Chapter 1: A New Beginning
"You'll hold on to this lock pendant and I'll keep this key one. We'll both treasure them until the day that we can meet again. We'll promise to remember!"
Minami Maki, 12 years of age, now at my 1st year in Middle School. I just arrived at Japan. If you can see a black-haired girl about 130cm. tall wearing a Seigaku uniform all by herself at Narita Airport, that must be me.
A lot of things happened in my life these past few months. Just two weeks ago, my family and I were involved in a car accident. My dad died immediately. My mom went into a coma. But for some unknown reason, I was left with only a broken rib, a few bruises, and some burns.
I used to watch over my mom together with Hana-neechan, my cousin, for two weeks. I wanted to stay by my mom's side longer but my remaining relatives decided that I should continue my studies at Japan instead of staying home-schooled. And Hana-neechan's mother, Haruka-bachan(my mother's neechan), will take my place watching over her.
Japan is where our company's second largest branch is at, the first is at London, and they wanted me to help out there. I do some of the accounting work for our company, being the management accountant and all. Plus, Haruka-bachan's house is there.
They have a big family. And I mean big. Hana-neechan has a niichan, an imouto, and two otoutos. Not just that, Rococo-jichan's (Hana-nee's father) parents live with them as well. Oh, let's not forget Inko, their pet parrot, and Brownie, their pet dog whom I named myself when we were younger.
I really enjoyed playing with them before I went to London and traveled to other countries for business meetings and stuff. When I was still here, we used to stay by the countryside. I also made other friends my age but….
Anyway, now I'm living at my Haruka-bachan's house here at Narita. I'll also be attending Junior High at Seigaku, like it wasn't obvious from my uniform, together with Eiji-niichan, Hana-nee's otouto-san. It's a wonder that they still accepted me in the middle of the second semester, but I guess that's because I'm not a regular student. It may be because I'm the only heir to the M group of companies, largest company in Japan, or that I have a good standing in academics and tennis, where the school is pretty famous for, I can never be too sure.
What's taking them so long? I'm getting sleepy, I want to eat cake. I feel like I'm getting jet-lagged from travelling for 11 hours from London to Tokyo. I used to be immune to it from all the travelling I've been doing ranging from business meetings to just plain vacations. But I guess all the sleepless nights I spent crying over my father's departure and watching over my mother is finally taking its toll on me.
I was tempted to sit down on the benches and lie down but before I was even able to touch the chair's back, a familiar voice rang in my ears calling my name. When I turned around, I saw Haruka-bachan running towards me waving her hands- childish as always.
When she reached me she glomped me almost crushing me. She hugged me so tightly I almost couldn't breathe. She didn't seem to notice it though.
"Haruka-bachan! Ahh. Can't breathe." She loosened a bit and I hugged her back.
"Geez. Can't I just enjoy my favorite niece's presence before I leave?" She said pouting childishly. She broke from our hug and laid her hands on my shoulders and examined me. " God, Maki, I haven't seen you in person for what? 6 years? I missed you so much"
"Aww, I missed you too."
"You're so small aren't you" She said, still examining me. Uh-oh it's starting. "So thin as well. Have you been eating well? Getting enough sleep? Boy, your eyes are still puffy." She cupped my cheeks and squeezed them. She kept going on and on. I didn't even bother listening to her at all, she always does that whenever her maternal instincts kicked in. I kept thinking of something to say to keep her from continuing. Suddenly, my eyes widened in recollection.
" Haruka-bachan" I started nervously "Where's your luggage? Eiji-niichan as well?"
She removed her hands from my cheeks and made a thinking gesture. "Hmm. You're right, he's taking too much time..Hey! You're avoiding the topic again." And she gave me a glare.
I shrugged it off, and then I looked at her suspiciously. "What did you make him do?". She chuckled it off, raised her hands as if surrendering. " I just asked him to carry my things, that's all."
I was about to force her to tell the truth when something in the crowd caught my attention. I saw a red-headed man walking along the crowd carrying a lot of things. And when I say a lot, I mean it. One hand was holding three duffel bags and the other was pulling something that looked like a mountain of briefcases piled up on a cart from behind him. The people quickly moved out of the way when they noticed him. Only a few steps later did I realize that he was also wearing the Seigaku uniform. I wonder what year he was in, he looks older than me, but what would he be doing here when classes are already starting? Then it hit me. Red hair, Seigaku uniform, older than me and carrying a ton of baggage which seemed like a punishment. My eyes widened in shock. This person was Eiji-niichan. I looked at Haruka-bachan in disbelief and saw her enjoying the sight of her son suffering. Sadist.
I quickly ran over to Eiji-nii getting two of the duffel bags in one of his hands.
"Eiji-niichan. Long time no see."
"Eh? You are?" He seemed out of it. I guess carrying so much stuff sucked the life out of him. I've never seen Eiji-niichan this lifeless before.
"Oi oi! Eiji-niichan! Maki-desu. Ma-ki!"
"Oh..Maki. Eh? Maki-chi!" After saying the first two words, he dropped the stuff and suddenly became energized. Now that's the Eiji-niichan I know.
"Maki-chi!" He said picking me up and holding me up high making me drop the bags I was carrying as well. "You're so small! So light as well, it's like I can even throw you."
" Eiji-niichan! Put me down!" I was already struggling and kicking the air.
" Hai Hai, Maki-chi" He said putting me down and playing with my hair. "You're so cute when you get all puffy"
"Mou. Eiji-niichan's teasing me again."
" I just missed you" Ouch. He pinched my cheeks. " It's been so long since we've played together."
He was right, we used to play all the time before. We would go running along the river banks and on the hills whenever we visited the country side. We would play all day until we get tired. We were just enjoying ourselves without a care for the world. And at night we would lie down on the grass and watch the stars until someone comes to fetch us. But then, I did something that my family sees as a mistake. But I don't get it; I remember none of it. All I know is that I fell down a cliff while playing and my parents deemed the place dangerous.
All I managed to say was "Yeah". Has it all been my fault that we stopped having fun? I no longer want to think about it.
My train of thoughts was cut by someone clearing their throat. It was Haruka-bachan. " Okay! Sorry to break it to you but it's already time for me to leave. So if you don't mind, Eiji, can you bring my stuff over to out gate?"
"Ah Hai!" Eiji-niichan said hurriedly picking up Haruka-bachan's things.
"Bye Haruka-bachan, take care!"
"You too, Maki!" She kissed me on the forehead and began walking away.
" Maki-chi, just wait here I'll be back" And they were gone in the midst of the crowd.
In case you're wondering how Haruka-bachan will be able to bring all her things to London on a plane, the answer is quite simple. Narita Airport host's our company's private jet, Haruka-bachan will be travelling alone, so there's a lot of space for all her things. But as to why she's bring so many things when she already has everything she needs at London, I can only guess. Perhaps it's a form of torture for Eiji-niichan. As for me, an earlier flight sent my things to Haruka-bachan's house already so I can go directly to school.
Speaking of school, it's already 11:00am. School starts at 8:00am, we're lucky if we even get there before the afternoon session starts.
"Maki-chi! Come, let's hurry. Aniki is waiting for us. He'll drive us to school." Before I could respond, Eiji-nii ran off. "Hurry!" "Hai!" And I ran as well. Forgetting all the people around and forgetting my sleepiness. I just ran, hoping to catch up to Eiji-nii.
I wonder how my first day at school will be?