"That's it, we've found Nomiko."
I didn't even have time to really understand his sentence when I immediately felt him clinging to my neck again.
And unconsciously, I felt tears running down my cheeks.
I don't know if it's the fact of seeing Shiro crying and being happy at the same time that makes me feel that way, but I was indeed crying. I couldn't contain myself.
But without me expecting it, I felt a second person clinging to me.
This time it was Alia who also seemed to be moved, even though she didn't know her.
The three of us stayed like that for a few seconds before I felt Alia pull back.
"Where did you find her?" I asked Shiro while drying my tears.
"Actually, she was the one who found us, we were looking in the market place and she was the one who called us when she saw me."
"You must think your white hair is useful."
She didn't really respond to my sentence, instead she gave a small laugh while touching her hair.
"Will you lead us to her?"
"Yes, follow me."
We arrived at the market place in three short minutes.
And as I followed Shiro, who kept moving, I nervously scanned the area for Nomiko.
"Calm down, you'll be able to see her soon."
"Yes you're right, but I can't stop looking for her."
I didn't think it was so obvious that I was looking for her.
But that it was Alia who noticed it, I wasn't surprised at all, I don't know how she manages to know, but she's very good at detecting the physical behaviors of humans. And this time again, she was able to detect mine.
"Look, I think that's her next to Selstine." She replied
Indeed, she was right, next to Selstine was Nomiko, who was also looking around.
I looked at her for just a second before she noticed me too, as if she had known where I was.
When she saw me, she ran in my direction and she, too, grabbed onto my neck.
It must be a family reflex to cling to the necks of people you find, because Shiro had done the same thing two days earlier.
But hey, I'm not going to complain, I'd finally found her, which means there's only my mother left to find. My first goal was finally coming up.
"You missed me, admit it." That was the only sentence that came to mind as she hugged me.
And while I expected a flat refusal from her, she answered a sentence that I didn't expect to hear at all coming from her mouth.
"Yes, a week without seeing you is weird."
I admit I don't know how to take it, either it means she appreciates my presence by her side, or I'm strange. A strange dilemma.
"A week without seeing you has been weird for me too."
Realizing that the way I had just said that sentence was confusing.
Apparently, Nomiko felt the same way, because she released me and stared straight into my eyes, about to say something.
But just as she was about to speak, she spotted Alia behind me, which made her facial expression change.
"The girl behind, is she your girlfriend?"
Why, is that, every time the first question I am asked.
A first time Shiro, but that's understandable considering her young age.
But Nomiko, should be a bit more mature and should avoid asking this kind of question out loud in front of everyone.
"Her name is Alia and nah, she's not my girlfriend."
"Oh I see, nice to meet you Alia, I'm Nomiko."
"Yes, I'm also happy to meet you, Yùichi told me a lot about you."
"And what did he tell you about me?" Nomiko answered while taking Alia's arm.
"Only positive things, if you want I'll tell you. Alia answered while giving me a mocking look.
With that, they moved a few meters away from us, so that their voices were mixed in the ambient noise and I couldn't hear what they were saying.
Not wanting to disturb him, I went to see Selstine and Shiro who had both stayed in the same places.
"Was she alone when you found her?"
"Yes, gentlemen, no one was with her."
I thought I had made it clear that I had asked them to stop calling me "sir" and to stop calling me "ladies", but apparently they hadn't changed their minds about that yet.
Stop calling me "sir", I've already told you. And if not, you've told my father and Sonia."
"No not yet, we were waiting for you to come back to go and warn your father. If you gentlemen will allow me, I'll go and tell them right away.
Well, I guess I'll have to get used to it since they don't change their minds at all and keep calling me gentlemen.
"Let's wait until they both come back and then we'll all go together to find them.
"Very well, gentlemen."
Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long as they returned very soon after.
But as soon as they approached us, the mood changed slightly, both of their eyes were turned in my direction and surely announced something not very positive for me.
"It's okay, you're lucky, she's nice, you're allowed." Nomiko said while looking at me with a suspicious look.
Well, I had expected a reply like that, but I didn't think she would be so explicit.
"So you decide who I'm allowed to be with?
"Nah, I never said that, I just said Alia is nice." She replied with a big mocking smile.
"So, are you ready to go and see Dad?
"Yes of course, it's fine."
"Well, Selstine, I'll let you guide us."
"As you wish, gentlemen." She said, and started to do so immediately.
"Wait a second, Yùichi. Did she just call you gentlemen?" Nomiko retorted in surprise.
"Yes, I feel a bit weird being called that, but after a while you get used to it.
"Yes, but how did you do it?"
"Well, I don't know. Daddy told them about me and since our first meeting they've been on formal terms with me. If you want to, if I tell them, they'll have to be polite to you too.
"Nah, but I don't mind being called 'sir'. It's just that it's quite disorienting to hear it."
"Don't worry, it was a bit weird for me too. But you'll see, you don't pay too much attention to it anymore.
"Yeah, if you say so."
During the little trip we had left to make, I told, without going into too much detail, how we found our father and Shiro and what we did yesterday.
But I didn't have time to explain everything to her as we found our father and Sonia very quickly.
"Oh Nomiko, are you okay?" Shouted my father from across the street.
Then in 10 seconds he had time to walk the 100 meters between us and hug Nomiko.
"Yes, I'm fine. But you're holding me a little tight."
"Sorry, but I was happy to see you."
It's amazing how different these relationships are between Nomiko, Shiro and myself.
With Shiro, he's going to be very protective, maybe too protective. That's why I thought it was strange that he left her alone with Selstine.
Then with Nomiko, he will become very childish and completely forget his role as a father.
And finally, with me, he is very arrogant and loves to tease me, even if sometimes it seems more like denigration.
In short, he is very different depending on who he is talking to.
"Well, since we've found Nomiko, I suggest we stop looking for her for today. My father continued.
"But what about Mom?" Shiro retorted.
"Don't worry about her, we'll find her tomorrow."