Misty Memories {Muichiro Tokito}

Here at the mountain

It was just another regular day for me and my brother here at the mountain. We were doing our daily tasks while keeping a certain distance from each other. My brother, Yuichiro was very grumpy and non sociable as always. I knew trying to chat with him would be useless. He'd just tell me to shut up or just call me useless like always. I felt so alone during those moments. I only wished that I had someone else to talk to, like my mother and father. But they are gone. It was just me and the cold brother against the world.
That day, I was chopping some wood for the fireplace as winter would be coming soon. I was tired and hungry since I haven't eaten yet. I felt my stomach grumble. And my brother and I would still have to cook our lunch. If only our parents were here with us things could be a little easier.

“Mui-Kun!!” I heard a very familiar voice calling me. My eyes widened as I got up and saw a young girl around my age walking towards me. Her name is Yoriko and she lives with her family about a mile away from us. They are our only neighbors here at the mountain.

“Yoriko!! Hey!!” I greeted her as we got close to each other. I noticed she was holding a box in her hands. “What do you have there??”

“Oh, just some leftovers from our dinner and lunch. I thought it would be best to bring it to you instead of wasting it.” She said with a kind smile.

“Really?? Thank you so much!! You didn't have to.” I said bowing to her while accepting the food.

Yoriko is a kind girl, and the only one I can call my friend. She would often stop by to see me and say Hello. And sometimes we were able to sneak out and play together in the forest. I couldn't help but find myself enchanted by her cute soft features. The way her dark blue hair with purplish highlights would flow with the wind. Even though we didn't have much here at the mountain, she still managed to look as cute as a girl who lives in a village.
Suddenly, I saw my brother, Yuichiro, coming towards us. He seemed grumpy as usual, but I smiled at him. “Look, Yuichiro!! Yoriko brought us some leftover food!! We won't have to cook today.” I said, showing him the bento box.

Yuichiro, however, growled at us. “Give it back!!” He roared. Both me and Yoriko looked at him confused.

“W-What??” I asked incredulously.

“You heard me!! Give it back to her!! We don't need any food from them!!” Yuichiro said while storming at Yoriko. “How dare you bring us leftovers from your meals!!! Do you think we're dogs you can throw scraps at??” Yuichiro screamed while pointing at Yoriko who looked at him in shock.

I was just as shocked as her. How could Ichirou be so rude to someone who was trying to help us?? We should be thankful for any food that is given to us. And poor Yoriko is just trying to help us. She doesn't have to do anything for us if she doesn't want to, but yet she does. That proves she has nothing but good intentions. How can he not see that??

“Yuichiro, stop!! Yoriko is just trying to help!! She's our friend and is just trying to make sure that we're okay.” I tried to convince him, even though I knew how stubborn he could be.

“We're doing just fine on our own!!! And she's YOUR friend, not mine!! If you want that food so much you can have it all to yourself. I don't care.” Yuichiro said as he walked away and went inside our house.

I looked at Yoriko worriedly and my heart ached when I saw her trying to hold back her tears. “Yoriko…. Please don't cry…. Please ignore what my brother said. I know you don't think about those things. And I promise I'll enjoy every piece of this meal for both of us.” I vowed to her as I tried to make her feel better.

Yoriko used the sleeves of her kimono to wipe her tears. Then, she gave me a smile. The brightest smile I've ever seen. “It 's okay, Mui-Kun. I know he didn't actually mean it. He's just mad at everything that's happened.” She said in the most understanding way I didn't even know that was possible. Neither did I have that level of understanding with my brother.