And Haruki, for the first time in years, didn’t add his usual line.
Haruki sat beside her. Quietly, he took off his own scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Then he leaned his head against her shoulder and closed his eyes. okaasan no koto nanka zenzen suki janain dakara ne
When Yuki woke up an hour later, she found her son’s arm linked through hers. She kissed the top of his head. He pretended to stay asleep. And Haruki, for the first time in years,
“Okaasan no koto nanka zenzen suki janain dakara ne” — “It’s not like I like you or anything, Mom.” Every morning, thirteen-year-old Haruki muttered this under his breath before slamming the front door. His mother, Yuki, would just smile from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Have a good day, Haru!” Then he leaned his head against her shoulder