A full day had passed since waking up. It was the fifth morning since this world’s Yusuke was attacked by girls from his middle school after the graduation ceremony, sustaining a head injury that led to his hospitalization. Initially disoriented, Yusuke had mostly sorted out his memories after conversations with the doctor and his mother, now understanding who he was in this world.
Checking the room’s calendar and a requested newspaper confirmed the current date. Though the era name was unfamiliar, it was exactly 25 years before the day of his accident in his original world. Aside from matching his name, birthdate, and family structure, he was an entirely different person. He hypothesized this was a parallel world, like those in fiction. In his original world, he likely died after being hit by a car, and his consciousness must have crossed time and space, inhabiting the comatose Yusuke of this world.
The Latina woman clumsily peeling an apple in front of him was incomparable to the mother he remembered. Her name was Martina Hirose, a half-Spanish, half-Japanese woman, likely resembling her Spanish mother more. Given she had a sister three years older, she was probably well into her mid-30s. Foreign adults often appear older to Japanese eyes, but Martina looked barely 30, exuding youthfulness—perhaps due to her mixed heritage. Compared to his own mother, who already seemed like an ordinary middle-aged woman when he was in middle school, Yusuke couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
“Hehe!” Martina had been in high spirits since Yusuke called her “Mom.” Apparently, this world’s Yusuke had been in a rebellious phase, acting distant and avoiding direct conversation for a while. “Want some apple?” she asked. Yusuke nodded lightly, but her awkward handling of the fruit knife was nerve-wracking. As a long-time bachelor, the current Yusuke might’ve peeled it better. Still, seeing her earnest effort, he couldn’t bring himself to intervene and watched anxiously.
Tracing his memories, there was no image of Martina cooking or doing housework. Having lost her husband early, she worked outside the home since Yusuke was in elementary school, with a housekeeper handling domestic tasks. Oddly, the housekeeper changed yearly, the most recent being a somewhat cold woman in her 30s.
“Done!” Martina proudly held up the peeled apple, puffing out her chest. Her ample bosom—seemingly housing two melons—drew Yusuke’s gaze, and he quickly looked away. Apple peels littered the floor, unevenly cut with chunks of flesh still attached. Despite the messy appearance, knowing she’d tried so hard for him warmed his heart.
She sliced the apple on a small board and placed the pieces in a bowl from a shelf, offering it to him. “Should I feed you?” With the bed reclined, Yusuke could manage on his own, but his body wasn’t fully recovered, so he decided to indulge her kindness. “Sure, thanks.” “Okay, open wide!” “Ahh.” She brought a piece to his mouth, and he bit into it. The apple crunched satisfyingly. Yusuke preferred crisp, firm apples over soft ones, and this one suited his taste perfectly.
“Delicious?” “Yeah, it’s good.” “Yay! Yuu-chan says my apple is delicious!” Martina’s face lit up, her joy as unguarded as a young girl’s. To the 40-year-old Yusuke, she seemed younger than him, even as his mother, making her delight endearing.
“More?” “Yeah.” He ate the pieces she handed him, finishing about half before saying, “You eat some too, Mom. It’s good.” “Oh…”
Her expression turned emotional, her eyes glistening as she gazed at him. “Not only did you recover your memories faster than expected, but you’re talking to me like before. I’m so, so happy…” She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “You’re exaggerating,” Yusuke said.
He recalled that this world’s Yusuke barely spoke to her. At that age, he too had found his own mother annoying. But understanding a parent’s worry for their injured child, he couldn’t brush her off now. Above all, Martina’s radiant smile suited her far better than sadness.
Yusuke’s memories felt layered: his 40-year-old self’s memories dominated, but focusing on this world’s connections—family, school—brought relevant memories to the surface. This caused slight conversational delays, but the doctor’s explanation of memory confusion from the head injury satisfied others. Since waking, he’d only met hospital staff and Martina. The school principal, other school officials, and the security company that dispatched the male protection officers had visited to apologize, but Martina handled them, keeping Yusuke off-limits.
“By the way, where’s Sis?” “Huh?” He’d asked casually to shift the mood, mentioning his other family member, but realized his mistake immediately. “E-Elena… you know, she doesn’t go out…” “Oh, right. Yeah.”
Mentioning his sister triggered a surge of intense aversion. Despite living together, he barely spoke to her—less than with Martina—and even hurled contemptuous remarks if they crossed paths in the hallway. What had happened between them? Searching his memories yielded nothing immediate. All he knew was that Elena had been a shut-in for over three months and wasn’t in a state to visit.
“Anyway, the doctor said it’ll take a month to fully recover, but you might make it to the high school entrance ceremony!” Martina’s sudden cheerful tone snapped Yusuke back. His head injury required seven stitches, but a skilled female surgeon minimized visible scarring. The elderly male doctor he’d met was one of only two part-time male doctors in the hospital. (Speaking of men in this world…) Yusuke was aware he was in a vastly different world, but he’d confirm details later. For now, he played along.
“That’s great. High school, huh? I’m looking forward to it.” (Starting high school again at this age? Unreal.) He mused internally. “Yuu-chan going to a co-ed school makes Mama so worried. You should’ve gone to a boys’ school. What if girls attack you again?” Recalling the graduation incident, Martina’s face clouded, but Yusuke silently begged her not to push for a boys’ school. Why go to an all-boys school in this world? He was grateful for the original Yusuke’s choice of a co-ed school. Had the incident changed his mind, he might’ve refused co-ed, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“It’ll be fine, I’m sure,” Yusuke said. “By the way, what about the girls who attacked me and the protection officers who helped?” Martina’s expression turned menacing. “Hmph. Those wretched girls who attacked you will pay. Criminal punishment isn’t enough—I’ll sue them civilly and squeeze out every yen in damages. The security company apologized immediately, so we settled, but I’m furious the school can’t be held fully accountable.”
This world had a law similar to the Juvenile Law, sending 14- to 17-year-old girls to reform facilities for rehabilitation, with lighter sentences than for adults over 18. However, crimes against men were an exception, carrying much harsher penalties. Even attempted rape meant 3–5 years without probation, and completed rape could lead to 10–20 years of imprisonment, according to memories of news reports this world’s Yusuke had seen.
The fan club girls on bikes might’ve just wanted to say goodbye in person, their emotions spiraling out of control. But the delinquents who planned to kidnap and assault him deserved no sympathy.
Martina’s dark muttering and resentful tone scared Yusuke into silence. He wanted to thank the protection officers who risked themselves for him, but her mood suggested it’d be unwise to speak up.
This world, with its extreme scarcity of men, had reversed chastity norms. Men were precious and protected, their actions restricted for safety, while women were aggressively predatory, vying to “get” men. Yusuke’s attack was a prime example. Despite constant escorts and car pickups, Martina’s fears were justified. Thinking he’d died only to be reborn in this bizarre world, Yusuke resolved to survive it.
“Mom.” He reached out, gently covering her clenched fist. “Oh! Sorry, Yuu-chan. Talking like this must upset you. Focus on resting and recovering.” “Yeah, I will. By the way, is work okay for you?” “Compared to your safety, work means nothing… They’re starting to nag, but I’ll stay until you’re discharged—” “I’m fine. The nurses told me you’ve been here from morning to night every day. Thank you, really. But you should rest too.” “Yuu-chan’s worried about me!”
Tears welled in Martina’s eyes again, trembling with emotion. At 40, Yusuke naturally felt gratitude toward his mother for raising him, but this world’s Yusuke must’ve been exceptionally distant. Noticing it was nearly noon on her watch, Martina decided it was a good time to leave, wrapping the uneaten apples and storing them in the room’s fridge.
As she stood by the bed, Yusuke tried to get up but was stopped, so he sat up to see her off. “I’ll come back tomorrow.” “Okay.”
Martina lingered, fidgeting. “What’s wrong?” “Um… if you’re okay with it… never mind!” “No, it’s fine. Tell me.” Her hesitation piqued his curiosity. “Well… can I hug you like we used to?” “Huh?”
He knew hugging family was common abroad, unlike in Japan. Martina, half-Spanish, was born in Japan to parents married here, but her lifestyle leaned more Latin due to her mother’s influence. To Yusuke, raised in Japan, hugging family felt embarrassing, and he wouldn’t initiate it. But he appreciated her heartfelt love as a mother, even if she seemed overly worried—normal in a world where men were rare. To the middle-aged Yusuke, being embraced by a stunning woman wasn’t unwelcome.
“It’s fine.” “Really? You’re at that age… wait, really?!” “Yeah. It’d be embarrassing in public, but no one’s here.” “It’s like the old Yuu-chan is back! Mama’s so happy!”
Martina eagerly sat on the bed’s edge, leaning in. Yusuke grew flustered. Since his divorce, aside from occasional hostess bars, he’d rarely been this close to a woman, let alone a foreign beauty. Unfazed by his feelings, she hugged him gently, unlike her frantic embrace when he woke. Her long brunette hair carried a sweet floral scent, her neck a citrusy note, and her soft, elastic bosom pressed against him. (Oh… this is…) Embarrassment mixed with excitement in his older self, while the original Yusuke’s feelings—resistance yet familiarity—surfaced. He lightly hugged her back, feeling it was appropriate for this body’s mother.
After about a minute, Martina reluctantly pulled away, clearly wanting to linger. Yusuke felt the same. They gazed at each other up close. “I’ll head home for now.” “Thanks for coming.” “…! Yuu-chan!” She hugged him tightly again, kissing his cheek.
“Oh! Um, that was…” Realizing what she’d done, Martina pulled back, flustered. Yusuke, hiding his racing heart, smiled. “Take care on your way home, Mom.” “Yes! I’ll come back tomorrow, Yuu-chan! Definitely!”
Waving energetically and glancing back repeatedly, Martina left. Smiling wryly, Yusuke thought their bond felt more like lovers than parent and child.
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