The front gate creaked softly as Emma stepped inside.
The afternoon sky was painted in slow colors—orange fading into blue. The air smelled like dust, grass… and smoke.
Her father stood near the porch.
Ethan.
Leaning against the railing, jacket half-open, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. He wasn't really smoking it—just letting it burn as he watched the sky like it was telling him something important.
When he heard the gate, he turned.
His eyes softened instantly.
A small smile appeared—real, warm, the kind he only wore at home.
"Hello, daughter."
Emma stopped in her tracks.
"…Hello, father," she replied, slipping her bag off her shoulder.
He took a drag, then immediately lowered the cigarette away from her out of habit. "School done?"
"Yes."
"Good day?"
"…Normal."
Ethan chuckled quietly. "That means something happened."
Emma walked up beside him and leaned lightly against the railing, mirroring his posture. They watched the sky together for a moment in comfortable silence.
"You're late," he said gently.
"Break took longer."
He nodded, accepting it without pressing. "You hungry?"
"I ate."
"Good." Another pause. Then, softer: "I'm glad you're home."
Emma glanced at him. Just for a second.
"I came back," she said.
Ethan smiled wider at that, flicking the cigarette away and crushing it under his shoe. "Always do."
The wind passed between them. Leaves rustled. The house behind them felt warm—alive.
"Go inside," he added. "Your mother's making tea. She'll pretend not to worry, but she's been listening for the gate."
Emma picked up her bag again.
Before going in, she said quietly, "…The sky looks nice."
Ethan followed her gaze. "Yeah. It does."
Ethan stayed on the porch—watching the sky, smiling to himself.
A normal life.
A peaceful one.
He sure made the best choice. Ending it once and for all.
The door hadn't even fully closed behind Emma before—
"EMMAAA—!!"
Footsteps. Fast. Panicked.
And then—
BOOM.
Asuka came flying out of the kitchen like a missile, apron slightly crooked, tea towel still in her hand. She wrapped her arms around Emma and pulled her into a crushing hug, pressing Emma's face straight into her chest.
"You're HOME," Asuka said, voice breaking into a laugh and a whine at the same time. "Do you know how long you were gone?!"
"…School hours," Emma replied, voice muffled.
Asuka pulled back just enough to grab Emma's cheeks and squish them. "My cutie little girl was gone all day! All ALONE in the big scary world!"
"I was in class," Emma said flatly.
"I MISSED YOU," Asuka declared, hugging her again, tighter. "What if you tripped? What if you forgot to eat? What if someone looked at you weird?!"
Ethan leaned in from the doorway, arms crossed, amused. "She's seventeen, Asuka."
"She's still SMALL," Asuka snapped back without looking at him.
"I'm taller than you," Emma pointed out.
Asuka gasped dramatically. "Attitude now too?! School is corrupting my baby!"
Emma sighed—the long, tired kind—but didn't push her away. She just stood there, arms at her sides, letting herself be squeezed.
"…I ate," Emma said quietly. "With Diana."
Asuka paused. "…You ate properly?"
"Yes."
Asuka's eyes softened instantly. She brushed Emma's hair back, fingers gentle now. "Good."
Ethan smiled from the porch. "See? She's fine."
Asuka sniffed, then hugged Emma one last time—warm, protective, real. "Go wash up. Tea's ready."
Emma nodded. "Okay."
Asuka watched her walk down the hallway, hands clasped together like she'd just witnessed a miracle.
"…She's growing up," Asuka murmured.
Ethan slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Yeah."
And from the hallway, Emma's quiet voice echoed back:
"…You're loud."
Asuka laughed.
-----
Emma was halfway through changing—school uniform folded neatly on the chair, casual hoodie already on—when—
"EEEEEEYYYY EMMAAAAAA—!!"
A scream shattered the quiet evening.
Emma froze.
"…Huh?"
She walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside.
Outside.
In the street.
Under the soft sunset light.
Was Diana.
Standing proudly.
Next to a full-sized cow.
A real one.
Brown. Massive. Chewing grass like it paid rent there.
Emma stared.
The cow mooed.
Diana waved like this was the most normal thing in the world.
"YO EMMA," Diana shouted, hands on her hips, "I STOLE A COW."
Emma blinked once.
"…Why," she asked calmly.
Diana shrugged. "Farmer wasn't using it."
The cow mooed again, louder.
Emma leaned out the window slightly. "You can't steal livestock."
"It followed me willingly," Diana argued. "Look, it likes me."
The cow immediately tried to eat Emma's fence.
"…Diana."
"Okay okay maybe I borrowed it," Diana corrected. "ANYWAY—I'm here to pick you up."
Emma stared harder. "Pick me up where."
"Night walk! Adventure! Character development!"
"With a cow."
"YES."
A neighbor peeked out from across the street.
Ethan's voice came from downstairs. "Emma… why is there a cow outside our house?"
Asuka followed. "IS THAT A COW—?!"
Diana cupped her hands and yelled, "HI MR AND MRS ETHAN-ASUKA I PROMISE I'LL RETURN IT!"
Emma sighed deeply—the kind of sigh that carried years of patience she shouldn't even have at this age.
"…Stay there," Emma said.
She closed the curtain, grabbed her hoodie properly, and headed for the door.
Asuka gasped. "Emma?! You're not going out with the cow girl, are you?!"
"It's Diana," Emma replied. "I'll be back."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "With or without the cow?"
"…Unclear."
Emma stepped outside.
Diana beamed the moment she saw her. "SEE? I knew you'd come."
Emma looked at the cow. Then at Diana.
"…You're returning it."
"After the walk."
"No."
"After five minutes?"
"…Three."
Diana grinned. "DEAL."
They walked. With the Cow.
.
.
"Why can't you just call me?." Emma said.
"My phone fell into the Toilet." Diana said.
The cow mooed approvingly.
Emma rubbed her temples.
A normal life.
Except for Diana.
And the cow.
----
The streets changed the moment they reached the town center.
Lanterns glowed warm gold and red, strings of lights stretching from pole to pole. Music drifted through the air—drums, laughter, someone shouting about grilled corn. The smell of street food wrapped around everything.
A festival.
Diana stopped dead in her tracks.
"…Woah."
Emma looked around slowly. Her eyes reflected the lights—calm, observant, quietly impressed.
"…Wow," she repeated, softer.
People walked past in groups, kids running with glowing toys, couples sharing snacks. Firelight flickered off stalls lined with games and food.
And in the middle of it all—
The cow.
Casually walking beside them.
A few people stared.
One kid pointed. "Mom, why is there a cow at the festival?"
Diana patted the cow's head proudly. "Emotional support animal."
Emma sighed. "You're going to get arrested."
Diana grinned. "Not before I get food."
A vendor leaned out from his stall, eyes wide. "…Is that a cow?"
"Yes," Diana said confidently. "Do you sell grass?"
The vendor stared. "No."
The cow mooed in disappointment.
Emma stepped closer to the lights, watching paper lanterns sway gently in the night breeze. For a moment, she forgot the cow, the chaos, everything.
"It's nice," she said.
Diana noticed her tone and smiled—not joking this time. "Yeah. It is."
Music played somewhere nearby. Fireworks crackled faintly in the distance. The world felt warm. Alive.
Diana nudged Emma with her elbow. "Let's walk around. Try stuff."
Emma hesitated—just a second—then nodded. "…Okay."
They passed game stalls, food carts, and glowing booths. Diana tried to win a prize and immediately failed. The cow almost knocked over a cotton candy stand. Emma apologized without emotion but with perfect politeness.
People laughed. No one seemed truly mad.
Under the lanterns, Emma stopped again, looking up.
The lights reflected in her eyes.
Just noise.
Light.
A friend.
And… a cow.
"…I'm glad you picked me up," Emma said quietly.
Diana blinked, surprised—then smiled wide. "Anytime."
The cow mooed.
Fireworks burst overhead, painting the sky in color.
For once—
Everything was okay.
Chapter end