♥Futarigurashi♥Kotarou lives Alone♥

Final Chapter - We live together

"I don't know how to feel about this, seeing you here of all places, Rio." It was supposed to be a trip between him and Kotarou but what a coincidence to see Rio and her little sister at the cemetery near Konomi Station. "You're here to pay your respects?" Karino asked Rio. 

"Kind of? I'm earning money on the side. This is a job that's ongoing for a good while so I am lucky." Rio's job this time was a very easy and ongoing one; she was requested by a family who will move abroad to care for the family grave. They will pay her to clean the gravestone, clear the leaves, and pay respect for the family on their absence. The family will try and come back in person if they could at least once a year. For now, Rio will take care of the grave for them. In Japan, it's a common practice for dead family members to be cremated and put into an urn, and then bury the urn under the family grave.

"Ruri feel sad because we have to leave a snack behind! That's not fair! Why can't Ruri eat it?! Ghosts can't eat it anyway!" 

Karino wanted to say the kid had a point but he couldn't find himself to say it in the cemetery; what if the spirits hear him and didn't like what he say? He didn't want them to haunt him!

"I already told you I will buy you another one." Rio reminded her sister, "Besides, isn't a sundae better than a sweet bun?" 

"But why can't I have both?! Both is good!" 

"You're like the final boss of gluttony..." Rio muttered. 

Ruri walked over to Kotarou, "Whose grave are you visiting?" 

"My grandparents." 

"Grandparents???" Because Ruri was unaware of her own lack of extended family, the thoughts of grandparents never occurred to her once. 

"Lady Ruri, do you remember your grandparents?" 

"Nope~! To Ruri, they're just another old person. Ruri like old wrinkly people who gives me snacks~."

"Please don't use the elderly as your ATM for snacks." Karino said to her. He decided to wait and watch Rio clean the family gravestone. He liked watching her work because she's serious and diligent about it. "Do you need help?" 

"It's fine. I am almost done anyway. I'll join you guys too."

Karino and Kotarou were watching Ruri for Rio. They all liked watching Rio work because not once did she complain and they all feel if anyone should win worker of the year award then it'd be her. Once Rio was done with the cleaning, she lit some incense sticks and she put her palms together in front of her face to pay her respect.

"Your family is on the other side of the globe but I will come here occasionally to clean the place up, leave some snacks, and burn some incense. They might be on the other side of the earth, but you will always live on in their memories. You're not forgotten. One day, they will come back. Until then, I will keep you company if you don't mind me."

Karino smiled at her kind words; she didn't have to say anything to the dead but she did anyway.

Ruri looked at the gravestone. "Nee-chan, we're Suzune, right?" 

"We are."

"Where's our family grave?" When Ruri innocently asked Rio.

Karino's mouth opened slightly and then he closed them again. Should he help Rio change the subject? He's not sure what to do. It's a sensitive topic and you did not want to confuse the child too much nor did you want to hit them with too much bleakness of real life.

Rio showed no signs of struggling to answer. In fact, she smiled like a tender mother. "One day when I get married, I will be following my husband's name. I will be buried with his family because marriage is when you create a family with the person you love and cherish. When Ruri get married too, and if you take your husband's name, you will be buried with him and his family too."