Chapter 263: Tempest
"Uwaaaaaaaah...I can't remember the last time I felt this full...!" exhaled Masane, slouching in her seat with her legs stretched and hands cradling her exposed stomach, visibly bulging after she put down enough food for five people.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," said Vahn, sporting an appreciated, moderately amused smile. Masane's table manners were non-existent, but there was a certain charm to seeing her down his food as if she were afraid it would suddenly disappear.
"You're not going to suddenly tell me I owe you a bunch of money, are you?" asked Masane, her brows furrowing as she added, "Because I don't have much, and Rihoko-chan will get angry if she hears I repaid you with my body. She really doesn't like that."
"Right..." responded Vahn, his smile cramping as he assured, "That won't be necessary. I prepared you a meal because I wanted to, not because I expected something in return. And now that you've settled down, we can more easily discuss your and your daughter's current situation and future course. We'll start with you explaining how you came to be here."
"Well, let's see..." started Masane, crossing her arms and leaning her head back in a way that practically demanded a shift in focus as she recounted, "Until a few days ago, Rihoko-chan and I were living in a domestic shelter for women and girls displaced during the Great Quake five years ago. The NSWF wanted to take her from me, so she got the idea of running away in the middle of the night and sneaking away to start new lives for ourselves in the ruins of Tokyo. I wanted to go to Okinawa since it's supposed to be warm almost year-round, but we didn't have the money to purchase plane or multiple ferry tickets."
"It was Rihoko-chan's idea to run away...?" asked Vahn, his right brow rising slightly.
"Yeah! Rihoko-chan is super smart despite her age! I'm her mother, but it often feels like she's the one looking after me~" chimed Masane, beaming happily. Then, exhaling from her nose, she abruptly appeared despondent as she averted her eyes and muttered, "Rihoko-chan is my light...without her, I wouldn't have been able to endure these past five years after losing my memories. I know a smart girl like Rihoko-chan would be able to live a more fulfilling life after being adopted by parents who can provide for and nourish her talents, but what about me? Just because I look like an adult, I'm supposed to be able to take care of myself? It's not fair..."
"I'm sorry you've had to endure such hardships..." muttered Vahn, his expression and tone soft, tinged with melancholy as he imagined how Masane had gotten by the past five years. Beauty could be a weapon when wielded by capable or opportunistic women, but it was a curse if you were in a position to be exploited—wholly dependent on people you didn't know and a system that had no reason to care for you to survive...
"It's fine. You don't have to apologize," said Masane, regaining her smile as she contended, "My life hasn't been the easiest, but as long as Rihoko-chan and I can be together, we'll find a way to survive. I almost made the biggest mistake of my life by letting that mean hag from the Child Welfare Agency convince me it was in Rihoko-chan's best interest that I let them take her, but now that I've come to my senses, I'll do everything I can to keep us together."