ch321-ch340 · 326-ch326

Chapter 326: Miyako-chan's Family Circumstances

"Oh, Haruki. What're you up to?"

I was waiting for my mother at the Chiba branch entrance when an elementary schooler calls out to me.

This is bad—a girl I don't know.

I probably knew her, before—I just don't remember......

Whose kid is she?

If I ask "who are you?" she might burst into tears.

"I'm waiting for someone."

For now, I'll just give her the bare essentials and send her on her way.

By the way, we're heading to the university hospital today, but my mother hasn't arrived at the branch yet, so I'm the one waiting outside.

Watanabe-san isn't here—she went to fetch Dr. Amamiya.

"Someone? Well, whatever. Where are Soushi and the others? Already in the dungeon?"

She seems to know Soushi too.

"Mia-san's shop."

"Those guys, at our place...... Is Kasumi-san with them? Kasumi-san's mad at me, you see—"

"Our place"?

You mean Mia-san's shop?

So—Mia-san's daughter.

Which makes this girl Miyako-chan.

Incredible—brilliant deduction.

But wasn't she kidnapped?

She's safe, so maybe she was hiding somewhere and got scolded by Watanabe-san?

"Haruki, there you are. I had no idea where to go. My? Who's this child?"

"Miyako-chan—the daughter of someone who's taken care of me in the dungeon."

"Miyako-chan!? What's with THAT way of calling me! Did Anego and the others fill your head with something while I was gone?"

The "-chan" was a mistake?

And she's an ore-girl!

She looks like a girl, but is she actually a boy?

One of those otokonoko things?

"My, how cute. What grade are you in, Miyako-chan? Middle school already?"

"Nah, not even middle school. Haruki, who's this?"

So she WAS an elementary schooler.

"I'm Haruki's mother. Nice to meet you, Miyako-chan."

"Ah, I see. Likewise, likewise. Your son has been a great help to me."

"Oh my—such a proper greeting. What a good girl."

Amazing—more put-together than Soushi or Aikawa!

"Oi, Haruki. Explain properly!"

"Explain what?"

Apparently my explanation was lacking.

Unfortunately, I've already spilled everything I know.

"What's wrong? Aren't you acting strange?"

"Sorry, Miyako-chan. Haruki bumped his head and turned into an idiot, you see. He can't quite remember you, either."

True enough—but the way you put it......

"Huh? Shouldn't you have Shiraishi-san take a look at him, then?"

"We're on our way to the hospital right now."

She knows Shiraishi-san and 【Heal】 too, huh.

Impressive, Miyako-chan.

Though the 【Heal】 Fuyumi-san cast on me didn't work, did it.

"Is it that bad? Ah—Kasumi-san, it's awful. Haruki's turned into an idiot!"

"Ma'am, sorry to keep you waiting. Mia-san? You've finally come, have you? Why did you never come home?"

Watanabe-san arrives.

"My, Kasumi-san. I'm the one who couldn't make it on time—my apologies."

"I had it rough too, you know! They hid my clothes and I couldn't come home!"

Huh? So she WAS kidnapped?

But if there's been no fuss, the culprit must be family?

Mia-san's estranged husband, or his family?

A bitter custody battle......

Children can't enter the dungeon, after all.

While Mia-san works, she probably has no choice but to leave Miyako-chan with them—sounds like all sorts of circumstances.

But hiding the clothes of a girl about to enter middle school—what a pervert of a father.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm—going THAT far, 'Blue Ocean'?"

"'Blue Ocean' nothing—that was Miyuki-san, Miyuki-san!"

"Blue Ocean"?

The one with that 'Blue Shadow' and 'Sword Saint-chan'?

Come to think of it, with half a year gone by, there should be a pile of videos I haven't watched.

By now they should be finding the 'Gate to Floor 50' on Floor 49.

Before they challenge the 'Gate to Floor 50,' I wonder if I could share information with them using my skill......

"Miyuki would never do such a thing. Either she drank alcohol and forgot where she undressed, or she forgot that she'd had her soiled clothes washed for her. Drinking in enemy territory—unbelievable. When I come home, I have a great deal to say to her. Do NOT come home until I return!"

Enemy territory!

So she WAS at her divorced father's place......

Is Miyuki the stepmother?

But giving a child alcohol......

Miyako-chan, you're walking a pretty hard life, aren't you—looking like this.

Wouldn't it be better to have someone else look after her?

"That's exactly it! 'I'll wash them,' she says, and never gives them back! If Fuyumi-san hadn't let me escape, I'd still be there!"

Fuyumi-san?

That cute nurse was Fuyumi-san too, if I remember right—the same person?

It's a rare surname, so I doubt there are many......

Come to think of it, I've only seen her that one time.

It'd be weird to just ask if she's around......

One of my few pleasures at the hospital, you see......

"Ohh, Miyako. There you are—I was worried."

"Huh? Pops, what about work?"

What?

Is this guy the DV dad?

Quite a small middle-aged man.

"The shop's short-handed, and you've got plans later, don't you, Mother? I thought I'd fill in."

"Ah, that's why I hurried here too...... Should've contacted Pops. But you can just close the shop, you know?"

"The part-timers work so hard for us. We've got more customers too—can't just close up like I used to."

Hm?

The family seems to get along fine, doesn't it?

Then the bad one is the stepmother Miyuki...... no, maybe the grandmother......

"Oh my—Watanabe-san, and Kasugano-kun too. And this is?"

"Haruki's mom."

"Is that so? A pleasure to meet you. But I shall not hand over Miyako!"

!?

There's your true colors, DV dad!

Did he mistake my mother for a lawyer or a child-welfare officer?

"Huh? Nice to meet you......"

My mother, bewildered by the DV dad suddenly spouting nonsense.

Then a bright red car pulls up......

"Hop in, everyone—"

It's Dr. Amamiya.

Today it seems Dr. Amamiya will drive us to the university hospital herself.

"Well then, we'll be off. Mia-san—do come home, won't you."

Huh? We're leaving them behind?

But an outsider like me sticking my nose into someone else's family business is......

Will they be okay?

"Goodbye, Miyako-chan—and you as well, her father."

"Sorry, Miyako-chan. We're off now......"

Hm—how much did my past self know about this problem?

I want to help somehow, but there's far too little information......

"Mmm-mmm-mmm?"

"Quit calling me that! Ah—was it Kasumi-san's doing? A surprise? It's ANOTHER surprise, isn't it? Pretending to go out, setting up something else! Pops is suspicious too—taking time off work like that is weird! How far do the conspirators go? Soushi and the others? Anego too?"

"Doctor, please drive."

The car pulls away, leaving the suddenly maximally-vigilant elementary schooler behind.

Will she be okay?

"How I called her...... Kasumi-san, what did I used to call that girl?"

"......With '-san,' Haruki-san."

I see—she was mad because the respect suddenly vanished.

Next time, I'll call her with "-san" properly.

Miyako-san, then.