Another Day, Another Voice

An incoming call abruptly ended the song I had been immersed in as I walked home. It was my mother.

CLICK!

“Yuukiiii dear! Is everything alright ?” My mother’s voice rang with concern.

“Yeah mom. I got into a fight at-”

“YOU WHAT!?” She cried, destroying my ears.

“What ? They were the ones who started it. Besides, I’m fine.”

“Oh goodness, Yuuki…How many times must I warn you to watch yourself?”

“Did you win ?” I heard my dad whisper in the background.

BAF!

She hit him, didn’t she? Ironic coming from my father, the one who always told me that I should defend myself. Although, I’ve never seen the point in it. Violence will only lead to more violence, but look at me now.

“Don’t encourage him, Haruki! It’s your fault that he’s become like this after quitting school!”

“Hey!”

The silence was loud.

“I didn’t quit school because of bullying, Mom. Six months ago, I was in a terrible place. But then a friend taught me it was okay to have dreams, to want to achieve something no matter how impossible it seems.”

“...I know honey.”

“I’ll be behind, but at least I know once I figure out what my dream is, I’ll truly be happy.”

“And I’m sure you’ll figure that out,” she said softly.”

“Yeah. Oh, how’s your business trip going ?”

“Annoying,” Interjected my father.

“No, not annoying, more like…smooth,” her voice drifted.

I could hear my parents being called from the other side of the line.

“Well, I guess we have to go, Yuuki.”

“That’s fine. Do what you gotta do.”

“Bye-bye love! Say hello to Inari for us, will you!?”

“Sure thing! Love you!”

CLICK!

Conveniently, I arrived home after finishing my talk with my parents. I opened the door and stepped inside, welcomed by the comforting warmth of my modest dwelling.

“Inari! I’m ho-”

“WELCOME HOME BIG BROTHERRRR!!!”

Once again, Inari took me by surprise, leaping onto my back and embracing me tightly. Her sudden attack caused me to lose balance and land on the floor.

“ARGH! Get off!”

She’s been obsessed with me ever since I started spending more time with her. However, I don’t mind this kind of bullying (Sometimes).

Inari hopped off me and rummaged through my bag. As I picked myself up, I was met with Inari's trademark disappointed gaze.

“But there’s no food in here!”

“Did you expect me to do groceries ?”

“Well…yuh!”

“Mom and dad did groceries when they left two weeks ago, Inari!”

“Yeah, but it’s all gone!”

“Well, nobody told you to eat all of the food!”

“Then what are you going to eat!?”

“I ate outside already.”

“What! And you didn’t bring anything!?”

“Don’t you work!? Why not just order something and quit bothering me! I’m tired.”

Inari looked at me with another famous expression of hers.

“Quit pouting.”

This is a grown woman by the way.

“I think I want ramen.”

“...Okay?”

“Yuh…”

“...”

Nothing was said.

“SO GO MAKE IT!”

“Make it yourself!”

“But you’re my big brother! Since you’re older, you have to take responsibility.”

“I’m older…BY SIX MINUTES!”

Oh yeah, Inari is my twin sister.

“Yuh huh! You know what I can do in six minutes!?”

“Clean your room?” I teased.

“Well, not that, hehe.”

After I put my things away, I headed back to my room. Inari, unsurprisingly, made it difficult by tugging at my legs.

“Yuuuukiiiiii, pleaseeee.”

“Get the damn noodles yourself!”

“I can’t!”

“And tell me why!”

“Well…umm…you see…I…”

Inari's expression shifted to embarrassment, a rare sight for her. I wonder if she genuinely has a good reason. Inari abruptly stood and whispered in my ear.

“....And you see that’s why I can’t go…”

“....Do you need me to go to a pharmacy as well,” I sputtered.

“No need, just get me food thank you.”

Inari rushed into her room and shut the door quickly.

I sighed and called out to her through the door, "You can't use that as an excuse every day, you know!"

“Love you!” She yelled from the other side.

I quickly grabbed my things and prepared myself for another late-night stroll to the convenience store.

***

(Several minutes later)

I returned home after I obtained several cup noodles from the convenience store for Inari. Hopefully she won’t bother me much after this. Knocking on her door, I cautiously pushed it open to find her engrossed in a cartoon on her phone. The scent of freshly laundered clothes littering the floor filled the room. Thankfully, they weren't dirty, but it was all the more reason to tidy up if they were clean.

“Oh! Big brother! You can put those in the corner,” Inari said as she glanced at me.

“Which one ? The one with clothes or the other one ?” I retorted.

No but seriously. I’ve also never realized truly how lazy Inari is until I had to clean after her..

“Funny, just drop it where you’re standing.”

This girl can’t be real!

“You weren’t even that hungry!” I exclaimed.

Following her instruction, I placed Inari's groceries on the floor and proceeded to head back to my room.

“Thank you! By the way, Big Brother ?” She called out.

What more could she want ?

“What is it ?” I responded.

“Did you end up figuring out your dream ?”

…

“No…I didn’t”

“Oh well,” she said as she stood up.

Inari expertly weaved through the obstacle of clothes to reach the bag I had just laid down. As she picked it up, she leaned in for a hug.

Of course, how can I forget? I know our parents being ninety percent absent have made an impact on her that she tries to hide with a smile, I’m pretty much all she’s got. I’m a bit envious of my sister and how she manages to keep a positive front in all situations. Nonetheless, I reciprocate the gesture.

“Goodnight Brother.”

“Yeah. Goodnight.”

***

Leaving Inari to her antics, I stepped into my room. My PC seems to have been left untouched since I last used it. Oh well, I'm too tired to switch it off. I slid into bed, feeling the exhaustion of the day weigh down on my body.

I sighed and murmured, “Another long and productive day completed.”

I threw my arm up in the air, feeling a bit cringy.

“What am I ? Some anime character or what ?

I immediately plopped my hand on my forehead.

I put on some music and gradually lost myself in thoughts about life. It’s been months since I decided to take a break from life and work on myself. Before now, I was a depressed bum who locked himself away by playing video games. The goals of the games I play challenged me and gave me a feeling that I could actually accomplish something in life. My life had never had anything interesting going for it, until now. Well— I’m still working on it for the most part. Something bothers me though. I mean, I guess not everyone knows what to do with life, but really though.

“Who am I ? What is my dream ? Do dreams even come true to begin with?”

All this thinking started to make my head hurt. I could feel my eyelids growing heavier by the second. I snuggled into my sheets and made myself comfortable.

“Man, I'm so tired.”

With a sigh, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep slumber…

***

***

***

“What is my dream ?” “Take the time to discover the path life sets you on.”

“Who am I to begin with ?” “You are Katsu Yuuki.”

“What do I want to do with life ?” “You are the only one who can live your life.”

“Wake up, Yuuki, and I’ll show you that…

                                                                   Dreams do come true.”