I teach kendo in Tokyo

Shigeru Ikeda pressed the final button.

The phone makes a connecting sound.

At this time, Shigeru Ikeda, who was filled with murderous intentions towards Naoto Ikeda, suddenly remembered that this was not the first time he had experienced this feeling of excitement.

He remembered that a long time ago, he had been so high-spirited.

And to the same person.

That was the day before his mother ran away - Ikeda Shigeru recalled this time point very clearly, because it was the thing that was engraved deepest in his memory, deep in his bones.

What should be strange is why did you forget such an important thing before?

That day, Shigeru Ikeda, who mustered up the courage, completed his transformation with his beloved transformation belt around his waist, and then took a kitchen knife and went around behind his father who was violently raping his mother.

Adrenaline made Shigeru Ikeda breathe rapidly, and the hand holding the kitchen knife trembled greatly.

This is not weakness, nor is it fear. If anything, it is excitement - pure chemical excitement caused by adrenaline.

My long-cherished wish is about to come true, and a world where mothers will not be bullied is about to come.

Ikeda Shigeru cheered, jumped for joy, and walked towards the unsuspecting vicinity.

Then, what happened next was beyond the expectations of the young Shigeru Ikeda.

Mom saw him, saw him through the armpits of her violent father. The mother's expression, which was crying and begging for mercy, suddenly became calm and brave.

With a precise kick, she knocked down Ikeda Shigeru who was about to pounce.

Shigeru Ikeda was not too young at that time. He had been very strong since he was a child. He wanted to be a Kamen Rider, so he asked his mother how he could become one. Her mother said that he should eat more and exercise hard.

He did so.

He was much stronger than other kids his age, bigger and heavier.

That shouldn't be a figure that a suppressed weak woman could knock down.

But he was kicked down. Maybe he was too excited at the time and his steps were frivolous. Maybe it was some other coincidence. Anyway, he fell down and the knife fell far away.

His father noticed his presence, let go of his mother, pulled Shigeru Ikeda up from the ground, and slapped him hard several times: What do you want to do, little bastard? What do you want to do with the knife?

Shigeru Ikeda thought that he had been betrayed by his mother. He was so disheartened that he endured the beating without saying a word, stubbornly refusing to let tears flow.

That night, my mother woke up Shigeru Ikeda while my hungover father was asleep.

She packed a small bag and placed it at her feet.

Shh! She softly stopped Ikeda Shigeru who was about to speak, and then whispered, Although your father is a rotten person, at least he has not let you and I go hungry in these years.

Listen, Amao, maybe you will never understand what I say, and maybe when you grow up you will think that I am lying to you and that I am trying to excuse my behavior, but now you listen.

Mom, I originally planned to endure it until I raised you. Mom has been secretly saving money. Although he discovered it several times and was beaten because of it, I managed to save a lot.

“Originally, I was prepared to endure it until I raised you up, and then gave you money to go to college.

“But today, I know that I have to leave, because if I don’t leave, you will become a murderer one day, and a parricide murderer that society will never forgive.

“Your life will be finished forever.

I can stop you today, but you will continue to grow. How strong you are.

The mother gently touched Ikeda Shigeru's shoulder: What a strong shoulder, how safe the girl who leans on this arm will feel in the future.

I won't be able to stop you as strong as I am soon. So I have to go, Amao. Remember, the bravest people in this world are not the extreme ones or the bad guys, but those who are brave no matter how difficult life is. People who will never give in.

“It’s those people who choose to be good people no matter how difficult it is.

If mom is still in this family, one day you will be labeled a murderer for saving mom. You don't even have the right to choose between good and bad.

Mom, leave for now. I am too incompetent. If I take you away, neither of us will be able to live a good life. When things stabilize, mom will come back to pick you up! She will definitely come back!

Ikeda Shigeru remembered that the reason why he still wanted to find his mother was because of the agreement he made back then.

He also remembered that his young self asked: What if you never come back to pick me up, Mom?

At that time, my mother was silent for a few seconds, obviously shaken, but in the end she restored her previous brave and determined expression: Amao, remember, as long as mother lives, she will never give up on you, never. As long as you still have As long as I live, I will definitely come back and take you away from this man.

Ikeda Shigeru remembered everything.

I have chosen to forget this memory for so many years because I don't want to face the growing possibility.

——As long as he is alive, he will come back to pick me up. On the other hand, if he doesn’t come to pick me up, it means he is no longer alive.

With each passing year, this becomes more likely.

The sudden memory left Amao stunned. The operator with a sweet voice on the phone's receiver asked repeatedly: Moses, Moses, Moses, Moses? This is the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's alarm station. Do you want to call the police? Moses, Moses?

Shigeru Ikeda hung up the phone.

He was very confused inside.

After putting down the receiver, he punched the wall, causing a dent in the wooden wall.

Confusing thoughts rushed into his mind.

Countless thoughts passed through his mind.

Although that rotten man is rotten, he hasn't let you go hungry after all.

He paid the tuition anyway.

But he is indeed a rotten person, and it would be a shame to die.

If I choose to die here and not save him, does that mean I killed him? Will it violate my mother's wish?

What was my mother's wish back then?

In the confusion, Amao ran into the dojo and opened the door leading to the courtyard.

The wind poured into the dojo and messed up Amao's hair.

The wind that blew up when the door opened made the wind chimes hanging under the eaves on the edge of the house clank.

Although the big cherry tree is no longer in full bloom, its presence is still very strong. On the thick trunk of the cherry tree, there is a sign that Chiyoko put up as a joke.

The sign reads There are many fingers under the tree.

Shigeru Ikeda looked at the big cherry tree and felt his mind slowly calm down.

By the way, let's ask Master. He suddenly had such an idea.

Anyway, the other party didn't restrict when he could go there. Shigeru Ikeda had enough time to ask the master whether he should ignore Naoto Ikeda's life and call the police directly.

So Shigeru Ikeda stuffed the note with the address into his pocket, ran to the door, got on his bicycle, and rushed out.

If you go to Koshikawa Girls' High School now, you should be able to meet Kiryu Kazuma on the way to pick up Chiyoko.