Mathematician

puppy

The apartment felt hollow, even though it was full of flowers and condolences. The funeral had happened, but the cards kept coming in the mail. It was nothing more than a limbo space that people in and out of, living or not.

Aimi had been aimless, taking time off from school to mourn the great doom she had always known was coming. She rarely changed out of her pyjamas, laying in her dark and messy room for days straight under the covers like a ghost. Her father and brother had stayed with her every night like two protective bears, to soothe her crying and calm her to sleep. They had cried too of course, they'd sent the servants on paid leave and mourned as a family. But eventually, they returned to their work, but Aimi wasn't ready for school yet.

Aimi routinely got up to pay her respects to her mother and twin, the house wafting the scent of burning incense day in day out.

There was some incessant nagging in her head today that was telling her it was time to get up and go to school. Her twin still telling her what to do, to go on and live her life like everyone else.

So she rolled out of bed to have a bath early in the morning, before her brother and father had gone out. In her school uniform, the hemmed skirt she had grown accustomed to wearing. Instead of the ponytail she'd always worn to match, her hair was down on her shoulders and only half up with a ribbons she tied herself. She'd left the glasses and opted for contacts instead, light makeup included to shed the androgyny she followed suit of to be more like her sibling. Such a subtle change in appearance, and she couldn't help but feel guilty that she was the one who could pursue her dreams now, when she had tried as much to live for Mito before.

The three of them prayed to the photos, then stood, ready to head out. The taller males clapped her on the shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want a ride from either of us? Or catching a ride with the Hitachiin's? I have their mother's phone number of course."

"No, that is okay. If I could just use the driver for today?" she asked.

"Sure, darling, Papa can give you anything you want if you just ask!" he patted her on the head and flipped out his phone to make a call.

"A puppy?"

"On it!!"

She looked at Ryu, in his formal suit attire assuming he'd probably be running the agency today. His dirty blonde hair was well styled. He always had a solemn face about him, but at this moment, he tried to smile at Aimi. She understood it was as hard on them as her, she felt so disturbed by their kindness towards her, and so she decided she would try harder to lift their spirits once she was back from school.

He stepped down to put on his shoes.

"Have a good day at work today," she said, knowing they rarely heard from each other.

He paused, then resumed. "Thank you. Have fun at school. Do your best."

"Right!" she waved him goodbye, then waited for her dad to finish the call.

"The driver will be out front in five minutes! Do you have a preference? Well, of course I know your favourite dog breed. Have a good day with those darling boys, darling!" he said, and headed out, leaving her alone.

She took a deep breath, then made for the door too.

--

I step into the club room, empty now since I am technically missing out on my first elective. Which is fine, I'm in the process of switching over, and still on leave. The curtains are drawn, so the usual natural light isn't flooding in.

I set down the easel, and put the framed painting of Mito I had created in my time off.

The other auction items in the club, I drag around to resemble a museum. I find it amusing, this way, to have all this expensive art and sneak in my own. I put a display card at the front, coupled with those fancy spectacles to closer observe art. 'Take a lady on a museum date!' it says. I know for sure they hadn't had a scheduled theme for today. This was a simple pleasure for girls, to observe art while their date takes them around.