A sumptuous dinner is not a difficult request in this era of material abundance. Of course, this applies to most people. For the 700 million impoverished individuals, who make up ten percent of the global population, having a meal is still a daily struggle. But we are not gods, nor are we saints. Whether it be poverty, basic sustenance, or wealth, as long as we are alive, we all have our own battles to face each day. This holds true for Koga and her daughter as well.
As a single mother, Koga Mii made every effort to earn money to support herself and her daughter, Mizuo. Despite her lack of formal education and the wasted years of her youth, Koga managed to regain her composure and find a decent job. She raised her daughter, Mizuo, amidst the judgments and comments of others, earning respect as a woman and a mother.
It is easy to fall into a state of decadence, but it is not as simple as a few lines or even a few more lines to describe the difficulty of rising responsibly from that state. Just a year ago, Koga Mii didn't even dare to hope for a simple dinner together, let alone a conversation with her daughter.
"Yukino is indeed a great cook, but don't worry, Mom will work hard to catch up with Aunt Yukino!" Continuing the conversation from earlier, Koga Mii spoke confidently.
"Working hard is a must! Otherwise, with your current cooking skills, if you slack off, who knows when we'll have a proper meal. Maybe I should just learn from Sister Yukino myself~ hehehe~"
"Being looked down upon by my own daughter...looks like I can only learn Yukino's secret curry tonight to redeem myself!"
"But whether it's delicious or not, it's not up to you alone. We'll all be the judges!"
The mother and daughter bantered back and forth, not giving an inch. Uesugi Yuki watched and listened quietly, smiling as she observed their everyday quarrels. In the past, Mizuo only had Yuki to talk to. Yuki had always been a good listener, listening to Mizuo talk endlessly. Though there was nothing wrong with this, it was only when Uesugi Yuki witnessed the close bond between Koga Mii and her daughter that she realized it was the best outcome for Mizuo.
As the three of them happily walked together for a while, they noticed a suspicious person at a fork in the road along a narrow path. Although he was far away, Yuki couldn't make out his appearance. However, when Yuki glanced in his direction, it seemed like the person was also looking at them. Upon sensing Yuki's gaze, the person quickly hid in a nearby shop, as if hoping not to be discovered by them. Who could this person be?
As Yuki hesitated whether or not to tell Koga or investigate together, she felt something approaching from behind. Turning her head instinctively, she saw a familiar white van. Since encountering this van on the weekends had become almost routine, Yuki breathed a sigh of relief.
But as Yuki took her next step, she had a sense of foreboding.
Almost as soon as Yuki turned around to confirm once again, the driver of the small truck forcefully changed gears and stepped on the accelerator, pushing the truck to its maximum speed in an instant.
