A hot summer day with the sound of cicadas.
I take Hinato and head to the place where someone rests, holding my identification card.
Makoto, I am raising Hinato, carrying on your will.
The pigeons you loved are cheering her up through conversation.
I pray that you may rest in peace again this year.
“Karen, if my child, if Hinato is left all alone, please protect her.”
Yes, I am protecting her.
If I were a man, though I am full of flaws and infidelity, I would definitely want to raise Hinato with care until she becomes an adult.
Because just like the wings wrapped in the same halo of angels as you, she can communicate with pigeons.
“Mom Karen, I changed the water.”
Thank you.
I clean the grave and replace the anise and flowers.
I cannot believe it has already been 15 years since this grave was built; time truly flies.
If I were Hinato’s mother, I might be raising her together with pigeons.
If I, who have never even been pregnant, were to give birth to a chick…
“If Karen were to give birth to a child?”
“I would give birth at a house where children love pigeons. And I would become a mother like Makoto.”
I wonder if I would get pregnant in a house with pigeons, make a birth announcement in front of everyone who loves pigeons, and give birth.
Even with this body nearing 40, I am healthy, so I think it would be fine.
Besides, I would either raise her to be a caretaker like Hinato or raise her to be an athlete.
That would mean I could no longer mess around with the company or other people.
Just like pigeons laying eggs, the sperm of the opposite sex is needed to fertilize.
Living together as females afterward is also an option, and I would have to flap my wings to gather food until the time comes to set off.
I wonder what kind of expression Hinato would make at that time.
Will she see me off—?
“Mom Karen, you always have a habit of daydreaming even when visiting a grave. For someone so strong-willed…”
That is right, I am a woman too.
Eventually, my physical strength will decline, and I will become the one who needs to be cared for.
A pigeon that has been seen off does not return.
However, what about humans?
If there is even one person who can take them in, will they be able to return?
For instance, just like Hinato’s parents who died in a fire, will she be able to have a grave built for her like this?
If—if I were like a pigeon, whether I could fly to your side—
Or to the side of Makoto or my sister Serika—?
“Making such a serious face—what won’t return won’t return, so live with peace of mind, she says♪”
Huh? Wait? Hinato, could you possibly…
“You have been able to talk to animals for a long time, right? Your spiritual sense gets stronger too.”
What? Then a medium is not even needed.
Could it be that the number of things you can communicate with increases as you age?
Ever since you started going to the Pigeon Center, you have become more energetic and sensitive to mysterious powers, so it seems there are many phenomena that cannot be explained away by medical science.
“I sometimes think, if my spiritual sense gets stronger, can I perhaps talk to God, too? But if Mom Karen goes to heaven, I will be the one on the side watching over you, flapping my wings like a pigeon, right? If that happens, I might finally have a lover or partner by my side soon, too.”
Let me tell you, I am still 37 years old.
I am 22 years older than you, and I am still full of energy.
Makoto went to heaven at 29, though.
Perhaps because I am single, I am able to live without causing any incidents.
Hinato, what do you think?
“Before long, Mom Kanade might get angry and hand you divorce papers. Probably, my real mom would do the exact same thing. Like, ‘Stop cheating.'”
The grave visit, which was meant to show Hinato’s growth, is completely ruined by my daydreaming drama.
It seems I still need some rules to protect as this child’s parent.
If Hinato brings home a lover and proposes marriage someday, how should I approve of it as a pigeon?
Popporo is about to become the third generation, so if I do not act wise as a parent, I will lose their affection.
However, Hinato’s mysterious power might have been passed down from Makoto.
She was also able to converse with pigeons and was good at taking care of others, yet despite that, she seemed to struggle much with her husband, but that person always kept a goddess-like smile.
Trying not to cause trouble for those around her.
“Hinato.”
“What?”
“If I were to cheat, be abandoned by Kanade, and shut myself away in the company, would you come to pick me up?”
“In times like that, I’ll wait with Popporo. I’ll say, ‘Welcome home anytime.'”
Even if there is nowhere to go, and even if there is only one person you can rely on, if there is a life fading away like a lingering scent, it makes me feel that we must never abandon the people dearest to us.
We press incense sticks, light the fire, and place both hands on a single grave.
A year from now, Hinato’s appearance will probably have changed, and I too must protect the apartment together with Kanade, or else this child will have nowhere to return to. To make sure that never happens, I must welcome the chicks as a single pigeon.
“Hinato—hey.”
“What is it?”
“Kiss!”