"It is scheduled for demolition..." said the headmistress with a sullen smile.
"Oh no..."
(The orphanage will be demolished?!)
We sat there in silence by this shocking revelation.
(Can I do something?! What can I do?!)
While I beat myself up thinking of a way I can save the orphanage. Tegemi breaks the silence.
"If this place the orphanage closes, what will happen to the children?!"
(Tegemi...)
This is the first time I've seen her in such a somber expression.
When hearing this, the headmistress is having a hard time answering Tegemi's question.
"They'll transfer to another facility...but it'll be difficult to get everybody to the same place, eventually the children will be split up to different ones..."
"The children will be separated..."
I gaze at the children playing outside.
(Being separated not from adoption but from this place closing...)
When I think about the children's feelings...my heart crumbles.
As I do, the headmistress speaks cheerfully, to break the overly gloomy atmosphere.
"But...be strong!"
"The date that this orphanage closes hasn't been determined."
"It may be several months hence, or even years."
"I-I see..." said Tegemi with a dim light of hope shone in her face.
"Yes, for a while..."
"While it last we may find a way for the children to stay together."
The headmistress encourages us, but Tegemi and Yomiko's expression hasn't clear up.
(I have to do something...)
Gazing at the pair in concern...finally, the headmistress murmurs.
"I'm sorry, for telling you so suddenly."
"But, since you have all been taking of the kids, I wanted to let you know."
"You don't need to apologize headmistress, thank you for telling us." Said Yomiko. With a sullen smile.
And then they cast down their eyes with sadness...
(I definitely need to do something...)
(I'll definitely won't allow this place to close down, I've done it before! I'll definitely won't allow it, and I don't need to tell them that I'll do something about this.)
On the way home...
Tegemi and Yomiko are seating on the backseat silently while were driving home.
I speak up, timidly.
"Umm, both of you, about the orphanage..."
"About that Mina." said Tegemi perked up.
"Huh?"
"You said something about some loan sharks when you asked the headmistress if they're involved what do you mean by that?"
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you that as well,"
(Well it seems the cats out of the bag might as well tell them.)
"I...uh, let's just say the organization that I belong to help pay-up the orphanage depths at that time." (I can't possibly tell them about the Oni gang.)
"Oh..." Tegemi said and seems not convinced by my story.
"Really?" doubted Yomiko.
"Well anyway, I've done it before I can promise you i'll do everything that I can to help the orphanage once more."
"Y-yeah, right!"
"Thanks. Mina."
(they still don't seem to believe me, that's okay I guess...)
They give small smiles...but they both return immediately to their baffled expressions.
(They won't cheer up at all I guess that's normal.)
(They must be thinking how to help the orphanage as well...)
And so, even after returning to the Famille'.
At dinner.
"Wow! Tonight's dinner looks good! Bon appetite!" said Miyoko cheerfully as she gobbles up her meal.
But...
"Yuu, Tegemi, what is it? You guys seem down ever since you return from the orphanage..." asked Rei worriedly.
"Oh..."
"It's just...some stuff happened there."
They said.
"Some stuff?" wondered Raika.
Realizing there was no use hiding it...
They begin to trickle out information about today's events.
"N-No way!"
"The orphanage...is closing!"
Seeing the concern on everyone's' faces, Kasumi and Rei rush a bit.
"B-But, the day it closes still isn't set." Cleared Yomiko,
"That's right, we'll find a way to protect the facility before then, so don't worry." Assures Tegemi.
"But, we can't just not worry...it's the kids we're talking about." Said Raika.
"We'll also look for ways for the children to stay together." Said Miyoko.
"Thanks guys."
Even after talking to the Famille' members, Yuu and Tegemi seems to be worried stiff.
When we finished our dinner I went out the Famille' balcony holding my phone contemplating on making a call...
Then...
(I think it's time for me to call in another owed favor...)
I dialed the number that I thought I will never call again...
"Hey...it's me, about the favor you owe me; I think it's time for me to cash in on that..."
Some days later...
I'm preparing to go help out at the orphanage, like always.
(Yomiko and Tegemi both have work today and can't come huh...)
(Well that's understandable since they'd been skipping time from work just to help out.)
(It's just me today again huh...)
When...
"Mina, are you going to the orphanage?" asked Rei standing near the kitchen door.
"We'll go with you, today." Said Raika.
"Huh?"
As I look back the Famille' members come up in succession.
"We couldn't go before, but today we can." Said Kasumi.
"And...Yuu and Tegemi, have been down since yesterday, right?"
"Maybe if we go to the orphanage, we can find a way to cheer them up!" cheered Miyoko.
"I see...Thanks!"
And so...
With different members than usual, we arrive at the orphanage.
"Good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon! Mina. Oh my...today looks a bit lively." Greeted the headmistress.
"We all live in the same house with Tegemi and Mina." replied Raika.
"We've come to help out today!" said Miyoko.
"Thank you everyone, we need all the help we can get."
As we entered the facility.
"Oni-chan!!!"
We were greeted by Ryo and Kyo the hyper active twins.
"Oh! You guys!"
Then the other children come pitter-pattering up and surround me.
"Whoa! Someone's popular here!" teased Miyoko.
"Ahahaha, they all looked at me as a cannon fodder I wouldn't call it popularity."
"Oh just like how I treat you at home." She replied.
"Shut up, Miyoko."
As I say this, the children glance around curiously...
"Huh? Where's Oneechan big and Oneechan small?"
"Oneechan big and small?" wondered Kasumi.
"They meant Tegemi and Yuu..." I explained.
"Oh their height!" said Kasumi with an awkward smile.
"No! Tegemi Oneechan have big racks while Yomiko Oneechan had small ones." Said Ryo.
"Racks?!" wondered Rei confusedly.
Meanwhile Raika and Miyoko are holding out their laughter and Kasumi is glaring at me intensely.
"Mina! what are you teaching to these kids?" asked Kasumi.
"I'm not teaching them anything..." (damn those kids.)
"Err, those two have some work to do." I said evading the topic.
"Huh? They're not coming?" asked Kyo.
"When we were finally, going to invite them to camp~" said young Aki.
"Huh? A camp." Wondered Rei.
As we cock our heads, Keita nods energetically.
"This weekend, everybody going to camp!"
"And, see! The headmistress said we could ask you guys to come, too!"
At those words, we exchange unconscious glances.
"Going camping with all the kids."
(That's it!)