Episode 1

Yuzu was walking down the sidewalk with Shigeko. They just got a text from Yuzu's mom that there's something she needs to tell them.

"What do you think mom is talking about?" Yuzu asked as they walked heading back toward their house.

"Don't ask me, I know nothing." Shigeko said and kept walking with Yuzu.

Yuzu just nodded and brought her attention back to the road and took a left turn then ran. Shigeko ran with her as they headed toward their burning house.

"No, no, no, mom!" Yuzu shouted and ran but the firefighters held her in place.

"Miss, please let the authorities take care of the situation." The man said but Yuzu didn't listen to him.

She sprinted toward the house and went to the bathroom to wet herself with water. Then she went upstairs to see her mom collapsed on the stairs. She took her mom and helped her up then went toward the exit.

Yuzu coughed as the smoke reached her lungs.

"Y-Yuzu, just leave," Ume said as she just woke up.

"I'm not leaving without you, mama. Not again." Yuzu said and kept walking toward the exit.

When the firefighters saw them, they hurried toward them and helped the two go outside safely. Yuzu was given some water and a new pair of clothes with a towel to dry her. Meanwhile, her mom was taken to the hospital to get her checked up.

The police arrived and they immediately went to ask them.

"Hey, kid. Where were you when the fire started?" The investigator asked.

"Haah, we were outside sir. We didn't know how the fire started." Yuzu replied.

"What happened before you guys went here?" He asked.

"My mom told us that there's something important she needs to tell us and that's when I saw the smoke coming from our house." Yuzu replied.

"We ran toward home and saw the fire." Shigeko added.

"Is that all?" The investigator asked. The girls nodded and he nodded back then left.

The investigator went toward to his group and discussed everything with them.

"Y-Yuzu, do you think auntie's alright?" Shigeko asked with her head down.

"Why are you asking that, mom will be alright. She will be, my mom's strong...I hope." Yuzu said and whispered the last part.

"Uhh, miss. We found this in your house. I think this belongs to your mom." The firefighters said handing her the phone.

"Thank you, officer." Yuzu said and took the phone.

Yuzu put the phone close to her when it rang. Yuzu jumped and almost threw the phone away.

"Hello?" Yuzu answered.

"Ume? Are you guys ready?" A man answered on the other line.

"Excuse me sir, I think you dialed the wrong number." Yuzu replied. "My mom is at the hospital right now." Yuzu added and she and Shigeko heard a gasp from the other line.

"What hospital is your mom in?" The man asked.

"She’s in Doctors' Hospital sir. Why do you need my mom?" Yuzu asked.

"I'm a close friend of your mom, Yuzu. She asked me for help ever since Yongi died." The man explained.

"We're still back home, I think we'll be asking the police to us to the hospital later." Yuzu replied.

"No need, I'll give you a ride to the hospital. Just stay there." The man said.

"Uhh.... Can I ask for your name sir?" Shigeko asked.

"It's Sho Aihara, kid. I'll be going now so that I can get ready." Sho replied and hanged up.

"That's weird. You don't know this man but your mom knows him?" Shigeko asked.

"Let's just wait and see, I think I've heard that surname before." Yuzu said and rested her head on the wall beside her.

*             *                *

"Are you leaving again?" Mei asked her father.

"I'm not going to spend much time, Mei. It's about your sister. She needs me right now." Sho replied.

"You care for her more than your own daughter?" Mei asked.

"Can we not talk about this right now? She will lose her family if I don't come." Sho replied.

"You'll lose me if you leave." Mei said.

"Mei, please." Sho pleaded.

"Just go, like I care." Mei said and turned around to leave.

"Th-then, why don't you come with me? You'll see who I'm talking about." Sho suggested.

"Fine, I'll go." Mei said and followed her father outside toward the garage.

Yuzu was asleep because of exhaustion; Shigeko was looking after her as the man arrived. She waited until the man came up to them before standing up.

"You are?" Sho asked.

"I'm Shigeko, Yuzu's cousin." Shigeko replied.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Shigeko." Sho said and looked down.

"I guess she was really exhausted. Let me help you bring her to the car. I'll carry her." Sho said and carefully carry Yuzu.

"Shall we get going?" Sho asked and Shigeko nodded.

"M-mama..." Yuzu mumbled which the two heard.

"Nightmares," Shigeko said. "She always has those dreams ever since Uncle Yongi died." Shigeko added.

"I'll have nightmares too if that happened to them." Sho said and knocked on the car window.

"Hey, Mei, Can you open the door now?" Sho asked and a girl went out.

"So, that's her? Hmm...not bad." Mei said and opened the door at every side.

"Hop in, Shigeko." Sho said as he put Yuzu on the backseat.

They're all silent as they drove toward the hospital.

"Are you cousins with Yuzu to your mom's side?" Sho asked.

"Actually no, my father is brothers of Yuzu's father." Shigeko replied.

"I see if you’re wondering, this is my daughter Mei. She's a bit shy around people." Sho said.

"Well, I guess it's nice to meet you?" Shigeko said nervously.

"Haha, Mei don’t be rude,” Sho said and Mei turned to look at Shigeko.

"Shigeko right? Nice to meet you." Mei said and smiled a little.

"Hmm, Haah..." Yuzu yawned and slowly wake up.

"Shik? Where are we?" Yuzu said as she sat up.

"We're with Mr. Aihara, Yuzu. Don't worry; we're almost at the hospital." Shigeko explained.

"Hey there, Yuzu. We'll be there in a few minutes." Sho said.

"Thanks, Uncle." Yuzu said and leaned her head on the car door.

Sho smiled and brought back his attention toward the road. The rest of the journey was quiet except to the honking of cars outside a d people talking. They went out of the car and Yuzu stretched her body after the long journey.

"Aah! I hope mom alright." Yuzu said as she straightened herself up again.

"Don't worry, auntie will be alright." Shigeko replied and put her arm around her shoulder and the two followed the Aiharas inside.

"May I help you, sir?" The nurse at the counter asked as she greeted them.

"I'm here for Ume Okogi. Do you know where her room is?" Sho answered.

"It's on room 307 sir on the third floor to the right but only family members are allowed so that the patient could rest." The nurse explained.

"I understand, can I just send the kids upstairs then wait outside the room?" Sho asked and the nurse nodded in response. "Thanks." Sho said and asked the others to follow him.

They arrived outside the room and saw Ume still resting.

"Yuzu, you should go in first and we'll wait here." Shigeko said and Yuzu nodded nervously.

"It'll be fine, Yuzu. Your mom's strong." Mei said and Yuzu nodded again then went inside.

She closed the door and her mom opened her eyes.

"Hey there kiddo," Ume greeted as she smiled.

"Mom!" Yuzu shouted and hugged her mom tightly. "I'm so glad you're alright!" Yuzu said as she took a sigh of relief.

"Hehe, don't worry too much about mom. I'm strong you know. I'm more amazed by you! How did you know that you should wet your clothes first before entering a burning area?" Ume asked.

"I just watched it somewhere, mom. I saw you unconscious on the stairs! But you could've been more badly hurt if I didn't came in!" Yuzu shouted as she scolded her own mom.

"But how did the fire started anyway?" Yuzu asked.

"I don't know darling. Maybe I forgot the food I was cooking and it caused a fire inside the house. I don't really remember anything. Is Shik outside?" Ume asked.

"Yeah mom, you want them to come in?" Yuzu asked.

"Them?" Ume asked.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that Uncle Sho took us here. He was worried about you too." Yuzu said.

"Ah it’s Sho. Can you send them in?" Ume asked and Yuzu nodded and went toward the door opened it slightly and poked her head out.

"Come on out guys. Mom wants to see you." Yuzu said and the three stood up and slowly reached the door.

"Hey, there." Ume greeted weakly.

"You! You made your daughter worry and all you can say is hey?!" Sho scolded Ume.

Ume only looked at Sho with a serious look so Sho said. "Can you guys step out for awhile? I need to talk to Ume privately." Sho said and the three girls nodded.

"What do you think they will talk about? Uncle Sho sounded serious." Yuzu said when they all sat down.

"Dunno, maybe it's about what really happened earlier...I'm just guessing so...yeah." Shigeko said then leaned her back on the chair.

"I think that Papa knows something that the only two of them know and refuse to talk about it while we are listening." Mei said as she looked at Yuzu.

"That too, but I asked mom if there was something she wanted to tell me earlier but she just shrugged it off." Yuzu said.

"Do you think Auntie is hiding something from us?" Shigeko asked.

"No, I don't think so. I made her promise that no more secrets and she did a pinky swear with me." Yuzu replied.

"I-I see, well. I guess your mom has her other hand crossed on her back." Shigeko replied.

"Well, I guess I think that mom just wants to protect us from something but refuses to tell us." Yuzu concluded then a woman approached them.

"Hey, Kelly." Mei greeted to the woman.

"Hey, there. It's time to go." The woman named Kelly said.

"I'll just say goodbye to mom..." Yuzu said then knocked on her mom's room then went inside.

"Uhh, I just want to tell you that Kelly's here and we're going. I'll see you tomorrow mom, I love you." Yuzu said and went to kiss her mom goodbye.

"Be careful on your way there." Sho said and Yuzu just nodded then left the room.

Yuzu turned to the side and saw that they were waiting for her. Kelly let the kids first then went to the elevator. They arrived the parking lot and the kids followed Kelly to the car. They were all silent as Kelly drove toward the Aihara Mansion.

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