I'm sleepy….
We fell asleep.
The past weeks have been much more fun.
Makoto was much brighter.
And Mama and Papa stopped worrying so much.
Everyday I played with Little Mukuro and Little Makoto for a bit.
I had my doubts, but I can't no longer be sure of what Little Makoto plans to do.
I can't read him.
I can't read him as well as I can read Little Mukuro.
It's been like that since the beginning.
I always felt at edge by that.
Not knowing is scary
But… Makoto never did anything.
And even after how I was, he still is nice to me.
And I just took it.
I don't want to feel at edge like this anymore.
I want to trust in him.
Even if I still have my suspicions on him.
I will give him a chance.
But… Makoto isn't the reason we are here right now though.
I slowly open my eyes
I'm at Mama's comforting arms.
We are inside Papa's weird thing, he's holding that weird wheel.
I look behind Mama and Papa's seats and I see Little Mukuro sleeping while hugging a sleeping Little Makoto.
Little Mukuro really looked… happy.
Sometimes she looked happier than when she was with me.
I feel that I should feel sad or bad about that but…
For some reason I can understand her?
But why?
What's there to understand?
"I'm… a little nervous…" Mama's voice broke me from my thoughts.
"I'm sorry that it had to take this long." Papa told Mama.
"It wasn't your fault, really, if anything…It was mine…"
"Don't do this, Haru. You cannot blame yourself for wanting to have Makoto by C-Section. It's perfectly normal and it's much more safer that way."
"But… Makoto got sick because of…"
"I will not let you do this because of it. You want someone to blame? Blame me that I didn't help enough at the operation to prevent you from getting sick."
"What are you saying Ken? What could you have possibly done to avoid that?"
"Actually becoming a surgeon myself."
"Ken…"
"See how it's not fair? There's no point in dwelling on the past. We are here now, and we gotta keep moving forward, right?"
"Y-Yeah… you are right…"
"Course am. It took us a while. But it's finally happening." Papa turned to me and when he realized I was awake he smiled. "You will be meeting your grandmother, Junko."
Mama blinked and looked downwards. She saw me with my eyes open. "Junko dear!" Mama hugged me and kissed me repeatedly.
Mama's so lovely.
Wait. Grandmother? As in Grandma?
But isn't Oba Grandma already? I already met her.
"It took us long enough with her sickness acting up, and then Makoto getting sick right after she got better. Horrible timing. This meeting was way long overdue." Papa said.
"Junko dear. Today is an important day for you, your brother and sister, and to me as well. I've been wanting you to meet my mother for a while now."
Oh!
Oba is Papa's mama!
So today we are meeting Mama's Mama!
I wanna meet Mama's mama!
I wanna meet Grandma!
Wait… If Oba is Grandma.
Then Mama's mama is… also grandma?
How does that work?
Does that even make sense?
Can there be two grandmas?
Then how do I tell them apart?
Words are weird.
But we are meeting grandma!
I want to know how Mama's Mama is like!
When we arrived, Mama and Papa brought us out of Papa's… weird thing. I still don't know what that is called.
Mama was holding me while Papa held Little Makoto and Mukuro. They didn't want to break them apart in their sleep.
We walked, or rather Mama and Papa did, towards the front door of… well… It looked like home, but it wasn't home, it was completely different.
If I had to guess, this is Mama's Mama's home!
With Mama having one free arm, she pushed a button that was next to the door. As she did that a ring rang.
Words are funny.
Shortly after that, the door opened.
And we were greeted by…
"Dear." Grandaddy…
"Dad." Mom spoke.
"Nice to see you again, Mr. Suzuki." Dad also spoke.
Everyone's tones were… cold…
I don't like Grandaddy…
"How many times will I have to say it? Makoto is fine, Keiichi… or should I call you Ken instead?"
"Honestly, I'd prefer it if everyone just called me by my proper name now..."
"Good to know, Ken, now please come in."
"I just…" Papa wanted to complain, but Mama walked in with no questions asked. He quickly groaned before entering.
There was an awkward silence between the three… six… four… yeah, no, between Mama, Papa and… Makoto…
Not Little Makoto, uh… Big Makoto? That sounds wrong.
Old Makoto… yeah…
"Has mom gotten better?" Mama asked.
"Better is relative. Can she walk? No. Is she coughing up blood? Not anymore. Is she dying….?"
"Dad…"
"We gotta face things properly dear. We both know what's going to happen. And Haruka is the one most aware of it."
"But there's got to be something for us to try, right?" Papa joined in the conversation. "Medicine? Surgery? What was she even diagnosed with exactly?"
"To be honest, there wasn't much they could do. I mean, what kind of disease weakens your bones? Destroys your bladder and even makes you cough up blood?"
"Coughing up blood is bad enough alone… I do not know what sickness could-"
"It's simple Ken. It's not a sickness. She's just old."
"D-Dad!"
"Now hold on. This can't just be about Haru's mother's age! Sure, the body weakens over time but, coughing up blood? That's unnatural."
"Yes. If you are healthy to begin with."
"Pardon?"
Grandaddy then… sighed?
"...Tuberculosis. She was diagnosed with it last month. That's why we didn't want you guys to come for so long."
"…"
"…"
"The rest just happened naturally after she fell from the stairs… At our age… once the body starts to give up… we don't get better."
Papa was shaking his head, frowns turned down. "But my mom is-"
"Oba is a mystery of this planet. She's older than the both of us and had more offspring than Haruka ever did. Whatever magic your mother performs, she's excellent at it."
"Hey, don't talk about my mother like that."
"I say it in the most honest possible way I cam. I envy her, or rather, I envy that Haruka can't have her life be as healthy as Oba does. She's at an age that just can't allow one to overexert themselves as once one could, yet she goes even further beyond that without breaking a sweat. I'd ask her how she does it, but I'm sure she'll just answer with something like eating vegetables."
"Pfff." Mama made a weird noise.
"Hey, don't laugh with him now!" Papa complained.
"Well, don't worry. She'll certainly have that last laugh in the end. I doubt I can outlive her."
We kept walking until we stopped at another door. Old Makoto was going to open it until dad stopped him.
"There's something I need to ask you, Mr. Suzuki."
"Tell."
"Tuberculosis. It's highly contagious. How can we be sure we won't catch it."
Mama's eyes widened at that. "Ken!"
"It's a fair question, Haru. He's looking out for your family." Old Makoto turned to Papa. "I lied. She wasn't diagnosed with it last month, but two instead. I made sure this place would be suitable for when you guys come."
Papa nodded while Mama looked at Old Makoto with sad eyes. "Dad…"
"You shouldn't worry Haru dear. Right now you want your kids to meet Haruka before she d- passes away. And I wish not to fight In front of Haruka about it. I will leave you alone so you can talk and discuss in peace."
"Dad, you don't have to-"
"No, that's wrong." Old Makoto cut Haru. "I do have to. It's the least I can do for her. Offer peace at her weakest. I will not create a conflict between her husband and daughter. This is for the best of all of us."
He then opened the door. And we walked in. We were finally going to meet Grandmama.
When we entered, the first thing I saw was a big bed, similar yet different to Mama's and Papa's.
In that bed, a woman laid there.
She looked like an older version of Mama.
And she was… she wasn't very well…
She reminded me of how Little Makoto looked when he got sick.
"Honeycomb?" Her voice… her voice was weak.
"Mom…"
"If you'll excuse me." Grandaddy Makoto opened the door and took his leave.
None of the Suzukis looked at the door closing.
"How long has it been…?" The older version of mama asked.
"S-Seven months, mom…"
"They went by quickly…" She weakly smiled.
"Misses Suzuki." Papa smiled too… albeit a bit sadden.
"How are you doing…"
"I'm f-"
"...Ken"
",,,"
Papa sighed and shook his head. "None of you will ever let me live past that, right?"
"Over my cold dead body." Mama's Mama grinned.
That comment made both Papa and Mama a bit uncomfortable.
Haruka then coughed a laugh, but it didn't feel… genuine… "I'm sorry…" Grandma apologized. "I thought it was funny…and fitting."
"Mom! You aren't gonna die!"
"Of course I'm not gonna die… I won't allow that until I get to see my beautiful grandchildren." She continued to smile. despite it all.
She raised her arms. "Now gimme. I wanna see them little cuties."
Mama and Papa took that as their cue to walk closer to… Mama's mama….
Grandmommy.
Both Mama and Papa got next to Grandmommy, Papa laid Mukuro and Makoto on her arms, while Mama held me closer to Grandmommy.
"Which one is Makoto?" Grandmommy asked as she stared at both Little Mukuro and Little Makoto.
"The boy, mom… You already know it."
"Hey… You never know… Makoto can be a beautiful name for a girl, no?" She said as she brushed Little Makoto's head.
Mama looked like she wanted to say something… but she stopped before she said anything…
Weird.
"So…" Grandmommy spoke as her hand now fell on Little Mukuro's head. "Will you be telling me about…" And then she turned her head towards me. "Them?"
I don't know why, but I felt the need to grab onto Mama's shirt even harder.
If Grandmommy is like Old Makoto… Will Grandmommy not want Little Mukuro and Me to be with Mama?
I… I don't…. don't want to leave Mama…
"What did dad tell you?"
"That you picked them off just like you did with your old puppies."
Mama's face started to glow red. "T-That's! That was completely different!"
"Hmm? How so?"
"I felt the need that I had to take them in!"
"Really? That sounds like very familiar words to me…"
"No! Tha-"
"That you felt it like it was your duty, could it be?"
"Mom!" Mama suddenly stood up, surprising both her and Papa.
"You don't understand! I walked in the room when she was born, and her mother was… her mother was saying such horrible things!"
All eyes were now on Mama. even Little Mukuro's and Little Makoto's
"She was saying how they shouldn't have existed! How they were a mistake! How she wanted to abandon them! And I just… I just couldn't bear with the thought of seeing that and… and…."
Grandmommy was silent… She was… just looking at how Mama cried?
Grandmommy doesn't look nice. Grandmommy shouldn't want Mama to cry, right?
"And I just said it! I said that I wanted them!" She sniffed at that. "I couldn't let these two innocent creatures be crushed by that terrible luck upon them… They had no one… No one…"
Mama pressed her forehead with mine. It was strong, present, but it didn't hurt. Mama always made sure to be nice with me…
Mama is so nice… why is Grandmommy making her cry?
And then, Grandmommy smiled. "I never said that was a bad thing though."
"H-huh?" Mama looked back at Grandmommy.
"I love that part about you. You take everything to heart. So childish at heart to be fun to be with, but so serious to take someone else's needs before yours. You are so kind to see beyond yourself, and you felt the need to take someone else's kid just like your own."
"M-Mom?"
"You are just that sweet, dear."
"M-M-Mommm…"
"And I'm so proud that you are just like that."
Mama couldn't fight her tears anymore, and started wailing like a… like a baby…
Huh…
Now that I think about it, Mama is a bigger crier than me and Little Mukuro.
Little Makoto does cry more though.
While Mama made a mess of herself, trying to clean her tears with her one available arm, Grandmommy turned her head to see how Papa was holding. He was looking at the floor, his hair covering his face and expressions.
But I think Grandmommy knew better. "I don't mind you being a softie, Ken. I find it beautiful that you can empathize just as well as my daughter does."
Papa turned his head a little. His face still unseen, but his body shifted a little.
"I promise I won't tell Makoto."
It was then when he ran his hand against his nose. Barely containing a nose blowing.
"I'll leave them to you in the future. And I'm glad that I can say that as calmly as I can."
Papa didn't dare to utter a word, but he started shaking his head up and down. Nodding even… oh…
Grandmommy then smiled, and decided that she had enough. "Now now, how about you two whimpers tell me more about these two, hmm?"
Grandmommy said as she turned back to Mama, however, surprising her, Papa leaned in closer and started speaking as he tried to clean his own tears.
He lightly patted Little Mukuro's back. "T-This one is M-Mukuro." He blew his nose. "She's the-e calmest kid you'll e-ever find. She's such a sweetheart she-e doesn't even cry at times. I-I'm scared tha-at's not normal fo-for most kids, but she's been so cu-ute an-an-and so close with Makoto that I ca-an't express how nice she truly is…"
"She doesn't cry?" Grandmommy asked with interest.
"N-Not once. All she does is sleep, look, hug Makoto or the previous two while hugging him."
"I see…" She said as she smiled at the curious eyes of Little Mukuro. her mouth was agape in awe, just like she always was, and didn't seem to want to do anything else other than look at Grandmommy.
"Be prepared when she gets comfortable to cry with you. I trust that you are already of her liking." She said as she brushed Little Mukuro's few hairs.
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
"And how's Makoto? The little one I mean."
"H-He's…" He then blew his nose against his bicep a bit more loudly now…
What IS a bicep?
Where did I even hear that word?
"He's been wonderful. We were so worried at first when he got sick, but he's been great ever since. He hasn't done much yet, but I know he'll grow to be an admirable person."
"Just like his parents." Grandmommy smiled.
"I'll try my best!" Papa covered his face with his palm now.
…I never noticed how much Papa did cry…
The more you know…
"Then…" Grandmommy at last turned her head towards me again. "I reckon this is the famous Junko?"
"Yes!" Mama now spoke. "She's beautiful! Her red hair, her smile, her hugs with her tiny hands. She's been such a light for us."
"I can see that…" Mama's mama smiled. "She sure is beautiful."
"When dad said that I should have given them away, I was so sad. I was so worried you wouldn't like them! And that you would say the same…"
"Dear…" Grandmommy said as she took a hold on Mama's shoulder. "We both know how your father is… But you also know that I know you. You really thought that little of me?"
"N-No! I was just… I was scared that…"
"That I wouldn't approve of them? But dear, what I say barely matters when they won your hearts like this…"
"M-Mom?"
"This is your life after all… I'm your mother, yes, and my job was to guide you where I had to… But there's not a correct answer to everything. I can't guide all the time either. You'll have to make your own choices… and you already have though."
"Th-That's…"
"You didn't ask me about Ken here… Neither you did when you resigned from your job, or when you moved out, or-"
"B-But all of that was different! I didn't want you to h-hate me… you or dad…"
Grandmommy chuckled a little. "Hate you? Dear, you are the most wonderful person I know of. And your father is rough around the edges, sure, but I know he believes the same. We would never hate you."
"B-But dad was…"
"He's just an senile old man… He gets cranky and is quite bored, wouldn't you say?"
"B-But he-he is…"
"He is worried about you. As your father. However, he's quite stubborn. So he won't see your reasoning eye-to-eye just yet…"
Mama lowered her head saddened, but Grandmomy placed her hand on top of it.
"But I think that things will get better… He did go to see how Little Makoto was when he got sick, didn't he?"
"Y-Yeah…"
"I trust that things will sail smoothly. So make the most of your time with your old man while you can."
Mama had kept her gaze on… on her mama when she said that. Her tears hadn't stopped, but she can now control herself.
Mama's mama made Mama cry…
But Mama's mama also helped Mama to not cry.
Is… crying bad?
Is crying good?
What is crying?
I don't understand!
I want to hate Mama's mama because she made mama cry!
But Mama clearly loves her mama.
Even if she is crying.
And… I feel like I want to cry too.
And I feel that… Mama wanted to cry too.
That she needed to cry.
Is that crying? A need?
What is a need?
Then, Mama's mama smiled. I want to be angry at that, Mama's mama is happy because Mama is crying?! That's… that's not what a mama do!
But she… she said…
"She is absolutely gorgeous, Haru. I'm proud that you decided to be her mother."
Mama was nearing her limits already.
"Their mother." Grandmommy reinstated. "Of all three of them."
And Mama could not take it anymore. She lowered her face right then.
She was crying, tearing, waterfalling, flooding, I don't know… She was crying so much that It hurt me to see her like that.
I had to do something.
With as much strength as I could, I reached out to Mama, and even managed to touch one of her cheeks. She felt soft and fluffy, but my touch managed to get her attention to me.
She eyed me, I don't know what expression I'm having right now, but when Mama saw me, she decided to stop crying altogether.
"Y-You're right, Junko… today is not a sad day to cry…"
She then proudly held me, hugging me, and I grabbed onto her shirt more.
"Today is a beautiful day for the Naegi-Suzukis, right, Junko?" She beamed even with with her wet eyes.
I'm….
I'm….
I let go of the cloth I was holding onto.
I'm going to believe!
I let go of Mama.
And Mama seems to get what I'm doing.
She turns me around.
And I turned my hands towards Grandmommy as Mama closed the distance between us.
I want you to love me!
And I want to love you!
Grandma!
That was the first time I met my other grandma
And it would be the last time she held me.
Today… was a sad day for the Naegi-Suzuki's
We were at some… valley?
Green dirt, or at least green stuff above dirt, fully surrounding us.
Mama did her best, holding all three of us at once.
Mama was amazing, she had managed to hold all three of us together, the entire time.
Little Makoto was crying.
And, for the first time, Little Mukuro was crying too.
And I… I could not help myself… I had never seen Little Mukuro so sad, and it's.. it's… it was not fair!
And even with us three crying, Mama still held onto us.
But Mama was crying too.
She was doing her best, but she was very sad.
But, her eyes…
Despite the wetness, despite the sorrow, despite the sadness.
Determination flowed in them.
As if she was sure of something.
But what?!
Oba grandma came too, she stood next to Mama the whole time.
And Papa and Old Makoto were there too.
But they were doing other things…
The only part that wasn't green in this valley, was brown.
Dirt.
Papa and Old Makoto had two… big gray spoons.
And they were pulling dirt out of the… ground?
They were doing a hole. Not a very big one, but a hole.
I'm… not understanding much.
But I know no one is happy right now.
Mama is sad, Papa is sad, Oba is doing her best to comfort mama…
And Old Makoto…
I don't care about Old Makoto.
But I noticed that he was… less grumpy.
I don't know, and I don't want to care about him, but it was… weird.
All we knew was what Mama told us.
That grandma went to a better place to rest.
That was not bad, sure, but she also said that we will not be seeing her anymore.
That… was not good. None of us liked that.
We liked new grandma, even though we saw her for a very short time.
But now? That we wouldn't see her again.
It wasn't nice… It wasn't… good… It… It wasn't fair…
At the very least, I'll cherish the memory of Grandmommy holding me on her arms.
Even if we didn't know for long, she liked me as part of her family…
Liked us…
And all three of us were sad about that.
Hopefully… Mama is wrong? And Grandmommy will get better? And we'll see her again?
But before I could rush my mind to wander about reuniting with grandmommy, I heard Papa and Old Makoto speak to one another.
"Are you sure this is fine?"
"It sure is. it's not like we are burying a literal corpse here."
Mama didn't seem to be paying much attention… Even if she could listen…
"Haru was… very against the cremation, Suzuki sir."
"I know. But this is what we both wanted." Old Makoto said, as she took a hold of a jar from the ground next to him.
"I won't lie… It scares me." Papa says.
Old Makoto scoffed. "Of what? You'd be already gone to feel a thing, you won't exactly feel it."
"And, in any case." He then turn around to face the hole Papa and him dug. "It's better than having worms pierce you like a damn cheese. It's for the better of everyone."
He opened the jar, and started pouring some black dust into the hole.
"We loved this place. It was where we would go to escape from… anything, really."
"...It is quite a beautiful field."
Old Makoto chuckled, but not genuinely. "I'm not sure how long places like these will still be around. Plain, filled with nature, silent… At best, in a couple of years they'll tear everything down and make a mall or something."
Once the jar was empty, Old Makoto grabbed the comically large gray spoon and proceeded to fill the hole with dirt again.
"And I'm sure that if Haruka could do something to help this place nurture, either in mind, spirit or ash, I'm certain she would be happy for it. Even if it is only for a short while."
Papa stood there, silently watching the old man, however, from here I could see his expressions.
Sympathy, sadness…
And sorrow.
"The two of you went through a lot together, didn't you?"
"...We did. We all do."
Once he finished filling the hole, he planted the spoon on the ground, and hold onto it as he kept speaking.
"It was not once that this place failed us. When we needed to run away. When we needed to think. When we wanted peace. When we wanted to reconcile. This green was always the go to for anything meaningful we did."
"Sir…"
"And the tomfoolery too. Perhaps even more important at times. We would come any moment we wished. For a walk, a simple picnic, even camping once. No matter the time, nor did we ever stop coming here."
He then stared up
Papa too followed his gaze.
"Not even the rain could stop us." A smile formed in his face while looking up.
Papa kept staring at the sky for a moment, just taking in the view from where he was. He looked dumb, but… in a good way.
"Not even now…"
Papa got confused now.
"What do you mean? it's not rainin-"
He then looked back at Old Makoto.
And whatever he saw, made him stare at the sky once more.
"You are right… Not even now."
"...You get it kid."
Papa then placed his arm around Old Makoto, holding him to be close to each other.
"You get it."
A long time had passed since we had that picnic.
And now, our lives have returned to normalcy.
The only significant changes were that both Oba and Old Makoto visited us more frequently.
I love seeing Oba, but I could cut time with Old Makoto…
Speaking of Makoto, he was now a licensed crawler!
What's a license? Did I ever get one?' Probably not.
In any case, the more time passed, the more we did.
I'm still not sure how… time works? It goes and doesn't turn back I think.
But doesn't really matter.
What does mather is that…
Everyone is here!
Mama, Papa, Oba, Little Mukuro, Little Makoto and Me! We were all in the living room playing!
Is… the room living? Can rooms be alive? How does that work?
We still miss grandmommy, but I'm sure she's doing better now. Mom says that she's at a better place all the time.
Oh, and… Old Makoto was here too… I guess…
In any case, Little Mukuro and Little Makoto were playing around the ground. Makoto crawling as fast as he could from Little Mukuro.
Little Makoto was super excited now that he could crawl!
Sadly… he never got too away from Little Mukuro. Every time she catches him, she latches onto him in a big hug. Big for Little Mukuro, at least.
And Little Makoto, despite wanting to crawl more, still was happy for that.
And I can't help but smile at that.
Oh! And me? I'm currently being held by Papa right now. Next to him were Oba and Mama!
…And Old Makoto… Papa seemingly got closer to him… for some reason…
They were talking about boring stuff I didn't get, but I liked being in Papa's arms more now.
…Don't tell him I said that though…
"...And that's how I met Tsumiki-senpai. Quite unfortunate, but it at least led to us working in unison quite well." Papa finished some story… I didn't hear the beginning.
Mama however, wasn't happy, pouting before turning away from him. "Hmm. I'm going to start keeping an eye on that guy."
"H-Huh?." *HUFF*
"Don't get jealous like that!" Oba said with her characteristical laughter. "My son here is unlikely to keep a secret relationship from you. Aren't you Kenny?"
"I don't even know what you guys are speaking about?"
"Yeah, Yeaa… Play dumb, you… you cheater!"
"Say what now?"
"I wish you spoke half that highly of me."
Papa was quickly scratching the back of his head, trying to think how to get out of this one…
"N-Now that I think about it, haha… Did I ever tell you what were Senpai's daughter's first words?"
"No. And I don't care." Mama kept her cold act on Papa.
"H-Huh? C'mon dar- don't be like that."
"Well, speaking of…" Oba then turned to me. "Aren't you supposed to start speaking soon?"
She got close to me with her head, and started blowing raspberries. "Ooooba. Say Oba for me."
I'm… guilty of second degree giggling…
Oba is just that funny to me!
Papa rolled his eyes. "Relax mom, they aren't supposed to start trying until a couple of months. It's been what? Just eight months?"
"And it will only be more difficult from this point forward…" Old Makoto grumbled, drinking something out of a cup.
"Dad…."
"You know I'll be right. It's still not too late."
"I'm sorry Makoto sir. But-"
Papa then raised me to eye-level.
"There's no way I'm giving this little cutie up! Blaaah." He said as he pulled his tongue out for me to giggle again.
They were that good, ok!?
But… that got me thinking…
First words?
Like… speaking?
Just like how they are?
They are excited for us to start to talk?
I… I can do that.
"nnnnnn."
My little noises had gotten the attention of the four big ones.
Papa immediately smiled. "What is it my love? You want a kiss from Daddy?"
"D…. D-ddd…."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Did I do something bad?
"W-Wait…"
"I-Is she?"
"Dad! Dad! She's trying to say dad! She's going to say dad!"
I looked at Papa.
I looked at Mama.
And while I couldn't look at them right now, I felt Little Mukuro and Little Makoto from the deepest of my heart.
I was very happy.
When I first came to this world I was scared and confused.
Ex-mama didn't love Little Mukuro or me.
I was alone.
And I wanted to not feel any of those feelings that I had.
Then Mama came in and saved me.
Mama became my hope.
Papa then showed and, at first, I thought he would take me away.
But he proved me wrong and stayed with me, earning my trust.
Papa showed me my future.
With him.
With Mama.
With Oba.
And even with Little Mukuro.
Mukuro and I never faltered. We stayed together ever since Ex-Mama left us until today. She's a good sister, and I'll be the best one for her.
Mukuro became my confidence.
And when Makoto was born, I was angry. Distrustful. Spiteful. I hated him.
I thought he would take Mama from us, or that he would hurt Mama.
But he wasn't like that, it took me a lot to see it, I had to understand him, to see him at his weakest and to force myself to be around him just for me to see who Makoto truly is. A glimmering ray of sunshine.
So Makoto became my light.
And this family.
All of us together.
Became my love.
I'm so happy.
I'm so glad.
And I'm so…
So…
"D-d…"
Thankful.
That I want to cry.
"Denkiu."
I started to cry.
But I kept saying it. "Denkiu."
Thank you.
Mama and Papa looked down with surprise after hearing me.
I couldn't stop myself from repeating it.
"Denkiu"
Thank you….
Mama and Papa opened their mouths.
Mama's lips were trembling.
Papa's eyes were watering.
And Old Makoto, who was behind them all this time, had his head down.
I feel like I made them cry.
I feel that it's my fault.
But I want them to know how thankful I am.
"Denkiu…"
"Y-Y-Y" Mama had tears falling from her eyes. "You're welcome, Junko!"
She hugged me tightly. And Papa's arms enveloped us soon after.
"You don't have to thank us for anything…" Papa's voice was low like a whisper. "Thank you for being such a good girl…" He was fighting to not sob.
I hated it when I cried.
But this felt good in a way.
It felt necessary.
And, something that I would never notice was that, ever since then, Grandpa Makoto would never mention giving us away ever again.
But I didn't care.
I was the happiest I had ever been.