Kind Mother
It was noon, and Fumiko, their mother, was due back from work. By then, Ryuki had already put bandages on his knee and one on Saki's forehead.
The door clicked open, and Fumiko walked in—a woman whose arrival had changed Ryuki's life for the better. But when she set her handbag down and looked at the two kids, she frowned. "What happened to you two?"
She stepped closer, squatting down to examine Ryuki and Saki. Her worry grew as she noticed Saki's slightly bloody bandage and the multiple bandages on Ryuki's knee. The look on her face said it all: What happened? Did they fight? Who patched them up?
"Don't worry, we just fell off a slide," Ryuki said quickly, easing her mind before she could overthink it.
"Mommy, that slide is bad! It made Saki and little brother fall. You should call the good guys to catch it!" Saki said, hugging Fumiko tightly. Her cute complaint made the situation sound lighter than it was.
Fumiko frowned again and turned to Ryuki for more details.
Knowing what she wanted, he explained, "We got bored, so we went to the park. But don't worry, I locked the door. And I know we shouldn't talk to strangers, even if they offer candy."
His answer only deepened her frown. "How do you even know where the park is?" she asked.
"A kind lady told us," Saki piped up.
"And the bandages?" Fumiko pressed.
"Oh, Mommy, little brother's a magician! He said magic words, and poof—my pain went away. This is a magic seal he put on me!" Saki said excitedly, pointing to the bandage on her forehead.
Seeing Saki's happy face, Fumiko's worry eased a little. She glanced at Ryuki, thinking, He's way too smart for a kid. She smiled and gently patted both of them—extra careful with Saki because of her bandage.
Then, with a stern look, she said, "Listen, you two. Going to the park alone isn't allowed. Tomorrow, I'll bring some games for you to play when you're bored. No more park trips, got it, Ryuki?" She knew Saki wouldn't wander off by herself.
"Yes, I won't," Ryuki nodded with a smile.
"Good. Now I'll make us some dinner," Fumiko said, smiling as she headed to the kitchen.
After another tasty dinner, they all went to bed. The next day, when Fumiko returned from work, she brought cards and board games. Saki got really excited. That evening, Fumiko tried teaching them how to play, but Saki, being so young, struggled to catch on. Ryuki, though, surprised her. He picked up the rules fast and could even read the words on the board games.
Ryuki realized he might've been too obvious. Fumiko started asking questions. "Can you read?" she asked.
"Yes," he admitted. She tested him, and he read everything perfectly. Then she checked if he could write. He tried to scribble messily, but it wasn't bad enough. For a five-year-old, his writing was still impressive.
Fumiko decided he was a genius. She beamed with pride, and seeing her happy made Ryuki feel good too.
One night, as the three of them lay on the futon—Saki between Ryuki and Fumiko—he asked something that had been on his mind for a while. "I have a question."
"What is it, Ryuki?" Fumiko said, smiling as she lightly pinched his cheek.
"Why did you adopt me? You live in this small house, work all day, come home tired, cook dinner, wake up early to make breakfast, and prep lunch ahead of time. Wouldn't it be easier without me?"
Fumiko went quiet for a moment. Then she smiled. "You're a lot more mature than most kids your age."
"Maybe," Ryuki shrugged.
"You really are," she said, still smiling. "I adopted you because I was like you once. I couldn't leave you alone. Now, my smart little boy, it's time to sleep."
The next day, when Fumiko got home from work, Ryuki offered to give her a massage. At first, she said no, but he kept insisting. Finally, she gave in with a shake of her head.
When he massaged her, she was amazed. All her tension and tiredness melted away. Ryuki had used his gift to make it perfect, and it worked like a charm.