Teenage Stage: The true change of opinion

POV MC (Kirijima Kaito)

Early May

Sitting on the couch my mother was staring at the ceiling concentrating and crossing her arms, she was dressed in her usual black jacket.

Kaito: So that's the plan

Ritsuko: *sigh* Even though I'm not completely happy I have to accept this you're 3 and well... I'm a little worried about Maki-chan.

Sitting on the couch next to my mother Ritsuko we were looking at a school brochure.

Ritsuko: This time, the school meeting will be held at the same time for the three of you. Also, each of you must bring a relative, and the meetings will be held simultaneously.

Kaito: I think it's because of the way many students come to school, teachers want to know where this rumor is coming from.

Ritsuko: Time flies by, the rumor is only two years old, but I don't think the children don't like the idea. When Kizuna High School started, we saw their classmates from other schools arrive with their foreheads painted red. 

Kaito: What son wouldn't like to receive the affection of his mother? besides the lipsticks are a little difficult to remove.

My mother Ritsuko crossed her legs as she turned to look at my face. 

Ritsuko: *sigh* Adults only know how to exaggerate the situation, I don't think it's so bad to have a red forehead before school.

Kaito: Well, not all children arrive with red foreheads, mom.

Ritsuko: Is that why you want Maciej to be in the school observation? Saeko I never see her with her forehead that color.

My mother Ritsuko started stroking my head playing with the shoulder-length mushroom-shaped strands of hair.

Ritsuko: Kai-chan that's why you want to go with them? Are you worried about what's going on at their house?

Kaito: It's not exactly my idea but it wouldn't hurt to trust our neighbors a little more.

Ritsuko: Even if they are our neighbors, I want to see...

Stopping her hand my mother began to smile Machiavellianly.

Ritsuko: Since your teachers can't defend themselves against your words...

Kaito: "You're a bit sadistic mother".

Looking straight into my mother's eyes my expression changed to a poker face as I heard her words.

Relaxing my expression I felt my face a little uneasy as I looked at my mother. 

Kaito: Mom, that only happened once and I already apologized, it wasn't my intention to make a teacher quit.

Ritsuko: You can say whatever you want Kai-chan but you always get upset when an adult wants to hurt a kid.

Scratching my lower jaw I started to look away from my mother.

Kaito: Excuse me, but will you give me permission? it's been almost a year since that incident.

Ritsuko: Approved, however remember to always take care of those women I'm a little worried.

As I lowered my hand my mother began to touch my face.

Ritsuko: I think Maciej has a childish side so don't be too mean to her.

Kaito: It's never been my intention to be like that mother.

Ritsuko: You shouldn't be formal with me son. 

My mother fixed my hair by caressing my face. 

Ritsuko: Besides, it's interesting to know how Maciej will dress for the occasion.

Ritsuko: It will be fun to tease her after the meeting.

Starting to have a mischievous smile my mother drops both hands on my shoulders as she stares at me.

...........................................

Sitting at my desk I was copying the exercise in my notebook as I looked at the blackboard my teacher seemed to be smiling very nervously at the back of the room.

Teacher: So kids, does anyone want to solve this exercise?

Child: I want to try it

Teacher: Go ahead

Woman: You can do it

Listening to the woman my classmate starts to blush.

Kaito: "I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip, I want to flip".

Grabbing my pencil I began to twirl it between my fingers making it turn with my thumb and fingers.

Sakeo was sitting next to me she pulled my shirt a little so I noticed her presence

Saeko: *whisper* Kiri-sama take a breath

Kaito: *whisper* am I too obvious?

Saeko: *whisper* yes, you are very restless.

Kaito:*whisper* excuse me....

Taking a deep breath I looked up to see the blackboard at the front of the room, the boy was walking with short steps in the direction of the teacher.

Kaito: "I've always been very curious, I think it's natural for me, plus it doesn't help to have a body as restless as an infant's".

Kaito: "Anything now catches my attention and it can be very interesting if we see things from another point of view though..."

The small hubbub of the other boys could be heard as the boy returned to the seat, I started to lower my head

Kaito: "I just want to distract my head..."

Teacher: Even though he did his best, I know you can do better next time.

The teacher's voice seemed uncomfortable as he directed the words to the people behind us.

Kaito: *whispers* I think I'll turn around for a moment.

Saeko: *whisper* can't do it Kiri-sama, if you do I'm sure you'll laugh....

Kaito: *whisper* well, I don't think that will happen, besides it would be rude to do something like that to my aunt.

Saeko: *whisper* please, don't be so cruel you mustn't look back.

As I turn to look at Saeko, my tone of voice changed to a more mature one.

Kaito: Saeko... I don't think it's that bad.

Raising her face Saeko starts to look at me, her face has changed a lot in this time she looks a little more like a chubby teenager than a girl.

Her cheeks looked as soft as marshmallows, giving the impression that she was puffing out her cheeks. Her blue eyes were more rounded, and the contour of her nose was very thin, like a heron's beak. Her long white hair had a topknot that covered part of her forehead, almost reaching her eyes.

Saeko: *whispers* I warned you Kiri-sama....

As I began to look towards the back of the room, I began to identify the parents who were lined up to watch the children in the classroom. Among the men and women present, one tall, blonde woman stood out above all others

As I glanced in the middle of the room I looked at my aunt Maciej, she was wearing a white full-length dress, her blonde hair reached her waist and she had a gentle smile on her face as she held her hat, she turned to look directly at me and our eyes met.

Kaito: "I think the teacher is uncomfortable to see a woman as tall as Aunt Maciej, she is not like the average Japanese woman".

Kaito: "Although, I can't understand why she behaves like evil later on but I think it's because she disappeared while Saeko was in high school that triggered the uncle's events and forced him to take revenge on his daughter to make the mother suffer."

Kaito: *whispers* But... it's just conjecture....mias "and from my dreams."

Saeko: *whisper* hey, Kiri-sama.

Turning her gaze to Saeko she looked a little sorry for her blushing face

Saeko: *whisper*Please don't make fun of my mother....

At the words I raised an eyebrow of disbelief, I started to fold my hand under my desk getting Saeko's attention.

Kaito: *whisper* I'll talk to you later...

...........................................

Saeko and I started walking down the hallway of the school building, heading for the courtyard. I turned to look at her out of the corner of my eye and began to clear my throat.

Kaito: *ahem* Could you repeat what you said in class Saeko?

Saeko: etto, it's hard to say it again I think you're making fun of me.

Kaito: I don't have a reason to make fun of anyone but it catches my attention, why did you jump to that conclusion?

Putting her hands together Saeko started to play with the fingers of her hand while we were walking.

Saeko: I think it's normal, daddy said that mommy was exaggerating to show up at school today.

Kaito: Well, her dress is nice she likes long clothes I don't see what's wrong or strange.

Saeko: Mommy was different today, she wanted to try something new with her appearance.

Kaito: New? "She doesn't have a change that I noticed in detail she looks great all dressed up like that."

Scratching my chin I stared at Saeko out of the corner of my eye, I felt my face tense up a little when I heard her words.

Saeko: that's right, mommy wanted to paint herself a little bit for the parents' meeting, but women who mark their lips too much are easy girls who only want to attract a man's attention.

Stopping my step I look at Saeko's back.

Kaito: What did you say?

Stopping Saeko turns to look at me.

Saeko: It's something that my daddy repeated this morning, mommy wanted to fix her eyelashes and put on some makeup but that's not right.

Kaito: "Wait..." Wait... "We didn't get to high school yet uncle shouldn't behave like that" I don't think so....

Saeko: But it's true Mami has an engagement with daddy that rumor only hurts us Kiri-sama she should know how to act more mature.

Approaching Saeko I was taking short steps to close the distance between us.

Kaito: "What's that guy thinking? That kind of language is horrible to say to a woman."

Kaito: But Saeko she's your mother, maybe he's wrong but....

Standing next to Saeko, the tone of voice he used changed intensity when talking to her.

Saeko: But Kiri-sama still has a lot of growing up to do, or so my daddy tells me a lot.

Kaito: Saeko...

Lifting my arm I let go of Saeko's shoulder to hug her.

Kaito: That's very cruel, besides what matters to her is to know how you are Saeko, so if you think she's ridiculous, you can tell me your reasons.

Saeko: Kiri-sama...

Saeko reciprocated my embrace by folding her arms behind my back. 

After a moment I felt how Saeko stopped hugging me.

Saeko: Thank you, kiri-sama

Kaito: No, I make a big deal that you for your mother should speak out how you feel and what you think of her.

Saeko: But, daddy's opinion is important...

Kaito: A son's opinion is just as important, or do you think your mother is ugly?

Grabbing the bottom of my shirt Saeko looks me straight in the eye.

Saeko: She's beautiful with each passing day.

Kaito: Perfect

Extending my hand in Saeko's direction, she firmly grasps my hand.

Kaito: But I have a doubt what does your father mean when he says ´´She lacks maturity?´´

Saeko: Mmmmm, maybe because of his age.

As I started to walk next to Saeko, her face seemed to wander the answer.

Saeko: Maybe he means mommy's age?

Kaito: Age, Aunt Maciej is so young?

Saeko: Well, your mother is still very young.

Kaito: "She's about to turn 39, she's very well preserved, even if she wanted to, she could look like a teenager again" I'm flattered Saeko, but I don't think that's a reason.

As we walk we put our shoulders together to pass in the corridors.

Saeko: My mother will barely be 27, daddy says she should learn to act like a lady.

Listening to Saeko I stopped my steps in an instant seeing how my hand was pulled by Saeko until she turned to look at me.

Saeko: What's wrong?

Kaito: Saeko.... I think I misheard .... your mother's age was....

Saeko: At this moment she is 26 years old.

Looking straight at the girl my eyes were fixed on her looking for even a tiny change of expression.

Kaito: "Are you kidding me? ...." It's a joke... "Your age is only 12 years old and your mother is 26 years old".

Saeko: No it's not Kiri-sama, even though we don't celebrate her birthdays I'm keeping track of her age very well.

Seeing how Saeko puffed out her chest while smiling and looking into my eyes my body felt heavy.

Kaito: "Uncle Naoto is much older than my parents, he's almost 50 years old and has the appearance of an adult without being old and he has a wife of 26 years that..."

Looking in another direction I felt the blood in my face start to heat up as I clenched my jaw tightly shut.

Kaito: "It sickens me to a level I didn't know I could reach."