Childhood Period: Prayer to Whoever Listens

Early November

- It's cold.

- Want a hug, sister?

- Yes.

Hugging the girl with black hair, the boy barely reached the girl's chest with his head.

- Sister, I don't think this is working.

- Yes, it is working.

-"I must say these past months in preschool, besides this trip, I've gone through some unexpected issues."

-"My mother found a job, although it was modest, our lives would improve more economically."

-"Maybe it's because I always wanted to take care of children or because I was raised in an orphanage, but it didn't take long for the other classes to start trusting me. Now I can say they see me as some kind of authority figure."

-"It's ridiculous to think that I am an authority; even this face could be borrowed from my birth, but..."

Upon hearing a sliding door, I turned towards the sound, at the same time that my sister and I, still embraced, saw an elderly woman with wrinkles under her red eyes, wearing a kimono, gray hair tied up, skin as pale as snow, and no expression on her face as she approached us.

- Welcome, my children. I hope you enjoy this small town.

- Hello, grandmother. Good to see you...

The girl and the woman remained impassive, but from the reaction they had on their shoulders, it seemed to be a mix of nervous, exciting, and embarrassing emotions.

- I want to explore more of this place, Granny. It's my first time seeing snow.

- That's lovely, Kai-chan.

-"Although in my previous life, I spent my entire childhood in Minnesota, at that orphanage, I never enjoyed the snow."

While talking to my grandmother, my father, along with my mother and my little sister in her arms, got out of the car.

- Good morning, dear mother.

- Good day, momy

- Granny.

- Sorry the worn-out attire I have, but I didn't know what to wear.

Although she was expressionless, her voice sounded so neutral as she approached my mother.

- No worries, Kizuna. I didn't know how to tell you that I wanted to see you.

- Mmmm.

My sister started hugging me tighter, hiding her head in my hair, raising her voice a bit. I moved my face away from my sister.

- Granny, my sister and I love you very much.

-*whisper* Hold on, Kai, I'm not ready...

The grandmother approached us in an instant, as she came close to my sister's face, she took off her shawl and put it around her neck.

- Come inside; it's very cold.

- Yes...

The grandmother, reaching out her hand, took my sister's hand, entering the house following my mother.

- How tranquil, Kai.

- Yes.

- Well, it's better that we go inside. I don't want to freeze to death.

My father, smiling, placed his hand on my back as he walked towards the house.

-"Die? I think it's too cruel to think about the fate that awaits my father. In my time, I entered primary school; he will stay much longer in the office working to pay off debts, but that will lead to his death. A man will murder my father and take away all his money."

-"If you ask me, he is the real victim. He will never see his children grow up, his wife will die in a grotesque way, lamenting not being able to do anything, and as the icing on the cake, his children will end up lamenting their lives without being able to ask for help."

-"Now, I am taking away the affection that this child should have had from a man like him, although maybe I don't deserve it..."

- Kai.

My father, taking off my scarf, looks at me seriously.

- You know that the Kirijima family must know how to do something when we enter the house.

- Oh, that's right.

- Then, say it.

Taking a deep breath, my father and I stood firm in front of the door, looking at the

women in front of us.

~ Is today's poison hot? ~

- Dear, don't teach unpleasant things to our son.

My mother, squinting her eyes, makes my father step back behind my back.

- I couldn't help it. Today we'll eat eel, and Kai should know that the people here cook terribly.

Pulling him by the ear, my mother drags my father down the hallway.

- Don't listen to the man who doesn't like tomatoes, Kai-chan.

My grandmother, touching my shoulder, speaks with a cold voice.

-"Even if more than 4 years pass, this seems like a dream come true, something I begged for from the gods or whoever is watching me."

-"Before becoming a professional, I thought life was just like the cover of 'The Divine Comedy.' It's not funny for people, but who is the joke for?"

-"Although I was an atheist, I came to think this, but I always exaggerate everything. Nothing is so complicated as to expect to hear that everything is an elaborate joke by someone."

- Kai-chan, come.

Listening to my grandmother, I walk calmly to a table in the main room where my sisters were sitting.

- Do you like it with marshmallows, or just your chocolate?

- It's fine with marshmallow, grandma.

As I sit next to my sisters, they gather around me while we're under the kotatsu.

-"But I don't think it's a joke. Now I have a family. Even if it's wrong for me to interact in this child's body, I just want to be like this for a little while longer."

- Here you go, Kai-chan.

Looking at the cup, I see three marshmallows floating. 

-"Until I have to make choices to harm others, besides, I want to be a little selfish now."

*************************

Pov Manami

- Stay still, I haven't adjusted this properly yet.

- But I think it's fine now, Dad.

- No, it will get colder during the festival, so you must secure your kimono.

My daughter in front of me, although she didn't make expressions, her tone of voice sounded angry.

- I'm done changing, dear.

- Well, I'm done here too.

Getting up, I walk towards the woman in front of me.

- It's time to leave before they ask Kai's real age.

- Yes.

-"I must say it's a miracle that I can see my 3 children going to give thanks for being born, even if it breaks tradition."

Taking my son's hand along with his older sister.

- Don't separate from me, please.

~Aye~

Walking through the frosty streets, I can see other children with their parents. With a chilly sigh, I grip my children's hands tighter.

- If you don't know how to pray, just follow my example, kids.

- Because it's your first time praying too, kids.

- Ritzuko.

- Don't be a crybaby, and keep walking with the kids.

The woman with a child in her arms was walking faster, swaying her hips in front of me.

- Come on, you're almost there.

The woman turned to look at me with a smile and a mischievous look.

- Doing that won't hurry me up.

My steps and the children's steps became faster, catching up with the woman.

- You're surely so hard to understand.

In front of the temple, there was a long line that approached quickly.

- Ritzuko, does praying take long?

- Mom, shouldn't we take too long?

- Mommy, I don't know what to ask for.

-*sigh* Relax, they're going through groups; I'm sure each one has their way of giving thanks.

Passing by my family, I stood in front of a wooden box.

- Well, it's simple. You join your hands and give thanks for what you consider valuable.

- How do I know they'll hear me, Mommy?

- They always hear you, Kizuna-chan; just be sincere.

-"Hearing, huh?"

Looking up, two giant bells were hanging above the box. As they rang again, I joined my hands.

-"I don't know who's listening or who's living here."

-"If you're an angel, you must hate me. If you're a god, you'll probably scold me. And if you're a demon, you'll ignore me for not following the same path I started, but..."

As the bells rang again, I closed my eyes while my family applauded.

-"I don't deserve anything I ask for, but even so, I just want you to guide my children. If I live for 60 years, I'll give you what's left of my life just for them to live. I'll gladly pay with the only thing I have left: the happiness of seeing my family."

- Meow.

Opening my eyes, I turn my head in both directions, searching for the sound.

- A cat?