The sound of a key turning in the lock caught my attention. "Oh, my mom's back. I'll go greet her; you wait here," Mai said, leaving the room. She had mentioned that her mother would be home soon, and indeed, it had only been about thirty minutes. During that time, we played a video game on the TV. I'd never experienced anything like it before—it was refreshing. I had no idea you could play games on a television. I wasn't very good at it, struggling with the controls, but just playing with a friend was enjoyable.
Lost in my thoughts, the door opened, and Mai returned. "Come on, I need to introduce you to my mom," she said, leading me to the living room. When we arrived, I saw a woman there. This must be Mai's mother. There was a definite resemblance between them. It's clear where Mai got her beauty from. While Mai had a lively aura, her mother exuded a calm, mature presence.
"Mom, this is Kaya Hanayo. Kaya, this is my mom," Mai introduced us.
"My name is Kaya Hanayo. Thank you for having me."
"Oh, so polite! I'm Megumi, Mai's mother. I've heard a lot about you from her. Thank you for being such a good friend to Mai."
"No, I should be the one thanking you. Mai has been very kind to me."
Megumi smiled warmly. "Well, I understand there's something you'd like to discuss. Let's sit down first. Would you like some barley tea?"
I nodded and took a seat as she suggested. Once we were all seated, Mai spoke up.
"So, you see, Kaya had some issues with her dad and ran away from home. So, can she stay here for a while? Please?"
"Kaya, is that true?" Megumi asked, her voice calm but concerned.
"Yes, it is. But you don't need to worry about letting me stay. I don't want to impose," I replied, trying to ease the tension. I knew how kind Mai and her family were, and I didn't want them to feel pressured.
"Kaya! We agreed you'd stay if my mom said it was okay!" Mai protested.
"That's true, but I know it might be difficult for your mom to agree. Megumi—may I call you that?—Megumi-san is home now, so I think I should leave."
"Are you going back home?"
"No, I don't plan to go home."
"Then where will you go? You don't have anywhere else to go!"
"Mai, calm down," Megumi intervened, her voice gentle but firm. "I'll talk with Kaya. You, stay quiet for a bit. Now, Kaya, you said you're not going home. What do you plan to do?"
"I haven't figured that out yet. But I'm sure I'll manage somehow," I answered honestly. "For now, I just know that I don't want to go back home."
Megumi nodded thoughtfully. "I understand that there are things you're dealing with. You're welcome to stay here, but I do have one condition."
"Mom, don't be stingy about it!" Mai interjected.
"Mai," Megumi sighed, "I'm not being stingy. It's just that I can't let a minor stay here without permission from their guardian. So, Kaya, my condition is that I need to speak with your parents."
I hesitated. Should I contact them? Staying here would certainly help, but I didn't want to cause more trouble for Mai and her family. As I pondered, Mai jumped in again before I could decide.
"Please, Kaya. Let's call them. Just get their permission, so you don't have to go somewhere else."
"Alright," I agreed, reluctantly. "I'll do it. I'm sorry to ask, but could I borrow your phone? I left mine at home, so I can't make the call myself."
I took the phone Megumi offered and dialed home, my heart pounding. Maybe my mom was worried, maybe my dad had calmed down and was missing me. Holding onto that small hope, I waited as the phone rang. After two rings, someone picked up. I froze, unable to speak, until I heard my mother's voice.
"Hello, who is this?"
"It's me, Kaya."
"Kaya? Where are you? I hope you're not causing trouble for anyone. Just come home right now."
There it was—the familiar tone. My mother cared more about appearances than my well-being. I sighed inwardly. I knew it would be like this, but I couldn't help wishing she would worry about me just a little.
"I'm at a friend's house right now. I'm going to put her mother on the phone."
I handed the phone to Megumi, explaining that it was my mother on the line. "Hello, I'm Mai's mother, Megumi Mashibu. Kaya is here with us at the moment. I wanted to discuss—"
I stepped out of the room, giving them privacy to talk.
"Did you get through?" Mai asked when I returned.
"Yes. It's up to our mothers now."
After a few minutes, Megumi emerged from the room, phone call finished.
"We've come to an agreement. Kaya, you can stay with us."
I could hardly believe it. My parents had actually agreed to let me stay?
"Great! Now you can stay," Mai said, beaming.
"Yes, I suppose so… What did my parents say?"
"They said that it's alright for you to experience something like this once. I'll set up a guest room for you."
"Okay, thank you. I'll do my best not to cause any trouble."
I still couldn't fully believe it. Were those really my parents? But as I looked at Mai's relieved and happy face, I found myself unable to question it further. In the end, I decided to accept their hospitality.