As the days turned into months, the kids grew closer and enjoyed each other's company. Mikey, Emma, and Asuka all attended the same elementary school, while Keisuke went to a different one. Due to Asuka's intelligence, she was often recognized as a bright student.
It was a fresh start; the sun was shining brightly, and the school was filled with the lively chatter of students gossiping and playing. The air carried a sense of excitement, signalling the beginning of a new day filled with possibilities.
The class began, and Manjiro, utterly unbothered by the teacher's voice, was slumped over his desk, sleeping peacefully. His soft breathing blended with the background noise as if the world itself was a lullaby for him. Asuka, seated beside him, couldn't help but glance his way every now and then, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. Half the class time had passed, and Manjiro hadn't moved a muscle. The other students were engrossed in the teacher's lecture about an important topic, their faces tense with focus.
"Manji, wake up," Asuka whispered, leaning slightly toward him. Her voice was tinged with urgency, but her lips twitched with a mischievous smile. "The teacher is looking at you."
Manjiro stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering open. His dark eyes were still hazy with sleep as he murmured, "What is it, Asu-chan?" His voice carried a soft, drowsy warmth that momentarily softened Asuka's resolve.
"The teacher is looking at you," she repeated, feigning concern. "He called for you twice to clean the board, and you didn't even move."
Manjiro blinked, the words slowly sinking in. "Thanks for helping, Asu-chan," he said, gratitude flickering in his voice as he stretched lazily.
"Anytime," she replied with a sweet, disarming smile that barely concealed her mischief.
Rising from his seat, Manjiro ambled toward the blackboard, his movements sluggish and unhurried. The class fell silent, a wave of confusion rippling through the room as he picked up the duster and began cleaning the board with half-lidded eyes.
The teacher froze mid-sentence, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. "What are you doing, you idiot?" he shouted, his voice sharp and incredulous. His eyes blazed with frustration as he glared at Manjiro.
Manjiro turned around, startled. "Didn't you ask for this?" he replied innocently, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"When did I ask for this?" the teacher thundered, his arms gesturing wildly.
Manjiro's gaze flickered to Asuka, who was clutching her stomach, her shoulders shaking with laughter. It hit him like a bolt of lightning—she had tricked him. The realization spread across his face, his cheeks flushing a deep red. He looked back at the teacher, embarrassment creeping up his spine.
The class erupted in laughter, the sound echoing off the walls. Manjiro felt heat prickling his skin as he stood there, utterly mortified. Even the usually stern teacher couldn't help but let out an exasperated chuckle before his expression hardened again.
"Get out!" the teacher barked, pointing toward the door.
Manjiro trudged to the corridor, his head hanging low, while the laughter of his classmates followed him like a relentless shadow. As he stood outside, leaning against the wall, he muttered under his breath, "Asu-chan, you're going to pay for this." Yet, despite his embarrassment, a small, resigned smile tugged at his lips.
*Days passed away*
The kids frequently visited Mikey's mom, but they usually let him go alone to spend quality time with her. In the mornings, they practiced at the dojo to become stronger, and in the evenings, they played together. Mikey always looked forward to visiting his mother to share stories about his daily activities.
The following day, one tall kid, along with two others, was walking around calling himself the strongest. Mikey looked at the kid and kicked him. "What the hell? You're not a big deal at all!" Mikey said. The kid started crying.
He then went to the hospital to meet his mother and told her about how he defeated that kid. "I met that big guy from East Elementary's third grade, and I beat him up!" Mikey said with a smile.
"You're so strong, Manjiro, just like your father," his mother replied.
The next day, Mikey beat up a few more kids and went to tell his mother about it. He described how they started crying when they realized they had lost.
"Oh, but children cry easily, right?" his mother said.
"My father also cried easily," Manjiro asked. "I wonder if he ever cried in public?"
With a slight smile, she said, "He was a hopeless man."
"You love Daddy, don't you?" Manjiro said.
"Do I?" his mother replied.
One very cold night in December, the Sano family was resting at home when the phone began to ring. Shinichiro got up to answer it.
"Hello, who is this?" Shinichiro asked.
"I'm calling from the hospital. Is this the Sano residence?"
"Yes, it is. I'm Sano Shinichiro. Is everything okay?" he asked, worry creeping into his voice.
"Mrs. Sano, Sakurako's health is getting worse. Please come to the hospital as soon as you can."
Shinichiro's mind went blank, as if something sharp had pierced his heart. He couldn't utter a word and simply hung up the phone. He rushed toward the room where the other family members were sitting and enjoying their time together. In a hurry, Shinichiro flung open the door and shouted, "It was from the hospital! Mom's condition is getting worse! We have to go there!"
Everyone was taken aback, looking at him in shock. They quickly got ready and left for the hospital.
*At the hospital*
Manjiro entered the hospital room and looked at his mother. She looked back at him.
"Mom, I won another fight today," Manjiro said. "Weak guys always cry so fast. I'm not going to cry. That's why, Mom, I'm going to protect you, so come back home," he said while giving a soft smile.
"Manjiro, you're not strong because you don't cry. You used to be a crybaby when you were younger; all you did was cry and wail, my angel," his mother said with tears in her eyes.
"What are you saying, Mom? Don't talk about when I was a kid!" he shouted, getting embarrassed.
After three days, Manjiro's mother passed away. When they received the news, they rushed to the hospital with worried expressions and tears in their eyes.
Meanwhile, Keisuke was outside when he noticed Mikey and his family leaving in a hurry. Concerned, he raced home to tell Asuka.
"Asuka!" Keisuke exclaimed. "Mikey and his family looked very worried. They left suddenly. Is everything alright with them?"
Asuka paused for a moment, considering the situation, and then realized what it might mean.
"Maybe it's about his mother. Maybe she isn't well," Asuka replied. She got up and started running outside, with Keisuke following her.
*At the hospital*
The family was gathered around the lifeless body of Sano Sakurako, tears streaming down their faces. Mikey, however, remained quiet, staring at the ground. After a while, he stepped outside to the hospital's empty courtyard and let his tears flow, crying out, "Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" while taking heavy breaths.
After some time, Keisuke and Asuka arrived at the hospital entrance, both breathing heavily as they looked around for Mikey. After searching for a bit, they found him crying alone. At first, Asuka thought about leaving him to grieve in solitude, but then she remembered he was just an eight-year-old boy, overwhelmed with emotion. It wasn't right to leave him alone; he needed support.
She approached him, and Mikey lifted his head, stopping his tears as he looked at her. He had been bottling up his emotions inside. Asuka walked up to him and pulled him into a tight hug.
Mikey remained silent, staring at her with a blank expression. But after a few minutes, he couldn't hold it in any longer, and his tears began to flow again. Asuka didn't say a word; she just let him cry. Deep down, she recognized that he was just a child trying to appear strong and reliable, but she wanted him to embrace his childhood like any other kid.
Asuka had experienced loneliness in her past life, especially during times when she longed for someone to be there for her but was left alone in the darkness. She didn't want Mikey to go through the same pain. If she could, she would love to support him and stay by his side.
Mikey pulled back from the hug and looked at her with tears in his eyes
It was like the first time he allowed someone to see himself cry he held that pain in his eyes and voice while uttering those painful words
You will never leave me right Asuka you promise right he said
Asuka nodded and wiped the tears from his eyes
I promise manji I'll never leave you alone
She said while looking at him as if it was the first time she was true to herself in her both lives.