Life Together.

Tora

"Tora!" my sister gleefully shouted followed by five other of my siblings.

I get up from my spot in the rice field with a soft gaze and a small smile on my face. "Hey Talia, what do you guys need?"

"Do you have time to play with us today?" the smallest asked me, his eyes hoping for me to say yes.

I look back to my father who looks amused at the sight and nods his head. We were almost done anyways.

I nod curtly and usher the kids to the yard "C'mon, hurry before it gets dark."

"Yay!!" all six cheer as they rush to the yard, I follow after them at an even pace.

If you're wondering who I am, I'm Tora Mishiki, the oldest amongst my seven brothers and sisters. I have a loving mother and a fair father. He wants me to run the farm after him, only, I don't want to live here my whole life. I want something more than just a loving family. I want them to be happy, I don't want them to worry about debt or costs for education. I don't want them to work so hard for the seven of us. I want to reach to the top and make them proud of what I can be.

I watch as my siblings look up to me, waiting as I give them the instructions for hide and seek. They giggle and start to run, giddy as they search for a bush, hole, or curtain to hide behind. Closing my eyes, I count to twenty. I hear my younger brother Patrick whisper to Grace to find a different spot and my youngest sister Solara shuffling and yelp slightly as she got comfy in a bush.

When I opened my eyes and uttered the words "ready or not here I come" it was utterly silent.

I pretended that I couldn't see Noah peeking out from the neighbor's fence for a couple minutes as I whisper to Patrick that I could see him. He pouted and I offered him a piggy back ride as we found Grace who stuck to my leg. I then tapped Noah's head who giggled as he stuck to my other leg while taking Solara from her hiding spot, who grinned, running out and pointing to tell me about the others who hadn't been found yet. The other two, Alice and Eren were hiding inside the house. When we entered, my father was sitting, reading this morning's newspaper while my mother was making dinner. Alice was hiding behind a window curtain but nobody could find Eren until dinnertime. It was revealed he was hidden between father's morning newspaper.

Afterwards the day was over, all six children were sent to bed and I helped clean the dishes with mother, my father spoke in his mellow tone while sitting on the worn out couch. "Son, how old are you?"

"Fifteen sir. You already know that don't you Da?"

My father chuckled softly. "Of course, it was just a test."

I gave him a light smile as I finished drying and putting the dishes away.

"Don't tease him Benji." my mother chastised father.

"It's alright Ma, he does it all the time." I said quietly.

"He's right, but this time we need to talk about something." my father gestured for me to sit next to him.

I obeyed, as I have done for so many years, awaiting his lecture. Mother sat across from us, knitting new scarves and mittens for the winter.

"Son, I need you to answer me honestly and truthfully. You've done nothing wrong I just need to know, what are your dreams?"

"I'm sorry? What do you mean Da?" This was new. Normally the lectures are about protecting the other six of my siblings, or the crops stock in the market.

"I know that you don't want to be a farmer, I see it in your eyes. They're too kind and different than what average farmers have. You have a different spark, this business isn't for you I know it isn't."

I stayed quiet, looking down, thinking it over for what seemed like forever before I calmly asked "Will you be disappointed?"

I didn't dare look up for his answer until I suddenly felt a hand to the top of my head. "You are my son, I can never be disappointed in you."

I looked up, surprised, when he said those words as he gave a reassuring and warm smile to me. The words were enough for me to stay shocked.

My mother giggled "Tora, we have always thought that our children would one day leave us to do something they want and whatever it is, we will always support it no matter what. Understand?"

I nodded at my mother and smiled kindly at their incredible words. "Thank you Da, Ma."

"So, what is your dream?" Father asked again.

This time I answered him confidently "I want to change this world."