ℙℓεαṧε т@ḱℯ ℭ@яε øḟ Ṳ$ ?!// Eldest's story//

===========================“Tadaima”

You said, bringing big bags of groceries you bought.

"Ah! Mama! Welcome back!"

You were greeted by the eldest of your 'kids,' Tsugaru.

He was then followed by Psyche, who was wearing a set of cat ears on his head, went to you and said:

"Mama! Mama! Look! I'm a Neko nyah!"

You laughed. It's been a while since you laughed that much.

Then you noticed Tsugaru, his smile was fading slowly.

And that simple thing started to prick your heart.

Just like everytime you come back home, when you see him after noticing Psyche's little acts, you notice that his smiles start to fade.

'Why?'

--

I was a little bit stubborn

As if I hurt you again

You're only looking far away

And are not saying anything

--

Just right when you finished tucking Delic, Hibiya and Psyche to sleep, you checked on Tsugaru in his room to see if he was already asleep.

You heard music coming from him room, and when you opened it slightly, you saw your young boy, Tsugaru, playing his pipe by the moonlight. His eyes shining an ocean blue color as he kept playing his soothing music.

But then only now did you notice it

'I never realized how skilled he was'

"Tsugaru"

You finally opened the door when he ended his piece.

He looked at you but didn't smile.

You sat right next to his position on the bed,

"Mama...Do you...hate me?"

You were surprised by that question.

"Tsugaru, what are you talking—"

Tears started flowing.

--

I thought that I could approach you again with just enough sweetness

But I discovered that I was just a fool

--

"You only smile Psyche, Delic and Hibiya. B-but—"

Your hands gripping on the bedsheets.

"Y-You never smile like that to me"

His sobs were choking him.

Seeing that made your heart feel as if it was thrown into a thorn bush.

Believe it or not, tears were about to come out from your own eyes as well.

You tried very hard to fight back the sting in your eyes.

"Mama...?"

Your arms embraced the young Tsugaru.

"Tsugaru, don't cry..."

His sea-blue eyes widened, glimmering in the moon light.

"I don't hate you, Tsugaru...

I never did...

Even though you say those things, you don't smile at me, too...

Every day, I wanted to see your smile but then

It always fades away. It made me sad"

Saying that made his tears increase in amount.

Then you pulled him away.

"Please

Smile for me"

You finally smiled at him.

But this was different from the smiles you gave anyone

Because this is the first time he'd see you, his own mother, smiling as tears rolled down your cheeks.

He put his scrawny arms around you.

Though you didn't see him smile, you heard the best thing that any 'mother' would hear from her children.

"I love you, mama"

--

Please, at least, smile for me for the last time

--

END