Requests and Principles

“Taking Misaki out to play?”

When Ryoko Shizuki returned home that evening and heard her daughter’s proposal, she froze for a moment.
Her mind first recalled all the times her daughter had bullied Misaki.
But in the end, she nodded, agreeing to the idea.

After yesterday’s incident, the biggest change in her daughter was the absence of that “the world owes me” resentment in her eyes.
She’d also become considerate, even helping with housework today—something rare.

For a long time, it had been Misaki helping with chores, and Ryoko would handle what a child couldn’t reach.
The last time her daughter helped with housework was ages ago.

Most importantly, her daughter’s relationship with Misaki had improved.
It wasn’t an act—if it was, Ryoko still wanted to give her daughter a sense of trust.

She didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.
Besides, her daughter had always been willful but never truly harmed Misaki.
That was both her greatest heartache and her biggest headache.

Fortunately, that worry had dissipated with her daughter’s change.

After dinner, while helping wash dishes, her daughter hesitantly approached.
“Mom, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

Ryoko’s first thought was that her daughter needed new clothes or makeup.
She always tried to fulfill those requests, partly because her daughter was pretty and cute, and partly to compensate for their strained relationship.

But as their relationship worsened, her daughter’s demands grew excessive.
If this request was too much, Ryoko would have to bring up “that matter” early.

“Mom… I want to get a part-time job.”

At first, Ryoko thought she’d misheard.
When it sank in, combined with her daughter’s recent changes, her mind raced with possibilities—joining a cult, being scammed by a pyramid scheme, or being bullied at school…

“Mom, there’s something I want to buy.”
Sensing her worry, her daughter hurriedly explained.
“I promise I won’t fall behind in school, and I’ll take care of myself…”

Seeing her daughter try so hard to reassure her, Ryoko reflected inwardly and smiled.
“Okay, but you have to tell me where you’re working, and be sure to stay safe.”

“Mm.”
Her daughter nodded, then seemed to recall something, becoming shy and hesitant.
“Mom, with the extra money, I’d like to help with household expenses.”

Ryoko finally understood.
Her daughter, in her eagerness to mend their relationship, was being overly cautious, treating them with such care as if afraid of being impolite.
What a silly child—she didn’t need to go this far.
Ryoko shook her head, both heartbroken and relieved.

“No, the money you earn is yours to keep.”

“But…”

“You’re right, though. I should’ve told you about this sooner…”

Ryoko took a deep breath and told her daughter about the plan to move.
With her increasing workload and the growing expenses for her two daughters, Ryoko’s body had long been struggling.

One day, she even fainted at work but kept it from her daughters.
The doctor advised more rest, or she’d face serious health issues.

After much thought, she decided to switch to a six-day workweek.
But that meant selling the house.
Considering Misaki’s needs, she chose a rental near Misaki’s school and her workplace.

She’d hesitated to mention this because the new place would make it harder for her daughter to get to school, and she feared it would worsen her daughters’ relationship.
But somehow, she felt her current daughter would understand.

“I’m fine with it. Mom, you should’ve rested sooner.”

Mana recalled their first meeting.
Ryoko had looked like she was recovering from a serious illness yet still respectfully brought a neighborly gift.
It must be soon—Ryoko would collapse from overwork, right?
Then she’d be forced to sell the house, only to continue working seven days a week after recovering…
Without a doubt, Mana’s task was to prevent this and give the real Yurina a healthy mother.

“Is that really okay? After we move, you’ll have to take the train to school every day…”
Her daughter was so understanding that Ryoko began to hesitate.

“That’s not a problem. Once I start working, I’ll cover my own commuting costs.”

“No, I didn’t mean that. I meant Misaki…”

“Oh, Misaki doesn’t seem to like going out much, but there should be classmates near the new place.
Even if we can’t pick her up, she won’t feel lonely.”

In Mana’s sparse memories, she recalled a young girl visiting the Shizuki house.
Misaki had greeted her with a happy smile.
As a psychological 24-year-old “uncle,” Mana knew she’d have a generation gap with a child.
Having a peer to play with Misaki would be ideal.

As she thought this, Mana found herself tightly embraced by Ryoko.
“Thank you, Yurina.”

A surge of guilt made Mana want to flee, but then she remembered something and hugged back the mother who’d been holding everything together alone.
“No, I’m the one who should say thank you.
Selling this house—you must’ve hesitated for a long time, right?”

Ryoko’s body trembled slightly, tears welling up.
Even using work and her daughters as excuses, the pain had only been buried, never truly gone.

Her hesitation to sell wasn’t just about her daughter’s acceptance.
Truthfully, she couldn’t bear to part with this space filled with her husband’s memories.

“You see right through me, Yurina.
But I’m not hesitating anymore.”

Life had to go on, and—
Wiping her tears, Ryoko looked at her daughter, now nearly her height, and smiled warmly.
She believed there would be many more beautiful memories to come.

“Master, how can someone find happiness?”

Knowing this child, neglected by her family since young, craved her father’s approval, the man replied,
“Give roses to others, and their fragrance lingers on your hand…
Only by helping others can you reap the same in return.”

After convincing Ryoko to rest more and making a pinky promise with Misaki before bed, Mana returned to her dark room and slumped against the wall.
“What am I even doing…”

As a criminal, she shamelessly basked in the love meant for Yurina, even feeling joy from it.
She’d imagined Ryoko as her own mother and treated Misaki as a substitute for Makoto.
“I’m so despicable.”

Everything she did was for herself, to find happiness.
But she’d already failed, turning into the resentful “Takuro Ochi.”
A failure like her belonged in hell.

Yet here she was, deluded by her “amnesia,” thinking she could start over and use someone else’s body to enjoy happiness that wasn’t hers.
By what right?
Reform herself?
Make others happy?
What a joke!
Not hurting others would already be a miracle!

She was fated to be estranged from happiness, incapable of bringing it to others.
No matter what she did, failure was her only outcome.
It had to be.

Clutching her head, Mana trembled.
“What should I do… I’m so scared.”

She didn’t want to fail anymore.
She didn’t want to become “Takuro Ochi” again.
But she was the only one doing this.
She couldn’t do it well.

Ah, she wanted to die.
If she died, wouldn’t that be a happy ending for everyone?

“Mom, we’re heading out.”

The next morning, after breakfast, Mana left the house with a bright smile, taking Misaki along.
Last night, she’d eventually gone to bed.

This was someone else’s body, and no matter how troubled or dejected she felt, she couldn’t neglect its health.
Her cheerful smile was for the same reason—

When it came to others’ matters, she could give her all.