2023, October 24, 21:36.

  Minosashi was laying on the bed in his room. He slowly raised up from his bed, moving toward the shelves in his room. His childhood toys, different story books about famous samurai and fairytales. He picked up one of the Ronin figures on the left, his favorite figure and toy that he used to play with. Its features were filled with dust over years of his absence in home. A dual katana wielder like him.

  "I remember you perfectly... The figure I built my swordmastery over. Miyamoto Musashi..." Minosashi whispered.

  All of a sudden, a small wooden piece hit his head. He glanced up to the roof of his room, witnessing the wooden panels broken and rusted through years.

  "and here I thought I'm the one getting old... Ahahah!"

  As he was looking at his shelves, his eye glimpsed at his childhood glass. A glass with multiple labels of samurai and anime on it. He lifted it up to take a careful look. But unlike anything in the shelve, it was clean, as if it has been taken care of daily.

  Minosashi : my favorite glass! I used to drink a lot of tea in it!... Wait It's... It's still clean!?

  A happy sobbing tear escaped his eyes which he swept away quickly with the sleeve of his shirt.

  "mom... You... You kept it clean... All these times?" he whispered quietly to himself.

  Akemi : Mino? I'm coming in. Are you awake?

  She slowly opened the door, the sound of its hinges annoying the ear.

  Akemi : I brought some fruits! Good to eat them before night!

  She put the tray with different fruits in it on his bed and sat down beside him.

  Minosashi : mom... Don't tire yourself. You already worked a lot today! No need to do anything for me...

  Akemi's eyes swept on the glass in his hand and softly smiled.

  "I kept it clean for when you return" A brief silence

  "Tea is almost ready! I'll bring it for you now!" Akemi said with joy.

  Minosashi : mom come on! I can bring it myself! I'm not three years old anymore to burn myself while pouring tea!

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  Akemi's posture softened as she heard the memory.

  "you are always a child in my eyes Mino... Every time you laugh, smile, frown, any! Any form of emotion I see... Reminds me of..."

  Minosashi continued her words : my childhood... I know. But lets... Lets Just sit like this for a while?

  Akemi hugged Minosashi tightly.

  "like this... Okay...?" her voice trembled as if the hug was the most hopeful, yet fragile thing in the world...

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  2023, October 25, 13:53.

  Akemi : Mino!! Bring the ice tea to table number six, bring the Cappuccino to table number two, coffee to table eleven!

  Minosashi : on it mother!

  Minosashi's hybrid nature allowed him to move flawlessly without a second thought. Giving every customer what they need as soon as their drink was ready. The name "Minosashi" was spreading fast in their quarter.

  Many people came to just see the impossible. The invisible server of coffee in the Amanokaze Cafe.

  "sir! Here you go your..." he raised an eyebrow the moment he saw the young man.

  The man : yo! This is insane! I never believed that such thing is possible! You...

  He cut his words the moment he saw Minosashi.

  Minosashi : you are that bitch in the street?!

  The man : you are that cosplayer I saw last week!?

  Akemi : hey hey! You two! Easy there! Minosashi! Don't use those words in my Cafe!

  Minosashi jumped as if he had been electrocuted. A shiver run through his body as he jumped up when his mother called him.

  "YES!!" he shouted and gave the man his green tea; running toward the ledger to deliver more drink to customers.

  Once he arrived behind the ledger, he glanced at the amount of orders.

  "mom... Why so much...?" he groaned.

  Akemi laughed : haha! Says the so called "unnatural human" of my Cafe! Half of our customers are new since you showed up! They just come to see you bring their orders!

  Minosashi frowned : whatever... Let's just get over with it... I want to spend more time with you than the cups...

  Akemi : Hey! Before bringing the rest put the dirty cups in dishwasher!

  Minosashi : YES MOM! At your orders!

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  2023, 25 October, 20:33.

  After the long day, Minosashi and Akemi were sitting in his bedroom. Tired of all the work, his mother was laying on Minosashi's bed as he was sitting on the ground, cleaning his figures.

  "mother, there is... Something that... I want to tell you." he said while putting back a cleaned figure in the shelf.

  Akemi : Oh!? What is it?

  Minosashi : I.. I don't know how to say it...

  Akemi's voice softened : let me guess... New figures? You've been cleaning them all day.

  "No... I'm... Mom I'm not a child anymore!" his cheeks flushed a faint pink.

  "Hmm... Not figures... Then a new anime serious!?" her voice suddenly jumped high in excitement.

  "N-No! I mean! Yes! But... Not now..." his voice suddenly dropped.

  "Well well... If it isn't anime or figures... IT SHOULD BE A LOVER!!" she screamed in joy, clapping her hands as she sat on the bed.

  "NO absolutely not!" Minosashi's face turned a bright red in embarrassment.

  Akemi lied down on the bed again.

  Akemi : alright, I give up. Tell me.

  Minosashi's fists clinched in anger and sorrow. He bit his lips, trying to reclaim his calmness. A futile attempt in the ocean of emotions.

  Minosashi looked down, unable to create eye contact with his mother.

  "I'm... I'm preparing to... Leave."

  Akemi's whole world seemed to crumble by those words. Tears already were visible in her eyes.

  "Wh-What...?" her voice was barley a whisper. Drained of all emotions but sadness.

  "I.. I have to..." his fists clinched even harder. His nails digging into his palm as tears also made shape in his eyes.

  Akemi : You... You don't have to Mino... We... We can live quietly here... No need to...

  Minosashi cut her words : mother... I've found the monster who killed my father.

  Akemi's head snapped up. She looked at Minosashi as if she had seen a ghost, not a son. The face of Tokimo, the man who left her behind was blurring the face of her son.

  "your father...? Tokimo...?"

  Minosashi : yes... And for facing the one who killed him, I need to get stronger... I will avenge his death...

  Akemi's tears fell down freely. She didn't even bother to stop them. She just looked at her son. A broken plea in her eyes.

  "So you came here... for a goodbye... In the first place..."

  Minosashi looked at his mother, seeing her face, he stood up, trying his best to clam her down, only for his own tears to fall a moment later.

  "mom Don't... Don't cry... Please... I'm sorry"

  Akemi : at least... Promise me that... you will return...

  Minosashi's knees gave way. He fell in his mother's arm and burst into tears. His shoulders shaking in his sobs... A broken mother and a broken son, both sides, unable to talk in the overwhelming grief...