STORIES AND NIGHTMARE
The warm glow of the living room lamp cast a soft light over Max's cozy home. Noriko sat cross-legged on the plush couch, flipping through a book she had pulled from the shelf earlier. Kota, sprawled on the carpet with his favorite dragon toy, babbled nonsensical sounds to himself, occasionally glancing at the adults as if silently judging them. Max stood by the bookshelf, scanning its rows with a critical eye.
"This one," he finally said, pulling out a hardcover book with a whimsical illustration on the cover. He held it up like a prize. "The perfect bedtime story for our little critic over there."
Noriko tilted her head to look at the title. "The Adventures of Bunny Braveheart," she read aloud, her lips curving into a smile. "How appropriate. Kota, you hear that? A story about a brave bunny, just like you."
Kota paused, his small hand gripping his toy dragon. He tilted his head and then babbled something unintelligible.Bunny Braveheart? Is this a joke?
Max smirked. "See? Even he's skeptical."
He plopped down beside Noriko on the couch, the cushions sinking slightly under his weight. He stretched his arm along the backrest, giving Noriko a playful look. "Alright, you handle the first half. If our little rebel isn't asleep by then, I'll step in with the big guns."
Noriko raised an eyebrow. "Big guns? You mean your dramatic voice acting?"
Max gasped in mock offense. "Dramatic? It's called immersive storytelling. You'll see."
Noriko opened the book, her voice softening as she began to read. Her tone was melodic, drawing Kota's attention immediately. He lay on his stomach, his head propped up by his hands, as if reluctantly admitting he was interested.
As the story unfolded, Noriko's expressions became more animated, and her voice carried a rhythm that even Kyoshi found soothing.
"Bunny Braveheart hopped through the dark forest, his little heart pounding in his chest…"
Kota's eyes narrowed slightly. Translation:
Braveheart? More like Scaredy Bunny.
When Noriko reached a particularly suspenseful moment, she glanced at Kyoshi, who was watching her with an amused expression.
"What?" she asked, pausing mid-sentence.
Max shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing. Just didn't know you were this good at storytelling."
Noriko rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "Flattery won't get you out of your turn." She handed him the book and gestured toward Kota. "Your move, storyteller."
---
Max cleared his throat, holding up another book he had picked earlier. "Alright, Kota, prepare yourself. This one's a classic: The Little Dragon."
Kota rolled onto his back, clutching his bunny toy as if bracing himself. This better be good.
Max dive into the story with gusto, his voice shifting dramatically for each character. Noriko stifled a laugh as he imitated the high-pitched squeak of a frightened mouse and then transitioned into the deep, rumbling tone of a dragon.
"'I'll show them,' said the Little Dragon, puffing out his chest. 'I'll breathe fire bigger than anyone else!'" Max declared, holding his hand to his heart like an actor delivering a monologue.
Kota let out a tiny sigh, turning his face away to conceal his growing grin. Translation: Okay, fine. You've got my attention.
By the time Max reached the end of the story, Kota's eyelids drooped, and his breathing slowed. He lay still, seemingly fast asleep.
Noriko sighed in relief, stretching her arms above her head. "Finally. I thought he'd never give in."
Max leaned back, his arm brushing against hers. "We make a good team," he said with a smile.
Kota, however, was far from asleep. Beneath his blanket, a mischievous grin tugged at his lips. These two are so clueless. Guess it's time for me to work my magic.
Noriko tilted her head toward Max. "You're pretty good at this, you know. Ever thought of a career in children's entertainment?"
Max chuckled, resting his head against the couch. "Only if you're there to keep me in line."
Their conversation drifted into silence, a comfortable warmth settling between them. Kota, sensing the shift, peeked through his lashes. His parents—well, what he considered his parents—were staring at each other, their faces a little too close for a casual chat.
Alright, lovebirds, let's get to the good part.
Max reached out, his hand brushing Noriko's cheek. She blinked in surprise but didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her heartbeat quickening.
"You…" Max began, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're really something, you know that?"
Noriko's lips parted, her eyes searching his. "Max…"
Before either of them could say more, Kota let out the faintest snore.
Max glanced down, his expression softening. "Guess he's out for real this time."
"Yeah," Noriko whispered, though her focus was entirely on him.
Taking a chance, Max leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss. Noriko melted into the moment, her hand resting lightly on his chest.
From beneath the blanket, Kota's grin widened. Mission accomplished.
When they pulled apart, Noriko giggled softly, her cheeks flushed. "You think he's really asleep?"
Max glanced at the lump under the blanket. "If he's not, he's in for a surprise."
Noriko laughed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Let's just hope he doesn't start narrating our lives in his baby language."
Max chuckled, wrapping his arm around her. "Knowing him, that's exactly what he'll do."
The room fell into a peaceful silence, the only sound the soft hum of the heater. As they drifted off, Kota remained still, his tiny mind already plotting his next moves for their happily-ever-after.
Noriko lay nestled between Max and Kota, their steady breaths a gentle rhythm in the stillness of the night. But within her mind, the storm raged on.
She stood in the middle of a small, cluttered living room, her six-year-old self clutching a dog-eared children's book. Her father, Masaru, loomed in the doorway, his voice raised in frustration.
"How can you expect me to stay in this house when all you do is nag?" Masaru barked, his hand gesturing wildly.
Across the room, Noriko's mother, Claire, spat her response like venom. "Oh, please, Masaru! You're never here anyway. Don't act like you're some perfect husband!"
Little Noriko shrank into the corner, her fingers trembling as they gripped the book tighter. The bright illustrations of smiling animals provided no comfort as the voices of her parents echoed louder and louder.
"Stop fighting," she whispered, tears stinging her eyes.
But no one heard her.
The memory shifted like a scene cut from a film. Now she was ten, standing in an airport terminal. Her father crouched in front of her, his face weary but kind.
"Noriko," he said softly, placing his large hands on her shoulders. "I need you to be brave, okay? You'll be with your mom in England now. It'll be different, but I know you'll be fine."
Her heart clenched. "But why can't you come with us?"
Masaru's smile faltered, his eyes glistening. "It's complicated, sweetheart. But I promise I'll visit whenever I can."
Behind him, Claire was already dragging a suitcase toward the gate, her lips set in a thin line of impatience.
"Let's go, Noriko," she snapped, barely sparing Masaru a glance.
Noriko hesitated, her gaze shifting to her younger sister, Saki, who clung to Masaru's hand.
"Why does Saki get to stay with Dad?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"Because that's what's best for her," Claire said curtly, offering no further explanation.
Noriko wanted to argue, to scream that it wasn't fair. But instead, she nodded mutely, allowing her mother to pull her away.
The scene changed again, plunging Noriko into the cold, cavernous halls of her stepfather's mansion in England. At fourteen, she sat at a desk in her room, surrounded by piles of books. They were her escape from the oppressive expectations her mother had placed on her.
"Noriko," Claire called from the doorway, her tone clipped.
Noriko turned slowly, her heart sinking as she met her mother's stern gaze.
"You've been in here all day," Claire said. "You should be practicing piano or attending your etiquette lessons. You won't make any connections hiding in this room."
"I like reading," Noriko replied quietly, her fingers clutching the edge of her book.
Claire sighed, exasperated. "Reading won't get you anywhere in life. You need to focus on what matters—your future. You'll marry well someday, and that will reflect on all of us."
Noriko's stomach churned with frustration. She wanted to scream, to tell her mother that she didn't want the future she was being forced into. But instead, she nodded, burying her resentment deep inside.
The dream shifted to her departure from England. She was twenty now, standing at the base of the grand staircase with a suitcase in hand. Her stepfather watched impassively as Claire berated her.
"You're being selfish!" Claire hissed, her face flushed with anger. "After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?"
Noriko met her gaze with uncharacteristic defiance. "I'm not a pawn in your plans, Mother. I'm leaving because I need to live my own life."
Claire's eyes narrowed. "You'll regret this. Mark my words, Noriko."
Her stepfather didn't say a word, his presence cold and detached as Noriko turned and walked out the door, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
The nightmare twisted again, this time her mother's voice pierced through the memory, cold and mocking. "You're wasting your potential, Noriko. Is this what you've reduced yourself to?"
A giant message icon appeared before her, glowing ominously. It was the unread text from her mother that she had ignored earlier that day.
Her mother's voice overlapped with the sight of the icon, growing louder and more insistent. "You're going to marry him, Noriko. It's for your own good."
"No!" Noriko shouted, shaking her head violently. "I won't!"
She woke with a start, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The room was dark, but the warmth of Max and Kota beside her anchored her to the present.
Kota stirred, his tiny hand reaching up to pat her cheek. "Mama?" he mumbled sleepily.
Noriko's heart ached at the tenderness in his voice. She pulled him close, tears streaming down her face.
Max leaned over, his eyes filled with concern. "Noriko? Are you okay?"
She couldn't speak, her throat tight with emotion. Instead, she nodded, burying her face in Kota's hair.
Max scooted closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You're safe," he murmured. "Whatever it is, we're here."
Kota, sensing the heaviness in the air, decided it was time to lighten the mood. He wriggled out of Noriko's embrace and struck a dramatic pose, puffing out his chest.
"Super Kota to the rescue!" he declared, earning a watery laugh from Noriko.
Max chuckled, ruffling Kota's hair. "What would we do without you, huh?"
"Cry a lot," Kota replied confidently, crossing his arms.
Noriko laughed, the sound breaking through the lingering darkness of her nightmare. She reached out to pull both Kyoshi and Kota into a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.
Kota beamed, resting his head against her shoulder. "Group hug time!"
As they held each other, the weight of Noriko's past began to lift, replaced by the warmth and love of her new family. For the first time in years, she felt truly free.
CHAPTER END 🫠