Episode 2, Meeting the new siblings

The Fujimoto residence was a sprawling house with an air of polished elegance. As Takumi stepped inside, he was greeted by the soft, golden glow of chandeliers and the gentle hum of a modern air conditioning unit. The scent of fresh flowers from the foyer mixed with the faint aroma of home-cooked meals wafting from the kitchen.

Mrs. Fujimoto led Takumi through the entrance hall with a warm, encouraging smile. “Welcome to your new home, Takumi. I’m so excited to have you here,” she said. Her voice was gentle, yet there was an undeniable enthusiasm in her tone.

She motioned toward a door on the right. “Let me introduce you to your new siblings. This is Riku,” she said, guiding Takumi toward a boy standing nervously by the door. Riku, about ten years old, had short, neatly combed hair and a shy, yet curious expression. Next to him stood his younger sister, Aiko, who looked to be around eight years old. Aiko’s pigtails bobbed as she gave Takumi a hesitant smile.

“This is Aiko,” Mrs. Fujimoto continued, her voice brimming with warmth. “I know they’re excited to meet you. They’ve been asking for a new sibling for a while now.”

Takumi looked up at Mrs. Fujimoto, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Why did you adopt me when you already have children?”

Mr. Fujimoto, who had been quietly observing from the doorway, stepped forward. “Our children wanted another sibling. They’ve been hoping for a new family member for some time, and we felt that adopting you would be the right thing to do.”

Takumi nodded silently, his gaze dropping to the floor. He followed Mrs. Fujimoto as she led him to the stairs and up to the second floor. The house seemed expansive, each room meticulously decorated.

At the end of the hallway, Mrs. Fujimoto opened the door to a cozy room. “This will be your room, Takumi,” she said, her voice gentle. “I hope you like it.”

Takumi stepped inside, his eyes scanning the space. The room was decorated in soothing shades of blue, with a neatly made bed, a small desk, and a bookshelf filled with various books and toys.

"I'll bring your things upstairs, you can check your room out," Mrs Fujimoto said and turned from him, leaving his presence.

As he stood at the threshold, taking in his new surroundings, Riku and Aiko entered the room behind him.

Aiko, her voice barely more than a whisper, said, “We don’t really want you here. We’d have preferred someone else.”

Riku nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we don’t like you. You shouldn’t talk to us.”

Takumi stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the floor. The words of the children seemed to cut through the silence, but he chose not to respond.

Mrs. Fujimoto, hearing the commotion from the hallway, quickly ran back into the room.

"That’s enough," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument. “You should not speak to your new brother like that. It’s not kind.”

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