Blood on the School Tracks: My Overprotective Mom and Secret Boyfriend - It was Mom who locked the door.

The soil of the ruined flower bed had been churned into a hard, muddy mess by the previous day's rain. The crushed remains of the seedlings sank darkly into the muck. Seiichi burned the sight into the back of his eyelids, then looked at the two of them. "...I'm sorry." His voice came out hoarse. "Huh?" Shiori stopped her mud-covered hands and lifted her face. Her big eyes fixed straight on Seiichi. "Let's give up on the flower bed." Seiichi gripped the cuff of his uniform tight. His fingertips were trembling. "Osabe-kun, why...?" "It's my fault. Because I kept it a secret from Mom." His mother's smile floated up in his mind. That smile where only her eyes weren't smiling. The one who wrecked the flower bed was surely Mom. He had no proof. But something close to certainty churned black in the pit of his chest. "So, let's just... stop." Seiichi couldn't look at either of their faces. He kept his head down, staring at the rain-soaked ground. "Stop it—don't say that!" Shiori's voice rang out across the back courtyard. Seiichi raised his head. Shiori was glaring at him, looking like she was about to cry. "It's not your fault, Osabe-kun! You didn't do anything wrong! Why do we have to give up!?" Shiori's fists trembled slightly. She wiped her tears with her mud-caked hand. A dark streak smeared across her cheek. "Mizuno-san..." "I want to make the flower bed with you, Osabe-kun! I want the three of us—you, me, and Shigeru-kun—to laugh together again! So why... why can't we...?" Shiori's voice finally broke apart into sobs. Even so, she never took her eyes off Seiichi. Seiichi's chest tightened hard. (Because of me, Mizuno-san is crying.) (So it really is my fault.) "Seiichi." A low voice came from beside him. Shigeru grabbed Seiichi's shoulder. "You didn't do a damn thing wrong." Shigeru's voice had lost its usual brightness. "But..." "The one who's wrong ain't you. It's the one who's making you like this." Shigeru's dark eyes looked straight into Seiichi's. Deep inside them, a flame of anger flickered. "Seiichi. You've figured it out, haven't you. Who did it." Seiichi couldn't answer. There was no way he could say it. "...I think it's her." Shigeru spoke in a voice only Seiichi could hear. Seiichi's body went rigid. "That smile of hers is messed up. Your mom breaks people while she's smiling." Shigeru's hand dug into Seiichi's shoulder. "Stop... stop it, Shigeru-kun..." Shiori wedged herself between the two of them. "Osabe-kun's mom is a kind person. There's no way she'd do something like that..." Shiori's voice was shaking. It was the voice of someone who couldn't believe the words coming out of her own mouth. Seiichi looked at Shiori. Her face was a mess of mud and tears, and still she was trying to protect him. "Mizuno-san, thank you." The words came out of Seiichi naturally. Shiori's eyes flew wide with surprise. "Osabe-kun..." "But it's okay now. I'll handle it properly." Seiichi gently pulled Shigeru's hand off his shoulder. "Seiichi, you..." "Today, I'm going to talk to Mom. Tell her I want to make the flower bed. That I want my own time." Seiichi's voice was still trembling. But it was clearer than before. Shiori and Shigeru stared at him. "So wait for me. Let's make the flower bed again—all three of us." Seiichi smiled at them. It wasn't a smile from the heart. But it wasn't a fake one, either. Tears spilled from Shiori's eyes again. "Yeah... I'll wait! I'll definitely wait!" Shiori grabbed Seiichi's hand with her mud-covered one. It was a warm hand. "Seiichi. Don't push yourself too hard. But if you've decided to do it, see it through to the end." Shigeru clapped Seiichi on the back. "Thanks, Shigeru." Seiichi nodded. The evening sun dyed the back courtyard orange. The soil of the ruined flower bed, lit by the setting sun, looked red as blood. The Osabe living room. Tick, tick, tick. Only the sound of the wall clock echoed through the quiet room. Seiichi sat perched on the edge of the sofa. On the table in front of him sat the barley tea Shizuko had poured. He hadn't touched it. Shizuko came back from the kitchen. She took off her apron and sat down beside him. "What's wrong, Seiichi? You've got such a serious face." Shizuko's voice was soft and kind, just like always. Seiichi fidgeted with his uniform cuff on his lap. "Mom." "What is it?" Shizuko peered into his face. Seiichi swallowed. His throat was bone-dry. "I want to make a flower bed." He'd said it. He'd actually said it. Shizuko's smile stopped dead. "...A flower bed?" Her voice was the same as before. But the air froze in an instant. "In the school's back courtyard, with Mizuno-san and Shigeru—the three of us were making one. But it got destroyed..." Seiichi kept going. "Even so, I want to make it again. Because I liked that time." Shizuko said nothing. She kept smiling, cheerful as ever. But her eyes weren't smiling. "Why?" Shizuko's voice dropped a notch. "Is being with Mom boring to you?" The smile vanished from her face. A blank expression, like a Noh mask. A cold thing ran down Seiichi's spine. "That's not it. That's not it, Mom." Seiichi shook his head. "But I want my own time." His voice was shaking. Even so, he had to say it. "Your time?" Shizuko repeated his words. "Isn't the time you spend with Mom your time?" Her voice was quiet. So quiet it was frightening. "That's not what I mean..." "Then what do you mean?" Shizuko pressed in on him. "Mom has done everything for you. Meals, lunches, picking you up and dropping you off—everything. And yet you want time with people other than Mom?" Her voice trembled faintly. "Sneaking around with that girl and that boy, the three of you, hiding from Mom. ...That's your time?" Seiichi couldn't say anything. He couldn't find the words to argue back. "Mom just wants to protect you. So you don't go down the wrong path. So you don't get dragged along by bad friends." Shizuko's hand reached for his. A cold hand. "Those two aren't worthy of you. Mom can tell." "That's wrong! They're not bad people!" For the first time, Seiichi raised his voice. Shizuko's eyes went wide. "...Seiichi. You'd raise your voice at Mom?" Her voice trembled. "Mom is sad. Watching you change more and more, in places Mom doesn't know about." Tears welled in Shizuko's eyes. "You're the most precious thing in the world to Mom. And yet you..." Her tears traced down her cheeks. Seiichi felt like his chest was splitting open. (I made Mom cry.) (Because I became a bad child.) "Mom, I'm sorry..." He tried to apologize. But before he could, Shizuko stood up. "Seiichi, wait here a moment, okay?" She wiped her tears with her fingertips and turned her back to him. Then she disappeared into the kitchen. Seiichi sat on the sofa, unable to move. Several minutes later. Shizuko came back. She was holding something. A small key, glinting silver. It was the key to Seiichi's room. "Seiichi." Shizuko stood directly in front of him. "If you're going to be a bad child..." Her lips slowly shaped themselves into a smile. "Then Mom has to lock the door." She said it, and smiled. It was a smile so perfect you'd never guess this was the same woman who'd been crying moments ago. "Stop... Mom, stop it!" Seiichi shot up from the sofa. "It's all right. Mom will protect you properly." Shizuko seized his wrist in a tight grip. Her fingers were slender, but the strength was unbelievable. "Let go! Mom, please!" Seiichi struggled. But Shizuko's hand didn't budge. She dragged him to his own room. At the door, she shoved him inside. "Stop! Mom! Please!" Seiichi clung to the door. "Seiichi, be a good boy. By tomorrow, you'll be back to the usual Seiichi." Shizuko peeled his fingers off the door, one by one. Then she closed it. Click. The sound of the lock turning. "Mom! Open it! Please! Open it!" Seiichi pounded on the door. "Good night, Seiichi." Her voice came from the other side of the door. Gentle, soft—her usual voice. "Mom...!" Seiichi crumpled in front of the door. A locked room. Outside, it was already pitch black. Seiichi sat down on the floor and hugged his knees. He could feel Shizuko's presence beyond the door. On the other side of the door, his mother was standing. She was right there, and yet so far away. A single door had split mother and son apart, along with the whole world. Seiichi stifled his voice and cried. Tears fell to the floor, leaving dark stains. Morning came. Morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains and fell across Seiichi's face. He had spent the whole night sitting on the floor. His eyes were swollen. His throat was parched. Click. The sound of the lock opening. The door swung slowly open. "Seiichi, good morning. Breakfast is ready." Shizuko stood there, smiling cheerfully. She wore her apron, a ladle in her hand. As if nothing had happened the night before. "...Mom." Seiichi's voice was hoarse. "Come now, wash your face and come eat. I made your favorite rolled omelet today." Shizuko's voice was bright. Seiichi rose slowly. His legs were shaking. It was because he'd sat on the cold floor all night. No—that wasn't it. He was shaking with fear. He washed his face at the sink and went to the living room. A warm breakfast was laid out on the table. Rice, miso soup, grilled salmon, rolled omelet. A perfect breakfast. Shizuko sat down across from him. "Let's take a day off from school today, shall we?" Shizuko said it with a cheerful smile. "Huh?" "You were up late last night, weren't you? You must be exhausted. Today, let's relax at home together, just you and Mom." Her voice was kind. But her eyes were fixed on him, watching, testing. Seiichi set down his chopsticks. "I'm going." He said it quietly, but clearly. Shizuko's smile twisted, just a little. "...Seiichi?" "I'm going to school. I'm going to talk to Shiori-san and Shigeru properly." Seiichi looked into Shizuko's eyes. He was scared. His legs were shaking. But he didn't look away. "...I see." Shizuko smiled slowly. "Off you go, then. Take care." Her voice was kind. But that smile was somehow like a broken doll's. Seiichi stood up. On trembling legs, he headed for the entryway. He put on his shoes. He felt Shizuko's gaze on his back. "I'm off." He said it without turning around. "Have a good day." Shizuko's voice clung to his back. Seiichi opened the door. The outside air was cold. He took one step. The morning sun was blinding. When he entered the classroom, Shiori and Shigeru rushed over at once. "Osabe-kun!" Shiori peered into his face. "Are you okay? You look pale." "I'm fine. Just a little short on sleep." Seiichi tried to smile. But it didn't come out right. Shigeru put a hand on his shoulder. "Seiichi. Did you talk to her? To your mom?" Seiichi nodded. "I did. But I haven't really talked to her yet." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Today, after school, I'll talk to her again. Properly, face to face." Seiichi's voice was shaking. Shiori took his hand. "Yeah. We'll wait. Shigeru-kun and I will wait the whole time." Shiori's hand was warm. "Seiichi. You're not alone. We've got your back." Shigeru gave him a firm pat on the back. "Thanks. Both of you." Seiichi hung his head. He felt like he might cry. But he couldn't cry here. After school. Seiichi went straight home. He didn't take any detours. He stood in front of the house. A quiet, two-story house. His mother was waiting. Seiichi took a deep breath. His chest hurt. His legs were shaking. Even so, he put his hand on the front door. He opened it. "I'm home." Seiichi stepped inside. Shizuko's presence drew closer from the back of the house. "Welcome home, Seiichi." Shizuko stood there, smiling cheerfully. The eveni

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Episode 6

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

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