Chapter 3 : The Fujimoto Household

Rent was due again.
Ayase stared at the email reminder glowing on her phone screen as if it had personally insulted her. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten.

She never forgot. 

It was just that, for the last few months, her wallet had been a battlefield. Between groceries, electricity, school fees, and an unexpected “lion obsession” phase from her brother Souta, the family zoo membership had drained her like a slow leak.

Every weekend, Souta insisted they go to Ueno Zoo “for artistic inspiration,” claiming he wanted to sketch animals for his school project. Ayase had been suspicious at first, but the sparkle in his eyes whenever he saw the lions reminded her too much of their late father’s same excitement for life. And so, weekend after weekend, she found herself feeding the vending machines while Souta tried to draw.
It was exhausting, expensive — and strangely comforting.
Now, though, staring at that blinking notification, comfort wasn’t going to pay the rent.

“Alright,” she muttered, slapping her cheeks lightly. “Time to wake up and pretend adulthood isn’t a scam.”

The Ayase apartment was a small but cozy unit tucked in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood. It smelled faintly of miso soup and laundry detergent. Morning sunlight filtered through thin curtains, spilling onto a battlefield of school bags, socks, and sketchbooks.
Ayase had barely buttoned her blouse when the chaos began.

“Souta! Wake up! You’ll be late again!” she called.

A groan came from the futon pile. “Five more minutes…”

“Five more minutes turns into detention,” she warned “and also did anyone take my charger again? Souta, don’t you dare touch my stuff!”
“I didn’t!” Souta yelled from the living room, where he was now frantically searching if all of his books for today's class was there “Maybe Haru took it!”
“Nope ” Haru yelled back, defensive.
Ayase sighed, rubbing her temple. “Okay! Everyone stop yelling before the neighbors think we’re murdering each other!”
There was a moment of silence — then, in perfect unison, they started talking again.

She loved them. She really did. But sometimes, she wondered if “big sister” was just another word for “underpaid superhero.”
Breakfast was a balancing act.Ayase poured miso soup while Haru read headlines, Souta tried to draw on his sketch book one hand and eat with the other.

Haru, second chil had inherited their father’s sense of responsibility and their mother’s stubborn streak. He worked part-time at a bookstore after school, he had insisted he’d “pay his share soon.” He meant well, but his lectures about “financial discipline” were a bit rich coming from someone who spent half his paycheck on limited-edition novels.

Souta, ten, was sunshine incarnate — messy, loud, and innocent enough to still think Ayase could fix everything. His sketchbook was practically glued to his hand, though half the time, his drawings were manga girls with swords instead and animals.
They were her world.

But that world, lately, had grown heavier.
“Hey, Sis?” Souta asked suddenly, mouth full of rice. “You think we could go back to the zoo next Sunday? They got new baby pandas.”
Haru groaned. “Again? You’re obsessed.”
“They’re cute!” Souta argued.
“They’re expensive,” Haru countered, narrowing his eyes.
“Guys,” Ayase interrupted, setting her chopsticks down. “We’ll see. I have a lot of work next week.”
Souta frowned. “You always say that.”
The words hit her harder than she expected.
Haru noticed her expression and softened his tone. “Souta, enough. You know she’s doing her best.”
Ayase smiled, but it felt forced. “It’s fine. He’s right. I just… need to balance things better.”
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable — just heavy.
Then Haru,  piped up: “If we can’t go to the zoo, we can go to the park I can show you my new soccer moves!”
The tension broke, and Ayase laughed. “Alright, deal. But only if you actually eat your breakfast first.”

By noon, the apartment was finally quiet again. Haru had gone to school, and Souta  to elementary.
Ayase had clean the dishes, and folded laundry, she was late for work.
Her coworkers probably thought she was just another quiet, hardworking woman. They didn’t know that her nights were spent budgeting rent or that her mornings started sometimes with burnt toast and sibling debates.
She didn’t mind the work — she actually liked it. It made her feel in control, like she was keeping everything from falling apart.
Still, there were moments — small ones — when she wished for something just for herself.
She thought about her high school days, when she wanted to paint, when she dreamed of entering art school. Life had taken a different turn, and she’d accepted it. But sometimes, in the quiet hours after everyone was asleep, she missed the smell of paint and the thrill of creating something that was hers alone.
When she reached home at 6p.m, Haru was already at work and Souta was hanging out with his friends .
Her eyes drifted to Souta’s half-finished sketches on the table. His lines were rough but full of energy.
She smiled softly. Maybe he was living a part of her dream for her.
That evening, the brothers returned one by one.
Souta barged in first, waving a drawing he’d made in art class — three stick figures under a big lion sun, labeled Me, Big Sis, Haru and my favorite Lion.
Ayase couldn’t help laughing. “You drew us with a lion?”
“Because you’re brave!” he said proudly.
Haru entered last, exhausted but calm. He placed a small envelope on the table. “Here. My part of the rent.”
Ayase blinked. “Haru, you didn’t need to—”
“I did,” he said firmly. “You already do too much.”
She smiled, warmth flooding her chest. “Thank you.”
For a moment, the small apartment felt like a real home — loud, imperfect, but full of love.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Ayase stood on the balcony. Tokyo stretched before her — endless lights, endless stories.
The city never slept, and neither did her worries. But tonight, she felt oddly at peace.
She leaned on the railing, letting the cool air brush her face.
Her phone buzzed — a new email notification from work. She hesitated, then turned the screen off.
Just this once, she allowed herself to rest.
Inside, Haru mumbled something in his sleep, and Souta's snores filled the silence.
Ayase smiled.
Maybe tomorrow would be another day of chaos. Another day of bills, work, and responsibility.
But for now, surrounded by the people she loved most, that was enough.
End of Chapter 3