Mochi

Innocence in its purest form. Those wide, bright eyes just sparkling. Wondering thoughts about nothing in particular. Nothing that worries them. Joy and laughter and sometimes tears, but never pain. Never the heart-wrenching pain.

Children of a new era. Children born of peace and war and blood. They would never have to witness the sadness, the hopelessness, of the Bakumatsu.

Never would they have to stare into the face of a lifeless man.

At the moment, all they cared about was the mochi that was in front of them.

"Ayame, Suzume, would you like some mochi I made?

"Yes please!"