Chapter 5: growing

Morning of the third day, Ash had grown to two years old. It appears as if he put on a weight scale of 12kg(26lb).

(He became bigger than yesterday)

Ash may have a sense of independent heart. When Eiji helps him eat to a meal or wear his clothes, He refuses it and said, "No, I'll do it by myself!"

But if Eiji left him alone, He says "Eiji, where are you?" looking for Eiji.

Then He enjoyed jumping, kicking a ball and running around the room. But he got bored soon and stopped, and then he came near to Eiji.

When Ash was interested in anything, Ash asked Eiji many times. "Hey, Eiji. What's this?"

Eiji was reading the baby books seriously.

A two years and a half baby has a lot of curiosity. Asks a lot of questions about everything he experience but it is useless to answer the questions he just nodded and ask another question.

He talked by himself while he was reading. If anyone looks at him, he might look like an education-oriented father of Ash.

＊＊＊

Morning of the fourth day, Ash had grown to three years old. Ash had asked easy questions to Eiji yesterday, "Eiji, What is it?" And Eiji could answer, "This is an apple." "This is a teddy bear" But today, he asked Eiji the reason.

"Eiji, why do you have black eyes and hair color?"

"Why does an airplane fly?"

"Why is the sky blue?"

(Ash…you can understand the colors and the shapes.)

Eiji was so impressed but he was getting worried about his answer because he didn't know how to explain to him.

Ash went near to Eiji, pulled Eiji's shirt and asked again.

"Why aren't you my mom, Eiji?"

"Oh…because I'm a man"

"Then, Are you my dad?"

"No, I'm not your dad."

Ash slanted his head.

"Eiji, Who are you? Are you a member of my family…?"

Ash asked strangely. So Eiji replied calmly.

"I'm your…..friend."

" My friend?"

"Yeah. We're special …..best friends!"

Eiji's words made Ash feel better. He was glad and said."Wheeeee!" He ran around the room, singing cheerfully.

＊＊＊

The morning of the fifth day-Ash had grown to four years old. He can use chopsticks very well already while eating his meal.

Then, he could eat the same food as Eiji.

"Eiji, I want to eat miso soup more!" He said.

"All right. Do you want to eat some natto?" Eiji asked Ash.

" No! I hate it!"

Ash refused it and shook his neck decisively.

(That's what I thought.)

He laughed bitterly but said again. " Let's try to eat it!"

"No! I don't want it! Stupid Eiji! "

He said so and started to cry.

" Wow, He said to me that I was stupid. In addition, he was crying hardly….mmm)

Eiji realized it's difficult to take care a child.

But he noticed Ash finished to eat his meal except natto and praised him.

"Well down. You finished your meal completely!"

" I'm good, aren't I?" Ash said.

" Absolutely , you're great!"

Ash was in a bad mood a little while ago, but suddenly his mood changed. Eiji was relieved, and then he heard a ring in front of the door.

"Who could it be?"

Eiji looked through the hole of the front door. That man was Max. Eiji opened the door and invited him.

" Hey, Eiji! Long time no see. …Oh? You look blue. Are you tired?"

"Yeah…" Actually he wanted to say it was hard to take care of a child. And he said.

" But, I'm okay now. Thank you for your concern."

"Today, I'm with my kid."

Max barged into the room with his son, Michael.

They often come to this apartment but Eiji was nervous because he was worried about Ash.

"Hey, Michael….Eiji is here." Max said.

"Eiji! I've wanted to meet you- mm? Where is Ash? " Michael asked Eiji.

"Well…He's gone out since last night…so he isn't here."

Eiji lied to him and tried to blanch over but unfortunately Michael heard the sound of TV from the bed room. It was a song of an anime.

"I know that song…It's my favorite "Pikachu"! "

He was so excited because he liked Japanese anime and comics and he was running towards the bed room.

"Oh, Wait! Michael! " Eiji tried to stop him but he didn't stop to run.

" Hey, Michael. You shouldn't enter the bed room without asking." Max said too.

But Michael entered the bed room. Then, there is a little blonde hair boy who is watching anime.

"Eiji, who's this kid?"

Max asked Eiji who is that boy while looking at Ash who got younger.

"Well… He is son of Ash's aunt who lives in Philadelphia. Therefore, Ash's cousin. I'm going to take care of him for a few days in this house."

" Hmm…I see, Eiji! " Max said confidently.

"What do you mean?"

（Well, Max noticed if the kid was Ash, didn't he? ）

Eiji was upset and broke into a cold sweat.

" Well…Ash, I guess he must want to escape because he doesn't want to baby-sit a child. So he made Eiji take care of a child and he hasn't come home since last night, has he!"

"I'm not sure maybe…hahaha" Eiji laughed.

(That's a relief….He misunderstood...)

"Hey! I'm Michael. What's your name?" Michael asked Ash his name.

"I'm Ash!" Ash replied naturally.

"Umm? You aren't Ash. He is older than you. " Michael was upset and looked Ash strangely.

"Michael, this kid likes Ash very much and wants to be like Ash when he grows up…so he always say to himself "Ash". "

Eiji just gave an excuse.

" I know…he is my hero. Oh－it's my Pikachu ! "

He didn't ask anymore and pointed his hand to the character of Anime TV show.

"Michael, Let's watch it together!"

Ash spoke to Michael cheerfully.

"Sure…! Okay"

Michael smiled and he sat at the side of Ash and watched TV. They look like brothers. Eiji also smiled while looking at them.

"Eiji, What's his real name?" Max asked Ash's name.

"Well…His name is "Axel"."

Eiji lied quickly.

Two kids started to play with ball together after watching TV show. Ash seems to enjoy it.

( He must be enjoying. I guess he prefers to play with another kids….)

Eiji appreciated Michael is playing with Ash.

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