“Soooo, tell me all about it!”

“There’s nothing to tell you about. I felt like I was in a long dream. That’s about it, Ma-chan.”

The one on the other line of the phone, Watanabe Mae. My best friend who is away on a family outing for now. I rolled over to my side. In my view, a cheery idol poster that I remember all too well. It used to hang up on the left side of me and my mom’s room in our old home. But now I lie in my own room, my own bed.

“Geez, I wish I could just hold you right now! We cried day in and night when you wouldn’t wake up!”

“S…sorry.”

“Well, it wasn’t your fault.”

I pondered, staring at the florescent singer on the poster. Her bright pink frilly dress made me a little nostalgic. Mom bought this for me after we went to a show together. It was a little embarrassing being a 13-year-old girl at an idol consort with her mom.

“Hey Mae-chan, do you know what happened to me?”

“Hm? Your mom didn’t tell you?”

She hesitated for a moment as if falling back to that time. I could hear her breathing softly.

“To be honest, my family got the call from your mom that you were in an accident and that we should come to visit you.”

Mae took a sigh, likely becoming depressed from the reminisce.

“She said you hit the back of your head and paramedics rescued you. But that’s all she would go into.”

I looked up at the ceiling as if my mind were searching for the answers there. Reactively, I touched the back of my head. There wasn’t any sign of an injury that I could feel. But then again this did happen…years ago now. It likely healed up while I was asleep. With a nod, I continued.

“That’s the same story she told me…”

No matter how I tried to brush it off, it felt like Mom was not telling me everything. Despite how we use to always share everything with each other when dad died. She’s my mom and she wouldn’t intentionally hide things from me, would she?

"Hm...."

As I was collecting my thoughts, I could hear Mae prop her feet on the wall from the other side of the line. She had a bad habit of doing that. Mae used to do it in junior high and the boys would see her underwear all the time.

“Hey, are you still propping your feet on the wall after all this time?”

“Eh?! No! I swear, Mado-chan!”

I knew it…Does she still have that old habit? It’s a little refreshing knowing that one of my friends is still the same though.

“Well anyway, I still don’t know what happened around that time.”

“What’s your last memory?”

“Mmm…”

I did my best to search back but all I can see was a blank. I could clearly remember my dad dying and me going to school a few weeks later. Mom coming home late at night as she worked long hours and me studying until she made it back okay. But then everything would get shaky going forward.

“Hmm, hey do you remember Nakagawa-san buying that new phone for your birthday?”

“My mom?”

My head angled towards the door as if she would be standing there.

“Nnn…no I don’t remember that. Could it be the cellphone I’m using now?”

I searched the phone with extreme prejudice now. I wasn’t sure if this is the one or anything, but this might have been a clue to what happened.

Thinking like this put me in an off mood though. As if there were secrets that won’t be revealed unless I distrust mom’s words.

“Go check the pictures, Mado-chan!”

The devil egged me on, nudging me forward. Despite my reluctance, in the matter, I nod gently.

“Ahh, okay.”

I surfed through the phone trying my best to locate the gallery. There I discovered three photos in the data leftovers.

“Mmm…There are only 3 photos in here.”

“You never were the one to take a lot of pictures…Well, what are they?”

Photo 1 is of me and Mae. It seems I’m wearing my old school uniform and we’re posing by a pond. Mae’s hair was short and dark. She had it tied up in a ponytail with her sleeves raised up. Being taller than me and into sports, she was always considered the tomboy for sure.

“There’s a photo of you and me by a pond.”

I could hear Mae abuse her room wall with her feet. It seemed like Mae got excited and turned around. That or the blood in her head finally caught up to her making her woozy.

“Ohh! That was a month before graduation!”

She paused, taking a sigh. I didn’t recall taking the picture or who it might have been that took it in the first place.

“Hey, Mado-chan…”

“Hm?

“You see, a few weeks after that picture…was when your accident happened.”

“Really?”

Looking at the photo a hint of nostalgia captured my chest. I looked so happy despite knowing earlier that year my father died. There was something that kept me going and sure enough, Mae had to be one of them.

“What’s the other photos?”

I closed my eyes, washing away the guilty feelings. Determined to uncover more gold, I tapped at the phone. The 2nd photo came in to view.

“Ahh…It’s of mom and a woman. She seems younger than her. A friend?”

Mae grumbled from the other end. The vibration tickled my ear. I pulled away and clicked on her name to send the image to Mae.

“You know…I’m not too sure who that is with Nakagawa-san.”

“Have you seen her before?”

“She was always with your mom at that time from what I could tell.”

“Was she her friend?”

“That’s my guess. I don’t recall her name, but she was a sweet girl. Maybe a business partner of your mothers?”

I stared at the photo, but nothing resonated in me like the previous one. It seemed that I was close enough to her to take a picture of her and mom together. So, maybe I would meet her one day? Unlike before, this one doesn’t bring many emotions back to me.

The last photo was of a billboard to an amusement park. No one was in it, but the day was sunny. Confused, I sent the snapshot to Mae.

“Ohh, that amusement park is a prime spot for couples!”

“Eh?!”

“Are you saying you were with someone then when you took that photo. A boyfriend or something?”

Annoyed, I rolled in my bed.

“I doubt that. I’ve never been with…anyone.”

“Really?”

“Y-You know that I’ve never had a boyfriend before.

I could feel the blood rise to my face.

“I mean, if I did, you’d be the first to know. We have known each other since elementary, Ma-chan.”

Like a hyena, Mae burst out in laughter. Seemed as though Mae baited me into confessing this.

“I’m just kidding, Mado-chan. Plenty of people go there. You must have been happy to take a picture of the billboard though.”

“You jerk.”

I searched the image trying to get into the mindset from back then. Growing anxious, I clicked out of the gallery.

“N-Nakagawa-san?”

A timid voice called me from downstairs. It was Koda-san’s.

“Dinner is ready!”

“Ah, I’ll be right down!”

A squeal resonated in my ear like nails ripping down a chalkboard.

“Oooh, is that your new cute little sister?! Have you bathe together yet?”

“What the heck are you talking about? That’s creepy, Ma-chan!”

“Warm bodies of pseudo sisters merging as one! I read a manga like that last night-”

“Hey, I got to go. Let’s chat later, Ma-chan!”

I hang up before she could attempt to give me another creepy image. With that, I flipped off my bed and made my way to the door. When I opened it, the little flower in question was right outside.

“Ah?!”

“O-Oh, I didn’t hear you call back, so I wanted to make sure you heard me…”

Without waiting for my reply, the petite rabbit scurried back down the steps. I followed her trail. It’s been a few days since we returned home. Well…the home my mom bought while I was away. We used to be in a small apartment. But ever since my mom got a job at her editorial department, she had the funds to get into a nice home. But the dynamic between Koda-san and I have been…strange, to say the least. We would bump into each other in the halls. But all we would do is pass one another and occasionally say, “Hello.” then walk off to do our own things. We mixed as well as oil and water.

“Madoka, have you been studying for your entrance exams?”

Mom greeted me, pointing her spatula to my seat.

“Yes…I have, Mom.”

So much that my heads been hurting. I’m trying to cram two years’ worth of knowledge in my head in a few weeks. I’ll likely be held back one year and go in as a freshman. But because it’s already September I’ll be entering in the 2nd term. It’ll be embarrassing being older than my classmates too.

“Hey…when is mom coming home?”

As she lifted herself to the table, Koda-san questioned.

“Mom’s right here, Koda-san.”

Seemingly annoyed, she turned to me with a scowl then back to Mom. It made me feel a bit belittled if I had to say.

“Oh… that’s right, mom hasn’t told you yet, had she?”

“W-well, that’s actually what I wanted to do tonight, Hana.”

Confused, I tilted my head and looked back to mom.

“Told me yet? Do what?”

“Madoka, I wanted to introduce you to someone…they’re on their way now.”

Her words from the hospital a few days ago fluttered back to mind. I looked back at the ring on her finger. It had to be the man she is with. Was he coming home today? My heart began to race. It was one thing being around Koda-san, but I hadn’t wanted to ask her about her father yet…

“I’m finally home, Ayumi! I heard everything, how is she?!”

The door flung open. I expected the gentle voice of a man but instead a tender woman filtered through. Holding a suitcase and in business wear, she strode in with her head held high. Her short black hair complemented her youthful appearance. Koda-san and mom stood up from the table. I did too, albeit late. Instead of acknowledging them she tossed her briefcase to the sofa, rushed over to me and, held me tight.

“Eh?!”

She was taller than me but not by much. Her arms were slender with a toned figure. Her scent was citrusy like lemons.

“I wanted to come home immediately, but they wouldn’t allow me to.”

Dramatically she cried out. It felt as though she’d break my shoulders if she held any tighter. Despite her arms like twigs, her grip was monstrous. I struggled a bit until she finally let go of me. I gasp for air as we faced one another. Only then did it occur to me who this was. The woman who was in the photo with my mom. Wasn’t this her business partner? Well, that’s the conclusion I came to with Mae anyway.

“Who…are you?”

The smile on her face waned. It seemed she was a tad upset by that.

“O-Oh, you don’t know who I am?”

“Mari, we’ve discussed this over the phone...”

She put a finger to her mouth and leaned to the side. Her mannerisms reminded me of a little kid.

“I-I know, Ayumi…it’s just…”

The one named “Mari” turned to Mom. The look on her face seemed pained if I had to describe it. Mom shook her head without uttering a word. With that, she took a step back and, bowed deeply.

“I am Koda Mari. I am your mother, Nakagawa Ayumi’s, partner.”

“Partner? Like a business partner?”

Mom came in from behind her and held her slender shoulder.

“No, Madoka. Mari and I…are together.”

“…Huh?”

My head tilted to the side.

“Madoka...Mari and I are a couple.”