We were all gathered downstairs for breakfast when Claire hesitantly made her way down. I spotted her peeking behind the glass wall, from the barstool of the kitchen counter. "Oh, Claire." I've been here for three days, but this was the first time I've seen her.She hesitated at the sight of us."Good Morning." she tried. "Morning!" Izanagi beamed. As she shuffled past him to the fridge she paused. "Um...I'm-""You're good. We're good." She studied him a bit before becoming more Claire-like. There was some bubble in her step when she retrieved a pitcher of orange juice before making her way to the stove where Amara rolled an egg. For some reason, she thought it was a good idea to stick out her head in front of her over the frying pan. "Good Morning!~" Her rejuvenated mood and bubbly smile all seemed to bounce off Amara who shifted away from Claire entirely as she plated the dish. Claire stood there frozen for a second. Maybe Amara was trying to protect her from the oil, or mayb
That following evening the tension between Amara and Claire came to an all-time head."Don't you think you're being childish?!" I was eating out in the mini courtyard with Izanagi when we heard Claire raising her voice. It was unusual from her bubbly self so I naturally found myself getting up to crack the door open. "What?" "You didn't leave any dinner for me!" I couldn't see Amara but she sounded like she was in the living room."Ohhhh, so now you want to eat from me? Claire can't you see the childish one is you? I mean, why the hell should I make food for you just for you to throw it away, when this isn't a fucking hotel? Money doesn't grow on fucking trees, I know you might because of you're rich Daddy, but we don't do that here. If you want to eat something make it yourself."So she saw what she did this morning huh? I'm surprised she didn't say anything on the spot, she hated wasting food."I only threw it away because you kept being a bitch, like why would I want to eat tha
To keep this story short, my African American Mom married a rich Japanese man. "So? What do you think?" She stretched out her arms in front of our new house. This sort of perfectly fenced house with the family name mounted above the mailbox, I had seen these sort of middle-class homes a dozen times in anime. It was a surreal feeling. Something that belonged in a cartoon was right in front of me. "Are we... really living here?" Maybe it's because of the upscale wedding or the fact that her relationships never came this far but it felt as if I was dreaming. Instead of answering Mom lead the way into our completely empty house and introduced me to where my bedroom would be. It would seem... she already planned everything with Mr. Step-Father (or Step-Father-san, if you will, to be honest, I forgot his name already), the purpose for each and every room had already been decided. As I stood there, I could feel Mom watching me, waiting for a reaction. But I ignored her on purpose. I
The gym hall that graduation day was packed. The sound of our music flooded the room, and the hands of the crowd went up and swayed like stalks of grass from the wind. It was an unforgettable moment. That small feeling of power. The power to sway hearts with our music. But this newfound joy of mine didn't last long. "KAGAMI!" My mom stormed in through the door, and the people parted to make way for her like the Red sea before Moses. "WE'RE MOVING!" I froze as she made her way up the steps. Her expression was serious, angry. She rarely got angry at me but when she did... "W-wait...wait a minute, Mom..." My voice was shrinking. As the panic and confusion settled in of what I could have done wrong... She grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me off the stage, the shocked faces of my band members became smaller and smaller as we glided away, Mom's lower half became a tail. I reached out a hand to the guys who reached back. It was like a scene from Michaelangelo's Creation of Ada
She ignored me on our walk home as well, even though I made sure to keep up with her. Her whole being radiated negative energy that threatened to suck me in and obliterate me if I so even uttered a word that entered her subspace. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. I had seen her argue with her Mother before and it was scary. She was often quiet so I used to think she was timid, but a stronger personality ended up emerging out of nowhere. Today she had also surprised me in a different way. I was under the impression she was a reserved person... I didn't want to lose her. When I finally mustered the courage to say something she had already made it to her porch steps and closed the door with a quiet click. It was equivalent to someone chucking a glass of water. I felt cold and humiliated. Did she think I was a loser? She didn't even say goodbye... I walked home and as soon as I did Mom's eyes were twinkling. "Well? What song will you play for the audition?" "Huh?" A question sign h
The building was nicer looking than I anticipated. Most talent agencies let their exterior become a bit dusty and worn but this tall black building with purple-tinted windows was kept in good condition, which could only reflect on it's standards. As it towered over me. I froze up. A small hand was placed on my back, it radiated warmth as it nudged me forward. I turned around. "Aren't you going in?" Amara tilted her head at me. Today big golden checkmarks dangled from her ears. The shirt she was wearing today had the picture of an American actor, Shy Lebouff posing his signature pose. The three words were printed on it. "Just do it!" No caps today. "You were coming?" With folded arms, she nodded. "I'll be waiting for you, out here." "But, it's kinda hot out..." "I'm going to wait here." She repeated herself firmly. "O-okay." There was no use arguing with her when she was making such an adamant expression. Amara would be waiting out here for me. Oddly enough this newfound
"Huh?" The other numbers that walked in seemed just as surprised as me. For a brief second, time stopped. Did I fail? But I just got here! I could see myself leaving the building here seeing Amara's disappointed expression. That day at school, her twinkling brown eyes that dimmed into a soulless void. "You failed? Oh..." My very reality was on the verge of shattering into pieces. No. No. Amara wouldn't say that. *Even if by some chance those lovely people turn out to be dipshits and reject you Kagami, we can always turn to whotube!* But was that just her way of comforting me? "...have completely no sense of style for a rock artist. Your hairstyle and guitar are the only things that truly embody the spirit of rock. Let's hope your performance isn't as lacking." I heard only half of what she had said. My heart that had frozen and dropped slowly floated up to relief and irritation. "Stop intimidating the contestant, Ms. Yumena." A bald man wearing shades spoke calmly, he look
It felt like I was dreaming. Today was the day, nothing could stop me not even mom who saw me off at the door. "Are you wearing that?" I heard her say but it didn't register. "Congratulations on making it in, Kagami-kun!" That Sunday on my way to the company, I ran into our neighbor, Mrs. Amamiya, Amara's mother. That snapped me out of it. She was a tall lady with a waist like a wasp, she had fat and curves in all the right places; her legs were thick but slender, whenever she wore a slit dress one couldn't help admiring them, her arms were slim, and her bust... whatever manner she styled her hair in it was always a burnt orange color that emphasized her honey brown eyes that were accentuated even further by her cat-like eyeliner. (A goddess... or a celebrity?) What usually happens when someone first meets her is they end up gawking, not listening to a thing she says, they'll just nod. I'd like to think I'm past that phase now. I smiled instead. "Thank you!" "Are you on your w