Chapter 224 Maya-Chan'S Concerns
"Maya, you know."
"Yeah?"
"I turned 19, right?"
"Yeah, you did."
"So, even though I'm considered an adult over there, no alcohol. You know, in that world, there are stories where it's okay for 15 years people to drink, right?"
"Yeah, I remember. But along with that, there are also harsh stories where responsibilities come with adulthood."
"That's true. But, Mahiru-chan sent a message the other day."
"Yeah?"
"Even in Swiglefen, you can't drink until you're 20."
"Aw, man."
"It's not like I really want to drink... well, I kinda do. I mean, don't uncles look like they're enjoying it?"
"Well, yeah, but... it's unavoidable."
"When I asked mother about it and said I wanted to drink, she got seriously mad."
"Whoa, seriously?"
"It's pretty tough around there. Since the future is long, just endure for about a year. Maya is like a long-lived species."
"Well, we might be closer to demons than humans."
I tried explaining the possibility of getting involved with a long-lived species like demons.
"Oh, I see. Still, nearly 600 days is a bit much."
"I heard about it too. While humans can marry at 20 to fit in, demons reach adulthood at 40. So, at around 20, it might feel like getting married as a student at 18 in that world."
"That's definitely... a possibility."
"So, I'm not an adult yet."
"Haha, you're still a kid, brother."
"It can't be helped."
Maya-chan crossed her arms, making gestures like she's thinking. That expression, she's plotting something, isn't she? I'm starting to understand.
"Brother and Maya, there's a 13-year gap, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"What's your Chinese zodiac sign, brother?"
"I'm a Dragon."
"Oh, so that's why you're called Tatsuma?"
"Yeah, grandpa gave me that name. He said so."
Oh, it's about that, huh?
"So, what about it?"
In my family, the eldest decides the name for the child born. My mom's name, Miko, was given by my great-grandpa, since she was born in the Year of the Sheep.
My messy hair is from mom's side. Dad, despite being a son-in-law, is actually a Rooster, so he's named Toru. Our family has names related to the zodiac signs.
As I was telling this, Maya-chan started crossing her arms again. What's she thinking?
"Come to think of it, why not Ryoma?"
"Because there's historical records of his assassination, so it's considered unlucky."
"I see, I see. But uncle, you have ben assassinated. Although you're alive."
"True, true. It didn't matter in the end."
"Maya is really knowledgeable. But, even though Maya is born in the Year of the Snake, it has nothing to do with anything. There should be an example if there were such a thing as the Year of the Cat, right? You know, there's a dialect in the southern countries called 'Maya.'"
Maya-chan is unexpectedly knowledgeable.
"Yeah, yeah. In that sense, my grandpa was talking while drinking liquor. If I had been born in the previous year, he had a name in mind that was so bad, just remembering it gives me the chills."
"If we assume 'previous' is the same as Maya, then... 'Usagi (Rabbit-horse)', or maybe 'Usashi (Surprising rabbit)'? Hahaha."
"I don't know how to write the characters, but 'uma' is on the mark. Grandpa, you know, he loved joke. I remember my mom laughing so hard she held her stomach when she heard them while he was alive."
"He really knows how to say the right words, like a 'uma,' hahaha."
"It's not a joke. I remember telling my mom while crying, 'Thank you for giving birth to me in the Year of the Dragon'..."
Maya-chan clasped her hands behind her, stretching up on her tiptoes.
"Hmm... But you know, sometimes I feel jealous."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's okay. It's just that, both Mahiru-chan and Asaya-kun, too..."
"Yeah?"
"They don't really know if their real parents are alive or dead."
"Yeah, that's true."
"It's not about missing them or having regrets, you know?"
"Then what is it?"
"You know, when you leave the house in the morning, you often put your hands together, right?"
"Oh, you noticed that?"
"Yeah. That's for your deceased parents, and your grandparents, right?"
"Yeah, you're right. We live in a single-family house, the one grandpa built."
"I see."
"We have a pretty big Buddhist altar in the living room downstairs. My room is upstairs."
"Yeah"
"In the morning, I go downstairs, wash my face, brush my teeth, then go back upstairs to change. After packing my phone and things into my bag, I go back downstairs, open the fridge, take out a jelly drink, and have it."
"Yeah"
"Before leaving for the front door, I go into the living room, sit in front of the Buddhist altar."
"Yeah"
"When I was little, I did it with grandpa and grandma. By the time I came here, I was already saying 'see you later' to all four of them by myself."
"Oh, so that's why you put your hands together."
"That's right. Like this, after saying 'Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma,' it's like saying 'see you later.' Even when I was over there, I didn't say it out loud. It became a habit."
"That's nice."
"Really?"
Maya-chan wraps her arm around mine. My elbow hits some soft spot. I'm getting used to this. I've really gotten used to it. Yeah, as long as I remember to 'Full Recover' with 'Pulse,' I'll be fine if I stay focused.
"Ah, that's right. When we went on the company trip, I felt a little anxious."
"Hmm?"
"I was taking a picture of the Buddhist altar. Um, where was it again?"
I tapped on the photo folder on my smartphone and started swiping to look for it. Then, I found the photo I took on the day before the company trip.
"Here, look."
I handed the smartphone to Maya-chan. In the photo, there were my mom, dad, grandfather, and grandmother lined up. There were the memorial tablets on the Buddhist altar, and below them, they were arranged in small picture frames.
"Is it okay for Maya to see?"
"Yeah. Since I was alone, I've never shown it to anyone before. The neighbors sometimes come to offer incense, though."
"These people are brother's mom, dad... and what's this? There are also a grandfather and grandmother below them, right?"
"Yeah. They kind of look alike, don't they?"
Maya-chan handed me back the smartphone.
"Can you hold onto it for a bit, big brother?"
"Sure, no problem."
Then Maya-chan placed her hands together in front of a photo on her smartphone.
"Mother, Father, Grandpa, Grandma."
"Huh?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Maya, now your stepsister here. Tatsuma-san has been very kind to me."
"Huh?"
"Alright, introductions done. Brother."
"Yes?"
"Can I have the photo? Send it to me in a message."
"Oh, sure."
I attached the photo to a message and sent it.
'Ping'
"Yes, it's been sent. Now I can greet them every day. Thanks, brother."
"Why, though?"
"Because I was jealous."
"Huh?"
"Is it okay? I'll greet them too."
"Well, it's fine. It's the same thing here or there anyway."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)