Kumiko has tried to move on and ignore the pain caused by the people at Toshio Academy. However, the memories of past events keep haunting her. She only wants to shut herself away until she meets her new classmate, who is committed to getting to kno...
I race toward Aiko as I see her run out the main door. She is only in strawberry pajama pants and my old chunky yellow sweater. Mum yells at her to wear better shoes, not just sandals, but Aiko doesn't listen as her feet mire into a puddle.
Throwing my bag to the ground, I catch her in my arms. Tears swallow her eyes, begging me not to leave her anymore. I feel her hot face when I kiss her forehead—so Dad didn't lie to me.
"I missed you so much," I say, pulling her closer.
Mum prepares her vocal cords to scold us for tampering with our health, but Dad shakes his head at her to leave us alone.
I carry my sister inside while Dad goes back for the suitcase. I can't even put down my coat because Aiko refuses to let me go. Seeing me struggling, Mum gives me an apologetic look and pulls her away: "Aiko, let her go. She just returned from the hospital, and don't forget you are still sick; you must go back to bed."
The room is deafened by her cries: "NO! I want to stay with Kumiko!"
The screaming makes her cough, so Mum doubles down and gives her a few more minutes, leaving to check on our new housemaid.
"What happened to you? You were sick for so long I started to think you might die," she asks when Mum is out of sight.
Realizing no one told her what happened to me, I struggle to think of an answer: "My mind wasn't feeling well, so parents sent me to the hospital. But don't worry; I feel a bit better now."
She asks me to come closer, and when I bend down, she whispers: "I wanted to visit you."
"I know," I reply, thinking it was all she wanted to say, but she doesn't stop there.
"Mum told me I couldn't, but Dad didn't like that. They argued a lot when you were gone."
I hug her again with a heavy heart, promising to stay no matter what, even if she steals more old sweaters from my closet or secretly eats all my chocolate. We both laugh, but the weight inside remains. I can't turn my back on the fact that our family has been ripped apart for a long time, even before what happened, and I don't know if it's too late for us to change it.
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I roll out of bed, rattled by the cold outside and the lack of sunlight. As I put on my black school uniform, the howling wind reminds me to wear extra warm knee-high socks. I pick up a white pair with embroidered cherries at the hem. "God, it's too early," I yawn.
Having some spare time, I head out to prepare myself some tea, but to my surprise, someone already had that idea.
Have a great day! I made you a yuzu tea (That's your favorite, right?)
Mum
She even used my sheep thermos flask. I look at that scratched and dented thing and wonder where it has been all those years. I question if something so worn out and childish is suited for a teenager, but the nostalgia eventually overwhelms me. I almost forgot the lovely notes and lunches my mum used to make me for school. So as a sign of thankfulness, I scribble down a small heart at the bottom of the note and leave before my anxiety about being teased changes my mind.
