[#CreativeAwards2025 #FantasyNovelCategory] Maaaaaam! Episode 18

Episode 17 is here

"Maaaaaaam..."

While hugging the sobbing Yuta, Bon stares at Pes. Saku gently places a hand on Bon's shoulder.

"My condolences..."

The children, who came out of the house after hearing the commotion, also stare at Pes in a daze. Why did Pes, who was walking around energetically just yesterday... I didn't sense any signs of illness at all. Or did I miss them? I stand there, frozen in confusion.

"Pes..."

Sato starts to sob. Zou also bites his lip hard and clenches his fists tightly. His eyes are full of tears. Bon hands the sobbing Yuta to Yuki, who is shedding tears in silence.

"Mam?"

Bon pats Yuki on the head, then picks up Pes and walks away. Is Bon going to bury Pes? The moment I think that, a loud cry bursts from Yuki's mouth.

"Pes!!! Waaaaah!"
"Yuki-nii!"
"It's painful, isn't it? But this was his time."

Saying this, Saku takes Yuta from Yuki as if snatching him away.

"Let go of Yuta!"

Zou screams at Saku while crying. The feeling of not wanting him to touch his precious younger brother seems to leak from Zou's voice. Sato also glares at Saku while clinging to Zou. Saku scoffs at the two of them and speaks.

"You don't have to hold it in, Zou. From now on, Yuta will be... Ah!"

Saku releases Yuta, whom he had been holding tightly. His posture looks just like he is about to play "high-high."

"Waaaah... it came out..."

Hearing Yuta's voice, I look at Saku's chest and see it is soaking wet. Water is also dripping from Yuta's clothes. Because his mind was full of thoughts about Pes, Yuta had forgotten to go to the bathroom. The corners of Zou and Sato's mouths twitch. Yuki hurriedly stops them just as they are about to say "serves you right." He is angry at Saku's attitude and feels like praising Yuta for wetting himself, but he knows he has to apologize. Just as Yuki thinks this and is about to apologize to Saku, something unbelievable happens.

"You little brat!"

Saku throws Yuta down toward the ground. Yuki and Zou rush to the landing spot in a panic, and somehow Yuta manages to avoid crashing into the ground.

"Just because I was being polite, you think you can get cocky!"

He threw his discarded clothes at Yuki and the others, shouting "Filthy!" over and over.

"Who do you think let you stay in such a nice house! It was because of me, wasn't it! Go wash these dirty clothes right now!"
"I... I'm sorry."

Saku turned a demonic expression toward the apologizing Yuki.

"Don't make a fool out of an adult!"

Zou did not miss him muttering that this is why children without fathers are the way they are.

"Dad is here!"
"Maybe he is."

Saku said with a smirk.

"But a father who isn't by your side even when your precious dog dies is as good as not having one at all."

He claimed that he was a reliable man who would continue to be there for them and Bon-san.

"But Saku-san, you said you would guide us to Dad."

Yuki asked, bewildered by Saku's sudden change in attitude.

"I did. But look, what's the point of meeting a father who won't come to you even after his injuries have healed?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"He stayed at the hospital even though I invited him to go back to his family with me."
"That's a lie!"

Zou shouted.

"It's no lie. It seems he found a new family at the hospital."

Hearing that, Yuki felt her whole body stiffen. She wanted to deny it, but no voice came out. Yuki had vaguely wondered why Dad hadn't returned to them, even though the hospital had passed near their house when it moved. She had even wondered if the same was true for Mom. Saku's words contained a poison that seemed to lead that doubt toward the truth.

"It's a lie! It's a lie! It's a lie!"

Zou cried out.

"It's no lie! That's why I'll be your Dad and..."

It was then that he said that.

"Help me! Peth!"

Yuta, who had been clinging to Yuki, shouts at Saku. Yuki, Zou, and Sato, startled by Yuta's sudden shout, see a brown shadow. It lunges toward Saku's calf.

"Gah!!!"

Pes, who should have been lying on the ground foaming at the mouth just moments ago, is biting into Saku's calf. Saku tries desperately to pull Pes off, but he won't let go.

"Pes!!!"

The children's faces are filled with joy.

"Let go! You damn dog!"

A black shadow looms over Saku as he kneels and tries to pry Pes off.

"Saku, I have a question for you."
"Ah... Bo... Bon-san."

Bon, with quiet anger on his face, was looking down at Saku.

"Pes! Let go!"

Having let go of Saku, Pes flies over to the children. He keeps wagging his tail while being mobbed by them.

"Are you talking about Agu-san's new family?"

Bon glares sharply at Saku, who is wearing a servile smile.

"I'm asking why you fed Pes the Hippon!"

Episode 19 continues

Click here to read "Maaaaaaam!" from the beginning♪