When I got home, I saw my father in the living room. It was unusual for this time of day.
His stubble was sparsely thinned, and his face looked sickly, but his expression was bright. Perhaps the work had gone well.
In front of him there was a can of tomato juice and a cup of hot water.
He drank the tomato juice and the water.
He looked up at me.
“Welcome home.”
“Thanks.”
When I got back to my room, I left my luggage and immediately returned to the living room.
My father was about to take out a small bottle of whisky and put it on the table.
“I took a day off after a long time,” my father said in an excusing tone.
“That’s why I thought I’d drink a little. It’s a little early, but it feels good.”
Not bad at all. It didn’t matter at all.
From my point of view, my dad never liked alcohol and cigarettes all that much. I thought it wasn’t his cup of tea. And yet, only in front of his family had he taken the same devious attitude as he did now. This was a time when he thought such a luxury item was cool for his age.
But I knew. The whisky flask he liked to use was refilled with Yomeishu purchased at a discount store.
But that didn’t matter. I had more to say.
“I have something to ask you.”
“Huh? Sure, go ahead.”
“Is it true we’re going to move?”
My father stopped trying to open the lid of the whisky flask.
“Did you hear that from your mother?”
I shook my head.
“I heard it from sis.”
“Really?”
I nodded.
“It’s true.”
I closed my eyes.
I felt like the blood in my whole body was getting thinner.
“I don’t want to move anymore. I don’t want to leave this town. I don’t want to transfer schools again.”
Suddenly, I was just telling my dad everything I was thinking.
There was no self-interest.
All my self-interest was gone.
“Yeah, that’s right. That’s why…” my father said in a neat tone.
“I thought I’d tell you guys after I had time for winter vacation.”
“Do you mean I’d be transferring to another school in the third semester? I hate it. I don’t want to transfer.”
“Yeah, that’s why…” said my father.
“I think there’s perhaps been a misunderstanding, but I’m the only one moving.”
“Huh?”
“It’s hard to move in less than a year, so I consulted with your mother and only I will be assigned to work alone. Only your dad will move. I’ll be back on the weekends.”
I was dizzy.
I relaxed and sat down on the sofa.
I remembered my sister’s words.
“Dad told mom, and I heard them.”
“I overheard…”
My stupid little sister made a mistake and jumped to conclusions.
No, I thought there was a problem with the way my parents had said it.
Would this be a month-long stretch?
“I’m sorry.”
I was dumbfounded, and my father bowed his head.
“I moved repeatedly and it put a burden on us all. It was unreasonable. You guys didn’t complain, but now you’ve just revealed your true feelings. I’m sorry.”
.hack//Translate 