When I asked Rika-chan, she said that she might be in the back hills. That place is Satoko’s favorite playground.
The looming trees, the entangled vines, fallen dead wood, and edible akebia, it is no wonder why she loves that place. Every child has a dream to create a secret base. …For Satoko, the back hills were her secret base.
However, the hills are a dangerous place because it has never been scouted before. It is rather easy to get lost here, and it worries me as her older brother. …But it is more likely that I would get lost in these woods when compared to Satoko since she plays here all the time.
The woods already began to get dark by sundown. If I can’t find her here, it’s probably best to quit and search elsewhere.
Satoshi: “Satoko-!! Satoko-!!”
I called out to her, but sound does not travel that well in the woods.
According to Rika-chan, it seems that the area around here is known as Satoko’s secret base and she often goes into these woods alone to set up booby-traps to increase her territory. I wonder what she meant when she said “increasing her territory?” Well, if it’s a secret base, then she probably doesn’t want anyone coming close to her area. Then does that mean she’s setting up traps to ward off intruders…?
…If I already guessed it up to that, I should’ve realized what kinds of traps Satoko would place in these hills.
Satoshi: “Wha-what the..?!”
I suddenly lost my balance as my foot got stuck in a hole, which pulled on a rope hidden underneath some fallen leaves. Rustles were heard from the treetops and a giant ball of twigs dropped right beside me.
…It must’ve been one of Satoko’s booby-traps. If it worked according to plan, that ball of twigs would’ve struck my head.
Satoko: “…Oh my my. I wondered who got caught, but I didn’t expect Nii-Nii.”
Satoshi: “Satoko…!! That was dangerous! You should stop playing setting booby-traps…!”
Satoko: “Didn’t you read the sign by the Forestry Preserve? It clearly states that it’s dangerous to come into these woods. If that person doesn’t follow what it says, then my beautiful traps will be sure to welcome them? Ohohoho!”
…I should probably tell her to stop doing such a dangerous activity. …But I haven’t seen Satoko in such a cheerful mood in a while, so I didn’t say anything further.
Satoshi: “Anyway, Satoko. We’re all gonna go out and eat today so we’ve better hurry home.”
Satoko: “…I don’t want to go out and eat. Mom and dad can go by themselves. If you want Nii-nii can go with the three of you.”
Satoshi: “…Are you still angry at dad?”
Satoko: “….He threw his ashtray at me.”
Satoshi: “…No… That was our previous dad. Our current dad never did that to you.”
Satoko: “…He locked me outside in the veranda. He refused to give me lunch. He yelled at me that I bought the wrong cigarette brand, he slapped me saying that I should eat everything! And and…!!”
…All these abuses were not by done by our current father-in-law. Furthermore, she’s getting her abuses mixed with our past father-in-laws.
Our mother married numerous of times, and everytime, we had to call the new person as our new dad.
…But the word “dad” is not to be taken too lightly. …If you do not really consider the person as your dad from the bottom of your heart, then you can never call that person “my dad” even as a joke. That is how heavy that word is.
However, I did my part to make the frail family life to go along as smoothly as possible. Hence, I was able to say that word in order to keep the family from falling apart. …But to expect the same from Satoko at an age like her is a different story.
Satoko was subject to repeated abuse by our past father-in-laws, it has come to point where she never trusts a being called a “father-in-law.” Hence she has refused to open her heart to our current father.
Yes, it is true that our current father has no past experience in raising children. So it is true that there was a time where his anger just exploded. But ever since Satoko called the child abuse hotline, our current dad regretted his mistake deeply. I can tell that he is trying very hard to make communication with Satoko little by little. …Mom also finally realized what psychological suffering she had put through her child, and is doing her part of the job on how to bring Satoko back into the family.
…But Satoko refuses. …Considering her past abuses, it is understandable. Her early childhood was full of sadness and despair that no child should ever go through…
The only person that Satoko has her heart open is probably…me. So I am the only person that she has left that she recognizes as her own family member. …If not, Satoko will be left all alone in this world without a family…
However, two siblings cannot make up a family. No matter how rough our current family relationship maybe, each progress is vital in creating a stable family. And once that happens, we can truly call ourselves to be a real family.
Satoshi: “Satoko…Our current dad is getting nicer everyday. …He really wants to make up with Satoko.”
Satoko: “…I’ve never heard of him saying that.”
Satoshi: “That’s because you always run away from him when he tries to have a discussion with you… Dad really wants to have communication with Satoko. …He said he’ll never force you to eat squash again?”
Satoko: “…That’s a lie. He tied me up to the chair saying that he won’t let me leave the dinner table unless I eat all the squash.”
…Again, that’s not our current dad…
Satoshi: “Satoko. C’mon. At least come how with Nii-nii, okay? Mom won tickets for family dinner and it’ll be a waste if we didn’t go. It’s already reserved, so if we don’t go today, it’ll expire.”
Satoko: “……………Then why don’t you go along with them? I’m perfectly fine staying at the house alone.”
Satoko never goes out to play this late into the hour. …She knew that we were all going out to eat as a family, so she purposely stayed outside in these hills until this late. Just when I was about to explode for Satoko’s selfishness, I repress my short temper as usual. …I am the only person that Satoko has left. …I must not scare Satoko…
Satoshi: “C’mon Satoko, let’s go home? You can decide if you want to go or not once we reach home, okay? …And….if you don’t guide me outta here…I can’t go home either.”
Satoko: “…..Nii-nii… I’ve brought you along many times already, but you still can’t remember through these woods? Alright, let’s go Nii-nii. I’ll show you the way.”
Satoko holds out her hand. She says its embarrassing to hold hands with Nii-nii in front of people, but she held out her hand.
I take her hand.
Satoko’s hand is so frail. ….I must continue to protect her as her brother.
Satoshi: “Let’s go home, Satoko.”
Satoko: “…..Okay.”