Together, a couple? I couldn’t comprehend what she was saying so I turned back to Koda Mari-san as if for a translation.

“I don’t get it.”

Mari didn’t speak, she instead put out her finger, and the ring filtered into my vision.

“Mom…is with you?”

Didn’t she tell me that the person she was with was a man? No, that’s the conclusion I came up with on my own, wasn’t it? This didn’t make sense. I searched back to mom then Koda Hana. She was glaring at me…like I was her mortal enemy.

“Madoka…”

Mom touched my hand.

“T-That’s not true...right mom?”

My words escaped before I could pull them back. Again, I blurted out something without thinking. Is my mom…like that?

“There’s a lot I want to discuss with you, Madoka.”

“Huh?”

“Your mom and my mom have been together for over a year and a half now.”

Koda Hana-san stepped in; arms crossed. It seemed she planned to voice her opinion by the way she glared at me before.

“That’s how it is. They aren’t technically married but they are together.”

Mom took hold of Koda Hana-san’s hand, putting the rabid dog back on a leash.

“Madoka, there’s a lot I wanted to tell you, but I thought it might be best that we talk once Mari came back from overseas.”

So, what mom was saying was, “It was better to keep me in the dark.” At one time, mom and I had only each other to rely on. What about all the times we trusted each other, why couldn’t she tell me? The person I looked at wasn’t the mom I knew, was she?

“…Who are you?”

I instinctively stepped back like a sheep caught in a din of wolves.

“I… don’t know you anymore, mom.”

The truth of my feelings came bubbling out. My mom and I use to be close enough to tell each other anything, especially once dad passed. It’s as if she sees me as a stranger now. This entire situation is bizarre.

My mom is with a random woman I have no recollection of. And I have a fake little sister who is from her? Everything is too weird to put into words. The atmosphere grew suffocating as my chest felt as though it was being compressed of all its oxygen.

“Madoka...please listen to me...”

Mom approached, I backed up. But before I could escape, she gripped my hand. Her eyes pierced me like a knife to the chest.

“Please settle down and hear us out.”

Mom whispered to me. It brought me back to the days when I was young. By condition, she would speak to me like this when “…I was out of line…” Koda Mari-san pulled up a chair and sat across from us. She still had a smile on her face despite the uneasy chat so far.

“Madoka, this may seem hard to grasp but Koda Mari is the one who helped me pay for your medical bills…”

“I don’t understand…”

I turned to my mom. I wanted our conversation to only be between us, but I could feel the stares of these two strangers bleeding their way into our lives.

“What happened when I fell into a coma, mom?”

My fist began to shake. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. My blood started to boil as the confusion wrapped around my mind.

“You decided to get with some…some woman? Even one who’s far younger than you?”

I pointed to Koda Hana-san still glaring at me from her seat.

“You even chose to take in her daughter?”

I chuckle despite not feeling as if this was funny in any way.

“You two can’t even get married…There’s no way this “family” could work.”

“Madoka, listen to me…”

“Mom, this isn’t normal! This isn’t you! These…people don’t belong here! They’re…strangers!”

Everyone got quiet. I did it again…said something that was on the top of my mind without thinking. Koda Mari-san put her head down and nodded.

“It’s not normal at all Mado…Nakagawa-san, you’re right.”

I turned to Koda Mari-san who sits stubbornly in her chair, her legs now crossed.

“But this is the truth…Ayumi and I have become a couple in the time that you were asleep. You can try to deny that but it’s the truth.”

The flower stood up from the back with her arms crossed.

“So, like it or not, that’s how it is. My mom loves Nakagawa Ayumi-san and that’s final.”

Even she barked from behind me.

“And even you don’t have a say in it.”

Her words felt like needles burring into my stomach. Koda Hana-san’s expression was threatening. I’ve never seen her have such a scowl on. It…scared me.

The walls enclosed further. Mom looked at me, Koda Mari-san stared me down and, I could feel Koda Hana-san’s eyes bleeding into my back.

“C-Can I please…. go to my room?”

My throat tightened as I tried to squeeze out my escape plan.

“I’m not hungry. Please, excuse me.”

I pushed out my chair. My fingers slipped out of mom’s grasp and I made my way up the steps before waiting for a reply. There was no other safe place I could think of. I opened the door and closed it behind me gently. No matter how one looked at it…I’m the one who made that situation awkward, wasn’t I? I’m the wolf wedged in the din of sheep…but I couldn’t help feeling like this.

Feeling a weight of exhaustion, I make my way to the bed and lay on the pillow. Slamming my head into the sheets, I screamed internally.

“…Dad…Take me home! I want to go back home…”

I cried for my…dad. The only person I could think of who’d understand me now. His death was too soon and now nothing felt real anymore. Mom isn’t acting like herself. There’s certainly a gap in my memory around the time before the incident and I could acknowledge that but still…

“I just don’t get it…I don’t get it.”

After several minutes there was a knock on my door. After that pitiful display, I didn’t want to see anyone. So, I blatantly ignored it.

“Hey Nakagawa-san, I’m coming in. Is that alright?”

I expected it to be mom planning to scold me, but it wasn’t. The voice surprised me more than anything...

“It’s… open.”

I weakly reply. Entering in wasn’t mom like I expected. It was Koda Hana-san. She shut the door behind her and strolled in. Her footsteps were gentle.

“Do you mind if I sit down, Nakagawa-san?”

Trying to hide the tears rolling down my cheek, my head still buried in the pillow, I nod. My nose rubbed against the fabric. I can hear her lightly sitting down in my computer chair. She didn’t say a word for a few seconds as if trying to study her prey before attacking.

“…I don’t know you, Nakagawa-san.”

I was confused by her sudden statement. So, I lift my head from the pillow and looked at her.

“I’ve watched you in a bed since mom and…your mom started seeing each other.”

Koda Hana-san patted her skirt.

“You're nothing but a stranger to me even though I’ve visited you in the hospital countless times.”

She took hold of her long locks of hair and bit the bottom of her lip.

“I’ve known you for a year and a half…and never spoke a word to you, Nakagawa-san.”

“Huh?”

“And then you call me…a stranger. It’s a little difficult to take in.”

I felt a tad resentment in her tone. Doing one last sweep of my tears, I sit up in my bed and look away from her, the heat of my face softly dissipating.

“But…mom…my real mom would tell me all about you.”

“Koda Mari-san would talk about me?”

For a moment she looked away as if finding that memory then turned back and nodded sternly.

“She told me that you were a hard worker at school and even joined the basketball team. She even said you were up for a scholarship…before your accident.”

I looked at my legs. Antipathy wailed up in them as they trembled. I could feel it rapturing my body. Embarrassed by this childish emotion, I looked away towards the window.

“Yeah…I was...”

“I don’t know how things were for you two years ago. And I can only imagine how strange it is for you to see all this now…”

Her voice trailed off as she looks away from me now.

“But mom liked you a lot and I want to know…why Nakagawa-san?”

I searched for her expression. Koda Hana-san glared at the ground as if trying to burn a hole into it. Her faces were always filled with a sense of determination that scared me.

“Is that…true?”

I muttered.

That would mean that I met Koda Mari-san before my incident. Just then I remembered the phone and the picture of Mom and Koda Mari-san. I wonder if they were dating at that time.

“Yes, mom would always talk about you…like you were her daughter or something.”

Her fingers gripped her skirt. I couldn’t tell what it was this time. But there was a hint of something in Koda Hana-san’s expression.

“So, I want to get to know you, Nakagawa-san. Because something about you made my mom think about you so much…”

With all confidence, she confessed. I wouldn’t say that she sounded jealous of me. More like…curious if anything. With thoughts soaking up in me I started questioning my actions. “How could I let it get to this situation?” My mouth filled with bitter self-loathing looking at this flower tremble with uncertainty. Clearly the younger of us two she’s acting like the oldest, confronting what she finds mysterious. She didn’t run away as I had moments ago. The sourness doesn’t go away as I continue to compare the two of us.

“It’s hard…I’ll admit.”

Reluctantly, I spoke.

“I went to sleep with just mom and me and woke up with the two of you.”

I stand on my feet and walk over to Koda-san still prompted in my chair.

“B-but I do want to get to know you too…Ah, Hana-san?”

I needed a way to differentiate the two and it came out. Hana-san perked up at me. It might have been my imagination, but I could have sworn a light came on, brightening up her face. I sat on the bed and waved her to do the same. Hana-san stands up and sat on the other side of the bed. Now that we’re doing this for the first time it’s a little embarrassing. But I wanted to keep trying.

“So, mom said you’re in junior high?”

“I’m thirteen, turning fourteen in a few months. I just started junior high.”

“Really? Could have fooled me.”

Hana-san puffed her cheeks like a blowfish.

“I don’t have the luxury of having a developed body, yet!”

Hana-san voice raised. Arms crossed she looked away. It looks like I hit a sore spot.

“Heh, sorry I didn’t mean to make you mad.”

“And how old are you again…Madoka-san?”

Hana-san picked up quickly. Now bouncing the question back, she points at me.

“Fourteen- “

I waited for a moment then put my fingers up. I recalled that I wasn’t fourteen any longer which was a strange sensation.

“Sixteen, turning seventeen this year. It’s a little strange knowing that…”

My mind was still stuck back two years prior. And the doctors said that it’s going to take a while before I adjust to the thought of two years being gone.

“I can only imagine…”

Hana-san nodded. She seemed to be truly genuine when it came to my disconnect with reality.

We talked for a little while longer. I told her that I use to play basketball since elementary and was thinking of trying to play again in high school. It seems Hana-san isn’t too physically inclined, but she enjoys fine arts. She showed me her grades and she seems to get high marks across the board. We both seem to be good at studying if we had anything to compare.

“You know…Madoka-san.”

“Hm?”

“You’re…a normal girl.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Hana-san closed her eyes like an old monk giving a lecture.

“No…it’s nothing.”

She nodded as if confirming something with herself. I could only imagine what though. With two more nods, I half expected her head to fall off at this point.

“Well, it’s getting late and I have school tomorrow.”

“O-Oh, yeah. Thanks for chatting with me, Hana-san...and…”

Hana-san tilted her head. The words I wanted to say wouldn’t come out though so instead, I turned to the side.

“…No, never mind.”

Hana-san stood up from the bed and strolled to the door. Before leaving she turned around.

“Night, Madoka-san.”

“Night, Hana-san.”

She waved, shutting the door behind her. There is still a bunch I wanted to learn about her. But tonight, felt like enough of a breakthrough in our relationship. I lied back on the bed and thought back to dinner. Hana-san's face came to mind. The glare that she gave me when speaking to Koda-san and my mom…

“I wonder if Hana-san expected me to react that way?”

There was no way of knowing what was going through Hana-san’s mind.

But her actions led me to think that this wasn’t the first time she had to step in and defend their relationship. The thought made me feel even more depressed. So, to get away I checked my phone when my stomach growled.

“That’s right…I didn’t have dinner.”

Hating myself, even more, I opened the door. All the lights were off, so I took my phone’s flashlight and snuck down the steps. I have every intention to raid the refrigerator like a raccoon even though it’s bad manners. A quick sandwich is all I needed.

When I got to the kitchen, long behold I saw a figure shining her phone’s flashlight on the table. Like a deer caught in the headlights, she turned to me.

“Ooh, Ma-Nakagawa-san? This isn’t what it looks like…”

“Koda-san?”

“I was just having a midnight snack.”

“You’re raiding the refrigerator…”

I scold even though I was planning to do the very same thing. One could call me a hypocrite, but I wasn’t the one caught in the act.

“I-I…geez, why can I never catch you in a good light?”

Koda-san strolled over to the wall and touched the nob. She turned it dimming the lights enough for us to see one another. My guess is that she didn’t want to alert Mom or Hana-san to us being in here.

“There, much better.”

Koda-san smiled at me. Now looking at her she’s quite beautiful. Hana-san takes from her with her youthful appearance.

“Would you like a sandwich?”

She tempted me by sliding the plate over, filled with cut sandwiches.

“I was just going to make me something then go back to my room...”

“Then go right ahead. I’m not going to stop you.”

Her eyes gazed at me. It’s as if she were trying to feed a bird, hoping it wouldn’t fly away. I reached out and took one small, fluffy sandwich from the plate.

“At least give it a bite before you go.”

At her request, I nibbled on the sandwich. To my liking, it’s filled with tuna and mayo. But what surprised me wasn’t just how delicious it was, but the crunch of a fresh pickle tucked in. 

“How is it?”

Her voice caught me by surprise, bringing me back into the kitchen.

“It’s…really good, Koda-san.”

Koda-san tilted her head.

“I’m glad.”

“It even has a fresh pickle in it like I use to make...”

She giggled and put a finger to her lip.

“That’s because I know what you like, Nakagawa-san.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t they say: ‘The way to the heart is through the stomach?’”

The fox snickered as she tilted her head. Her fingers filter through her hair, nails glistening through the dim light.

“I made it for you.”

Koda-san wrapped her pointer through her straight locks and twisted it. She didn’t say anything else as she put the plate into my hands and walked away, returning into moms’ room. 

“For me?”

The eeriness sent chills up my spine. This woman, Hana-san’s mom, is a strange one. I looked at the kitchen, the place still foreign to me. Guilt crawled up my back. No matter how I wanted to deny it, I felt bad for saying all that earlier.

“Maybe…I can do something to…”

It was late at night, but I couldn’t leave things how they were…