Chapter Text
"Breakfast- ah!" Calli was calling out for her seven year old daughter, but accidentally got caught off guard when the oil from her cooking decided to kiss her skin.
"Hot! Hot! Geezz…" She wiped her skin to soothe the pain.
"Mom, you alright?" Emerging out of her bedroom, Clara Mori walked up to her mother. "I thought we agreed I'll be making breakfast."
Despite being seven, she took the frying pan from her hand and lowered the flame. The egg's sizzling grew less and less.
Calli had no choice but to watch in awe as her daughter took her supposed motherly role: cooking their breakfast.
"Aren't you a little young to know this stuff, hinotori?" Calli placed her hand on the little girl's head, messing up her newly combed hair.
"Mom!" The little girl shrieked as she smacked away her mother's hand while grabbing a clean plate. She carefully transferred the sunny side up eggs from the pan to the plate.
"Breakfast is served!" Clara cheered as she placed their meal for today. Calli supported the confidence her little girl showed by clapping and giving her compliments.
"Oh my little girl is now growing up!" The older Mori faked crying as she wrapped her arms around Clara. The younger Mori tried to escape from her mother’s grasp, but she was too strong.
She’d gotten used to her mother’s clinginess: she was her precious baby girl after all. “Mom, don’t you have work today?” Calli’s face changed drastically. “OH SHIT! You’re right!” She started to panic. She looked at her meal and the clock, debating whether she would risk being late at work by eating, or just go with an empty stomach.
"Mom, go prepare. I'll make you a packed meal."
"Thank you, Hinotori! I promise to have dinner with you." And her mom went back to her room to fix her stuff and clothes.
Clara, on the other hand, fixed her mother's packed lunch. Despite her young age, she learned how to take care of herself. For lack of better words, her mom doesn't have the maternal capability when it comes to her daughter. But she tried, she tried so hard.
She loved her mother despite her flaws.
"Clara! I'm heading out!" Calli called out as she was about to leave. Her daughter grabbed the packed lunch and gave it to her mom before she set out.
"Mom! Your lunch!"
"Ah! Thank you, Clara! I'll text Gura to come by and take you to school." Clara nodded as she watched her mother leaving in her motorcycle.
Following her was a family of three bringing their kid to school. They didn't have a vehicle, assuming the school was just nearby.
“That seems nice,” was all Clara thought.
It's her turn to prepare; She washed her face and started packing her things. She placed all of her school supplies in her new backpack her mom bought for her. Calli spoiled her only daughter so much to the point Clara couldn't say no.
"I'm heading out!" She said as she started heading to school.
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Young Mori likes to read. Every time she would have a vacant period, she would head to the library to read children’s books.
Today was no exception. She had two hours of free time since the teacher was absent, and Gura couldn't fetch her until two hours later. So she trotted towards the library. Along the way, she saw other kids being picked up by their parents.
"Mom! Mama! I wanna eat pizza!"
"Yes yes my dear. Calm down."
"Listen to Mama. Or else she’s gonna be angry!"
Overheard the family of three, Clara felt envious. She wanted to hang out with her mother but she's always busy. She shook her head; No! She mustn't be envious. She must be a good little girl. Once she cleared her mind, she proceeded her way to the library.
"Hello, Clara!" The librarian greeted her cheerfully.
"Hello Miss! How has your day been?"
"I'm doing well my dear. There's a new story book available right now." Excitedly, Clara thanked the librarian and headed to the kid's section.
She scanned all of the books for the new ones. Then she found it. It was a new story book with an orange phoenix on the cover. Her face changed drastically as she excitedly took it off the shelf. Clara rushed back to the librarian to take the book home.
"Oh! I see you already found it."
"Yeah! It's something I haven't read yet." Clara patiently waited until the librarian finished recording the book number.
"Just don't forget to return it next week."
"Yes!" She started placing the book in her bag. She looked at her watch before looking back at the librarian. "Can I read the book now and still return it next week?"
"Of course dear! I'll call you if Gura or your mom arrives."
Clara situated herself in the big comfy chair. She examined the book's cover and back cover. The title wasn't that extravagant, only the word Phoenix in big orange bold letters. She opened the book and started reading it.
It follows:
Once there was a family of two— a father and a son. The family just lost a family member and had a hard time dealing with loss. The son, not accepting his mother's death, would throw tantrums while the poor father remained, unable to juggle the household chores and his job by himself
One day, the son had enough and tried to run away from home. He missed his mother so much and believed she’d come back and take him with her. However, before he could leave, he was visited by a big orange bird.
"What does it take for you to not leave your father?" the bird spoke.
"I just want to see my mother again." the boy cried.
"I will answer your wishes. Your mother will stay with your family during the rainy season. Yet, she has to leave once the sun shines."
And just like that, the next day his mother came back, the dad was startled that his late wife was brought back to life. After explaining the conditions to the father, he wasted no time and planned out a family trip for the three to bond and have fun.
The little boy was happy to see his mother and father happy again.
Unfortunately, the rainy season had stopped and the mom had to leave. She bid farewell to her family and flew away, taking the form of the orange bird.
Ever since that day, the boy learned to appreciate what he had left. The father became much happier after spending the past months with his wife. The two learned to accept her death and move on with their life.
"Huh, this story… is weird." Clara said to herself. Compared to the other books she read, this story's plot and theme was complicated for her to understand: Why did the boy wish for his dead mom? Why weren't they sad when the mom left? Why is this story in the kid's section?
"Clara?" She heard the librarian calling her. "Gura is here!" Clara ran towards Gura and gave her a big hug.
"Hey there little chump! Ready to head home?" The little girl nodded and the two headed home ,but not before noticing her fellow classmates with their complete families.
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"How's school, Clara?" Calli said as she served her daughter a dinner she attempted to cook. It was a little burnt but the little girl didn't mind it. Rather, she had something else on her mind.
"It's… fine." Clara answered in a monotone voice.
Silence. It has never been quiet, especially during dinner time. Clara would occasionally talk about her day and the books she read in the library.
"Clara? You alright… You've been quiet." The older Mori stood up from her chair and sat next to the gloomy girl.
"Dad." Whenever Clara dropped the 'Dad' title towards Calli, she meant serious business. The older one prepared herself for whatever her daughter's question was.
"I'm happy that you're my dad. But don't you have a partner? Like a mom?"
The older girl didn't open her mouth. How could she explain to her daughter that she will never be getting a partner, not after-
"And both parents would fetch their kids at school and they'd go to eat pizza… It's not fair."
"Clara- '' Calli tried to calm her daughter but Clara stormed off to her room. "Ah… that girl.." She sighed and started cleaning up after the meal.
Meanwhile, little Clara was crying against the pillow. She doesn't understand why. She tried to be a good little girl, but why couldn't she get another maternal figure or at least her dad to spend time with her?
Her crying was paused when she felt strong winds blowing against her curtains. On the other side of the window stood a big orange phoenix. It's wings were flapping slowly as it sat outside of the Mori residences
'It's the same orange bird in the story book!'
"Dear mortal child, I am a phoenix who has the capability to answer any wishes. For you who have read a book that dated back in nineteen hundreds. I can only grant one wish, which can last the entire rainy season. "
The phoenix spoke which caught the little girl off guard. She had so many wishes in mind, but if this bird can only answer one that can only mean—
"I want to have a mama that would spend time with me and my mom."
"Your wish is my command, Clara Mori."
And just like that, the big orange bird disappeared without a trace.
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In her room, Calli slumped on her bed. Another tiring day. Being a single mother sucks.
She loves her daughter but juggling her and her job took a huge toll on her endurance and health. Remembering she had to drink her medicine, she grabbed her pill in one of her drawers on her bedside table.
She gulped down one pill, disgusted by the taste. She then noticed a polaroid photo of her during her high school year.
"Man, It's been so long huh, Kiara?" Calli pulled the picture out of her drawer. “If you were able to see me now, I bet you would be disappointed in me."
[End of Chapter 1]