Have Mercy, ■■■■, on Me 4

A few days later, at the Tomoe manor

??? (Nagisa): ...... (staring off into space)

Hiyori: Good morning! It’s another beautiful day, isn’t it? Umm...

Ughhh, it’s just so hard sometimes when I don’t even know your name! It’s foul weather, actually!

??? (Nagisa): ...... (turns his head toward Hiyori)

Hiyori: Oh, have you finally decided to look at me?

Does that mean you’re going to tell me your name?

??? (Nagisa): ............? (tilts his head)

Hiyori: ...Sigh. I was the idiot for expecting anything.

I know, I know. It was thoughtless of me to push those expectations on you, right?

After spending the past few days with you, I understand everything all too well: you’re just a little baby who doesn’t know how to speak a word.

Even the doctor said you could win an award with how healthy you are. I wasted all that worrying on you!

??? (Nagisa): ......

Hiyori: (Just what kind of environment was this guy raised in?)

(Thanks to the doctor’s evaluation, I know there’s nothing physically wrong with him. And there’s no signs of abuse or violence, either.)

(But at the same time, it’s like he’s lost every bit of his linguistic ability. Or I guess in this case, it’s more like he never learned it at all?)

(It’s not just that he can’t speak; I also found out he can’t write, either.)

(I’m assuming that since he was locked up, he probably didn’t get any basic education...)

(But still, it seems way too out there.)

(This kind of thing wouldn’t happen unless someone was performing an experiment of some sort, right?)

(...Didn’t they do an experiment just like that in the past? They didn’t talk to babies, I think.)^[1]

(I think the results of that one said the babies died before they turned two.)^[2]

(Ohh, no no no. Just thinking about it makes me sick.)

(Not giving a child the love they’re supposed to get from their family is just unthinkable, even back then.)

...So then, this kid grew up without getting any love?

Hmm. But from what Brother told me, I don’t think that’s true.

The person holding him captive was apparently the boss of the idol industry who controlled it from the shadows.

There’s some evidence that he showed the kid idol CDs and live performances at least a little bit.

...Idols, huh?

I don’t know much of anything about idols, but this boy is good-looking enough to make it in the entertainment industry.

So maybe, the person who locked him up was trying to turn him into his own personal singing and dancing idol-doll...?

......

Hiyori: Ahaha. Obviously not.

Stop, stop! There’s no point thinking about it, it’s a total waste of time!

Anyway, I’m just doing what Brother asked me to do.

I’ll teach this kid some words and basic manners so that when we find him a foster family, the transition is smooth.

I don’t need to be stuck with him forever and have all my precious time stolen away from me.

Yes yes! That’s the best thing for the both of us... ♪

??? (Nagisa): ......?

A few minutes later

Hiyori: Okay. So now we’re going to start studying. Open your workbook to this page!

??? (Nagisa): ...... (stares blankly at the workbook)

Hiyori: Yeah, you know you’re not going to learn anything just by staring at it, right?

Oh, right. You don’t understand a word I’m saying, do you?

Ugh, you’re really a lot to deal with. Look, on this page.

This letter says ah. Can you say ah?^[3]

??? (Nagisa): ......?

Hiyori: Ahhh...

??? (Nagisa): .........Ahh?

Hiyori: Yes, exactly! Good job, you’re so smart!

Here, you can have a piece of candy from this tin as a reward!

??? (Nagisa): ...... (stares curiously at the candy)

Hiyori: Look, you eat it. It’s really sweet and yummy, right?

??? (Nagisa): ...... (innocently eats it)

Hiyori: Great! Let’s keep going just like this! When you do a good job, I’ll give you more candy!

Fufu. This is working great, if I do say so myself. Of course you need to reward someone’s effort!

??? (Nagisa): ...... (stares blankly at Hiyori)

Hiyori: (...His expression really doesn’t ever change. I can’t tell at all what he’s thinking.)

(I thought kids were supposed to love candy, but I don’t even know if he likes it.)

(Well, I guess as long as he’s actually studying it’s fine.)

Okay, let’s keep going. Take a look at this one next.

A little while later

Hiyori: —Okay! Let’s go over what we learned today. This one says...?

??? (Nagisa): .........Keh?

Hiyori: Yes yes, exactly right. And this one?

??? (Nagisa): .........Ooh.

Hiyori: Great job! What a good boy... ♪

(I didn’t actually think it’d take the whole day to teach him just the K-series...)

(Sigh. Looks like a long road ahead for us.)

??? (Nagisa): .........Good boy?

Hiyori: ! Did you just...?

No, you were just copying me, probably...

Ahaha, that surprised me a bit. I never thought you’d pat my head and call me a good boy.

Honestly, when was the last time someone did that to me? I think it was Brother who last did it?

??? (Nagisa): ......?

Hiyori: Fufu. I know you didn’t do it with that intention.

But now I feel like everything I went through today was worth it. What lovely weather today... ♪

(I wonder if Brother’s ever felt like this when he was with me...)

(If so, maybe I should really buckle down and try more seriously to help this kid, just like he did with me.)

(Teaching someone else how to do something is a new experience for me, and it’s pretty interesting, too. It’s the perfect way to kill time!)