Erase

Act 51: The Daughter

FLASHBACK
16 Years Ago

-Streets 9:14 PM-

The year 2004. It was a dark, stormy night. A young woman was running down the streets of Tokyo, seemingly running away from something.

The woman wore a hooded raincoat, obscuring most of her face, but from what little can be seen from her hood, she was a rather youthful maiden.

The woman held a shoe box, which she is taking delicate care not to drop. What is inside that box, only she knows.

The woman ran away from the streets and into the residential area, before eventually stopping near one of the houses. She then places the box near one of the houses.

"I'm really sorry, my love. But from here on, I can no longer be by your side..." Said the woman, as tears start falling down her face. "I still have a lifetime's worth of debts to pay. But once I play then, I'll come back for you. I promise..."

After stating her last words to her child, the woman runs off, leaving the innocent little baby girl behind.

Around this time, a young Akira Goto was about to go home from work, when he suddenly catches a glimpse of the box that was left next to the gate to his house.

Intrigued about the box's contents, he opens the box, and was shocked, surprised and devastated at what he saw.

Inside the box was an infant girl, approximately a week and a half old.

"A child...?" Said Akira.

He takes a closer look at the infant. Seeing such an innocent little child, abandoned on a sidewalk in the middle of the rain, was a truly pitiful sight.

"Poor kid... who could have done this?" Said Akira.

Out of pity, Akira takes the abandoned young girl out of the shoebox that she came from and into his nearby house to give her some shelter.

-Goto Residence 9:19 PM-

Akira, carrying the baby in his arms, rings the doorbell to his house, to which Michiru Sonozaki, who at that point in time, was only his boyfriend, answers the door.

"Hi, sugarpie!" Said Michiru. "What's that you're carrying?"

"No time to answer. We need to shelter her, and fast!" Akira replied.

As soon as he said those words, Akira enters the house. Michiru looks at him, somewhat confused.

-Goto Living Room 9:21 PM-

The first thing that Akira did upon entering the house was to find a place to lay the baby on. He went to the sofa on the living room, sat there and placed the infant beside him. It was then that Michiru enters the living room.

"Come on, sugarpie. Why are you in such a-" Said Michiru.

Akira puts his index finger on his lips, signalling Michiru to keep quiet.

"She's asleep." Whispered Akira.

"Who is?" Michiru replied.

"The baby." Whispered Akira.

"Wait, what baby are you talking a-" Michiru replied.

As he walked toward the sofa, Michiru saw that the baby that Akira was talking about.

"I found her on a shoebox near our house." Said Akira. "I took her in because she needed some shelter."

Michiru takes a closer looks at the baby. The peaceful look on her face as she sleeps is enough to warm Akira and Michiru's hearts.

"She's beautiful..." Said Michiru. "Such a shame that an innocent child like her is just left abandoned."

"Well, there could be a bunch of reasons why she was left that way." Akira replied. "But as for now, we don't what those motives are."

"You're right." Said Michiru.

Michiru then starts thinking about something.

"Should we adopt her?" Said Michiru.

"Huh?" Akira replied.

"I mean, you said she needs some shelter." Said Michiru. "And our parents needed a grandchild."

"I know... but still." Akira replied. "Are we really ready for such a responsibility?"

"I heard someone say in the past: Being a parent is not just a responsibility." Said Michiru. "It's also a blessing that comes only a few times in a couple's life."

"When you become a parent, you experience a whole lot of stuff that you never experienced before." Michiru continued. "New scenarios, new achievements, new emotions..."

"They say everything will change once we become parents, and that even we aren't sure what those changes would be." Michiru continued. "But one thing's for sure, when you get the chance to be a parent, you never let it go."

"You're right..." Akira replied. "I've decided... that we should adopt her."

Michiru was overjoyed with what Akira had said.

"Yaaaay! Now we are officially parents!" Said Michiru. "I'm glad you came up with the right decision, sugarpie!"

"Thanks, honeybunch..." Akira replied.

And thus, Akira and Michiru's journey to parenthood beings. But before all of that...

"That said, what should we name her?" Said Michiru.

"Hmm... I always wanted to meet a girl who goes by the name of..." Akira replied. "... Mayuka."

"Mayuka... that's a beautiful name..." Said Michiru.

FIVE YEARS LATER

Five years had passed since that day, Mayuka had grown up into a bright and cheerful child, who always uplifted the spirits of those around her.

It was only a matter of time before Mayuka would enter preschool.

-School 8:27 AM-

It was the first day of school. Akira and Michiru led Mayuka to her school, before leaving to go to Akira's job.

"Okay, sweetie. This is your first day in school." Said Michiru. "Have fun, okay?"

"Okay!" Mayuka replied.

"That's the spirit!" Said Michiru. "Well, we better get going to office now. Goodbye, sweetie!"

"Goodbye, daddy! Goodbye, daddy!" Mayuka replied.

Some of the other kids noticed Mayuka waving at her two dads. However, Mayuka did not notice them as she simply ran to the classroom.

-Classroom 8:32 AM-

As this is the first day of school, the children have to introduce themselves to each other, as well as to their teacher Miss Yukiko Hara.

After a while of introducing the boys, it was time for the girls to introduce themselves to the class. Mayuka was up first, so she stands up from her seat and walks near the teacher's table.

"Go on, Mayuka." Said Miss Hara, with a kind tone in her voice. "Please introduce yourself to the class."

Mayuka nods.

"My name is Mayuka Goto." Said Mayuka, enthusiastically. "I am four years old."

Mayuka then takes a bow and proceeds to walk back onto her seat. Along the way, she overhears a slight conversation between two of her male classmates.

"Did you see the new girl?" Said the first preschooler. "She has two dads!"

"Weird. She's weird." The second preschooler replied.

It was Mayuka's first time hearing someone saying negative thoughts about her, and clearly, it felt really hard for her innocent mind to accept.

"Me... weird...?" Mayuka thought

TO BE CONTINUED