Life After Death

The Thought

By spring the following year, Junpei and Chidori moved into the neighborhood. Neoma's first birthday came and went and Hisato started the second grade. And while the little girl grew, her older "cousin" grew along with. Every birthday meant keeping track of heights on the wall or hearing first words from Neoma. Yukari started to see the two families grow and weave into one another. Even Chidori grew close to her, becoming one of her first friends in the neighborhood. All something she thought she'd never see happen. Heck, even her and Junpei were getting along like nothing was a secret between just them.

Things were changing fast. Almost too fast for Yukari to enjoy them. Day in and day out, life looked and seemed to be normal. Nothing much to fear besides dreaded adult tasks and responsibilities. Not anything like back in the day. God, did thinking like that make her feel old...

In fact, she felt herself enjoying life for once. With just her and her son, life was easier and better on the two of them. She made a good amount of money to keep things afloat and treat themselves once in awhile. Just the unknown future awaited them...

But... As Hisato's tenth birthday came and went, she felt a bit on edge...

...

January 31st, 2021

Takeba Residence

Evening

...

"Over 10 years now..."

Sitting at the edge of her bed, Yukari held her old Evoker in her hands. For whatever reason, she felt the need to take a look at it. Its shine was dulled from being covered in dust for so many years. The grooves from this and that still remained, nonetheless. Back then, it was a symbol of strength. Now, looking at it, it was a weakness. A shaded memory of the past...

Tracing a finger over it, staring at her vague reflection in its surface, she hardly noticed Hisato approached.

"What are you thinking about, Mom?"

Her attention was fully caught and her head jerked up to look at him. Being ten years old now meant he was taller and more mature, having gone from Mama to Mom. Also, his hair was much longer now, starting to look almost strikingly like his father. His light brown eyes could be seen from under his blue locks.

She let a small, amused laugh slip from her lips and touched his hair, letting it slide between her fingers. "You need a haircut, mister," She murmured as she let the locks fall from her grasp.

"That's not what I asked you,"

His slightly correcting response caught her a bit off guard. He wasn't acting out one bit, however. He was looking at her with a lowered brow, the corners of his mouth not raised as much as usual.

She turned her gaze back down to her lap. Moving her Evoker, she let the bedroom light shine off of it and onto the wall. What she was exactly thinking about still wasn't something she could tell him yet. That day, at the top of Tartarus... It wasn't even something any human should have to know about. But her she was, along with her friends far and wide.

Letting out a shy, she forced a smile. "I can't tell you just yet," she admitted, a bit in defeat. "But one day, I will," She put her hand atop his head and ran her fingers through his blue locks. His gaze turned from concern to showing a happy gleam in his eyes.

Taking his gaze from her, he put it upon her Evoker. "Will that be when I get one of these of my very own?" He pointed a finger at it from where he sat, his eyes full of wonder.

That's when she was the one to act on a strong influence. The first time a hard smack had ever been used on him.

Once it had been done and she realized, she covered her mouth. He touched his hand to his face and let tears stream out. Tears streamed down her face as well.