Chapter Text
My mom always used to tell my younger brother and I about soul mates and she promised us that we would meet ours someday when we were older. She talked about how our dad was her soul mate.
"How did you know you were meant to be with papa?" My brother asked.
She looked at him and smiled as she held his cheek before she said, " The day we met I just felt it, I knew it was love from the start and the day your father proposed he said the same thing."
My brother was so young I'm not sure he understood but he nodded his head in understanding regardless.
"Now, you two should get to bed. You still have school tomorrow and you have to be up early. If you don't go to bed now you two will be cranky," she told us.
"Ok good night mom," I hugged her as she hugged me then kissed my cheek.
I saw her do the same to my brother then she said, "Goodnight Tsuki, goodnight Junpei. I love you two."
"We love you too mom."
My brother and I waddled to our bedrooms, his was right next to mine. Our parents room was at the other end of the hall. We had our fist bump before we went into our rooms to sleep. Once I got myself tucked into my bed I started to drift off to sleep but I heard a knock at my door. I was so tired but figured it was Junpei so I got up.
When I opened the door I saw him standing there holding his blanket and looking like he was about to cry when he asked, "Can you turn on my night light, I heard something moving around in my room?"
I walked back into his room with him ready to find his night light when the lights were turned on and when we looked at the door our mother was standing there looking tired and unhappy.
"I thought I told you two to go to bed, what are you doing up?" Our mother asked.
"Tsuki was just trying to help me find my night light so I could get to sleep," Junpei rushed out.
Our mom smiled at us sweetly before she said, "Well ok. Just go to bed right after you finish helping him, alright Tsuki?"
"Ok, I will mom."
"Great," she yawned and walked back to her room.
After we heard her door close we both let out a breath of relief. I then saw his night light and plugged it into the wall. Just as I was about to walk out he called my name.
I turned around with tired eyes before wondering, "Hmmm, what is it?"
"Sorry but can you check to make sure there's nothing hiding in my room before you go?" I couldn't blame him for asking, my brother could be a big scaredy cat and I knew it.
I went to his closet and when I opened the door I saw nothing, I looked under his bed and once again nothing. As a joke I looked in his drawers and gasped pretending I saw something. Junpei started freaking out until I pulled out a pair of his underwear and threw it at him. He shrieked so loudly we were afraid our mom would come running back in to scold us but she must've already fallen back asleep. Seeing as she didn't come back in we quickly said good night, ran to our beds, and fell asleep.
The next morning our mom had woken us up to get ready for school. Our mom had made breakfast for us like every other day. She made us porridge with a smiley face. Seeing the smiley face I dug in and started to eat and Junpei took his spoon and mixed it all up with an angry frown on his face. Ever since the school year started Junpei had been a bit grumpy about me going to a different school even though I told him he would be going to my school next year. He's such a nice kid but he says the other kids like to pick on him.
"Hey Junpei, if someone tries to hit you today you ought to just hit them back," I whispered in his ear.
He gasped and looked at me with surprise, "Won't mom get mad at me though? The teachers say I shouldn't do that and should just tell them when other kids pick on me."
"Yeah well as your older sister I'm telling you that you should stick up for yourself, you can be tough Jun. I know you can and don't do it for me, do it for yourself. Got it," I stuck my thumb up at him and smiled.
He looked back at me doing the same and repeated, "Yeah, I got it. Thanks Tsuki."
I felt proud for helping my brother and gave myself a pat on the back. Now I just hope he actually sticks up for himself.
Our mother had dropped us off at our different schools and as soon as I got out of the car I heard my best friend calling my name. Rika Orimoto.
"Hey Tsuki, do you want to go to my house for a sleepover tomorrow night?" Compared to me Rika was definitely more energetic but I still said yes rather quickly.
I love my family but I love spending time with Rika when I can. I always have fun at her house even if her grandma is always yelling at her for something. This is why we try to have most of our sleepovers at my house but I can't deny her invitation.
"Great I need your help, I want to ask this boy to marry me and his birthday is Saturday," she said with the most serious face.
Even with her expression I couldn't help but think this was a joke so I laughed. I was laughing so hard that I didn't even notice her face scrunch up in a scowl. She looked so mad at me but I had no clue as I laughed so much tears started to rest in the corners of my eyes and my stomach started to hurt.
"It's not funny Tsuki, I'm being serious. I want to marry him and be together forever," she yelled at you.
I eventually stopped laughing and wiped away my tears before I gave her a questioning look.
"What are you talking about, we're too young to get married Rika. It's not even allowed until we're adults," I stared at her like she was crazy.
"Yeah I know that, it's a promise for the future."
Now I was starting to think she was a little less crazy. She's definitely still crazy though.
"He must be pretty cute if you like him this much," I teased her, "What's his name?"
"Don't tease me Tsuki, you'll understand what it's like to be in love someday. Oh and his name is Yuta," she responded.
I suddenly remembered my mother talking to me and Junpei about soulmates.
"Do you think this boy is your soul mate Rika? I asked her.
"Huh, what's that?" She asked you back.
I thought for a moment before I gave an answer, "A soul mate is like the person that was made to be with you for the rest of your life, they're supposed to always love you. At least that's what my mom said."
"Oh, then yeah, we're soul mates for sure," she responds enthusiastically.
I wasn't sure about her answer but I didn't quite care enough to question it and just continued walking towards my classroom.
The day continued on and when it was time for lunch I had already started eating before Rika jump scared me causing me to drop the rest of my lunch, leaving me with my rice and the rest of my Miso soup.
"Rika," I groaned, "You made me drop my lunch."
She gave you a guilty look as she said, "Sorry about your food Tsuki. We can share mine if that helps."
Once my day was over I went home and played around with my brother. I asked my mom about sleeping over at Rika's tomorrow which she seemed fine with. After dinner I was so tired I brushed my teeth and went to bed. I guess I should have just gone straight to bed last night instead of thinking about random things. As soon as I laid my head on my pillow I instantly passed out.
The next morning I went through the same routine only Junpei was even more grumpy because I wasn't going to be home tonight.
"Why do you even have to go to your friends house tonight, why can't she just stay here?" Junpei pouted.
"Well we need to have a girl talk and you wouldn't want to hear us talk about girly things would you?"
"Honestly I wouldn't care, I'll probably be playing video games anyway," he responded.
"So you're fine hearing us talk about boys?" You teased knowing he definitely cared about that and didn't want to hear about it.
"Eww no, just stay at her house. I'll be fine," he gagged, well at least he said he's ok with it.
I laughed and pinched his cheek. Younger brothers are so fun to mess with. Rika wouldn't be able to understand this feeling of course since she's an only child. Honestly I think she's missing out, I wouldn't say that to her though since her parents left her behind with her grandma.
"Hey if you guys are ready we have to go," my mom was in a rush today because apparently her boss is supposed to be visiting her place of work today and he refuses to keep anyone who is late regardless of their situation.
"Mom, if where you're working sucks so much why do you still work there?" I ask her.
"Well I get paid really well and I didn't get a college degree for nothing," she said almost as if she had to say it to everyone who asks.
"Oh. Ok."
Eventually we all get in the car and my mom drops Junpei and I off at our school's. Of course I'm surprised to not see Rika waiting outside for me but once I enter the school she practically tackles me to the floor.
"Jeez, Rika. We don't need to be going to the nurses office this early in the day. Be careful," this is what I get for making friends with a reckless girl.
Rika got off of me and giggled, "Sorry I guess I just got really excited to see you and I'm excited for the sleepover tonight. Did your mom say yes?"
"My mom said yes and while Junpei was upset about it at first I told him we were going to talk about boys so he's fine with it being at your house now. He's still a little grumpy about it but that's just how he is, " I told her.
"Great, I can't wait for tonight. Oh yeah, I also wanted to see if I could show you who Yuta is while we're in the hallway," she made sure she whispered that last bit in my ear.
"Ok. That's fine as long as we don't get crushed under everyone else. I just hope we don't end up like Simba's dad," I must joke around like that too much because she gave me a look that showed she was not impressed.
I still heard her laugh a little when we started to walk to class and quietly say, "You're such a dummy Tsuki."
She seemed to have noticed something right as she said that because she started pointing further ahead in the hallway and telling me to look.
"Tsuki, there he is. Do you see him? "she asked, "He's the cute one."
Well that helps out so much Rika especially since I can't see his face. I still tried to look over the heads of the other students and managed to see a head of unruly black hair. I wonder if he's ever tried to make his hair look a little less crazy.
I looked over at Rika waiting for a response and even though I couldn't see him well I still replied, "Yeah he's super cute, Rika. You picked a good one."
She had the goofiest smile on her face when I told her that and giggled. Well it seems my best friend has gone crazy for this Yuta kid. I almost would worry for him but I'm sure he'll be fine. Maybe.
Later that day after classes had ended Rika told me that she'll see me later. I saw my brother waiting for me on the sidewalk. We waited for our mom and when we finally saw her car pull up we got in and buckled up. Once we got home Junpei started pouting again.
"Are you still upset about this whole sleepover thing? I told you we were going to talk about boys Pei," he suddenly looked very confused.
"Don't call me Pei," he said.
"Why are you so serious all of a sudden, Juny? I'll be back tomorrow and maybe you can come to the park with me and Rika when we go," he seemed to have perked up when I told him that.
He was smiling but his eyes told me he didn't like that nickname very much either. I guess I'll stick with Junpei.
"Sorry I guess my little brother is getting too old for silly little nicknames, I'll just have to call you by your name," I told him with an overly exaggerated voice, "So would you want to join us tomorrow Junpei? I can ask Rika if we can stop by here to come get you on our way to the park."
He looked shy for a second before nodding his head very slowly. I wrapped my arms around him rather quickly, making him jump a bit. I couldn't help it though, he's such a cutie, I adore having him as my younger brother. It really makes me mad to think he's so sweet and kids still pick on him at his school. Just wait till next year, I'll make sure they leave him alone. I'm currently in the lowest grade at my school and I can tell some of my classmates are a little worried when older kids are around. As much as I would hate to use that against Junpei's classmates next year I refuse to let them pick on him and treat him however they feel. My brother will be in luck next year because I'll be able to be there for him when he needs it.
He says some kids pick on him for not knowing our dad but I know it's not his fault. How could us not having a dad be our fault when he walked out on us and our mom for another woman that wasn't our mom. He left and started a new family so I never was mad at my mom when she was struggling with anything because I knew how hard things were for her. I've never experienced what our mom has but he was my dad so I feel her pain. I understand feeling unwanted, feeling like I was a mistake. So yeah I could never be mad at my mom and Junpei never really knew our dad for long so he couldn't understand. Our dad left when I was four so I still remembered him but Junpei was too young.
Junpei was sad knowing that our dad left us and didn't care to come back but I think anger overpowered his sadness. Of course I could say the same, I hated our father. Also while it may seem strange that I know that our father left even though I'm so young let's just say my mom isn't the best at hiding things or being a quiet crier. The times I've woken up in the night to use the bathroom I could hear her not so silent tears. I had to hide under my covers to muffle my tears after that. Sometimes I would go to Junpei's room and crawl under his covers with him just to seek out comfort. I was just so glad I had him.
When I looked back at Junpei he was wiping under my eyes, "You were crying."
"Oh, " I nudged his hand away and wiped away the rest of my tears, "Thanks Junpei."
He smiled at me before responding, "It has been a while since we've gone to the park, I want to play on the swings."
I rubbed the top of his head, "Great, I guess we'll have to stop by to get you tomorrow then. I'm sure Rika won't mind. She likes you after all."
Junpei blushed when I told him this. I forgot that when they first met he told me that he thought Rika was really pretty.
He looked up at me before sputtering out, "D-does she re-really."
"Well of course, she thinks you're adorable. Which she should because you are, " I pinched his cheeks as I said that and his cheeks became red from embarrassment.
He pushed your hands away before walking back to his room with a goofy smile on his face. He tried to hide his face in his hands but you saw it.
Your mom walked in the kitchen with your packed bag ready to go and yelled out, "Junpei, come one we have to go or Rika will be sad about your sister being late."
Yeah my mom knew about his little crush on Rika. Junpei hearing this tottered out of his room and to the door where our mom and I were waiting. I held out my hand and when he grabbed it we left. The whole time in the car he was swinging his feet, he must have really been excited about going to the park tomorrow.
Before I left the car I asked my mom, "Hey mom, is it OK if I take Junpei to the park with me and Rika tomorrow. You know I'll keep a close eye on him and I know to call you if anything goes wrong. I have some of my spare change with me so I can call you if I need to."
"Of course, I trust you when it comes to your brother and the park isn't too far so I'm not worried," she said, "I trust you to be safe. Oh and tell Rika and her grandmother that I said hello when you see them."
Junpei smiled knowing he could go. It's too bad his smile would disappear within a day. While I didn't know it, mine would too.