1 When Dinner is A Challenge

Dreams are interconnected to one's existence, said someone famous probably. People can change their dreams, and in the same way dreams can change them. Life then provides both the opportunities and obstacles, and through the bumps and strategies, one can make some forward progress. It sounds very similar to how game mechanics work, and then people venture to the point where life is a game. Well, it's because games are based on the systems of societal development, and game developers are able to weave that into gameplay, and popularity ensues. But that's a tangent that I'm unsure where it came from in my mind.

Anyway, my dreams aren't very ambitious - to graduate high school, get a degree from a top university, and pursue an interesting career, and along the way have a family and enjoy that part of life.

However, that's in many years, so how about the present? Most likely to enjoy youth as an independent teenager.

But how about right this second? Not even two minutes from now -- right now. In that case….

"....it's trying to pay off the debt for this house," I mumble to myself, as the screen in front of me flashes a message for a completed transaction. This has been what I have been doing for quite some time now: selling clumps of weeds to pay off my debt to the notorious real estate mogul of all time, Tom Nook.

Sure, life is a game, and it's called Animal Crossing.

Even with the massive socioeconomic issues with this deserted island getaway package, it is a fun way to pass the time and clear my mind of the many problems swirling around.

Rolling around on my bed, I eye a stack of opened mail lying on the floor. That's one of the problems: a stack of bank statements, forms, and bills. Today is one of my more productive days in fact, spending most of the morning going through everything and figuring a way to have it on my phone.

In comparison, the past few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. If only Mom and Dad were still here--

+++++

[2 weeks ago]

"Yuki, and Natsuko too? C'mon…" I sighed, bringing both my sisters closer as they continued crying. "I know it hurts." Yuki, the youngest sister at 8, started getting the left side of my shirt wet. Natsuko, the middle sister at 12, was on my right side.

Between sobs, they would alternate between saying Mom or Dad, and the heartbreaking moment was close to bringing tears to my eyes.

But I couldn't. I have to be their older brother right now.

For the next half hour or so, we were stuck in this position on the couch, the two of them sobbing on my arms, me being the comforting source of warmth. What broke us apart was coincidentally the phone. I got up, which caused the two of them to cling to each other.

"Hello?" I asked as I picked up the phone.

"Good afternoon, this is Ichinose Hazuki, trustee of the Iwasaki residence. Am I speaking to Iwasaki Toshiro?"

"Yes, that's me," I replied.

"Great, first I want to share my sympathy for you and your sisters for your loss. I never wanted this conversation to happen so soon, and I hope you all have been taking the time to take care of yourselves. Now for the point of this call, I have information regarding your parents' estate, and I would like a chance to speak with you in-person as soon as possible, as I have been contacted frequently by your….um….relatives."

"Thank you for your sympathy, and I understand." My parents were both only children, so we only had distant relatives. "Do you want to see me, like right now?"

"Yes, that would be ideal! Are you able to come by the office now?"

I looked at my sisters, who were still sobbing but showing signs of improvement. "I believe so, but is it okay if I bring my sisters too?"

"Ah, yes, that's fine -- let me give you the address of the office….."

+++++

"Wait, so everything?" I gasped.

"Yes," Ms. Ichinose answered. "Your parents entrusted you, once you have turned eighteen years old, will the entire estate. You are eighteen, right?"

"Yeah, my birthday was a few weeks ago."

"Then this makes it a lot simpler than if you were still seventeen. Because they also noted that you would be the legal guardian of your two sisters, Iwasaki Natsuko and Iwasaki Yuki. It's all here on paper."

"Eh, so you're my dad now??" Natsuko piped up.

"Natsuko! I'm still your brother! Guardian is different!" I exclaimed. This was quite overwhelming, being a legal guardian or head of the household at eighteen! I haven't even started my third-year of high school yet!

Ms. Ichinose chuckled. "That is true, though that means you will assume a lot of the parental responsibilities as their legal guardian. That's why several relatives of yours have contacted me about taking care of your three."

"Huh?" we all asked.

"Yes, three of your relatives have expressed interest in taking you under their care….but…." she paused, her expression shifting, "they would only be able to take one of you each, meaning you three would be separated."

Separated? That's…

"This would definitely put a lot less strain on you, Toshiro," Ms. Ichinose continued candidly. "They have an argument that it would be the best for each of you to grow up in--"

"No." The words left my mouth so quickly but naturally.

"Toshiro?" Natsuko jumped.

"Big Bro?" Yuki jumped as well.

"We've already been separated from our parents. We're sticking together as a family. If they won't take us together, then we'll live together at home." Instantly, I felt my face turn red from embarrassment. "Ah, sorry, that was a bit too assertive, and I didn't even ask Natsuko or Yuki about it--"

"Wow, Big Bro sounded so cool!" Yuki exclaimed, and Natsuko nodded in agreement. If they're on the same boat with me, then I feel more confident to go down this road.

"You couldn't have put that better," Ms. Ichinose agreed. "If that's your decision, then there's some paperwork to fill out--"

+++++

[Present time]

And two weeks later, here we are.

Since then, there have been a lot of papers to be signed, taxes to be accounted for, and among everything being emotionally supportive of my two sisters. Not that I didn't do that before, but it does help that school is on break.

Thinking about it, I should go check on them.

Stretching my arms and legs, I get up from my bed and head out to the living room. Yuki looks like she's sleeping on the couch, and Natsuko's on her switch. Upon closer inspection, she is….playing the same game I was playing: Animal Crossing.

"Yo, Natsuko," I say while getting a glass of water.

"Ah, Toshiro you're out of your room!" she beams. Yup, that's the Natsuko I know: a bright and energetic twelve-year old. "Were you playing Animal Crossing too?"

I chuckle. "Yes, though I'm definitely not as far as you are since I just started playing a few days ago." This is true; her island is much more developed with buildings, and her income is significantly higher. While I was struggling pulling weeds and selling bugs.

Maybe I should have her do the finances.

"Of course, I--" grumbles. I look at her, and she suddenly looks at her stomach, the source of the sound.

"I must be hungry," she replies.

"Usually you feel it before the sound, not the other way around," I comment. "A little weir--" more grumbles. Wait. That was me.

"'And you were saying?"

"Okay it's dinner time," I declare, checking the time. Yeah, it's about time for dinner. Let me check this balance for food real quick, what do you want for dinner though?"

"Curry!!" a voice shouts. Ah, Yuki must have woken up when we started talking about food. Typical Yuki. Eight years old, and absolutely adorable.

"Curry? Oh right, we did have curry a few nights ago at the nice restaurant." I remember now, Yuki really liked the curry so much I shared a portion of mine. "Maybe we---oh."

The number on my screen is not a good sign. Crap. Eating out and convenience store breakfasts have really become a big expense, and at this rate the disposable income would run out….in a month??

"Ah….I don't know if we have enough money to eat out…." I blurt, as my mind kicks into overdrive to figure out a solution. "Convenience food, but….we've already had that a lot too. We could….cook?"

Both Natsuko and Yuki are now staring at me. Did I say something insane?

"Toshiro, you are talented in a lot of things, but cooking isn't one of them." Ended by my own sister!

"I know I'm not a good cook, but--"

"Didn't you make the kitchen go boom?" Yuki adds. Not her too!

"Yeah, Toshiro, if anything I should be the one cooking, so thanks for the idea!"

"Natsuko, you shouldn't be talking! And Yuki, I almost made the kitchen go boom. The reason why the kitchen went boom was because of your sister over here!"

"Toshiro!"

You know it's true Natsuko! Last year, I helped bake cookies, but the timer was broken so it almost burned. Natsuko, on the other hand, thought it was a good idea to add more oil to an already hot pan with oil back when we still used the gas stove.

"Okay, I'll check my room for some extra cash if we're going to eat out then," I concede, walking back to my room.

A short term fix, but eventually home-cooking is going to have to be the way to go. It is the least expensive option, but of course involves a skill that has evaded my grasp: cooking.

"Ah, Mom was such a great cook, how'd it turn out none of us are skilled?" Yuki could be a good cook, she's just too young right now, so there's a chance.

After a minute of rummaging through my belongings, I managed to find 4000 yen, which should be enough for an average meal. As I reach for the last bill, I knock a letter off the table, which I instinctively pick back up. This letter was attached to a box that is now sitting in the corner; I'm pretty sure it's filled with a lot of old belongings, like old books and other stuff. I haven't had a chance to open it yet.

I take a closer read of the letter, and my eyes open a bit more. There could be something in the box that's useful, like a….cookbook?

I put down the letter and proceed to open the box--after some coughing with all the dust--and there it is, a notebook labelled "Cookbook" written in Mom's handwriting. It even has her name on the front -- this must be her old recipe book!

Without a second thought, I take the book and bring it out to the living room, where the two of them are still talking about food.

"Here's an idea -- let's make something from Mom's recipe book!"

"Mama's Curry!" Yuki shouts happily.

Looks like it might be a curry recipe.