THE sunlight spilling in through the curtains had turned orange when my tired mom came home and gawked at me in shock when she found me in the middle of ironing Dad’s formal white shirt, having already done the laundry. Don’t underestimate a seven-year-old’s small hands. I’m confident in my dexterity.
“Oh dear! Why aren’t you playing with your friends today? D-Don’t tell me…b-bullying…you’re being bullied? Oh no! I have to call your dad!” Mom pulled her cell phone out of her purse, trembling, and tried to dial Dad’s number.
All I did was help out with chores, right?
I gave Mom a horrible shock since I had been a carefree elementary schooler who only played and did absolutely nothing to help out until yesterday.
“W-Wait a minute! I’m not being bullied! Calm down!”
“Mashiro, are you worried about something? Now that I think about it, you were acting funny this morning too… No matter what happens, I’m always on your side, Mashiro. So please talk to me about anything.”
What wild things did she imagine as she tightly hugged me with teary eyes? For starters, I’d better get her to loosen her grip on me.
“Nothing is wrong! Mr. Kumaja said moms work hard for the family every day and it’s important to help out. So I got the idea to start trying to help out now!”
The number one way to get parents off your case is to mention your teacher’s involvement.
“He did? Mr. Kumazawa is such a nice teacher. I’m so proud of you, Mashiro! It’s not easy to take advice from your elders.”
I love this about Mom. She doesn’t try to force her children to mindlessly listen to adults like parents and teachers. I nodded, grinning, and put away the ironing board.
Mr. Kumazawa? Mom, Mr. Kumaja’s actual name is Nobuo Takemitsu. I laughed and kept the correction to myself.
At any rate, I had finished helping out around the house, so I went upstairs to study. I completed my homework in a flash and secretly set out to borrow the middle school textbooks from Hanaka’s room. I felt bad for entering her room without permission, but it was necessary to solve my problem. If I asked her directly, I’d be interrogated. I wouldn’t have good answers either.
Saying that I had memories of a past life or that we actually live in an otome game world would sound weird and crazy. I’m positive no one would believe me if I told them. And I’d question them if they did.
Since the last time I had visited her room, it’d transformed into a pigsty. I couldn’t even see the floor! At least put the clothes you took off on a hanger!
Avoiding the personal items she probably wouldn’t want me touching, I tossed out the garbage and lightly cleaned her room. Oh, and I couldn’t forget to open the windows to let in fresh air either.
Mission accomplished, I returned to my room and spread out the textbooks. They were in perfect condition, leading me to believe that she barely cracked them open.
Sis, I’m surprised you made it to high school…
I switched gears and carefully read through the textbooks, underlining important passages. Math, Japanese, and English seemed like they’d probably be okay, but social studies and science were going to be a problem. All the subjects that required memorization were in the worst state. I had forgotten practically all of the details.
Next chance I get, I need to go to the bookstore and look for workbooks.
“Mashiro! Dinner’s ready!”
I glanced at the clock when I heard Mom’s voice—it was already seven. Dad returned home just in time for me to greet him.
“Welcome home!” I exclaimed, jumping into his arms.
“I’m home.” He caught me with a lopsided smile and patted me on the head.
Hanaka happily descended the stairs. “Mom, you cleaned my room for me despite yelling at me this morning!” She winked playfully and added, “Thanks a bunch!” with a salute.
My big sister was a slob who found doing things annoying. At the same time, however, her big heart and simple-minded personality always filled our world with cheer and laughter.
Unable to scold her, Mom half-smiled and shook her head. “It wasn’t me… Was it you, Mashiro?”
“Yup. I thought it wouldn’t be fair if I only helped out Mommy, so I gave Big Sis a hand because she’s doing her best at school.”
I felt strangely guilty since I had snatched her textbooks and wouldn’t be returning them anytime soon. Am I being too sneaky? I thought, as I used a sickeningly sweet voice to explain. But hearing my response seemed to delight Hanaka, because she suddenly pulled me into a hug.
“Gosh! Such a good girl! You’re seriously adorable! Your big sis will be your devoted follower for life!”
For some reason, after that, Dad joined her in cheering my name, “MA! SHI! RO! MA! SHI! RO!”
Wow. She’s got a bad case of the doting older sister disease.
My older sister in my last life had been the same way. She doted on me and spoiled me rotten. I rushed to my seat before my thoughts prompted waterworks and focused only on gobbling down my steak.
Dad often praised me cheerfully, and Mom was kind. My entire family got along insanely well, and the four of us had always laughed together.
“Come on now. Quit causing a ruckus and eat before it gets cold,” Mom said, casually scolding them because of my sudden silence.
Filled with mixed feelings of happiness and regret, I continued to intently chew my food.