Good question. In this world, there are good parents and bad parents.
The former give their children positive influence, and those children grow into good adults who then raise good children of their own.
The latter give their children negative influence, and those children grow into bad adults who then raise bad children of their own.
My parents are good parents. They both work, yet they devote themselves to their jobs while still cherishing our family. That's truly admirable. Commoners must work to survive, after all, and commoners have their own roles to fulfill. They carry out those duties faithfully and still pour love into raising me. Thanks to them, these past four years I haven't wanted for anything. When they once said I was strangely fond of old-fashioned things for a child and far too quiet, I wondered if they had seen through the fact that I carried memories from a previous life.
Well, that's fine.
But those people living across the way—you lot are completely hopeless. What do you mean, "Don't smile at our child"? Children are supposed to laugh and play, aren't they? For parents to force their own child's way of life like that… Have some shame. Some shame! It made me furious. I even thought about cursing them to death… but then the child would be left without parents. Letting my emotions run wild and making the child suffer from loneliness… No, that wouldn't be right. In my previous life, I went around killing foolish parents who didn't raise their children properly, but looking back now, that's probably why I was driven out of the house. In this life, I need to handle things a little more skillfully. I don't want to cause trouble for the parents who shower me with love. That's what I think now, in this life.
"Sniff… uuu…"
Hmm. What should I do about this?
A child who was scolded by her parents for smiling is now crying in the corner of the garden. It's only natural to cry after being told not to smile. But if it hurts that much, why not fight back? If someone does something you don't like—even if it's your parent—shouldn't you just kill them? That's what I would do. Well, I did try, but I failed and ended up getting exiled anyway…
"Hey, you there, little girl. That's enough crying for now."
For the time being, I decided to speak to her over the fence.
"Hic… uweh… sniff… who… are you…?"
"Me? I'm Kamo… no, that's not right. I think it's… Kaido… Madoka? Yes, Madoka. Kaido Madoka. And you?"
"…Sniff… Toga… Himiko."
"I see, I see. So, Himiko, why are you crying?"
Well, I had heard the whole thing already.
"…Because Papa and Mama said… I'm not allowed to smile…"
"Oh dear. That must have been terrible for you."
Indeed. An absolute disaster. Parents denying their own child—such a thing should never happen. Maybe I really should curse them to death after all?
No, wait. I can't do that. Didn't I just decide not to cause trouble for my own parents? But if I don't like something, I don't know any way to deal with it other than killing. I simply don't.
Ugh… Maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved.
"…Well, how about this…? Come on, try smiling for me. I won't say anything bad about your smile, Himiko."
"…Sniff. Really…?"
"I'm serious. This Kaido… er, Madoka never lies."
"…O-okay then… Ehehe…"
Whoa… That's quite the… unique smile, isn't it? I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like—actually, I have. There was a curse spirit with a smile like that. Hers was even worse. I exorcised it on the spot.
"Mhm, it's a good smile. Himiko, from today onward, that smile belongs to me. You should smile only for me. Smile only when you're in front of me."
I said I wouldn't speak ill of it, so I won't. But a smile like that—one that resembles a curse spirit—really shouldn't be shown to other people. Still, if I told her that, this girl would never be able to smile in public again.
So what's the solution? Simple. I'll just make her mine. That way, no one else will find her creepy. Even I have to admit—that was a clever thing to say…
"Eh…?"
"Hm? You don't like the idea? If you become my girl, you can smile as much as you want. Wouldn't that make you happy, Himiko? Gahaha!"
"Th-that means… you'll make me your… bride…?"
What did she just say? Bride? Did you just say "bride," Himiko? You want to become my bride?
"How old are you? Four? Five? Six at most? You're still too young to be a bride. But when you turn thirteen, that'll be fine."
"…"
"What are you staring at my face for?"
Still, this Himiko girl… Putting the smile aside, she's actually quite… Her hair shines beautifully, and her eyes are exactly to my taste. She'll surely grow into a fine woman in time. Ten years from now should be quite enjoyable.
Hey, Himiko? Why are you looking at me with such a feverish gaze? It's good that you stopped crying, but why are your cheeks turning so red…? Oh my, even your ears are bright red.
"…I-I will… I'll become Madoka-kun's… bride…"
"Mhm. When you turn thirteen, I'll make you my bride. Come over to the house across the way when that time comes! Gahaha!"
By the way, I later learned that at the time, Himiko thought I was a boy. My hair was short back then, and I was wearing those hemp clothes—what do they call them? Jinbei?
And so, when she later found out I was actually a girl just like her, she was terribly depressed. The real problem came eight years later.
The moment she turned thirteen, she came charging at me shouting, "Madoka-chan, let's get married!" At midnight, no less.
Idiot! In this era, you can't get married until you're eighteen!!
Hey, wait… Don't come any closer…!
Stop that! Don't take my clothes off!
Wait, hold on…!
N-no…! W-wait…!
I'll say it as many times as I have to: there is no continuation.