/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44836175
(3/5)
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I am a smart girl—me, Chen—hi again!—and I notice things, even when adults seem to think I don't. I noticed the sad of Mr. Anon and swore I'd do something about it, and even though I don't know how to get started on it, I know I'll think of something. The thing is, Mas—Ran—Mr. Anon said Ran would like being called by her name and not Master's Master—she's also got the sad out of nowhere! She stares into nothingness for no motive and speaks much less than normal; as if always locked inside her mind.

I didn't like that either, and now I have two adults who have sad and no idea how to help them! Such a situation can quickly overwhelm a girl.

Now I'm getting the sad too. Dammit. Mr. Anon must've noticed it, lowering his knitting needles and looking at me. "Something wrong, Chen?" He asked, and I stopped my own knitting. Mr. Anon is teaching me how to knit a sweater today.

Some weird feeling, a hefty one inside of me, urged me to not talk and embarrass myself. Mr. Anon already has to feel sad every day; putting even more on his shoulders wouldn't be cool, and—

"Chen," he called, his eyes turning back to the half-done sweater. "If you feel like you have something to say, and it's something important that has to do with the people near you: don't hide it, please," there was something in his voice that made me quietly wide-eyed. Sounded old. "Hiding things, especially the bad ones, is never a good idea. They won't disappear because you chose to ignore them; they'll just grow stronger and stronger, and sooner than you think, they'll consume your life—" He bit his tongue but kept smiling. "In the end, it hurts everybody. So... Can you tell me what was that, hm?"

"I..." Well, I was speechless. My gaze went to my lap, the purple and pristine white threads waiting to be woven, and thoughts rushed a bit. If what he said was true—it's Mr. Anon, 'course it is!—, then hiding would just make things worse. I felt a chill and, resuming my knitting, nodded and said, "Ran... is also sad."

"Oh, dear," his eyebrows fell, knitting halting again. I frowned.

"And I don't know why; she was happy until a week ago... What changed? I'm too scared of asking—she's always so unfazed, so whatever happened must've been terrible, r-right?" There was a hand on my back, and I noticed my eyes tearing up. It wasn't the smell; Mr. Anon started burning harmonizing incenses when he was off the clock. I like these. "And... And Ms. Yukari has barely shown around us! Is she mad at Ran? Or is it me?! D-Did I do something wrong?" Am I the problem? What will happen if they are mad at each other? I don't want them to stop living together! I love them, I don't want to lose any of them, I don't! I think I am crying and trembling in front of Mr. Anon and it's so embarrassing—

Suddenly, arms engulfed me like a tight and warm blanket. I heard his voice, but it was muffled and made no sense; however, the melody of it felt like safety, and when my claws sank into him and my tails became all bushy and I started to wail and wail because I didn't want to lose anyone, Mr. Anon just kept holding me tight.

As long as I cried we kept the hug, and when it died down into whimpers and silence, his voice was low; "Feeling better?" I could hear his gentle smile.

I nodded, my face buried in his shoulder.

It was odd how crying, which should mean sad, could make me feel better inside...

"I don't want to lose them..."

I undid the hug, cleaning my face with the half-done sweater, Mr. Anon's hand drawing circles on my back. "There, Kozo..."

Sniffing, it was hard to find my voice to speak. "Sorr—"

"No sorry, no buts," his hand slapped the top of my head, and, although painless, it puzzled me. "You're not a problem, Chen. I'm sure Ran and... even Yukari love you a lot. They won't talk about their problems with you because of that, too—to not worry you."

"I am worried!" I protested. Mr. Anon laughed.

"Exactly. Weird thing, right?" He turned back to his sweater. "Try saying all these things you said to me to Ran. That may be the push she needs to open up about what's making her sad—if it doesn't do it, talk to me, and I'll try to talk to her about it. Kay?"

"But—"

"No buts."

I groaned, even though there was a smile on my face. I felt much better after saying all those things and letting the thoughts out; the same may happen to Ran, too. I gotta try!

"Hey, Chen."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

What? I don't recall doing anything.

"For what?"

Mr. Anon closed his eyes and smiled, knitting with precision even without sight—so cool!

Then, after a moment of thought, he said, "For everything."

... Huh? I still didn't understand it, and my dazed face must've looked funny because Mr. Anon started to laugh.

Seeing him happy made me happy too, so I resumed my knitting with newfound vigor, Mr. Anon giving advice here and there but never paying a second glance to my mistakes—he glimpsed, however, at the gloves I was wearing. His smile was wide and warm.

Ran shamaaaaa!!!!
No body loves my animooooooo!!!!!