I looked in the mirror and a high school girl stared back. She twirled around once I did, causing her skirt to wave like a gymnastic ribbon. Elegantly, it flowed back down as she stopped, facing me once again. My chest pounded like thunder on a warm night making me wonder if the girl in front of me felt the same.

“You look adorable.”

My neck cranked, mechanically, as I turned to see the fox posted on the other side of the door.

“W-why are you here, Koda-san?”

She grinned as she pushed herself off the wall.

“The door was open, and I just happened to be walking by...”

She pushed up her slim shoulders making herself seem smaller.

“Y-Your room is downstairs! Why are you up here in the first place?”

Koda-san shrugged.

“I was checking in on Hana.”

My teeth nibbled at my bottom lip in distaste.

“Hana-san’s room is before mine though…”

Like a thief caught red-handed, she put her hands up with that daring smile still painted on her face.

“Fine, you got me…I just wanted to be the first to see you in your uniform!”

Her face a slight tint of red, she skipped her way down the steps. Watching her do this in heels made me slightly impressed.

Still annoyed that my secret viewing had been interrupted, I made my way out the door and ventured down the steps. Everyone seemed to be ready to go as they all conjugated at the front door.

Hana-san lifted her backpack from the couch. The soldier now ready for war, she nodded sharply.

“Ready!”

She cried, giving my mom a grin.”

I hit the last step when mom looked at me. Her face lit up like stars in the night sky.

“Honey, you look like a proper young lady…Your father would be proud, Madoka.”

“T-Thanks mom.”

Mom approached; her lips puckered now.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to take you two to the station? It’s no trouble for us, Madoka, Hana.”

“Ayumi, it’s time for the girls to have a bit more independence.”

Mom turned to Koda-san. Her fingers entwined as they shielded her lips.

“I-I know…but still.”

“They’ll be okay. They have each other now, Ayumi.”

She took a deep breath. I didn’t think she’d get this nervous over the fact that Hana-san and I wanted to make our way to school alone from now on. Hana-san proposed it a few nights back and mom has been reluctant about it ever since. Koda-san however has supported the idea. It’s one of the few things she and I agreed on.

“Madoka, you make sure you come home with Hana!”

“Aren’t I the oldest here? Shouldn’t you be telling Hana-san this, mom?”

Mom wasn’t amused. She gave me a scowl without saying a word. Knowing full well what that meant, I caved.

“Y-yes ma’am.”

“Okay Ayumi, let the big girls run along to school before they’re late.”

Mom’s puffed cheeks didn’t waver as she looked at her partner. Like a balloon they expanded.

“Are you sure Mari? Aren’t you worried about our babies?”

With a snicker, the fox poked my mom’s cheeks, deflating them. It was so adorable I couldn’t turn away. I kind of wanted to be the one to do that instead though.

“Mom, it’ll be alright, okay?”

Hana-san jumped in, giving my mom an overly affectionate hug.

“Hana! You’re so reliable.”

Eyes shining like gold, she took her momentum and turned to the other adult.

“Mom, make sure mom gets home safely, okay?”

With vigor, Hana-san pointed at her nose.

“Hana don’t point at me.

The mother bear gripped her cubs’ finger. Her smile never faded all the while.

“And don’t you worry about that. I gave you an assignment and I better hear that you did it.”

Her cub staggered back. It seemed that Hana-san has no authority over her mother despite her assertive stance at the beginning.

“Y-yes, mom.”

“Oh, Madoka, Hana, I forgot to mention…Mari and I will be working late tonight so don’t wait up for dinner.”

“That’s right. A new, hot, book is coming out next week and we have to be there in case of issues.”

The younger of the two slumped her shoulders. I don’t know much about the job they work at. I can only imagine how tough the work is. Mom doesn’t seem fazed while Koda-san looked like the world has just been thrown on her.

“Okay, Mom.”

Hana-san chimed in with a nod.

With everything settled, we marched outside. The day was a bit chillier than yesterday. I clung to my school bag for dear life, embracing the icy winds.

“See you later, girls!”

Mom and Koda-san waved as they drove off leaving Hana-san and me to make our way to the station.

“Off we go.”

I turned down, meeting my eyes with my new partner.

“Mhm!”

She flapped her head making her dark hair swing about.

Hana-san’s junior high is the sister school of Jinda Highschool. Meaning this school is different than the one Ma-chan and I originally went to. First being that the junior high and high school are both all-girl schools.

They are also close to one another. So, we take the same train and even get off at the same stop.

One of the reasons why I picked it was because Mom asked me to stay close to home and Ma-chan just so happens to go there too.

I found myself touching the new sensation accompanied by my school uniform. My body felt stiff as I moved. Like my bones been replaced with rocks, grinding together.

“Are you alright, Madoka-san?”

I looked down to see the flower veering up to me. I must have been wearing a scary face as she looked a tad terrified.

“Are you nervous?”

Hopping up on her toes, barely reaching eye level with me, Hana-san searched for the answer. Even I didn’t realize it until she mentioned it.

“A little, I guess…”

With her finger to her mouth, Hana-san nodded her head. She then pointed at me suddenly.

“Even if we’re in the latter part of the year I’m sure you’ll make friends.

I haven’t even thought about the idea of making friends or not. It seemed to me that Hana-san was more in-tune to the school life than I was. But I doubt that was the reason for my expression.

When I woke up, I found myself anguishing over how to explain my situation. The conclusion I came up with…to just tell anyone who asks the truth. That I was in a coma for the last couple of years. Any other question that comes after that, I’ll take in stride. With a deep breath, I exhaled.

“Thanks, Hana-san.”

Even though my worries were different than what she imagined, she still took the time to worry about me. This flower is sweet, and I appreciate her for being that way.

The walk to the station is around ten minutes or so. Hana-san and I didn’t speak much, and it’s becoming more apparent as I’m alone with her. Despite us having that chat when Koda-san first came home, our relationship felt as though it hasn’t gone anywhere since.

Hana-san has different interest than I do. She plays video games and watches anime. I listen to idol music and look up cute clothing and fashion. Her taste is more boyish for sure. But one wouldn’t know that looking at this blossom. She looks like a gentle kitty and sometimes it makes me want to pet her.

“Oh! Madoka-san?”

“Huh?”

Hana-san leaped up, nearly giving me a heart attack.

“I think I left my Japanese History book on the TV stand.”

I sighed in relief.

“Nope, I put it in your bag for you.”

“Hm? Oh, that’s good…”

I kind of wonder how these three made it without me sometimes. Even though that does sound a bit conceded, it’s the truth.

Speaking of the three of them…I had a few questions about a certain weirdo…and I think Hana-san might be the person to ask.

“Hey…Hana-san I have a question.”

“Hm? What about?”

Innocently she stared up. Looking at her now I can’t imagine that she came from…her. I repressed the urge to ask Koda-san the other day but maybe Hana-san would answer me clearly.

“Hana-san, how old is your mom?”

“Mh? Where’s this coming from?”

“I’m just curious…”

Koda-san acts less mature than her daughter. But I’m more interested in knowing how far apart in ages her and mom are…

She put her finger to her mouth.

“…She just turned 29 in April.”

I closed my eyes and envisioned my mom. She’s…38. So, that would make Mom and Koda-san around 9 to 10 years apart. Hana-san is 13 right now…So, does that mean Koda-san had Hana around 16 years old? That’s young.

I stared back at her but what comes to mind is her chilling behavior in the morning.

“…Do you think your mom is…I don’t know, strange?”

“My mom?”

Hana-san put her head down to contemplate the question. She crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. I wasn’t expecting such an extreme reaction, so I watched her with awe.

“…Nope.”

Hot air blew from her mouth. An anti-climactic end.

“What, really?”

“She’s…like any other mom, right?”

Maybe she’s just blind to it because she’s been with Koda-san her entire life. If I had to make a list of things that I find strange about her: One, her over touchy-feely behaviors are inappropriate. She constantly acts like she’s shady like a con trying to pull their latest trick on you. As if the person I’m looking at isn’t the one who is truly there.

“What did my mom do that made you think she’s strange, Madoka-san?”

I thought about it more thoroughly but before I opened my mouth, the little voice in my head told me to stop.

“Ehh…”

Some of the things are kind of embarrassing to even talk to Hana-san about. Like her feeling my hair. Saying weird things to me that makes me uncomfortable also. I mean…who the heck buys an apron just to see their supposed stepdaughter cook in it? If she was my stepfather, it’ll be a red flag for a grade-A pervert.

“Ahhh…”

Maybe that’s it. She might be a grade-A pervert!

I stopped my theatrics before I hurt someone though. Now I’m just bashing the person my mom fell in love with. Coming to that conclusion is probably worse than just calling her a weirdo and leaving it at that.

I turned to Hana-san, now realizing I began leaving her out of the question I gave her in the first place.

“Hmm, let’s get back to that another time, Hana-san.”

She sighed a tad dejectedly.

“If anything, mom sure likes you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She lifted her nose in the air, brushing off my question.

“Well anyway, the train is crowded so stay near me and if you can’t find a seat, keep to the walls.”

“Hm?”

“Mom told me to watch over you while we’re going to and from school.”

“Wait, my mom did?”

“No, my mom.”

No matter how much I hear it…it’s strange knowing where talking about two different moms. It’s tiring, to say the least…

It doesn’t help either that Hana-san readily calls both Koda Mari and Nakagawa Ayumi, Mom. She should at least find a better way to differentiate from the two of them.

But then again, they have been seeing each other for nearly 2 years now. I wonder if it was always like that? Or did Hana-san have to adjust to this strange situation too?

Now conscious of this, I looked down at her. My mind wrapped around the circumstances that must have made Hana-san accept it the way she does now. But before I could delve deeper into my idle thoughts, a rod of thunder struck my body.

“Wait, why is Koda-san telling you to watch over me?”

“Because you never had to take the train to school before. You don’t know that there are lions out to get you, Madoka-san.”

I scratched my head.

“How would she even know that? For all she knows I took the train alone in middle school all the time.”

“Nope!”

Hana-san cut into my words with a karate chop of her hand.

“Mom told me that you would always get dropped off on the way to school at least.”

Frustrated, I weighed my head. She was right…Dad would take me to school in elementary and when he passed mom would do it instead. I was a pampered little princess for most of my life. The only time I took the train was when I went out with my friends. And that became a rarity when I worked for my scholarship.

“Wait, I have to back up…You said “Mom” again. Which mom told you that I would always get dropped off?”

Hana smiled and put her nose up again.

“My mom! Koda Mari!”

Why does she know all of this? My only guess is that my mom, Nakagawa Ayumi, told her…But what would be the point in her telling Hana-san? There are more questions to Koda-san than meets the eyes.

I could feel my mouth twist up. I was outwardly annoyed that even this kid is treating me like a pampered doll.

“And what is a kitten, like you, going to do if a lion attacks me on a train?”

“Eh, are you calling me weak and defenseless! I carry one of these!”

“Hana-san pulled out a predator alarm. The kind the kids in elementary school have around their backpacks to keep the perverts away if they feel threatened. It wasn’t a bad idea but Hana-san being the one to hold it made my heart flutter.

“You’re so adorable…”

“Eh? What do you mean by that?!”

I treasure cute things and Hana-san is no exception. Conway-san could rival her if she’d act less violent.

Eventually, we made our way on the train and to our expectations, there were no open seats.

“Can’t be helped…”

Hana-san muttered.

I had a bad feeling about this...