122: The Fight Game

[Facing the expectant gazes of Mrs. Isshiki and the orphanage director, you lowered your head in confusion and gently shook it.] 

[You told them that after the sudden accident involving your adoptive parents, all you could think about now was staying by your adoptive mother's side and being filial.] 

[You couldn't process anything else.]

[Mrs. Isshiki and the director exchanged glances. They quickly realized that what had happened was an unbearable blow for a nine-year-old child.]

[They comforted you gently, assuring you that there was no rush.] 

[You didn't need to worry or make any decisions immediately. They told you that you could continue living in your current home, remaining by your adoptive mother's side.]

[As events unfolded, everything progressed according to the path you had carefully planned.]

[Since Mrs. Isshiki, who lived next door, had discussed with the orphanage and willingly took on the role of your guardian, you no longer needed to return to the orphanage.]

[Your daily routine became more structured: every morning and after school, you would eat and wash up at the Isshiki household.] 

[For the rest of the time, you lived alone in the house left behind by the Ramen couple.] 

[On weekends, you would visit your adoptive mother, who remained in a vegetative state in the hospital.]

[This lifestyle continued for a year.]

[Age 10: Your life has mostly stabilized.] 

[On your tenth birthday, surrounded by the Isshiki family of three, you blew out the candles. Just after midnight, you suddenly felt a mysterious sensation coursing through your entire body.]

[It was as if storm clouds had been swept away by the wind, revealing sunlight that bathed the earth. The stifling air disappeared, leaving you feeling completely refreshed.]

[Iroha scratched off a lottery ticket that came with the cake and won second prize—a luxury hot spring vacation voucher.]

[The Isshiki family was overjoyed, and so were you. Together, you planned a trip and set off to enjoy the hot spring resort.]

[The resort offered excellent service, high-quality meals, and an elegant atmosphere. You and the Isshiki family were assigned a spacious traditional Japanese-style room.]

[That night, after soaking in the hot spring, Iroha and you ran around the room, playing a pillow fight for over an hour before finally falling into a deep sleep.]

[In the middle of the night, you wake up again, feeling someone lifting you up.] 

[You recognize the familiar scent and realize it's Aunt Isshiki. You only open your eyes slightly before relaxing, resting against her chest, and quickly falling back asleep.]

[Later in the night, your ear starts to hurt. Groggily, you open your eyes and find Iroha close by, her mouth slightly open. She had just bitten you.]

[Rubbing your eyes, you were about to ask her what was going on, but Iroha nervously covered your mouth.] 

[You feel pressure on your chest and realize that your childhood friend had somehow crawled into your blanket.]

[Not only that, she was now lying on top of you.] 

[You could feel her soft knees pressing into your stomach, but since you had feelings for her, you didn't want to push her away.] 

[Watching her exaggerated attempt to shush you, you slowly nodded.]

[Iroha gradually removed her hand and leaned closer to whisper in your ear, worried.] 

[She explained that when she woke up, she wasn't in her usual spot. She wanted to get up and look for her mom, but then saw her dad hitting her mom, and she didn't know what to do.]

[As she continued speaking, you fully woke up. From what she said and the sounds and shadows you had observed, you quickly pieced together what was happening.]

[Through the thin paper door in the center of the room, you and Iroha were lying on the inner side.] 

[With the moonlight shining through the courtyard, you could see the shadows of two figures entangled together.] 

[You could hear Isshiki's mother speaking softly, almost in tears.] 

[She was saying things like, "Please forgive me, my knight," "If we continue like this, I'll break," and "The children are right next to us, leave me some dignity."] 

[Meanwhile, Isshiki's father was speaking in a more domineering tone, clearly in control.] 

[He was saying things like, "There's no way I'd let you go, you succubus," "I'll make you submit," and "Prepare to witness my strength."]

[Although you were only ten and in third grade, you were more mature than most kids your age.] 

[You were no longer the clueless child who didn't understand why the former director used to put honey on her chest. You quickly grasped the situation.]

[However, faced with Iroha's deeply worried gaze and feeling a bit flustered, you were unsure how to explain the situation to her. After some thought, you decided to…]

[1. "Don't worry about it. Let's just go back to sleep together."]

[2. "Let's play a game of 'catch the mouse' quietly under the blanket."]

[3. "Aunt and Uncle are just playing a fighting game. Once they're done, they'll go to sleep. You don't need to worry."]

How strange…

What kind of game is "catch the mouse"? I really hope it's not what I think it is.

And this couple, seriously. It's bad enough they're doing something embarrassing with the kids nearby, but roleplaying on top of that?

Chisato thought to herself, storing the idea for later. He might find it useful someday.

Looking over the three options, he decided that just sending Iroha back to sleep wasn't the right choice, and playing the "catch the mouse" game didn't seem like a serious option either.

So, he chose the third one.

It was the easiest way to move past this, and Iroha would figure it out when she got older.

[You gently leaned toward Iroha's ear and told her that her parents were just playing a fighting game, not really fighting, and that she didn't need to worry.]

[But Iroha, hearing her mother's increasingly distressed and hurried voice, couldn't believe you.] 

[She tried several times to rush out and protect her mother from her father, but you managed to stop her each time.] 

[You were growing anxious, unsure of how to keep the lie going, when the situation changed.]

[Isshiki's father's dominant position suddenly weakened.] 

[After a strange trembling sound, he started pleading in a voice that clearly lacked strength, saying things like, "Let's stop here, it's too late," "The kids are still asleep," and "Don't do this, honey."] 

[Meanwhile, Isshiki's mother, who seemed to be gaining the upper hand, began speaking more aggressively, saying things like, "What's the matter, can't keep up?" "Keep acting tough," and "It's my turn to counterattack now, my knight."]

[Eventually, as Iroha lay curled up in your arms, hearing this back-and-forth, she listened to her father's strained breathing and seemed to believe your explanation.] 

[Her earlier worry faded, and she soon fell asleep.]

[After returning home from the hot spring, one afternoon, Iroha had just finished her homework under your guidance.] 

[You flopped onto the bed, and she eagerly climbed onto you, sitting on your stomach in a duck-like position. Excitedly, she suggested playing the "fighting game."]

[You decide…]

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