Mochizou was running. He didn't know why or what for, except that the girl he loved was dragging him along and he had no reason to refuse. To be completely honest, he wasn't even really thinking about what he was doing right now. His brain had stopped registering much else after their lips had touched in that dark alleyway.

He really meant what he said; he didn't know what came over him. After such a long day, he had wanted nothing more than to touch her. It sounded like a pervert's comment, he realised, but at that moment, his will had been weak. How ironic that after years of patience, all it took was a few hours for him to completely lose himself to her, dignity and all.

And that kiss! If he had the sense at the time to pick a better location, he would have. Preferably one where they weren't ten feet away from a dumpster. All those picture perfect moments he'd dreamt up over the years, shattered in a few quick minutes.

But he couldn't wind back time. That would be moment of his first kiss, forever now. In fact, a part of him was still convinced he was deluding himself and that this was all a dream. But it seemed like it really did happen. And oh lord, he wanted to do it again.

Not right now, though. They were still running and… why were they running again?

At that thought, the world around him quieted into a hush. He started to realise how unusually still the shopping district was tonight, even after a busy day like Mochi Day. Almost all the shops' lights were out, and nobody was walking around. Even Tama-ya's was eerily quiet, and so was… his?

He looked on, perplexed, as Tamako led him right to his front door. She opened it slightly before pushing him through the entrance, then everything happened at once.

"Surprise! Happy birthday, Mochizou!" A chorus of cheers greeted his ears while sounds of confetti poppers went off beside him.

He blinked slowly. For a moment, he was speechless. In the darkness, his eyes began to register the faces of everyone he knew and loved. So many people from the shopping district, and right in the centre, there were his parents. Their faces were illuminated by a few candles on – what else could it be? – a mochi-shaped cake.

He pointed at it, still in a daze. "Is this… for me?"

Laughter echoed through the small crowd that had gathered. His father laughed the loudest. "If it's not for you, son, then who else could it be for?"

Mochizou grinned and blushed at the same time. He locked eyes with his mother, who gestured to the cake. "If you don't blow them out soon, the candles are going to eat the cake instead." She smiled back at him. "Make a wish."

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, he leaned closer to the light. He stared at the dancing flame, trying to find a wish to make before he felt Tamako's hand, still warm in his.

He closed his eyes then, and blew the candles out. He didn't have to think so hard; he already had everything he could possibly wish for.

It had been a long day, so nobody stayed for long. He couldn't blame them. With all the adrenaline finally beginning to leave his system, his own body felt like it was about to give out.

After bidding good night to the last guest, Mochizou began to make the climb up to his room, but not before catching his mother in the kitchen, still cleaning up the last few plates. "Let me do it, mum." he offered, coming up behind her. She stepped aside gratefully, leaning against the counter to watch him work instead.

For awhile, the only sounds were the water slushing in the sink and glass clinking. Mother and son stood in the kitchen, both quiet and tired, but content. "So, whose idea was it?" Mochizou asked after awhile, glancing at her.

After a moment's hesitation, she replied. "Well, it was mine, but Tamako helped."

"Oh." he answered quietly, unable to keep a smile from forming on his lips. He decided, instead, to focus on cleaning off a particularly stubborn stain. He didn't catch, or perhaps chose to ignore, his mother's amused glances.

"I assume… I made the right decision to send Tamako to find you, after all?" she probed.

Immediately, he let a plate slip, making a loud clank. They make eye contact before Mochizou broke contact, choosing to examine the plate in false concern. "Well, it's not broken." he murmured to himself.

"You can't hide from your mother forever, Mochizou."

They relapsed back into silence; him beginning to arrange the plates neatly to dry, while his mother stood in silence, unwilling to give way until she got a reply. After stacking the last plate, he finally looked at her pleadingly. "M-maybe we can talk about this tomorrow?" he offered, inching his way out of the kitchen as he spoke.

His mother tapped the imaginary clock on her wrist. "Well, according to my clock, it already is tomorrow."

Suddenly, Mochizou felt a pair of arms circle his waist and lift him back into the kitchen. He yelled in shock, struggling for a moment before realising it was futile; his father may be older, but he had strength and physique that easily doubled his son's.

"So, what is this confession that I hear is about to happen?" the older man asked, finally putting the struggling birthday boy down. He positioned himself in the middle of the kitchen entrance, leaving his son to lose all hope in ever escaping his devious parents' grasp. Meanwhile, Gohei Ooji winked at his wife in triumph.

Mochizou groaned audibly. Trust his parents to come up with some weird plan like this. Did he even have a choice in this family?

He pulled out the nearest chair and slumped in it decidedly. "What do you want to know?" he asked, hugging the back of the chair in protection.

Without hesitating, his father brought up one hand. "Well, a few things. (1) Whether you and Tamako are dating, (2) How far you two have gone behind our backs, (3) When you're deciding to get married, (4) Whether you'll inherit our store or that idiot Mamedai—"

"Honey, stop." Mochizou's mother interrupted. "Look, you're going to kill him before he can answer anything." She gestured at her son, practically melting in his seat out of embarrassment.

"I'll… I'll only answer the first question." He managed to get out. All the adrenaline from earlier was already beginning to rush back into his body. "The answer…" he paused for dramatic effect, watching both his parents' eyes on him, "… is yes."

He stood up, immediately bolting out of the kitchen as his parents faltered from his unexpectedly direct, but unsurprising answer. He managed to make it up to his room before his parents could follow up on questions 2, 3, and 4, but not before hearing an exchange of high fives and 'I told you so's occur.

With the door firmly closed between them, Mochizou collapsed onto his bed panting heavily. He wondered if it was too rude of him to excuse himself like that, but then remembered what question 2 was going to be. At that, he felt some energy spring back into him, but this time, for the wrong reasons.

He groaned, burying his face in his pillow. The sound of his heart was deafeningly loud now that he was finally alone. Yet, despite it all, he couldn't stop smiling. "What a birthday." he mumbled.

That night, Tamako had a weird dream. She dreamt she was tiny, no bigger than the size of a mochi. She could tell as much because she was standing right in front of Anko's sleeping face. Her eyes, nose, and everything else, which was usually so small, had suddenly grown way bigger.

Tamako felt like, if she wasn't careful, Anko could easily roll over and squash her without noticing. She didn't know why she even had the thought, but it made her feel wary.

As her sister breathed in and out, she felt the air around her swirl. The dress she was wearing – was it white? – shifted against her thighs. She didn't even know she was ticklish there, but she needed to move or Anko had to stop.

She tapped her sister on the nose. It couldn't have caused more than a small itch, yet it caused the larger girl to wake up. Tamako was so startled, she fell on her behind. Meanwhile, Anko looked at her as if a miniature Tamako was the most natural thing in the world.

"Good morning, little sister." she said. The words sounded weird coming from her mouth; Tamako didn't respond.

"You're quiet today. What's wrong?" she asked. She waited for a moment, but seeing there was no response, she placed her palms out towards Tamako. The small girl found herself climbing on instinctively.

The next thing she knows, they're facing a dresser. One far fancier and far more… pink than the one she knew in real life. There, Anko began to pull open drawer after drawer. Tamako took a peek at their contents but all she saw were pencils and brushes.

She continued watching as Anko began to methodically use them on her face. Her hands were practiced and swift, but Tamako felt weird. Even in her dream, the things she wore looked out of place. Like a small child trying to dress up like her mother.

"How do I look?" she asked, leaning down to let the smaller one see. The latter nodded silently and Anko seemed satisfied enough. "That's good. I'm going for a date with _ today, y'see. I really want him to like me."

_? Where has she heard that name before? Tamako didn't know how to respond to that.

Meanwhile, Anko was already beginning to pack up. "I'm sorry I can't listen to your troubles today, little sister." she said, patting the little girl's head with her finger. "Hopefully when I'm back from my date, you'll be ready to share with me."

All of a sudden, someone began to knock at the door. "Oh no, he's here!" she exclaimed, softly but urgently. She quickly pulled open a drawer and dropped Tamako in it. "Stay here, I'll let you out once he's gone." she instructed.

Tamako wobbled on her feet as the floor beneath her shifted and her surroundings vanished into darkness.

She heard Anko's voice and another man's voice. Was it her father? She tried to go closer to the source of the sound to get a better listen, but kept tripping over things on the way. First it was something round and then something else with corners; it was too dark to tell.

Until, a shadow left and revealed a slit of light that Anko must have left for her. The light was dim, but it was just enough to make out two round spheres that glinted pink and blue.

Tamako felt her heart jolt, but she wasn't sure why. Without any other objective in place, she felt drawn to the mysterious orbs. Stumbling, making her way towards them, Anko's and the man's voice also increased in volume. Then the latter stopped talking.

She felt the floor beneath her shift again. She tripped, this time catapulting her towards the two beads. She felt her head come into contact with one of them, and she felt herself disappear.

"Where are you, little sister?" Anko asked. Her voice sounded distant now. Tamako could hear the sound of her rummaging through her drawer.

"I don't know, Anko." she replied for the first time. Her voice sounded weirdly airy to her ears. "Where am I?"

Tamako waited, but there was no answer.

A/N: I promised I would be back before 6 months, and here I am! I feel like my writing style changes every time I sit down and write a new chapter. Sigh, consistency is not my forte. Still hope you like this chapter, though! Next one should be out sometime early January. Until then, my lovelies (hearts)