A dark blue-haired girl descended off the stairs. The wooden floor of the old building creaked slightly under her feet but her gaze didn't waver on the blonde woman and a man in his forties who was with the head caretaker of the orphanage.
"A-Ayako-chan, is it really you?" The woman whom she thought she would never see in her life again, asked her with her soft and gentle voice.
She felt her heart race with the way the woman addressed her like she was her own. The teenage girl named Ayako finally stood in front of her soon-to-be parents... for the umpteenth time.
In fact, this was the second time the woman adopted her, but because of a certain... accident, she got separated from her and her past family. But now, she was more than glad to be able to stay with the people who will be able to accept her and treat her like a part of their family.
People who wouldn't be so judgemental just because she was adopted and people who would be able to understand and share her pain.
"Mama..." Her tears welled up and she felt something sliding down her rosy cheeks.
The older woman whom she called mama, stepped forward with open arms and she ran towards them. The two of them hugged for a minute. The older man beside the blonde woman, smiled at the scene before him. Relief washed over him when he saw his new wife this happy.
It's almost been a year since they got married and he can see the melancholy look in her eyes when she looked at Ema, his adopted daughter, with her blue ones. He can never forget the longing expression that she has when they see other families with a daughter.
"Mama... I-I thought I would... never be able to see you again..." Ayako sniffed and while she pulled away from the hug of her former and now adopted mother, and wiped her tears.
"Excuse me for ruining the moment Miwa-san, but we need you to sign the papers so that you could bring home Ayako-san." The caretaker of the orphanage, smiled kindly and let them sign the papers. After that, the three of them headed to the car.
"By the way, Ayako-chan, this is Rintarou or Rin-kun. He's my husband so you can call him 'Papa', ne?" The younger girl looked at the older man and bowed.
"Hello, uhmm... Rintaro-san. I'm Ayako. It's nice to meet you and please take care of me!" Ayako introduced and stood straight up again. A bright smile lightening up her face. Her eyes were still slightly puffy because of crying earlier and her nose was also a bit reddish in color.
"You can call me 'Papa' like what Miwa-chan said." Rintarou smiled and patted her head gently.
"Yes. Thank you... Papa." The blue-haired teen shyly added, her cheeks tinting pink. Miwa chuckled slightly at her daughter's cute actions.
"Well then, let's go. I called Masaomi-kun a while ago to wait for you in Sunrise Residence and so he would be able to help you with your things too." Miwa said as soon as they rode inside the car. Rintarou was driving and the woman sat beside the driver's seat while Ayako sat in the back.
An hour and a half passed and they finally arrived at their destination; the Sunrise Residence where the rest of her former yet new family, awaits her.
A man in his early thirties was outside the entrance and he seemed like he was waiting for something... or rather, for someone, to arrive. Ayako smiled at the familiar face who did not seem to change at all. The same brown hair and the same calm and gentle expression from 7 years ago.
"We're here, Ayako-chan. If you have any troubles, you know what to do, hm? Just call me or Rin-kun." The teenager smiled and stepped out of the car. The eldest brother, Masaomi have already unloaded her belongings from the car's trunk.
"Bye bye, Ayako-chan! We'll have a family bonding soon when we got off from work," Miwa smiled at her daughter as the latter waved goodbye to her mother and Rintarou.
"Masaomi-kun, you know what to do, hm? Please take care of her. Tell that to the others too." The cheerful, older woman reminded her eldest son.
"Yes, mother. I'll handle things here. Take care on your trip!" Both children waved goodbye to their parents until the car was out of sight.
"Let's go inside, Ayako-chan." The eldest brother smiled at her kindly and brought her luggage inside the residence. The only things that she had brought with her were one large and small trolleys, a sports bag and a backpack.
They went inside the elevator and reached their floor in no time. Masaomi opened the door as she looked around at the slightly changed residence. Ayako felt nostalgic just by looking at the familiar surroundings. This is where she spent two years of her life... and then, the accident happened. She shook her head to forget about the unfortunate events.
The older looked at her in concern, "Are you okay, Ayako-chan? Are you not feeling well?"
Ayako shook her head again and answered, "No... I was just feeling...nostalgic. It's been a long time since I last... stayed here. The place changed but not that much..."
"I see... Well, the place didn't change much and the people living here too. So don't worry about it, hm?" Masaomi smiled at her before the two of them entered the house.
All of the siblings were complete, sitting in the living room and watching TV while waiting for them. An unfamiliar face caught her attention though, because it was a girl sitting right in the middle of the long couch, amidst the sea of guys.
Masaomi must have noticed her tensing because he immediately put a hand on her shoulder to calm down the younger girl. "Don't worry. She won't bite. She's also our new sister. It's been a month since she came here after mom remarried."
"W-what's her name, Masaomi-niisan?" Ayako swallowed the lump in her throat that was about to form and was glad to be able to ask.
"Her name's Hinata Ema. She's the daughter of Rintarou-san. I believe she's a bit older than you by a few months." She nodded in return, understanding what Masaomi had told her.
"Let's go and surprise them, hm?" Ayako just gave the older guy a reassuring smile which didn't seem so reassuring, in her opinion.
"We're back!" Masaomi greeted and all heads shot up to look at him and the girl beside him.
Author's Note:
Hey guys! TheWhimsicalNoirette at your service. :)
I hope all of you give this story support and lots of love, along with my other stories.
Thank you very much!