"Yuzuru, what is a life?" my little friend asks in a timid tone. Her shy smile flashes with curiosity. She is indeed a curious child that wishes to know many things. So I return the smile, urging Kanade to come closer. She obeys as she walks towards to my side and takes the empty space next to me on the wooden sofa. "Why you ask?" I question, ruffling her hair. She blinks at me before she answers, "Well... I just wonder-...you know? Ermmm..." she blushes and I chortle.

"Okay then. Let's have a walk and I'll tell you what is life." I take her hand. She takes mine and we walk side by side. Once we're out of our home, I drag her to the nearby children playground. "Life is-" I point my index finger to the group of kids playing together, "-when people are spending time together even though they do not know some of the people they are with." Kanade nods, but looking confused.

I add, "Life is a mother's love for her child. Life is when people talk to each other. Life is when you realize you are late for school. Life is when you look at your friends and feel jealous of them. Life is when you sit on the chair and watch television."

I stay quiet for a few seconds. Kanade keeps staring at me and the glint in her scarlet eyes is not asking for me to stop but to continue. Because she wants to know more and because she finds my view regarding life is very amusing. Still, I humor her. "Life is whenever you feel anxious. Life is when you're jumping up and down in bliss. Life is whenever you tell your parents you love them. Life is whenever you pick a fight with your family. Life is when you feel sad or vice-versa. Life is whenever we pray to the Dragon King."

I feel Kanade releases her grip from my hand. She has a huge smile on her face while she hops right in front of me. I smile back at her. Really, I can't help but to feel the light feelings emitting from her to be contagious. "Life is when I get to eat Yuzuru's Mapo Tofu!" she exclaims cheerfully. I laugh. Then her squeaky expression diminishes, replaces by crestfallen look. She looks at me halfheartedly.

"Is it life when we feel alone and sad?" she asks. Yes Kanade, yes; Life is many, many things. I bend down to her height level. I wink my eye at her and she giggles. "Life is when you give up fighting back. Life is when a father hurts his children. Life is when we run out of hope. Life is when we cry and no one is there to comfort us. Life is when we hit someone and don't feel remorse for it. Life is when parents file a divorce and shatter their child's happiness. Life is when a beggar begs for a small piece of bread. And my Life is..."

I press forward, kissing Kanade's forehead. "...is all about you."

"Me?" she jabs her chest with her tiny finger. "Yes. Life is you. Life is human. Life is all of it. Life is many."

She shakes her head up and down in awe, completely enjoying the small conversation. "Life is..." I take a deep breath, and thought as I speak. "Life is when people choose suicide. Life is when people die for their country. Life is when bad guys attack defenseless people. Life is when... a man robs a woman's virtue. Life is when people kill people. Life is part of death and death is part of life. So live your life to the fullest." I tell her. Kanade bites the inside of her cheeks while she plays with her hands.

"Ermm..." she starts, fidgeting on the spot she's standing. She seems to want to tell me something but hesitation makes her waver. I quirk a brow at her. "What is it?"

"My Life is whenever I'm with you!" she chuckles and jumps into my arms. I'm a bit taken aback at first but in the end I succumb into her warm embrace. "Yeah. My Life is having you around." I respond. We go back home together. Yuri and the others are standing by the door, waiting for us with an affectionate spark in their eyes, Yuri's arms open wide as she welcomes us home.

This is life too. Everything is life.