Teenage stage: it gets worse

POV Shop assistant

Watching as the baby-faced boy with grey skin and black hair slumped over the older woman's legs, I couldn't help but smile with a chuckle.

Shop assistant: Jujujuju the boy feels very safe at your side dear client

Grandmother: I know, it's the only thing I could do for the boy.

When I heard the sliding door open, I turned to see the people coming out of the shop.

It was a green-haired schoolgirl holding the hand of a brown-haired boy.

Behind them, a girl in a sailor's uniform was carrying a particularly large book, which she was holding with both hands across her body, the girl's developed breasts standing out even more as she held the book across her body.

Her expressionless face stared into my eyes, her black hair was tied back in a single ponytail and she was wearing a sailor's uniform, as she approached my seat I could see that her height was similar to mine.

Shop assistant: Have you made your choice? Then you can take it now, Kizuna-chan.

With a somewhat muffled voice, the expressionless girl pressed the book tighter to her chest.

Kizuna: Ummm, regarding the payment...

Shop assistant: You can take it now, don't worry, I won't tell you the name of the book you've just taken.

I returned a quiet smile and turned towards the older woman.

Shop assistant: I hope to continue with your support in the future

The older woman lifted the boy who was on her legs and placed him on her back.

Grandmother: With your permission, we will leave

The green-haired girl holding the brown-haired boy's hand approached the elderly woman to see the boy on her back.

The girl in the sailor's uniform approached the older woman's left side and began to walk around the street.

As I walked away from the stall, I looked at her back as I sat down.

Shop assistant: *uff* Are you sure that boy is your favourite?Looking towards the floor she crossed her legs.

Shop assistan: Well, since he's around I should spoil him? I think he's been punished enough with so many nightmares.

Raising my eyes to the ceiling I began to nod slightly.

Shop assistant: He who is silent approves

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POV MC (Tooth Fairy)

When he opened his eyes, an elderly man with no hair crossed his legs while adjusting his glasses, he was wearing a white shirt with a green waistcoat and black trousers.

MC: Tell me, how was the session, old man?

Old man: I think we made a lot of progress today, but I have to give you a serious recommendation.

MC: I hear you.

Old man: *ahem* We need to work more on your ability to empathise and we need to work more on your sense of appreciation for others so we need to start with something simple.

Leaning back, I adjusted my head to look in the direction of the old man.

MC: If it's a simple thing, I'll finish it quickly.

Old man: Excellent, then for your homework you have to adopt a pet.

MC: An animal?

My face felt stiff, my mouth twisted as I stared at the old man, I felt my face showed total displeasure.

MC: I REFUSE, those things are dirty and only know how to bother their owners, I think I'd end up mistreating it before I'd appreciate it.

Old man: You can say what you want, but you are not a bad person, besides, you have to obey me, I am not only your therapist, I am your 'MASTER' now.

MC: Are you going to keep harassing me until you forget your bet?

The old man's wrinkled face showed a smile that accentuated the age spots on his head.

Old man: I'll never stop bothering you, so get used to it.

Old man: *ahem* There are many pets you can adopt, I can bring you a catalogue of helpful pets.

MC: I'll be clear, if it's a reptile you might find me cooking it next time and if it has fur I'll leave it tied up outside my house.

Old man: So you are curious about cats?

The man pulls a notebook from his waistcoat and reaches for a pen with his other hand.

MC: Those are the worst, they urinate everywhere, they just want to stick their disgusting smell on you and they don't let you sleep, in short they don't give you your space.

Old man: You can give them a chance for a week, I'm sure you'll find a good companion in the catalogue.

I turned my head and looked at the ceiling.

MC: I won't pay if I hurt him.

I closed my eyes and crossed my hands behind my head.

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POV MC (Kirijima kaito)

When I opened my eyes there was a familiar ceiling in my field of vision.

Kaito: The living room...

Turning in another direction, I could make out the furniture in the living room.

Kaito: Aunt Maciej's.

Sitting on the couch, I began to rub my eyes.

Kaito: "Now I can't remember when I slept, but that was the first peaceful sleep in more than a year."

Kaito: "This memory causes me a lot of confusion, especially that man...."

Kaito: Master...

Saeko: Hello

Feeling the weight of someone on my back, I opened my eyes wide and felt a little relief when I heard her voice, it was my friend Saeko.

Kaito: Saeko, why am I in your house?

Saeko: Hehehehe, I found Oba-Sama, she wants to prepare dinner, but I'm in charge of waking you up so you can have dinner at your place.

Kaito: Oh, but why am I sleeping in your living room?

Saeko: Today we'll have miso soup and fried fish for dinner.

She showed a broad smile and gave a little clap.

Kaito: "You seem to be a bit ignorant, but I'm sure you convinced my grandmother to come in, she never tried to wake me up."

Kaito: *yawn* Well, let's go eat.

Saeko: Wait

Pointing with her hand, Saeko stopped me from getting up.

Saeko: I'll go and help in the kitchen, can you wake up my mummy so we can all eat?

Kaito: "I get it, you want to greet me, you're so smart." Okay, with your permission I'll go to Aunt Maciej's room.

Showing more excitement, Saeko picked up the big locks of white hair to go.

Saeko: Take your time, we'll wait for you in your house.

Glancing in her direction, she started walking quickly towards the door.

When I leave my field of vision, I only hear the door close.

Kaito: "I think she likes to play house a lot."

I got up from the couch and started walking towards the stairs to the first floor, looking around the house until I saw the picture of a man.

Kaito: "I would like to see that guy again just to punch him in the testicles until he cries blood, he has no right to call himself a man if he takes advantage of a woman like that."

Kaito: Even though I haven't seen him since.

Arriving in the corridors, he looked at the door of the main room.

Kaito: "Maybe I've reached the part of the game where he goes on a business trip".

Walking to the door, the silence filled the room, I took a deep breath and felt my body calm down a bit.

Kaito: "Well, he should be back sometime, even in the game he left a note to his wife and daughter before he left until his daughter was a teenager."

Arriving at the front door, I started to knock lightly.

Kaito: Aunt is awake?

When there was no answer I knocked a little louder.

Kaito: Aunt?

Kaito: "Will she still be sleeping?"

Kaito: I'll pass

I open the door and see a big lump in the middle of the bed.

Kaito: Aunt Maciej, with your permission.

Kaito: "She must be tired, but she has to wake up."

Walking towards the bed I see how the sheets completely cover the aunt's body. 

Kaito: Aunt, wake up, we are waiting for you for dinner.

When I get no answer I raise my hands towards the sheets to pull them off.

Pulling back the sheets I see the pillow-covered face of a blonde woman.

Kaito: "Wait... I don't suppose..."

He pulled back the pillow to reveal the woman's face.

Under her closed eyes, they were swollen with a bright red colour, her hair was dishevelled and her lips looked bitten off.

Kaito: "She cried all the time in silence until she fell asleep?"

Kaito: "But why?"

Looking down, I see a crumpled sheet of paper in her hands.

When I heard a noise I looked up towards my aunt's face, her swollen eyes began to open, her eyelids showing more tiredness in her blue eyes, which looked black with a very dilated pupil, without any sparkle in her eyes, she barely reacted when she recognised me.

Maciej: Kai...? what are you doing here?

Kaito: "I think I understand what happened here."

I reach out my small hand and touch the inside of Aunt Maciej's arm.

Kaito: "Naoko just left his wife."