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– Go wash your hair, JunJun. It’s an exercise for you.
– Okay!
Scrub, scrub. Her fluffy orange hair is now covered with fine-smelling lather.
– So, Rikko– I mean, Kokko–
– No, I’m JunJun.
– I know. From the bottom of my heart. You will always be my JunJun.
JunJun always feels some kind of unease when talking to me. Despite that, she always strives to be the most beloved child.
– Don’t worry. Even if you don’t wash it well, it doesn’t mean that we’d leave you again.
It is free from any motive.
– Nothing…
Scratch, scratch. She scratches the hair from underneath. Every corner should be clean.
– Jun子。Do you fear abandonment?
– That’s obvious, Mama Kyoko. Of course I do. Doesn’t everyone?
Silence falls.
– A child like you shouldn’t be wearing a funeral attire.
– Well, I have lots of stuff. You gave me two shirts, two skirts and a dress, too.
I don’t think even Mary has that much stuff.
– Well, yeah, it’s time you grew out of your palettes.
– Yeah mam.
– I remember that day, on the boat to Hell. Around me was pristine, serene, deep indigo.
– You looked around and saw Miss Komachi driving you there.
– Yes. But in the end, I didn’t go there. Phew.
– Quite a close call. More like, you were not supposed to be there, my baby.
– Yea mam.
There was a child who travelled down the Sanzu River, silently and alone.
That same child, as a young, unborn ghost, was left devoid of love at a local shrine, unsheltered from rain and the cold.
Her parents, young and devout, really believed that she could grow up there, in the care of spirits, to be a little goddess herself.
That gods exist.
That you could simply leave a person behind, just like that.
Before she opened her eyes, she had a long, long nightmare.
The memories were burnt into her brain, like the ofuda with the words 純純 written on it. Was it the magic circle drawn in charcoal and doused with water that brought her to life?
Of course not!
She is, biologically, a child born from Lav and I. And the kind-hearted auntie Junko who gave her an appearance to mimic while we were so stingy and defensive.
So, a child born from dream and reality. Born attached to justifications, like any other.
– [Your dream was also mine, little JunJun. It was a horrible dream.]
– It’s like we’re on a call, Mama.
– Yeah. It does sound like that, huh? We listen, and we take turns.
– Hmm… I wonder if it could be improved…
Fresh and clean lil baby comes out of the shower. What a nice baby, already able to wash after herself.
What am I saying? She’s 5 already. Wait, she’s just 5?
– How was it, JunJun?
– Was nice. I could do it again!
– Oh yeah, feel free.
– Don’t you mean, “I will let you do more stuff?”
– Lavu! I…
We’ve been such bad parents. If only we had more repercussions for our actions…
– But it was a good story, JunJun. And I’m sure people would love to hear more about it.
– Yeah. If it was real.
– It can be, or not. Do you know about repressed memories?
– I don’t want to repress anythin’!
– Well, technically, if you try hard enough, you won’t even know it’s there– but, but, but! What am I saying?
I lift JunJun up as she giggles.
She was given two pecks on the cheeks.
– Only two?!
– Well, Mama Lav will deal with the rest.
– You are so lazy, Mama. Sooooo–
– Yes, yes, child, you know me.
I was forced to give her another two for her cunning tactics. I don’t think any competitor can stand up to her. Not that she has any.
– I do!
– Shh, baby. It was just for play, right?
– Yea?
– Don’t confuse them so much.
– I think you already told them that.
– Really? My bad.
– Birdbrain mam! Birdbrain mam!
– *peck, peck* Am I a masochist?
– What is a “masochist”?
– Nevermind!
Now that I think about it, I did have bullies when I was a chick.
*** :3 ***
Later, we went shopping for information.
– Wow! I never knew there’s a singer with the same name as me!
– Right? See, it’s a good name alright.
– A special one!
Lav corrected me again.
JunJun jumped onto Mama Lav and hugged her like a baby koala does.
******
– You’re not giving me a proper picture?
– I’m too lazy for that now. Maybe later~
– Awww!
– Go play with your sisters.
– Mm! *patters away*
She ran back as soon as I opened the app, and we drew this picture together anyway. I taught her how to draw shadows and stuff. The rest is her creativity.
She’s gotten herself a new dress today.
– I want blue! Blue!!!
– Alright, alright sweetie.
– No… this is teal. More blue.
– You’re very particular about it…
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Of course she is. She’s a real Princess Queen. She was born in an egg with the most beautiful shell, gold-gilded on the spots where her sisters’ were ink blue. Reminded me of the surface of the moon.
