The bustling energy of the tournament venue surrounded Kei and Mia as they stepped through the main gates. The crowd buzzed with excitement, and the hum of anticipation was almost palpable. But before they could fully take in the scene, a familiar voice called out.
“There’s my boy!”
Kei froze, his body stiffening as he recognized the voice of his mother, Ayane Moriyama. Slowly, he turned to see his parents—Ayane and Tetsuo Moriyama—standing nearby. They exuded their usual aura of elegance and confidence, effortlessly commanding attention even in a crowded space.
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A WARM WELCOME
Ayane rushed forward, her arms wide open as she enveloped Kei in a tight hug. “Kei! Look at you! You’re so thin! Have you been eating enough? Are you sleeping properly?”
Kei groaned, trying to wiggle free. “Mom, I’m fine. I eat. I sleep. I survive. Can you not make a scene?”
Tetsuo approached more calmly, his sharp eyes assessing Kei with a quiet but evident pride. He clapped his son on the shoulder and nodded. “You look well.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Kei muttered, still trapped in his mother’s embrace.
But Ayane’s attention quickly shifted to Mia, and her expression softened into pure affection. “Mia, sweetheart,” she said, letting go of Kei to greet her. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Mia offered a polite smile, adjusting her mask. “It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Moriyama.”
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THE DAUGHTER THEY NEVER HAD
Over the years, Ayane and Tetsuo had grown to adore Mia. Her intelligence, resilience, and unshakable composure had earned their admiration, and they often treated her as the daughter they never had.
Ayane took Mia’s hands in hers, beaming. “You’ve been looking after Kei, haven’t you? Honestly, I don’t know what he’d do without you.”
Mia gave a faint smile, her tone dry. “Probably starve.”
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Tetsuo chuckled. “Sounds about right.”
Ayane’s smile turned sly as she glanced between Kei and Mia. “You’re amazing, Mia. If I could, I’d call you my daughter right now.”
Kei, who had been half-listening, groaned audibly. “Mom, please don’t.”
Ayane’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “What? I can’t wait to call her my daughter-in-law someday.”
Mia froze, visibly uncomfortable, while Kei threw his hands up in exasperation. “Mom! No! Just... no!”
Ayane laughed, clearly enjoying his reaction. “Fine, fine. I’ll call her my daughter now instead. You can catch up later.”
Kei sighed dramatically. “I’m getting food,” he muttered, turning on his heel to leave.
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KEI’S THOUGHTS
Kei wandered toward the food stalls, grumbling under his breath. As much as he loved his parents, they could be a lot. He grabbed a skewer of grilled meat and sat on a nearby bench, taking a bite as his mind wandered.
His thoughts drifted to Mia, and he found himself smiling despite everything. Over the years, she had become a constant in his life—sharp, reliable, and impossibly brilliant. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met.
“Of all the people in the world,” Kei thought, chewing slowly, “she’s the most beautiful. Not just on the outside—her mind, her resilience, everything about her.”
Then, a laugh bubbled up as another thought struck him. “Maybe that’s why she has her condition. A balance thing, like she always says. Life couldn’t make her perfect, so it had to balance her out.”
He chuckled harder, earning a few curious glances from passersby. “She’d kill me if I said that out loud.”
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RETURNING TO THE GROUP
When Kei returned to the group, his mother was busy fussing over Mia, while Tetsuo stood nearby, watching with a small, amused smile. Mia’s cheeks were faintly pink, likely from whatever Ayane had been saying.
“Did you leave us any food,” Mia asked as Kei approached, “or did you eat the entire stall?”
“Hey, I was stress-eating,” Kei shot back. “You don’t know what I’ve been through.”
Mia smirked. “I can guess.”
Ayane clapped her hands together, beaming. “Perfect timing! Now that you’re back, we can all catch up properly. There’s so much we need to hear about your adventures!”
Kei sighed, plopping into a chair. “Fine. But only if there’s dessert.”
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LOOKING AHEAD
As the group settled into a comfortable rhythm, the conversation turned to the upcoming tournament. Ayane and Tetsuo promised to cheer loudly from the stands, their enthusiasm unshaken despite Kei’s half-hearted protests.
Despite his earlier frustration, Kei couldn’t help but feel a warm sense of gratitude. His parents’ unwavering love and Mia’s steady presence reminded him of how lucky he truly was.
And though he’d never admit it out loud, he couldn’t shake the thought that maybe his mom was right—Mia really did feel like family.