Aunty's smile slowly faded when she heard Miyu's question. She looked at the little girl, her eyes wide and filled with innocence.Aunty took a deep breath and gently patted Miyu's head. "That is a big question, my dear," she said softly. "Why do you want to know about it?"Miyu played with the edge of her dress. "It just... no... it is just in my book!"Aunty's eyes softened with sadness and love. She pulled Miyu close. "Are you lying?" Miyu replied by lowering her eyes. "No... no... I just want to know." She began slowly, "Oh dear... it is a time when people come together to say goodbye to someone who has passed away."Miyu tilted her head. "Passed away? What does that mean?"Aunty smiled gently. "It means that the person's body stopped working. Their heart stopped beating, and they can't breathe or move anymore." Those words contained a pain she suffered in the past. Deep down in her heart an emotion burst. But she showed nothing outside, just a small smile.
Miyu looked down, her small fingers clutching Aunty's hand. "So... is that what death means?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper."Yes, my sweet girl," Aunty said softly. "Death means the end of a person's life. Imagine when you sleep deeply and dream about the people you love. It is calm and warm. Death is like that, a long, peaceful sleep."
Miyu's eyes filled with tears. "But... if someone dies, we can't talk to them again? Then brother is not coming home ever again? Has he left us?" After saying those words she ran outside while crying. At that moment she remained stunned not knowing what she said, but after a while she realized something. To confirm she grabbed Yui and went to look for Shasa. She heard voices. Following them she opened the door, where Uncle Kaito and Shasa were communicating something. She stared at Shasa. "Shasa... are you hiding something from me?" Shasa remained silent. Aunty burst out with anger. "Can I believe this silence as a yes? Tell me what's going on?" Shasa stood against her. She who mentally had not accepted the reality burst out her anger and sadness with a loud voice and tears in her eyes. "There's nothing... (pause) even if there is something, you don't even need to know, it's not like you are our family!" Hearing this Aunty slapped her. "You fear that one day I would eventually get to know about Haruto. He is not even my blood, but for me you all are like my children."Aunty hugged her. Shasa's tears burst out. Aunty asked her, "Child, tell me what happened?" Shasa tried but not a single word came out from her vocals. Uncle came close and told her everything that happened so far. Aunty hearing this held herself.Yui, who was with Aunty, started to cry. She cuddled her and gave her to Shasa. "Shasa, take this kid and feed her. I want to talk privately to Kaito uncle, and please close the door." She nodded her head and left the space. Uncle Kaito, who knew very well about Haritha Aunty, even if they did not talk much but he heard everything from Haruto. They sat down. He became tense. Aunty, looking on the floor, asked, "Are you sure the body is none other than Haruto's?"Uncle Kaito whispered, "Yes, I am confident, but something was unusual, that doesn't fit."She looked at his face. "Why are you thinking unusual?"Uncle Kaito replied, "It feels like they are hiding something. They did give me the report and everything looked clean, but they said they are doing another test to confirm the cause of death and I even saw some government officials."After hearing this her eyes and expression changed. She stood and opened the door. Before leaving she said with a deep tone, "If they are hiding something, I will find out about it and if it becomes the reason for my pain, they will pay the price with their life." After hearing this Uncle Kaito remained silent. He knew that she worked at a big MNC and had a lot of connections with officials. In his mind there was a single thought nagging him. "She is old, has lots of connections, but still she holds power. If she becomes serious then something big is going to happen and I am not able to stop her. After all she held every child close to her after losing her own children. Haruto held a special meaning to her. She will not remain silent. I will do my best to make her understand the current situation, let's hope for the best."He went outside for the preparation of the funeral. Inside the room Shasa grabbed a card from the table and called someone. She talked for a few seconds and wiped her tears, looking at Yui, who had fallen asleep. She patted her head and kissed her head with a smile.The funeral day arrived. Children who were not aware of the truth gathered in front of the casket. Shasa, who was holding herself, did not have enough courage to tell the truth to the children. Everyone was there except Miyu. Aunty told Shasa to find her and bring her as soon as possible. Shasa swiftly slid to the back to find Miyu.Ren: Aunty, why is everyone so quiet today? Where did brother go?Aunty: Come here, dear. Ren came close to Aunty. Your brother has gone into a long, peaceful sleep. It is a special kind of rest that helps him feel calm and happy.Ren: A long sleep? Will he wake up?Aunty: Not in the way we do each morning. His sleep is very deep and full of dreams. It is like he is resting in a soft cloud where everything is warm and safe.Ren: Then what is the funeral?Aunty: The funeral is when we send love and good wishes to Haruto while he sleeps. We light incense sticks, say kind words, and remember all the happy moments with him. It helps his dreams stay bright and peaceful.Ren: Can I see him again?Aunty: Yes, my dear. If you study well, grow kind, and do good things. Every time you do something good, you get close to him and eventually one day you will see him in front of your eyes, pinching your cheeks.Ren: Really?Aunty: Yes. You know I never lie.She sent him back. It was time for everyone to say goodbye. His friends, family, everyone was present there to share the final moment. Every individual came close to his casket and placed a flower. Adults and his friends held their tears in front of those children, so they could say goodbye to him, sending him happily to the afterlife. Takumi looked at the casket. There was sadness, anger, and helplessness in his eyes. He gritted his teeth with anger. There was some sort of rage developing in him against his father. He left without looking back, saying "I promise one day ################################". Aayana raised her hand to stop him, but the look on his face told everything. She stopped there, glancing at the sky, recalling the memories of them together enjoying, playing. Those beautiful memories were making her cry loud but stopping her too. She looked at the faces of the children, innocence overflowing, not knowing that he was gone.Everyone said goodbye. Only Shasa and Miyu remained. Shasa and Miyu arrived. Miyu came close to the casket and whispered, "Goodbye brother," and looked at Shasa like she wanted to tell something. Shasa gave a smile. After the prayer, the casket was buried. They placed a stone named "Haruto, The best brother in the world." Slowly everyone started to fade away. The last one who remained was Shasa looking at the grave, her eyes lost the light.Next day a lot of cars arrived in front of the orphanage. People came out. Most of them looked like nobles or rich tycoons. Shasa welcomed them and let them in. She introduced every single child to them and their talents. Yesterday she convinced Aunty and Uncle Kaito to fulfill Haruto's last wish. The resistance was quite high, but in front of Shasa's stubbornness and the wish they failed.Shasa manipulated the children, convincing them that they can come any time they want, lying to those children, making them believe. Those nobles and rich tycoons were arranged by Takumi's father. These families had some common points. Most of the families had well rooted history and astronomical wealth, but they lacked a capable successor or children. For them it was an opportunity to select talents and nurture them to make a capable successor who would inherit their legacy. For the survival of their family they were even accepting foreign blood. Each family held enormous power in the society. Shasa got all the information about the family from him. Luckily the most powerful family selected the children and even the family who served the emperor for generations accepted the youngest saying she was the moon goddess.Shasa told the children to play outside. The meeting took place. There were some arguments and conditions that were solved peacefully and finally it was time for her to sign the transfer document. Her hand shook violently. She forced herself. Looking at her, the man who said about Yui the moon goddess stood in front of everyone. "Child, I may not know what you going through but what I saw I know you hold every single one close to your heart. It may be tough for you but I can assure with all my power I promise we accept the child like our own blood and give her utmost love. So you don't have to worry, trust this old man."Hearing this, other parties made a decision to give the children the love they wanted. Hearing this her eyes filled. She stood and bowed and with a scattered voice said, "Thank you, I will never forget their grace and I would like to add a condition. It's not in the document. Could you all keep Haruto's death secret until they become adult? Please I beg you." She bowed her head again. One of them tried to stand but was stopped by the elder. In the elder's mind there was a single thought roaming. "Poor child, for the sake of the children she is willing to bear all their resentment till death. Just how deep she loves and what kind of child Haruto was. Even after his death his presence can be felt. If that child would have been alive I would have taken him and appointed him the successor. What am I thinking... looks like my age is kicking in."It was time for farewell. Families picked the hands of children and one by one they started to walk outside the home. Every single one of them looked back at the home, and their sister Shasa waving her hand saying bye and the children smiled waving their hands without any knowledge. For them they were adopted and now they had a family. Also they could meet their sister whenever they wanted. At last Miyu hugged her and walked forward without looking back. Finally they were gone. Her smile faded. She kneeled down to the ground and started to cry loudly. The sound contained pain. Aunty and Uncle came close to her. Both hugged her. She grabbed them tightly and cried. Even Aunty and Uncle were not able to hold. Their eyes filled with tears. Aunty looked at the sky and prayed for those children.The thread that held the family was broken, gone, faded. Only memories remained.