Hidden Admiration

Getting to know me (Miyako's POV)

Here I am again, for the fourth time this week, looking up at the stars from my balcony. My mother always told me that every single star represents an important trait. She always said that each small group of stars follow the same traits that one has. I don't quite remember all the specific ones she told me, but I do remember a few.

Right there, the diamond shaped pattern to the left of the moon, that's where they are tonight. Out of the few important ones that my memory has kept, I always find myself looking up at that same region every so often. These four stars have a place close to my heart, they represent gracefulness, peacefulness, loyalty and honesty. At least that's what my mother told me.

A few months before my mother died, about two weeks after my sister and I found out she was sick, she told me that whenever she misses me in heaven, she will look down at those stars and smile, knowing that she raised such a beautiful daughter with those exact characteristics. Gracefulness, peacefulness, loyalty and honesty.

My name is Miyako Shinagami.

When I was born, my mother chose this name because it means "beautiful night child". Maybe that explains why I love the night sky and the darkness so much. Not a creepy kind of darkness, but the comforting kind. She said she chose my name because of my eyes, along with my hair, and I understand why. I have deep blue eyes and very long, thick, black hair, identical to hers.

I don't have a father, well, not one that I can remember. He left when my older brother Isamu was born, so my mother raised three children on her own. I admire her for that. Isamu is currently 21, he left for college nine months ago, so my sister is working for money to pay for bills and our necessities. My sisters name is Katsumi, who is twenty-three, seven years older than me. She looks quite similar to me, with the large eyes and button-like nose, although her eyes are grey, like my father's. Or, I should say, who was once my father, perhaps.

Anyways, my sister isn't the only one that is working, I currently have a job at our local Ramen restaurant, in which I work as a waitress every week day except Monday after school. It's good because it earns me money to help out at the home or go out.

Speaking of school, I go to Kurume High, where I'm studying to be a writer. I'm really secretive about my pieces, so I don't really share them with anyone if I don't have to. Except Asami, who is my closest friend, but she usually doesn't bother me about them. Asami is the complete opposite of me, I'm not even quite sure how we even became friends, since we're so different. She likes socializing with so many different people. She loves boys, a lot.

I don't really consider myself as the type of girl to have a boyfriend because I'm so shy. Boys never really occurred to me. I guess I'm just too caught up in my school work to really have time to worry about having one.

It would be nice though. Perhaps some day.