Happiness.

Prologue.

"Ichika-chan!!!" Two girls came running to Ichika when the final bell sounded.

It was the final day of classes, everyone around Ichika was getting emotional about not getting to see each other the next school year, or celebrating because they were going to the same high school. And the two girls coming to Ichika were part of the first group. Misaki and Yumi were two girls who instantly said "we're going to make this girl our friend" when Ichika got to the school two years ago.

"We're going to miss you!" Misaki's eyes watered up as she threw herself into Ichika's arms.

"Ha. I'll miss you guys too." She patted her back softly.

"Why do you have to leave?" Yumi asked rubbing her eyes. Ichika smiled sadly, these girls really liked her, she didn't want to leave them, but all the memories in this place were too much for her.

"I don't want to either, but I can't help it." Yumi also threw herself to hug Ichika.

"We have to keep contact, okay? We can go out together sometime." Ichika smiled at the two crying girls.

"Sure."

Ichika walked around the city after leaving the school grounds. It was a habit, she never went home after school. She passed that cafeteria where she met him. She passed the park she used to watch him, playing with kids as if he was one of them. She saw the tree she used to seat under and gossip with Misaki and Yumi. The bench they used to seat and talk for hours about their problems.

All the things she wouldn't be able to do anymore. She felt sad, but somewhat relieved.

The moon was already up when Ichika finally decided to go back home. As she walked, she relished on the sounds surrounding her. The families who were returning home from a nice dinner together. Couples laughing together after a successful date. Busy people, relieved of finally going home after working so much. She took in all those sounds, everything would be gone as soon as she closed the door of her home.

Sure enough, when she closed the door, silence engulfed her whole being. Ichika looked around all the rooms as usual, looking for her family fruitlessly.

A sigh escaped her lips.

"I'm tired of this bullshit." She murmured going upstairs to her room. The same situation had been happening for 9 years already.

In the beginning, after Ichika's brother left for America when she was only 7 years old, her parents had found her a Nanny to keep an eye on her. The Nanny took care of her, taught her how to cook, helped her do her homework, enrolled her in many of the extracurriculars Ichika wanted to do. She acted as her mother, she was the one who was called whenever she needed to be picked up from school when she got sick, or hurt. She was the one who lived with her, since most of the time her own parents didn't even make it home.

When they did make it home, they talked to Ichika, acting friendly and such, until they once again, left her alone. They did try to be good parents, but Ichika knew. She knew they didn't want her. The age gap between Asahi, her brother, and her was more than enough proof of that statement. Asahi was 11 years older than her. They clearly didn't want another kid, but Ichika came into their lives out of nowhere.

And when Ichika turned eleven, the Nanny had to quit her job. From then on, Ichika had been fairing by herself. The times where her parents visited her, they just asked her if she needed anything, and they provided it to her. Wether was it money, food, or their precious time, they gave it to her. And then they would leave again. Not turning back to see the hopeless look on their daughter's face as she was abandoned in the mute mansion.