Shōko POV
Miria: "Y-You're not Shirabe-chan's real mother?"
"Nope."
Tsurugi: "Then where is her real parents?"
"....."
I looked down with sad eyes.
"They've passed already."
Everyone: !
Miria: "Does... Shirabe know?"
"She knows. She knows because she saw it happen."
Everyone: !
"Let me start from the beginning. Everyone, you heard when Shirabe called herself a bad omen right?"
Shindou: "...Yes."
"Shirabe thinks that because she believes it's her fault her real parents died."
I took a deep breath.
"When Shirabe was born, it was found out that her father had died in an accident on his way to the hospital to see her and her mother. Her mother was devastated but none the less decided to raise Shirabe."
Miria: "Her father died first too..."
"No matter how hard her mother worked however nothing came out of it. This started driving her mother to insanity."
Everyone: !
"Her mother became more violent as well and started physical abusing Shirabe. As well as mentally."
Haruna: "No way..."
"... One day, her mother had just finished abusing Shirabe and killed herself in front of her."
I clasped my hands tightly.
"...Giving birth to you was the biggest mistake of my life. You should have never been born."
Everyone flinched at my words. I gave them a sad smile.
"Those were Shirabe's mother last words."
Aoi: "No way..."
Midori: "How could you say that to your own child...?!"
"When I found Shirabe, she was covered in bruises and scratches. Her eyes were an empty void as well. I treated her as best as I could, and luckily she didn't have any life-threatening injuries nor any leftover scars. But..."
I looked back down.
"Though her physical condition was healed, I don't believe her mental condition has, completely. That's why..."
Shindou: "We'll do it."
!
I looked up at Shindou.
Shindou: "You asked me before, if we'd take care of Shirabe. We will."
"Shindou-kun..."
Tenma: "Yeah! We will!"
I looked around at everyone. They all smiled at me.
"Thank you..."
Shirabe...
I remember how she first looked at me when we met. Her eyes had no light and she was already afraid of everything around her. She flinched even at someone talking to her.
But now...
I heard the door open and we all turned to see who it was. It was Kirara and Shirabe. Shirabe quickly hid behind Kirara at everyone's stares.
Kirara: "Hey now, we said..."
I smiled and walked over to them.
Haruna: "Shōko-san?"
I came behind Shirabe and put my hands on her shoulders. Then I started pushing her to stop her from hiding.
Shirabe: "M-Mom...!"
"It's okay. I know what you want to say to them."
Shirabe: !
"Now..."
Shirabe looked at everyone and looked away for a second before turning to them.
Shirabe: "...I'm sorry."
She bowed and I saw her cheeks red from embarrassment. Then when she looked up...
Miria: "Shirabe-chan!"
Shirabe: "Eh?"
Miria quickly ran up to her and took her hands.
Miria: "I'm sorry too! I didn't know what you were going through! I never thought we were so similar!"
Miria started shaking Shirabe's hands quickly with small tears at the corner of her eyes.
Shirabe: "Wha...Why are you...?"
Tenma, Shinsuke, and Hikaru: "Saegusa-senpai!"
Shirabe: "Eh?!"
The three of them had tears too in the corner of their eyes and soon enough everyone started surrounding Shirabe.
Sumire: "Isn't that great, Shōko?"
"Yes..."
I wipe some tears from my own eyes.
Now if only...
I put my fingers on the ring that is on my ring finger.
*Later*
Shirabe POV
After everyone got off me, they went back to practice and I decided to watch them with Mom.
Shōko: "You found some great friends, Shirabe."
"Mhm..."
I looked down at everyone practicing and slightly smiled.
"Ah, Mom."
Shōko: "What is it?"
"Well... what did you mean, when you were sorry?"
Shōko: "...Ah, that."
Mom looked sad.
Shōko: "You remember when your father and I were fighting, right?"
I nodded, a little sad.
Shōko: "It's true we were fighting who would take you but... the main reason we were fighting was..."
3rd POV
Shōko spoke and the words could no be heard by the dear reader. (wink wink) But after Shōko finished, Shirabe's eyes widen.
Shirabe: "Then... the revolution is..."
Shōko: "...Yes."
Shirabe: "Why? Why Dad go so far to..."
Shōko: "...I couldn't stop him because... I know how he feels."
Shirabe looked sadly at her mother who was looking up at the sky. Then she noticed the ring on her finger.
Shirabe: "Mom..."
Shōko: "Haha, your father is such an idiot..."
Shirabe looked up at Shōko, her eyes had tears on the corners. Shirabe didn't say anything and just hugged Shōko tightly. Shōko hugged back.
Shirabe: "...Mom, why do you and Dad fight so much?"
Shirabe said as she still hugged Shōko.
Shōko: "Well that's because... we love each other too much."
Shirabe: "Eh?"
Shōko: "You heard of how the more people fight, it means that they care about you, right?"
Shirabe: !
Shōko: "It's quite similar to your father and I. We've fought a lot when we were your age."
Shirabe: "I see..."
Shōko looked over to Shirabe and smiled sadly.
Shōko: "My feelings for your father has never wavered though. I'm sure he's the same."
Shirabe: "Mom..."
At that moment, Shirabe understood. She understood how strong the bond between her parents were, and how lucky she was to be taken in by them.
Shirabe: "I'm very lucky aren't I?"
Shōko: "Eh?"
Shirabe: "Despite what happened to my real family, I've gain so much after... An amazing best friend, a father who cares for us so much, a mother who gave me a new name when I can't remember my real one, and..."
Shirabe looked down at the field.
Shirabe: "A team that is willing to forgive me after what I've done."
Shōko smiled as she looked at Shirabe.
Shōko: "I think... that's one of the biggest smiles you've done, Shirabe."
Shirabe: "Is it? Maybe it matches how happy I am..."
Shōko: "Hehe, maybe."