You Knew My Mother?

Chapter 116: S2 Episode 15 - You Knew My Mother?

It felt like I'd seen and heard that name before. It was quite strange because I sensed something familiar about her. It was then that I could tell why the building seemed familiar to me. It was because I'd been here before.

"Miss Asa?" I said curiously, clocking my head to the side.

"You don't have to add "Miss," just "Asa" will do," she instructed with a friendly smile which seemed much different than how she looked at Andou before.

Both Hanabusa and Andou looked at us in confusion because of the strange encounter.

"You two know each other?" Andou questioned and I gave a slight nod.

"Well... I met her in the past because I was a patient here," I explained, which still didn't help the sense of confusion I felt.

"What? You never told us!" Hanabusa replied, looking between Asa and me.

"That's because I only remembered until now. It's been 6 years since I've last been here but this place felt strangely familiar to me."

'For some reason, I can't quite recall *why* I was admitted here 6 years ago. Usually, my memory's on top of things but it seems to be failing me now.'

"I can tell you're all St. Marie kids. Well, I expected you to join as well, Keiko," Asa smiled and I nodded my head along.

'How did we meet again?'

"How did you know that?" I inquired yet she gave a brief sigh.

"It's because your mom kept bragging about how you kept talking about going to St. Marie. I'm not that surprised that you're following—" Before she could continue, I quickly interrupted.

"—Miss Asa, can I speak to you in *private*?" I asked her, slightly fidgeting with my fingers. As if she could tell that I was getting uncomfortable with my actions, she gently grabbed my shoulder and began guiding me to another room.

"You two boys can wait in the lobby until we come out again," Asa ordered, which made the two boys freeze in place after hearing her cold voice so that they wouldn't follow us.

"Come on, let's go," Asa said, guiding me to a door that read: "Kashino Asa's Office."

~

We entered her office and it was quite a large space. It was a dark oak-themed room that had neat bookshelves, files, and papers stacked together.

At the end of the room was a large oak desk, but in the center was a lounge area where three couches surrounded a coffee table. She guided me to sit down in the lounge area and so I did. Then, she followed and sat beside me.

"It's been 6 years since we've last seen each other, but you've gotten quite skinny," Asa took note of that while she observed my condition.

Compared to how I was 6 years ago, I was much fuller in appearance but now, it's hard to accept how much I have shrunk in size. Even I was starting to get sick of my appearance, but I needed to put everything else before myself if my team and I wanted to win the Grand Prix. I couldn't care about my health because of plenty of other problems I needed to worry about.

"Are you eating well? Getting enough sleep?" She asked worriedly to which I could only respond with lies.

"Ah, yes. I've been eating but I don't have much of an appetite since I'm busy with school."

She brought her face closer to mine and eyed me up and down.

"Your complexion is pale, your fingers have shriveled, and your hair is thin. As a doctor examining your condition, you look terrible. If you don't change your habits, you'll only push yourself until you can't move anymore," Asa sternly explained and I nodded my head.

"That won't happen. I'm fine," I reassured her but she only raised her eyebrows in suspicion before letting it go.

I quickly switched the topic.

"It's been so long that I almost forgot this place."

Judging from how I was beginning to fidget with my fingers and move uncomfortably, she broke the ice about the topic I mainly wanted to talk about.

"You haven't told them yet, have you?" She inquired which made me feel surprised by her sudden words.

"Oh-um… how did you know?" I indirectly confessed.

"I'm a doctor, I can tell when my patients are getting uncomfortable by their behavior. And, it was also a guess," she added. "Why haven't you said anything yet?"

'Here it comes…'

"Well, it's mainly because I don't want to ride the coattails of my mother when it was her who worked hard to achieve her title. She always said that if I wanted success, I'd have to work hard for it, and so, that's what I plan on doing," I briefly explained but Asa raised her eyebrows in suspicion.

"Is that it?" She asked further and I could feel her sharp green eyes burn holes through me.

"...And I don't want to be recognized by others as Ella Fournier's daughter if that's all they'll know me as. I don't want people trying to befriend me if that's all they know about me. I'd rather be recognized by my own name, not my mom's."

It was a harsh but truthful confession. I didn't want fake friends and that was it. If I announced that I was Ella Fournier's daughter, the media would either say I was faking it or I'd be getting needless attention from everyone. I'd begin wondering who my real and fake friends were.

Right now, I am satisfied with the friends I've made so far.

"So, please… I don't want anyone knowing right now…" I said desperately and she looked at me seriously.

"I was never one to tell the secrets of others, but remember, Keiko, that in order to overcome this obstacle, you'll have to tell them sooner or later," Asa informed, which made me freeze in place.

'It always scared me how others would react if I told them. I didn't want to be hated or loved excessively because my mother was famous. But I knew that there would come a day where I'd have to tell them…'

"I-I know…"

"You see, I and your mother were quite close before she died. She always told me that she never forced you to become like her, but you wanted to do it for yourself. By that, I can tell that she raised a truthful and intelligent kid like you," Asa complimented and a small smile formed on my face.

Despite her cold reaction towards Andou at the start, it felt strangely soothing to talk to her. But there were a few more questions on my mind.

"How did you and Mom meet?"