The sun has set, and the moon's gentle light washes over the front yard of the Yukinoshita house. A grand outdoor party is in full swing. While it's nominally Yukinoshita Haruno's birthday party, everyone knows who the real guest of honor is.
Japan's prefectures, counties, and cities are all first-level administrative divisions. The Yukinoshita family, a giant in Chiba's construction industry, has now entered the political world. The guests are here to congratulate the Yukinoshita family head and to get on his good side. Some people shine even in the darkness.
Haruno walks behind her mother. She is wearing a navy blue yukata adorned with a lily pattern. She isn't as playful as usual, and her every move is befitting of a high-class young woman. She is as serene as a virgin, as elegant as a peony when she sits, and as graceful as a lily when she walks, conversing with high-society ladies and socialites.
"Oh, isn't that Haruno? You get more beautiful every time I see you."
"Nee-san Takeuchi, you've become so beautiful, I almost didn't recognize you."
"Hehe, the Yukinoshita family has a wonderful daughter. I wish my daughter were as excellent as you."
"Mrs. Noda, I still have a lot to learn from your daughter."
Haruno's face is adorned with a kind smile. She handles this kind of social event with ease.
In the courtyard, people are gathered in small groups, chatting and clinking glasses.
"Haruno, go call your father. We have more important guests arriving soon," Mrs. Yukinoshita whispers to her daughter. Haruno nods and leaves the circle of socialites. She leaves with a warm, sunny smile on her face, but her heart is ice cold. She feels an indescribable disgust for these kinds of events.
The clack-clack of her wooden clogs on the pebble path echoes. Soon, Haruno arrives at the back of the house where the family lives. It's not as noisy as the front, and she can hear the occasional cicada buzzing from the trees. As Haruno passes a room, she glances at it and stops. It's her little sister Yukino's room. I wonder how Yukino-chan is doing abroad. Haruno looks up at the bright moon in the sky, her thoughts drifting back in time.
After kindergarten, little Haruno sits in the back of the family's car with her mother. As they pass by a small park, Haruno can't take her eyes off the scene outside. In the sand pit, three children are building a sandcastle. Her eyes are filled with envy.
"Haruno, do you want to go out and play with those kids?" Mrs. Yukinoshita asks with a smile, noticing her daughter's gaze. The young Haruno doesn't know the harshness of society. Seeing her mother's gentle smile, her eyes light up. She nods vigorously.
"Mother, I want to go play with them!"
Mrs. Yukinoshita tells the driver, "Turn back." She decides to teach her young daughter a lesson. A short while later, the car stops outside the park. As soon as the door opens, Yukinoshita Haruno eagerly jumps out and runs to the sand pit.
"Hello! My name is Yukinoshita Haruno. Can I play with you?"
Little Haruno's innocent smile is highly contagious. A new friend is quickly welcomed into the children's sandcastle game. Haruno sits in the sand pit, her fair, delicate hands building a sandcastle. The air is filled with children's genuine laughter, a joy Haruno has never experienced before.
Mrs. Yukinoshita watches her daughter from the car, her face showing no emotion. She knows Haruno is the daughter of the Yukinoshita family and is destined to live in a world separate from these ordinary children. She takes a beautiful box from the car. It contains expensive candy that ordinary families wouldn't dare to buy. She takes out two candies and tells the driver something.
"Yes, madam," the driver nods, takes the candies, gets out of the car, and walks toward the young mistress.
An adult in a black suit stopping at the edge of the sand pit makes the children stop playing. Their laughter also disappears. Yukinoshita Haruno looks at the driver curiously. He hands her two candies. "Young mistress, these are from your mother for you to share with your friends." The driver says respectfully. Little Haruno looks at the back seat of the car. The window is rolled down. Her mother sits calmly, giving her a gentle smile and a wave.
Little Haruno takes the candy, surprised. She never thought her strict mother would be so indulgent today. "This candy is so good! I'm giving it to you!" Little Haruno's eyes turn into a crescent moon, and she gives her new friends a toothy grin.
Children rarely get candy unless their parents buy it. In their parents' eyes, eating candy causes cavities, and money should be used for more necessary expenses. The three children are filled with curiosity when they see the beautiful packaging. Little Haruno quickly gives the candies to her new friends.
"This one is for you."
"And this one is for you."
"This..."
When she gets to the third child, her hands are empty. The third child's face falls. Haruno smiles gently and comforts him. "It's okay. We have more in the car. Just wait a moment." Her words make the third child smile again. "Okay! Thank you, Haruno."
Little Haruno sits on the edge of the sand pit and brushes the sand off her feet. After, she puts her white socks and little leather shoes back on and runs back to the car. As she runs, she thinks to herself. Why did Mother only give me two candies? There are four of us here. Even if you don't count me, there are still three of us. My smart mother must have made a mistake in her calculation.
Seeing little Haruno running back to the car, Mrs. Yukinoshita's face is filled with affection. "Haruno, weren't you playing with your new friends? Why are you back?" she asks in a gentle voice, like a kind and thoughtful mother.
"Mother, I need more candy to share with my friends," the innocent little Haruno says, holding out her hand.
Mrs. Yukinoshita opens her fan and covers the bottom half of her face. She looks down at her daughter and says with a hint of regret, "Haruno, I'm sorry, but those were the last two candies."
"How can that be? I just had some. There should be a lot more in the box," Yukinoshita Haruno mutters.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes turn cold. "There are no more. When you encounter a problem, you must learn to solve it yourself, Haruno."
Little Haruno doesn't dare to defy her mother. She walks back to the sand pit, feeling defeated. All the way back, she hangs her head, not knowing how to explain it to her new friends. As soon as she gets back to the sand pit, she sees a sight she never expected.