[#CreativeAward2025 #FantasyNovelCategory] Maaaaaam! Episode 6

Episode 5 is here

"Mam... this path!"

Yuki's face lit up brightly.

"Do you recognize it?"
"I do! It's the path to our house!"
"Are we going home?"

Responding to Yuki's words, Zou's face also brightened.

"Because Dad might have seen the message."

The house where Bon and his family lived had been completely destroyed by the war. However, this wasn't just the case for Bon's family. Most people living in the center had lost their homes to the ravages of war. Some built makeshift houses out of whatever sticks and boards they could find where their homes used to be, while others, like Bon's family, sought shelter with relatives. In the scorched fields, people were desperately trying to live, seeking any semblance of comfort.

Was a war that produced such results really necessary?

Even if they didn't say it out loud, everyone thought so. They thought it, but they didn't voice it. Because, right now, survival was the primary goal.

To survive, return from the battlefield, and wait for family.

That was the hope for living and the future they desired. The environment, which left no time for overthinking, was making people stronger.

Those who moved their living base elsewhere would set up a message board so that family returning from the battlefield could find them easily.

Currently at [Location], staying there.

A simple message board, with words written on a board discarded on the scorched ground to inform returning family of their "safety and current residence," was surprisingly useful. Having seen many cases where people were able to reunite, Bon also set up a message board at "the place where our house used to be." With the hope that Agu would see it—no, the desperate prayer that he absolutely must see it—he left the message.

"Our house is right between where the hospital used to be and where it is now."
"Then, Dad might have seen it!"

Yuki's face brightened even more. Sato and Yuta were too young—no, Yuta was still in the womb—so they had no memories of their father, Agu. Because of that, even though Yuki and Zou were happy, they just looked blankly. However, it seemed the excitement of their older siblings had been conveyed to them.

"I'm happy."
"Happy."

They laughed and chirped. Just a moment ago, Sato had been fussing about not being able to walk, and Yuta had been crying loudly about being hungry.

"Dad, is he scary?"

Suddenly, Sato looked anxious.

Don't be scared! You crybaby!

Zou shouted!

Dad is kind! He's so kind.

Zou's words stopped abruptly at that point. Agu had left for the front more than three years ago. Zou, who was four at the time, was starting to lose his memories of Agu. Sato was barely a year old, and Yuta was still in the womb. For the two younger ones, there were no memories of Agu at all.

How kind is he?

Sato's eyes welled up with tears. For the sake of his pride as an older brother, Zou had to give a perfect answer to Sato's question. Panicked, Zou shouted loudly.

H-he's kind! He's just really, really kind!

Because he was flailing his arms and legs while shouting, Zou's hand hit Sato with a thud! Sato started crying, Waaaah!

Zou! Calm down!

Yuki stroked Sato's head with a bitter smile.

Sato, Dad is very kind.
Kind? Really?
Yeah, much kinder than Mom, he's...

Thud!
The moment he said that, sparks flew in Yuki's eyes.

I am always a kind Mom!

Seeing Yuki rubbing her head with teary eyes, Zou laughed, Ahaha. Yuta said,

Big brother, head, no more ouchie,

and as he stroked Yuki, everyone burst into laughter. Although their house had burned down, the fact that they were heading to a place filled with nostalgic memories brightened the Bon family's spirits. While they were talking about how they hoped there would be a reply from Dad, they arrived at the place where their home used to be. But when they arrived...

The message board was gone. Instead, a shack they had never seen before was standing there. Frowning, Bon began to look for the message board.

That's strange. Did it fall over in the wind?

There was no way the message board that Mom had driven into the ground with all her might would fall over so easily. Yuki and Zou both thought so, but they didn't say it out loud.

Which mouth is it that says such rude things to a lady?

Because they were told that while the corners of their mouths were being twisted up. The two of them, not wanting to experience any more pain, made a split-second decision.

That's strange. I wonder where it went.

As Bon looked around, he saw the message board that had been ruthlessly ripped out and thrown onto the ground.

Who did this! Someone's precious message board!

It was just as Bon was fuming and stabbing it back into the ground in front of his house.

What are you doing in front of my place!

Hearing a shout from behind, Bon turned around. A wounded soldier was reflected in Bon's eyes as he turned.

What do you mean what am I doing? The message board.
Don't put that in front of my place!
What are you talking about! This is...

Incensed by the sudden unreasonableness, Bon raised his hoe.

Vroom.

That alone raised the surrounding temperature by about three degrees. Cold sweat began to pour down the wounded soldier's forehead. The soldier groaned shortly in terror and backed away.

This is the place where our house used to stand!
W-where is the proof of that!

He was making bold statements, but the wounded soldier's legs were shaking. However, while being pushed back by Bon's pressure, he was desperately trying to stand his ground.

It's my home! This is my house!

He came at Bon, foaming at the mouth and flailing his arms wildly. Bon dodged him easily. Then, the wounded soldier collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

W-what do you think you're doing!

Looking closely, the wounded soldier was missing one leg from the knee down. Did he lose it in the war...? If Agu had also lost a limb somewhere. Bon thought of Agu, who was said to be hospitalized. When he heard hospitalization, he had assumed it was an illness, but there was a possibility that he had lost limbs in the war. Agu was kind-hearted. It was possible he had been severely injured while protecting someone. But.

It doesn't matter if he isn't whole. As long as he is alive! If only he would return to us. Bon sighed as he looked at the shouting wounded soldier. It was just as he reached out to help him up, praying for Agu's safety.

What are you doing to Dado!

A small impact hit Bon's shin. Looking down, a child, slightly older than Sato, was biting onto Bon's leg and raising a small fist.

Don't hurt Dad!

A child kept hitting him with a desperate look on their face. When I looked toward where I felt a gaze, I saw a haggard-looking woman bowing deeply. She had two children with her, about the same age as Yuta. One was on her back, and she was holding the other's hand. Were they twins?

Let's go!

Bon turned on his heel.

Huh? Why?
Sato's house...
Maaaaaaam...

Bon's three young children whined.

Just come on! Do as Mom says.

Perhaps they read something from Yuki's lonely expression. The three of them followed silently behind Bon.

It's my house... It's my home...

The man's words were thrown at Bon's back. Hearing that voice, anger toward the meaningless war welled up inside Bon. At the same time, he realized how important it was for a family to live together. It was something so ordinary, yet it felt like a distant dream to them now.

That family, their dad finally came back. It can't be helped...

Hiding his heart-wrenching feelings within his sturdy body, Bon moved forward.

When Dad comes back, we'll build a new house!

Yuki's cheerful voice became Bon's emotional support.

That's right! Let's hurry and go to Dad!

Bon ruffled Yuki's hair roughly. Yuki beamed with a smile. Seeing that, the children clung to him, saying, Me too, me too. Yuta almost fell over, so Bon scooped him up.

Mom... no more ouchies.

Yuta gently stroked the area around Bon's heart and pressed his cheek against his chest. Hearing soft breathing, Bon looked at Yuta and saw he was already asleep.

Yuta's already asleep.

Sato, who usually cried at times like this, looked up at Bon with a smile. Bon gently lifted Sato and placed him on his shoulder.

“Alright, the journey to find Dado resumes!”
“Okay!”

Episode 7 continues

Click here to read “Maaaaaam!” from the beginning♪