꧁ H̶a̶p̶p̶y̶ B̶i̶r̶t̶h̶d̶a̶y̶! ꧂
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Inigo's POV

Today was the day. My fifteenth birthday.
I somehow felt a little exited, but then again, remembered I didn't live in my own village anymore.
I lived alone with a man who grieved over his dead daughter— who he was now trying to replace with me, a girl who ran away from her home after getting thrown out by her adoptive sister.

Not only that, my health got worse as the days passed by. My body felt numb, my eyes would close every tenth minute and all my energy was gone.
I didn't even bother to try and go outside either. I just stayed inside, starring onto nothing and drawing with half lidded eyes till I fainted.

However, today I didn't want to let the boredom stop me. I wanted to cheer up and move on, since today was a special day for me.
Just as I got up, the door to my room opened and Hotaru was behind it.

" Happy birthday, Ir-..Inigooooo! "
He cheered as he bought in a small mango cake. My eyes lit up immediately and my chin dropped.

MANGO? OH GOD YES

" You mentioned that you liked mangoes, so I thought maybe a mango cake would be exiting! "

" Thank you so much!! " I thanked and smiled as I couldn't take my eyes off the small cake. Hotaru laughed and pat my head.

" Come on! I prepared breakfast for you in the kitchen! " He then said, giving a little nod as signal to come with him. I immediately got up and followed him, feeling the excitement build up in me.

" Close your eyes! It's a surprise! "

I followed his orders and used my hands to feel my way to the kitchen.

" Alright, open them! "

I opened my eyes and to my surprise, the kitchen was decorated with paper figures cut out like butterflies, birds and other kinds of small animals. In fact, it was almost like my thirteenth birthday.
On the table there were a few more mango cakes, matcha and udon. I held my hand in front of my mouth.

" Its just like when I was thirteen.. this is.. amazing! I love it! Thank you! " I thanked and hugged Hotaru tightly as I felt the tears trail down my cheeks.
I never thought my fifteen birthday would turn out this great, especially after getting thrown out by Sayaka and losing every trust Akari had in me.

I honestly missed them. I missed them a lot.

" Thank you so much.. "

He pat my head again and smiled.
" Happy birthday and congrats with the fifteen years! " He said and beamed with excitement.
I smiled back and sat down by the table, looking at all the goodies.

" Go ahead and eat! "

" Thank you for the meal! "
I didn't waste a second in eating what was in front of me. Especially the small mango cake.

" Well, seems like you really like it! I'm glad! "

. . .

" I have a gift for you as well! "

I looked at Hotaru with curiosity. A gift? How did he manage to get it though?
He reached out and gave me something wrapped up in some white fabric with a blue thread tying it together.

" Go ahead and open it " He smiled and clapped his hands with excitement.
I hesitated for a bit, but eventually began untying the thread and unwrapping the the gift slowly.

" ... "
I said nothing as my eyes widened with shock.

There, in the middle of the fabric, was a beautiful light blue kimono with yellow, golden and orange flowers decorating the bottom of it. There was a yellow obi included with white dots, and a dark blue thread on it.

I stopped breathing for a good ten seconds.

It was one of the most beautiful Kimono's I had ever seen in my life. I could barely express my gratitude towards Hotaru. Giving me such a gift was more than enough. In fact, these types of kimono's were incredibly expensive.

" It's so beautiful! This is too much, thank you! Thank you so much! I love it a lot! " I almost cried. My previous red-purple kimono was torn and destroyed when I ran away from home a few months ago, so I had to wear an old grey kimono for the time being.

Maybe this couldn't be a great sign of a new start? A new home with no drama and a new father?

However, my expectations immediately dropped as he began talking.

" It used to be Iroha's kimono, so I thought it would fit you! "

I shivered.
The thought of wearing a kimono of a deceased daughter I never knew gave me goosebumps.
That's when I knew for sure he was trying to replace his daughter completely. Making me do what she used to do, making me eat and drink what she used to eat and drink, making me wear what she used to wear.
I didn't like it. I felt too uncomfortable to even share the same room with Hotaru now.

" I-.. I love it.. thank you.. " I stuttered and stood up.
" I'll.. go try it on t-then.. " I fake smiled and walked out of the room, heading towards my own.

Just as I entered, I fell on my knees and began crying. I was probably going to go insane sooner or later. I seriously had enough of this Iroha.
Why couldn't he understand? I'm not his daughter and I won't be able to replace her. Because I'm not her, I'm my own person. I won't be able to act like someone else either way.

I slowly put on the Kimono as I tried my best not to sniff in the process. If my tears fell on the Kimono, he would notice and probably panic.
I wouldn't want that.
Surp

. . .

" You look wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! " Hotaru beamed as I stepped into the kitchen again. He immediately got up and embraced me in his large arms.

" Happy birthday, Iroha! "

Shivers danced up and down my spine for each second that passed. This kind of "comfort" was in fact, more uncomfortable than comfortable.
Hotaru stopped hugging me and apologized.

" I mean Inigo, haha.. sorry, your names are so similar. Happy birthday, Inigo! "

" ... " I didn't answer and fake chuckled.
" Thank.. you "

I hated this. I really did. But how should I tell him? After all he did for me when I was on the brink of death, I should just call him out?
I mean, this kind of behavior was not okay. It really wasn't.

" Oh? You didn't drink your matcha tea yet? " He asked as he narrowed his eyes from the table to my eyes.
" No, thank you.. water is fine " I politely declined as I nodded my head.

" But matcha is great! Don't you like it? " He began asking again, as if he was desperate.
" Come on, why not just a little? It's so good! Iroha would never get tired of it! " Hotaru stated, slowly trying to beg me to drink the tea.

" ..I said I'm good. Water is fine "

The atmosphere seemed to be very awkward and somewhat intense. The silence was louder than ever. Even if you dropped a hairpin, it could be heard in the entire house.

" Alright then.. " I finally sighed, sitting down by the table and began drinking it. Hotaru's face became lighter again and he smiled as if I never declined his offer from the start.

Of course, it didn't last long until I could feel my eyelids close again. My energy was completely gone and my will to move disappeared.
It was as if the tea had something to do with it. Maybe my body just couldn't handle matcha tea?
No.
I used to drink it occasionally back in the village and I never got tired afterwards.

" Oh? Are you tired? " Hotaru asked with a passive aggressive tone, interrupting my thoughts.
I slowly nodded.
" I'll go to bed now.. thank you for the food and gifts ..I appreciate it a lot "
I said, standing up. My legs could barely stand upright but I managed.

" Oh alright! Sleep well, daughter! " He smiled, waving me goodnight.

. . .

That night, I think I slept with my eyes open. I didn't want to fall asleep.
I only pretended to take a huge sip, when in reality, I took a small sip to prevent myself from drinking whatever was in the tea. I thought it was suspicious, since Hotaru was so desperate for me to drink it.
I began doubting if it was normal tea. Every time I drank it, I became numb.

Not suspicious? Wrong.

I slowly felt my energy come back throughout every limb in my body, meanwhile my mind became more clear.
I knew enough was enough. I couldn't continue living like this. I had to do something.
Hotaru was not the man he turned out to be at first. He went from nice, generous and energetic, to obsessive, overprotective and honestly creepy.

I didn't care what he did for me anymore, no matter the gifts, food and stuff he gave me — all that didn't matter. I didn't even feel safe anymore.

As silent as possible I got up and walked towards the exit with small steps, avoiding every single crack in the floor. I slowly opened the door, peeking out to make sure he wasn't around.

No one was around.

I walked out and went to the kitchen, searching every single cabinet, closet, drawer, everything. But to my disappointment there was nothing.
My eyes suddenly narrowed towards a small vase in the corner of the counter, as my body automatically moved towards it.

I slowly took a look inside, and as expected, some kind of powder was at the bottom of it. I reached out my hand and gently shook some of the powder out, then examined it closely.

It was grayish with a tint of purple color, and as I took a sniff, my eyes began closing a few seconds after.

Was this powder some kind of drug?
There was no doubt.

And that's when I understood what was happening.

Hotaru had been drugging me by putting this in my tea on purpose to make me stay and made me lose my will to leave him and the house.
And why did he do that?
Because he couldn't get over the death of his daughter and wanted to replace her with me because we looked so similar.

It all made sense, also because he had been so lonely, he barely knew how to communicate and convince someone to stay. He only lived with regret, because he left Iroha alone with the other men, which caused her death — you know, getting devoured by a demon.

I finally knew.. I finally understood that this place was not safe for me as long as Hotaru was here.

Suddenly, my attention turned towards a very small drawer right in front of me. I didn't see it before, due to the color and camouflaged appearance. I looked around one extra time before slowly opening it.
There, in the drawer, was a small old paper laying with the written side turned downward.
I slowly picked it up and turned it around.

Th-This.. This is!-

It was like time stopped while my eyes widened.

I only read one word, but I didn't even need to know what the rest said, since I already knew what was written.

This letter was written by Kaiya.

This was one of the letters she left me before she went to appointments when I was thirteen.

" Hi miracle! Hope you're doing alright. Did you like the small paper figures I made for decoration at your birthday? You said you loved bugs, insects and birds, so I made some. I'll be back later today, so I apologize for not being there in the morning. But I promise to be home soon enough!

PS: I told Akari to make some mango cakes since you adore them that much! Remember to thank her <3
- Kaiya "

This was the letter I got at my thirteenth birthday. Kaiya couldn't attend due to a short appointment, but she did come back to celebrate later though.

Wait so this is how Hotaru knew?!
Then it hit me. Maybe he lied and actually took the letters from my bag and used them to make me feel home here? Is that what it all was about?

I clenched my fist as my eyes began twitching. I could feel my blood boil and I could barely breathe.

I put the letter back in the drawer and left the kitchen as if I was never there. I silently went back to my room and began breathing heavily, which turned into sobbing, under my blanket

Did this mean he also kept the rest of the letters somewhere else out of my knowledge?

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!TO BE CONTINUED!
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A/N:
Lol look what I found a few weeks ago in a forest.

I also found out it was the only venomous snake in my country so that was kind of a close call, heh
(Nvm time to call Obanai for help)

Also, a small update on my current drawing - well, not much of a drawing, but a redrawn scene from Kimetsu No Yaiba. I'm finished pretty soon, so yeh!
Have a great day ^^

Word count: 2229