『Vol. 2 Extra II: The Mother That I Always Held Dear』

I vividly remember the time that mother came back from work—tired. This has led me to bring her out and relieve some of the burdens that she was carrying. I often wonder, how did my mother raise me all alone? When the time I was of age to realize this—I had no words. I knew I had gotten a splendid mother and that I will do everything to repay her back.

"Naoki...!"

"Hehe, I'm sorry, mother. I've always wanted to thank you for all that you've done."

She was teary-eyed, in jovial happiness. What she thought was supposed to be a normal dinner out—was actually a birthday celebration orchestrated by me. I've rented the whole place out—which she had found odd at first—with my savings over the years.

My mother wasn't really a stickler for rules, she never told me that I needed to not spend too much or that I needed to save—she had loved spoiling me ever since I was a kid, after all.

"This cake... it's the one that your mother had seen the other day!" My mother marveled at the gigantic cake in front of her as her eyes glowed.

"And also here! Happy birthday, mother." I gave her something with the most genuine smile on my face.

"It's...it's the premium limited-edition PoroMaru Bracelet!"

Mother had always loved PoroMaru—who was one of the most popular anime characters around. My mother was a child at heart, which could sometimes prove to be overbearing; although, I do not mind.

"Naoki... how... you—I..." Tears flowed from my mother's eyes, the situation had overwhelmed her.

"Don't worry, you don't have to hold back for today," I reassured her.

My mother had always been the first one to support me, and would always say that she does not need any help. When I had a rebellious phase, she had never once looked at me in total contempt—even when she had scolded me.

Oh man, if only she knew that I had someone cosplay PoroMaru when we come back home—to her actual birthday celebration—I wonder how she'd react.

"Eat up, I know you love all these dishes mother!" I said proudly.

"Yes!" She began to chow down on the food.

It's funny how you'd never be able to tell who's the parent or the child here—my mother looked young for her age, after all. Needless to say, we had a very fun time, Mother couldn't help but feel apologizing to me for spending so much—which I quickly dismissed and assured her once more.

<<----------->>

"Naoki, do you have anyone you like at the moment? You've already grown up so much." My mother asked.

"Hmm? Not yet—though there is someone I am interested in."

We were both on the sidewalk and heading to the train station. She had insisted that we not take the taxi as I had already spent too much—clearly she worries too much.

"Hmm... is that right..." She dismissively said, her mind seeming to be drifting.

"Say... was I a good mother?"

"Eh...? Yeah, that's right."

Her crystalline emerald eyes radiated a soft yet gentle look. My mother began to look at me from head to toe as if I was about to be married. Really, she can be really playful and random at times. Lastly, She gave me a pat on the back and the usual smile she always had—that smile that everything will be all fine and that she will always be there.

At the time, I didn't know what those gestures meant.

"Ahhh!!!"

Before I knew it, I could hear the sounds of screaming—they'd really have to ruin this precious moment right now. Soon after—sirens followed, and the originally celebrative mood I had totally shifted. Upon closer inspection, It seems an incident happened—a truck had hit a person right in the center.

I tried to inch closer—blood was everywhere and everyone was huddling around the scene. Who was this person? and why is everyone screaming to the point that it deafens my ears? I will have to confirm it once I get closer.

The moment I saw the person in question, their once radiant green eyes seems to have died out—funny, it looks exactly like...

M...Mother?

I tried to say, yet nothing seemed to come out. I tried to look behind me, to find the most special person in my life, only to find nothing. That mother of mine can be such an airhead, did she get lost? It couldn't be her, right!?

That's right. I now know.

It was me who was screaming. The ringing voice in my ear was caused by my own.

Screaming

Screaming.

Screaming..!

Screaming to the point that my vocal cords raptured every second—until I had nothing left inside.

It was painful, very painful.

Funny, I couldn't even hear my own voice—the sounds around me have deafened, the world seemingly unimportant. Though my eyes are already drenched, I wish they would pour down forever—just like the rain right now.

I was a fool, how did I not notice?

Behind the positive exterior, lay my mother who was always suffering—who couldn't even attain her own happiness.

But none of that matters now.

Because all I could remember was her muddled last words.

And how she smiled all the way until the end.

<<----------->>

"...!"

"Had a bad dream? You had passed out for quite a while."

The emerald-haired Soul Saint asked dismissively as if she had already known—asking only out of courtesy.

"...ah."

Naoki was crying even before he woke up, evident by the tears flowing from his face. After realizing the situation, he quickly wiped his face—it seems Leariz had overworked Naoki to the bone again, which led to him passing out.

"I don't want to teach you like this—go take a break," Leariz said haughtily.

"...yeah."

Naoki did as told, understanding her intentions from the gesture.

Life goes on, even if the things that are important to life are left behind.

For the longest time, Naoki had sworn to himself that he would never let that happen again and that he would have the power to save those he held dear—the power to understand the suffering inside one's self. So that they may never lose their way, and find what it is they ought to seek.