Ai To Shiawase's

Ch. 1: The Story Begins

...“I do not want possessions or other luxury goods, all I want is one, which is .. happiness ..”...

...<><><><>...

I am Ai Mizhunashi. ‘Ai’ in Japanese means ‘love’. Maybe my parents named me like this because they wanted me to be a girl who grew up with love. But apparently, it was all wrong.

Today is Sunday. The sun began to shine brightly, indicating that the day had entered the time of day. I just finished mopping the floor of the house. Now I am taking a break from being tired.

Suddenly, I heard a middle-aged woman yelling at me in a loud voice.

“Hei! Why are you even relaxing? Quickly wash those dirty dishes!" order Anna Mizhunashi—a biological mother that feels like a killer to me.

“But, Mom .. I'm tired. Let me rest, just a moment!" I begged my mother to give me relief.

“No! You were asleep last night. Besides, it's noon today, why do you want to sleep again?!" snapped Mother who seemed to want me to die of exhaustion.

With a frightened look on my face, I nodded my head, obeying Mom's orders. I'd rather comply with her request than have my body covered in whip wounds again.

I got off the couch I was using to rest. Step by step I walked towards the kitchen to wash the dishes.

When I got to the kitchen, my eyes immediately broke when I saw there were about five piles of dirty dishes that I had to wash. Yes, yesterday my parents held a birthday event for my sister Miku—.

Hah .. he's the birthday but I have to wash his dirty dishes. I want to rebel and trample on their self-esteem. However, it seems that it is an impossible thing.

After a long time in the kitchen to wash the dishes, I finally finished. I rubbed my forehead with my sleeves.

“Finally done too," I said with a sigh of relief at having completed this heavy work.

I rinsed my hands with tap water to clean the foam residue from the dish soap. When I finished, I walked into the room to break down.

Just holding the door of the room, suddenly a girl who was about 10 years old, came to me. Yes ... he is none other than Miku, my younger brother who has always been treated well.

“Onee-san, please buy me some chocolate!" The little girl asked me to help buy her some chocolate.

I smiled and crouched down to level up with him. Then, I stroked her softly decomposed black hair.

“Sorry, yes. I'm tired, Miku. Later if you have finished resting for a while, you will buy the chocolate," I said to explain.

After hearing my explanation, Miku's face suddenly changed. He looked pouted with advanced lips and bulging cheeks. Not saying a word, Miku immediately walked away leaving me. Hhhh .. Thank goodness she understood my situation.

I changed my position to stand up again. I was about to step foot into the room. Suddenly, though, I felt like someone was grasping my hand very tightly.

“Awhhh ..." I moaned in pain because of it.

I turned around and saw who was holding my hand. Suddenly, my body became goosebumps when I found out that the person holding my hand was my own mother. His eyes looked sharp like an eagle that wanted to prey. Oh Lord ... what more suffering should I feel this time …?

“Ngg ... w-why, Mom?" I asked with a trembling body.

A moment after I asked, suddenly my mother strengthened her grip.

“Awwwhh .." My pain echoed once more.

“Do not pretend to be your fool, yes! Your sister is asking for help. Not to be obeyed, even to sleep. There, buy it!" screech my mother while giving money.

Haah ... There is no other choice. I also took the money given by my mother and went to the store to buy the chocolate requested by Miku. I walk with heavy footsteps. Tiredness has taken hold of me.

“Why ... why .. why ... should I? Why do I always have to be told to? Why should I always feel bitter behind the sweetness of my family life ... why?!" I swear in a mind that is fed up with all this.

However, back again, I was just a weak girl who had no advantages whatsoever. I was destined to suffer. Ah ... never mind.

Long story short, I arrived at the store. I walked around the food shelves looking for the chocolate Miku wanted. After a long search, I finally found the chocolate. But unfortunately, the chocolate was on a very high shelf.

I couldn't reach it, because my height was too short. Hhhh .. Why do I always have to be unlucky?

“Duh ... really hard, anyway!" I looked up, looking at the chocolate on the highest shelf.

Soon, a handsome man came and got me his chocolate.

“It. Next time, if you need help, just say it, yes!" he said while giving me the chocolate.

“A-arigatou Gozaimasu!" I picked up the chocolate and bowed to thank you.

He smiled at me and said, “Yes, don't think about it. By the way, I'm Rey Tachibana. You can call me Rey. Your name, who?" The handsome man who turned out to be named Rey stuck out his hand.

I moved my hand and shook Rey's hand.

“A-aku Ai Mizhunashi," I introduced myself.

“Wah... Then I call you Ai, yes. Can you, right?" He smiled kindly.

“Ngg... Can, really. Everyone calls me so hehe ..," I said with a small laugh at the end.

“Alright then, Ai. I'll go first, yeah. It's late afternoon, I'm late for the tutoring schedule" Rey said with a friendly smile.

I nodded my head. Meanwhile, Rey turned around and was about to walk.

“Rey-kun!" I called Rey's name.

Rey stopped her steps and turned to look at me.

“Hm? What's up, Ai?"

“A-anu .. once again, arigatou gozaimasu!" I bowed my body to thank you again.

“Ahaha .. yes, equally. All right, I'll go first, yeah! Sayonara!" Rey waved her hand with a smile, then turned around and walked back.

I also smiled and flicked my hands to the left and right. Thank you, Lord. You have made me happy—meski .. only for a moment.

...💓💓💓...

As the day began to evening, I rushed to run towards the house.

“Aduh ... because of the chocolate that was on the top shelf earlier—aku so late. May mother not be angry, my inner” with a feeling of worry.

I got to the front yard. Before I go in, I open my shoes first. Then, in a hasty step my— went inside the house. When I got inside, I was surprised by my mother leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.

“From anywhere, you?!" ask mom with a snarl.

I took a sip of my saliva, because I knew that something was going to hurt me. “A-I bought chocolate as requested by Miku," I explained.

My mother changed her position that she was leaning back to stand. Mom then walked over to me. “Lantas, WHY ARE YOU JUST COMING HOME NOW?!" hardik Mom grabbed my hand very firmly. Like my shadow, mother would definitely do something like this again.

“Ta-so the chocolate is on the top shelf .. So, I had a hard time when I wanted—"

Plakk!!

Before I could finish my words, suddenly my mother's slap landed very roughly on my cheek.

“Don't much of a reason, you!" ketus mom with eyes bulging with anger.

I looked at my mother's face with teary eyes. Really ... My fate is sad.

...💓💓💓...

Note: Author uses a Modern Japanese setting.