I’m back in my old home, and my mom is young again.
It doesn’t sound real, but it is.
“Why are you so young?”
“Be quiet and fix the sofa.”
My young mother is upset.
Is it because her dear sofa is broken? Who could’ve done such a thing?
She just tells me to fix it, and doesn’t answer me. In fact, she starts questioning me.
She won’t believe me when I say it was like this when I got here, but does believe me when I say a certain fat guy jumped around on it.
I say it’s not my fault, but she won’t hear it.
She only forgives me when I say I’ll buy a new one.
“Sofas are expensive…”
I whisper as I check the invoice.
I’ve been living on my own, so I never needed one, and never saw how much they cost. I thought a hundred thousand yen would do it, but mom picked one that’s over two hundred thousand. And she picked same day delivery, so they’ll be bringing it soon.
“It looks like Takato and the others will be here in the evening.”
It’s just past three in the afternoon.
My siblings will come by later.
◇ ◇ ◇
“So mom, you had cancer?”
I say while sinking into the new sofa.
That’s why I came here, but she looks fine. Nevermind fine, she looks young.
This is the opposite of what I heard.
“I did, but I’m better. I was lucky.”
“Hm, I hear it’s treatable when it’s caught early. Good thing it didn’t turn into something serious.”
“No, it did.”
I tilt my head. She’s clearly healthy. There’s no sign at all of a major illness.
In fact, her rejuvenation is the real issue here.
“Haruto, your mother had stage four kidney cancer. They gave me three months to live.”
“…Eh? Run that by me again?”
There’s a vein in her forehead, but I’m not joking or anything.
I heard her, I just don’t get it.
How did she become young again after such a serious illness?
One possibility crosses my mind.
“Ah! Did you reincarnate!? That’s popular nowadays!”
“I have no idea what you mean! I had stage four cancer!”
“Then how do you look like this? That’s weird.”
“You’re weird! You’re so fat, and younger too.”
“Guh, I’m just a little plump. Don’t mind that.”
“That’s past plump. It’s clearly strange!”
“…There’s nothing wrong with being healthy.”
I can’t say I went to a hospital. It’s all self-proclaimed.
“Tae, this is getting nowhere. Let me talk.”
“…Yes, please do, Jin.”
My father takes over, because my mother is just getting upset.
He takes out a small bottle from his pocket, and places it on a table.
It’s something I’ve grown accustomed to seeing lately, and has been helping me a lot.
“Haruto, have you seen this bottle before?”
“Yes, it’s a potion bottle.”
“It was this that saved Tae… Your mother.”
“Potions are that strong!?”
I didn’t expect potions to be a cure for cancer. These things really are a universal medicine!
“Of course not. Haruto, you sent this, right? Do you remember what you put in it?”
I think back to when I packed that box.
What did I put there? I don’t remember putting anything out of the ordinary.
“…Stuff from where I live, menma… Perishables…”
I remember. Did I send this bottle then?
…So?
“What was in it?”
“…”
My lack of response seems to convince them of something.
Then they get up and bow.
“Haruto, thank you. It’s because of you that I’m healthy today.”
“Thank you for saving Tae. I feel like I can be happy again because of you.”
“Yeah, I don’t get it. Explain it to me.”
They just reached a conclusion on their own. Being left behind doesn’t feel nice.
They apologize, and explain.
My mother had cancer, but collapsed after drinking the contents of the bottle.
She was taken to the hospital, and the exam there showed no trace of the cancer. She woke up three days later.
This was amazing, so they looked for what might have caused it, and suspected the bottle my mother was holding.
They examined the remains of the liquid inside it, and reached the conclusion that it was probably a precious medicine found in the dungeon.
However, they were not one hundred percent sure, because the liquid had deteriorated quite a bit. Still, my parents are convinced that it was that liquid that cured her.
“Eh, really…”
I say while picking my nose.
I can’t imagine that’s true.
If that honey had such power, I would be a baby by now. How many liters have I drunk so far?
Not to mention that there’s no way something found on the eleventh floor can have that effect.
Something else must have happened to my mother.
“The doctor asked that you give them more if you have any left.”
“I don’t.”
“Liar. Your nostrils always swell when you’re lying.”
My mother knows her child’s tells, so lies don’t work on her.
“Guh! I’m not giving it! I have so little left!”
“We’re not going to take it from you. It’s precious, right? But they’ll reward you if you have any.”
“…Reward?”
I ask. Selling medicine is one thing, but a reward sounds different.
“The doctor’s child has been bedridden after an accident. Apparently the child is in the same hospital…”
They’re grasping at straws, trying anything they can for their child.
I can understand that.
But…
Let’s say it works. This story will start making the rounds, and it might harm not only me, but my family too.
Then I have my answer.
“Sorry, I’m not giving it.”
I’m not wrong about what I need to protect.
I’m sorry for their child, but my family is more important than a stranger.
◇ ◇ ◇
“How did you get so fat?”
“Hahaha! You! That’s crazy! Why did you get fat?”
My siblings are here.
The first things I hear are my big brother making fun of me and my surprised big sister, and I secretly make a decision to have a little conversation with my brother through my fists.
“I just got a little chubby.”
“How is that chubby? And do you look younger? Like mom? Or does it just look that way because you’re fat?”
“Fat fat.”
“Fatty fatty.”
My brother doesn’t take his eyes off me, while his little monsters, my niece and nephew, point at me and laugh.
These kids are smaller than goblins, but they’re much, much cuter. And they mercilessly hurt me with their words, as kids tend to do.
I see, even kids think I’m fat.
I sip my coffee and wipe a tear.
“It’s been a while, Haruto! You look well, but why are you so fat? Did you turn to eating after having your heart broken?”
As tears flow in my heart, an energetic woman talks to me.
This is Yoshina, my cousin and my brother’s wife.
She’s always been this lively. The kind of person that brightens up a room. And she has a carnivorous side, as she kept attacking brother until they ended up getting married.
“It’s been a while, Yonashi. Unfortunately, I haven’t met anyone that could’ve even broken my heart.”
“Really? Well, you’ll find some good eventually. Good luck!”
“Yes, thanks.”
Honestly, I’ve never been too good with her.
It’s because when she showed everyone my brother’s dirty books, they were actually mine. And since they were all about big boobs, everyone found out I like big boobs.
It was Yonashi who traumatized little student Haruto.
◇ ◇ ◇
I sip my coffee, and my bored nephew and niece start punching my stomach, asking for me to play with them.
I ask them if punching someone in the stomach is how you play with them, and glare at my brother.
What kind of education are you giving these kids?
He ignores my judging eyes, and laughs.
Let’s just play with them.
I’ve been in the dungeon for a month and some change, so punches from kids aren’t going to hurt my well built body.
I tell them to stop while hugging them tightly, and they let out happy screams.
A body press like this must be nice in the hot summer. I’m just glad they’re happy.
◇ ◇ ◇
“How about a toast?”
The dinner started by my mother progresses with light conversation. I eat sushi and drink beer, and the alcohol courses through me after I switch to highball.
I haven’t drank with people in a while, so I’m drinking more than usual.
Everyone here is a good drinker, so the alcohol disappears quickly.
‘Next, the seeker law reform bill has been approved. This reform introduces tax relief measures for seekers, and approved their participation in specific competitions. Many in various fields have spoken out against it, but after the approval by the House of Representatives…’
I drink with the news in the background, and the kids go to my mother.
They’re so cute. I can’t dislike them even after they punched me in the stomach without hesitating.
I slowly drink a beer, and the topic switches to my mother’s rejuvenation.
“I’m so jealous of your youthfulness. Your skin is glossier than mine.”
Says my sister-in-law.
“Fufu, it’s the result of daily care.”
That’s a bold-faced lie.
It looks like my parents didn’t tell anyone about the honey. Are they just being thoughtful?
“Doesn’t Haruto look younger too?”
“Ah, you think so? I thought that too. I wasn’t too sure because I thought it might be just because he’s fat.”
Says my brother, and my sister side eyes me with a jealous expression.
“What are you on about? I didn’t change.”
“You changed too much! You’re so fat! I want to look younger like mom, but not if I end up like you.”
How so very rude.
“You’ve been going on about how young I look, but I’m three years younger than you anyway.”
“Ahh… You really aren’t self-aware.”
My sister gets up and hands me a mirror.
Then she pulls up a picture of thin me on her phone and shows it to me.
Hm, handsome.
Thin me was a handsome guy with nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a black and white photo of me in a suit, posed with elbows against a wall.
Now this is the real me.
“Ah, that’s Shun from DJT. Cool, right?”
“Ah, that’s not it. Sorry sorry, here.”
My sister showed me the wrong photo.
No, I liked that one.
The next one is of a plain looking guy. He doesn’t look bad, but not particularly good either. And his tired expression comes through in the photo.
Then she points the mirror at me.
“…Who?”
“That’s you!”
“No no, that’s a high schooler. I wasn’t like this when I looked at myself this… Morning…”
The face I see in the mirror isn’t what I expected. I’m pretty sure I didn’t look this young this morning.
Did the honey break my brain and show me an illusion?
…I don’t know.
“Get it now?”
The shock sobers me up.
I didn’t know that on top of being fat, I looked younger too.
I look like a student. If I insist that I’m an adult, I think people will let me through, but I’ll be stopped for sure.
I’m talking about… Those places.
There goes my monthly fun. Actually, I might get refused drinks in bars too.
It’s so shocking, that it sends me to my knees.
“What’s wrong!?”
“Nothing, my knees are just laughing at me for losing that bit of fun.”
No one understands what I mean, except my brother.
Wait, I don’t think it’s good for a married man to get that one either.
And someone attacks me while I’m down.
“Oryah!”
“Tah!”
My niece and nephew attack me like I’m a punching bag. I guess they want another hug.
I didn’t think I was this popular, but come and get it.
I open my arms, and they run at me.
That’s all nice and good, until my nephew trips and bangs his head against a pillar.
I immediately run to him, and see blood coming from his forehead. He looks like he’s on the verge of tears.
I immediately cast Healing Magic, tuning its strength down so it doesn’t shine.
I used it with its full power on the chairman of Honto, but if I dial it back, it doesn’t shine.
That also makes it not as powerful, but it should be enough here.
My niece is surprised, but I signal for her to be quiet, and she nods a few times.
Then I have an idea.
“Mom, what hospital did you go to?”
I ask, to execute what I have in mind.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
It’s been a while, Yonashi
Nickname or typo, only hida knows
Thanks.