Taeko Tanaka was a woman who would be fifty-six that year.
She was married thirty-two years ago, and was blessed with three children, all of them adults who had already moved out.
The eldest son and eldest daughter were both married and had children, making her a grandma.
According to her, she was still young, but looking at their grandchildrens’ faces made her feel her age. But she was happy with her life.
Her eldest son and daughter dropped by with her grandchildren on their days off, and herself and her husband fawned over them.
But Taeko had one concern, her son Haruto.
He called himself free and left his hometown, but she worried that he took action without thinking it through. He would also not call unless called first, so she had to contact him from time to time to make sure he was alive.
She hoped he was not bothering others, but…
Putting those worries aside, she wondered if he was enjoying himself, and wished he would consider their cares a little more.
Maybe she would say a thing or two next time he visited.
◇ ◇ ◇
Taeko was on her way home from her part-time job, when she noticed something strange in the pit of her stomach. There was a throbbing pain, but it went away soon after.
She wondered if she ate something that did not agree with her, and thought back to the fried food she ate earlier that day.
That must have been it, she thought, and did not think much of it.
From then on, there were other times when she felt a throbbing pain around her stomach, but she figured it would sort itself out soon enough, and did not go to a hospital.
‘We should all be tested for colon cancer. In Japan…’
A TV commercial played, as if to increase her worries.
She was still young and healthy. In her fifties. She was full of energy, so she would be fine.
Perhaps Haruto inherited this stubbornness from Taeko.
◇ ◇ ◇
A few days passed.
She felt some throbbing pain here and there, but paid it no heed. If she took time off from work, it would bother them. This sense of duty typical of a Japanese person was part of why she did not go to a hospital.
“It’s fine, just go there once for a scan.”
Said her husband when the pain made her crouch, as he could not stand to watch it any longer. But things would be busy at her job the next day, so she could not take the day off.
“It’s okay, I have work to do tomorrow.”
“Idiot. I’ll take the day off too, so go to the hospital.”
Her husband decided she would go.
She thought about how he was always so pushy. It was like that when they were dating, and when he proposed, he said he decided on a venue, making it strangely hard to refuse.
She figured there was no talking him down, so she contacted her part-time to tell them she would not be going to work the next day, and went to the hospital.
“…Kidney cancer…?”
The scan results came back with stage four kidney cancer.
It had already spread to other organs, so it was in quite an advanced stage.
“…Can it be treated?”
The doctor’s answer was negative. According to him, she had three months to live.
It varied from person to person, but once it was this advanced, she had about three months to live without treatment.
Her husband was called so they could discuss what would be done next. Taeko heard the doctor, but her heart was not there, as she was unable to accept reality.
She spoke with her husband on the short car ride home, but there was not much to talk about. Whether she would receive treatment, if they should tell their children, and if so, who.
Taeko then quit her part-time job, and stayed home. Except on weekends, when she would go out with her husband.
They told their eldest children, who lived close to them, and they started visiting even more frequently. Because of this, she was never lonely.
But she did not tell Haruto. He lived far away, and knowing him, he might quit his job and go back home.
Or maybe he would not show any reaction, but she would like to believe he was not so heartless.
For some reason… For some reason, she felt like hearing his voice, so she called him.
Hello, it’s mom.
How are you doing?
I just wanted to hear your voice
It’s fine, what’s wrong with wanting to hear your children’s voice? You should do that much for your parents.
So, when are you coming to visit?
Ah, well if you’re busy, don’t force yourself.
You’re sending something?
Something typical from there… And whatever you’d like.
Yes, I know, on LIN◯.
I’ll be waiting.
She was a little relieved to hear Haruto’s voice for the first time in a while.
Children really are cute no matter how old they get.
◇ ◇ ◇
Five days later, a package arrived.
There were a lot of sweets from where Haruto lived, and a lot of menma for some reason. There was a lot more, but she found a small bottle with a note saying it was a fresh product.
“If I should have this quickly, don’t send it at room temperature.”
She wanted to complain that he should have used a refrigerated delivery, but he was far away, so she added one more thing to complain about next time she saw him.
She took the bottle, and opened it to check if it had gone bad.
Once it was open, a sweet smell filled the room.
Despite the strong sweet smell, her attention was fully on the contents of the bottle.
She felt her body asking for it. Pleading with her to drink it.
It being spoiled or not did not matter.
She took the bottle to her mouth, and slowly tilted it, bringing its contents into her mouth. There was only enough for one mouthful, but after savoring it, she swallowed it down to her stomach.
“Kehhhh!!!”
The overwhelming sweet taste seemed to shake her brain, and the impact running through her body made her let out a strange sound.
Once she stopped, she fell on the floor unconscious.
Her husband had come running after hearing her strange yell, and despaired upon finding her on the floor, thinking the time had come. Once he noticed she was still breathing, he immediately called an ambulance to take her to the hospital.
On the way to the hospital, the unconscious Taeko would not let go of the small bottle in her hand.
◇ ◇ ◇
Taeko was examined again.
The scan showed no abnormalities.
No abnormalities.
The abnormalities were all gone.
The cancer was completely gone, despite her being a terminal patient.
The doctor was surprised, as was her husband.
He wanted to know how she was healed, why. The husband was questioned if he had any idea, and how their daily lives were.
It would have been better to ask Taeko herself, but she was unconscious.
The husband did not know what to say, so he just spoke what was on his mind. And among them, was that when he found Taeko, she was holding a sweet smelling small bottle.
“Bottle… This one?”
“Yes. I don’t know what was in it.”
“Can I borrow this?”
“…That’s Taeko’s. You need to ask her.”
“…I see. Then I will ask again when she wakes up.”
The bottle was practically empty. It had maybe one or two drops left.
The doctor wanted to test it, but that was put on hold until Taeko woke up.
This took three days.
And when she did wake up, she was full of vitality, and more noticeably, youthful.
ーーー
‘Queen big ant pickled vital honey potion.’
The honey rarely produced by big ant queens mixed with potion.
Haruto put the honey in a potion bottle he did not wash, and put it in his Storage Magic, meaning it did not spoil, and matured.
The synergy between the vital honey and potion boosted their effects, giving an effect that could go as far as being described as an elixir.
Effects:
Beauty and health
Rejuvenation (large)
Small boost to basic abilities
50% chance of curing deadly illnesses
ーーー
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She took the bottle, and opened it to check if it had gone back.
gone bad*
Thanks.