Revelation

Sunday morning rain is falling. That's why there is no way anyone in the household would be motivated to go outside even though it's a Sunday. The chores were done yesterday which was Saturday. Usually, Sachiko would want the chores done on that day. Fortunately, it's advantageous for the kids too. At least they get to rest before going back to school.

Despite the chores being done, Erika was slightly annoyed at how Kairo arranged the bookshelves yesterday. He had one job, ONE JOB, and it's not even that hard to do. This guy chose to arrange the books by color, which ended up having various heights on the top level. Erika wanted the level to be even so she took out all the books and laid them all on the floor. She probably did not notice it, but Kairo was behind her, crying silently because his work was not appreciated.

"I'm sorry, Hatsugawa.... I just like them arranged by color."

"It's okay. It's not like it's a big deal too. I mean, I did not tell you how I wanted these to be arranged." There is no anger nor annoyance that reflects on Erika's face at this moment. She's not angry anymore, Kairo concluded.

"But kidding aside, look at all these books. Nobody would think you're actually smart because of the way you fix yourself. You look like the typical girly girls who focus too much on their appearance rather than their intellect."

"Are you complimenting me or insulting me?" a vein popped on Erika's forehead as she glared at Kairo. Now she's angry, Kairo concluded.

"It's more of a compliment actually." Kairo said with his hands raised in surrender. "It's kinda cute how you really aim to live up being a woman worthy of leadership. Beauty and brains."

"Yeah well.... When I couldn't show results, all these are pretty useless." Erika sighed softly but smiled anyway. "It's fun though, playing pretend from time to time. For once, I tend to forget how it is to own nothing and pretend I have everything."

Kairo can feel how solemn her words are at that very moment. He wanted to know more of her so, like the gentleman that he is, he chose to sit on the floor beside Erika and hugged his knees, willing to listen to her story. "When did you start dreaming to be the Empress, Hatsugawa?"

"Wow. Nobody has asked that question before." Erika chuckled lightly and decided to pause what she's doing. "It's a pretty cliché reason, actually. You know, the little girl wanting to be a princess and such... But in my case, I liked the sound of being called 'princess'" Erika paused.

"My father calls me princess that sometimes I forget what my real name is. He would always let me ride on his back, playing horsey.... We would also sometimes pretend that a battle is going on and he was my knight. Our kingdom was unbeatable you know." she chuckled. "And I really loved playing that role... That game... That was the first reason. The second was me seeing the crown prince in local television. Everybody dreamed of marrying a prince.... Well not everybody so let me change the sentence. Some girls dream of marrying the prince, but some girls took dreaming to the next level. He was perfect, you see. His eyes reflect the vision he has for the country; a vision that would surely lead Japan to prosperity."

Kairo couldn't help but be amused with her choice of words. "You're exaggerating. How can you say he will surely lead Japan to prosperity?"

"Instincts."

"Right."

"Also, even if he is still at a young age, you can see how good of a leader he would become. And besides, he's really handsome."

"What if being handsome is the main reason you liked him?"

"No! That's not it! I felt it!"

"Felt what?"

"Felt that I am destined to be his wife." Erika insisted that much that it surprised Kairo how she can say those words without even batting an eyelash. "Right", he responded with outmost doubt.

"That's true though, your reason is kinda cliché." Kairo muttered softly and glanced at her for a while to which Erika sighed sadly and hugged her knees. "You think so?"

"Yeah but, it's not that bad." Kairo stood up and stretched for a while before looking at her. "It's fine to dream. Cause it's actually up to you if you would make your dreams come true. And after all, it's kinda amazing how you give it your all in fulfilling that dream of yours."

As Erika looked at Kairo, she felt as if he's really someone you would want to talk to about your problems, issues and everything else in your life. It's like, when he's around everything is gonna be alright. She couldn't help but smile because finally, someone did not make fun of her dreams. She breathes out and resumed her work. "Yeah yeah. I actually have a step by step plan for that."

"Which is....?"

"I'll be bumped by an imperial car and the imperial family will pay for my bills and then get to know me while they're at it. It'll be my chance to display how deserving I am to be the prince's wife." she said happily without second thought.

"Why would you wanna be bumped by the imperial car?" Kairo couldn't fathom how great Erika's imaginations are. Of course, Erika ignored his thoughtless remark and chose to continue her work once again, just to see her old middle school yearbook, 2017. Her face lit up with delight upon seeing this book of memories. She had to open it, she just had to.

"Moriyama look, this was my year book when I was in middle school! Look at how immature we look!" Erika said while gently flipping on the pages.

"Whoaaa let me see...." Kairo sat back again and went beside Erika, looking at the pages of the book. "I don't see much a difference. Only one year passed after all."

Erika pointed at her picture in the book. "Still though, look at my face! I'm so pretty!"

"Pretty bitchy, that's what I would say." He shouldn't have said that comment since he knew it'll be followed by Erika's attack. This time, her weapon was the hard-bound book.

"Look at Himari-chan here though. She looks more of a delinquent and an anti-social pessimist here!" Erika laughed heartily. "Hey, go back downstairs to clean the kitchen. I don't need you anymore."

"How rude can you get?! You offered me to look at the year book and now you're making me go back down." Kairo pouted as he stomped his way downstairs.

She just shrugged towards Kairo's complaint as she continued looking at the book. She traced the names with her fingers as she just came from the Matsuyama surname, until one familiar name made her stop from moving.

"Kairo Moriyama?! AS IN THE KAIRO MORIYAMA?!" She squinted her eyes to stare at the picture of this guy which, unfortunately, happened to be eaten by the termites, now she couldn't confirm whether she's right or not.

"MORIYAMAAAAA!!!"

"WHAT NOW?! You ordered me to clean the kitchen then you'll ask me to climb up here again! What's wrong with you?!" Kairo stomped his way upstairs while holding a dirty rag on his right hand. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

"If you're really Kairo Moriyama... Then you have A LOT of debt to pay." Erika Hatsugawa, the girl who happened to be this poor man's landlady, looked at him with a smirk plastered on her face.

"WHAT??! How come I ended up having a debt on you?!"

"You are gonna spend your whole life with a leash tied on your neck while I tell you what you'll do with the rest of your life."

"HAAAH?!" Nobody could explain how confused Kairo is, with that mix of a surprised, confused, a little bit of angry, face.

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