/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>43777691


I woke up, ready to start my chores for the day when I remembered I was still at Marisa’s. So I just got up and dressed and shuffled around the house. Dad and Marisa were already up and preparing some breakfast. Seeing I was awake, Dad greeted me “Morning, did you sleep well? Breakfast is almost ready” I sat down at the table and a minute or two later the omelets were done cooking. Dad brought them over and they sat down to ate with me. “We’ll be going back to the shrine later today. Mom is probably worried about us” It made sense to me then. I was hoping this was a one time event and she would welcome us back and apologize. Marisa’s face turned a bit sour, but she didn’t say anything. When we all finished, Dad got up and collected the plates. “I’ll clean up for you two, then we can pack up and head home” I thanked dad and got up to pack and roll up my futon. Marisa followed me.

When we were out of earshot of Dad, she asked me a question. “Hana, are you scared of your mom?” I thought about it. Back then, I had no reason to fear her. Sometimes she scolded me or pushed me hard in my training, but she hadn’t given me any reason to be afraid of her yet. Even the events of last night seemed like a momentary tantrum that she could apologize for. I shook my head. “Well that’s good. Listen, you know that dad and you mean a lot to her, right? I’ve known her for a long time, even way before she meet dad. Trust me, if she hated you, you would know” It made sense to me, Marisa and Mother would sometimes bring up their exploits together, and the list seemed long. It never occurred to me back then to think about how the two of them never saw each other anymore if they got together so well in the past. Marisa smiled nostalgically a bit. “I remember back when she and your dad first met. They really made each other so happy back then, I’d never seen Reimu act that way before. I know she loves you both. It’s just well...” Marisa found a tangled lock in her hair and pulled on it as she tried to think of what to say. “She can get really riled up sometimes. It doesn’t mean she hates or or she wants to hurt you, she just...charges ahead sometimes, you know? You can always see me if you need help, but I think she’ll improve herself from now on” I believed her. I wanted to think that it all would be smooth sailing from here. But adults can lie easily to children, much more easily when they want to believe the lie themselves.

By the time I had packed and cleaned up, Dad was done as well. Dad gave his thanks to Marisa for housing and feeding us, and went on the path back home as Marisa watched us leave. By the time we arrived back home, mother was up and about doing some chores. She turned to see us and placed down the bucket of water she was holding to run up and greet us. “Ah, there you two are, I just wanted to wanted to say that I’m sorry, I know I told you I would never do this sort of thing again, it’s just that I got so angry seeing how wrecked the place was I lost control. I should have controlled myself better” She sighed and bowed her head. “Hana, how are you feeling? You know that I don’t hate either of you, right and I won’t leave?” I looked up at her. I was already eager to forgive her and return things to normal.

“I know” I responded.

Mother smiled and dad gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “You two can take it easy today. I’ll do the chores for you. I’ll see about pulling some favors to get the supplies replaced sometime later, it’s no big deal” Dad and I went inside to put away our things. I was happy, already hopeful for more happy years. The adults in my life said things would improve, so I thought it was true. This was one of the first times I found out they could be wrong.