Chapter 1
Aimi
“Mom,” I said, tears clouding my eyes.
“I miss you… come back.”
“Aimi, it’s okay. Be strong. Your dad and I will always be with you. We’re watching over you,” Mom said while I held her hand tightly.
“AIMIIIIIIIIIIII!”
The loud scream of Aunt brought me back to reality.
It was a dream, I mouthed.
I sat upright on the worn-out bed foam. The light duvet Aunty Junko gave me couldn’t prevent the heavy Tokyo breeze.
“AIMIIIIIIIII!”
“I’m coming!”
I replied before quickly rushing into the bathroom to brush my teeth and head downstairs.
---
“Yes, Aunty?”
I said, approaching the kitchen.
“Pam!”
A loud slap landed on my face this early in the morning.
“Fifteen minutes. You made me wait fifteen whole minutes,” she said, looking at her watch while tapping her slippers against the tiles.
“I didn’t mean to. I was washing up,”
I replied, holding back my tears.
“You were washing up? Will the plates wash themselves?” she yelled.
“Mom, I’m watching a series. Your voice is too loud,” my nineteen-year-old cousin, Yuka, said from the parlor.
“Sorry, dear,” she said immediately.
“Clean this kitchen and make it sparkle before I’m back,” she ordered before heading out.
I got to work immediately. I washed the plates, swept, and mopped the kitchen floor.
When I was done, I turned on the gas and was about to cook when I heard echoes of laughter.
I glanced toward the parlor and saw the three of them laughing together.
Aunt Junko.
Yuka.
Uncle Takachi.
I smiled at the scene.
My family used to be like this too.
Once upon a time, I used to run down these stairs with happiness in my chest.
My father owned a music studio. During rainy days, he would play beats for me while Mom sang and I danced around the living room.
Three years ago, when I was fifteen, I came home from school to find out my parents had died after a trailer ran over them.
Now the house that once made me laugh had become my reason for tears.
The house that once made me feel safe had become the reason for my insecurities.
Uncle Takachi promised to treat me like his younger daughter. At first, he did.
Later, he seized all my parents’ properties.
Now I was living like a slave inside my own father’s house.
“Aimiiii.”
The cold touch of Uncle Takachi made me freeze.
I had always felt uncomfortable with the way he touched me… and the way he looked at me.
“Yes, Uncle?” I asked, gently removing my hand from his.
“You’re becoming more beautiful every day,” he said, scanning my body slowly.
I didn’t reply.
I simply turned back to the food I was cooking, though I could still feel his gaze lingering on me.
It made me uncomfortable.
“Dad!” Yuka called, making him step away from me immediately.
“Yes, darling?” he replied.
“Croix Institute is recruiting new students. I want to be among them,” she said with a pout.
“But darling, we already talked about this. Croix Institute is too expensive, and my monthly salary can’t afford the tuition,” he replied.
“I want to go there. Mom, I want to go!” Yuka whined.
“All the celebrities go to that school.”
“Darling, allow her to go,” Aunty Junko added.
“But there’s no money.”
“I don’t care,” Yuka replied carelessly.
“Honey, just sell the studio. It’s useless to us anyway,” Aunt Junko said.
The studio?
I mouthed silently as tears formed in my eyes.
That was my family’s property.
I wanted to scream at them.
I wanted to tell them they had no right to sell it.
But I had no courage.
“Yes, sell the stupid studio,” Yuka added.
I looked at Uncle Takachi.
Maybe… just maybe… he wouldn’t sell it.
It was the last memory of his younger brother.
Surely he had some conscience left.
“Okay. I’ll call the agent,” he said.
My heart shattered instantly.
Not because I didn’t already know this family was terrible…
But because the last memory of my parents was about to disappear forever.
“Yesssss! I’m going to Croix!” Yuka screamed happily.
“I’m going to post it on Instagram, TikTok… everywhere!”
Aunt Junko smiled proudly at her daughter.
I quietly turned off the gas, brought down the pot, and walked upstairs.
They didn’t even notice me leave.
Why would they?
I was just a burden living with them.
—————————————————————————
Aunt Junko later told me to clean the studio and make it neat before the agent arrived.
I was strangely excited.
It had been three years since I last stepped into that studio.
I unlocked the door and pushed it open slowly.
The scent of dust and cobwebs welcomed me.
My eyes wandered across the piano, drums, and guitars covered with white cloths.
Then my gaze landed on a small wooden stool.
I rushed toward it and knelt down immediately.
This was Mom’s favorite stool.
She used to sit on it and sing for me while Dad played the piano.
I traced my fingers slowly across the top of the stool.
I closed my eyes as tears threatened to fall.
After a moment, I stood up and walked toward the piano—Dad’s favorite instrument.
I removed the white cloth covering it and sat down carefully.
My fingers hovered over the keys before I slowly began to play.
🎶 Even if we don’t have each other, we have ourselves
Stand tall, breathe deep, know you’re enough 🎶
🎶 ’Cause life is beautiful when you have true love
Family and friends right there beside you
That’s the wealth, that’s the light
Even if we don’t have each other, we still shine bright 🎶
I sang Mom’s favorite song.
She used to sing it for me whenever I struggled to breathe.
Yes…
I’m an asthmatic patient.
Honestly, it’s a miracle I haven’t died living in this house.
“You sing so well.”
I froze immediately and stood up from the piano stool.
A tall man stood near the entrance wearing a black tuxedo.
He looked rich.
“You haven’t cleaned this place up,” another voice said.
Aunt Junko and Uncle Takachi walked in immediately after.
“You stupid good-for-nothing—”
“It’s okay,” the man interrupted calmly.
“I’ll buy it.”
My heart shattered into pieces.
Aunt Junko stared at me sharply.
No one needed to tell me to leave.
I quietly excused myself and walked out of the studio.
I sat on the pavement outside, staring blankly into space.
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
“It’s a very beautiful studio,” the man said while walking out with Aunt Junko and Uncle Takachi behind him.
I looked at Aunt Junko, who immediately gave me the “Go clean that place properly” look.
Without saying a word, I walked back inside.
After I was done cleaning, I covered all the instruments again with the white cloths.
That was when my eyes landed on a small purple object.
I picked it up slowly.
It was the purple pendant Mom bought for me years ago.
I opened it carefully and saw our family picture inside.
I thought I had lost this pendant a long time ago.
I used to lie to Mom that it had been stolen.
As I stared at the picture, a tear rolled down my cheek.
“If I could make one wish…” I whispered softly, tracing the picture with my thumb.
“I would wish to see both of you again.”
I quickly hid the pendant inside my pocket before Aunt Junko could see it.
Then I locked the studio and left.
I pushed open the front door only to see Aunt Junko, Uncle Takachi, and Yuka laughing together.
Their laughter stopped the moment they saw me.
Not wanting to ruin their fun, I quietly walked past them toward the stairs.
“So… you were planning to run away to Croix Institute?” Aunt Junko suddenly said.
I froze instantly.
She held up a white envelope.
“ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO CROIX ACADEMY.”
My eyes widened.
Then right in front of me…
She tore it apart.
“Nooooooo!”
