Chapter 3
It passed two months since Moriko joined together with Iwai and Riko, and she didn't think of going back to her parents during this time at all. She didn't miss them or their house. She cried every time when the memories of her parents abusing her appeared in her head. Luckily, she had Iwai and Riko to comfort her. Iwai always made her laugh by telling her funny stories, and Riko always gave her a hug when she needed.
Moriko didn't have a girl friend before, at school other girls had been made fun of her, and she had never enough courage to stood up to them or even to try to make friends. She was still surprised that Iwai and Riko wanted to be friends with her, and they were friendly towards her. She felt like she was in heaven. It seemed also that their group will expand soon.
Their food supplies were getting low, so they had to again make a plan to steal from a grocery store. They tried not to keep stealing from the same grocery store all the time as they didn't want to get caught. The one that they had decided on today was a small store owned by an elderly lady. They had stolen from it few times before, so they knew the layout quite well.
The plan was simple, while Iwai would be stealing the food away, Moriko and Riko would take the elderly lady's attention away.
It was going perfectly. The girls were talking to the owner, and she didn't suspect a thing until her eyes widened, she rushed past the girls and called, "Oi, what do you think you're doing?"
The girls flinched. Did this lady catch Iwai? Please, not. However, when they turned they saw two men in their thirties, judging from their resemblance, they must be brothers.
"We're just browsing, our dear owner," One of the brothers said.
"Yes. Is it a crime?" Another brother asked.
"Don't play dumb with me." The elderly lady put her hands on her hips. "I saw you hid one of the products behind your jacket. Now open your jacket up."
"Look, I won't do it."
"Fine, then I'll call the police."
The brothers frowned and took the steps back, then they turned and started to run.
"Wait! Please, girls, help me to catch this thief."
Moriko and Riko nodded to each other. Moriko knew that they weren't going to help the lady to catch the brothers. There had to be reason why they stole. Maybe, they also didn't have home like them.
They caught up with the brothers outside the grocery stores. "Wait! We want to help you," Riko said.
The brothers stopped and looked confused at the girls.
"We're going go inside and tell the owner, we couldn't catch you, meet us over there in five minutes, okay?" Riko pointed at the tall trees opposite the store.
Moriko and Riko returned to the store and lied to the owner that they lost the thieves. They noticed Iwai giving them signal as he exited the store. They excused the elderly lady, and followed Iwai.
"Hey, why did you run out so suddenly," Iwai asked while they were outside of the store.
The girls explained the situation to him. "We told them we meet them over there, let's go," Riko said.
Few metres away from the shop, behind tall trees, Iwai, Riko and Moriko met up with the two brothers.
"Thank you for back there." The brothers bowed. "I'm Maiki Daichi, and this is my younger brother, Daiki."
"Nice to meet you," Moriko and Riko said.
"So, why you had to steal, eh, have no money, house?" Iwai asked.
Daichi and Daiki hanged their heads down. "Yes, two months ago, we lost our jobs, and we couldn't pay the bills, so we got kicked out from our house." Daiki explained.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't find a job ever since, so we're forced to live on streets." Daichi added.
"I'm sorry," Moriko said.
"Thank you." The brothers smiled at her.
"Maybe, you'd like to join us?" Moriko was surprised by her offer, however she understood the brothers. Like her, Riko and Iwai, they didn't have a place to go.
"Hey, wait a second, Moriko-chan, we just met those two why we should let us join them in our group?" Iwai eyed the brothers suspiciously.
"Hey, you got a problem with us, old man?" Daiki tightened his fists. Daichi followed his suit.
When Iwai was about to respond, Moriko stood in between them. "Please, don't argue."
"I kind of agree with Iwai," Riko said. "I already need to look after this fellow." Riko pointed at Iwai.
"Riko-chan."
"Daiki-san and Daichi-san are like us." Moriko stared at her feet as she said it. "They don't have home, and as we're like them, we should help them. We should stick together." She raised her head and looked at them four.
"Well said." Riko smiled at her.
Moriko smiled back.
"Fine, you can join us," Iwai said.
"Thank you." The brothers bowed.
On one sunny day, Moriko, Riko, Iwai, Daiki and Daichi sat on a blanket in some park and were enjoying eating their food.
"So beautiful day," Riko said.
"Yes, I'm happy it's not raining," Daiki added.
"That's true, that's true." Daichi nodded.
"Hey, Moriko-chan, what's with you?" Iwai asked, concerned.
Moriko stared blankly at the blanket, tapping her fingers against it. "Nothing," she muttered.
"Come on, Moriko, I can see there's something wrong. Tell us," Riko said.
Moriko answered after few seconds, "It's my fourteenth birthday today."
Riko, Iwai and the brothers grinned.
"That's wonderful!" Riko said.
"We need to celebrate it," Iwai said.
"It's not big deal."
"Not big deal?" Daiki looked shocked.
"It is a big deal, and I agree we should celebrate it." Riko smiled.
It was decided, for the first time in her life, Moriko would have her birthday celebrated in a way she should. When she had lived with her parents, they had either forgot her birthday or if they had remembered, they had not celebrated it at all. They had usually just throw 'happy birthday' words at her and gave her some old clothes as presents for her. However, they had never bought or bake a birthday cake for her and put candles on it, so she could make a wish.
"We have some money left after we sold those sweets, so let's check if it will be enough to buy a birthday cake for you, Moriko-chan," Daiki said.
"I-I- thank you," Moriko stammered as she tear up.
They all looked surprised at her first, but then they smiled.
"Hey, Moriko-chan, it's your birthday, you should laugh not cry." Iwai patted her on her back.
"I know, but nobody before cared so much about my birthday as you guys."
"Of course, we care! You're our friend," Riko said.
"That's right." The brothers nodded in agreement.
"Okay, let's get this party started." Riko clapped her hands.
During the late evening, they broke into the back of one of the grocery shop. As they had decided before, they had bought a birthday cake – a chocolate with various fruits on it. It had fourteen candles lit on it. The cake was put on one of the boxes. They stood all around it and sang 'Happy Birthday' to Moriko.
Tears shined in Moriko's eyes. Nobody ever cared about her birthday before.
"Come on, Moriko-chan, don't cry," Iwai said. "This is your day."
"It just – I- I'm happy. I'm so happy I met you, and you're here with me. You're my family, and I hope we always be together."
Riko came up to her and hug her. "Of course, we will be, and now wipe those tears. We want to you to smile."
"Yes." Moriko chuckled.
"Ok, Moriko, you need to blew the candles, think about the wish," Daiki said.
"I think I already have one wish in my mind." I hope I will always be friends with Riko, Iwai, Daiki and Daichi. Moriko blew the candles, and then everyone clapped their hands.
This was her happiest day. She just hoped that the rest of her days would be like this.
