Mob didn't want a party. What was so hard to understand about that?
"I'm really sure, Minegishi, I don't want to have a party. Ok?" said Mob for what had to be the thousandth time. She had been saying, for a while, now that she didn't want to have a party. She didn't want her friends and siblings celebrating her getting another year older. Nothing good happened when you got a year older. Being twelve hadn't been any better than being eleven and being eleven hadn't been any better than being ten. She didn't know what was going to happen when she turned thirteen and she didn't really care.
She would have skipped it if she could have…but she couldn't.
"I'm just making sure. Normally you're in birthday mode by now, this is really unusual for you. Forgive me for being concerned." Said Minegishi as they paired up their socks. Mob's birthday…last year hadn't been so great…but there was still hope for this year. She deserved to have a good birthday. She was too young for birthdays not to mean anything anymore.
Or maybe she was just getting to that age.
"You don't have to be concerned. Also those socks don't match." Said Mob. She reached over and took the bundled socks from Minegishi's hands. They had matched the purple one with the yellow toes to the purple one with the blue toes. That wasn't right. Mob could fix it, though, that was how it worked when you were friends. You wanted them to be happy….and you wanted the best for them.
"They don't all have matches." Said Minegishi
"Oh….I can get you new socks, if you want…or I could help you find the matches to these." Said Mob
"If you knew the way to sock Narnia that would really help me out a lot." Said Minegishi
"What's Narnia?" asked Mob
"Oh you poor, poor, poor you…ok, we need to start reading together again." said Minegishi. They hadn't read with Mob in a while. They had a lot of hanging out to catch up on. Maybe that would be the thing to pull her out of…this. She was better, just a little. She didn't look like she was on the verge of tears anymore. Still, she was going through a lot of things…a lot of things that Minegishi didn't know how to fix. She wasn't eight anymore, she was nearly a teenager, and her problems couldn't be fixed with a hug and a few hours spent playing dolls anymore.
"Ok, but when you come back." Said Mob. Minegishi was excited to go, she could tell. They had packed all of their favorite books and shirts and stuff. They must have loved Matsuo a lot. That was good. Relationships were better when you were in love, probably…well if not better then at least less weird. Less to get used to. She still wasn't all the way used to being Shimazaki's girlfriend and they had been together for months. She'd get used to it, though, since she still didn't know how to break up with him…and she wasn't sure if she wanted to. Being his friend had been fun and being his girlfriend was like being his friend but with more kissing…she had gotten used to that. If they broke up then she might have lost him as a friend, too…and she didn't want to lose him as a friend.
She didn't have a lot of friends.
"I don't have to go, you know." Said Minegishi. They put their hand on Mob's shoulder. A dark look had passed over her face. They tipped her head upwards and looked her in the eyes. They had no idea what was happening in that head of hers…probably something about her Dad. Fucking Suzuki….
"Yes you do. Its your boyfriend's birthday and you should spend time with him. Boyfriends are kind of like…it's like they need you all the time, even when you wouldn't think that they would." Said Mob. Minegishi sighed and let her go.
"People can be needy but don't ever tell them that. Trust me, you don't want to deal with the fallout from that." Said Minegishi
"That's just what it's like to have someone like you." Said Mob. Shimazaki always made sure to remind her that he wasn't needy…even though the fact that he was always thinking about it…well maybe he was kind of needy….
"Sometimes. It depends on the person. Ryou, yeah, he wouldn't take it well if I missed his birthday. Matsuo doesn't care." Said Minegishi. They were pretty sure that he wouldn't care…but they weren't going to risk it. People changed. Ten years ago Ryou wouldn't have cared. Now…well now they knew that if they ever even thought about skipping his birthday he'd probably lose it. Well…he had been really good about being needy lately…they didn't know. Maybe they were just making excuses. Maybe they wanted to get out of here.
For a little bit. Just to get away from the noise.
"You should still be with him. It's ok, I don't want anyone around on my birthday." Said Mob. Nobody, not even her little sister. Sho would be around and she loved Sho….but she knew that it was better for him if she left him alone. Better for her, too. Dad was mad enough at her as it was. He didn't need to know about what she had done with Teru. Nobody needed to know about that. Dad…if he knew then he was going to come after Teru…and also he was going to be mad at her. He was already so mad at her but….
But she didn't want to make it worse.
Dad said that he didn't care where she went or what she did….but she still didn't want him to know about THAT. That was…private…the most private thing that had ever happened to her. Even if Dad didn't care he still would have known and…and also she had Teru to think about…even if he did break her heart and kick her out right after they…he may have been mean, and not at all the person that she thought he'd been, but she still had to protect him. She had to protect the people she loved…and knew. She had to be nice like that, to everyone.
She didn't get to be mean.
"Are you sure? You know, if you want to come with then-" said Minegishi before their door was kicked opened.
"Happy birthday!" said Mukai. She knew that she had heard someone in her talking about birthdays and there they were! Mine and Shigeko were in here playing with the laundry and talking about birthdays and…and Mukai loved birthdays!
"It's not my-" said Mob as Mukai tried to run past her. She caught her with her powers before she could go and mess up Minegishi's clothes. She liked to do that, dive into piles of clothes. Minegishi didn't like it and Mob wasn't sure if it would have been a good idea even if they had been ok with it. Mukai was wearing her winter coat and hat inside…in May. She already looked like she was close to overheating…
"It's not her birthday yet. She doesn't want one, she doesn't like us anymore." Said Sho as he stepped through Minegishi's door. He made sure to go in backwards incase he saw something that he shouldn't have. Nothing was going on, just Big Sis capturing Mukai. He reached out with his powers and pulled her away.
Big Sis wasn't a part of this game.
"I still like you…I still like everyone." Said Mob as Sho ripped Mukai out of her arms. Mukai laughed, like it was a game…and maybe it was. Maybe Mob was getting upset over nothing…maybe she and Sho were…ok…..
"Nobody's seriously questioning that." Said Minegishi with a roll of their eyes. They flexed their fingers, a plant beside the door bent. If it came down to it they could kick everyone out….if it came to it. Maybe Sho was finally old enough to know how to act. He hadn't spent time with Ryou in a while and Ryou brought the worst out in him so….time for some improvement?
"I…question! I have a question!" said Mukai raising her hand. Were they playing school now? But they had just been on their way to the North Pole….North Pole school!
"What's your question?" asked Mob
"I….I forget." Laughed Mukai
"Oh…ok. But when you remember you can ask me…or maybe your mom, since you're going with her. You could ask Shibata, too, or Minegishi." Said Mob
"Or maybe one of the other dozens of people at the Seventh Division." Said Minegishi with a shake of their head. Trapped on a plane with a hyperactive three year old…wonderful.
"Seventh Division…going later. Going to North Pole right now." Said Mukai. She nodded and pulled her hat down over her ears. She and Sho were going to the North Pole to see Santa and get the presents. Shigeko and Mine couldn't come with because they didn't have their jackets on. Mama wouldn't let them be in the snow without jackets.
"I told you, it's only for pretend." Said Sho. He really hoped that she didn't actually want to go to the North Pole. He could have taken her…but it was summer. What was there to do in the North Pole in the summer…or the spring…May! It was May and…and if she wanted to go then he should have taken her. He was her big brother and it was his job to take care of her and make her happy just like how Big Sis used to take care of him back when they had been little…and stuff…
"No! For real!" said Mukai. She wanted to go…right now! She wanted snow and presents and Christmastime! Right now!
"If you want to take her to the North Pole you can. I can call a plane for you." Said Mob. Dad might have cared…no. He didn't care about anyone but Mukai now…and even her days were numbered. His b-word of a girlfriend wanted to have a baby and once the baby was born then he wouldn't need Mukai anymore….it wasn't fair. For Mukai. Mob…she was older and it shouldn't have bothered her. She was thirteen, soon, and Mukai was only three.
"It's May." Said Sho
"It's opened year round." Said Mob
"See Santa? I want to see Santa! I want presents! I want Christmas trees! I want cookies! I want to go to the beach!" Said Mukai as she tugged on Sho's coat with both of her hands.
"But…how can you go to the North Pole and the beach at the same time?" asked Mob. For Mukai she would have found a way….if there even was one. She could have maybe brought her to the indoor beach…but that wasn't the same. She'd find a way, though, she had to. She had to do whatever she could to make her little sister happy. Someone in their family should have been happy, at least one person.
"She's three, I don't think she should be left in charge of the travel itinerary." Said Minegishi
"I'm in charge! Me! I'm a Mukai!" said Mukai
"You're not…you have to go to the Seventh Division and…and come on, let's go play some more. Big Sis doesn't like us anymore anyway." Said Sho as he took Mukai by the hand. He didn't want to go anywhere or…or maybe he did. He didn't know what he wanted or felt…a lot of it was bad…he just wanted to make Mukai happy. That was all. She…she was the little kid and she was the one who mattered the most. He wanted…he wanted to hang out with Big Sis and…and be with her like before but….but those times were over now. They had grown apart, like Fukuda had said.
"Anymore anyway! Anymore anyway!" said Mukai. Those were funny words to put together…where was her funny words book? She tugged on Sho. Maybe he could read it to her. He knew how to read and stuff.
"I…I still like you…." Said Mob. Sho thought that she didn't like him anymore….it wasn't true…but she hadn't given him any reason to believe that. She had kind of ruined the last time he'd gone to see his boyfriend and she had also kind of stolen Shimazaki from him…even though she hadn't tried to…..of course Sho thought that she didn't like him anymore…and it wasn't like she could do anything to change his mind. Fukuda had been very clear about…about everything.
"Then why did you-" said Sho. Why did she come when he told her to stay? Why was she in love with Shimazaki when she knew how much he used to love him? Why did she always take Dad's side? Why wouldn't he defect with her? Why-
"No, no, no. You two are not fighting in my room. You two own this building, argue in one of the MANY other rooms in this building." Said Minegishi. They weren't afraid to throw Sho out. He wasn't a little kid anymore, he was definitely growing into his powers, but they didn't care. Their room was not an arena or debate hall or whatever Sho was planning on turning it into.
"We're not fighting." Said Mob quickly.
"There's no point in fighting…you don't care how I feel…" said Sho
"I-I do! I always care how you feel! I just…I thought that you didn't like-" said Mob
"I don't! I don't like him anymore and I don't care what you do with him but…but you didn't even think about how I would feel and…and it's like nobody ever thinks about me or-or-or-" said Sho
"I think about you! Right now, over there." said Mukai as she hugged Sho. She pressed her head into his stomach and thought about him as hard as she could. She thought so hard that she knew she had scared the sadness out of him….and then she thought some more just to be safe.
"Thanks…but you're little…I'm the one who should be thinking about you." Said Sho as Mukai tried to shove her head through his bellybutton.
"Think about me! Right now!" said Mukai. Now she was sad….but he could think the sadness out of her! Then they could both think the sadness out of Shigeko and then everyone would be happy!
"It's a little difficult not to think about you considering all the screaming you do." Said Minegishi
"I-I think about you too, Mukai, even when you don't scream. I think about you too, Sho. I think about you and…and I love you." Said Mob. She wiped her eyes. She wanted to hug Sho…but Mukai had that covered. There was room for her but…but Sho was friends with Fukuda and Fukuda was away with Dad and…and who knew what he was telling Dad about her right now?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love you too." Said Sho. He did…he really did. He wanted to pull her into the hug too but…but Mukai was already a championship hugger. He had his little sister to hug him, if his big sister wanted to hug him then she could…but she obviously didn't want to and that was fine. Whatever. It was a free country.
"Me too! I love you too!" said Mukai as she hugged Sho even harder than she had before. Her arms hurt…but that was good! That meant that the sadness hurt too!
"Good. Now how about you three move the Suzuki family love fest somewhere else? I have packing to do. Lots and lots of packing." Said Minegishi
"I pack too!" said Mukai as she let go of Sho and ran over the clothes…but then she was stuck! Sho was holding onto her arm….no! No, no, no! The hugging was over and now they were packing!
"No, your mom is packing your stuff…everyone's leaving…even Fukuda left." Said Sho. She was going to leave him too….he was being dumb. She was a baby…a little kid…she didn't know what she was doing. Everyone else did but she didn't…so why was he mad at her? Maybe he was just dumb….
"Why do you care? Fukuda is…kind of mean." Said Mob. She didn't understand Sho or Fukuda or…or why they were even still friends. Maybe because Fukuda was nice to Sho…and Sho…well maybe it didn't matter since she and Sho were different people. It didn't make sense for Sho to feel bad about things that were happening to her…especially since he had his own things he was going through.
"Yeah he's mean and kind of an asshole but he…he loves me and shit…and he's always thinking about me and….and sometimes it feels like you don't….like nobody cares about me. Everyone's leaving…even Mukai." Said Sho
"Sho, no. You know that I love-" said Mob
"How about this? You stop moping, pack your own suitcase, and then go with everyone if you miss them so much?" asked Minegishi. Nope. They were not going to let Mob backslide like this. They were not going to deal with this again, they didn't have the energy or the inclination.
"I can't." said Sho. Of fucking course he wanted to go with! But he couldn't! If he went with then…then Dad would come back and ask where Sho was or why he even wanted to go to a place like Seasoning City…or maybe he wouldn't care…but he couldn't risk Ritsu's safety like that. He couldn't risk Ritsu getting kidnapped and….and it wasn't like he was worried about Ritsu not liking him anymore or anything!
"If you're worried about Dad finding out about…things…I can keep a secret." Said Mob
"What? Like last time?" asked Sho
"I went looking for you because I was worried. I didn't tell Dad anything, though. I don't tell him things anymore." Said Mob
"….how do I know that?" asked Sho. Fukuda had told him not to trust her. Fukuda…well he was an asshole…but he had a point. Big Sis was on Dad's side…she had always been on Dad's side. Even when they had been little and Dad had been an asshole to her she had still been on his side.
"Because I love you and you know that I'll always be on your side." Said Mob
"No, not always…." Said Sho as he took a step back from her.
"Yes, Sho, always." Said Mob as she took a step forwards.
"Always! Always and always!" said Mukai as she took their hands and tried to put them together…but then Sho pulled his away! Mean!
"You don't get…whatever. Pack my Zootopia socks and my green shirt with the hamsters on it. Come on, Mukai, let's go to the North Pole." Said Sho as he pulled Mukai away with his powers. He loved Mukai and…and he loved Big Sis and….and fine! If she wanted him gone then he was gone! And…and if she told Dad about Ritsu then he was telling Dad about Shimazaki! There! And she had better remember about his Zootopia socks!
"Yay! North Pole! Ice cream!" said Mukai as Sho dragged her away.
"Those two had better not have set up a tent in front of the refrigerator again." said Minegishi
"If they did then I can just get you guys a new fridge and put food in it…when you come back, I mean." Said Mob
"You can come too, you know. Matsuo likes you, well everyone likes you, and it would probably be more fun than babysitting Serizawa and Ryou." Said Minegishi
"No, I'm ok. Shimazaki says that we're going to have a lot of fun on my birthday. He….he likes me a lot." Said Mob
"Everyone likes you, you're Mob." Said Minegishi. Yeah, Mob was getting to that age…wonderful. Teenage Mob. Bring it on.
"Not everyone…" said Mob. Dad didn't like her anymore…and she got the feeling that Sho didn't like her anymore either. Sometimes….sometimes it felt like she was all alone even when she was surrounded by people…her siblings….her friends….
"Everyone who matters likes you, now come on. Help me pair my damn socks since you're so good at it." Said Minegishi
"Ok….but I can just get you new socks if you want. Or maybe for your birthday." Said Mob. Minegishi didn't like their birthday either. They never wanted a party, actually they hid in their room once when they thought Mob had thrown them one. She hadn't understood it at the time…but now she kind of did. When Mob had been little getting older had been exciting. When you got older you got bigger and taller and you got to do more things on your own. Things were different when you grew up. Instead of birthdays brining something new and exciting they brought something new and scary and just…things that weren't cause for celebration.
Mob didn't want to celebrate, she didn't want a party where all of her friends and siblings celebrated how old she was getting. She just wanted to turn thirteen already….she just wanted to get it over with.