What We've Missed Without You

chapter 3

*Sorry for mistakes*

After yesterday's incident, Yui was told (more liked begged) to have a day off by Takeru and Shiori. Yui was practically trapped in the medium apartment a floor up from the lively diner, Reika there to make sure her mother was 'fully resting' for the rest of the day. The raven haired girl exited the kitchen with a steaming cup of cranberry tea and a small plate of sliced strawberries, walking over towards the older woman and setting the tableware on the sandalwood coffee table.

"Here you are, Mother."

"Thank you, Reika. You didn't have to do this, you know."

"Nonsense, if it is concerning your health, then I must tend to it." A smile formed on Yui's lips when she heard that slip out of the eleven-year-old's lips. "You're so responsible, Reika-chan."

"Naturally I must be the second caretaker after you, Mother. Onii-sama would rather bring his full attention towards novels, Onee-sama is not even here at the moment, and do not get me started on that lazy oaf-"

"Reika-chan, what did I say about being mean towards Yuuta?"

"...To not call him mean names in front of him or when he isn't around..."

"That's right." Yui softly replied, picking up the white teacup and lightly blowing on it before taking a sip of the sweet yet tart cranberry tea. "I don't really understand, Reika-chan. Why do you not like your older brother? You like Momoi and Adam, but not Yuuta. Is there a certain reason?"

"It's just...I put so much hard work into everything I do while he can barely lift his eyes for half an hour and still be socially accepted! He's the first born in our family and yet he can barley act like a functioning human! Yuuta is lazy, insufferable, improper, and unbefitting for the eldest Komori! But is he excommunicated like the buffoon he is? No, he's praised for barely participating in class while I'm the try-hard, I'm the prude, I'm the one who alwasy has to fix his mistakes! I'm-!" Before Reika got out of control, Yui quickly set down the tea cup and cupped the dark haired girl's face. Two sets of velvet-pink eyes stared at each other; one of surprise looking up and one with a calming warmth gazing down. The pent up rage in the eleven-year-old girl slowly flowing out of her like a small stream in the woods.

She was just like her father...

"Reika-chan, what the other children say doesn't apply to you nor does it matter; what matters is that you're trying your best every single day without a fail. Sometimes, people's words can hurt you very much to the point where you get upset and frustrated...But it's important to not let that overcome you and to make sure you're in the right set of mind. You two might have your differences, but both you and Yuuta-kun struggle everyday and manage to be brave enough to overcome it each day. Don't let other's words ruin the chance you have, Reika-chan...The chance of getting to know Yuuta-kun's thoughts and struggles." Yui smiled at the young girl, proceeding to wrap her in a warm embrace as she closed her eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Reika-chan. You're so grown up...But it's okay to be a child now, it's not the time to be worrying about that just yet. Don't worry about being enough for others, you're always enough for me."

Reika was silent, but Yui knew she captured her daughter with her words when she felt those small and precious hands wrap around her and lean her head against hers without hesitation. Yui's smile grew as her hand gently and tenderly patted the young girl's back, treating her as if she was a fragile wine-colored rose in a garden. it was silent between the two for a few moments until Reika cleared her voice and spoke up softly. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, everyone makes mistakes. That's why we learn from them and continue to grow from them every day."

"Mother...May I ask you for a favor?"

"Hm?"

"Can you sing me that song?...If it isn't too much of a bother." Yui chuckled at Reika's hesitation in asking, it was always that one song with her children. Hell, nine of her children were absolutely obsessed with this single song she sung...Yui didn't even know why they liked it, it was a rather depressing song. Maybe it was her fault because she sung it to her children when they were babies and just kept the tradition going as her family continued growing like the plant it was; alas, Yui cleared her voice and her soft voice resonated throughout the room.