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My name is Tsutsuji. I'm 55 years old, and not ashamed to admit it."Aunt Tsutsuji, I want cookies!" My 7-year old niece, Akane, was tugging on my skirt while I was sitting in the living room. I was babysitting her for the day, which I was always happy to do.I rubbed Akane's head. "After dinner. You can have cookies after dinner."Akane puffed her cheeks. "But I want cookies now." After a few seconds, Akane relaxed and sat next to me. "Why are you my aunt, anyway? We're not related, are we?" Ah, she found out. I figured Akane would realize it one day, that we weren't blood relatives. Or relatives at all. I was really just an honorary aunt, but I still saw Akane and her mom as real as my real family.I smiled. "Well, Akane, since you brought it up, I suppose it's time you heard the story."Akane grew a cat smile. "And then can I have cookies?"I laughed a little. "If you behave." Akane looked attentive.*********My name is Tsutsuji. I'm 20 years old, and it felt good to be a bona fide adult!"I'm Sora!" Sora exclaimed to me. We were best friends, so of course I knew who she was, but she still liked saying it. I just laughed. She was silly like that.We had just finished our university classes for the summer, and now we were on break. "Do you have any plans?"Sora looked down, and pressed her pointer fingers together. "I do, but I actually have a big favor to ask." Sora bowed up and down furiously. "I'll pay you!"I was scratching my head. "What did you want?""Well, you know my pen pal, Karin?" Sora had a nervous smile, still pressing her fingers together."I've heard you talk about her sometimes. She seems like a nice person." Sora's talked about Karin before. Apparently she's pretty headstrong, but has a strong sense of justice and doing what's right, and just a fun person to be around in general.Sora nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, she was going to come visit, and I was going to pick her up, but my parents are having relatives come over, and they insist I be there. I couldn't get out of it. So I was hoping you could pick Karin up from the airport and entertain her until I can get out of there?" Sora then took out a large stack of bills. "Please, I'll treat you!"I smiled, and gently pushed the money back. "It's OK. We have to do what we have to do."Sora bowed to me, again trying to hand me money. "At least let me pay for gas!"I smiled nervously and accepted the money Sora was giving to me. "OK, but really, it's OK. As much as you've talked about Karin, I look forward to meeting her."Sora glomped me. "Oh thank you thank you thank you!"***I was at the airport, holding a sign reading "Karin." Sora showed me a picture, to give me an idea of what she looked like. She had short black hair, but the picture was a few years old, so there was no telling how much it would look like Karin today.The plane seemed a little late, but eventually landed. There were a lot of young adults with black hair of various lengths, but none of them noticed me. I was sure one of them would eventually, and someone did, but not who I was expecting."I'm sorry, are you Tsukushi?" a woman with medium length light blue hair was asking me. She looked pretty different from the picture, and her skin wasn't pale like it was in the picture. But again, it was an older picture. "I was supposed to be picked up by someone named Tsukushi. Is that you?"I smiled nervously. "I'm Tsutsuji, actually. I assume you're Karin."The woman nervously rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I guess I misheard your name, but yes, I am Karin!" Karin winked at me. "It's nice to meet you, Tsuku... Tsutsuji!"I smiled back. "Thank you. Your hair is nice. It matches your friend!"Karin fluffed her hair. "She's told me that before, too." Karin put two fingers in a V-shape over her eye. "We're bonded by our blue hair!" Karin then laughed and her her hand on my shoulder, which made me a little uncomfortable. "And you have a blue shirt, so that's close enough, you're in too, Tsutsuji!" I was a little nervous, but she did seem to be trying to make me feel comfortable around her. I did appreciate that.I was looking to Karin. "I'm sorry that Sora is busy with family matters right now." Karin looked a bit confused. I guess Sora didn't tell her all the details. "But if you like, I can take you out, show you around today."Karin nodded. "Thank you. As long as we can get to Yuzuriha's house tonight." Yuzuriha? I wasn't sure who that was. I guess a friend of Sora? Maybe family? I guess I could always ask Sora later.We walked over to get Karin's luggage. "I can carry this for you." I was trying to pick up... five, six, seven different suitcases, having some trouble.Karin laughed, then picked up six of them. "Just one is fine. I can get the rest, but thank you for trying!" Yeah, just one was a lot easier. I was surprised Karin had so many suitcases. From the way Sora described her, she didn't seem like she'd have brought this much stuff. Then again, Sora did tell me Karin was pretty strong, and she certain proved that! Karin really was... no, snap out of it, Tsutsuji.***Karin was riding in my car, as we were headed to my home city, and Sora's home city. "So, how much is gas, anyway?" Karin was looking through her wallet. "Is ten thousand yen good? I'm really not sure how much gas is."I was focused on the read, but it was a nice gesture, if a bit much. "Thank you, but it's not that much, really.""Well, please, take the rest as a thank you, giving up your day for me, and for our friend.""Thank you." Karin was pretty easy to talk to. I could see how she and Sora got along. "I can't wait for you to meet Sora!"Karin nodded. "If she's a friend of yours, I'm sure she's wonderful." Well, she's a friend of both of us. I guess it felt awkward for Karin since they haven't met in person, though.I was trying to think of someplace we could eat. There was the Pink Café, but that was more Sora's place, and it might be a place Sora wanted to go with Karin herself. There was the Kuro Diner that I enjoyed, but Sora didn't care much for the place... yes, I could take her there!***"Welcome to the Kuro Diner!" One of the owners greeted us with a huge smile. "I know you've been here before, but I don't recognize your friend. I'm Kuroha, and that's Kuroki in the back, and we're eager to serve you two!" I'd tell Kuroha she could tone it down for me--I knew she was uncomfortable being this peppy--but I'm sure she wanted to make a good impression for my guest.We took a seat in a booth, and Kuroha handed us our menus, then walked away. "Kuroki, no, what are you doing?!" I could hear Kuroha yelling in the back. So much for making a good impression for Karin. I never really knew what those two ever argued about, but the food was really good.Karin looked excited and placed her hands on the table. "So, what's the story? How did you two become friends, anyway? I'm sorry if this comes across as rude, but you don't seem like the kind of person she would be friends with." Karin nervously sweat and waved her hands in front of her face. "Not that that's a bad thing! You really seem nice!""Oh, no, no, it's OK! There were some bullies who picked on her, but she always stood in opposition of them, regardless of how often she got pushed back down. I really admired her for that. I wish I could've helped her directly, but I was still willing to be her friend when no one else would." I was hiding behind my hands now. "It was really scary, too. But I did it, and we've been good friends ever since!"Karin looked down. "She was bullied? I didn't know. I really need to apologize to her."I reached out across the table to hold Karin's hands. "It's OK now. And it's not like you bullied her."Karin looked away. "I may not have bullied Yuzuriha, but I certain did bully someone else." I wanted to ask who Yuzuriha was, but Karin continued her story too quickly for me to ask. "I went to a prestigious high school with my best friend, Erika." Karin turned away, looking down. "We really weren't the best people."I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"Karin turned her head back toward me, though her eyes were still looking away. "There was this girl, Kanade, who we bullied a lot. She was poor, and an idiot, and she always tried to steal the hottest guy in the school from us.""She tried to steal your boyfriends?"Karin gritted her teeth. "Well, no. He didn't belong to either of us. It's more that Kanade's natural air-headedness attracted this guy to her, but really, she wasn't doing anything wrong. Erika and I were just jealous, and were pretty cruel toward her." Karin had a nervous smile and waved her hands in front of her face again. "I mean, Erika was worse than me, but that's still no excuse. Kanade was such a sweet, friendly girl, and I wish I could apologize."I was a little nervous. "Did something happen to Kanade?"Karin's eyes went wide, then she laughed nervously. "Oh, no, nothing like that! I just haven't seen her since high school. I've heard she's going out with the guy Erika and I were after, though. Honestly, good for her. I hope she's doing well."I really was surprised. Sora's never mentioned anything like this to me. Sora said she was keen on justice and doing what's right, but she never mentioned what caused Karin to change. Maybe she didn't want to tell me because Kanade reminded her of me?"Honestly, you remind me of Kanade." Karin was crying a little. "You seem really sweet, maybe a bit of a push over, but you're a good person. Probably better than I am."I smiled bright. "People can change, right? If you want to change, you can change! We can all change!"Karin laughed a bit, and wiped a tear from her eye. "You really are too pure, Tsutsuji. You probably shouldn't hang with any of us, we're going to corrupt that purity.""Sora will protect me!"Karin laughed again. "I bet Sora will." Karin looked up. "I do want to do better, though. I actually want to become a teacher. I want to make up for the way I treated Kanade, make sure no one else has to go through what we put her through." Karin looked down, shaking her head. "Maybe I don't deserve that. I'm not sure I'm a very good person, still. I may not be bullying anyone anymore, but I'm still doing things I'm not exactly proud of."I tilted my head. "Do you want to talk about it?" Karin shook her head."Order up!" Kuroha put curry in front of me and Karin.Karin raised a finger. "I didn't actually order yet, though."Kuroha winked. "it's what Tsutsuji always gets, just thought you might like it too.""I still would've liked to have decided on something myself. I mean, what if I don't like this?" Karin took a bite, and for a small moment, she looked in pure bliss, before putting on a serious face. "This is acceptable. I'll eat this." Kuroha chuckled as she walked back.I smiled bright as I started to eat. "Really is good, isn't it!"***Karin and I had fun the rest of the day. We went to see the new "MQN on Elm Street" movie, which we were both into--Karin was actually more scared than I was, though!""I may never eat mochi again," Karin said, as we exited the theater, then immediately perked up at the sight of a food stand. "Ooh, strawberry daifuku! I'll take three!" Karin handed 300 yen to the mochi who was manning the stand."Thank you!" the mochi said. I guess Karin got over that fast! I spotted a pay phone nearby, and thought it'd be good to call Sora.******"Aunt Tsutsuji, this story's too silly!" Akane puffed her cheeks. "That's totally unrealistic, there's no such thing!"I blinked, a bit confused, but then I understood. "Oh, you mean the mochi? I can assure you that--"Akane rolled her eyes. "Not that, Aunt Tsutsuji, the pay phone! What the heck is a pay phone?"Oh, that. "Well, back when everyone lived in caves, we didn't have phones you could carry around like today. No, you used to have to go home to call someone, or use a random telephone on the sidewalk called a pay phone to call someone.""Ohhhh." Akane tilted her head and looked at me like I was growing a second head out of my neck. Either way, she wasn't questioning the pay phone anymore, so I could continue with the story.******"Hello, Sora, it's me, Tsutsuji!" I was on the vintage caveman pay phone, talking to Sora on the other end. "I'm glad I could catch you.""I'm sorry, I'm busy still, so I can't talk long." I could hear complaining in the background on Sora's end. I felt bad for her, and hoped we could all meet up soon.I continued talking on the phone. "Anyway, I've picked up Karin, and she's been great! Would you like to talk to her for a bit?""Oh, yes, please!" I handed the phone to Karin."Hello, this is Sora?" Karin asked. "Tsutsuji's told me a lot about you, and she's got me excited to meet you, too!""It's nice to hear your voice!" Sora exclaimed. The phone was really loud, apparently. "I may not be able to see you yet, but I can finally put a voice to the name!"Karin looked puzzled, but continued talking. "Well, I look forward to meeting you, Sora. Maybe we can all meet with Yuzuriha later!" Did Sora know Yuzuriha?"Who's Yuzuriha?" Sora asked. OK, Sora had no idea, either. That was the six million yen question: who was Yuzuriha?Karin was smiling. "She's a good friend, the main reason I came here today, to meet up with her!""...oh." Sora sounded dejected. "I... guess."Karin looked confused. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?""No, no, everything's good!" I could hear Sora pretending that everyone was OK, but I knew she was hurt. It was probably a misunderstanding, right? Karin didn't hurt Sora on purpose, right? Karin came to see Yuzuriha, but thought it would be nice to visit Sora while was was here, but Sora misunderstood and thought that seeing her was the main reason for the trip? That was it, right? I hope?Karin looked nervous. "I'm sorry! I messed up, didn't I? If you're a friend of Tsutsuji, I'd like to meet you!""What."I grabbed the phone from Karin. "Look, Sora, I'm really sorry. I'll try to work things out on my end, but I'm sure Karin really wants to see you. Ha. Ha." Tsutsuji, you didn't help with that pitiful laugh."OK," Sora said. "I'll talk later, I guess.""Goodbye." I hung up the phone and took a deep breath. I then turned to Karin. "Karin, I think you hurt Sora." I nervously waved my hands in front of my face. "Not on purpose! But I think Sora thought the main purpose of this trip was to see her."Karin shrugged, but looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry? I'm sorry I accidentally gave that impression. But I really would like to meet Sora."I smiled. "It's OK. Sora's good at bouncing back, so she'll be all right!" I hope.Karin smiled bright. "I hope so. I don't want to have hurt her."***Karin and I did a few more activities. We went to the arcade, which Karin felt was a bit childish, but we still had fun. We played some tennis, and she obliterated me! I was not the most athletic person, but it was still fun, if not a little tiring. But then came the time.Karin looked at her phone. "Yuzuriha's ready for us! You know the area, you can lead the way."I smiled nervously. "Can you tell me her address? I kind of need that."Karin blinked, then laughed. "Ah, I didn't realize you didn't know it, just assumed you did." Karin told me the address, and we headed right over. It wasn't hard to find, I pass by the area sometimes."It looks really nice," I said. It was a large house and looked beautiful."Come on!" Karin took my hand and led me to the entrance, and rang the doorbell. The door opened and in the entrance stood a rather striking woman with blue hair and a braid on her right side. Was this Yuzuriha?Karin bowed. "Yuzuriha. It's nice to meet you in person."Yuzuriha bowed in return. "Thank you." Yuzuriha turned to me. "My my, you're a cute one."I had to have been blushing something fierce. It felt like it, at least. "Thank you."Yuzuriha led the two of us in, and her home was as lovely on the inside as it was on the outside. It looked like a nice party she had planned, with snacks laid out. There were other girls here, but I didn't really know who anyone was, so I felt a little uncomfortable, and stuck by Karin's side.Karin looked around and laughed a bit. "So, Yuzu, when are the guys showing up?"Yuzuriha smiled. "They're coming." Wait, didn't Karin say she had a boyfriend? Why was she looking forward to the guys showing up?"Um, Karin?" I didn't want to be loud, but I did want to clear this up. Maybe I was missing something. "Didn't you say you had a boyfriend?"Karin blinked, then laughed a bit. "Oh, it's OK, he doesn't have to know. What happens at Yuzuriha's stays at Yuzuriha's." Karin winked at me. "Unless I decide to trade up!"Whaaaaat? "What?"Karin had an uneasy smile. "You know, the party, hooking up with a guy, maybe just for one night, maybe for keeps, it's fun either way!"Whaaaaat? "You mean we're cheating?"Karin looked confused. "Well, yeah, didn't you know? You're good friends with Yuzuriha, right?" Karin suddenly had a light bulb over her head, one that looked oddly like a mochi. "Oh, I get it, Yuzuriha didn't tell you because she was protecting you. I'm sorry you found out."I tried not to cry. "Does Sora know about this?"Karin looked even more confused. "I doubt Sora knows.""But you've been friends for years. You've never talked to Sora about this?"Karin was smiling nervously. "I'm sorry, but I've never talked to Sora before today. I'm not sure why you thought we knew each other. There's some sort of misunderstanding here, and I'm sorry.""But Sora told me to pick you up at the airport and that you've been writing to each other for over a decade.""Wait." A woman in a black dress with long straight black hair approached us, putting her finger on my head, pointing. "Is this girl for real?" The woman started laughed. "OMG, you're for real, aren't you! You came to this party, and you didn't even realize what it was? That's hilarious!" OK, now I was starting to cry.Karin pushed herself between me and the other woman. "Tsutsuji's done nothing wrong, so how about leaving her alone?"The woman rolled her eyes. "She's a goody-goody loser and she shouldn't be here! Like there's no way Yuzuriha invited HER!" The woman spit on me. Because I wouldn't cheat on my boyfriend... not that I had a boyfriend, but I wouldn't cheat, anyway!"Look." Karin was getting angry, and getting quieter, surprisingly. "Tsutsuji's a good person. She might be a so-called 'goody-goody,' but she's a genuinely nice, caring person, and she doesn't deserve your attitude." Thank you. I mean, I still don't approve of you cheating on your boyfriend, but thank you, still."Oh, just get out!" The woman was about to hit me, but Karin tackled her and started hitting her."Pow pow pow! Pow pow pow!" Karin said with each slap.Yuzuriha looked surprised. "Karin? Riko? What's going on here?""They attacked me!" The woman, I assume Riko, pointed to Karin, and me actually. "I just said that this judgmental creep didn't belong here, and they attacked me!"Yuzuriha blinked. "Judgmental creep?"I bowed furiously. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what this party was!" And I definitely wouldn't have approved, but I don't think I insulted anyone out loud, did I?Karin put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Yuzuriha. Tsutsuji didn't know what we were doing here, and she was caught off guard. Is it OK if I come back later? I really need to leave with Tsutsuji now."Riko was jumping up and down. "Yes! Yes! Kick them both out!"Yuzuriha crossed her arms over her chest, wearing a smug grin. "I think I'll be kicking you out instead." Yuzuriha then pounced on Riko, hitting her while saying "pow pow pow! Pow pow pow!" They really like narrating their violent sound effects here! Yuzuriha then threw Riko out of her home, like literally. It looked like she was thrown through the door of the Pink Café, which was several blocks away, how strong is Yuzuriha?Yuzuriha squatted a bit. "I'm sorry, Tsutsuji, it seems like you didn't know what you were getting into here. But I did hear you didn't have a boyfriend. If that also means you don't have a girlfriend, I'd be interested." I mean, Yuzuriha was surprisingly forthright, and she was beautiful, but... wait."Do you have a boyfriend?"Yuzuriha sighed. "Husband. I suppose you aren't interested then. You really are a good kid." The doorbell then rang. "Excuse me, please." Yuzuriha went to open the front door. "Hello Tsukushi. And hello... I'm sorry, I don't know your name.""I'm Karin. Did I just see a woman fly out of this door?" Karin looked a little freaked out by Riko getting thrown across town, I... wait.Karin?"Karin?!" I called out.The girl I assume was named Tsukushi spoke up. "See Karin, someone here does know you! You were worried for nothing.""Karin!" I rushed over to her, touching my pointer fingers together, a girl with short black hair, who looked a lot like the picture Sora had shown me. "By any chance, do you have a friend named Sora?""Yes!" Karin looked both relieved and exhausted. "I came here to see Sora, but Tsukushi didn't know what I was talking about."Tsukushi sighed. "I'm sorry, OK? I'm sorry you came to me at the airport. I was looking for Karin!""Wait, wait wait wait." Karin, well, blue-haired Karin, walked up from behind, pointing to Tsukushi. "You're Tsukushi." Karin hit her fist into the palm of her other hand. "So I did have the name right!" Yeah, I'm going to call blue-haired Karin Karin A and black-haired Karin Karin B, or I'm going to get confused!Karin B pointed to Karin A. "Wait, are you Tsutsuji?"I raised my hand. "Actually, I'm Tsutsuji. I think me and Tsukushi both picked up the wrong person at the airport."Karin B sighed. "I'd say that's a safe bet."Karin A bowed to Karin B. "I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. When I heard Tsutsuji's name, I had assumed I heard her name wrong." Karin A put her hands on my shoulders. "But I can assure you that Tsutsuji is an amazing person, and I would love to get to know her better." Karin A smiled. "If it's OK with you, I mean. I'd really like to keep in touch, Tsutsuji."I was still concerned about Karin A coming to this party, but I really did get along with her. I really did want to keep in touch with her. At worst, we'd grow apart, or at best, I could have a great friend. I smiled. "I'd like that, too." I then turned to Karin B. "And as Sora's friend, I hope to get to know you better, too."Tsukushi clasped her hands together. "And maybe we could get along, too!"Karin B's eyes went wide. "What?! No! I've been telling you all day I wanted to talk to Sora, and you've been ignoring me, not caring about what I wanted!"Tsukushi started crying and collapsed. "I've been trying hard to be a good person, but I can't make her happy." Tsukushi looked around. "So, are the guys here yet?"Yuzuriha smiled, looking past the rest of us. I turned around and saw a bus. "They have arrived," Yuzuriha said, nodding.Tsukushi popped right back up. "Well, I'm going in. Karin, you're more than welcome to join me."Karin B sighed. "You can go in without me."Karin A looked to me. "Tsutsuji, if you want to go with this Karin, I'll stay, but if you aren't comfortable, I know you two just met and all, I'll leave with you."I started tearing up a bit. "Karin, thank you. I trust Karin, but I'm worried about you, Karin. I mean, you Karin, blue Karin, this is confusing me! But is this really what you want to do? Cheat on your boyfriend for a one-night stand?"Karin A rubbed her chin. "I might meet the love of my life." Karin continued looking at me, then hugged me. "I'm sorry. I'm not a good person, but you know, it hurts me seeing you get hurt." Karin A let go, and was crying. "I've already hurt one pure-hearted girl enough for one lifetime. I don't want to do it again. I feel like I'm hurting you, and I don't want to do that."I smiled, though I was still crying a little. "It's for your sake. I want you to be better for yourself."Karin A hugged me again. "You're too pure.""Wait." Karin B lifted a finger. "So other Karin, you were planning on coming to this... cheating party in the first place?"Karin A let go, looking embarrassed. "I changed my mind." Karin A turned to Yuzuriha. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave."Yuzuriha smiled. "I understand. I am disappointed Tsutsuji won't be staying, but I understand. This isn't for everyone." It really shouldn't be for anyone.Karin A smiled. "Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?"Yuzuriha continued smiling. "I would like that. We're still friends, after all." I wasn't sure Yuzuriha was a good influence on Karin A, but I guess people don't change overnight. Still, it was a step in the right direction for Karin.I turned to Karin B. "I'm sorry I picked up the wrong Karin at the airport. But Karin, well, that Karin, she's really not a bad person. I hope you two can get along!"Karin B looked unsure. "I'll try. I guess she's putting you before this depraved party, though, so that's a good start."I smiled. "Thank you."***"Karin!" Sora ran up to Karin B and glomped her."Sora!" Karin B hugged Sora back. It was hard to believe this was the first time the two of them had met in person.Karin A waved a nervous wave to Sora. "So you're Sora. I'm sorry for my rudeness on the phone." Karin A put a hand behind her head. "I didn't realize we were supposed to already be friends. Gotta' say, I like your hair. Big fan of that color."Sora turned to Karin A and smiled. "I heard everything from Tsutsuji. I'm proud of you for not going to that awful party!" I almost wish I could be that blunt, but I guess my attitude is what made Karin A want to be better.The four of us had gone to the Pink Café together, where one of the windows was boarded up. We sat at a booth by a different window. "Welcome." Hisame, one of the owners, welcomed us. "I'm sorry if I'm a bit off today, but one of our employees, you know Ruka, right?"I hid my face behind my hands. "I know her."Sora shivered for a moment. "What did she do now?"Hisame nervously rubbed her forehead. "Well, apparently, somehow, someone wound up in her iron maiden last night, and she's been laughing like a hyena all morning." Ah, that must be Riko. I didn't like her, but I wasn't sure she deserved that."Should we try to get her out?"Hisame was twiddling her fingers nervously. "Well, I wouldn't recommend that. Ruka might get upset, and you know Ruka, don't want to get on her bad side.""We really shouldn't allow it." Yuri, peeked her head from the back. "We should call the police, not allow... this!"Ruka then popped her head from the back as well. "You can call the police if I get to choose which police we call!" Ruka then popped back into the back room, laughing maniacally.Yuri followed her. "We're not calling Asami!"Hisame smiled nervously. "Let's pretend none of that happened! Now, what can I get for you four?""Cupcakes!" Sora really liked her cupcakes."I'll go and get those for you." Hisame walked away.Karin B laughed. "It's really great to finally get all this straightened out. It's too bad I didn't run into you yesterday, Tsutsuji."Karin A blushed, and nervously rubbed her arm. "I actually think this may have for the best. As much as I was looking forward to that party, maybe it's for the best I didn't cheat on my boyfriend." Karin A put her arm around me. "And I made what I hope to be a very good friend." I blushed. "Yuzuriha and I made plans for tonight, plans that don't involve men, just the two of us for a night out!"Karin B raised an eyebrow. "I'm still not sure she's someone you should be friends with."Sora smiled nervously. "Yuzuriha doesn't sound like a great person."I smiled lightly. "Maybe, maybe not. She was supportive of me last night. Maybe there's good in her. Maybe Karin's seen another side to her."Karin A smiled. "Tsutsuji, she invited you to come, too. She promised nothing bad, just the three of us having a fun night, nothing illegal or morally questionable.""Oh!" I must've blushed something fierce. I tried to awkwardly hide my face behind my hands again. The others were just laughing at me.*********Back in the present, Akane tilted her head. "So that's how you and Grandma became friends?"I smiled at Akane. "Best friends. Your Grandmother and her boyfriend didn't work out, it turned out he was cheating on her, but she found another man, a man she stayed loyal to. And they had your mother, and your mother had you!" I booped Akane's nose, and she giggled.Akane looked like she was wondering someone. "Whatever happened to that mean lady, Riko? Is she still in that abandoned building that was the Pink Café?"I laughed. "No, the police came and picked her up, though ironically, they carried her away in the iron maiden." I shrugged. "Go figure."And at that moment, Akane's grandmother, Karin, and her mother, Onpu, had arrived. Karin named Onpu in part for Kanade, since she apparently looked a lot like Kanade. Karin wanted to stick with the musical theme in wanting to do better by Kanade. And Onpu really is the sweetest thing, and the smartest, the girl is an absolute genius! Akane may not be a genius like her mother, but she's special in her own way."You two are just in time for dinner." I smiled at Akane. "And cookies, you can have cookies after dinner." I then turned to Onpu. "You can also have cookies after dinner."Onpu hugged me. "Thank you, Aunt Tsutsuji!"Karin laughed. "Genius she may be, she's still a kid at heart." Onpu stuck her tongue out at her mother."We ran into Yuzuriha today." Onpu looked annoyed. "I can't believe you two are friends with her."Karin had a comforting smile. "She really helped out Aunt Tsutsuji when she needed it." Yeah, it surprised me, too. Yuzuriha got divorced from her husband shortly after, with him finding about about her multiple affairs, but she really had become a better person in the decades after. She has a bit of a thing for me. Nothing's ever come of us, and she's always respected that, but she really did want to be someone I could be proud of. First Karin, then Yuzuriha, I didn't know how I had that effect on others!I'm still friends with Sora and Karin, well, Karin B, as well. We don't live close, but I still talk to them regularly. They've got their own lives, though, and Karin, I mean, Karin A lives close, and we see each other a lot still.If nothing else, Karin and Onpu both feel that I'm a good influence on Akane, and I love looking after her, so if I can influence Akane to grow up to be a good person, I'll do what I can. In the end, Akane is family. Karin, Onpu, Akane, they're all my family, and I love them.