A little Kirari was playing in a field of flowers.
"Kirari. Here."
Another kid came to her and put a flower on her ear.
"You look pretty."
"Thank you." Kirari answered.
"No problem."
"Will you always be here with me?"
"Of course. I will never leave you. Even if the world hates you, I will still choose to stay with you."
Kirari smiled at the kid.
------
"Now, the question. Which one of us... is me?" The twins asked in unison. "If you get it right, you can be head of the family. But get it wrong and you will be banished."
The other kids didn't want to try and guess. Until two other kids entered the room.
"Ah. Why don't we let the Jabamis guess?" one kid said.
"Right." The other kids agreed.
"Guess what?" Yumeko asked.
"Who is Kirari between those two"
"Oh. I'll pass." Yumeko answered.
"See. That is too hard even for Yumeko." another kid spoke.
"But that is very easy." The kid who was with Yumeko said. "Kirari. I will know you however far you are. I will always know."
The kid pointed at one of the twins. The others were dead silent. It was very deafening. Then Kirari smiled widely. She stood up and ran to the kid to hug her.
"I'm so happy." she said.
------
"You're so good at gambling Kirari. You're so amazing. It's so hard for me to understand so many rules."
"Stay close to me and I'll teach you everything." The little Kirari said.
"I'll try."
"You can't just try. Everyone will devour you if you don't know anything." she scolded.
"But you'll protect me right?"
"Of course I will." Kirari sighed. "Here. Take this. Practice what I'm going to teach you okay. You have to practice this everyday until you perfect it. You don't have to remember lots of rules. You just have to feel it."
"A coin?"
------
"Kirari, you idiot!! You should've just let your sister pretend to be you. The Jabamis should've been banished if you lied." Kirari's father shouted.
"But I was so happy she recognized me."
"That's not the point! You gambled the position of being head of the family! The other kids saw everything. How can we escape this now!?"
"But... I don't want to be the head."
Her father slapped her.
------
"Papa where are we going?"
The man didn't answer. He was driving his car with Kirari on the passenger's seat.
"Papa that's-" Kirari pointed at her friend playing outside. She was beaming with happiness.
But then her happiness changed to a nightmare. The car went straight for the child. Red painted Kirari's vision. She was shaking in fear.
"Papa. No. What are you doing!? Let's go back and save her!"
"No Kirari. This is the only way to keep our legacy. Our family should be the head. Let this be a lesson for you. Don't try anything stupid like that again. All you have to do is obey. Remember, you are a Momobami."
Kirari can't do anything but cry.
-------
Kirari woke up from her slumber. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She was breathing hard.
"Again?" she sighed. She stood up and prepared to go to school.
------
Inside your class, the air was tense. Mary wasn't talking to you. She was avoiding you and whenever you locked eyes, she only glared.
"(Y/n), how are you?" Yumeko asked.
"Yumeko? Are you not mad at me too?" you asked.
"Why would I be?"
"I don't know. But I'm sure Mary despises me. I can't remember why though."
"I could never be mad at you." Yumeko pinched your cheeks. "You're my cute baby."
"Stop treating me like a child." you pouted.
Yumeko chuckled. "Should we get lunch together?" she asked.
"Ah. Sorry. I just remembered something. I can't have lunch with you today. I have to go now."
"Okay." Yumeko watched you leave. "It's for the better that you forget everything."
-----
"Knock knock" you playfully called out.
The door opened and Kirari looked out from inside.
"(Y/n)? Is something wrong? It's such a surprise that you came here without being called."
"Uhm yeah. Well. Can I have lunch with you? I prepared a bento for us." you showed her the lunchbox you're carrying.
"Oh? That's nice of you." She opened the door wider for you to come in.
"I hope I'm not intruding."
"Oh no. Never. Anyway what's the occasion?" she asked.
The two of you sat facing each other.
"Nothing. I just want to eat with you."
"Really?"
"Ah fine. I promised you a date. But you were always so busy so here."
She stared at you while you were taking out the food.
"Did you cook all of that?"
"Yes. It's nothing fancy. Just the simple stuff. Here." You took some food and tried to feed Kirari.
She stared at you. You blinked.
"Oh sorry." you said.
You're about to retract your hand when Kirari grabbed your wrist and ate the food you offered.
"Hm. It's good. You should feed me more often. It's very convenient for me." she said.
"Power abuse!" you teased.
Both of you laughed. Then Kirari stood up to sit next to you. She clung to your arms and put her head on your shoulder.
"Will you always be here with me?" she asked.
You stared off into space. You were suddenly lost in thought. Kirari noticed it. She cupped your chin and made you look at her. Then she leaned in and kissed you. Her kiss was so tender. So caring. You hugged her and kissed her back. Then you gently pushed her to make her lie on her back. She stared at you.
"Kirari..." you whispered.
She smiled then pulled you down. Your foreheads touching.
"I'm so happy." she said with a huge smile on her face.
"I wish everybody could see that beautiful smile and not the ruthless Kirari. You look so pretty like that."
"They don't need to see. You're enough for me."
The two of you kissed again.. and again.. and again. Kirari just wouldn't let you go.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't see you again if I let go." she told you.
"I'll stay."