The car was driving effortlessly along a winding road that separated a mountain from the sea, like something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.

A 4-ton truck followed behind.

"We've arrived!" Dad's voice rang out.

Dad was busy giving instructions to the movers as they unloaded furniture and various other items.

Our new home was in a quaint town—not quite countryside but certainly not a bustling city.

"From today, this is where we live, Musou," he said.

My name is Musou, spelled like "dream" and "thought," but pronounced "yume," which means "dream." It's easy to misunderstand, especially for first-timers. My parents named me with the hope that I'd always keep dreaming and achieve my aspirations.

Right now, I'm... a one-year-old girl.

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"Oh, there, there. You've been so good today," my parents cooed over me. They were thrilled to finally have a child later in life, and they doted on me.

Although I couldn't yet understand words, Dad whispered in my ear, "This house is said to have some strange things going on. Exciting, huh, Musou!"

"Hey, honey, help with the unpacking!" Mom called out.

"I'm busy comforting Musou right now!" he replied.

"You... really need to help." Mom smiled, but a vein throbbed on her forehead.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

They set me down in my cradle, then got to work unpacking and cleaning, but both kept glancing over at me with a smile. They couldn't keep their eyes off me.

The reason for this move was Dad's new job as a town clerk. We used to live in Tokyo, but because I wasn't in the best health, they were glad to get a posting out here, hoping the fresh air would be good for me.

After they finished unpacking, they came over to me, competing over who would hold me. "It's my turn to hold her!" Dad said. "You had her just now. It's my turn!" Mom retorted. They were really doting on me—it must've been quite a blessing for them to have me.

There was always laughter in our house. It was a picture-perfect happy family.

At night, Mom would always read me a bedtime story. "This scene from an American movie, it always stuck with me," she said. It seemed like a dream come true for her.

I slowly drifted off to sleep.