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"Please Juro-kun… can you show me my old home?"
Ayame Park was peaceful at sunset. Keitaro had suggested it to Tamao, and she hoped it would feel like home. The simulation was slowly coming together again. Since the 1980s were all that was left, it was the only location restored for now. Tamao knew it wasn't real, but after hearing about the 80s from everyone else, she was still excited to see it for herself. But now, sitting on this bench with Juro, she only wanted to be one place.
"Of course, Tamao-san. Follow me." Juro offered his hand, pulled her up from the bench, and started to lead her the way that she had walked thousands of times before.
---
Tamao lived her entire life in this house. Chihiro, Keitaro, and Takatoshi all spent so much time there, and it was as much a part of Tamao as her own body.
But when she arrived, it all felt… wrong. Sure, the smell was the same, nostalgically so. The pine mixed with the smell of fresh cooking was unmistakable to Tamao. It still had the same layout, the chabudai was in the same spot, right near the shoji. The kitchen had not moved, nor had the lighting fixture. But the modern appliances and the city skyline just served to remind her that it wasn't her house.
"Juro-kun… thank you. It's so strange, seeing it with a, um…"
"Television?"
"Yes, that."
"Yeah, I guess it would be newer than what you're used to. I've watched a lot of my kaiju movies on this very TV."
Juro walked over to the TV, and gave it a smile. Tamao was shocked to see such nostalgia for a little picture box, but she had to keep reminding herself that his life was so different from hers. As soon as Juro was away from her, she felt alone again, cosmically alone, as she had been after her… well, death.
"Juro-kun…" Tamao started softly, almost inaudible. It caught his attention, though, and he slowly made his way over to her.
"Yes? What is it, Tamao-san?"
“You… you’re here because… they said I was your grandmother, right?”
“Yeah, that... was the new memories they gave me.”
"What… what… what was I like? Your grandmother, I mean."
"Well, you know, none of those memories are-" Tamao had begun to cry, which she was sure would shock Juro. They were small tears at first, but they were growing by the second. Tamao couldn't say what started it… she was just overwhelmed. Instead of running away, he got closer to her.
"I… I know they're not. I know… she isn't. But… I just want to know." She tried to give a smile of reassurance, but she wasn't sure if it did anything. Juro led her to the chabudai and sat her down.
"My grandma Tamao… she was the kindest woman. She always treated me well, gave me candy, made me food, everything. When I was a kid, she had moved to the country, and I would go visit her, catching cicadas in the forest. She moved back to her home when I was older. She would watch my movies with me, and tell me about watching them when they first came out. She… well, she was my best friend." Tamao had stopped crying eventually, and had started to lean up against Juro.
"Do I… remind you of her?" Juro smiled back at Tamao, which got her to sit straight up.
"You really do. You're exactly like how I imagined she was at my age." Tamao was ready to burst into tears at that. She didn't want Juro to see, so she stood up, and began to walk around the room. While walking, she noticed that, while Juro had mostly added to what was already there, one thing was missing.
"The dent."
"What?"
"The dent that Chihiro-chan made, it’s missing."
"Oh, I think Keitaro-kun mentioned that once. She ran into the post?" Juro stood up and made his way over to where Tamao stood.
"Yes… Chihiro-chan was such a cute girl. Keitaro told me what happened to her, but she'll always be little Chihiro to me." Tamao smiled wistfully, missing those days of innocence. “I miss those days so much, of Keitaro, Takatoshi, Chihiro and myself. Just living carefree lives… I suppose that is what we can do now, even though Chihiro-chan isn’t here.”
There was a moment of silence, it was clear Juro didn’t know what to say to her. Which Tamao didn’t mind, she wouldn’t have known either. She could hear the cicadas fill the empty space, like they did back in the 1940s as well. Even with the television and everything else, it still found a way to transport her back in time. Tamao knew she couldn’t leave it here though.
“I’m sorry for asking about your grandmother. I’m sure you have many feelings regarding what everyone did to you. In truth… well, I suppose it’s a bit silly.”
“What is it?” Juro walked closer to her. Tamao played with her dress, looking down, as he approached.
“Well… I… I just wanted to feel more connected to all of you. I feel… separate from you all. I know it’s not your fault. I guess I wanted to feel like I had someone else with me.”
“Tamao-san, I am always here for you. If I have to be honest, It’s been a little surprising seeing you here as well.” Tamao must have reacted, because she saw Juro get worried. “Surprising in a good way! Like I said, you do remind me so much of the grandmother I remember… It’s all very strange.”
“Well, I am glad to hear I am not alone.” Tamao stood still, hoping her words didn’t put him off too much. Though that likely would have already happened if it were going to.
“Tamao-san… Is it okay if I see you as family?” Tamao smiled at that, finally making full eye contact with Juro. She gave one of her wide smiles, the kind that could calm down Chihiro-chan in a heartbeat.
“Of course! I see you the same way.” Juro replied to Tamao with a smile of his own. “So… no more honorifics okay? Siblings don’t use them.”
“That’s a deal Tamao!”
The usually deliberate moving Tamao swiftly went in for a hug from Juro, surprising him, though he quickly reciprocated.
“Thank you Juro. You’ve made me feel a little less lonely.”
Juro looked around the house, clearly an idea had struck him.
“What if we make this house a little less lonely once again?”
---
“Dinner is ready. Since I know it is the guest’s favorite, I now present hamburg steak.”
Megumi, hair pulled back with an apron on, approached the chabudai with four full meals. Juro suggested they invite Keitaro and Megumi into the framework as well, to have one perfect night in the Kurabe household. Tamao couldn’t think of a better idea.
“Tamao-san, I cannot wait for you to try this! It is truly a gift from the heavens.”
“Well Hijiyama-kun did call her an angel, did he not?” Juro said with a smile, which earned him a begrudging nudge from Megumi when she sat down. “I’m inclined to agree.”
The hamburg was truly delicious. Tamao was a good chef herself, but Megumi was an entire next level that she was not ready for.
“Megumi-san, this is amazing! You must teach me how you cook, I’d love to be this amazing.”
“Oh Tamao-san, I’ve had your food before in the real world. You are incredible yourself.”
“How does it feel to be home?” Keitaro asked her, which was a fair question.
“It feels weird. It is so similar and yet so different. But Juro has made it feel more like home, and I am grateful for that. Keitaro, we have so many great memories in the 1940s. It’s nice to know a small piece of it still lives on.”
“I could not have said it better myself, Tamao-san.”
“Maybe when Gouto-kun and Shinonome-san get it operational, you can show me my home in the 1940s?” Juro asked, curiosity filling his voice.
“I would love to, Juro. I can’t wait. You are family, after all.”