I woke up early — the sunlight still soft through the curtain.
Right away, I slipped out of bed and went looking for Mama.
"Ohayou, Mamaaa~" I said with a big smile, my feet padding across the floor.
Mama looked up from the kitchen, her eyes kind and calm.
"Ohayou, sweetheart," she said back, her voice like a warm blanket.
"Mama, Hideki wants to go to the garden. I want to see Tama-chan."
She set down her cup and walked over, brushing a little crumb off my cheek with her thumb.
"Okay, Hideki. Today a little cold outside, sweetheart. Don't forget your jacket, alright?"
"I won't," I said, already smiling bigger.
I slipped on my jacket and stepped out the door.
The garden that had been all white before — covered in snow — was changing.
Now, the colors were coming back.
Tiny flower buds were poking their heads up, like they were searching for the sun.
Some flowers were already blooming — soft petals opening shyly even though the wind was still a little cold.
The trees, once bare, were standing tall again — proud and steady.
Their new leaves waved gently above me, like they were saying hello from the sky.
I stood there for a moment, breathing it all in.
The smell of earth. The whisper of the breeze.
It felt like the world was slowly waking up — just like me.
And just like tomorrow.
Because tomorrow…
I would turn five.
Then I called out softly into the chilly morning air:
"Tamaaa-chaaann~"
My voice carried across the little garden, like a bird singing just after sunrise.
Tama-chan, like always, was curled up in the sunniest patch she could find — her little body stretched out under the soft warmth.
As soon as she heard me, she opened one eye.
Then the other.
She stretched — long and slow — one paw reaching forward like a ballerina, her tail curling gently in the air.
Then she stood up and walked toward me, her paws padding softly on the grass.
From my jacket pocket, I pulled out a small treat pack I saved just for her.
I knelt down and shook it gently.
"Tama-chan, tabete~" I said with a smile, holding it out.
She sniffed it once, then sat and began to eat slowly — like royalty, taking her time with breakfast.
I sat beside her and crossed my legs, tucking Shiba-inu into my lap.
The ground was a little cool, but I didn't mind.
Above us, the sky was still waking up.
The sun hadn't shown its full face yet — it was peeking out shyly from behind Mr. Cloud, like a child hiding behind a curtain.
I looked up and whispered,
"Tama-chan… tomorrow, Hideki will turn five."
I smiled to myself, then glanced at her.
"Hideki is getting so big now… and Tama-chan too."
I reached out and gently brushed her fur.
"Your color… it's not as shiny as before, Tama-chan."
Tama-chan stopped eating.
Her ears twitched.
Then she turned to me and let out a long, slow "meowww~" — the grumpy kind.
I giggled, covering my mouth.
"Gomen ne, Tama-chan~" I said.
"I didn't mean it that way."
She blinked slowly at me — maybe pretending to forgive me.
Then I told her,
"Yui will come to Hideki's home tomorrow. You and I will greet her, okay?"
Tama-chan went back to her food.
She didn't answer.
"We'll play together, and I'll play Papa's piano, and Yui will sing beside me."
"You, and Shiba-inu, and Bunny… you'll all dance. Just like last time."
Still, Tama-chan didn't seem to care.
Until—
I leaned closer and said with a sly smile,
"I bet Yui will bring some yummy snacks for Tama-chan too…"
"The good kind — just for you."
Tama-chan stopped chewing.
She turned and looked straight at me.
Her eyes sparkled — brighter than the shy morning sun.
Then she gave me a soft headbutt on my arm.
I laughed gently and hugged her close.
"Hehe… see? You do understand, Tama-chan."
I lifted her gently and placed her on my lap.
She curled up quietly, her tail wrapping around herself.
Together, we sat like that — just watching the sky slowly open.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
With a little bit of music still playing in my heart.
The next morning came.
And it was here —
Hideki's birthday.
Today… I turned five.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I felt it.
My chest was warm.
My heart was light.
The sun peeked softly through the curtain, and I could already hear the birds chirping their tiny songs outside.
I got up fast, hugging Shiba-inu close to my chest, and tiptoed out of my room.
The house was quiet… still like a dream.
Then I saw them.
Mama and Papa.
They were sitting at the dining table.
But not like usual.
Both of them had their faces resting in their hands.
Like they hadn't slept much.
Mama's whole face was almost hidden — buried in her palms.
Just a little bit of her cheek peeked out, and it looked tired…
Maybe even puffy.
I tilted my head.
Was she okay?
Was she crying?
Still hugging Shiba, I stepped forward and called out,
"Ohayou, Mama… Papa…"
Their heads turned slowly —
Not fast, not startled.
Just slow.
They looked at me.
I stood there in my pajamas, barefoot on the floor, smiling softly.
Shiba's ears flopped sideways from my hug.
Mama stood up right away.
She walked quickly to me —
And pulled me into a hug.
Tight.
Full of something I didn't understand yet.
Her face pressed gently into my shoulder.
I couldn't see her expression…
But I could feel her warmth.
Warm like always.
But a little heavier, maybe.
Like she was holding something inside.
"Ohayou, sweetheart…" she whispered softly.
I closed my eyes and held her back.
Papa stayed seated at the table.
But when I looked over his shoulder, he smiled at me.
A quiet smile.
Like he wanted to be strong, but something behind his eyes was flickering.
Usually, on mornings like this, Papa would already be getting ready for work.
He'd put on his suit, grab his bag, and Mama and I would wave goodbye from the hallway.
But not today.
Today… he stayed.
He didn't even change his clothes.
Maybe because it was my birthday.
Maybe because this was my special day.
I didn't really know.
And maybe I didn't care.
Because right now —
Right here —
Mama and Papa were both home.
With me.
And that…
That made my fifth birthday feel just right.
I hugged Mama tightly.
But then… I slowly pulled back — just a little — and looked up at her face.
"Mama…" I said softly.
"Yui… can we call Yui?"
She smiled gently.
A small nod.
Then reached for her phone.
Without saying anything else, she walked out of the room — toward the hallway — her footsteps soft against the floor.
I stood still, hugging Shiba against my chest, waiting.
Watching.
Hoping.
I imagined Mama talking to Yui's Mama.
Telling her it's my birthday.
Telling her that I'm waiting.
That I'm ready.
Then, Mama came back.
Her face was calm — too calm, maybe — and she handed me the phone.
I took it quickly with both hands, holding it like it was something magic.
I placed it to my ear, and whispered…
"Yui…?"
There was a pause.
Then suddenly—
"HIDEKIIIIII!!"
Her voice burst out so loud and bright that I almost dropped the phone.
I laughed.
"YUIIII!!" I shouted back, my face glowing.
I didn't wait — I couldn't.
The words spilled out from my mouth like a river:
"Yui… Yui will come to Hideki's house, right? Today's my birthday!
Hideki is five now! Big, like Yui!"
From the side of the room, Mama and Papa were watching me.
Quiet.
Still.
But I didn't notice.
I was too busy talking to Yui.
Too full of joy.
"Yui… Hideki will wait for you with Tama-chan and Shiba-inu.
Yui bring Bunny, okay?
And then… and then…"
I stopped for a second to catch my breath — I was talking so fast, I almost ran out of air.
"Hideki will play Papa's piano!
And Yui will sing beside me!
And Tama-chan… and Shiba-inu… and Bunny too —
they'll all dance while we sing!"
I could almost hear her ponytail bouncing.
I imagined her nodding so hard that her head tilted like always.
"Yeah!!" she said from the other end.
"Yui likes that! We'll sing and dance together!"
Then she paused.
I heard her speaking softly, like she was turning to talk to someone.
Probably Yui's Mama.
I waited.
Just holding the phone tightly to my ear.
Still smiling.
After a moment, Yui came back.
Her voice was a little quieter this time.
"Hideki… Mama said…
we'll see if we can come to your house."
My smile softened.
But I still nodded, even though she couldn't see it.
"Okay, Yui.
Hideki will be waiting.
With Tama-chan and Shiba-inu."
"Okay, Hideki! Byeee! Mama's calling me!"
"Yeaah! Byeee, Yuiii!"
Click.
The call ended.
I turned to give the phone back to Mama.
But she wasn't reaching for it.
She was staring off toward the wall…
Her hands by her side.
Silent.
Papa stepped forward instead.
He gently took the phone from my hand.
His other hand reached out and ruffled my hair softly — like he always did when I'd done something good.
Then he looked at me, kneeling down so our eyes were closer.
He smiled — a quiet kind of smile — and asked,
"So… what does Hideki want for his birthday present from Mama and Papa?"
I blinked.
I didn't know what to say.
What else could I want?
What else mattered?
I smiled shyly and whispered,
"Anything is okay, Papa…
Because what I really want is to see Yui again later."
Papa kept smiling.
But his eyes blinked slowly.
And his hand stayed on my head, rubbing gently.
Then…
I heard him say something —
Very quiet.
Too quiet for me to hear clearly.
But I could tell he was whispering…
To himself.
His voice was soft.
Like he was trying not to let it come out at all.
But I still caught a few words.
Only a few.
"…I'm sorry, buddy.
Papa… can't give you what you want."