Chapter 199: K Y R 1

It had been a few years since I moved to this new home and neighborhood, my inexperienced and novice life had been tainted by how I had lived in that neighborhood before, when I lived with my uncles and especially my cousins. My uncles were to my eyes, very friendly and each with their own attitude that made them very present, as were my aunts who likewise, were nice and mostly showed an attitude of having been through a lot.

The uncles were on my father's side, they were indeed many uncles and with that many cousins, we had the same blood connection, but somehow I felt that I did not fit in with them, since for some reason, I did not have the same last name as them and when I found out later, I realized that my father did not have the same last name as his siblings.

When I lived with the whole family, I was a little boy who wanted to go outside to play and see what I could have fun with, I just wanted to have fun and not stay inside because I got bored a lot. But as I was still small, very small it was obvious that they would not let me go alone, I always went with my group of cousins who were mostly boys, my family and the whole branch mostly sired boys and this is no exception. My grandmother on my father's side, how should I say it, maybe she was very naughty? hahaha..... as if we were still in the last century, she gave birth to many sons, among them my father.

Back on the subject of cousins, they were much older than me, and their methods to have fun were like those of big boys, they invited me to play very...rough games? I accepted because I wanted to have fun and socialize, the stage where you can make friends and develop easier is when you are small, so I gladly wanted to spend time with them.

But at the end of almost every day, I always ended up coming home in the afternoon, crying and with my clothes all dirty, tears dried on my face, snot dripping down my face. My sister when she saw me like this, when I came home from school, she would first console me and tell me to tell her what had happened. She would rub my head and try to cheer me up, that she would take care of everything else.

That's how it was most of the time, but what worried my sister the most when she saw me in that state, was that my clothes were all dirty. For when my mother would come home from work and find me or us that we had soiled even a little bit of our clothes, she would scold us and start lecturing us like a beast with no control.

『I told them to take care of their clothes!!!!』-『Don't they appreciate what they are given?!!』-『They give me more work than I already have!!!』-『I'm tired..... daughter you could do the laundry? Eh? Why are you looking at me like that? you made it dirty, didn't you? then it's your responsibility』.

My mother was a high school teacher in those days, she worked at a school where my sister attended and as it happens, my mother, Nyoka was my sister's teacher. Maybe it's because of the pressure of the place, but my sister ended up always being the best in her class, as I once managed to hear them say to each other without mincing words that.

『Because you are my daughter I am not supposed to spoil you, you are just another student in my class, so you must do what you must do, don't disappoint me, did you hear?』

My sister Maya listened attentively to my mother's words, her authority in those days was to be feared and highly respected, but Maya thought she was very harsh just the same. Nyoka always wanted everything tidy, that nothing was moved from its place, that everything was presentable and without any stain, so when she discovered that something was dirty or out of place, she quickly called the whole family and questioned us as in a prison who soiled such a thing. Even though I was the cause on several occasions, my sister would always raise her hand and blame it on me.

And she would always look at me and tell me with her eyes not to worry, she would fix everything. In those days we were at the mercy of my mother. Either because we didn't like the place anymore, or because my mother couldn't stand my father's family. Come to think of it, my mother had zero contact with my aunts and uncles from my father's side. The only one she had contact with was my grandmother, my father's mother, who was loving, caring and practically the opposite of my mother at that time, maybe my mother approached my grandmother to learn from the things she was doing wrong, she knew deep down that she was doing things wrong, she wanted to ask for help and advice, what better than an elderly mother who is still loved by her many children.

We knew it, we all knew that our grandmother, Mama Fie was a woman that despite her advanced age her motherly love lasted forever, her children, despite being adults and with their own family, became little children in front of their mother looking for affection. I also saw her on several occasions and she always seemed to me a woman with the same value as a diamond or even more. But back then for some reason I was afraid of old women (;'∀｀) either because of their wrinkles or because of their appearance that each time they get closer to their death, but I remember, I remember that when she saw me she always smiled at me and waved her hand for me to come closer, in those moments I thought the above...why...why was she such an idiot....quiero.... I wish I could have been there, talked to her, told her my day to day life, some jokes to make her laugh.....I wanted to be her friend...but.....because of my fear I could never talk to her...it's one of the biggest regrets I have.....When we moved to the new home soon after we got the news that Mama Fie had finally breathed her last breath.

I still remember, my father crying like a child, no matter his age, he cried like a baby when he heard that his mother was in a better place. Maya and Nyoka were crying too, the woman they were inspired to be better was gone. My sister saw Mama Fie more like a mother, as she did treat him with affection and spoiled him on many occasions. I still didn't understand what was going on, I was just watching in confusion as my family just cried.

But on the day of the funeral, the whole family was present, in black suits, giving our best wishes, farewells. My uncles' words to his mother were heartbreaking, others lamented not having spent more time with her, others thanked her for being a great mother, others simply couldn't say anything as the crying won them over. I could see how a coffin was buried underground, I didn't understand what was going on, I was staring lostly at the scenery. But.... but when they handed out the reminder..... I ended up crying too...On the reminder was the picture of Mama Fie..... with a smile, finally my tears and cries were coming out of my body and I wished that she would not die, that this time I will spend more time with her, I will talk to her, I will answer her, I will smile at her, that I am not afraid anymore...it was the first time that I experienced a loss of a loved one with whom I had little contact.

The days passed and I still had not recovered, so far in my recent childhood I had had a hard time, the jokes of my cousins, the strictness of my mother, the burden of my sister's covering up for me, the loss of a family member. Still with all that in mind, it was time to finally go to elementary school, it was my first day and I had to prove that I was no longer afraid. That was the day I met them.

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At this moment I will be about 9 years old, I am entering 3rd grade, at this stage I will be more loose and free. I met and became friends with Menhera, Rino and many more people that I didn't think I had so many, but in that year a new child would enter our class. You could already see a smile on my face when I was happy, you could see a surprised face when I found something strange, and in this case it was marked on my face a doubt and curiosity about who will be the that new student, I was really looking forward to seeing him when they announced it, I wanted to show the new boy this new place where he would stop, we were all expectant and many in the front row, peeked their heads to see who he was or what he looked like.

『I hope it's a kid』『I hope it's a friend』『I hope it's the kokun』『(I hope it's Mr.Beast and give us lots of money, for the CSMR I want money)』●﹏●

Who knows what my classmates were thinking, but their reactions were finally calmed down when they saw the new student who was joining our school. He was a boy, with black hair and eyes of the same color, his appearance was so normal that you would think he was a third party in a story. The boy took the chalk and wrote his name on the blackboard.

『I think it's fine like this, yes 』. -*:ﾟ*｡⋆ฺ(*'◡`)-『My name is Sato Akihiro, but please can you call me Albert』 ⁽⁽ ◟(灬 ˊωˋ 灬)◞ ⁾⁾

That boy who asked to be called Albert, he seemed very common ,I think too much, but that instead of disliking me I ended up liking him very much, he wanted to be the first friend I had in this school, I felt that both of us could form a very nice friendship.

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♩❔＠＊♡𝄡♬☸≤★★○☻♥🎼𓏢𝄪☛𝄫֍♲φ≤‰♯ღ𝄫┴♩✌🎶𝄢𓏢☪"▀πσ𝄡𝄫≈☣𓏢╬♮♯𝄢☯𓇼

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Hours before, Rhino had already gotten ready to be able to meet someone, he was dressed casually so at least this time he could enjoy it, he still doesn't know why he said those words, maybe it was a method he took himself without realizing it to try to overcome the past, people think he is very smart and almost always gets away with it, but guys so people consider him great, he tends to have faults much bigger than one can imagine. He was choosing to go with a very...controversial maybe we could say it, on the hat there was a logo, watermark that said that vegans that if they continue like this, they will end up leaving us without air, and with a symbol of forbidden to eat vegetables. In case you ask me for my type of humor that I take and I know that this is done for thanks without harming anyone, it causes me to laugh a little, maybe in an alternate place vegans have been the cause of many plants have become extinct xd. I'll leave my antics elsewhere.

Rino put it on and looked at himself in the mirror, it looked bad but not that bad, but he didn't care and he didn't care if it bothered anyone. His phone vibrated, he checked it and found a message, it seems to be from a girl by the way the contact has it saved, in the message it said.

Sent by: Ana Busado de Hesa

『"Are you ready? In half an hour we'll meet at the square, and I hope you're not wearing anything weird this time."』

Where Rino responded amusingly with a sticker, walked down the stairs and said goodbye to both his father and his 2 sisters. Rino was already walking through the streets of the city, he received as expected, looks from people who looked at him sideways, but did not say anything, because, would you be offended by a hat with that logo that surely uses it for fun and not for real? Maybe there are people who thought about claiming it, but making a fuss because your hat bothers me is a bit...maybe if it was a hat from a pitote here of the juicy ones, then if you claim it and with desire xd. But just let it be and that's it, no one is harassed and harmed, as long as it remains an innocent joke and not a fact I think it is acceptable on those occasions. Rino observed the stalls and the city itself, and was grateful for having brought a hat because it is sunny here. He was looking at a croquettes stall.

『(I'll buy a few to share with my sisters and father, but.....I'm about to have an engagement, wearing that on the whole date might be a bit annoying for her...) 6("ー ) Yep, I'm going to buy that and some stuffed animals 』 ⸜(ᶿ᷇ധᶿ᷆)⸝

When she decided to buy those croquettes, again her cell phone vibrated, she thought it was again a message from that person, but when she checked she noticed that it was from her friend Menhera, letting her know that everything was already prepared and that they are going right now to the park.

『Right, how silly, I forgot a few minutes later, it seems that there will be a little change of plans』.

Rhino typed his phone and sent a message to that person from before, telling him that something suddenly came up and they will have to postpone their date again, Rhino who was walking slowly and unwillingly before, was now jogging and jogging past, on his face was marked with a genuine smile and he was going straight to meet his childhood friend again.

『(Oh! Now what do I do with the cap? Do I keep it or leave it like this? Maybe they'll think something weird, although Menhera knows that I wear a lot of weird things for fun, but Ya-kun...I'd better take it off, we have to be presentable)』

Rhino kept his cap inside his shirt and kept running steadily and showed no signs of being tired. When he reached the park, he saw Menhera behind a tree, Menhera was waving to Rhino where Rhino was waving back making a peace sign with his fingers ✌ v(*'-^*)ｂ. Menhera was so happy that her cheeks turned red and told Rhino that on that bench was her friend Yashiro, but even though M was on the opposite side, Rhino could still tell that he was her friend, Menhera said that now they both have to go together, but Rhino would refuse amicably.

『I'm sorry, but I want to have at least a few moments alone with him, besides I think it would be fair, you had Ya-kun all to yourself the day before *smiles*』-『I see you took that personality again, you should find a solution to that, you'll see that when you're your normal self, everything will change and it will be better for everyone, and don't worry, I won't take your "friend" away from you, what's more, this brings me a lot of nostalgia, thanks Men-kun *smiles*』-『And I'll give you some advice, if you're really going to continue with that, nobody likes to be treated like you do, there's more to life than being on the lookout for just one person, and you know it』

『You say that from experience, right? it was very nice to see you 2 together, a little not, disque "Chosen One of Eternity" or "The System Conspires Among Us" hahahaha 』 ♪v('∇'*)⌒☆.

Menhera would pull out some innocent teasing and Rhino would respond in kind with laughter, those moments she remembers very well, Rhino, if she hadn't intervened, for sure the previous years she would have hated them like never before. She thanked her friend and moved to walk slowly to sit next to her friend, Menhera at this also let out a few laughs but then started to think about her friend's words, especially with the "You took that personality again."

『(This Rino-chan, but I also think he's coming back, for the moment I don't plan to do anything else, that's how I always was, for the moment I don't know what this feeling is, for the moment..... I say it as if it was recent..... finally Yashi-kun came back, and with him also came back our daily days)』-『(And stop calling me Men-kun)』(๑-̆૩-̆)

Menhera was already looking forward to going with her friends where Rhino was signaling her to join them, both of them met again and confirmed it by boomeranging their fingers of their hand. The 3 great childhood friends were together again. But in the middle of our union, Menhera and I noticed that something fell to the ground, when we looked down we saw that it was a hat with a very particular logo, Rino happened to pick it up while laughing in a charismatic way.

『Ah....jajajajajajajaja...is that vegans are to be feared』 （;^ω^）

『*sigh* I see you're still wearing weird stuff with you, yeah you're not afraid of anything Rino』. (;~〓~)

Rhino in the face of this passed to clean it and since since since they had discovered it, he passed to put it on and felt at ease because he was protecting himself from the sun.

『Well then, let's go, we have a lot of things to do *smiles*』.

Rino was walking ahead showing us his back and at the same time his calm and smiling face, this was what I remembered about him, that he was the one who was in front and leading us with a simple but nice charisma. Menhera took me by the hand and took me with them to walk around the city.

On our way out of the park, we came across a large pond in the middle of it, I was surprised by that, as I did not remember it being so big, Rino was already with a stone making it rise and fall in his hand, he passed us to look, he was being cool and passed to throw the stone into the pond where instead of bouncing several times, it simply sank hard.

『Ahhh....that was just what he wanted 』 ヽ(〃v〃)ﾉ

We spent some time to see who was the first to bounce the stone in the water, since it's the first time for the 3 of us to do something like this, while chatting about how the weather was for them.

『Since a long time ago I've been working part-time at a store that sells manga and light novels, although before I got there I went through other positions, each one was different, I even remember once I even became an employee at a fast food establishment, I was doing well since many customers, especially women came for the food, I started as a fryer but then they changed me to cashier, I was moving up quickly, but in the end I ended up leaving』.

Rino was telling us about his experiences in various types of jobs, the one he remembers the most was fast food, because despite the fact that he left it the fastest, it was the one he remembers the most, I would ask him why he left it if he was doing well, his answer was very much of him.

『It is that at the beginning there was not so much problem, I was behind everything making the fries and hamburgers, but when they changed me to the cashier ,that calm and tranquility that I saw was destroyed by the diners, they were coming all the time and I could not stand it』』. (／▽￣)／

『Right, you like to go unnoticed (If so I don't understand why you wear flashy things)』 ('-ω-`๑)

『Now at the Mangas y Novelas store I'm doing well, it's quiet and sometimes it's hectic, but not suffocating at all, except in certain seasons when it really gets hectic, but everything else is nice, the coworkers are likewise quiet and fun, it's a good place for me 』.

Looks like Rino found his workplace by this time, most of the time of why a student goes to work part time is because they need money, no shit...Well, they need money maybe to buy a whim of theirs, or they also need the money to help their family with that same issue. Now that I remember, I didn't get to meet Rhino's mother either, when I arrived here, both Menhera's father and Rhino's mother were gone, and what makes me strange is a rumor I heard back then, that both of them almost disappeared at the same time. Yeah, I think you're thinking the same thing as me reading friend, maybe it's that those 2 people....I never asked it as a kid since I never thoroughly searched the topic, I'm really interested so I just said it out of the blue.

『Hey Rino, you never told me about your mother, growing up I never paid attention to her, is she ok? If for some reason she left them』

Again I went into that tactless way of words, I would ask without measuring my words, I can't help it, sometimes it comes so natural to me that I regret soon after I say them, in a quick way I would cover my mouth and Rino would stare down, I was nervous where Menhera would give me an answer, where I don't know if it's worse than the speculation I had.

『Yashi-kun, Rino's mother is dead』.

Menhera told me with all the sorrow in the world, at this I was surprised and quickly apologized to Rino for how wrong I was to ask that, I never really saw Rino upset, I thought maybe this would be the occasion, but Rino just happened to look friendly.

『That's right, as Menhera said, my mother is dead, I'm sorry if you thought other things, it's my fault for not saying it earlier, in a few months it will be 11 years since her loss, I would like you to come with me *smile*』.

He maybe felt hurt, but he was hiding it with that side of him, it would be rude to answer him yes in a worried way, so I just looked him in the eyes and told him that I will accompany him on that day, Menhera also pointed out that everyone would visit Rhino's mother's grave, I really feel bad for thinking about it before, now it wouldn't be weird for me to think that Menhera's father too this.....

『 (๑￫‿￩๑)Oh! Look, I did it, I did it one but I did it!!!! Eh!!!! They didn't look!!!』 (●ฅ́дฅ̀●)

It seems that Menhera did manage to make if stone bounce in the water, but only once, as she was talking to Rhino we couldn't see our friend's great feat, she was claiming to us that she did, and when she threw another stone again, this one just sank to the pond.

『 I swear I really did it!!』 ⊂((〃/⊥＼〃))⊃

『 (#｀ε'# )ゞNah nah nah nah, out of sight, I don't give a damn about your words, with respect of course』. (',,-ω-,,)

I was teasing Menhera where she was again pouting to make her annoyance known, Rino at this was laughing at our conversation and since we had finished our business here, we decided to continue with our walk. Again Menhera took me by the hand and was telling me that this time she would not let go of me or allow anything to separate me from her, at those words this was my reaction.

『That was very scary Menhera-chan』 (;ﾞ°'ω°')

On the way we ran into a kitten, where Rino was very attracted to this, it's because in his home he has 2 cats that his family raised since they were pups, Rino seeing the cat crouched down to play with it, everything was fun, but quickly Menhera and I noticed like something was coming, we saw that behind our backs came a group of cats and they all threw themselves against Rino, while he just laughed.

『What a thing isn't it?』 (〃・ω・・〃)ノ~☆

It looked like the cat man, when the cats had already left we noticed 2 things, first, the hat that Rhino was wearing was gone, the cats must have taken it away and second it was Menhera who noticed, she blushed and avoided the look but at the same time she saw.

『It seems that one was too much in the mood』 (⸝⸝⸝ ≧ㅿ＼⸝⸝⸝)/ ⁄

When I saw it too, it brought back not so distant memories, Rhino was confused and looked under his pants, it was coming like a white thing in his pants.

『No wonder I felt like thorns on my leg』-『Well, never mind, at least I left one more satisfied』(ヾ;￣▽￣)ヾ.

Sometimes he also says things that can be misunderstood this guy, and it was starting to make me uncomfortable in the situation I was in, we've been holding hands for quite a while now, even Rino even let out a joke "They are very close, maybe this time if it's from <a devis"> (#^^#)ゞ

<Translator: In Mexican vernacular, it would come to mean: de verdad o enserio.

Menhera to this refused but as at the same time no, said no, but a doubtful no, I don't know why in those moments I felt that I was being Menhera but as at the same time no, Menhera happened to see me where I couldn't stand it anymore because of the squeeze she gave.

『Menhera-chan, can we let go of each other's hand?』(-.-;)『It's not like we're a couple or anything』.

『（.-＿-.）But you might get lost like that time, I don't want to be in the same situation again, seeing you desperate was the last I heard from you, besides there's no harm in friends hanging around like that either.....』 (⸝⸝-́દ-̀⸝⸝)

『Sorry for worrying you, it won't happen again (desperate? so that dream where Menhera-chan saw that I disappeared did indeed happen, if she was careful before now she must be even more so) But seriously we have to stop holding hands, we're sweating and it feels gross』 ԅ[ -́ ﹏ -̀ ]و

In a quick way Menhera finally let go of my hand and so it was sunny, our hands ended up sweating faster, leaving it all mushy and gross, Menhera was apologizing saying she will restrain herself on other occasions, Rino seeing us again made a joke.

『If they still want to go hand in hand, they can use the other one, they turn around and taran! Men-kun, you should put on cocks, it looks like you did get rusty hahahaha』 (･◡ु' )

『But I'm telling you to stop calling me Men-kun!!!! Sounds like they call me Men-kun.....٩(๑`н'๑)۶』

Rino and I were laughing at how Menhera puffed out her cheeks at the funny way he calls him Rino, I had forgotten that's what my friend called him, he still retains that quiet way of teasing others Rino.

Finally we left the park and found ourselves in the city, here although it has been a few years, there is so much that has changed and at the same time not, I was surprised because it brought me a lot of nostalgia to go through these places. But if we really wanted to have a good time, we went to the mall, what better place, here inside there is everything.

『Look look!!! Looks like they have bargains』

In a quick way we both were dragged by Menhera to a clothing store, we saw all the clothes they had, to me they didn't call my attention much, but Rino and Menhera if they were the ones who were more interested, we saw Rino in the children's clothing section, there were very funny outfits and with little sense, where Menhera called this to his attention.

『Oh, are you going to buy for your little sisters?』

『They're for me, this one looks really funny, I wonder if they'll have it for my size』.

Menhera laughed at how childish Rino was showing off, Menhera pulled out some clothes and since I was nearby she asked my opinion.

『How do you think this one would look like?』(๑́-∀-๑̀)ฅ

『Well, yes, it would look very cute on you, although this part doesn't convince me, if the skirt is longer I think it would be fine, if you accompany it with a hat I think it would be perfect』-『Well, I think that anything you wear would look adorable』.

I was giving my opinion of the clothes Menhera was picking out, where my friend was thanking me for the last thing I said, where she in a quick way made fitting with the perspective of the view to me with the clothes, I quickly realized the same thing

『Yes, I also think it would look cute』.

『Again with the same thing? If you keep that up you'll confuse my style!!!』

『It's just that you need to wear a different kind of clothes!!! You've been wearing the same one for what...more than 100 years!!!』

Menhera was complaining to me why I was wearing the same clothes all this time, although also in the complaint she was thanking me for wearing it for so long, I didn't know whether to thank her or keep opposing, Rino approached us and gave us his opinion.

『I don't think there's anything wrong with it, there are many characters who wear the same clothes for years and no one says anything to them, but since this is real life if it's depressing for someone to wear the same clothes』.

That comment from Rino destroyed me because he told me that I am pitiful in my bald face, Menhera was on Rino's side shaking her head again and again, it seems that nothing will save me that I wear another kind of clothes, in the end the pressure was so much that I was swearing that at some point I will change to another more usual clothes and this one I will leave it in the pigsty or wear it once in a while, they made me swear it I had no other way. In the end Menhera would get to try on the dress I praise, she looked very tender in that one piece outfit and she also put on a white shade that was there.

『That's the only way I can imagine how Konomi would look like if she wore that kind of clothes, yes, you look very cute Men-kun』.

Rino let out a comment looking at Menhera, I actually kept looking at Menhera and she really looked cute to me somehow, I'm glad she still kept that tenderness she had when she was little. In the end Rhino bought those children's clothes that he liked very much, while Menhera when she just saw how much the price of the dress was, she was silent and would use the method to say that she couldn't afford it.

『I think I'll come back later, until what time is your store still open?』-ू(ᵒ̴̶̷᷄ωᵒ̴̶̷᷅*-ू) )੭ु⁾⁾⁾

Menhera was blushing and embarrassed, she was retreating quietly but as much as she and the attendant knew she didn't have enough money, at least Rino did bring a little more money and was able to take advantage of the offer on the children's clothes. He was the only one who came out a winner out of all this. I get a few laughs out of Menhera's failed attempt and how she blushed, there is still more left in this day, and so far this is all fun, I hope I can enjoy even more of what's left of being together with them.

-------------------------------------------→ Continuara