Recap

"We need to discuss this with all of our friends. I haven't had a chance to tell Rei that the cold keeps popping up since she's been busy. She only knows about the first time. I don't think anyone else knows."
-Rima

"My husband and I...we've been fighting for about two years. It was a little fight here and there about things to do with Rima. Then it became something we did every day. It would be over the stupidest things. We never thought about how it would affect Rima."
-Mrs. Mashiro

"If the therapy doesn't work then it's likely that my husband and I will divorce. It will devastate Rima after getting her hopes up. I'm going to really try to get the family back together but if it turns bad then I'd like for you (Mrs. Fujisaki) to take care of Rima while we work out everything."
-Mrs. Mashiro

"I'm really happy."
-Rima

"I don't think you'll(Mrs. Mashiro) have to worry about Rima. She seems on board with everything."
-Mrs. Fujisaki

Chapter 6 A Hidden Talent

*Rima's POV*

"Rima-chan, is it alright that I call you that?"

"Yes," I said.

"I want you to know that this is a safe place. Everything you say here will only be between you and me." I looked at the woman. This was my therapist. She seemed pretty nice and she was kind of pretty. Her name was Kiku Tanaka. She said I am welcomed to call her Kiku-chan. I sat on the comfy white sofa. It was very soft but I still felt uncomfortable here.

"Okay," I said.

"Great! Before we start, would you like something to drink?" she asked.

"Yes please," I said.

"We have water, juice, soda, milk, tea, hot chocolate-"

"Hot chocolate please," I said.

"Alright, I'll be back. There is something I want you to do while I'm gone," she said. I looked up at her with curiosity.

"Can you draw me something?" she asked.

"I'm not an artist," I said.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to make you but I would like to see your imagination," she said. She placed a piece of paper and a pencil down. She then left the room.

"Rima, are you going to draw a picture?" Kusukusu asked. I honestly couldn't answer her. It was very weird that she asked me to draw a picture. I was expecting the beverage and the niceness but this confused me. Wasn't I supposed to cry out my feelings and spill everything to this stranger. That's what I thought therapy was. I looked back at the door and then the paper.

"Rima, you don't have to," Kusukusu said.

"I know but why would she want me to. I'm supposed to cry and try to make everything better but this..." I looked at Kusukusu and she was confused too.

"Therapists are weird," I said. I grabbed the pencil. What should I draw?

"You should draw something funny," Kusukusu said.

"Like what?"

"How about Bala-Balance," Kusukusu said.

"Will you do the pose for me? It's easier if I can see it," I said. She did the pose and I began to draw her. I heard the door open. I stopped and looked up to see my therapist. She had a mug in her hands and a bag of marshmallows.

"Don't stop because of me," she said. I continued as she set the mug on the coffee table I was using. She set the marshmallows next to it. I continued to draw Kusukusu in her bala-balance pose. I had to sneak peeks at her since my therapist was here.

"Rima, it's good," Kusukusu said once I finished. I had to admit that it wasn't bad.

"Do you want to show me Rima?" Kiku-chan asked.

"Um sure," I said. I picked it up and showed her.

"That's pretty good Rima-chan. It's a cute little clown," she said.

"It's a clown doing a bala-balance pose," I explained.

"Bala-balance?" she asked.

"It's from a gag manga," I admitted. My cheeks started to heat up. Why is it that I have to explain everything to this woman?

"You love comedy Rima?" she asked.

"Yes," I said in a soft voice. She smiled at me and handed me the picture.

"You can keep it if you want," she said. I set it on the table. I planned on keeping it.

"I didn't know if you liked marshmallows or not so I just brought the whole bag," she said.

"Thank you," I said. I put a few marshmallows in and took a sip of the hot liquid. I set the mug down after a few sips. I wanted to ask her something but I was afraid to ask.

"Um...can I..."

"You can ask for anything here Rima-chan. No one is going to judge you," she said.

"I wanted to know if I could draw another picture," I asked looking at the floor. Why was I being shy?

"Sure," she said. She grabbed another piece of paper and handed it to me. I began to draw the first thing that came into my mind.

"Is it okay if I watch you?" she asked.

"Sure," I said. I had a picture in my mind and I went with it.

"It's Temari and Rhythm!" Kusukusu observed.

"Are these little characters part of a gag manga too?" Kiku-chan asked.

"No, they remind me of Nade and Nagi," I said.

"Who are Nade and Nagi?" she asked.

"Nagihiko is my boyfriend and Nadeshiko is his twin sister," I said.

"You have a hidden gift Rima. Maybe you could draw mangas when you get older," she said.

"I never thought about it," I said. I took a few more sips from my hot chocolate.

"Rima, do you know why I asked you to draw a picture?" she asked.

"Not really. I was a little confused," I said.

"It's hard to express emotions with words sometimes. There are some people that turn to music or act to help. I don't have any music with me so art was the next best thing. Do you know what I can tell from your pictures?"

"No."

"The one with the clown I'm guessing is you. You love comedy and you want to be silly, right? Also the other one shows me that this Nagi-kun and Nade-chan are important to you," she said.

"I didn't realize you can see emotions through little pictures," I said.

"Rima, I'm going to give you something," she said.

"Give me something?"

"Yes," she said as she stood up. She looked through her desk then came back with a notebook.

"I would like you to keep a diary Rima. If you don't want to express yourself with words then draw a picture. I would like to know what goes on every day for you," she said. I accepted the notebook.

"I'll try to write in it," I said.

"I know you might think you are too old for a diary but it will really help me solve your problems. Also if you need someone to talk to you can call me," she said as she handed me a business card.

"Do you have some tape?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. She grabbed the tape dispenser off her desk and handed it to me. I taped the business card on the inside cover.

"That way I don't lose it," I said.

"Rima, our time is up now but you are welcome to call me anytime. It could be in the middle of the night," she said.

"Thank you," I said.

"I bet your parents aren't done with their therapist yet so let's go to the lobby and wait for them," she said.

"Okay," I said. I took a big gulp of my hot chocolate then left it. Kiku-chan and I waited in the lobby like she said. There were a few adults and even a few kids with us. All of them looked younger than me.

"Rima, do you want to play with the other kids?" Kiku-chan asked.

"Not really. I want to leave so I can write in my notebook," I said.

"You don't want to write in it now?" she asked.

"Not while you're here. There is no point in reading it if you are right next to me reading over my shoulder," I said. She smiled at me.

"Rima, ready to go home?" papa asked as him and mama came into the lobby.

"Yes," I said. Mama held my hand as we walked to the door.

"Bye Kiku-chan," I said.

"Goodbye Rima-chan, I'll see you next week," she said.

"How was your first day Rima?" Rei asked as I walked into my room. I'm surprised she was home. Shouldn't she be creating her image?

"It was pretty good. I didn't cry and break down like I thought you were supposed to do," I said.

"I think that's for when someone has a big break through," Rei said.

"Not that I don't like it but why are you here?" I asked.

"Rima, it's your first day of therapy. I want to be here if you needed me but I guess you really don't," she said.

"I've missed you a lot recently," I said.

"Really?" she asked.

"I see you in the morning but we have different classes, we get to see each other at lunch but right after school you have to do something for Do Re Mi. When you get home you're pretty tired," I pointed out.

"How about we go play a Wii game. Aarin brought one over from his house in America. We can change the language settings," Rei offered.

"What is it about?" I asked.

"It's a Mario game," she said.

"Sure," I said. We both went downstairs.

"Girls, for now on we are all going to sit down and have dinner at the table," mama informed us.

"Okay! Rima and I are going to play a video game," Rei said.

"It is violent?" she asked.

"No, it's a Mario game. Perfectly harmless. It's rated E for everyone," Rei informed. Rei put it in while I grabbed a controller.

"I wonder how Rima's first day of therapy went," I thought out loud.

"She should be done by now. Maybe you should call her," Temari said.

"I think I will," I said. I picked up the phone and called her. After a few rings she answered.

"Nagi give me a second," she said then there was a bunch of noise which sounded like the phone moving.

"Darn it! I was winning!" I heard Rei in the background.

"I told you I could catch up," Rima said.

"Rima?" I asked.

"Sorry about that Nagi. I'm playing a Wii game with Rei and now I'm kicking her butt," she said.

"Hey!" Rei yelled.

"Anyway, how are you?" she asked.

"I'm fine. I actually called to see how you were," I said.

"Pretty good. Therapy went a lot better than I thought it would," she said.

"I'm glad. I was afraid it would go bad," I admitted.

"You and Rei both," she said.

"We only worry because we care," I said.

"I know but Kiku-chan is really smart. She thinks outside the box," she said.

"It's only been one day and you already love your therapist," I said then laughed.

"If you met her you'd love her too," she said.

"There's only one girl I love," I said.

"Rima, why are your cheeks red?" I heard Rei ask.

"No reason," Rima answered.

"Nagihiko, may I come in," my mother asked as she gently knocked on my paper door.

"Give me one minute," I said. I heard my mother walk away.

"Do you have to go?" Rima asked.

"Yes, I'll see you Monday," he said.

"Okay, bye, love you," she said.

"I love you too," I said. We both hung up. I stepped out of my room to see my mother.

"You already love each other?" she asked as she eyes lit up.

"Uh...yes," I said honestly.

"Nagihiko! You're growing up so fast," she said.

"Not really mother," I said.

"Still the ultimate fan girl," Rhythm said.

"By the way mother, what did you need me for?" I asked.

"She's here!"

"Who's here?"

"This way," my mother said. I followed my mother into a dance room.

"Hello Nagihiko."

"It's her!" Temari yelled. Rhythm's jaw dropped.

*Rima's POV*

"You beat me," Rei said as she plopped on the couch.

"I made a major comeback," I said.

"Don't brag about it," Rei said.

"Rima never wins at video games," Kusukusu said.

"She did this time," Angel said.

"I say she cheated," Jazlynn said.

"You're being a sore loser," Rei said.

"Girls! Dinner!" mama called.

"Coming," I said. Rei and I walked into the dining room. Papa was already there reading the paper at the table. Mom brought the food in. We all sat at the table and began to eat. We didn't really say much but it felt nice having a family dinner.

"Rei, I almost forgot, your mother called me earlier. She wanted to talk to you," mama said.

"Really? Did she say what she wanted?" Rei asked.

"No, I just told her I'd have you call her," mama said. Rei and I shared a glance. Her and I were thinking the same thing. Rei's mom must want her to come back home.

"I'll call after dinner," Rei said. Dinner was quickly over. Rei and I went upstairs to our room.

"I can't leave now that I'm starting to gain my popularity back," Rei said panicking.

"Maybe she isn't even calling for that," Angel said looking on the bright side.

"Also I can't help you anymore Rima," Rei said.

"Rei, don't you miss your parents?" I asked.

"Well yes but-"

"Then you should at least go see them," I said.

"Rima," Rei said.

"I don't want you to stay here just because I need help. I know you miss them. You haven't seem them in over a year. Don't get me wrong, I love it when you're here. I just don't want to hurt you," I said. Rei seemed to be deep in thought.

"I'm going to call mama and see what she wanted. We've jumped to conclusions," she said. She grabbed her phone and went into the other room.

"I better write in my journal," I thought out loud.

August 28, 2013

Today was my first day of therapy. I'm not really sure what else to say. Rei and I played a Mario game on the Wii and I won for once. Also Nagi called me. Him and Rei were really worried about my first day with Kiku-chan. She seems nice. Also I discovered that I can draw a bit. Mama and papa haven't fought all day. It's a little strange to have them get along but I'm not complaining.

"It's a little out of order," Kusukusu said.

"Oh well. I was with Kiku-chan today so she already knows half the stuff I wrote," I said.

"Rima, can we read some manga?" Kusukusu asked.

"Sure, I'm in a good mood," I said. I grabbed one and sat on my bed. Kusukusu sat on my shoulder and read it with me. After a few minutes Rei came back not looking happy.

"What did auntie want?" I asked looking up from my manga.

"We were right. She wants me to go home," she said. Kusukusu and I gasped.

"Are you leaving?" I asked.

"I...I don't know," she said. I could tell she was weighing the pros and cons.

"Rei, if you want to go then go. If you want to stay then stay. Don't do it for me or anyone else," I said.

"I told my mom I would have to think about it," she said. She plopped on her bed and began texting someone. I assumed would be Aarin.

"Rei," I said worried.

"I'll be honest, I don't know what to do. My career is just beginning and I've made so many friends the year I've been here," she said in a soft voice.

"Then stay," I said.

"But I want to see mama and papa," she said in the same soft voice.

"Then go," I said. Rei didn't say anything. She ended up not saying anything for the rest of the night. She just kept texting someone.

"Rima, are you going to be okay without Rei?" Kusukusu asked when Rei went to the bathroom.

"It will suck but I have Nagi, Amu, and the others. Also mama and papa are getting along," I said.

"I'm worried about Rei," Kusukusu said.

"Me too," I said as I looked at the door. She seems to having a hard time.

Nagi: Wait! The readers didn't get to see who the mysterious girl was

Rima: Who is it?

Nagi: You'll find out

Rima: Also why does Rei have to become depressed after everything was going so good?

Kusukusu: daydreamer1105 said that she was feeling evil at the time

Rima: She shall die!

Nagi: *sweatdrop* That's a bit harsh

Rima: Also she left a cliffhanger with the mystery person. She knows I hate cliffhangers

Nagi: Kusukusu, do the question before Rima kills the author. No author means no more chapters

Kusukusu: Leave it to me. Question # 7: Will Rei stay or go?

Nagi: Review please

Rima: DAYDREAMER IS SO DEAD!