Welcome to Part 6 of Azure Striker Gunvolt: Fleeting Memories! If you missed any of parts 1 through 5, make sure you read those first.
Part 6
The Things We Must Protect: Family
“It’s just about lunch time, isn’t it? I’m starving.”
Upon hearing dad’s words, mom turned and asked, “What do you want to eat, Rei?”
“I don’t care. I’ll eat whatever Miu wants.” Rei snapped.
Rei gave his little sister a cold stare; she was clinging to her mother’s waist. As per the usual, his little sister Miu was being a grump. She was being relatively quiet for now, but if Rei expressed his true opinion about the situation at hand, she would say “Rei, you’re so mean!”, and explode into one her temper tantrums.
“But Rei, it’s your birthday, don’t you wanna have what you want for lunch?” mom asked.
“If Miu wants to have it, then I want it too.”
The look on Miu’s face was priceless. Her face lit up like fireworks at a summertime festival.
“Oh Rei, you never change do you?” Mom let out a chuckle.
“Alright, you heard what your big brother said Miu,” mom said to the excited young lady. “What do you want to eat?”
“Umm…I want…sushi!” Miu excitedly proclaimed.
Dad pondered for a moment, “Sushi, huh? Your mother isn’t a big fan of sushi…”
“Oh it’s fine, honey. Today is a special day after all. I’ll just eat some stuff they have that isn’t raw fish! I wouldn’t mind some edamame!”
Mom looked very pleased of what she just said with her chest all puffed out and full of pride. Her golden blonde hair was swaying softly.
Rei’s mother was born overseas, but despite her not being born in this country, she has more or less completely grown accustomed to everything here, including the food culture, with the notable exception of raw fish that is.
Today was Rei’s 9th birthday, and yet, he wondered why mother is doing something she clearly would rather not to do for the sake of letting Miu eat what she wants. It seemed like was asking too much of her, but seeing her and Miu’s smiling faces, it was clear that the sushi ordeal was pretty trivial to her.
“Alright, I know of a pretty good sushi place. Sound good to you Rei? Miu?
“Yeah.”
“Yay sushi!” Miu exclaimed.
Miu was bouncing and jumping all around; she could barely contain her excitement as she burst out the front door. Mom and dad could barely catch up to her. That’s just the kind of girl Miu is though…always a little reckless.
Rei shook his head, and ran down the street after his little sister.
“Quit running ahead, Miu!”
Miu stopped at the corner down the street from their house. She turned and looked back at Rei.
“…”
She looked like she was about to say something to him, but…
BANG!!!
Miu’s response was completely drowned out by the booming sound.
What he thought was some kind of explosion came from behind him, but before he could even turn around, a warm liquid and a jagged something hit him in the back.
[Due to the holiday break, the next update of Fleeting Memories will be posted in two weeks.]