Blood on the School Tracks: My Overprotective Mom and Secret Boyfriend - The flowerbed and the key in Mom's pocket

Morning light poured through the classroom windows, bleaching the notebook on the desk a brilliant white. Seiichi sat staring at his own fingertips. The cuff of his uniform sleeve had been bothering him since last night—he'd pulled at it so many times that the threads were starting to fray. (I have to tell her. Properly.) A dull ache throbbed deep in his chest. Thinking about last night made his breathing go shallow. A locked room. His mother, laughing on the other side of the door. That quiet laughter still echoed in the back of his ears. "Good morning, Osabe-kun!" Shiori's voice burst in from the classroom doorway. Her chestnut ponytail caught the morning sun, glowing gold. Her big brown eyes found Seiichi and lit up instantly. "Morning, Mizuno-san." Seiichi lifted the corners of his mouth. He tugged at the frayed cuff one more time. His fingers were trembling, just slightly. Shiori came running to his desk. A little flower hairpin bounced with her movement. "Hey, Osabe-kun. Let's go to the back garden after school today. Maybe we can build the flower bed again!" Her voice was buoyant. She was already trying to move past what had happened to the vandalized flower bed. Or maybe she was forcing herself to act cheerful—trying to climb over it. Seiichi looked at her face. Behind her smile, there was just the faintest shadow. (Mizuno-san is smiling for my sake.) The thought squeezed his chest tight. "Yeah. But before that—" He stopped. His throat was bone dry. "What's wrong? You look pale." Shiori peered at him with concern. A citrus scent from her shampoo drifted over. "I'm going to talk to my mom today. For real." His voice shook as he said it. Shiori's eyes went wide. "To your mom...?" "That I want to build the flower bed. With you and Shigeru—the three of us. That this is what I want to do." He could hear his own voice trembling. But the words wouldn't stop. "I talked to her yesterday. But I couldn't really get through. So today, after school, I'm going to tell her properly. One more time." He looked into Shiori's eyes. She was silent for a moment. Then she smiled—soft and warm. "Okay. I'll be waiting. I'll definitely be waiting." Her voice was warm. "Whoa, Seiichi. Quite the atmosphere you've got going this morning." A bright voice came from behind him. Seiichi turned. Shigeru stood there, his light brown hair sticking up every which way. The earphones of a vintage radio hung around his neck, swaying against his shoulder. "Shigeru-kun, don't tease us." Shiori puffed out her cheeks. Shigeru grinned, flashing his snaggletooth. "So? What were you two talking about?" "Osabe-kun's going to talk to his mom today." Shiori answered for him. Shigeru's grin turned just a little serious. "Seiichi." He put a hand on Seiichi's shoulder. "What?" "You're not alone." Shigeru's voice was low and clear. "I'm on your side. So's Shiori. So don't push yourself too hard. If there's something you want to say, say it. Your words belong to you." His dark eyes looked straight into Seiichi's. Seiichi let out a breath, slowly, as if savoring the weight of the hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, Shigeru." He gave a small nod. "I'll be waiting too, you know. I want to hear your words, Osabe-kun." Shiori's fingers brushed gently against his hand. Her fingertips were warm. Seiichi looked at the two of them. Shiori's smile. Shigeru's steady eyes. (I'm not alone.) The words seeped into him. "Yeah. I'm going to go talk to her. Properly." He said it in his own voice. After school. Seiichi went straight home. No detours. He left the gates of Aobagaoka Middle School and walked through the residential streets of Kirigaoka. A quiet house about a twenty-minute walk from the station. In the garden, flowers his mother tended with care were in bloom. Seiichi stood in front of the house. A two-story house with white walls. (Mom is waiting.) The thought made his legs stiffen. Last night spun around and around in his head. The locked door. His mother's quiet laughter. "If you're going to be a bad boy, Mommy has to lock the door." Those words repeated over and over in the back of his ears. Seiichi took a deep breath. (I can't run away.) (Shiori-san and Shigeru are waiting.) He opened the front door. "I'm home." His voice cracked a little. "Welcome back, Seiichi." His mother's voice came from the living room. Seiichi took off his shoes and walked down the hallway. Shizuko stood in the doorway of the living room. Her black hair, perfectly maintained. Her cool, narrow eyes. She was smiling brightly, just like always. "You came straight home today. Good boy." Her voice was soft. "Yeah." Seiichi looked down. "Want a snack? I baked madeleines today." Shizuko started toward the kitchen. "Mom." He called out to her back. She stopped. "What is it?" She turned around. Her smile was perfect. Seiichi clenched his fists. "There's something I need to tell you." His voice was shaking. Shizuko slowly sat down on the living room sofa. "Go ahead. Sit." She patted the seat beside her. Seiichi sat down next to her. The distance between them was less than twenty inches. His mother's perfume tickled his nose. "So? What did you want to talk about?" She peered into his face. Seiichi fidgeted with his uniform cuff in his lap. (Say it.) (In my own words. Properly.) He opened his mouth. "Mom, I want to build a flower bed with Shiori-san and Shigeru." His voice came out raspy. Shizuko's smile froze—just for an instant. "A flower bed?" "Yeah. In the back garden. The three of us. That's what I want to do." He looked into her eyes. Her eyes were smiling. But somewhere behind them, something wavered. "As long as Seiichi is happy, that's all Mommy needs." She smiled. "So if you want to build a flower bed, go ahead and build one. Mommy will support whatever you want to do." Her voice was kind. But something about those words felt wrong to Seiichi. (Support?) (Mom?) Something prickled painfully deep in his chest. "Mom." He said her name again. "What is it?" "The way I become happy isn't something you get to decide." He said it, trembling. The air in the living room froze. Shizuko's smile slowly faded away. "...I see." Her voice was the quietest it had been all day. Seiichi looked at her face. She was smiling. But it was the quietest, most unsettling smile he had ever seen. Only her eyes weren't smiling. Only her mouth was smiling. A noh mask of a smile. "So that's how you've thought of me all along." Her voice was cold as ice. "Th-that's not it. That's not what I meant—" He started to say, flustered. "It's fine. I understand. Seiichi doesn't want to listen to what Mommy says." She took his hand, gently. Her hand was cold. "Mommy is saying this for your sake. But if that's how you feel, then Mommy won't say anything anymore." Her fingers traced slowly across the back of his hand. A chill ran down his spine. He wanted to run, but his hand wouldn't move. "Then just build the flower bed again. Mommy will help too." Seiichi's eyes went wide. "You will...?" "Of course. If it's something Seiichi wants to do, Mommy will do it with you. Mommy is on your side, after all." She smiled brightly. The unsettling smile from moments ago had vanished. She was back to her usual, gentle mother's smile. But somehow, that smile frightened Seiichi even more. (Mom? Build the flower bed?) (Wasn't it Mom who destroyed that flower bed?) Doubt churned in his head. But he couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. "Let's go to the back garden together starting tomorrow, shall we?" She stroked his head gently. Her fingers combed slowly through his hair. Seiichi couldn't say a word. The next day. The back garden, after school. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the fence. The scars of the ruined flower bed were still raw. Dug-up soil. The trampled remains of seedlings. Seiichi's chest ached at the sight. "Osabe-kun!" Shiori came running from the garden entrance. "Did you talk to your mom okay?" She peered into his face. "Yeah. She said we can rebuild the flower bed." He nodded. "Really!? That's great!" Shiori jumped for joy. "Nice one, Seiichi!" Shigeru slapped him on the back. "But, um..." Seiichi hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "What is it?" "Mom said she'll help too." At that, Shiori's face lit up. "Osabe-kun's mom!? I knew she was nice!" She was delighted, utterly innocent. "I always thought Osabe-kun's mom seemed kind. Her bentos always look so delicious." Her words left Seiichi with complicated feelings. (Kind? Mom?) (Sure, she's kind. But that kindness...) He pushed the thought away. "Is your mom okay with getting her hands dirty, though?" Shigeru asked, still smiling, but probing. "Getting those nice clothes all muddy would be a shame." His voice was light. But his eyes weren't laughing. "Oh, Shigeru-kun. Thank you for your concern." A voice came from behind them. The three of them turned. Shizuko stood at the entrance to the back garden. In her hands were a small gardening trowel and work gloves. "It's for Seiichi, after all. Mommy will do her best." She smiled pleasantly. Shiori ran over to her. "Osabe-kun's mom! You're really going to help us build the flower bed! I'm so happy!" Shiori took Shizuko's hands. Shizuko's smile stiffened—just for a moment. But it was back to normal in an instant. "Yes. Nice to meet you, Shiori-san." She squeezed Shiori's hands gently in return. Shigeru watched the whole exchange, unblinking. Seiichi noticed his gaze. (Shigeru is on guard around Mom.) Something stirred uneasily in his chest. The rebuilding of the flower bed began. Shizuko really did get her hands in the dirt. Her well-cared-for fingers touched the black soil. "You have to loosen the soil, or the seedlings can't take root." She said it while turning the earth with her trowel. "Mom, you really know your stuff." Seiichi said, surprised. "I used to help out at Grandma's house all the time." She smiled. "Amazing! Osabe-kun's mom is a flower bed teacher!" Shiori's eyes sparkled. "Teacher is going too far." Seiichi smiled wryly. "Seiichi, your mom's seriously handy." Shigeru said, sounding impressed. But his eyes were carefully observing Shizuko's hands. Shizuko looked up. Her eyes met Shigeru's. She smiled brightly. Shigeru smiled brightly back. The two smiles crossed in the back garden. Watching them, Seiichi felt something cold run down his back. The soil of the flower bed gradually took shape. Shiori and Seiichi began planting seedlings side by side. "Osabe-kun, let's put this seedling here." Shiori picked up a small seedling. "Yeah. Is this about the right depth?" Seiichi dug a hole in the soil. "Yeah, I think that's perfect! You're way better at this than before, Osabe-kun." Shiori looked at his hands and laughed. "You're the one who handles the seedlings so carefully, Shiori-san." He said it, embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed faintly. "R-really?" She looked down. Their fingertips brushed faintly in the soil. Shiori jerked her hand back with a start. "S-sorry!" "I-it's fine." His face went hot too. (Shiori-san, this close to me.) His heart pounded deep in his chest. "What are you two doing? Your hands have stopped planting." Shigeru teased. "Shigeru-kun, you're so annoying!" Shiori's face went bright red with indignation. Seiichi laughed. He laughed naturally. (Ah. This is fun.) (The three of us, touching the soil, laughing together.) This time felt like a treasure to him. But just behind him, Shizuko was watching the two of them, motionless. Her gaze bored into Shiori's back. Shigeru didn't miss it. The flower bed was finished. On the neatly tended soil, small seedlings stood in even rows. Shiori watered them with a watering c

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Episode 7

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

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