There Were Times He Wanted to Give Up

[Kazuya: Haha, it's one of my favorite restaurants but it's not too widely known by people yet]

[Kazuya: Save me the trouble of waiting for too long]

Kazuya placed down the phone after replying to Himari's last text. He pushed the chair before he slowly stood up. His eyes went to his niece and nephew who were finishing their drinks after dinner.

"Go and do your own works after this. Or, do you want to watch a film together? Uncle has free time tonight."

"Watch film together!" Chiharu exclaimed from her child's dining chair.

Kazuya laughed while shaking his head, "Which film do you want to watch?"

"En... Kiki's Delivery Service!"

"Hahaha! You have watched it many times already. Do you really want to watch it again?" Kazuya threw his niece a meaningful glance.

"Watch again, hehehe~" Chiharu broke into laughter, revealing two rows of small and white teeth.

While his uncle and little sister were discussing the film, Izumi quietly gathered all the used plates and chopsticks and brought them to the sink. One by one, he properly lathered them with soap and washed them under running water.

His uncle didn't force them to do house chores but, Izumi learned to do it by watching how his uncle did them.

Aside from leaving the major chores to Aunt Mayu, they washed their own dishes as well as tidying up the places where they used. Well, for Chiharu, whenever she felt quite lazy to tidy up her toys, she would be nagged by their uncle.

"Uncle," Izumi suddenly called Kazuya.

Kazuya turned his attention away from Chiharu. With a raised brow, he asked, "Yes?"

"That bunny... Could we still stitch the body and head together?"

"Ah! Chiharu's bunny..." The little one's bright expression fell in an instant.

"Don't worry. Aunt Mayu would help you. Uncle has already told her," Kazuya gave Chiharu a head pat, "The bunny has to be cleaned first. Later, Uncle will return it to Chiharu, okay?"

"Mr. Bunny would feel no pain again?" The little dumpling pursed her small lips. She blinked her eyes at Kazuya, looking so pitiful.

"No pain. Don't worry," Kazuya continued appeasing the little one, "But, you have to be careful, Chiharu. Why don't you just put the bunny in your room? I'm sure you don't want to lose it again, en?"

The small bunny plush toy that got its head torn apart from the body was the last gift Chiharu got from her mother. Even though she was just a little over two years old at that time, Chiharu understood the importance of it.

The little one had always kept the bunny plushie with her. Once she entered kindergarten, she began to tie it to her bag like a keychain. Although the bunny's appearance was a little worn-out, Chiharu still loved it dearly.

"Then, then... Chiharu would keep Mr. Bunny at home," The little dumpling answered aggrievedly.

She was so sad when the bad man snatched Mr. Bunny from her school bag. Chiharu regretted the fact that she believed that the bad man was friends with her big brother.

How could someone as bad as he befriended her big brother?

Thank goodness Teacher Kato quickly came...

"Alright. Let's go to watch the film," Kazuya clapped his hands once, trying to distract Chiharu from looking so sad. He glanced at Izumi, "Do you want to join us?"

"Okay," Izumi quickly nodded.

After drying the last plate, Izumi put it in the cupboard. He had watched the film tens of times already but, because it was one of Chiharu's favorite films, he won't complain.

Kazuya carried Chiharu from the child's dining chair, brought her to the sink to let her clean her mouth before he ushered the two siblings to go to the lounge.

In actuality, Kazuya wasn't as free as how he had said to them. He still had lots to complete because his working hours were distraught due to what happened at school today. But, seeing that Chiharu was still looking low in spirits, Kazuya thought to spend some time to make her feel happy again.

It was what he learned in the three years of taking care of the siblings.

Childcare required tremendous effort and attention. During the early stages, he had always questioned himself if what he had done brought goodness to the siblings or not.

There were times he wanted to give up.

There were also times when he pushed himself over the limits to not disappointing his brother, the siblings and himself.

"You can't do it! Do you think you are their father? Just send them to foster care! They could take care of them a hundred times better than you! Think about yourself and think about me! Think about us!"

Those words were what someone had told him before, yet, he refused to give up.

In the end, that someone left but he didn't blame her for it.

He couldn't possibly force someone to accept the new way he wanted to live his life.

"...ry! Uncle, hurry!"

Kazuya's thoughts were shattered due to Chiharu's nonstop calling. He blinked once, regaining the clarity before his eyes fell on the little dumpling who jumped on the couch. Izumi had started to choose the film that Chiharu wanted to watch.

"Yes, yes. Can't you wait?"

"Hehehe~ Here, here," Chiharu patted on the empty spot next to her, telling her uncle to sit down.

Kazuya glanced at his phone. There was a new message from Himari.

[Himari: Tell me where the restaurant is. I would love to visit it sometime]

[Kazuya: MoonBoyOK.jpg]

[Kazuya: What are you doing now? I'm going to watch Kiki's Delivery Service... Maybe for the hundredth time?]

"It has started! Big Brother, sit next to Chiharu! The music has started!"

Izumi obediently sat next to his little sister. The dumpling was sandwiched between her uncle and her big brother.

Soon, the beautiful and vivid scenery of one of the renowned films by Miyazaki Hayao was displayed on the big screen, followed by its masterpiece and serene music composition. Chiharu let out 'Ohhh' and 'Ahhh' as she watched.

Kazuya's screen lit up again with a new notification.

[Himari: I love it too! The seaside town where Kiki goes is so pretty!]

[Himari: I remember I often pestered my mother to move to that kind of place when I was young]

[Himari: Ah, childhood is so precious. If only I could travel back to the time when I was a kid.]

[Himari: Being an adult sucks]

Kazuya tried hard to not laugh out loud due to her messages, especially the last one.

[Kazuya: Can't agree more]

Then, he thought more with his lips curling up. What should he reply to her next?

Before Himari's new message came, Kazuya swiftly typed two more messages.

Somehow, he anticipated what her replies would be.

[Kazuya: I'm going from someone who always anticipates new video games to someone who analyzes which brand offers the best cleaning liquid]

[Kazuya: To sum it up, adulting is when I finish cups of coffee trying to figure out about my life]

The corner of his lips hooked up as he tried to imagine what her expression would be.

Another message came.

But, this time, his attention was distracted when a pair of chubby hands grasped his arm.

"Uncle~ What are you doing not watching the film. Are you busy?"

Chiharu cutely blinked her eyes at her uncle. Her gaze went from the man to the phone in his hands.

Kazuya didn't notice that since when the children put a pause on the film. He looked at Chiharu.

"Why do you pause the film? Just watch it," He gave the little dumpling a poke on her nose, "I'm texting with my friend. Go on, continue watching it."

Chiharu scrambled over Kazuya with her little hands and feet before she righteously sat on his lap. With her head tilted up, she pouted, "Watch together."

Kazuya let out a helpless laugh. His hand made a mess over the little dumpling's head, earning him a glare from Chiharu.

"Alright, alright. Let's watch together."

"Big Brother, come closer," Chiharu beckoned to Izumi who was now almost dozing off due to boredom.

The elder brother Izumi obediently followed his little sister's words. He scooted closer, sitting next to his uncle.

Next, the lounge was filled with Chiharu's laughter as she was enjoying the film. The little one almost fell when Chiharu excitedly leaned her small body forward, trying to recreate the scene of Kiki riding a broomstick to fly.

"...She's sleeping already."

Izumi whispered after some time passed.

Kazuya laughed quietly. He stared at Chiharu who was mumbling in her sleep.

Before the film finished rolling, the little dumpling's sleepiness kicked in. Her small head bobbed up and down before she comfortably laid on Kazuya's chest.

"Switch off the TV. I'll carry her upstairs," Kazuya whispered back to Izumi.

Izumi nodded.

Kazuya carefully balanced Chiharu. He supported her bum with his right arm while his left one opened the phone.

It had been thirty minutes since the time Himari replied to his messages.

[Himari: Photo.jpg]

Ah, she sent him a photo.

Kazuya tapped on it, enlarging the photo.

It was a photo with quotes. She might have come across it on the internet.

[Adulthood is like the vet, and we're all the dogs that were excited for the car ride until we realized where we're going]

He burst into laughter.

[Kazuya: That's true but... why dogs?]

He suddenly thought of her orange cat.

She didn't reply to him until later. At that time, Chiharu was already rolling on her princess bed.

[Himari: Dogs are silly yet friendly. But, I personally think most adults are like cats. Cats don't bother with anything]

[Himari: Like us who no longer bother with the path of our lives once we think we have entrapped in it long enough]

Her texts made him laughed once again.