"My mummy says I'm a good boy!"
xxx
"I'm home!" Ryou called cheerfully to the apartment.
He carefully avoided looking at the calendar, months behind.
"Hello, mum," he said, and smiled. This was where he was safe; this was where he was loved. His mother was here, and his sister would be here as soon as she returned from her exchange school for summer vacation (he had been writing letters to her, but she was so busy with schoolwork she was unable to find time to write back).
xxx
"Not going eat again, mum? You know that's bad for your health," he scolds halfheartedly as he throws the untouched meal away. He does not think her lack of eating odd, not anymore. He did once, but...
He was used to it now. And asking questions about this was one of the forbidden topics, and he wanted to be a good boy so badly.
xxx
"Ryou. You know these children are bad. Why have you not gotten rid of them yet?"
"But mum, they're my friends. Good people don't hurt their friends."
"They do when their friends are bad. And your friends are very bad, Ryou. Don't you want to be a good boy?"
"No, please! I'm a good boy, I am, I'll do what you say!"
"That's all I'm asking, Ryou."
xxx
"Hey, Ryou-!"
"My mummy says you're bad."
"Huh?"
"I'm a good boy. Good boys punish bad people."
"Ryou, why do you-?"
"My mummy told me so."
xxx
His mother surveyed his handiwork, the blood painting the walls the pretty red of roses.
"You're such a good boy, Ryou..."
He smiled. He knew he was loved. He knew he was good.