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You've gotten so good at the piano!

D-Do you think so?

I know better than anyone how much you've changed. I'm your mother, after all.

I can hear it all—how hard you've been working... I know your job must be so hectic, and yet you've kept up with your piano practice.

Huh?

It seems you've gone through quite a lot out there...

Hate to disturb you two while you're practicing! Supper's ready?

Mm—this is wonderful!

What do you think? My cooking's really improved, eh?

You don't know the half of it, Sakiko... He had me taste-test so much in order to finally get to this point.

Hurry and give this salad a try, hm?

Mmh! Delicious!

I've made a lot of minor adjustments so it's more to your liking! Not half bad, eh?

And there's plenty more dishes you love on the way!

Yep!

Ngh... Ugh...

Sakiko? Sakiko!

Wh-What's wrong?

I think—I've had a little too much to eat...

Are you feeling better now...?

Sorry, I think I overdid it a little...

Honestly, your father never changes...

But that's his style, I suppose. Honestly, most times it's quite adorable of him.

You'll forgive him, won't you?

I...

Can I truly forgive him?

When the man who shares his face has broken my heart countless times?

He really loves you, you know.

And so do I.

I really love the both of you.

Mother, where is this coming from...?

I've been going through our photo albums more and more while you were away.

I started from when you were born... then when you were one, then two, then three...

My childhood memory nearly failed me...

Maybe. But there's nothing more important, nothing more special to a parent than their child.

When you were born, your palm wasn't even half as big as mine.

But look at you now. Yours is even a little bigger.

Sakiko's mother takes her hand and brings their palms together.

For some reason beyond herself, Sakiko grasps her mother's hand and locks fingers with hers.

Mother, your hand is so warm...

Was this how warm her palm is?

Is this all real? Is everything I'm enjoying right now rational, reasonable?

How can it be this warm, and yet this heartrending?

That's right. I'm right here.

Mother...

Go on. You can cry all you want. I always comforted you like this when you cried.

Huh? Was I... really such a crybaby?

When you were very, veeery little. Oh, you would make the biggest fuss over a single sweet.

You may be a strong young woman now, but you were a big crybaby back then.

R-Really? I don't remember at all...

*giggle* Your mother would never lie to you.

Then... Do you remember my high school entrance ceremony?

During my last year of middle school, my mother died of illness.

Even if they're nonexistent memories, even if they're things that never happened.

But right now, all I want is the most beautiful answers I can get.

I want to convince myself, to create the most wonderful memories, to believe in the sweetest dream I can.

Of course. I remember you in your school uniform. Our whole family took a photo together at the school gate.

Yes, that sounds right... Oh, that does bring me back.

What else have we done together? Mother... I want you to tell me. Tell me about all the memories we share.

Sakiko, just how long have you been away from home? Aren't you the clingy one today?

Home...

When did the word 'home' start sounding so foreign to me?

Hmm... Well, if you want, I'll reminisce a little more.

Now where should I begin?

Let's start from when I was born. I want to hear it all.

Okay, then we'll start from the day you were born...

And so, down the country path, at a leisurely pace, Sakiko and her mother walk side-by-side, and it feels as if they could walk forever.

Just like that sweet, beautiful stretch of time they shared back when it all began. Unhurried and without end.

Their hands, the umbilical cord that connected them in the very beginning.

Sakiko—

You found your way home!

Miss Vigna, this carriage seems to be out of order. Now let me down!

Let's see... W—Wait, these controls aren't like what I learned at Rhodes Island!

Oh, crap, crap, crap, we can't stop!

We're going to crash!

Sakiko, out of the way—!