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Posted by: Mary Saotome

« on: October 04, 2025, 07:45:16 pm »

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Jiro doesn't fuss anymore when Kasumi enters Junko's room to tend to her. In fact, she starts immediately cooing and giggling when she sees her aunt and starts happily babbling. Immediately, she was taken out of her crib by Kasumi along with her grabbing things needed to change her diaper, as it was needed, and taken to her room. There, she was changed into a fresh diaper while sucking on her thumb the entire time. She merely stared up at the strawberry blonde woman who was caring for her and talking to her. From there, she was lifted off the bed and carried to the kitchen where a fresh bottle would be prepared for her, despite her aunt saying it would mess up her schedule. But for a five-month-old baby, there was no way she was going to comprehend that until she gets older. She was just a baby and still growing. It will be a while before she'd be able to comprehend anything.

In the meantime, Junko was still at the park, sitting by the park's water fountain where it was illuminated. Strangely, she felt relaxed sitting here, feeling the thoughts in her head started to clear. She may not have been able to think of any solutions to her problems, but for the first time in months, she'd felt relaxed despite her growing depression and distancing herself from her own daughter. Junko always felt bad about that, but given the way things are, there was no fixing it. She couldn't have nor be with someone that didn't belong to her to begin with. She knew getting involved with Koichi was wrong, but she made that choice and she had to accept that. If she could take that back, she would. She should've ended the affair like Chibiusa had told her to, but here she was with a child and regretting everything.

'She's ... the only one who knows everything. Everyone else ... knows nothing. If they did ... they would be so ashamed of me for getting involved with a professor who was married,' Junko sulked, sighing as she placed her hands in her lap. As much as she wanted something better for her life, Junko had no idea where to begin. There was no chance in her finding a husband since the child she had was out of wedlock and the product of an affair. She wouldn't blame any guy she came in contact with for not wanting anything to do with her after finding that out about her and her child. She still needed to finish university. After all, she had no intention of dropping out despite everything that's happened in her life. 'Can I do it though? Most everyone has already graduated and started working and yet here I am still going to class. Pretty soon, I'll have to find work and that's if I can. If not, I'll be working at the shrine.'

Junko didn't hate working at her family's shrine, but she desired to do more with her life than working there. Naturally, she knew her father would want either her or her sister to take over the shrine. In the event that she couldn't find work based on her major that she studied for, then taking over the shrine would be fine for her. It's not as if she doesn't know how to keep it maintained, unlike her sister who always avoided the chores and would only help when she felt like it. 'It'd be strange for nee-san to want to take over the shrine. She's doing something weird with her time now, so I doubt that would change,' Junko thought. Compared to herself, she did notice that her sister seemed a lot happier. Vastly different to when she was attending classes at Valeria. A part of Junko wished she could feel the same right now.

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

« on: August 14, 2025, 07:53:18 pm »

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Of course, they aren’t home. Lillian is referring to her parents. She stares in the mirror above her 4 draw dresser tying her hair up in a ponytail. This is one of those nights she feels lonely. While she is use to it she hates it at the same time. All she wants is to spend time with her parents. To matter in their world. Seems to be less and less the older she gets. She understood her parents being gone often as a child. They wanted her to have the best of everything and she did. However what she really wanted was their love and attention. Now that she is in college she thought they would slow down but they haven’t. Most of her peers would probably love to be in her situation but they probably haven’t been without their parents most of their life. Lillian grabs her headphones off ehr dresser putting them around her neck. She swiftly walks tot he closet grabbing a jacket as it is cooler at night. Lillian ensures she has her taser, phone and keys. Once she is sure she has everything she leaves the house.

I will head to park and back. Lillian slides on her headphones glancing around. Thankfully her parents live in a good area. She would be lying if she said it wasn’t a little scary out at night. Way too much darkness and shadows for her liking. Lillian likes to warm up with a nice medium pace walk. She does this while listening to a podcast. Once she is out of her neighborhood she switches out the podcast for some music. Lillian selects her go to jogging playlist. She begins to lightly jog. Despite listening to her music Lillian is able to think clearly.

I could be writing right now. What a waste of time. Lillian hums as she gets tunnel vision. She has been struggling to write recently. Writing is her passion, her everything. She isn’t sure if it is stress or something else. She doesn’t feel stressed at all. She is mostly doing the jog to get tired so she can sleep good when she returns to the house alone. Times like this Lillian wishes she had someone she could talk to. Going to Valeria University is a great place to meet people but she is much too shy for that. Everyone seems so mature, well spoken and put together. Lillian feels like she fits in and other times she doesn’t.

Maybe I should try something new. A new hobby or skill perhaps. What can I really do? Lillian mind wonders to what other passions she has. Pottery could be something great. It would be a rewarding, challenging, and it takes skills. Then there was drawing. Drawing can take hours of practice. It could also help with her writing skills as she could learn to draw her characters or even their environment. Lillian smiles. That would be awesome. After some time Lillian sees the park come into view. It looks some much different at night. She reaches the fountain breathing hard from the work she put in. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard, good lord. Lillian leans over to catch her breath. Once she feels calm she stands upright.

Whoa, it is so pretty here at night thinks Lillian. She looks around the light up fountain that makes the park appear more relaxing and less scary. Lillian is surprised when she looks around seeing there are more people than she would have thought out this time of night. Most of them seem to be around her age. Lillian can’t help but approach the fountain. She stares down in the water sighing before looking up. There is a girl that captures her attention. She looks so full of sorrow. Lillian shifts her eyes before the girl could catch her staring. She folds her arms beginning to slowly walk around the main fountain. I guess I am not the only one dealing with life.

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

« on: August 14, 2025, 07:35:38 pm »

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Kasumi finished her prepping and is now in her pajamas. Her hair is still up as she is rocking a fitted white v neck tee with the words coffee time. Her shorts that go with the tee has different kinds of coffees on them. Kasumi feels confident and beautiful for her interview. Whew, just one more day until show time. Kasumi researched how to answer questions in an interview. Nothing was helpful as she had hoped. Never having an actual job sucks. I don’t see how people do this. The process of getting a job has her wanting to be an influencer more than ever.

Junko has been gone for a minute. Where did she go? Junko use to go off a lot before baby Jiro. This feels different. Kasumi glances at her phone. Junko hadn’t sent a text at all. Kasumi is unsure if she should be concerned or not. I would text her if she wasn’t moody. Kasumi hears Jiro prompting her to grab her tablet. She glances at the video sees Jiro has woken. She is waving her little arms as if trying to signal her mother. It’s as if she knows she’s alone. She was sleeping just fine. Kasumi sits the tablet down on her nightstand. Kasumi heads into Junkko’s room.

“Hey strawberry,” coos Kasumi. Kasumi gave Jiro the nickname strawberry because of her rosy red cheeks. Especially when she laughs or smiles. Kasumi approaches the crib picking Jiro up carefully. She places Jiro on her shoulder. Jiro immediately lays her head down. Is she sleepy? Kasumi walks over to Junko’s bed laying Jiro down to check her diaper. “Someone needs a fresh diaper!” Kasumi grabs everything needed to change Jiro heading to her room. She could have changed Jiro in Junko room but Kasumi felt off being in her sister’s room. Is it because we are at odds or something else? She’s been so weird lately. Weirder than usual.

Kasumi wonders if she should bring this up to Shouta. Would that be betraying Junko further? Kasumi has no clue. She doesn’t understand anything right now. Junko won’t accept help from her but maybe she would from Shouta. If only she would talk to me. Kasumi sighs at a loss for what to do. She gets Jiro changed who appears to be awake now.

“Jiro, you’re going to mess up your schedule,” Kasumi states. Jiro shoves her fist into her mouth. “Let’s get your bottle. That might be just what you need.” Kasumi wouldn’t dare to eat this late but not her baby niece. She’s a growing girl. Jiro coos as Kasumi picks her up heading to the kitchen.

Posted by: Mary Saotome

« on: August 10, 2025, 04:02:52 pm »

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Ten ... Fifteen ... Twenty ... It'd been twenty minutes since Junko had left the shrine grounds. And it was right then that baby Jiro had begun fussing. She'd been asleep for the past hour and a half, but now she was awake and wanting to be entertained and changed. Yet her mother was nowhere to be found in the dark room she'd been left in. Realizing that she was alone, Jiro had begun crying loudly. She was only five months old, but she was a smart enough baby to use her crib railing to prop herself up on her feet and began banging her hands atop it to get someone's attention.

Meanwhile, Junko had walked in the darkness, far away from her house, until she'd reached Rikugien Park. She'd arrived there twenty minutes ago, and despite it being summer, it was a cool night, compared to during the day, when it was always blazing hot. It felt nice to Junko. It allowed her to think and not feel tired. Normally, Junko would venture to the pier, but tonight, she chose a different location to merely clear her head for a while. She needed a break from home. This late at night, of course, the area wouldn't be heavily populated with people, but as she walked closer to watch the water of the fountain, she saw she wasn't the only one out this late.

Junko thought it best not to engage. She didn't know who they were and didn't want to get involved with a random stranger. So she stood there watching the fountain as her thoughts continued to wander. The area was well lit, so as long as she didn't do or say anything to draw attention to herself, she would be fine. She hadn't planned on staying out too late. If her father didn't ring her phone wondering where she was, then she was sure her sister would call her. More than likely, for nothing that she couldn't handle herself.

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

« on: August 05, 2025, 10:47:56 pm »

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She’ll be back later? Where is she going at this time? How long will she be gone? What about Jiro? Before Kasumi could ask her little sister any further questions, she walked out of the house closing the door behind her. Junko never looked back. Kasumi stares at the door in shock. What is her freaking deal? She can’t ignore how odd her sister has been acting. Junko has always kept to herself but she is doing it more now than before. Kasumi wonders if her sister being new to motherhood has her putting Jiro first. At times it doesn’t feel that way. Kasumi tries to remember the last time she saw Junko smile. Kasumi use to go out of her way to wipe that smile off Junko’s face. Now she is trying to fix their sistership so to say. At least she didn’t snap at me tonight.

Kasumi walks over, ensuring the front door is locked. She is sure Junko has her keys with her. If not, all she has to do is call her or their father. Kasumi springs into action going to Junko’s room to check on Jiro. Jiro is sound asleep. Kasumi can’t help but stare down at her baby niece. She watches her sleeping soundly for a little while. I don’t know what is going on with your mom but I promise I will do right by you and her. I let down our mom and I’m not going to let you down Jiro. Kasumi wants to kiss her little cheeks but doesn’t want to risk waking her. Kasumi turns on the baby monitor that is used when Junko is not home to care for Jiro. Kasumi closes Junko’s door heading back to her room. Kasumi picks up her tablet cutting it on. Once the screen is lit up and she goes to the app where she can see Jiro sleeping. This provides Kasumi with a sense of calm. She turns her attention back to herself looking in the mirror. Okay, now where were we?

Posted by: Mary Saotome

« on: August 03, 2025, 06:58:03 pm »

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Hearing her sister's voice made Junko narrow her eyes. Once her shoes were on, she rose to her feet, partially turning to look at her sister. The expression on her face was neutral. Not showing anger or sadness. Just indifference. Being asked by Kasumi what she was doing felt laughable in the brunette's brain. However, she wasn't in the mood to start an argument at all with her. She needed to get out of this house for a little while. She deserved that. A break from everything and everyone for just an hour or two.

Saying nothing at that moment, she turned and began to walk toward the door. She reached into her pockets to check to make sure she had her phone and wallet as she pulled the sliding door back. "I'll be back later," was the only thing Junko said before closing the door behind her. Junko felt as if she didn't owe her sister the right to know where she was going. What was she going to do? Tell their father? They weren't teenagers anymore. Even now, she saw her sister still trying to prim and prop herself up to look pretty for strangers who don't care at all about her. But if it fuels her fragile ego, who was she to judge? It wasn't something Junko was going to partake in.

With her hands resting in the pockets of her jacket, she headed down the stairs of the shrine. Her destination: Rikugien Park. The one park in the area that was heavily illuminated this time of night, but also, some actual people would be hanging out there. No, she didn't know any of them, but it made her feel better knowing that other people would be around. It's not as if it were a requirement for her to engage with them. No, lately, Junko just wanted to be alone. To figure out what she was going to do from here on out. She had a child she barely knew how to take care of, nor was she connecting with her at all.

It wasn't her daughter's fault. Junko would never blame her child for anything. After all, the actions she took are what caused Jiro to be born. If there was anyone to blame, it would be herself. Knowing that made her feel more ashamed than she already was. Junko had to accept the fact that she was a failure, whether she wanted to or not. She failed herself, and she was failing Jiro. 'Why does it feel like there are no options out there for me to take?' Junko thought as she kept walking.

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

« on: August 03, 2025, 05:30:48 pm »

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Kasumi hums as she looks at herself naked in the mirror. She is doing a quick maintenance despite how late it is. She has an interview at the cat cafe her friend Momo works. Kasumi wants to make a good impression. She has waxed her eyebrows, bikini line and underarms. No need to skip the bikini line. Although no one but her will see it she likes for it to be smooth and clean. She has a fresh tan from going to the beach where she set up a camera to take pictures. The photos were uploaded to her IG and got a lot of likes and engagement. Things are looking up. Kasumi pulls her hair up feeling attractive as she stares at her reflection in the mirror. What a waste. I should have a man spoiling me by now. Kasumi is pulled from her thoughts when she hears some noises outside her door.

What the hell was that? Kasumi grabs her towel. It has to be Junko. Kasumi noted she has turned into a night owl as of late. She could at least be quieter. Let me make sure she doesn’t need help with Jiro. I can’t leave my little strawberry hanging. Kasumi makes sure her towel is secure before heading out into the hallway. She doesn’t see Junko which is odd. She makes her way down the hall towards the front door. Junko heard her coming thanks to the creaky floors. Junko head snaps up glaring at Kasumi.

Holy crap….. Kasumi grips her towel noticing the dark circles under her sister’s eyes. The light in her eyes is gone. She appears empty. Void. Dark. Cold. Kasumi shivers remembering the last time they spoke. She hasn’t approached Junko since. Shouta give her sound advice, but Kasumi hasn’t had the chance to execute it. I-I’m actually scared of her. What if she strikes me again? Kasumi shakes her head. She’s the big sister. She’s not going to let Junko stop her from doing the right thing.

“Junko,” she says softly. Kasumi doesn’t want to alarm her little sister. She comes in peace. Kasumi's eyes drop down to Junko feet that are shoved into sneakers. Kasumi makes uncomfortable eye contact with Junko. “What are you doing?”

Posted by: Mary Saotome

« on: June 15, 2024, 08:26:19 am »

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Junko's once-restful nights had become a distant memory, haunted by an incessant stream of thoughts that kept her awake until the early hours. The weight of their actions and her involvement with Koichi left her mind to wander aimlessly. Despite her attempts to sleep and forget about it, she was met only with restlessness and guilt. In the past, her late-night companion would be her studies, but this time, she had heeded her father's advice and lightened her academic load. Her affair with Koichi left nothing but a shadow that continued to hang over her future. She once believed every word the man said to her and hung onto them tightly in hopes that he would keep every whisper and promise he'd made to her. Alas, he did not, and now he was no longer teaching at Valeria. Not only that, the majority of her friends have since graduated, and she was the only one who remained behind because her pregnancy took a toll on her body that caused her to take part of her third semester off.

She had no choice but to repeat all of her classes by applying for a grant that would cover the cost of the classes she needed for her major. She really felt alone now. All she had was her daughter Jiro, the child who was a constant reminder of the mistakes that led to her being born. The brunette felt ashamed at viewing her daughter as a mistake, but how else could she describe the emptiness and disconnect she felt each time she interacted with her? The love was once there due to the hope that Koichi would come to them, but it has since vanished just as he had. She lay awake staring at her bedroom ceiling with only her desk lamp on while the rest of her room was shrouded in darkness. A sign that Junko was suffering from insomnia. Given that it was almost midnight, the only ones awake right now would be her and her sister. Their father and Jiro were fast asleep.

Junko, her dark hair a reflection of the shame she carried, felt a crushing weight settle in her chest. Bringing a child into the world seemed like a solution, a way to fix everything, to make her life whole. But instead, it had spiraled into a living nightmare. She tried to ignore everything, pretending that everything was fine. Koichi would come back to her and love her and their daughter, but as time went on and Jiro got bigger, the truth became clearer: Koichi had never loved her, his affection a calculated charade, a tool to manipulate her all this time. He threw her away the moment she became pregnant and went running back to his wife. He did nothing but use her for his own sexual gratification and preyed upon her vulnerable state. How could she have been so naive? So foolish to believe his lies? Each day, the realization of her error gnawed at her.

She couldn't talk to her family, their support a fragile crutch she couldn't bear to lean on. They were already shouldering the burden of caring for her child, a burden she felt she had imposed upon them. And though a part of her ached with the pain of her mistakes, Junko didn't hate her daughter. She wouldn't be so cruel as to blame her innocent child for her own failings. But each time she looked into her daughter's eyes, she saw Koichi's reflection staring back, a constant reminder of her own foolish choices and the unbearable weight of her regret. 'How could I've been so stupid?' she thought painfully. She'd brought an innocent life into this world, thinking that it would fix everything, only for it all to go straight to hell. Koichi never really loved her. She knew that now. He tricked her constantly, having her thinking that he would screw with her grades if she didn't do what he asked her. What was she thinking? How could she have been stupid enough to believe that?

Every day, Junko mentally dealt with regret for her actions. She couldn't talk to her family about it, as they were already taking care of Jiro because she stopped responding to her as her mother. Junko didn't hate her daughter. She wouldn't be so selfish as to blame her for the mistakes she made. But each time she looked at her daughter, she saw Koichi's reflection staring back, a constant reminder of her own foolish choices and the unbearable weight of her regret. Junko's mind raced, clinging to the idea that finding a boyfriend could distract her from the consuming ache in her heart. But the thought was a fleeting, fragile hope. How could she even consider a relationship, knowing the truth she hid so carefully? The secret of her child, the shame of its conception, clung to her. who would want her, knowing the burden she carried? Her friends, the precious haven she'd found in university, were oblivious to her silent struggle. The thought of revealing her secret, of their potential judgment, filled her with dread.

She knew how hard it was to build friendships, how easily they could crumble under the weight of hidden truths. She'd finally escaped the suffocating shadow of Kasumi and found people who saw her for herself, but the fear of the world's judgment was a relentless, suffocating presence. She was exhausted, drained by the burden she carried alone. Sleep, once a refuge, was now a cruel tormentor, its absence a constant reminder of her fractured life. Three months of sleepless nights, fueled by the anxiety she couldn't quell. Her usual routines, once sources of comfort, were now stumbling blocks, her energy sapped, her focus blurred. She tried everything – calming teas, meditation, even over-the-counter sleep aids – but nothing could soothe the restlessness within her.

Being unable to take being cooped up inside her room anymore and left alone with her constant roaming thoughts, Junko decided to get dressed and go for a late-night walk. She put on some casual clothes and grabbed her phone. She exited her room as quietly as she could and headed toward the entryway of their home, where her shoes lay. Sitting down, she began to take the time to put them on. It was once quiet, but her movement was disrupted by the sound of one of the bedroom doors opening. She began to panic, Junko's heart racing as she heard the heavy footsteps coming closer to where she was. If her father found her, she knew he wouldn't allow her to go out this late for any reason, unlike before Jiro was born. She braced herself to hear his booming, commanding voice telling her to return to her room. Junko couldn't disobey her father whenever he told her and Kasumi to do something. She accepted that this was punishment for her previous actions. However, the voice she heard that spoke to her was softer and feminine, indicating that it wasn't her father but her sister that came out of her room.

'Her ...' was the thought that came to Junko's mind as she narrowed her eyes and didn't turn around when she heard Kasumi's voice.

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Topic Summary

Posted by: Mary Saotome

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

Posted by: Mary Saotome

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

Posted by: Mary Saotome

Posted by: Yuuto Usui

Posted by: Mary Saotome

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