ShuAnn Week 2021

Day 4: Support/Comfort

She couldn't cry, Ann told herself.

It was fine. Yes, Shiho was going away, but she was still alive, recovered from her attempted suicide and dealing with the trauma that triggered it. Ann could still talk to her over things like texts or even through video chat. There was no reason to be upset over her leaving. It wasn't as if she was gone forever from her life.

That's what she told herself.

Of course, once Shiho actually said good-bye, hugging her on the roof where she almost ended it all before she left, the reality that she wouldn't be there to do that anymore hit her like a ton.

She was alone.

All alone.

Alone.

At least until she felt warm and strong arms hold her and allowed her to cry into the chest of their owner.

"Ren..."

"You're not alone, Ann. You still have the gang," he said. "You still have me."

That had led to her accidentally blurting out her feelings for him, because of course she would do that just when she figured out the nature of them. Maybe Mika wasn't too far off in calling her an airhead after all. But then that led to Ren becoming Joker for a moment and boldly kissing her. To say the least she melted like ice cream on a hot day. She had been quite annoyed at his laugh when he stopped, but it was hard to hate it for so long when afterwards he cuddled her all the tighter and said,

"Sorry about laughing. I know I shouldn't but...I'm just...so happy..."

And Ann melted against him again.

It was hard not to with his bright smile and shining eyes.

Ren had been preparing some snacks for his children returning from school when he startled from the door banging open. He rushed to the front, ready for an intruder, when the familiar form of his eight year old daughter ran past him and straight to her room, slamming the door. For a moment, he was upset that Miyu made such an unnecessary racket when his son said,

"Big Sis!"

And he looked so worried even while he panted, having clearly ran just like Miyu did.

So he asked, "What happened?"

"I...don't know. I just saw Big Sis run out of school and I ran after her."

Ren frowned. Something was wrong, that much was obvious. And he would have to find out. But first.

"I'll make sure your sister's okay. You go on and get changed," he said.

His son was hesitant. "Promise you'll make her feel better?" he said after a bit.

Ren couldn't help but smile at his son's concern. "Promise."

And that was enough for him to leave and for Ren to finally get in Miyu's room, after knocking of course. When his daughter expectedly didn't answer, he went inside to see the heartbreaking sight of her crying into her bed, face flat on the mattress.

"Hey...what's wrong, little dancer?" he said as he lay beside her and wrapped an arm over her waist.

His daughter sniffled and didn't say anything.

"Don't want to say it to me?"

Another sniffle. "I..."

He nuzzled his cheek against hers and said, "It's okay if you don't want to right now. I just want to know if it's something I can help with."

His words set off a new wave of tears as she wailed and tackled him. Thankfully, Ren managed to manuever himself so that he'd catch her and have them in a more comfortable position as Miyu cried against his chest.

"I don't know, Papa... I...I...was just doing my best and the teacher liked my dancing and then one of the girls got mad at me when the class was over and the teacher was gone and then...and then..."

Another cry and Ren had to concentrate on his breathing, lest his daughter notice the rage that nearly tensed his body. The last thing he wanted was a misunderstanding because he couldn't hold back his anger. And right now she didn't need that.

"And then...?" he said to prompt her.

And she answered. "And then she..." She hiccuped. "...she ruined your shoes..."

That...unfortunately confused Ren and had him say, "My shoes?"

Miyu nodded. "The ones you got for me for class..." she said. "She said I...I didn't need them..."

"Ah, so that's what happened..." he said, now everything was coming together.

The girl was jealous of his daughter's talent and wanted to lash out at her.

He hated that a child could be so mean so young.

But for now he focused on soothing Miyu, rubbing her back as he said, "Is that why you didn't want to say anything? Because you think I'd be mad at you for your shoes being ruined?"

"Mmm hmm..."

"Oh my little dancer... I wouldn't be mad over that. Especially if it's not your fault..."

"But I... I made her mad..." she said. "If I didn't make her mad, then..."

"Miyu."

He sat up on his daughter's bed, her still in his arms. Miyu was confused and looked at him.

"Papa...?"

"You did nothing bad, right?" he said.

"No..."

"And do you know why was she mad at you?"

"She said... She said I didn't need them if I'm really good..."

"And is being at good at dancing a bad thing?"

She shook her head vigorously with no hesitation.

"Then don't feel bad about making her mad. You should only apologize if you did something bad and that's why the other person is doing something bad back at you," he said. "And don't feel bad about ruining the shoes I got for you. I know you take very good care of them. So if they're broken, or missing, I know you didn't mean to hurt my feelings."

Thankfully Miyu didn't end up crying again, but she did hold him close again.

"Okay Papa..."

He held her tighter.

"Good," he said. "And Miyu?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, my little dancer."

There was yet one more sniffle but Ren felt her smile.

"I love you too, Dad."

And he shared it.

There were still a few issues that needed to be dealt with, including seeing if her shoes could be fixed and that girl who ruined them in the first place, but for now Ren comforted his daughter who snuggled up to him like a cat, reminding him of his wife.

Ren looked at one paper. Then another. And then another. This repeated itself for some time as he read the contents of each piece again and again, all of them one thing in common: they had info he gathered on the various colleges he thought of going to. One in his home prefecture of Nagano, many in Tokyo, and...many more being near or the exact same colleges Ann was considering to go to, all of them foreign. And all Ren could do was groan.

He would have to narrow them down soon to several, a couple that are his main prospects and a backup or three. One of his plans was to aim for one in Tokyo, where most of his friends would be, even if most of them would be in different universities, but...

He eyed the papers he printed about that were about visas and apartments near the collges he picked.

...a part of him did not want to stop at just visiting Ann wherever she goes for college, but instead go with her.

And thus, here he was, for the nth time, looking at all his papers and weighing the pros and cons, the romantic in him clashing with the leader in him over what option to pick: the one with the love of his life or the one with his friends and family. So of course he startled when Ann said,

"Hey Ren!"

"Gah!"

And all his papers scattered.

Ren adjusted his glasses as he glared at his girlfriend, who giggled in the safety of the other end of the video call.

"Three out of ten. Easy to do but no chance for the victim to do retribution," he said.

She didn't stop. "Joker calling the kettle black, huh?" she said.

That broke his mask of faked annoyance and he laughed.

"Now that is a good one. Eight out of ten," he said, smiling as he leaned down to gather the runaway papers. "You're getting better."

"If you're fishing for compliments, you're out of luck. I'm not gonna thank you for teaching me."

"Oh! You wound me milady!" He got all of them together, careful Ann wouldn't see them on the off chance she could figure out what they were. "Isn't it fair to return a compliment after recieving one?"

"Not when the one who gave it has a big enough ego to not need them."

"Oh! I try to be a gentleman to my girlfriend and she decides to be a devil! Oh what has the world come to..."

His girlfriend rolled her sky blue eyes. "Don't be so overdramatic," she said, but then had a hint of seriousness. "I wouldn't have caught you off guard if you were having a hard time picking a college."

A beat.

Oh.

If that was the case...

He raised in hands surrender. "Caught me red handed." He then said, "But how did you find out?"

Now her mischievous self reappeared as she said with a smirk, "Akira told me."

Ren sighed, long, drawn out and dramatic. "Ah, of course my sister betrays me..." he said.

Though really, he should've known. Aki would manage to catch his plans of all people. Besides Ann herself and Mona that was, but that was for another time.

Ann rolled her eyes again. "Drama queen."

He couldn't help but say, "I do my best."

Even when Ann turned more serious as he expected, saying with some hesitation,

"Hey...it's because of me, isn't it?"

Ren was tempted to tease her a bit, but there was no way he could do that with that look on her face. So he sighed and said,

"Yeah, it is. I...can't decide if I want to apply somewhere in Tokyo or somewhere abroad. Not to mention looking up places to live for the two of us if I do go aborad. Ah, if you wanted to share, of course."

"Oh Ren..." Ann said, shaking her head in fond exasperation. "I know I said I'd be waiting for you but..." Her somber mood returned. "...moving with me? That's a pretty big decision."

He sighed and bumped his head against his back rest.

"I know, I know, but..." Ren sighed again. "...as much as I want to be with Aki and the others, I want to be with you just as much. I mean, you'll be by yourself when you're there."

Ann smiled, touched by his words. "Ren..." she said, but once again that left for a more serious expression. "Hmm..."

For a little while, she was silent as she hummed in thought. Ren felt a little anxious at her mood change and so said,

"Ann...?"

Thankfully, she did speak with that.

"Look, I would love it if you did come with me," she said. "But think of it this way... Would you still leave if I wasn't leaving?"

It felt like a shot fired.

"I..." would, he almost said but hesitation gripped him and made him deliberate.

Would he go abroad if Ann wasn't doing so?

"No..." he said, but he didn't like the truth of that one bit.

To him, it made it seem like Ann meant so little when it was anything but.

But then his girlfriend startled him with a stern, "Ren."

And he looked to her as she said, much softer than a moment ago,

"Don't worry too much. I only thought that would help you decide." She laughed, embarrassed. "But I guess it did the opposite huh?"

He couldn't help but share it. "Kind of."

"But really, whatever you decide, it won't change the fact we'll be on each other's side, right?" his girlfriend said, giving him a radiant smile.

He still couldn't believe it was directed at him sometimes.

"Right," he said. Then he gave her a smile, much softer but still just as joyful. "Thank you, Ann."

"Always."

When they finished having their nightly chat, Ren eyed those papers again, replaying the beginning of their conversation. Whatever he would do, Ann would be there for him. And he would do the same. When put that way, the answer was simple and made his contemplation feel silly in hindsight.

Several months, and many, many talks, later, he applied to a couple of business colleges near the colleges Ann was applying for.

Ann sighed in relief and gratitude. She hadn't expected the shoot to end sooner than intended, but it did and thus she was back home early. Even better that it was before the kids got back from their school club activities so she could surprise them, and Ren if she could push it. The model chuckled as she put away her things.

Oh that would be a sight.

"But first things first," she said. "A bath."

But instead of an empty bathroom, she found her teenaged daughter in it...holding a hair dye bottle.

"Mama!" Miyu said.

Shr scrambled to stuff the bottle and other items that were on the sink into a purse despite the futility.

"Miyu! Calm down! You could break something!" she said, holding her arms still.

Thankfully her daughter stopped immediately with no resistance, and drooped in shame just as quickly.

"Sorry..."

"It's okay. I know I startled you," Ann said, letting go. However, she did eye all the things she had along with the hair dye. "But...I would like to know what you're doing."

Her daughter looked away and said, "What? Isn't it obvious? I'm gonna shampoo my hair."

Ann didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed at the reminder of who her father was.

Either way, she said, making sure her tone meant business, "Miyu. I mean it. Why are you trying to dye your hair?"

And why were you trying to hide that? she left unsaid.

For a while, her daughter didn't say anything. But Ann waited, moving so that the both of them sat on a dry spot on the bathtub. Listening was the least she could do. It was hard to make time for her family with her career, as much as she tried and half succeeded. So staying by Miyu's side to see if she would tell her wasn't a bother, even if Miyu thought otherwise. Especially since this reminded Ann too much of when she wanted to dye her own hair. The only difference was she was here with her daughter...and that she wasn't sure why Miyu would want to dye it.

Eventually Miyu did speak.

"The kids at school..." she said, fidgeting with the bag that held the bottle and more. "I...I hate what they say."

Ann frowned, now even more worried. "What they say?"

"They say there's no way the famous 'Ann Takamaki' could be my mom when I look nothing like her..."

Her heart ached and her raged burned at those words. But she kept her anger out of her voice as she said, "Oh Miyu..."

"And they're right. I look nothing like you, Mama. I'm..." She gulped down a sob. "I'm not as pretty as you, so I..." She sniffled. "...I thought I'd just dye my hair to look like you. Make them shut up. And...actually look like your daughter..."

What else could a mother do but hug her daughter after hearing that from her?

As soon as she did, Miyu put down the handbag and reciprocated the embrace, crying into her shoulder.

"Baby... You shouldn't change yourself just because of them. They don't know you and if they don't even try to know you when you reach out to them, then you don't have to bother."

"But... But... It's... It's...still true... I...I...don't look...like you...at all. I'm not as pretty as you..." A broken laugh that broke her heart. "I don't even look like Papa... I only got the color of his hair..."

"Miyu," Ann said, startling her daughter before she could go further. "You are our daughter. You don't look like us, but you are still our precious and beautiful daughter and I wouldn't change it for the world. Even if you change, you'll still be our daughter and we'll love you. But if you're going to change because of what some people who don't even care about you say, then I will stop you, because I love you. I don't want you to be anyone else but you, okay?"

Thankfully Miyu's crying lessened to the point of being just sniffles as Ann held her, threading her hands through her daughter's thick and straight hair. She stayed like that for a while, letting her words sink in, before she said,

"So...do you still want to dye your hair?"

A moment and a sniffle passed.

And she said, "...No."

So Ann smiled and cuddled closer, feeling her daughter smile against her as she did the same, reminding her of her cuddling father. She couldn't help but find it both amusing and saddening she didn't realize how much she took after them, especially her father.

And then Miyu said,

"Thanks Mama. I love you."

Then her daughter gave her a kiss to her hand and cheek.

"Mama, what's that?" her little brother said and pointed.

Mama did a soft laugh and said, "That's an ad for a drink."

"What's that?"

"A hot dog stand."

"What's a 'hot-tu-dog-gu'?"

And Papa said, "A dog that's hot."

Yasushi tilted his head at Papa. "A dog that's hot?"

"Ren!" Mama said while she slapped Papa.

"Ow! Ann! You're setting a bad example!" Papa said.

Mama's eyes got smaller in anger. "You started it first," she said.

But there was something more important than whatever a bad example is.

She tugged on Mama's sleeve and said, "Can I pet the hot dog?"

"Can I pet it too?!" her little brother said.

"Ah, no babies. It's something you eat."

Oh. Then, "Can I try it?"

"Can I try?" Yasushi said too.

"Sure," Papa said.

But Mama got angry again and, in that way that was telling him to stop already, said, "Ren..."

"Oh come on, Ann. It's New York. You just have to get a hot dog."

"That's just you and you know it."

"So you want to say no to our little babies?" Papa said with that funny smile of his that sometimes made Mama angry.

Miyu looked to see if Mama would say no, and so did Yasushi. She hoped she wouldn't but Mama was a bit angry at Papa so it would make sense for her to get back at Papa by saying no. Mama always said to give back what others give. But as soon as Mama saw her, she breathed out and said,

"Okay. But just one each, all right?"

Miyu smiled and said, "Thank you Mama."

While her brother said, "Yay!"

They got the hot dog and it tasted kind of funny. It wasn't like Papa's curry, that was for sure, but it wasn't bad. While she was eating it, she saw even more of the colorful screens around New York and even more people. It was even more crowded than when everyone at school ran out into the playground. When they were done with their hot dogs, Yasushi kept asking Mama and Papa about everything around him. Miyu mostly just listened, only sometimes asking things too. It was fun to just hear them talk and see her brother ask so many questions.

And then, when she was transferred to the top of Papa's head and shoulders, she saw some people who stopped while others walked passed them. She wanted to know why they stopped so she asked Papa if they could see it. After he made sure Mama wouldn't get mad if they did, she, Yasushi, Papa and Mama got closer and she heard music playing. She wondered even more what was going on and when they got there...

Miyu stared.

Someone was dancing to the music, but it wasn't any dancing she ever saw before. He moved his arms and legs in ways that looked so cool and made her wonder how he did it. He moved his body that he looked like would never fall or never get dizzy. And he twisted his body like he was wiggling snake. It was so cool. She wished she could do the same. But since she couldn't, she just watched. But then Papa said,

"All right Miyu, that's enough. We should get going."

What?! "Can't we keep watching...?"

Papa softly laughed. "Don't you want to see the other things in New York?"

Miyu pouted and grumbled. "No. I want to keep watching."

Papa laughed again but louder. "I'm sorry, my little lady, but we can't stay too long. Yasushi is getting tired."

As if on purpose, her yellow haired little brother yawned loudly. She was a little sad and annoyed, but she knew he wasn't doing it on purpose.

"Oh..." She leaned against Papa, sad she couldn't watch unless she wanted to tire Yasushi.

When Papa laughed for the third time, Miyu mimicked Mama and slapped his head in anger.

"Ow! Miyu! What was that for? Don't hit Papa like that."

"It's not funny, Papa..." she said. "I wanted to watch..."

"I'm sorry, my little lady," Papa said and Miyu could tell he really was from how his voice sounded. "How about I make it up to you? We can watch videos of dances like that when we get back to the hotel room."

Miyu gasped. "Really?" she said, leaning over to look at his face.

Papa smiled his best smile and said, "Really really. As many times as you want." Another laugh but this time it didn't make Miyu mad. "If you want, we can even get lessons for you when we get back home."

Miyu gasped again. "There are lessons for dancing?"

"Yup. And lucky for you, you're old enough to start some if you want to."

"Really?!"

"Really really."

"Yay! Dance lesson! Dance lesson! Dance lesson!"

"Ren..." Mama said in that almost angry way again.

But Papa said, "Oh come on Ann. I haven't seen her this excited before. I can't deny her when she's like that."

"You're spoiling her."

"I am not."

"Yes you are."

"As if you're any better."

She had no idea what they meant by spoiling her so she just said while patting Papa's head, "Come on Papa! Let's go have dance lessons!"

That was very important after all.

"Aha ha ha ha, okay, okay, Miyu. But remember you can't have an actual dance lesson with an actual dance teacher until we get back home."

"Then let's go Papa! I wanna dance!"

And Papa, Mama, Yasushi and her made it back to the hotel room and spent a lot of time dancing. She loved them so much. She couldn't wait until they got back home.

Author's Notes: And thus we have a proper appearance of Miyu! I told you that she'd have another appearance besides my fic for ShuAnn Day 3 and here she is! With a cameo of her little brother, Yasushi, too.

Few things I wanna say about Miyu...well really the first thing I wanna say involves both her and Yasushi. I kinda had a "hard time", for lack of better word, with coming up with my own idea for a kid for Ren and Ann when I really like eiranerys's Akari and other kids (the author of Ace in the Hole). But then some contemplation later, I had the thought of what would happen if a kid had a vastly different interest than their parents. And thus Miyu was created. Yasushi followed shortly after (though not his name, oh boy did that take a while...and lots of kanji searching) and ta-da! Now whenever I wanna do family stuff with Ren and Ann, I got my own kid characters for that.

Which was good since when I saw the prompts for Day 4 being Support or Comfort, my first thoughts were

Ren and Ann comforting and supporting their child. So that was how this fic came to be.

Miyu's name (自由) is written with the kanji meaning "freedom". Take a guess who gave her that name. Meanwhile Yasushi's name (仁) is written with the kanji that can mean compassion/benevolence. All of this info is thanks to jisho . org, which, can I say, I'm very glad to have found out (from another ShuAnn fic funnily enough).

I have no idea how kids would react to meeting the kid of a famous celebrity but I just thought that some wouldn't believe that she is her daughter, maybe even when they see it's true. And I because I picture Miyu as loving her parents so much she...feels inadequate compared to them, and her brother too (especially since he looks more like Ren and Ann than she does). And not only that, she thinks she doesn't have any similarities to any of them, so that's another thing to add to her insecurities, when in she actually does take after Ren a lot. Hence that scene of her wanting to dye her hair. And I thought it was a neat parallel between her and Ann, as while Ann wanted to dye her hair to fit in with the crowd, Miyu wanted to dye her hair to fit in her family.

Also if I got anything wrong about where dancer buskers (aka that street dancer Miyu was mesmerized by) usually perform in New York (well, at the very least before 2020 anyway), then blame Google.

Oh and I kept Ann known as Ann Takamaki as a model because what I know is that most celebrities keep their names in their profession even if they are married.