Here's a
The sunlight caught the dust motes dancing lazily in the Akimatsu living room. Nene hummed as she scrubbed the low table, scrubbing the dark wood until it gleamed. She was lost in the rhythm of cleaning when the faint sound of footsteps outside made her pause.
Peeking through the shoji, she squinted. A boy—well-dressed, polite, slightly awkward—stood by the gate, glancing around. Nene's heart skipped.
"Could it be… someone… visiting Zozo?" she whispered to herself, clutching the cloth like a tiny talisman. Her mind raced. First, a girlfriend, now a friend? My Zozo can't stop making me happy!
She practically tripped over her own slippers running to the door. Sliding it open, she nearly squealed.
"Hi! I'm Riku," the boy said, his voice polite, uncertain. "I… um… I'm a friend of Yozora's?"
Nene's eyes lit up like fireworks. "A friend? Oh! Zozo has a friend! My Zozo! First a girlfriend, now another friend! Oh, Riku, you have no idea how much joy you're bringing me!" She flapped her hands, cheeks warm. "You just made my entire day, young man!"
Riku coughed, a bit overwhelmed, shuffling his feet. "I… I didn't know Yozora had such a kind older sister. I—I thought…" His eyebrows knit together in confusion.
Nene froze. Then, red blossomed across her cheeks. She laughed nervously, flustered but radiant. "No, no, no! I'm his mother! Mother of four, in fact," she said proudly, placing her hands on her hips like a queen revealing her lineage.
Riku blinked. Then cleared his throat. "…Four?"
"Yes! Four children," Nene said, sweeping a hand toward the house as if she'd just revealed a castle of tiny princes and princesses. "Yozora, Jin and Jikan, Asahi and well…" She trailed off, caught in a daydream. "Well, let's not bore you with all their details yet. But isn't it wonderful? My Zozo making new friends…!"
Riku laughed awkwardly, not sure if he should bow, step back, or run. Nene, oblivious to any embarrassment, grabbed his hand. "Come in, come in! I insist! You have to meet my children—oh, and the garden! The koi! Riku, this is turning into the best day ever!"
Outside, the koi pond shimmered innocently, completely unaware of the chaos that had just burst through the front gate.