A Song from the Past

The soft glow of morning filtered through Riona’s sheer lavender curtains. As she opened her eyes, the familiar sight of Maru, her purple seal familiar, sprawled lazily beside her brought a smile to her lips. His round eyes blinked slowly, already attuned to her waking energy.

Riona stretched her arms overhead, her muscles loosening as she let out a breath of contentment. “Alright, Maru, time to kickstart the day,” she murmured. The seal flopped playfully off the bed and nudged her legs with his nose, his way of saying, “Let’s go.”

Unlike Mayu’s quiet, introspective mornings, Riona’s routine was electric. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she tied her purple hair into a loose ponytail and made her way to the kitchen. Breakfast was quick but colorful—a vibrant fruit smoothie bowl topped with chia seeds and a drizzle of honey. She slid the bowl to Maru, who lapped at his portion of fresh fish and seaweed with a satisfied flick of his tail.

Once they were both energized, Riona led Maru to her studio. She turned on her favorite electronic playlist, and the beats immediately filled the air, pumping life into the room. “Time to dance, Maru!” she called, twirling dramatically. Maru joined in, hopping and spinning in place, his playful antics drawing peals of laughter from Riona.

The music’s rhythm flowed through her, freeing her mind from clutter and distractions. With each beat, she felt her creative energy ignite. This was her ritual—dancing until she was breathless, until the colors in her mind begged to spill onto the canvas. Finally, Riona set up her easel and began mixing paints, giving her a creative flow.

She lost herself in the brushstrokes, painting a dreamscape of swirling violets and deep ocean blues. Maru watched intently, occasionally bouncing in approval as the artwork came to life.

After several hours, Riona stepped back to admire her progress, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction. She wiped her hands on her smock, grabbed her phone, and typed a quick message to Mayu:

Riona: Morning, Mayu! Yesterday was amazing. I miss you already! Let’s catch up again soon. Oh, by the way, you have to come to my brother Norito’s birthday pool party next weekend. It’s going to be so much fun!

Her fingers flew across the screen as she added more details:

Riona: Yuna will be there—you’ll love her, trust me. She’s the one with the fennec fox familiar and that wild red spiky hair I told you about. And, of course, Norito will be there with Tamu, his forest-green frog. You really need to meet everyone. You’re coming, right? You have to live a little!

The reply came quickly.

Mayu: Sounds tempting. I’ll think about it!

Riona grinned, knowing she could convince Mayu. She followed up with another message.

Riona: “How’s your day going? I know you had that nightmare the other night. You’re not too overwhelmed with clients, are you?”

Mayu: “Thanks for asking, Riona. I’m doing better. Sometimes I just wonder if my work really makes a difference, you know?”

Riona: “That’s exactly why you’re so incredible, Mayu! You care so much. Oh, by the way, I’ve got a playlist for you—these songs will definitely brighten your day.”

She quickly sent the playlist, then leaned back, a small smile playing on her lips. She’d wait for the right time to bring up a fun idea she had in mind.

Later that afternoon, Riona dialed Mayu’s number. The phone rang twice before Mayu picked up, her voice steady and comforting.

“Hi, Riona,” Mayu greeted, a touch of warmth in her tone.

“Hey, Mayu! So, did you listen to the playlist yet?” Riona asked, her voice lively and eager.

“Yeah, I’ve been listening to it on the train. It’s great—thanks for sending it,” Mayu replied, her soft smile almost audible.

“I knew you’d like it! You’ve got to let yourself relax more. Oh, speaking of relaxing, do you remember that song we used to sing all the time in school?” Riona asked, her voice tinged with fondness.

“You mean ‘Aurora’s Embrace’?” Mayu asked, a quiet chuckle escaping her.

“That’s the one! Let’s sing it together. Come on, for old times’ sake,” Riona said, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

“Now? Over the phone?” Mayu asked, a little taken aback but clearly amused.

“Why not? It’s just us and Maru, and you know he’s your biggest fan!” Riona teased.

Mayu hesitated, then relented, her voice soft but steady. “Alright, let’s do it.”

They began to sing, their voices blending seamlessly despite the distance.

“Colors weave through skies above, painting dreams of light and love…”

“Thanks, Riona. I needed that,” Mayu said softly.

“Anytime, Mayu. And don’t forget—next weekend, I hope you will come to that pool party!”

“I’ll think about it,” Mayu replied, her tone lighter now.

As they hung up, Riona leaned back with a smile, letting the nostalgia embrace her.

Mayu set her phone down after the call with Riona, her cheeks still warm from their shared laughter. The idea of the upcoming pool party swirled in her mind, both thrilling and nerve-wracking. She felt a spark of excitement at the thought of seeing Riona again, but the prospect of meeting Riona’s brother, Norito, and his friends made her stomach flutter with nervous energy. Socializing beyond her close circle wasn’t her strength, but Mayu reminded herself of her work.

You work with people every day, helping them rebuild connections, she thought. Maybe it’s time to let yourself connect more too.

She exhaled deeply and rolled her shoulders, releasing the tension that had crept in. Luma padded over, her soft paws making no sound on the floor as she leapt onto the desk where Mayu was sitting. The familiar nestled beside her, a quiet but comforting presence.

“Luma, Riona‘s right, isn’t she?” Mayu murmured, stroking her familiar’s sleek fur. “I should live a little.” Luma’s tail flicked, her blue eyes meeting Mayu’s as if to agree.

Mayu opened her laptop to review information on tomorrow’s session and began reviewing her notes on the elderly man and his owl familiar. According to the referral, the man, Mr. Ishida, had recently lost his wife, and his bond with his owl, Kuro, had faltered in the wake of his grief.

Mayu jotted down a few ideas for gentle interventions, ways to facilitate mutual comfort and understanding between the two, but there would be no way to know exactly what they needed until she could meet them in person.

As she typed, her thoughts drifted to her grandmother. The steady, kind woman who had raised her with unwavering love. Mayu had never seen her grandmother falter, but she suddenly wondered: Had Grandma ever felt the kind of loss Mr. Ishida was experiencing now? Did she ever have a partner?

The question lingered in her mind, a quiet ache forming in her chest. If she did, where was he? It struck Mayu that her grandmother had always focused so intently on Mayu’s happiness and well-being. Was there a sorrow she had kept hidden, a silent weight she bore alone?

The thought made her pause. Her heart ached at the idea of her grandmother carrying such pain without ever speaking of it.

Mayu picked up her phone and began typing a message to her grandmother:

Goodnight, Grandma. I just wanted to say thank you—for everything you’ve done for me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. I love you so much. Sleep well.

She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to ask about her grandmother’s past. But she decided against it, not wanting to burden her with questions late at night.

Mayu hit send and set the phone aside, a wave of warmth settling over her. She stretched her arms, yawning softly as the weight of the day began to catch up with her.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a good day,” she said quietly to Luma, who blinked sleepily in agreement.

Mayu closed her laptop and neatly set it on her desk. She picked up a small framed photo of her and her grandmother, taken years ago when they first brought Luma home. Her grandmother’s warm smile radiated through the image, and Mayu felt a renewed sense of purpose.

With everything prepared for tomorrow, Mayu changed into her softest pajamas and climbed into bed. Luma curled up at her feet, her presence like a silent promise.

Mayu lay on her side, her mind wandering between the excitement of Riona’s invitation and the questions she now had about her grandmother’s past. She resolved to ask gently someday, when the moment felt right. For now, she let herself drift into the quiet comfort of gratitude and anticipation.

As her eyes began to close for the night, Mayu thought of Mr. Ishida and Kuro. She felt hopeful that their bond could be mended, and she carried that hope with her as she slipped into sleep.