Was that not a dream?
Was that reality?
Various thoughts raced through Masanojo’s head.
His consciousness was hazy and he didn’t have clear memories, but he faintly remembered what he had done.
In the middle of the night in the park, he had pinned a woman down and groped her breasts.
The memories after that were vague, and he didn’t remember what happened next.
But the fragmented pieces he did recall told him one clear fact.
He had assaulted a woman.
Masanojo suffered from a disease.
He had probably lost to his sexual urges and, driven by instinct, committed sexual assault.
Having reached that conclusion, Masanojo’s face turned pale at the gravity of the crime he had committed.
No matter how much the disease had affected him, it was no excuse.
Assaulting a woman was absolutely unforgivable.
What had he done?
Masanojo held his head and crouched down.
Ah, so that’s why.
That’s why the situation was like this.
Masanojo finally understood.
The detective in front of him, the police officers outside the door, and the patrol cars parked outside the hospital — they were all there to arrest him.
He also understood why his mother had broken down crying so intensely.
Of course she would.
Her son had become a heinous rapist.
Anyone would cry.
But was a mother really that great?
Even after he committed such a terrible crime, she still said she would protect him.
Even if he was a criminal, he was still her son.
As if it was a parent’s duty to protect their child.
Overwhelmed by the weight of his crime and his mother’s kindness, Masanojo couldn’t stop his tears.
“U… uuu…”
He covered his face with both hands and cried.
Crying wouldn’t improve the situation. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
If anyone should be crying, it was the woman he had victimized.
But even so, Masanojo couldn’t stop his tears.
“I’m sorry… I-I’m so sorry…”
“Masano-chan!!”
Emika hugged him tightly.
“Masano-chan didn’t do anything wrong!
You’re not bad at all!!
Masano-chan is not bad!
You’re not bad!!”
“Uuu…”
“It’s going to be okay, Masano-chan!
Mom will protect you!!
I’ll protect you… I’ll protect you…!!”
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“Masano-chan!!!”
Masanojo sobbed.
Emika also cried loudly while holding her son tightly.
Inside the hospital room, the sound of their sobbing echoed on and on.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Detective Hayami judged that questioning would be impossible given Masanojo’s distraught state.
She announced that she would return another day for the interview and left the hospital.
At that time, Masanojo asked her to take him into custody, but Detective Hayami looked startled and refused his request.
Masanojo wanted to be arrested immediately and atone for his crimes, but his wish was not granted.
It was probably because he had only just woken up from a coma.
Although Masanojo himself felt there was no physical problem, he reluctantly accepted that they were being cautious just in case.
Whether it was out of consideration for his physical condition or not, nothing else happened that day.
Masanojo spent a quiet, peaceful time resting on the hospital bed.
During this calm time, his mother Emika stayed by his side, holding his hand and being gentle with him.
“It’s going to be okay, Masano-chan.
Emika kept speaking kind words to him.
Receiving such kindness from his mother only made Masanojo feel more guilty.
What a terrible son he had been to such a gentle mother.
After he was discharged, he would properly atone for his crimes and live as a decent person so he would never make his mother sad again.
Masanojo made up his mind.
After that, Masanojo and Emika had casual, aimless conversations.
At first Emika was smiling as she talked with him, but as the conversation continued, the smile gradually disappeared from her face.
She began frowning more often and her expression grew more and more disturbed.
And eventually, she started crying.
Masanojo was surprised and confused by his mother’s sudden tears.
What was wrong?
When hospital staff heard the commotion and entered the room, Emika began saying something to what appeared to be a doctor.
The doctor looked surprised, his face twisted slightly, then approached Masanojo and started asking him various questions.
Masanojo, already confused by the series of events, became even more bewildered because he didn’t understand the purpose of the questions.
However, the questions themselves were not difficult.
They started with simple ones like “What is your name?” and “How old are you?”, then moved on to general knowledge such as “What year is it now?” and “What is the capital of Japan?”
Of course, Masanojo answered all of them smoothly without hesitation.
Even though he was still a high school student, he naturally knew such common knowledge.
But in response to Masanojo’s answers, not only Emika but also the doctor, nurses, and even the police officers around them began to show disturbed expressions.
Eh, did I say something weird?
Such a stupid thought crossed Masanojo’s mind, but when he thought back on his answers, he hadn’t said anything strange.
He had only answered with ordinary common sense.
He couldn’t think of any reason why they were reacting this way.
After that, Masanojo underwent various tests.
It was decided that he would rest for the day and they would report the results later.
He had no idea what was wrong.
With a hazy, uneasy feeling, Masanojo spent the rest of the day that way.
By the way, his mother Emika continued crying nonstop.
The next day, when the doctor gave him the diagnosis results, Masanojo felt even more confused.
“Eh, memory impairment?”