《Short Story 27》Teach Me, Brother Leo – Home Economics – (3)

“Wh-what!?”

Leo and Anne screamed as they stared into the blue-gray eyes that had just appeared.

“Wh-why did you wake up so naturally!?”

“What do you mean? Is there something wrong with waking up? Oh dear, young people are always trying to kill off the frail old folks.”

With that, Hilde grimaced and tried to sit up. As expected, her head hurt, and she wobbled when she lifted her upper body. Leo reflexively extended a hand, and she grasped it firmly, taking her time to sit back on the bed.

“Ah, that was a good sleep.”

“You slept too much. Playing possum, you sneaky old woman.”

“Hmph. You lot kept being idiots, so I missed the right moment to wake up.”

As Hilde and Bruno exchanged words like that, Anne and the others could only gape, their mouths opening and closing. Still clutching Leo’s shirt, Anne’s eyes went wide and she stammered,

“Wh-what? What?”

Bruno tilted his head.

“What’s so surprising? An old woman was sleeping and woke up.”

“But… we tried to wake her, and she wouldn’t wake up… that means she was unconscious… Dr. Haino even said it was ‘the end’ and brought the anointing oil…”

“The end? Ah, that…”

As Bruno began to speak, the front door opened, and a cheerful voice rang out.

“I’m back! Thanks, everyone!”

It was Haino. He entered with a beaming smile, his previously exhausted expression gone, as if it had been a lie. He seemed elated, almost bouncing as he approached the bedroom. When he saw Hilde sitting up, he didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“Oh, Hilde! You look well, good, good,” he said, quickly gathering his scattered diagnostic tools.

It was Anne and the others who were left behind by the turn of events. Leo, regaining his composure first, asked hesitantly,

“Um, Doctor? Hilde has ‘regained consciousness,’ but… is that okay?”

“Haha, she just woke up, right?” Haino said smoothly.

“Huh?”

“Honestly. I wished she would wake up sooner, but she just wouldn’t. It was so frustrating. I thought it was all over.”

“Wait… you went to get the anointing oil, didn’t you…?”

The conversation wasn’t making sense. As Leo tried to piece it together, Haino blinked.

“Huh? What are you talking about? I went to the church to discuss my wedding.”

“What!?”

Haino explained. Despite being known for his kindness, even he had his limits. He was about to get married to a woman who accepted him as he was. They had planned a meeting with the officiant, but he was stuck taking care of Hilde. If he missed this meeting, she threatened to break off the engagement.

“Already canceled twice. If I missed this one, she said our relationship would be over,” Haino explained, trembling with fear at the thought.

Despite his indecisiveness, Haino had a strong professional ethic. He knew Hilde was just sleeping but also knew that someone with a concussion could vomit upon waking. He couldn’t risk leaving her side.

“I tried to get someone else to help, but no one came. Hilde wouldn’t wake up no matter how much I shouted, and the meeting time was approaching… I was so desperate…”

“But thanks to you, we avoided a breakup,” Haino said, smiling through tears. Leo almost grabbed him by the collar.

“‘The end’? That’s what you meant? Don’t use such confusing words!”

“Couldn’t you tell by looking that she was just sleeping?”

“No! How can an ordinary person tell the difference between unconsciousness and sleep?”

Turning to Bruno for agreement, he found him tilting his head again.

“You can’t?”

“No.”

“You should be able to.”

“…”

Leo suddenly remembered. When he declared Hilde unconscious earlier, Bruno had tried to speak.

“Wait… Bruno, did you know she was just sleeping?”

“…”

Bruno’s expression suggested he realized he had made a mistake.

“You told me to ‘shut up,’ remember?”

“You… you… you…!”

Leo was too angry to speak smoothly. He clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

“Grandma Hilde…”

Anne, who had been listening, murmured.

“Grandma Hilde, you’re awake, right? You’re okay now, right?”

She slowly approached Hilde, putting her arms around her.

“You won’t leave us, right?”

“When did I ever say I was leaving? Don’t be so ominous.”

Hilde turned away, indignant. But her face was slightly flushed, and her pale gray eyes sparkled with a hint of blue.

“And what kind of idea is it to wake a sleeping person with a food review? Are you stupid?”

“Hey, Grandma, does it still hurt? Are you still in pain?”

“And that over-the-top food review. Don’t you have any acting skills?”

“Hey, you won’t stay asleep forever, right?”

“Well, I suppose I can praise you for knowing my favorite foods, but—”

“You won’t leave Anne behind, right?”

Hilde fell silent for a moment as Anne hugged her tightly.

“I can’t leave behind such a foolish girl, can I?”

She responded with her usual harsh words, but her embrace was gentle.

“Grandma Hilde!”

“Let go! You’re getting snot on my clothes!”

Despite her protests, Hilde hugged Anne back tightly.

“…What is this mess…”

Leo watched as his little sister and Hilde hugged, feeling utterly drained. What happened to the grim atmosphere from before? And their earnest food review efforts seemed to have been for nothing.

“Seriously, Grandma, playing dead just because Anne’s effort was cute is too much. And Bruno, damn you.”

His thoughts swirled in confusion.

“Ah…”

But seeing Hilde give Anne a look that seemed to say “I’m sorry,” and Anne smiling so happily, he sighed and said,

“Well, whatever.”

“Hey, Leo!”

Anne, back to her usual cheerful self, called out.

“Let’s eat the soup! With Grandma Hilde, all of us together!”

“Fine, but give me the thigh meat.”

Anne’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What? But it’s get-well soup.”

“I don’t care! There’s no thigh meat for a sleepy old woman!”

“I’ll take—”

“You’re not getting a drop of this soup!”

Helping Anne dish out the soup, they all ate together. Anne’s first soup was a bit salty, but warm and comforting.