The moon rose slowly into the sky. After his, Ayato's, and Laito's bath, Yuuka knelt down and buttoned up Subaru's school uniform.
The local elementary school, which the boys took a bus to, was in town, but wasn't really in the central area.
The uniforms there had a palette of a maroon-ish purple, black, red, and white. At night, the area generally had colder temperatures, so the boys were dressed in school jackets or cardigans.
Yuuka smoothed out Subaru's jacket. Her fingers brushed against the school logo. She stared at it for a moment, a strange, nostalgic feeling spreading through her.
"Mom?"
Yuuka looked up at Subaru, who stared at her quizzically.
"Ah, I'm sorry." Yuuka stood up, looking around for everyone else. "The bus should be here in a minute."
Subaru watched his mom and she walked out to fetch his brothers. It had always bothered him, the way she was so mysterious sometimes. He really wasn't sure what made him think that, but it was… unsettling.
Subaru sighed, shaking his head as he followed his mom.
"Ayato, you need to tie the tie properly…" Yuuka giggled. Her son's red tie was a strange knot; the sides were uneven and misfit.
Reiji sighed. "I swear they taught how to tie it at the opening ceremony." He muttered under his breath.
As Yuuka quickly fussed with the incredibly tight knot Ayato somehow managed to create out of the tie, the bus arrived at the stop.
The brothers grabbed their school bags, waving to Yuuka as they opened the gate of the background and rushed down the sidewalk to the stop.
Finally, when Yuuka managed to fix the knot, Ayato grabbed his bag, and looked at Kanato, who still stood beside Yuuka.
"Kanato, I'll be late if you don't hurry up." Ayato says in an irritated tone, but he grinned cheekily at his brother.
Kanato, who had been hesitant to go to school at the beginning of the year, used to refuse to leave his mother. However, lately he's been enjoying attending classes and making friends. The purplette looked at Ayato, glanced briefly at Yuuka, and back at Ayato. He then hugged Yuuka quickly, and he dashed after his brother. The two raced to catch up with their brothers and boarded the bus.
Yuuka smiled, waving as the bus passed, and until it left her sight. Then she breathed a sigh.
She decided to go to「 隆之介, Ryuunosuke」 town early today, since she knew if she worked earlier shifts, she could return home earlier as well. Well, at least, it was allowed twice a week. Yuuka shut the gate of the backyard, strolling back into the house to get ready for work.
There was one rule, the only rule Yuuka placed on the boys; that they never travel to the part of town where she went for work. Of course, the boys complied obediently, as it was the only rule Yuuka requested, but they always questioned it in their minds. What was so bad about that part of the town, and if it was not exactly a good place, why did Yuuka work there?
The only logical explanation was that Yuuka worked there because it was a fitting and helpful job, despite how "bad" that part of town was, but it was only a theory.
Yuuka locked the door to the house, and began the mile walk to the municipality.
The part of town the brothers were told to avoid was almost the entirety of it. It was a very interesting suburb. It was quite huge to be considered a town, but it wasn't exactly a city, either. A large forest surrounded the east of it, which was dangerous and full of wolves. Most of the north of the town was dedicated to the homes of the aristocrats; tall, towering mansions and glittering homes made up the area, and it was guarded heavily.
Yuuka worked as an assistant to a blacksmith, who, in spite of most of the town's people, was kind. Over the years, Yuuka grew used to the town's harshness, and the treatment of each social class. With enough money to at least feed herself and her sons, she was considered to be very average in financial situations.
Yuuka reached the large gates of Ryuunosuke, and her pace immensely increased.
The town in itself was dangerous, but there were so many people who lived on the streets. The most heart-breaking part was that most were children. Of course, there were gangs and thieves, so she never brought a bag or any items that could easily be stolen from her.
As that thought crossed Yuuka's mind, she furrowed her eyebrows; a task she had she had assigned herself to a long time ago, which she had forgotten, came to her just now. Yuuka bit her lip.
She must think about that later.
Yuuka began to run when she saw a child being kicked and forced into the fountain, clenching her fists as she reasoned to herself that there was nothing she could do and she couldn't save everyone.
Finally, she reached the door to Ami's Blacksmith. Yuuka knocked, and a woman with tumbling black curls answered with a smile.
"Yuuka-san, you're early today." The woman praised as she let Yuuka in. The woman's smile faltered slightly. "You're alright, are you? Nothing dangerous happened on your way here?"
Yuuka shook her head, "Thank you Ami, but I'm fine. I'm at least able to protect myself." She replied, placing her jacket on a chair.
Ami sighed in relief. "That's good, but," Ami walked over to the counter near the forge, "it worries me everytime. You're a very independent and strong girl, but it's so remotely dangerous."
Ami picked up the hammer. It appeared she had been working on a pickaxe a few moments before Yuuka had arrived. "It disgusts me that I even have to warn you of just travelling here." Ami mutters, "How this very town that I live in proceeds to disappoint me daily."
Yuuka smiled weakly, "It can't be helped, right? We make a living in this town." She murmured sadly.
Ami studied the hammer in her hand. "That doesn't mean I have to like this town."
"The actual question is that are there better towns out there than this one?"
Ami ran her hand through her hair. "I know, I know. I've done research too, and well…" The skin of her lip tore slightly as she chewed on it. "I'm aware that there aren't other places in this world that are much better than Ryuunosuke."
Yuuka shrugged. "If you're able to find happiness in this world, it's all that matters." Yuuka responds, sitting down on the stool as she set up her work area.
Ami stuck out her tongue. "You're so naive." She teased.
Yuuka couldn't help but smile. "I've always been called that. Since I was young."
"Laito-kun~"
Laito looked up at the girl standing by his desk. She had her hair in pigtails and a prestigious aura to her, and maybe was even older than him slightly.
Laito smiled politely. "Ah, hi!" He greeted awkwardly, wondering why she had approached him.
The girl twirled a strand in her fingers, then poked Laito's cheek. "You're quite cute. I'm the daughter of an aristocrat, and it'd be cool if we hung out sometime." The girl bragged.
Laito blinked. "An aristocrat?" He repeated.
The girl mistook this as disbelief, when really, Laito didn't even know what an aristocrat was. "Yep. Surprised, right? A rare opportunity offered to you and you only~" The girl stretched her tone sweetly.
But less than a second later, Shuu and Reiji were standing next to Laito. "Sorry, he's gonna turn down your offer." Shuu said.
The girl took a step back, shocked that they were there so quickly, and since Shuu and Reiji were popular upperclassmen, she was a bit intimidated.
"A- Huh?" The girl clapped together her hands, "Shuu-sama and Reiji-sa-"
"We no longer appreciate your presence. If you would excuse yourself and quit being so rude here." Reiji said coldly, folding his arms.
The girl shrank, turning and leaving the classroom.
Laito turned to his brothers. "When did you guys get here? Aren't your classrooms a hallway away?" He asked curiously. He always wondered why his brothers seemingly scared the girl away.
Shuu sighed, muttering under his breath that explaining was bothersome. "Since I was finished with lunch, Reiji came in and suggested we go around and check on you guys."
Reiji rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and we so happened to walk in on our little brother being harassed." He states sternly.
Laito tilted his head, "She was harassing me? But she didn't really do anythi-"
"Laito, you're too oblivious to evil intentions."
Laito furrowed his eyebrows, thoroughly confused. Shuu shook his head.
"It's okay. Just come to us if this ever happens again." He commands. Laito nods slowly, but it confused him why his older brothers had knowledge of this and he didn't.
Reiji exhales heavily, and he looked around the unfamiliar classroom he was in; it wasn't much different from his, except, of course, the different posters, position of things, and the level the books were at.
His eyes landed on the board, where the teacher appeared to have left writings of assignments.
Reiji squinted, confused as to why he couldn't see it very clearly. A feeling of panic shot through him when he realized that his vision had gotten worse.
This only worried him more when he knew that Yuuka could not possibly afford prescription glasses for him.
The shift was over.
"Ami, I'm gonna head back now." Yuuka said, slipping into her jacket. As she cleaned up the last of her work, Ami came up and slapped a bundle on the table in front of Yuuka.
Yuuka jumped in surprise.
"E-Eh? What's this-" Her eyes dropped down at what Ami had slapped in front of her, and her eyes widened.
Ami grinned. "It's for you, of course." She said cheerfully.
Yuuka waved her hands frantically. "W-What..?! It's not even the end of the week, and that's way more than I earn normally…" She pointed at the bundle, which was, in fact, a complete stack of cash.
Ami beamed. "You've worked so hard for me all these years, obviously, you deserve a promotion of sorts! Besides, the company's boosted so much in sales lately, thanks to you, so this is your normal salary from now on." Ami explained.
Yuuka shook her head. "I can't possibly take that much! Er- how much is in that bundle anyway…?!"
Ami waved it in her face. "Only 'bout 6k yen (That's about 50 in US dollars)." She giggled. Yuuka's jaw dropped.
"6k?!" Yuuka gasped.
Ami smiled again. "And you have no choice but to take it!" Ami shoved the stack into Yuuka's hands. "Now be safe on your way home!"
Ami left so abruptly that Yuuka couldn't even protest anymore. She sighed.
"Well, I guess…" Yuuka couldn't help but smile, "It's way more than I need, but now, I can purchase gifts for the boys."
Yuuka left the shop, making sure to lock it as she left. Although she was still alert, her thoughts ran rapid of the things she could buy for her sons.
A toy for Kanato…
More books for Reiji…
New clothes for them…
And still so much left to either use or save...
She mused over these thoughts with a smile, when she passed by a shop she knew was an orphanage. Well, she knew for a fact that "orphanages" were basically prisons for children, and that they weren't treated at all like humans.
Yuuka continued her pace, when she noticed large splotches of a maroon substance splattered over the floor. She then heard distant cries of pain.
And Yuuka remembered her task.
Suddenly, a loud yell sounded, along with a loud crack. Yuuka stopped, terrified for a moment, and contemplated whether she should run. But she saw a man hovering over four boys, who all looked injured and badly beaten. The man appeared to be shouting angrily at them. Yuuka's eyes widened when she realized the man was holding a gun and a whip.
Yuuka could see the four boys clearly now, and she knew exactly what she had to do.
Yuuka's protective nature took over instantly, and the flames in her were fanned when the man raised the whip.
"Stop!" Yuuka found herself yelling, stepping closer to them. The man froze, turning to the direction of Yuuka. He furrowed his eyebrows, his mouth curling in an ugly way.
"What the hell do you want, bitch? Don't get in the way!" He snarled, waving the whip. His immediate vulgar language made Yuuka feel bitterly disgusted. Yuuka noticed how the boys flinched as he waved the whip.
Yuuka stood her ground. "This is an orphanage, right?" She asked boldly.
The man hissed, spitting on the ground. "Yeah, so?!" He spat, almost challenging Yuuka.
Yuuka folded her arms. "I'll buy them from you. All four." She declared.
The man paused, and he sneered. "Haah?! Are you stupid? Are you aware of how much they damn cost?! Ironic cuz they're filthy and worthless!"
Yuuka had already thought of a convincing plan. She had the money, now all she to do was make him give it up.
She laughed. "I'm an aristocrat. Don't know what the hell you mean by I can't afford them. Unless you want to speak to some certain superiors that I'm acquainted with." Yuuka lied. "I don't think they would be very happy with how you're treating me."
The man froze completely. "Y-You're an aristocrat?!" He said in shock.
Yuuka snorts. "That's what I just said," She continued with the same smooth, snooty attitude. She pulled out a fourth of the money she received from Ami today. "This is well enough to buy all four of 'em, dumbass."
The man practically gaped at the money. "Alright, take them! I don't care!" He said. The man glared daggers at the four boys. "You better follow her or I'll find y'all and shoot you again!" He snarled once more, as Yuuka threw the money at him.
Shoot them again?!
Have they already been shot?!
The man hurriedly picked up the money from the floor and fled.
Yuuka sighed. "Need to wash my own mouth with soap later." The four boys looked at her with a mixture of confusion, intimidation, and fear. She walks over to them. "Follow me to a safer spot." Yuuka commands.
One of the boys, the one with brown hair and light tips, pointed at another boy with messy, greenish black hair. "He's, Azusa's… Azusa can't walk, he's too.. Injured!" He protested.
Yuuka looked at the boy he was pointing at. She understood, and then picked up the boy called Azusa. "The rest of you are okay? You can walk?" Yuuka asked quickly, but her voice was laced with concern.
The remaining three boys stared at her, but nodded. Yuuka gestured for them to follow her, and began to run, as she hugged Azusa against her chest.
Once Yuuka finally said that they were safe, the group sat down in exhaustion, taking a break. "We'll rest for a few minutes, then we'll return to my home…" Yuuka briefly explained. Azusa, whom she thought resembled Kanato in some way, was asleep in her arms.
The boy with ruffled black hair and white tips, who was quiet the entire run, looked at her. "... Why…" He murmured, his voice soft from panting from the run.
Yuuka looked at him curiously. "Hmm?"
The boy furrowed his eyebrows. "You're a liar." He said suddenly. Yuuka blinked. "You're not an aristocrat. An aristocrat wouldn't just randomly be in town."
Yuuka blinked, then she smiled. "You're right. I'm not an aristocrat." She responds.
The boy grew confused, but he was still wary. "Why did you buy us? You bought filth- you basically bought trash, are you planning to sell us off somewhere-" The boy was shaking. He was terrified, and Yuuka knew he was aching in pain as well.
"Ruki-" The blonde boy reached out to calm the black-haired boy down.
Yuuka tilts her head, then she looked up at the night sky. "I can't put it in a simple explanation right now. All I can really say right now is, no, I'm not going to sell you off, and.." Yuuka looked at all the young boys' faces, and it pained her greatly. "I wish I could say I bought you your freedom, but unfortunately, the world is so dangerous and cruel in its current state that freedom is simply impossible."
The boy called Ruki stared at her. "So what are you planning to do with us?" He asked quietly.
Yuuka smiled. "It's a decision for you to make, but you can join my family, if you'd like." She says.
Ruki's beautiful eyes widen, and he looks at the other boys. "Join your... Family?"