Work Text:
“Nahida, you do understand that you need to discuss this with me first, right?”
“I know, but I think you’d agree, Mother.”
Rukkhadevata knows that her daughter, who’s helping her around in the daycare in leisure time, has a penchant for getting attached to any kids she plays with. Unlike her, Nahida is somehow becoming a walking encyclopedia for kids without Rukkhadevata knowing. Sometimes when they’re having dinner, Nahida will then talk to her about ‘Child A’ and ‘Child B’ like she knows everything about their families.
Nahida may look small, almost comparable to any older elementary school kid, but she is already in high school—and she doesn’t mind if the kids in the daycare think of her as a friend rather than a caretaker. And Nahida really does a good job at it.
Okay, that’s not important now. Back to the real matter at hand.
Long story short, Nahida did it again, getting attached—but this time, it is worse as it is that particular child that she claims to be her new younger brother.
The said boy, Kunikuzushi, looks around in confusion.
“Uh, sorry, Big Teacher, I don’t think Miss Nahida understands that I don’t wanna be her brother-”
‘Big Teacher’ is a form of endearment there to Rukkhadevata in the Daena Daycare, as there is the ‘Small Teacher’, which is her own daughter in the scene. Some kids can’t distinguish age yet so Rukkhadevata normalizes everyone to call her as Big Teacher and Nahida as Small Teacher, or ‘Teacher’, if they are unsure to call Nahida by her name.
“But Kunikuzushi-kun! We’ve agreed to it!” Nahida speaks in an accent as she calls the boy’s name in full, along with the honorific. Rukkhadevata smiles, thinking how Nahida learns so fast about every kids, but more importantly-
“D-Don’t call me by that name! Just call me Raiden!”
“Oh, oh my, what happened here, Madam Owner, and Miss Nahida? Did Kuni get into a fight?”
And, speaking of the devil, Kunikuzushi’s mom, Raiden Ei, is already here to fetch her boy.
Ei is one of many single mothers out there who rely on the daycare center as she is tied up with her own job. Raising kids all on your own has always been a challenge, a challenge that Rukkhadevata experienced well. She opens this daycare with that mindset, to help fellow struggling mothers in need of a place to keep their children safe and well-cared, also to make sure that the children are not lonely.
“Ah, you don’t need to call me Madam Owner, Miss Raiden, just Rukkha is fine.” she smiles apologetically. “And no, Kunikuzushi is not fighting, rather, um, how should I put this?”
Rukkhadevata flashes a pleading look to her daughter, who somehow doesn’t take a hint.
“I claimed Kunikuzushi-kun as my brother from now on.”
Ei blinks. Rukkhadevata can merely smile. She picks up Kunikuzushi from Nahida’s grasp, then turns back to Ei, who’s equally dumbfounded as she is.
“Sorry for the misunderstanding, Miss Raiden, as you can see, I guess my daughter has a soft spot with your son that she wants to adopt him.”
Rukkhadevata doesn’t know if that can suffice as an on-the-spot explanation, but Ei somehow laughs, merrily so. Rukkhadevata can’t help but to think if she says something wrong, but then Ei says, “Then does that mean Kunikuzushi is always welcome here under your care?”
Her smile is so blinding that Rukkhadevata almost forgets herself. “Yes he does, of course.”
“Um, Mother?” Kunikuzushi looks over at his mother worriedly, but the latter merely ruffles his hair in affection.
“Well, then. It’s getting late so I’ll see you tomorrow, Madam Owner and Miss Nahida.”
As both Nahida and Rukkhadevata wave the two goodbye, Rukkhadevata wonders whether Ei takes it as a jest, or she thinks of something else—just like she does.
Rukkhadevata does talk to Ei often as Kunikuzushi is one of the children who’d be picked up late, and their relationship is basically that, a caretaker owner and a customer, nothing more than that.
While it is undeniable that Ei is a lovely woman, and Rukkhadevata enjoys their momentary conversation whenever Ei comes to pick her son, the way Nahida proposes to adopt Kunikuzushi out of blue struck her in a myriad of ways.
A few days after that, Ei still comes at her usual time to pick Kunikuzushi as usual. As that day is Friday, Ei comes bearing gifts.
At first, Rukkhadevata rejects it. There’s no need for additional gifts outside the daycare fee policy and things like that, but at one time, Nahida insists that her mother at least takes it. Ei also says that she wants to show her appreciation for Rukkhadevata to be a kind caretaker to Kunikuzushi, thus the gifts.
Eventually as Rukkhadevata accepts it, Ei frequents it almost every Friday so that somehow it becomes a routine.
“Good work today, Miss Raiden.” Rukkhadevata bows as she welcomes Ei to the daycare lobby. She can see Ei hides something behind her, but from where she stands, she can’t see what it is.
“Good work to you as well, Madam Owner.”
“My, how many times must I tell you to just call me Rukkha?”
Ei laughs, “Well, you also never call me by my first name so aren’t we even?”
Rukkhadevata pretends that she doesn’t hear that and shrugs, “Oh, Kunikuzushi is still doing his homework with Nahida, they will come here when it’s done.”
“Alright then,” Ei steps closer to Rukkhadevata, though still minding their distance. “I’m sorry that I have yet to finish the book you lent me last week.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay, Miss Raiden. I know how busy you are. We can discuss it any other time.”
Rukkhadevata realizes that Ei is slightly antsy today, perhaps she is in a hurry that she shifts her weight from foot to foot as she glances over the wall clock?
“How about …” Ei ponders for a bit. Rukkhadevata tilts her head questioningly. She, however, doesn’t expect when Ei thrusts a bouquet of flowers right in front of her face.
It is a rather clumsy move that they end up bumping each other in the head as Rukkhadevata pulls away in surprise and Ei loses her balance. But they manage to keep their ground, and the flowers are okay. Rukkhadevata opens her mouth, Ei looks up, blinking owlishly as they both pause, looking at each other, and then to the flower bouquet.
“Oh, uh, how about we—we discuss the parts I’ve read over dinner, is what I was about to say.”
It’s Rukkhadevata’s turn to blink, then she turns her head around, finding Ei is only talking to her and the bouquet is meant for her. Heat rises to her cheeks, and suddenly she feels awfully self-conscious as Ei starts to toy at a few petals on the bouquet.
“Is, is it a no?”
“Right,” Rukkhadevata breathes. She takes Ei’s hand, albeit shakily, and clasps it together. “Right. Sorry. It’s—I mean, it’s okay. Like, not sorry because I don’t want to. I mean. We can. We can go for dinner.”
. . .
Not far from the two (oblivious) lovebirds, two pairs of eyes spied them from the study room window.
The said homework is actually already done half an hour ago but Nahida tells Kunikuzushi to wait for a bit as their moms are talking. When Ei finally gives the flower, Nahida squeals, while the boy in bowl-cut hair facepalms.
“Hm, so that’s what you’re aiming…”
“They’re cute, right, Kunikuzushi-kun?”
“I … don’t think I’d call Mother cute, but…” he ponders as he follows Nahida’s trail of gaze. For once, her composed mother looks like a lovestruck young girl in a cheap B movie he ever watched. He cringes at the image, though she can agree with what Nahida is saying. “I think they’re okay?”
Nahida’s grin is wide, “Well, I guess you have to prepare from now on in case you’re going to be my little brother for real.”
“... Wait, what?”