homework in his room. From the first floor, he could faintly hear Shizuko's voice. A phone call. Seiichi didn't pay it much mind and kept his pen moving across the notebook. But the voice gradually reached his ears. "Yes, that's right. My son seems to have made a friend recently." His pen stopped. "He says a girl invited him to a movie. A girl from his class named Mizuno-san." A chill ran down Seiichi's back. (Why?) (Why does Mom know Mizuno-san's name?) Today, Seiichi had only said "Mizuno-san" to Shizuko. And yet Shizuko was telling the person on the phone that name as if she'd known it all along. "Yes, she sounds like a cute girl. But I think it's still too early. Seiichi needs Mommy to look after him properly." Shizuko's voice was soft and gentle, as always. But the content of it squeezed Seiichi's chest tight. (Who is she talking to?) (How does she know that much?) Seiichi set down his pen. His hand was trembling slightly. "Fufu, isn't it? Boys get led astray so easily if you leave them alone." Shizuko's laugh climbed the stairs and reached Seiichi's room. Seiichi wanted to cover his ears. (Stop.) (Mom, stop.) But he couldn't make a sound. Seiichi dropped his gaze to his notebook. The letters blurred. That night, Seiichi couldn't sleep even after getting into bed. (How much does Mom know?) (My plans, my friends, all of it.) He stared at the ceiling. (It's the same as when she erased my school planner.) (Mom knows everything about me.) Seiichi pulled the covers over his head. (I'm scared.) He whispered it small, inside his heart. The next morning. "Seiichi, are you ready?" Shizuko was standing in the entryway earlier than usual. "Huh? Yeah. I'm ready, but..." "Starting today, Mommy is going to school with you." Shizuko said it with a cheerful smile. "What... why?" "Because I'm worried about you. It's a dangerous world these days, isn't it? If a girl invites you out and you get all excited and wander off somewhere strange, that would be terrible." Shizuko's tone was light, as if she were discussing the weather. "But I can get to school by myself." Seiichi resisted, just a little. "No. Mommy will walk you. Won't you listen to what Mommy says?" Shizuko's smile vanished in an instant. Her voice went quiet. Seiichi caught his breath. "...Yeah. Okay." Seiichi hung his head. "Good boy. Now, let's go." Shizuko's smile returned, and she took Seiichi's hand. The path to the school gate. Shizuko walked beside Seiichi. They weren't holding hands. But Shizuko's presence was always right there beside him. "How many periods do you have today?" "Six." "I see. Then I'll come pick you up on the way home too." "...Yeah." Seiichi walked with his head down. (Everyone's watching.) (Walking to school with my mom when I'm in middle school.) (It's so embarrassing.) His face felt like it was on fire. When they reached the school gate, several classmates were glancing at Seiichi and Shizuko. "Off you go, Seiichi." Shizuko straightened Seiichi's hair and fixed the collar of his uniform. "I'm off." Seiichi passed through the gate like he was fleeing. Lunch break. As Seiichi was eating his bento, a stir ran through the classroom entrance. "Hey, whose mom is that?" "They say it's Osabe-kun's mom." Seiichi felt his heart shrivel. He looked up. Shizuko was standing in the classroom doorway. In her hands, a small paper bag. "Seiichi, let's have a snack." Shizuko waved cheerfully into the classroom. Every classmate's gaze converged on Seiichi at once. (Stop.) (Please, stop.) Seiichi screamed inside his heart. But his body moved on its own. "...Mom." Seiichi plastered on a smile and walked over to Shizuko. "I baked cookies today. And jelly, too. Grape flavor, your favorite, Seiichi." Shizuko pulled a small container from the paper bag. "Ah, thank you." Seiichi took the container. "Share some with your friends, all right? A

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Episode 2

Name: Blood on the School Tracks: My Overprotective Mom and Secret Boyfriend
Author: Novelia

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