《赤司 征十郎 (AKASHI SEIJUUROU)、六さい (6 YEARS OLD)。》

"Seijuurou," a soft, gentle female voice woke the little redhead up. His eyes went opened and the moment he saw his mother, he giggled and closed his eyes back. Just to have fun. Just to make his mother tickle him until he fell from the bed and ran into the shower. The woman, his respectful mother laughed at his antics as he covered the blanket up to his forehead, leaving a fistful of red hair visible and 10 small fingers that has been clutching the blanket since the moment he slept.

"Wake up, dear. It's already 8am." The woman said again and pulled the blanket slightly and a pair of red eyes met her beautiful orbs. Seijuurou giggled again and rolled over, lying flat on his stomach, burying his face unto the soft pillow. His small figure made the woman easier to tickle her son until he laughed out loud and rolled to the other side of the bed.

"Kaasan! Zurui!!" He said adorably and threw his arms around her neck as she bent down to pick him up.

"It's the only way to wake you up." His mother said.

"Hehe...."

His mother sent Seijuurou to the bathroom and waited outside, on the bed as he took a shower, sometimes humming, sometimes laughing. No he's not crazy. It's just that kids like him tend to play with the soap and laugh to themselves. When he finished, he turned off the shower and slammed the door open without any towel.

His mother gasped and covered her eyes playfully. "Seijuurou! Mummy's embarrassed!" She said and the little boy laughed at his mother. His mother laughed along with him and quickly went to wrap a towel around his body.

"Seijuurou. Next time, don't come out without a towel or you'll catch a cold, okay?" His mother advised.

"But the shower is already warm!" He said.

"Virus likes you so you have to prevent them regardless the temperature, understand?"

"Yes, mummy!" He said loudly and saluted her Western-style. His mother smiled and gestured him to sit on the bed. She grabbed a comb on the dressing table and started to comb his hair.

"Mummy.." he spoke.

"Hm?"

"Do you know what day is it today?" He asked, grinning, giving hints to his mother.

"Mm....nope. What day is it Seijuurou?"

"You guess!"

"Okay. Today is Friday, December 20th.... oh I know! I have to go to work with Daddy!"

Seijuurou pouted and turned around to look at his mother, furious. "Hmph! Fine, then go to work." He said and turned his back to his mother.

His mother laughed and hugged him from behind. "Today is Seijuurou's birthday!" She whispered and he immediately grinned and jumped on the bed.

"Yeay! Yeay! Mummy remembered my birthday!!" He shouted.

"Of course I remember! It's my precious son's birthday how can I not know?" She said.

"Hehe, how about Daddy? Did you tell him?" Seijuurou asked and sat on his mother's lap.

The door went opened and his father walked in. "Obviously I remember your birthday, Seijuurou." His father said and spread his arms, bending down on his knees as Seijuurou ran to him and got into his tight embrace.

"Now, let's celebrate shall we?" His father beamed.

"Yes!!" Seijuurou exclaimed.

"But...." his father's word made him halt his excitement. "You have to win against me in basketball."

"Aww but Daddy is so good! There's no way I can win! I never did play against you before but I saw you played and I know you're good." The little boy whined.

His father smiled. "You won't win if you believe you can't. So, you have to promise yourself to work hard and believe you can win."

Seijuurou stared at his father and tilted his head, blinking repeatedly before tackling his father's legs. "I'll win Daddy! You just have to watch!!" He shouted and his father patted his head.

"That's my boy."

☆♤☆♡☆♢☆♧☆

"Mummy, watch out!" Seijuurou called out as the ball flew out of his manor's private basketball court towards his mother who's watching at the side.

His mother smiled, took a step back, caught the ball and threw it back to him.

"Thank you!" Seijuurou said and grinned as he dribbled the ball, facing his father.

His father attempted to strike forward and Seijuurou was almost fooled but he recovered quickly and turned 180° degrees around, a few centimetres away from his father. His father was fast too.

His hand reached out for the ball. Seijuurou quickly took a huge step to the right and darted past his father, running to the three-pointer line and easily threw the ball into the basket. As the ball hesitated on the rim, Seijuurou frowned, wishing hard for it to fall into the hole. His father smiled from where he stood and Seijuurou grinned when the ball finally left the rim for the hole to the floor. He then heard his mother clapping for him and turned his head.

"See? I told you, you can win when you believe." His father spoke. Seijuurou hugged his father's legs and sprinted to his mother, crashing to her who's bending on her knees with a straw hat on her head to prevent direct hit from sunlight. Her straw hat fell to the ground as she embraced her little boy. Seijuurou giggled as his mother tickled him.

"Mummy did you see that?! I defeated Daddy!!" He said.

"I did. Now, let's get to the kitchen. I have a surprise for you." His mother said. So the three of them rushed to the kitchen. Seijuurou's mother took out a tray of chocolate cake topped with cream and icings of different colors. She placed it on the counter and Seijuurou gaped when he saw it. What's written on the surface was, "HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY AKASHI SEIJUUROU!! WE ♡ YOU!"

"Thank you Mummy!" He said happily and kissed his mother's cheeks.

"Itadakimasu!!" They greeted and the mother began to cut the cake. The rest of the day was spent with the whole family instead of going to numerous classes.

☆♤☆♡☆♢☆♢☆

2pm, after lunch, Seijuurou was sent to his horseriding class. 4pm to his piano class, 5pm to his violin class, 6pm to his calligraphy class. 7pm break. 8pm is his daily shougi self practices till dinner at 9pm. 10pm, his mother will tuck him him to bed. As the year goes on, Seijuurou entered elementary school at the age of 7 and his father became stricter, demanding him to attend even more classes. After school straight until dinner and he will be able to sleep at 11pm. He had less time with his mother and his father was always busy with works.

《赤司 征十郎 (AKASHI SEIJUUROU)、十一さい (11 YEARS OLD)。》

It was Seijuurou's birthday when Seijuurou was having a slight fever and his father allowed him to sleep earlier. Seijuurou's mother entered his bedroom and tucked him to bed, just like how she usually does before Seijuurou became 11.

His mother got thinner lately and he noticed her coughing a lot. When he asked, his mother replied that she had a slight fever and there's nothing to worry. But there was a sad smile accompanying her answer.

"Mummy, are you happy?" Seijuurou asked as his mother pulled the blanket up to his chin.

"I am happy as long as you're here." She replied.

"Father won't play with me anymore. And I have less time with you." Seijuurou said, his eyes displayed sadness and his mother caught that before he looked away. She also realized how he changed from calling 'Daddy' to 'Father'.

She stroked his bangs covering his forehead. "You know.... Father is really busy. The company is facing problems and a huge project is on going. He wants you to be the heir of his company. That's why he sent you to various classes. So that you could be the best and make the world proud of you. Mummy loves you and I'll be watching you forever. So don't be afraid and always remember to do your best. Respect people and people will respect you. Love yourself before loving others."

"You're not going to leave me like Father do, right?" He said.

She smiled and kissed his forehead. "I'll always be with you. Happy birthday again, Seijuurou. I love you."

"Love you too, Mummy."