Playing Pretend

Prologue

{4 Minutes - 800 Words}

"Ahmya,"

You and your mother stared at one another. Yours are filled with confusion, while hers are filled with fear.

You don't know an Ahmya. You know Kotori, your sister. And Hiroki, your dad. You only know your dad's name because he came into your life a few years ago, but has since become your father figure.

"Ahmyyaa," the man sings, closing the front door behind him. "You seemed to make yourself a happy family now," you hear him walk through the living room. "Why don't I meet them? Tell them the truth,"

Your mother doesn't move, though tears begin to fall down her face. Her breathing quickens, and the man downstairs begins to chuckle.

"Little Y/n and Kotori should get to know their little brother. I adopted him a little while ago, they should get to meet, no?" He stops at the end of the staircase.

He's at the bottom while you're at the top.

Your mother has gone into a full-blown panic attack. She's pulling at the roots of her hair while breathing rapidly. She loses balance and smacks her back on the wall, slowly going down. You stare at the man, still curious as to why he's making her have this reaction. She never acts like this. She's calm and collected, but when she isn't, she never cries and breathes so rapidly.

"Who are you?" Your seven-year-old, small voice asks.

Your mother grabs onto your wrist then. "I'm sorry," she says, panicked and desperate. "For everything, I didn't mean it. Mummy loves you, okay? Repeat it, say it to me!" She yells.

The man starts walking up the stairs slowly, staring at you intently.

When you look at him, she squeezes your wrist tighter. "Repeat it to me. Mummy loves you! So, so, so much!" She yells and places her hands on your face to force you to look at her.

You place your hands over her wrists, and she desperately waits for your reply. "I know you love me, why wouldn't you?"

The man is two steps below the two of you. He isn't staring at either of you, but the two people in the room behind you. He takes a deep, long breath. "You did a number on them, didn't you?" He turns to your mother.

She doesn't look at him and just pulls you into a hug. "Thank you, baby, thank you so much," she whispers.

The man pulls her off of you gently, and she doesn't even protest. He kneels in front of you and strokes your face gently. "What happened?" He asks, nodding his head to the two dead people behind you.

You turn to see what he's on about, and you remember what was happening before the man said your mother's name. You turn back to him. "It was my fault." You say, your voice airy and quiet, but with no sadness to the tone, just shame.

He nods slowly. "And you said they'd be better off without me." He says quietly, turning to your quiet and dead-looking mother. He smiles in a way that he's telling her, 'I told you so', and turns back to you. "How would you like to come live with me for a while?" He asks. You try to turn to your mother for her answer, but he pushes your face lightly back at him. "We could get ice cream on the way, we can try all the flavours you'd like?"

Your eyes light up. "Really?!" You yell out of excitement.

He nods. "Of course. How about you go downstairs and wait with Tomura for me?"

You furrow your eyebrows. "Tomura?" You question, cocking your head to the side.

"Tomura. Your new brother."

Your eyes light up once more. "I've always wanted a brother!" You yell, running down the stairs to meet him.

You missed the devilish smirk and the kiss on the forehead he gave your mother before crushing her head while you rushed down the stairs to start your new life.

***

I definitely didn't rewrite this entire thing (which was 28 chapters long and took me two years to write because of writer's block) because I hated the writing and certain aspects of it... I also started writing this story in October 2021, and I started rewriting it in October 2025. As I'm writing this, it's 12/12/2025 (the day before the last episode is out, which will destroy me), so I figured I should finish this before I turn 18 (which is in just over 3 months) since I've been writing it since I was 13.. sooo. Also, if you ever read the original version, I am so very sorry for the mischaracterisation of everyone and the immense trauma I put Y/n through, which was just not needed.

Anywayyy, hope you enjoy :)

I'll also be publishing every Sunday, if I can. I am in my last year of college for Art & Design + making a portfolio for a tattoo apprenticeship for when I'm out of education (fucking finally, hate it here), so I am a busy person... when I actually do my work, but not the point. 

So just expect a chapter every Sunday!