Childhood Phase: I am the wildcard at family gatherings.
October began.
-"At this point, I can walk, and I can speak Japanese completely, although hiragana is a bit challenging."
Getting up from the chair, I picked up a sheet of paper from the table.
-"It's been over a year since my sister Masaki was born. If I may say, she is very innocent, moreover..."
-Nii nii
A girl with golden irises, who was on the chair, starts trying to get up.
-"She's very curious and energetic; she can already pronounce some words. Masaki, I won't go anywhere."
After grabbing a crayon and a board, I start climbing onto the chair.
-Do you want cuddles?
-Nii
The girl starts raising her hands towards me.
-Here I am.
As I reach out, I start gently stroking her head; her little hands grab my palm.
-You're smart, little sister.
-"Growing up in an orphanage until I was 16, I only had one sibling bond with a boy, but it only lasted a year."
-"This is the first time I'm dealing with sisters, so I don't know how common this is."
Looking up, a girl bigger than me with red irises just looks in my direction from behind the door.
-"I think I've found a balance in things." Sister, you come here too.
I raised my other hand, pointing to the empty space beside me.
However, my older sister hid behind the door.
-I know you're there, sister; there's no need to be shy. I also want you close to me.
A girl bigger than me peeked timidly.
-Really?
-"Although she's three years older, she still behaves like that." What would I gain by lying to you?
Taking short steps, she approached the chair to sit next to me.
-"She will turn 6 in June, but she will leave kindergarten, and I will take her place." You are a good girl and my lovely sister.
-Fufufufufu
As I stretched out my hand, I positioned her head on my shoulder while Masaki nestled on my other shoulder.
-"I like that they don't fight since I told them that I love them equally." Are you comfortable?
-YES
-Thank goodness.
While Masaki seemed a bit drowsy as she leaned, Kizuna looked expectantly at the blank sheet on the wooden board in her hand.
-Will you draw today too?
-Yes.
-You are more skillful than me with your hands, Kai-chan.
-Well, I think you are more reliable than me, sister.
The sheet in front of me started with a simple crayon line in my hand, with Kizuna paying attention to my movements.
-"It's been over a year since I heard the voice, and every day I feel like I'm losing my memories of my past life. There are things I don't want to forget, like the people who were important to me."
-Oh, it's starting to take shape.
Although simple, the strokes began to form two animal ears on a triangular head.
-"Seeing the cat a year ago reminded me of the first support I had in my most vulnerable moment, a Persian cat I found on the street."
-Are those its whiskers?
-And this is its nose.
The image on the blank sheet took the form of a cat with the brown crayon depicting its cat face with simple and understandable strokes.
-"Although there are strange things." We can't have pets in the apartment, but cats are cute.
-Yes, I think so too.
Kizuna hugged me with her two hands; although it wasn't noticeable, she had a smile as she hid her face in my chest.
-We haven't had a pet.
-Kai is right; we should find a furry being with the ability to soothe everyone's hearts.
-Darling, don't hide behind Kai-chan.
My father, a burly man, was behind the chair, hiding his whole body except for his head.
My mother had a glaring expression with crossed arms, walking calmly towards me.
-I told you I'm not running away; it's just a tactical retreat. Calm down, Ritsuko; you're scary.
-Oh, you have the nerve to talk to me like that after shouting at your boss's wife?
My father put his hand on my head to caress it.
-That's not important now; I think it would be ideal to calm down, and...
-SHUT UP.
-... yes...
My mother put her hand on my head to grab my father's hand.
-You left an innocent woman crying while her husband is busy, and you decide to make a scene. Tell me, dear, do you have a way to defend yourself?
-... well... I...
My mother had a scary expression when she was angry; my father, my sisters, and I couldn't do anything in front of this berserker woman.
-It hurts...
-Kai.
-Kai-chan.
-"My mother must listen to father, so I must act according to my age." Don't fight.
When she removed her hands from my head, my mother stopped having that terrifying look. She stopped tensing her face, returned to her kinder expression, and my father changed to a more nervous expression, removing all fear.
-Kai, don't be sad. Your mother will listen to me, right?
It was noticeable that my father was sweating, even though the room felt cool.
-Yes, look, son, we're not fighting.
My father stood in front of the chair next to mother to hold her hands.
-I'm listening to your father. Come on, dear, what's going on.
-Oh, this... my boss's wife wants to take away all his money to go with another man, but I won't allow it.
My mother changed her expression to an astonished one for a moment after calming down to hug my father.
-Oh, that's why you got angry.
-Yes, we owe a lot to the boss, so it's not fair for him to go through this. I got angry, and I didn't think things through.
My mother removed her hug after kissing father's cheek to stand in front of him still holding his hand.
-Sorry, I just thought about how much we owe him, and it didn't seem fair for you to take it out on his wife.
-No, forgive me for not telling you everything earlier. Besides...
My father turned to look at me and crouched down to the level of the chair to see my eyes.
-It's not fair for our children to see us fighting.
My father hugged me along with my sisters, stroking the hair of the two girls on either side.
-Kai, we won't harm you; I love you all very much.
-I love my family, dear.
-I love you too.
My mother leaned on my father's back to hug us all.
My sisters stretched out their hands to hug me from the neck, hiding their heads in my chest. I could hear giggles from all over the place.
-"I will do everything possible to avoid the bad ending for all of you.'"