"Mama, do I have to stay here?" the four-year old asked for probably the third time that morning.
It was only 9:42am.
Takashi looked around the unfamiliar, grand lobby with wide and anxious eyes. Somewhere between breakfast and now, his culture shock had truly began to seep in, and he started to feel somewhat nervous about his surroundings while they waited for the elevator. Everything around him was so big and different here than it was back home in Japan and he suddenly wasn't so sure how to take it all in.
Including the huge pile of glitter they were currently standing in.
Akio Shirogane ignored the glitter littering the floor for now... but she noticed it. Oh, she definitely noticed the glitter. It was practically a trail of fairy dust they'd been indirectly following ever since they'd entered the building. She put her fairy tale laced thoughts aside and looked down at her son. Even with the baseball cap hiding his face from her view, she knew exactly the look of panic in his eyes. She let out a quiet sigh and readjusted her purse before squatting down to his height.
"Yes Takashi," she told him gently. She ran her thumbs across his tiny puffed out cheeks. The action slightly calmed him. "We shouldn't be here too long today, it's just an interview, but if Mama does happen to get this job, you're going to have to come here every day for a while, okay?"
Takashi moved his face away from his mother's hands, visibly more irritated than he was just a moment ago. "But I don't wanna come to work with you every day!" He threw his hands in the air, almost flinging the cap off his head. He quickly readjusted it before it could fall from his head and onto the ground. "Can't just stay home by myself?" he begged, looking at her with pleading eyes.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're four."
"But I'm about to be five!" He used his outside voice to tell her this as he pushed all five fingers of his right hand into her face, desperately hoping to sell his argument. "In like..." he paused to count the fingers on his other hand. "…six months!"
It was actually nine, but he tried and that was all that mattered.
"Okay, first of all," she lowered his hand from her face. "Being five is nowhere near how old you need to be before I allow you to stay home by yourself. I will not leave my only child home alone so he can burn down the house because he was trying to make some pasta dish."
"It's Mac and cheese, Mama! And that was one time!" Back goes the hand to the face, just with four fingers less and a very stressed out index finger. "That was the old me! I'm older now."
The incident happened less than 48 hours ago.
"I'm a man now, Mama!" He looked so determined to prove his point. He eyes held fire as both of his hands found their way to his chest to emphasize just how manly he was. "I can do this!"
Once again, did her child not grasp the fact that he was only four?
Takashi ignored the look his mother gave him. "…But Mama, Listen. Listen. Mac and cheese is sooo good!" His outside voice was still temporarily in full effect. When the glare from his mother finally reached his soul, he looked away and lowered his voice before he crossed his short arms continued stubbornly. "If the new house burns down, it was probably worth it."
"Okay, no, no, no." Aiko decided to put a stop to her child that was too ready to burn down their fucking house for the sake of cheesy pasta. "And second," She placed her fingers under Takashi's chin so he wouldn't look away from her gaze, "I thought you were excited to make new friends? You seemed pretty excited last night. What happened, Taka-chan?" Her eyes held concern as she cocked her head to the side.
The move to the states for Takashi was bittersweet; he had to leave his friends and his mother's side of the family behind in Osaka, but on the bright side, he got to be with to his dad and now he had both parents. Aiko knew he was going to miss his friends and family, but it was for the good of her family.
Earlier in their marriage, they agreed that she'd stay in Japan to climb the corporate ladder and raise their child with the support of her family. Meanwhile, her husband, Sousuke, would live in the states to become a commanding air force officer at a garrison base just outside of the city. As hard as it was, Sousuke made regular visits to see his family whenever he had the time. When he wasn't there physically, webcams were a godsend for their long distance marriage.
Now that Takashi was older, but not old enough to stay home alone, both had agreed they no longer wanted to be separated by an entire ocean. Conveniently, she was now at a point in her career where she was sought after like gold, uprooting herself and her son wouldn't prove too hard to accomplish with her impressive resumè.
They had arrived in the States earlier in the week and had spent the entire weekend unpacking their new home as a complete family and getting familiar with the surrounding area.
Now, it was time for work and apparently Takashi was mentally not here for it.
"Why are you afraid, Takashi?" She pressed again but changed the words around to make him more comfortable with the question. He wasn't naturally a shy child, so his current behavior worried her.
Before he could answer, a high pitched bell caught their attention, signaling the elevator. Aiko straightened up, took a hold of his hand and they both stepped into the elevator car. She pressed the button that led to the floor that led to the daycare. She could feel her son's tiny hands tighten slightly around hers.
When they arrived to the respective floor, they stepped out and Takashi suddenly felt almost excited as he took in the new area they had found themselves in.
Gone was the elaborate lobby they had walked into just moments ago. Now everywhere his now wide eyes looked, there were bright colors and textured walls. The floor traded in its expensive golden tinted tiles for soft carpet with multi-colored puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together in a repeating pattern across the floor.
The walls were a solid white with different trees and animals he recognized from his books painted along it. Some even held balloons. He noticed that the white color of the walls faded to a light blue that led up to fluffy clouds towards the top of the walls, and he realized that some clouds were actually coming off the walls in a soft, fluffy texture probably made from a multitude of cotton fluff. He was surprised to see the pattern makes its way onto the ceiling as well with some "clouds" physically hanging down above him. Some clouds even had faces on them. He especially liked the darker clouds with funny, grumpy faces with blue streamers hanging down to represent rain.
To say that both Takashi and Aiko were impressed was an understatement. They were absolutely blown away by the decor in the hallway that seemed more elaborate than the main lobby a few floors down. While the lobby looked like it was for the sole purpose of intimidating it's intruders with elegant decor, consisting of paintings with price tags that could rival a second mortgage on a house, this hallway was made to welcome its tiny guests with open, welcoming...glitter infested...arms?
"Why is there so much glitter everywhere?" Aiko thought she could ignore the glitter like she had did before, but it was honestly getting ridiculous as she found herself standing in the second pile of glitter within five minutes.
"Maybe it's a sign that I should go home?" Takashi suggested slyly. "If I stay here, I'll bring the glitter home with me and it'll get all over the new house...and it won't go away...forever." Takashi thought he was being manipulative, but he was honestly just being adorable.
Aiko rolled her eyes and led Takashi further down the hall before she opened the door leading into the daycare. She took note of the multi-colored bubble font spelling out, "Tiny Voltz," before she stepped into the spacious, colorful room.
The inside decor had the same concept as the outside area leading to it, with the exception of tables and chairs made specifically for the tiny children. She took note of the kitchen towards the back and the cubbies in the shape of puzzle pieces on the far wall. There was a variety of kid friendly activities to keep the toddlers entertained throughout their parents' work day.
"Good morning!"
Aiko hadn't noticed the blonde woman standing to the side of the door watching them as soon as they had entered the room. The woman extended an arm with a friendly greeting. "My name is Amy, and you must be Mrs. Shirogane." Amy then crouched down to Takashi's height with a smile, and extended her hand the same way she had done to his mother seconds ago. "And you must be Takashi? Nice to meet you."
Takashi hid behind his mother's legs, but met the woman's gaze.
"I like being called Shiro."
Aiko wasn't surprised by her son's statement because he also liked to be addressed by that name back in Japan.
Shiro greatly looked up to his father and wanted to be just like him when he grew up. She could tell that he was already going down the same path of her husband because of his fascination with planes, with dreams of flying them one day. He was also extremely observant of how others treated her husband - with respect and also how they referred to him by a shortened version of his family name, Shirogane. Shiro took those aspects of his father and made them his own.
"Okay, Buddy, Shiro it is." She continued to smile warmly at him before standing to her full height and addressing Aiko. "I've already received the list of his allergies and emergency contacts, is there anything I need to know before you leave?" The caretaker ask.
"No, that should b-"
"Tell her how much I like mac and cheese," Shiro interrupted in a hard whisper. "It's important," he added quickly when his mother sent him a glare.
"We don't have mac and cheese just yet." Amy started. "Maybe I'll take that up with Mr. Altea when I see him." Her words made Shiro's eyes light up.
After Aiko confirmed that they were all set with Shiro's stay here, Amy had left the two to say their goodbyes. Unfortunately, Shiro's nervousness came back full force. He looked away, not wanting to meet his mother's dissecting eyes.
"It's going to be alright, Taka-chan." She switched her tongue to her native language, with the intent on making their conversation a little more private and making him feel more comfortable in a foreign place.
Shiro's eyes were still on the ground when he answered her, also in his first language. "What-what if they don't like me?" He said it so quietly, she almost didn't hear him.
"Why wouldn't they like you?" she pressed further. She had the feeling that she already knew what this was about. "Is it because of your birthmark?"
"What if they make fun of me for it!?" His voice just teetering on the edge of panic as his tiny hands gravitated towards the cap on his head with a vice grip.
"Taka-chan...," Suddenly, Aiko understood his strange behavior. She knew that he was self conscience of the birthmark that founds its way to his head. She remembered how surprised she was when she gave birth to a baby with a full head of jet black hair except for the shock of white at the forefront of it.
She had never seen a child so beautiful.
She also knew how effortlessly cruel kids could be. Even lighthearted remarks made by adults would leave a slight sting. It took months of teasing for Shiro to build a hard enough shell so words wouldn't personally get to him. But now - now he was in an entirely new country with an entirely new set of children. It was like he had to start building his shell all over again and so far, he was already off to a bad start.
She pulled his chubby hands off his cap and held them in hers. "If they make fun of you for your birthmark, then they don't deserve to be your friend. You are an amazing, brave child and you have the potential to be a great friend." She raised his head up, so he could look proud. "Remember, you are also a Shirogane. Everybody wants to be our friend." She could feel a smirk appear on her face. "How do you think I got this interview?"
Shiro's spirits seemed to lighten at his Mama's words. Most of his insecurities melting away after his small pep talk. She was right. He was amazing and he could be a great friend if they gave him the chance. He just hoped that it wasn't too challenging to make new friends. He gave his Mama a hug before she started to way to the door.
"You be a good boy, Takashi." She waved him a goodbye before turning her attention to her child's temporary guardian, her face suddenly deadly serious. "Do not let him anywhere near that kitchen." And then she was gone.
"Y-Yes Ma'am." The blonde young woman looked visibly shaken. She didn't know if the cause was Aiko's cold stare or the fact that she was watching over a potential arsonist. It was honestly the morbid combination of both. Aiko must be going to work for Galra.
Amy turned her attention to Shiro. She noticed that he hadn't moved an inch since his mother left. His dark grey eyes scanned the area, unsure what to do with himself. His hands were to his side in tiny fist as if he were willing himself to do something. To do anything. Most of the children had arrived by the time he got there and all of them were paired up, playing with one another. He felt left out already and he hadn't even taken off his jacket.
"Would you like for me to show you around, Shiro?" Amy's question snapped him from his thoughts. He nodded his head in confirmation and hesitantly took her offered hand to be led through the colorful center.
Going further into the daycare, he was shown all the different activities the daycare had to offer. Amy did her best to introduce him to as many children as possible, but he had the feeling that she was missing a couple of kids. Maybe on purpose because she knew that some kids were less accepting than others and she could already read him like an open book. He noticed that her eyes kept scanning the area looking for someone something particular.
"Is this the kitchen?" Shiro asked in a seemingly innocent fashion. Amy could have sworn she could the flames from hell enter his eyes. She quickly showed him other parts of the daycare before he decided to fulfill his hellfire desires.
Shiro decided to end the tour when he wanted to play with some building blocks that were off to the side but still in plain few of Amy. He actually chose it because there were no other kids that were playing with the blocks at that time and he didn't feel like making friends so early in the day.
His mind immediately went to assembling a plane. A big one. One with different colored wings and engines! He started to organize the different building block pieces he wanted into color coded piles. He wanted the cockpit black, and the wings to be red and green, and the engines to be yellow and bl-
"What are you making?" a curious voice interrupted his planning. He let out a sigh because he at least wanted some time to himself before he was forced to be social. He looked up from his play area to see a girl with skin like the earth, hair like the clouds, and eyes that could rival the ocean.
Shiro immediately noticed how she was covered in glitter.