Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 2:THE RUNAWAY SONGSTRESS ARC

EPISODE 10: Habataki Otoha

In my memories, I, Habataki Otoha, have only a few glimpses of my mother’s presence.

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The reason is that she passed away before we could create many memories together. However, I still remember her beautiful singing voice, which softened even the stern expression of my strict father, who always wore a serious face… For me, my mother’s songs were like magic spells.

But that was only until my mother died. I remember my father crying all the time.

I sang because I wanted to heal my father’s grief.

I wanted to be able to sing magic songs like my mother.

Singing was nothing more than a means or a tool – nothing more, nothing less. The reason I was called “Songstress” was simply an accident, a result of my pursuit of magical songs like my mother’s. It wasn’t something I particularly wanted.

If it meant that my father could regain his happiness, I didn’t care what happened to me.

“Seriously… I have no idea what that singer is thinking. She should try to walk in our shoes, having to cater to her whims all the time…”

—-That’s why I don’t care what they say behind my back.

“She never smiles; it’s kind of creepy… It’s like she’s some kind of singing robot or something.”

—- That’s why I don’t mind being alone.

“You should stop singing.”

—-But my father rejected my songs.

“I don’t want to hear your songs.”

Without ever turning to me or meeting my eyes, my father denied and rejected my singing.

At that time, I didn’t feel anything. No, I pretended not to feel anything.

I went to work as usual, tried to sing as usual.

“–……Huh……?”

I couldn’t sing anymore.

I could talk normally. I could speak. But when I tried to sing, no voice would come out.

The doctor said it was psychological, but I couldn’t think of a reason.

Anyway, since I couldn’t sing, I had to put my activities on hold.

Looking back now… I think I was in shock. I think I was completely devastated by my father’s rejection.

Running away from home was impulsive at first, but now I understand that it was because I wanted my father to see me. I wanted my father, who never looked at me and always turned his back, to really see me.

The one who saw through it and helped me realize it was… Eito.

He was a mysterious boy I met by chance.

He treated me not as “the singer” but as “Habataki Otoha”.

He was straightforward, never tried to please me, and made me aware of the feelings I had buried inside. Gently, he gave shape to emotions I hadn’t even noticed myself.

“…………Dad.”

The fact that I could return home and face my father like this… was all thanks to Eito. The short time I spent with him gave me immense courage.

“I love to sing. I love to sing. So, I want to continue singing from now on. Not only for you, father, but also for myself”.

My father listened to my words in silence when I returned home.

“…………I thought you sang because you were trapped in the past. I believed that for you, singing was a symbol of the past.”

But…

“Because of my own inadequacy, I ended up tying you to the past. I thought I had left you all alone… I wanted you to break free from the ‘past’ that was ‘singing’ and move forward into the future… That’s what I believed, but…”

This time my father looked me straight in the eye.

“…………It seems I was the one trapped in the past. You were already looking into the future… I’m sorry. I pushed you into a corner unnecessarily.”

“It’s okay. I understand now. I understand how you felt.

Telling me not to sing was my father’s way of expressing his wish for me to move forward into the future. When he turned his back on me then… it must have been because he was hurting too.

(…………Thank you, Eito.)

As I pictured a certain boy in my mind,

I gently hugged the warm feelings that had blossomed in my heart.

☆

“Even though the break is over, I don’t feel like I’ve really rested at all…”

The riot involving the singer that erupted during the holiday was finally resolved, and we managed to make it through to the weekday.

But my heart feels more exhausted than it did before the break… or so it seems.

“My lady, if you’re not feeling well, perhaps you should rest now… I can arrange a wagon right away.”

“It’s all right. If anything, it’s more of a mental problem than a physical one.”

“?”

Eito himself doesn’t seem to understand the toll it has taken on me.

Eito often puts up “flags”, but this time it was a pretty big one.

After all, it was none other than the famous “Songstress”, even though she was on hiatus.

The moment I saw her face as she rushed to Eito’s side, I understood immediately.

Even now, the only feeling swirling in my chest is, “I was too late…!” Actually, I think I deserve some credit for not collapsing on the spot.

…But the singer has already gone home. Though she is undoubtedly a formidable rival – a top-tier newcomer “Thief Cat” – now that the issue has been resolved, it’s unlikely that our paths will cross again. It seems that the problems she was carrying have also been resolved.

“Anyway, I’ll be fine.”

“Is that so? …But please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

The bell signaling the start of class rang, and just as everyone rushed to take their seats, the teacher entered the classroom.

“All right, everyone, hurry up and take your seats. We have a new transfer student to introduce today.”

With that one remark from the teacher, the classroom suddenly buzzed with excitement.

A transfer student is a rare event in school life. It’s no wonder everyone was so excited…but I had a really bad feeling about it. And when it comes to my gut feelings, they are usually right.

“Come in!”

Following the teacher’s call, the classroom door opened, and as a single girl stepped inside, the entire class erupted into a frenzy of murmurs and whispers.

Her long, shimmering silver hair swayed gently. Her cool profile was reminiscent of a snowflake.

These days, it’s hard to go a day without seeing her on TV, social media, or in an advertisement.

“I’m Habataki Otoha. Nice to meet you all.”

(How is that even possible?)

Needless to say, I couldn’t help but slump over my desk in disbelief.