“Whoa, Henry lost again!”
Iris’s exclamation rang loudly through the spacious living room. She was even clapping, as if the situation unfolding before her eyes was amazing.
After telling Declan, who had deliberately lost, to do it properly, Henry had been losing three rounds in a row.
“Wow, you’re really strong. I’m not as much as you guys who are the ones involved, but I like watching sports games so I know a bit. Henry is pretty strong for a high schooler too…!”
She had a face as if possessed by something. Like, say, a coach who discovered a young talent with the makings of a sports star?
Even though she was just an ordinary graduate student.
“Is that so?”
Declan answered with a low laugh. Iris nodded vigorously. It seemed her interest in Declan had bloomed in a different direction than before.
“How long have you been doing sports? At this level, you must have been doing it as long as Henry does football… You’re thinking about becoming a player too, right?”
“Russell’s been doing it shorter than me. He said it’s been almost 3 years now.”
“3 years?”
Iris’s eyes widened greatly. Faint wrinkles formed on her forehead.
“I definitely remember seeing your face at your tournament…! You’re a center! You were too good for a 3rd year!”
Iris shouted in a loud voice. Through the gap, Margaret’s voice was also heard.
“3 years? That’s not even half of Henry’s?”
“Our Henry was in his 3rd year when he was still shorter. Getting pushed around among the fully grown kids and falling every time, David would pick him up and stuff. You remember, Mom?”
“Ah, Iris! Why bring up that story!”
At the uncomfortable name that kept popping up, Henry let out a whiny remark. Of course, not just Iris but even Margaret didn’t seem to have any intention of understanding his heart.
“He was cute back then. Struggling desperately to get the ball just once among kids who were a whole head taller than him. Actually, I thought he’d quit after doing it for a while.”
“I thought exactly the same as Mom! He did it for 3 whole years, then suddenly grew big. And ended up securing a starting position at Platts. Even went to tournaments.”
Margaret and Iris’s eyes became lost in memories as they recalled Henry’s childhood.
“Henry, you really have to be grateful to David. When you first started football, he really took care of you so you wouldn’t get hurt as much.”
It was a frequently mentioned story. If they happened to all meet with David together, it would come up almost every time.
His young 4th grade days. Back then, Henry Lowell was short and small-framed, so he would just fall over if a peer pushed him.
One day he gritted his teeth and held on, determined not to cry, but in the end one of his legs became completely bloody and he ended up bawling.
David was the one who discovered Henry like that first more than anyone and came running. Then he comforted Henry and took him to the bench.
Even now, Henry could replay the memories of that time as vividly as a home video.
It was certainly something that was a little embarrassing when it was just family, or when only David was there. When that story came out in front of Declan, his face heated up maddeningly.
It was partly because it was a story involving David, and partly because it seemed like Declan wouldn’t have had such an inexperienced period like himself.
“Ah, I know! I know…!”
It was just when Henry, unable to bear it any longer, let out an annoyed remark.
Creaaak—the front door opened with the sound of heavy scrap metal moving. A man’s voice that was solemn yet somehow felt sacred was heard.
“What are you talking about to be shouting like this? Henry, I can hear your voice from outside the door.”
“Dad!”
Color came to Iris’s face. Her small frame ran over and clung to the middle-aged man. He wrapped his daughter in one arm while taking off the fedora he was wearing and said.
“Henry, don’t yell at your sister.”
“…Yes.”
Henry answered with his lips jutting out at his father’s scolding.
Iris, who once excited would get endlessly happy, and Henry, who had a gentle and easygoing disposition—the quarrels between the two children weren’t such an unfamiliar thing.
Thus the man’s interest quickly turned to the new person.
“So. Who is this handsome boy here?”
He asked with a benevolent smile.
“Hello. I’m Declan Russell. I play football with Lowell.”
Declan answered his words with a faint smile.
“You know! Declan, the backboard that fell! There was that kid who saved Henry there!”
At Iris’s supplementary explanation, the man let out a short exclamation of ah. Then he held out his hand to Declan, asking for a handshake.
“Nice to meet you, student. I’m Richard Lowell.”
Declan clasped his hand at a moderate speed that was neither too fast nor too slow.
“Thank you for helping. Thanks to you, I got to meet my son at home instead of a hospital.”
“Anyone would have done the same.”
“No, no. It must have been a dangerous moment by anyone’s eyes, but the reason you reached out without hesitation was because you are good-hearted, student. That’s not something that happens just by will alone. The Lord planted mercy in your heart, and that mercy saved Henry. Someday, surely, the choice to help Henry will return as good fruit in your life.”
They were words that felt pious. In between, Henry couldn’t hide his discomfort.
Henry, who had reached the age of 17, knew that not everyone was Christian like himself.
That’s why he disliked Richard’s words that, without asking Declan anything, arbitrarily connected the situation to religion.
“If you walk straight north from this house, there’s a church I run. It’s not very grand, but whenever you have difficulties, come visit.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Declan responded to Richard with a calm voice while wearing a faint smile.
“Margaret. Is the meal preparation done?”
Richard, having let go of Declan’s hand, asked Margaret in an affectionate voice. Margaret, who had been standing by the whole time, finally jumped in surprise and covered her mouth with both hands.
“Oh my!”
She made a tearful face and said to Richard.
“Richard. What do I do? I was so happy that Declan came that I got carried away talking…”
Moisture formed in Margaret’s large eyes as if tears would fall any moment. Seeing her, Richard quickly wrapped his arm around Margaret’s shoulders and said.
“Oh dear, Margaret. Why shed tears over something like that? We can just do it quickly. Do it with me. Then it’ll be finished much faster.”
At Richard’s words, Margaret nodded vigorously. Richard took off the coat he’d been wearing the whole time, draped it over the sofa, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
“I’m sorry, student. It’s been a while since we’ve had a guest, so Margaret got excited and forgot. I’ll make it quickly, so would you like to hang out with Henry for a bit?”
“By all means.”
Declan answered Richard’s words with a shrug. Richard expressed his gratitude and disappeared into the kitchen. Murmuring voices could be heard from the kitchen.
“Um… Our father is a bit, you know?”
The living room with only the three of them left. The first to break the silence was Iris. She whispered quietly with her voice lowered considerably. It was a quite calm voice, unlike before.
“He’s not.”
“Hey. You don’t need to be polite. You can speak comfortably. Or are you Protestant too?”
At Iris’s words, Declan shook his head with a calm smile.
“No. I don’t particularly have a religion.”
“Then it must have been more uncomfortable. It felt like religious coercion, right? Sorry. It’s a habit. I told him several times not to do that to just anyone, but he can’t fix it. I guess it’s because he’s someone who’s lived his whole life looking only at religion.”
Iris made excuses to Declan with her eyebrows drooped considerably. Then she playfully draped her slender arm around Henry’s neck and squeezed.
“You don’t do that to friends at school, right? Henry?”
“Why are you suddenly doing this to me! I don’t, I don’t do that!”
Henry tapped Iris to release the arm gripping his neck. He knew it would release if he pushed with force, but if he did, Iris, who was much smaller and weaker than him, might get hurt.
“You really don’t?”
At Henry’s answer, Iris looked at Declan and asked. Declan, who had been watching the siblings’ fight with wide eyes, answered.
“He doesn’t.”
“Mm, really?”
Only then did Iris let Henry go. Henry frowned while smoothing his neck with his own hand where he’d been grabbed. Even seeing him, Iris smiled proudly and roughly stroked Henry’s head.
“It was worth teaching you. I should tell Veronica too.”
She picked up her phone. Soon the sound of the screen and nails hitting each other at a fast speed continued without rest.
Ahem, Henry cleared his throat and added words while feeling quite awkward.
“…Veronica is my oldest sister.”
“Ah.”
Before he knew it, the arc had disappeared from the corners of Declan’s mouth as he nodded with a short answer.
Perhaps because he’d seen the lips that had been forming a curve, even though it wasn’t a particularly displeased expression, Henry thought:
He looks more unhappy than usual.
