Shio gave birth to Shiro when she was 20 years old. She pushed back against the opposition from those around her and raised Shiro on her own. Because they were close in age, the two were more like friends than parent and child. After Shiro became an adult and his university life settled down, he invited Shio on a hot spring trip. Shio was in her usual travel mood, but Shiro had something he wanted to confess…
