Minataro

Chapter 1: Leaving Home

(Some concept art of Nache I did. His design might change in the future.)

"And be sure to brush your teeth every night. And floss.", said my mother, smoothing my brown hair down.

"Alright, alright mother.", I sighed. I picked up the suitcase and gave her a warm smile.

"I'm going to miss you, Nache. Be good and listen to those... minty-guards?"

I chucked softly. "Mina-Guards."

Mother clapped her hands. "That's right! Mina-Guards!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Hello? Carson family? We are here to collect the young boy, Nache."

I sigh for the hundredth time that day. Guess I was off for heaven knows how long.

My mother suddenly grabs me and kisses me all over my face multiple times.

"Mother!", I say, trying to wriggle out of her grasp.

She stops kissing my face and instead hugs me tight. "I'll miss you."

I hug her back. "I'll miss you too..."

The door gets knocked on again, but in a slightly more aggressive way. "We have other families to gather, you know!"

"That's my que, mother. Goodbye!" I say, as I run out the door with all my luggage in hand.

I climb into the automobile with 2 other boys inside, about my age. I shut the door and look out the window. My mother is waving goodbye to me, with her handkerchief in hand. She blows her nose into it as the automobile starts with a deafening roar. It suddenly lunges into action and propels forward.

"Sorry!", the Mina-Guard squeaks. "These new machines are a bit hard to work with..."

I look at the other people next to me. There is a boy about a head taller than me who looks like he's about to cry, and another boy who looks tense.

"Hello...", I say to them, attempting to start a conversation. They both look at me, but say nothing.

I sigh again. Why did I have to be stuck with the people who lack social skills?