It’s that nostalgic feeling again...
Ah, could this be the feeling of awakening?
I open my eyes wide.
But with these sleepy eyes of mine... Maybe it’s because I soaked up so much light at once, but all I can see is white.
I’ll speak, just to make sure everything’s okay.
“Good morning.”
Then, there was an immediate reply.
“Good morning, Suguri. How’s your body feeling?”
“Oh... It’s so bright...”
“Hahah! Well, how about the rest?”
“Mmm... I’m okay. Everything’s normal.”
My father smiled upon hearing my response.
Oh that’s right. It’s my father. I can finally see his face.
“Daddy, it’s been a long time. How many months has it been?”
“Let’s see, maybe about half a year.”
Wow... I slept for half of a year? When I last woke up, it was winter...
“Geez, I slept way too much.”
“Hmm?”
“Oh, nothing. By the way, was the operation a success?”
That’s right... The reason I slept for so long is because I had an operation.
“Yes. I still have a lot of things that I must do, but you’re awake and well. So, at least for now, it seems to be a success.”
“A success... So I guess that means I’ve become really strong?”
What I had received was a special operation that only my body could withstand.
It was a difficult operation to make my already strong body even stronger, and obtain lots of power.
Then, for that operation, I repeatedly slept for long periods of time, awaking only for short periods of time along the way.
But, today, it seems like this has finally come to an end.
“Well, do you feel like you’ve become stronger?”
“Hmmm... My body feels very light. My body, has it been changed?”
“Yes, in various internal ways, but... On the outside, you haven’t changed much at all.”
“Do you want to look in the mirror?”
My father hands me a small hand mirror as he says this.
“Woah, my eyes are red... The rest hasn’t changed at all, though.”
I was surprised that my eyes had changed color, but other than that, it was the same face as before. What a relief...
“Yes, it’s the same face as when we first started the operation.”
So I really haven’t changed at all since then...
Well, it’s really just because the first operation I received was that kind of operation, though.
“Hmmm... When did we perform your first operation, again?”
“6 years ago.”
“6 years... So I’m getting rather old, I suppose.”
“Don’t be silly.”
My father pretends to sulk as I reassure him.
His personality hasn’t changed a bit since then.
“But, Suguri, you really hung in there.”
Father stops pretending to sulk and pats my head. His large hand is warm.
“No, the one who really held on was you, father... and everyone else.”
I hung in there for 6 years, but father and the others have been hanging on for even longer.
They had just one dream:
To heal this planet.
“I wonder if everyone’s dream can finally come true, with this.”
With the power everyone has given me, I’m sure it can come true.
That’s what I believe, but I still want to hear my father say ‘It’s all right’
For some reason, though, my father’s face looks a bit sad.
“Suguri... I have two dreams.”
“One is to heal this Earth... this wounded and dying planet.”
Yes, that’s the dream I’ve heard about ever since I was little. Now it’s the dream of everyone on this planet.
“The other... is for you to live a happy life.”
Father smiles as he says this, but there’s a hint of pain in his expression.
“I firmly believe that the first will come true. Suguri, with you as you are now, I’m sure it can come true.”
“But, the second dream...”
Father falls silent.
I know what he wants to say.
Even so...
“I’m the one that gave you that body... I’m sorry.”
Father looks at me with very sad eyes.
"Father, you don't understand.
My dream is to heal the Earth, too.
That wouldn't be possible without becoming the person I am now.
Making your dreams come true is the meaning of happiness.
Father, if you truly believe that your dreams will come true, then they will."
"I received the power to realize this dream, thanks to father and everyone else.
There's no feeling as happy as this."
I put my feelings directly into words.
"Father, there's nothing to worry about.
I'm truly happy right now.
So, please, I want you to be happy with me, too."
I tell him exactly what I'm hoping for, too.
Father began to fall silent once more, but he soon raised his face and smiled.
"Suguri, thank you."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you."
I returned his smile.
"By the way, father...
Where should I begin?"
There's so much I have to do, to be honest. How could I ever figure out how to get started?
"Hmm... Let's see..."
My father seemed to be deep in thought for a while, but then he smiled and spoke.
"First, let's celebrate."
"Huh?"
"In these six years, you slept through your birthdays. So, we need to celebrate six years of birthdays...
We need to celebrate the fact that you woke up today and are well, too, of course."
Celebrate...?
It's true that I was never awake for any of my birthdays in the past six years, and it does feel like a bit of a shame...
"Six years, plus 1...
So, your 15th through 20th birthday parties.
It's a special celebration, so perhaps I should prepare a feast?"
...How can he be so carefree?
His daughter is so ready to get to work, but he says that he wants to have a party before that?
...But to be honest, I guess it makes me feel kind of happy, too.
"I'm... I'm 20 years old?
I guess I'm old enough to drink, huh?"
"Shall we prepare some drinks, then?"
"Hahah, that sounds good, but...
More than that, I want to cook something."
"Shall we make it together?"
"Yes. Let's make a lot, and invite lots of people, and have a grand time!"
With this great power, the first thing I do is cooking...?
I think about how strange it is, but then I wonder if it's just how I am.
"Father..."
"What is it?"
"I'm really happy right now.
...Thank you for everything."
I'm sure there's a long and difficult road ahead of me.
This planet is very big, and I'm so small.
Even so, I'll never forget this feeling.
I'll never forget today's happiness.
Because, if I keep holding it in my heart, I should be able to hang in there for hundreds or even thousands of years.

It's no use, so I'll just go back to sleep.
I may have been completely defeated this time... But next time,
I'll create an even more glorious pudding!
What should I do!?
I got too wrapped up in that pudding war, not even realizing it
just was a dream.
...Then again, there's no way to get that lost time back.
The weather's nice and warm today.
On days like this, I like to find a nice sunny spot somewhere and take a relaxing nap.
A blanket of sunshine.
It's thanks to this planet that I can receive such a blessing.
I'm really happy to be able to live on this planet.
Everyone is nice to me, and I have lots of time to make cookies.
Ah, I'm so happy...
Just like that, I went on a journey into dreamland.
... Snore... Snore...
...Snore... Snore...
...Yawn... Yawn...
"Mmmm, yawn."
When napping, it's important to sleep in moderation. That means I woke up at a good time today, too.
If I make cookies now, it should be snack time just as they're done.
Thanks to the nap, I'm at full power.
My body feels great, and my mood's great too. The conditions
are perfect, so I'll try to create a new sweet today!
With the goal of a nice and soft egg-flavored sweet, I started cooking.
Take some sugar that looks right, boil it just right, dissolve it in hot water just right, and put it in a pot that looks right...
Then, heat milk and cream at a temperature that feels right... Mix egg yolk and sugar... Steam it...
Today, I'm doing great!
I can tell that the very thing I envisioned is steadily coming to fruition.
Okay, now to let it cool off a bit...
"Woooooooooow! It's done!
It's the birth of a new sweet! I'll call it 'Pulpul"!
It's soft and cute, it looks sweet... Everything's great!"
Due to limited ingredients, I was only able to make one serving, so I'll hide away from everyone and enjoy 'Pulpul' in secret.
"Heheheh, today's sweet is sure to be my greatest creation. I'll have to taste it stealthily and with care."
"Saki, what are you doing?"
"Mauuuuaaaaah!!!!"
It was Suguri, the cute girl with silver hair.
"It, it's nothing!
It's not like I'm thinking about hiding from everyone and having a delicious snack!"
Nonetheless, Suguri's sharp eyes spotted the cute 'Pulpul' in my hands.
"That... that's..."
Just then, Suguri's hair stood up like an antenna and her eyes sparkled.
"Isn't that the legendary sweet, pudding!?"
"Pu... Pudding?"
"Yes, that sweet is an ancient, ultimate weapon of sweetness
known as pudding."
"It's been said that a confectioner from some country created that long ago, and its deliciousness could be called 'ultimate'... But, back then, the technology to mass-produce pudding didn't exist. So, a war broke out to obtain the small amount of pudding that existed.
Then, because of that war, the country was destroyed..."
"They say that because the sweet they created had destroyed their country, the confectioner sealed the remaining pudding away forever, along with its recipe."
"T-to think that there was really such a sweet as that..."
"But... for it to really be reborn now, after all this time..."
It was just a coincidence, but... have I created something terrible?
It looks great, yet somehow, I don't feel as happy now.
"Ooh... Oooh..."
Suddenly, Suguri looked as though she was in pain.
"Wha!? What's wrong, Suguri!?"
"No... No... The pudding's strange charm..."
Wow! To think it's even beating the invincible Suguri... This really
is a weapon of ultimate sweetness!
...It's not really the time to say stuff like that, though!
"Uh-oh... I think it's going to get out of control...
If it's come to this, we should throw it away, even though it's a waste."
"It came out really delicious, so it's really a shame, but just like the country that was extinguished, this city might be destroyed..."
"WAIT A SECOND!"
Just then, five shadows appeared in the kitchen!
"Hand over that pudding!"
Iru, the flatchested girl!
"Ah, there's no way that you people would truly understand the taste of that pudding, so I'll eat it for you!"
Nanako, small and cute, but a little hateful!
"Ahahah! I want to eat it, too! It looks really good."
Kae, with her nice body but sort of dense mind!
"Hey, everyone! Don't fight! Let me take care of that sweet for now."
Cool and crafty Kyoko!
"True... We have to destroy the source of this conflict...
Let's seal it deep within my stomach!"
Hey, Hime, that doesn't match your character portrayal!
Everyone's eyes are filled with a scary light...
This, too, happened because I made this pudding...
So it's come to this, huh?
I'll take responsibility for this pudding personally, and deal with it myself!
I'll use my mouth to destroy it!
...And so began another war within 'Acceleration of SUGURI', a
war over a single serving of pudding...
...
...
...
The cool wind of evening strokes my cheek.
...Ah... It's evening already.
Evening... already...
I OVERSLEPT!

Lately, I haven't been feeling very well...
The reason is simple - It's because my Bits are gone.
Originally, my body was modified to manipulate them, so when they're gone, it's like a part of my body is gone.
Well... There's no reason that I would need my Bits in my current life, though.
Even so, I just can't get used to feeling as if part of my body is missing.
Maybe that's the reason I've had such a bad temper lately.
I know I have a bad temper, but I can't suppress it. When I think about how nasty the mind can be, I realize that whenever I look in the mirror, an unexpectedly ill-tempered expression is reflected within it. I can't stand seeing it show up on my face. This bad temper is building up into an infinite loop of anger.
If this continues, then one day, I might be the girl with the most ill-tempered face in the world...
Trying to think about it as if it's happening to someone else, I wonder whether I can do anything about it.
"...My Bits aren't here, and I don't need them anymore,
I just have to get used to this situation, right?
That could take a while..."
For now, I can't stand it unless I distract myself. I'll go out for a walk.
I really don't feel like going outside when the sun is shining too brightly. Luckily, it's a perfectly cloudy day today.
"The temperature is just right, too... I wonder if this will change my mood?"
At first, everything outside was unfamiliar, so when I went for walks, it just made me tired. I've become mostly used to it now, though.
I've come to feel that the blue color of the sky is beautiful, and that the unique smell of the grass isn't too bad, either.
"I was able to get used to this, so...
Why can't I get used to the fact that my Bits are gone?"
I went out in hopes of changing my mood, but I just ended up thinking about my Bits anyway.
"Sigh... This isn't working."
In further hope of changing my mood, I find a nice spot to lay down at the base of a tree.
"Sigh... This kind of thing is nice every now and then."
A bed of grass and a pillow of tree roots.
And now, a blanket of wind.
Maybe my mood will clear up a little if I take a nap in a place like this.
Thinking this, I closed my eyes.
Lick, lick...
Huh?
Lick, lick, lick...
...Hmm...
As my conciousness wandered, I felt something strange against my cheek.
What... is this?
I turned my still-sleepy head to the side and opened my eyes just a crack.
There, I saw a furry animal.
"Naaaah!!"
Unsurprised by my scream, the animal continued to lick my face. "Hey! Cut it out, you animal!"
I jump awake and hold the animal up.
Even as I hold it, I can't figure out what it is.
"This animal is really small."
"Arf."
The animal barks.
Is this thing still just a baby?
"You just lick me and lick me. Is my face really that tasty?"
"Arf!"
The animal answers my question perfectly.
"Oh, so my face really is that good."
"But you know, my face isn't cheap enough for an animal like you to taste."
"Arf arf!"
The animal still seems to want to taste my face.
"All right, no more licking my face.
I'll give you something good instead, though."
I got a cookie out of my pocket and put it in my hand. I'm pretty sure it's a cookie made from vegetables. It should be okay for an animal to eat.
"Here, eat it."
The animal began to eat it vigorously the moment it caught sight
of it.
"So, I guess you were hungry, eh?"
"Arf!"
"Hmm... In that case, I'll give you a little more."
I break the cookie into small pieces and feed it to the animal.
The animal eats them energetically, without losing momentum. "You really do have the eating habits of an animal."
It wouldn't be fun to just leave after giving the animal some food like this, though.
"Well, in that case..."
"Here! Take this!"
I throw a piece of the cookie.
The animal chases it frantically.
"Hahah, this is great."
Next, I throw a cookie piece in a different direction.
The animal runs after it again.
Maybe this is more fun than I thought.
After a while, I'm down to just one piece of cookie. Last time, I threw it a little bit farther away.
Even so, the animal went toward the correct location.
"Animal! That's the last one.
Come back after you eat it."
"Arf!"
I was angry at first when it was licking my face, but for some reason, it was fun playing like this.
"...You seem kind of familiar to me."
"Arf."
It runs in the direction that I throw food, and it comes back when I command it to return.
...l see, it's like my Bits.
"Hey, are you always here?"
"Arf."
"Oh? Then I'll come again and bring lots of food."
Today's walk changed my mood much more than I thought.
I don't feel that nasty bad temper that's stayed on my mind for so long.
"Is it thanks to the animal... or is it thanks to the cookie?
Well, either one is fine."
I returned home and stood in front of the mirror. Today's the second day I've looked at my face.
But it looks like a different face from the one before my walk. "I wonder if I look like the cutest girl in the neighborhood right now?"
I still don't think I'm going to be able to get used to this body. Even so, now that I have a way to get rid of my bad temper, I feel like I can keep going, somehow.

We've been living on this planet for a while now.
There was a little trouble at first, like language barriers and cultural differences, so it wasn't a totally smooth ride. Everyone worked hard to become friends, though, so things got better in no time at all.
Nowadays, everyone gets along, and I'm having fun living here.
"Hey, gang! What should we do today?"
Today's a holiday, and the sun's shining brightly outside.
It's a very 'feel good' day.
On days like this, there's always lots of kids going outside to play.
At times like these, I like to join in, too, and spend the day just having fun.
"Iru, teach us another new game today!"
That's what the boys I was playing with today said to me.
I'm the one who knows the most different games out of anyone here, really.
I'm not sure if I should feel proud or a bit embarrassed.
There's not much of a difference between the two sometimes. Well, I'm happy everyone's here today, so I'll try to teach them a great game.
"Everyone understand the rules?"
"Yes! Yes!"
It feels great when I hear them respond so cheerfully.
"Okay then. I'm the monster!
Quick, hurry up and find good places to hide!
If I find you, I'll take away today's snacks!"
Today's game is 'Hide-and-Seek Gamble.'
It's a great game, and the betting aspect makes it even more fun than usual. It's just ordinary hide-and-seek besides that, but there's a lot more tension.
Today, everyone's betting their daily snacks.
I'm the monster, so if I can find all of the kids after they hide, I'll get their snacks.
If I can't find any of them, I have to give them twice as many snacks. In a nutshell, this game is truly a case of 'heaven or hell' for the kids. Not like I really plan to take their snacks away even if I win, though.
I figured it was just about time to start looking, when suddenly...
"Hey, everyone! I made cookies!"
Saki, a girl with orange hair, arrived on the field with freshly baked cookies.
"Saki's cookies!?"
The children quickly completely forgot about the game and rushed out of their carefully thought-out hiding spots, gathering around Saki.
"Wow! There's no need to rush! There's enough cookies for all of you!"
Saki looked a bit bewildered surrounded by the kids, but she happily handed out cookies one after another.
They look so happy eating their cookies.
As I watch, I can't help but sigh.
"There's no competing with those cookies..."
Maybe I was just a bit shocked at how easily the cookies stole the kids away from me. I laid down under a tree.
I realized I was holding one of Saki's cookies in my hand, sol shoved it into my mouth.
It tastes good... I guess there's no use worrying about it.
I can't help it, though... I'm jealous.
While I was chewing, my mind started to wander.
Wait a sec... I like cookies a lot. Maybe I could get to know everyone even better if I learned to make things like this? What if I could make something like this... myself...?
That's it! I've gotta make cookies, too!
I don't know the first thing about making cookies, but all I've gotta do is ask Saki. If I'm can learn to make delicious cookies, Saki will never beat me like that again!
Huh? I guess it's kinda weird to look at it like this. Still, if I'm going to be friends with everyone, I've got to hang in there!
When the next holiday arrived, I asked Saki to teach me how to make cookies.
"You want to make cookies too, Iru? Okay, sure. Let's make some together!"
Saki smiled brightly and said she'd teach me how to make them.
...But, somehow...
Making cookies was a lot harder than I imagined...
The real trouble is that making cookies involves several things I'm terrible at doing, like taking detailed measurements, or baking for a very specific amount of time.
Saki performs these tasks quickly and easily, at her own pace.
She started to leave me behind, but I did my best and didn't give up. My goal was simply to finish instead of worrying about the details.
Ultimately, the result was a mysterious gelatinous cookie...?
It's weird... We were making the same thing, but Saki ended up with cookies, while I made this jelly-like substance...
I'm not sure how this happened.
I worked hard, though, and we shouldn't waste food. I went ahead and gave it a try.
"Urgh..."
Saki didn't want to waste it either, so she brought the terrible spoon to her mouth.
"Argh..."
Our faces froze.
It was powdery, thick, and strangely warm. There was barely any sweetness at all.
To be honest, it wasn't good enough to call 'food.'
"S-Saki... I'm sorry."
"It's always like this at first. It's okay. Let's try again!"
Even with tears in her eyes, Saki smiled and cheered me up. Wow. She's so nice, even after I made her eat something so horrible.
Okay, I'm going to do as Saki says. Next time, I'll do my best to make delicious cookies for everyone!
By the way, about the, er, jelly...
Nanako ended up eating it all for us, complaining all the while.
So, on the next holiday, I stood in the kitchen, determined not to fail.
Saki said she was behind me all the way, so today, I should finally be able to make delicious cookies!
I mixed the ingredients together in the exact amounts Saki told me, at the exact speed Saki told me... Well, that's impossible, but I did my best on each task in hopes of making some good cookies, even if I wasn't as good as Saki.
"Iru, what are you doing?"
A boy was looking at me from outside the kitchen window.
"I'm kind of busy right now..."
I try to keep my eyes on the cookies as I reply.
"Hey, let's play a game!"
The boy calls out to me, sounding bored.
"I'm sorry, not today. Let's play again some other time, okay?"
I feel sorry for him, but I can't just leave. Not if I'm going to make delicious cookies.
"All right..."
The boy nodded slightly and went away from the window.
"Iru, is everything okay?"
"Right now, I just want to get this right."
I can still make that boy happy, as long as I give him a delicious cookie...

A little while later...
Somehow, I'd completed something that at least resembled normal cookies.
...Well, I used a mold, so they kept their shape.
I wonder how they taste?
Saki and I turned to each other and put a cookie in our mouths at the same time.
"This... this is..."
"A-All right!"
This time, it actually tasted like a cookie!
"Iru, you really did it!"
"Yes, I did! Saki, thank you!"
These were the kind of real cookies I couldn't have imagined making last time.
They were so normal that I doubt I really made them myself.
After all, Saki was showing me how to do everything...
"All right! This should make all of the kids happy..."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"Oh, Kyoko!?"
Suddenly, Kyoko was standing behind us, taking a cookie as she spoke.
"While you were making those cookies, the children had nothing to do," said Kyoko, chewing and talking at the same time.
"Of course they had nothing to do. The person who's best at playing games and having a good time wasn't there."
This time, it was Nanako who took a cookie from the plate.
I wasn't there... so they were bored?
I thought that if I brought them cookies, everyone would...
"Sure, they taste better compared to before, but it's best to let Saki take care of things like this."
"Everyone's good at different things.
You're good at games, and Saki is good at making cookies.
Both of these things make the children happy, so why can't we just do what we're good at?"
What I'm good at is games... and that makes the kids happy? Well, in that case...
"Furthermore, sometimes when you try too hard, it doesn't go well."
The two of them said this, taking one cookie after another.
"Kyoko, Nanako, you're eating too many! After all the work Iru did to make these for everyone..."
"No, Saki. It's okay."
I understand now... It was strange for me to think about winning or losing to cookies.
I should have just made friends with everyone in my own, fun way.
Realizing this, I could no longer keep myself still.
"I'm going to where everyone else is!"
I rushed to where everyone was at, and said I was sorry for making them wait.
"Let's play another great game today!"
If Saki brings cookies, then I'll eat them along with everyone else.
That way...
When I reached the playground, the children gathered around me, just like they did when Saki brought those cookies. "Iru, will you play with us!?"
"Sure! I'm sorry I'm so late! Let's play an amazing game today!" Hearing that, everyone's eyes began to sparkle.
Okay! I'll be together with everyone else in my own way. That way, we can be friends, and have fun together, always.

I hate the dark.
I fear the silence.
The night really is scary.
I hate it.
"Hey, you. It's noisy around here with all of your constant shouting.
Stay in that room unless I call you. Keep absolutely still, and don't say a word."
My very first order.
Orders are something you absolutely have to listen to.
The order was to stay perfectly quiet in a pitch-black room.
I really, really hated it, but I absolutely had to listen to what that guy said, so I did my best.
Sometimes my body would start shaking, but I wasn't allowed to move. I kept myself still with my own hands.
I want to talk to everyone.
I wish I could go out and play...
I figured that if I thought about fun things, it wouldn't be scary anymore. Somehow, it just made me even more scared...
I'm scared, but I can't do anything.
It's an order, so I have to do my best.
I continued to simply hug my body, trying to endure it. A lot of time passed.
The only time he let me go outside was that time he ordered me to battle with this one girl.
I went outside, and I was so happy to be able to move around... That's why I thought I could win by trying my very hardest, but the girl was very strong, and I lost.
After that, a lot of things happened.
I don't live in the same place anymore, and I made lots of friends.
The guy who ordered me around is gone, too.
I don't have to go into that room anymore.
There's both day and night at my new home on this planet. Day is so bright and warm...
Everyone works and plays during the day. It's lively and fun.
But, the night is very dark and quiet.
Nobody goes outside.
People stop moving and talking while they're inside.
It's just like it was inside of that horrible room.
The orders may be gone, but at night, I'm filled with fear. I shiver, but can't move.
My bed's soft, warm, and very nice, but my body keeps shivering. Even if I hug my pillows to keep myself from shivering, it doesn't stop until the morning arrives.
As I watch the sky fill with daylight, my body finally stops shivering, and I can sleep, even just a little.
Maybe it's because I can't get much sleep, but...
My body stays tired even after I wake up.
I guess my face might give it away.
Everyone's always worrying about me, and asking if I'm okay. It makes me a little happy.
Still, during the daytime, everything's fine.
It's bright, and so much fun!
When I'm moving around in the daylight, I forget all about how tired my body is.
That's how I'm able to hang in there day after day.
But sooner or later, day ends and night begins...
As I go to bed by myself, the time I hate has come once again.
It's scary... I hate it... I want it to stop, but the shivers won't stop. I can't speak. I can't move.
For some reason, I can't even cry if I want to.
If this keeps going, I think I may break.
Thinking about this only makes me even more scared, strengthening the shivers.
Even if I try to think about fun things, I can't think of anything. All I can do is I hold on to my bed tightly.
Just when I thought I couldn't stand the fear and sadness any longer, the door to my room slowly opened.
It opened so slowly that I couldn't hear it make a sound.
On the other side of the door was a little girl.
"Well, well. Just as I thought. It looks like you can't sleep."
"Usually, you're unbelievably noisy, but you're really quiet at night."
Nana came into the room, making cute footstep sounds as she walked to the side of the bed to get a closer look at me.
I lay still as I watch Nana, unable to speak.
"Well? Go ahead and say something."
Nana told me this, so I'll put strength into my voice and do my best.
"It's okay...? Speaking, I mean?"
It came out quietly, but somehow, I got it out.
"It gives me the creeps when you're quiet.
I know it's night right now, but...
You can talk to me, as long as you're not too noisy."
Nana said this with a gentle expression.
"Okay... Nana, why did you come here?"
When I asked this, Nana suddenly dove into my bed.
"Na... Nana?"
"I came to sleep together. It looks like you never get enough sleep, so I'll stay by your side and watch you. That way, you can sleep until morning."
Nana smiled as she said this, popping her head out from under the sheets.
"You were worried about me?"
"Of course I was! I wouldn't have come all this way in the middle of the night if I wasn't worried."
Nana let out a slight sigh, then continued talking.
"I feel miserable when you're not well.
So, I'll come every day, no matter what, until you're able to sleep properly."
"You'll come tomorrow, too!?"
My voice got a little bit too loud, since I was so happy.
"It's just like you to be kind of noisy, but could you try to restrain yourself at night?"
Nana seemed exasperated, but she still looked at me with that kind face.
"Yes. Sorry. But... can I talk to you for a little while?"
"Okay, maybe a little. I'm going to sleep as soon as I get tired."
"Ahahah!"
Just like that, after we'd talked for a little while, I suddenly realized I had stopped shivering.
When I realized it was okay to talk, my hateful feelings disappeared. When I thought about Nana staying by my side, my fear disappeared, too.
"Nana... I think I'll be able to sleep a lot today."
"Yes. Sleep a lot, and show everyone that you're okay."
"Yes... Oh, and Nana... Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Nana will come tomorrow, too.
When I think about that, the night isn't scary anymore, and I don't hate it.
It's a lot of fun, whispering to Nana in bed at night.
Just thinking about how much fun it will be, my heart warms up, like it's wrapped in a blanket.
I like this planet more than ever, now.

Recently, as I've become accustomed to the food on this planet, I've started to anticipate the search for ingredients that I've never eaten before.
"Hmm... This smells good. I wonder if it's a fruit?"
A pink and spherical fruit wrapped in soft velvet.
It's the first time I've seen something like this. "Hey, lady, that's a peach!
Don't they have peaches in space?"
"...I don't remember anything like this.
There were ingredients categorized as fruit, but this is the first time I've ever smelled anything like this."
"How does it taste?"
"Hmm, peaches... Some are better than others, but the ones we have at home are especially sweet."
I see.
If they're sweet, maybe I should try one.
The lemon I bought the other day was so sour I thought I was going to die, but judging by its smell, this peach does seem sweet.
"In that case, can I have seven?"
"Oh, you're buying a lot of them today."
"I'm thinking about eating them with my family and friends."
The clerk puts the peaches in a bag for me.
Looks like I'm done with my shopping for the day.
"Thanks, ma'am! Come again!"
"Sure. Thanks for all the information."
I gave the clerk a slight nod as I left the store.
At the house where I live, I have 4 housemates.
They're all friends that I've known for a long time.
We're not really related, but things are a bit complicated, so I decided to just tell everyone that they're my family.
"I'm home!"
"Ah, Mama Kyoko! Welcome home!"
Iru, a girl with green hair, came to greet me.
Huh?
Mama?
"Iru... Did you say 'Mama"?"
We usually call each other by our names, so why did she call me 'Mama"?
"Haha, actually...
Today, I was playing with a friend, when they asked me something.
They asked me, 'is Kyoko your mother?"
...Indeed, we do treat eachother as family in public. "Why... 'Mama?"
Do I even look old enough to have a child your age in the first place?
"Kyoko, the way you behave is just like a mother."
Nanako had suddenly appeared behind Iru and joined the conversation.
The way I behave?
"Do I really do such motherly things?"
"Well, you do things like buying groceries and doing the laundry,
so... Maybe you do act motherly."
Indeed, I'm the one that does the shopping and the laundry, but...
"Hmm...I wonder if it's a good thing to seem like the mom..."
I didn't really expect that I looked so old.
"Hmm. It's not a big deal, is it?"
"Kyoko, you seem like the reliable one who takes care of things." "Yes. Well, maybe you don't like looking so old, but when I think about your role in this house, you're definitely the mom."
...I was starting to get the picture after Iru's comments, but Nanako's words were starting to make me a bit angry.
"Nanako... Shouldn't you learn how to put things a little bit more delicately?"
"Hmm... Statements like that are just another part of what's so motherly about you."
"Heheh, I guess that's true."
...I hadn't exactly noticed it, but do I really behave just like a mom? "Well, whatever."
"I bought peaches today."
I gave the bag of peaches to Iru as I said this.
"Wow, these smell great!"
"Hmm, the other day they were so sour, they weren't edible, but this time they look okay."
"There aren't any for you, Nanako."
"Huh? Hey, why not!?"
Nanako stares at me, looking like she might cry.
I was just being a little nasty to get her back at her for what she said...
"If I'm the mom, then Nanako is the bad-mouthed baby!"
"Hmph!"
"Hahah, it's really true!"
Nanako's eyes are full of tears.
She's usually kind of hateful, but it's things like this that make her seem cute.
"Iru, could you please ask Saki to cut the peaches?"
"Okay!"
"And Nanako, stop crying."
"...I'm not crying!"
Nanako wipes her eyes.
"Okay then. Nanako, go and get Kae... Suguri and Hime, too.
...If you bring them over, I'll let you have some, too."
"Okay, fine."
She's just like a child, listening obediently the moment food's at stake.
I think it's something worth smiling about, but Nanako would hate it if I mentioned it, so I'll let it go.
Okay, I'll make the tea for now.
I heard from the clerk that if we put those lemons in the tea, it'll taste good.
...But, if I'm the mom, then Kae would be the older sister, and next would be Saki... Nanako would be third, and then the older brother would be...
No, Iru would be the second sister.
Then, I guess that guy would be the dad?
...I wouldn't enjoy having a husband like him.
...Besides, if he was the dad, wouldn't I be one of the daughters?
I don't want to be thought of as the mom in public, either, so I'll tell Iru later...
That I'm the big sister.