HOW WE MET

Although my memory is a bit hazy because it was so long ago and I was only about nine years old, I still remember the day Tetsuo and I crossed paths. I was in the backyard of the mansion my father owned, playing catch with Haruko. That day was so cold that we had to wear scarves, mittens, snow jackets, and hats just to keep warm.

Winter was approaching, which explained the drastic drop in temperature. Just as Haruko and I were about to head back inside where it was warm, we saw a boy barely able to stand on his feet. He looked malnourished, wore rags, and was covered in dirt, as if he hadn't had a bath in years.

Though he looked weak and hopeless, wandering aimlessly in the cold, he held onto both a worn-out basketball and a little girl, who wasn't as dirty as him. The look in her eyes was filled with certainty, as if she believed everything would be okay.

"Tetsuo, I'm really hungry," Usagi said, shivering and trembling from the cold as she pulled on Tetsuo's shirt to get his attention.

"There's no need to worry, Usagi. As long as I'm still breathing, I'll always find a way to make you happy. One day, you'll never have to worry about being hungry, okay?" Tetsuo said with a smile as he patted Usagi's hand—then suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"Big brother? Tetsuo, are you hearing me? Get up. Now is not the time to joke around. I'm really hungry. Tetsuo! Tetsuo!" Usagi screamed with tears in her eyes as she tried to wake him.

I was just a child like them back then. I had never experienced suffering like that, and I didn't even know what they had been through before we met. But I couldn't just leave them out in the cold. I felt compelled to help them, and I did just that.

"Haruko, go inside and get some blankets and some snacks, please. And hurry," I said.

"Alright," Haruko replied, quickly running inside to get what I asked for.

"Listen, I'm going to help you and your brother now, so please help me move him inside, okay?"

"Yes," Usagi said, trying to stay strong.

Together, Usagi and I dragged him inside and into my dollhouse. He was really cold and barefoot, and even though he was unconscious, he held onto the basketball tightly.

"He's going to freeze to death if I don't do something quick," I said to myself as I took off my scarf, winter jacket, mittens, and hat and put them on Tetsuo.

"Here you go, Sachiko," Haruko said as she handed me the blanket.

"Haruko, give me these, please," I said as I took her winter coat off and wrapped it around Usagi before covering them both with a thick blanket.

"Here, take this. I want you to eat it to regain your strength. And when your older brother wakes up, give this to him too. But you both have to hide out here, no matter what, okay?" I told Usagi.

With that, Haruko and I left the dollhouse.

At dawn, both Haruko and I took extra breakfast just so we could give it to them.

Tetsuo, exhausted, woke up to see his younger sister sleeping under a blanket.

"I can't recall what happened… Oh, right. I passed out and left poor little Usagi alone. I'm glad she's safe," he said as he patted her head, causing her to wake up.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he said.

"Big brother, you're awake! I was so worried," Usagi cried, gripping Tetsuo in a tight hug, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Usagi. I won't make you worry like that again. I promise I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

"You're finally awake," I said as Haruko and I walked over.

"Who are you guys?" Tetsuo asked.

"My name is Sachiko Takahashi. We found you outside our gate, passed out, with your sister crying. So we decided to help. Because it was so cold, we brought you a blanket and gave you our winter clothes to keep warm in my dollhouse."

"Oh, I see. Thank you so much for your help."

"I also brought you breakfast so you can regain your strength. Please take it," I said, handing him a plate.

Tetsuo took the plate from me and started eating. With every bite, tears streamed down his face from the built-up stress of the past few months of struggling with his sister.

"Thank you so much for this. I'm truly grateful," he said.

"I told you my name. Can you tell me yours?" I asked.

"My name is Tetsuo Kawaguchi, and this is my little sister, Usagi Kawaguchi."

"Okay, Tetsuo. I can see you're really dirty, and you need a bath. But I'll have to sneak you both inside for that to happen. After we get back from school, we'll be the only ones home, which will be the perfect time for you to shower. Just sit tight until we get back," I said.

"I also brought some snacks so you guys can eat until then," Haruko added as she handed Tetsuo the food.

"Thank you so much for this," Tetsuo said as he took it.

After school ended, Haruko and I rushed home so we could help them clean up. As we reached the gate, we saw something mesmerizing—Tetsuo, dribbling the worn-out basketball he had.

Haruko was so impressed that her interest in basketball peaked that very day.