| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
Outside the window, light snowflakes were fluttering down. It was the second winter since I had entered St. Salaius Middle School.
The effects of the suppressant for the Black Stone Disease administered to my mother continued to be favorable, and with her discharge now in sight, our lives were gradually returning to how they once were.
I had also caught up on the studies I missed during my leave of absence, granted under special circumstances, and I was now attending special preparatory classes for high school entrance exams together with Alfe.
The special classes consisted of two types of subjects: core and elective. The core subject included Mecha piloting, a standard course in Arcadia Empire high schools. Both Hom and I, already accustomed to piloting Arkecius, found this easy to handle, as did Alfe, who quickly mastered piloting, likely due to her frequent observation of Arkecius.
For electives, I studied alchemy, Alfe chose magical studies, and Hom focused on military education.
Alfe planned to pursue magical studies but aimed for the same Canalford High Educational School as me. Since Hom had inherited basic knowledge from my memories, she was keeping up with the studies surprisingly well. This meant that she could potentially enroll as a regular student rather than just as an attendant. To secure a scholarship, we decided that Hom should take military education, a subject neither Alfe nor I were specializing in and one that wasn’t covered in Glass’ knowledge.
So far, I had no concerns about our knowledge or Mecha piloting, but starting from high school, military training would be added to the core subjects, which included not only piloting but also physical training, and that worried me a bit.
Thanks to Aether Overproduction Syndrome, my body didn’t tire easily, but since I didn’t grow, keeping up with the physical abilities of my peers was highly doubtful.
Considering my growth stopped in elementary school and I had a doctor’s diagnosis, it might be worth discussing the possibility of an exemption with the teacher. As Tao Ran said, I just needed to use my head more.
My mother’s discharge was set for the first day of winter break. The prospect of being released before the New Year filled both her and my father with immense joy.
Eagerly anticipating her return, Hom and I spent the early morning cleaning every corner of the house and preparing for her arrival by shopping for ingredients and doing the prep work for her meals.
It had been a long time since the whole family sat down for a meal together, and I found myself unsure of how much food to prepare. But with my father boasting that he wouldn’t leave a single bite of his daughter’s cooking, I figured making a lot wouldn’t be an issue.
My father had gone all out and bought Chateau Rabbit meat, which I had already seasoned and stored in the magic fridge. It was quite a high-end ingredient, low in fat, and sure to please my mother.
It was said that just one bite could make you feel like you were on cloud nine, reaching the peak of happiness. I was excited to see how much of its flavor I could bring out with my cooking skills. Back in my days as Glass, I never would have imagined finding joy in something like food. Cooking for someone else was truly a wonderful experience. The simple pleasure of being able to prepare a meal for the four of us—my parents, Hom, and myself—filled me with joy.
I put away the salad I had prepared and checked on the cheesecake I had hidden in the back of the refrigerator. It was something I had secretly made the night before as a treat for Hom.
“…By the way, Hom. I realize now that I haven’t really celebrated for you at all,” I said.
“No, Master. You gave me these shoes as a gift, so that’s more than enough,” she replied.
That was just a simple present, something I gave her while we were out gathering Almoria grass. It hardly counted as a celebration.
“…I don’t think it’s enough. You need to experience more of what ‘happiness’ truly is, Hom.”
“I believe I already understand it well enough, don’t I?” Hom responded.
She was likely referring to my “memories.” While they were indeed happy memories, they weren’t hers. Besides, I myself was still learning what true happiness really meant—I couldn’t say that I knew enough to teach her.
“Half right, half wrong. I’ve only just started to understand what ‘happiness’ really is,” I said.
Happiness was like seeds scattered throughout our daily lives. Sometimes, these seeds bloomed into flowers that warmed our hearts with a sense of fulfillment.
“…That’s why I want you to discover it together with me, from now on.”
“…As you wish, Master.”
“Alright. Then, let’s start by celebrating both Mother’s discharge and your birthday. There’s no use in refusing—I want to do this,” I said, pulling out the cheesecake. Hom’s eyes widened in surprise, and she bowed deeply.
“It’s not Alfe’s cake, but I got the recipe from her and made this. Let’s decorate it together.”
“…Thank you, Master.”
I had Hom whip some cream while I topped the cake with raspberries and the cute, tiny red winter strawberries.
As we worked, it reminded me of when I was little, decorating birthday cakes with my mother. Back then, I wondered why she asked me to do something so simple, but now that I was the one doing it, I realized it was actually quite enjoyable. Perhaps my mother felt the same way when she asked me to help her.
“Does this look alright, Master?”
“Thank you. You’ve done a meticulous job, Hom.”
In the center of the cake, where we had left space, I carefully wrote a message to celebrate Hom’s birth. As I wrote each letter with care, I felt an overwhelming surge of emotion, wishing for Hom’s happiness and reflecting on her birth.
Holding back tears, I finished writing the message, placed a glass cover I had prepared over the cake, and returned it to the refrigerator. The refrigerator, now filled with a feast and the cake, was a sight to behold.
“Is there anything else I can help with, Master?” Hom asked.
In response, I slowly spread my arms wide.
“Come here, Hom.”
She stepped forward and nestled into my embrace. As I held Hom, who was taller than me, I felt her warmth seep through, grounding me.
“You are my precious daughter. Thank you.”
“Master…?”
I could sense her confusion as she rested in my arms. Tightening my embrace, I closed my eyes.
“I’ve been mistaken for a long time. We are a family.”
“Family…”
Hom repeated the word slowly, as if processing its meaning. Yes, we were a family. Calling her my daughter might be a bit of a stretch, but as the one who created Hom, she was undeniably a part of my family.
“Yes, that’s right, Hom,” I said, nodding as I released the hug and looked into her eyes. Hom met my gaze with unwavering sincerity.
“I think I understand a little better what you meant earlier, Master,” she said softly.
I noticed a thin layer of tears glistening in her eyes. It might have been the first time I’d ever seen Hom cry for reasons other than a physiological reaction.
“I… Hom, am very happy right now,” she whispered.
Her face softened, and the tension in her cheeks eased.
“I see…”
Ah, so this is Hom’s smile1.
The thought made my own face soften into a smile.
“I’m glad… Come here,” I said, pulling Hom into another embrace. This time, she hugged me back.
As I gently patted her head like I always did, Hom made a small, contented sound, almost like a soft whimper, as she nestled closer into my chest.
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading.
This marks the conclusion of the second arc of AlSta. (Alchemist Startover abbreviation)
I would be delighted if you enjoyed it.
By confronting her past and acknowledging Hom as family, Leafa has come to understand a bit more about what happiness truly means.
The third arc will feature the story of Leafa and her friends as high school students.
P.S. I’ve created an official wiki2 for the series.
You can catch a sneak peek of characters who will appear in the next chapter.
