@sunraysdog Request

"Iruma, can you hold this?"

It had stared of small.

"Iruma, I'm short a few yen, could I go through your piggy bank?"

They always seemed so appreciative.

"Iruma you are such a strong boy, you should work full time."

They never stopped asking and I never said no.

"Stay right here Iruma, well be back for you when our venture strikes it rich."

No food, no water, no shelter and only the clothes on my back. Left in the wilderness at 6 years old. Watching the car, packed with his parents and their belongings speed away into an indescribable blob in the distance.

I kept telling myself they would come back when I scavenged for food. I reminded myself that it wouldn't take long with every splinter I got when teaching myself to make a fire. I whispered it to myself as I slept covered in a bed of leaves, covered by my tent of a fallen tree branch.

They loved me.

"Good morning my darling grandson!"

Sullivan barged through doors with Opera stood at the threshold, a ruckus that shocked him when he first arrived was now my normal alarm clock everyday. Even with Opera attempting to force Sullivan to calm down, Iruma can't deny the warm feeling in his chest watching his grandfather's excitement.

Compared to his parents…

"Time for breakfast Iruma, no time to delay!"

The mere mention of food awoken Iruma's stomach rumble in anticipation, setting his legs into motion and running past both Sullivan and Opera.

He never knew why he ran, food was never scarce in Sullivan's home but Iruma could never deny the slight fear he experienced during every meal. As Opera set his plate in front of him, he quickly gave his thanks before chowing down. With every bite of food, the deep seated fear of the food disappearing before he could get his fill almost made him fill his plate to the brim and beyond.

Who knows when I'll get great food like this.

Though it was guaranteed he would get lunch at school and snacks from the store and over the course of his stay he had never been denied a dinner, he had to make sure just incase-

"Here you go Iruma, have my plate. You always wake up so famished."

Iruma took the plate without a second of hesitation, but the guilt did set in.

Grandpa never asks me to do anything. I wonder why?

The question stayed with him as he got finished his plate and left to change into his uniform.

I don't want to be a burden to him

With Iruma's head in the clouds, he never noticed his grandfather until his bag was held before you.

"Now Iruma, time to go to school. Don't miss your grandpa too much." Sullivan wrapped his arms around and squeezed Iruma tight to his chest, swaying back and forth in a loving hold.

This…How many times did My own parents hug me?

None. Not any time that he can remember in his years of living. As a baby maybe but, even that was a maybe. Grandpa never seemed to want to let go and for once…Iruma didn't want him to.

Iruma wrapped his own arms around his grandfather's waist and squeezed him close, face hidden into his chest. He sniffled to hid the tears in his eyes as Iruma spoke.

"Thank you."

Sullivan never got the chance to react before Iruma ran towards the front floors to his friends that waitined outsde for him. Iruma only turned back to give a shining smile with wet eyes as he waved good bye to his family until he saw them later.

Yeah, I know I'll see them later. I don't have to worry about them disappearing.

Just hearing Grandpa wail from inside the house with pure affection and regret over not being able to stay with him made Iruma realize that Grandpa cared far more than his parents ever did. He always wished for Iruma's, that was what he wanted but duty kept it from happening.