/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45420189 (22/-)
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The gazes were unimportant; questions were ignored.

All that mattered when I sat down on my couch in the coziness of my home, the sun dying on the horizon and ignoring the horrid feeling padding every inch of my skin, imploring me to resurface—out of breath, too cold, too cold—was that I had funds.

I glanced at Aki and Kuramochi, all warm and snuggled together in the makeshift castle of pillows—so they wouldn’t roll off—, wings folded like blankets over them leaving only half their faces exposed. I gently caressed their heads, giggling as Aki tried to pull her wings up even more. Such a sleepy girl…

Ah, the many things I'll teach you two: how to read, arithmetic, walk, talk… The cold fingers of death slowly rescinded with the lovable warmth.

Though, it was with a sigh that I turned my gaze to the coffee table, eyeing my purse full of yen. Another sigh and I leaned forward, grabbing a notebook and pen. “Better get this over with already.” I whispered, rubbing my eyes.

… This amount should be enough for baby food; gladly already have the clothes and paraphernalia I and Mokou bought—I gulp down venom—then taxes; timber…? No, that's a cut: can get it from the forest. Food? Only essentials; I can survive from exploded fish for some time. It's not sustainable, true, but good enough. Cut, cut, cut… I can survive without that, that too… And the rest goes to savings.

It's disheartening so much effort got me what, at first, seemed a lot of money, yet now it feels so little—Kuramochi giggles, a heavenly sound. "What's so funny, you little devil? Charity is noble, but paying kindness with kindness is what keeps the world spinning… Hm, Suzu should be arriving in two hours or so." I sealed the envelope containing a hefty sum of money, Suzu's name labeled on it. "When you two can speak, remember to thank her a lot, okay? Be grateful!" I give them a toothy smile. Kuramochi laughs, Aki rolls over.

Rubbing my eyes to ward off tiredness, I keep making notes, counts and recounts and playing with the night sparrows when they demanded attention—it was often, very often—humming lullabies to try putting them at ease… There's an old saying that states there's beauty in the mundane, and though such locution is ludicrous in a land like Gensokyo, this peace that washes over me as I poke their tiny hands, watching entranced their unconscious attempts to grasp my index, seeking safety and nurture… it’s something I’d easily call beauty… Yeah…

Before I noticed, I was asleep…

… No… I'm sinking.

Desperately swimming towards the surface, yet sinking anyway, body weak and weary, the glacial water entering me through my nose and mouth, which I couldn't protect, hands bound by lies, omissions, alone in the dark—and it depleted my strength, losing my senses, freezing still my skeleton and cartilage—sinking—too cold—mind going numb—sinking—it's dark—shaking—sinking—help—

My body suddenly jolts awake, eyes broad at the aghast face staring at me. "… Suzu?" I ask as I look around, assessing: home, Aki and Kuramochi asleep—salty water on my face.

"Keine! Y-You were struggling and crying… I think you were having a bad dream." I recall the cold fingers of death, poking and prodding… I slowly nod, squeezing her hand after noticing it was on mine, her warmth pulling me out of the frigid depths.

"T-Thanks… Sorry you had to see this." Suzu squirmed, bells softly ringing, unspoken curiosity in her eyes. "It was just a bad dream; don't worry about it." I forced a smile on my face. Believing it or not, she mumbled, ‘Okay, then…’ Gladly dropping the subject as she glanced at the sleeping babies.

"Get yourself used to sudden naps. The many I took when Dai and Fumi were that tiny…" The fondness was coupled with a sweet giggle, though my heart sank: I miss all the children I used to teach; Dai is a troublemaker, but very applied; and though Fumi needs guidance more often than others, she always keeps trying… I miss teaching so much…

Suzu squeezes my hand a tad tighter, and I can't help but open a genuine smile on my face. It's good to have friends—oh!

"Almost forgot," I pull my hand out of hers and pick up the notebook resting on the coffee table, Suzu watching all with puzzled eyes. It’s not long before I find the heavy envelope with her name on it. "Here~for everything you have done for us!" She narrows her eyes, takes the envelope, and looks inside of it—then her eyes broaden.

"Keine, n-no, I can't—"

"You can. I have everything covered already, so no worries."

"Really? Fishing for a single day covers everything?" The suspicion tried to poke a hole through me, but I remained resilient. She doesn't need to know the type of fishing I'm doing—she'd lose her mind, heh…

"Yep! Not many people go as deep into the Forest of Magic for fishing as I did!" I got up, avoiding eye contact as I moved to the kitchen, intending on preparing some tea— "HEY! No slipping money out of the envelope!"

Suzu yelped, and Kuramochi giggled.