"Lost Soul" | K-ON X Naruto X Jigoku Shoujo |

Prologue

It was a typical, yet gloomy day as gray clouds had covered the vast sky. Soon after, large heavy droplets of rain fell. Mio Akiyama sat at their Japanese dinner table, busy hanging white teru-teru bozus - literally shine, shine monks which Japanese people hung at their doorsteps or by their windows whenever it rains, hoping the sky would clear up once again. Meanwhile, Mio's okaa-san (mother) was busy preparing their family dinner, or for the two of them rather.

"I hope this coming storm won't hit Japan badly.. and I hope this storm ends soon.." Mio sighed after hanging the teru-teru bozu by the window, eyes closed. She clapped her hands once, firmly pressing her palms together in a praying hand gesture.

Her okaa-san just chuckled, carrying the newly cooked meals in a tray and placing it gently on the table. "Why do you eagerly wish the storm would go away? Shouldn't you be glad? I mean, classes might be cancelled at this rate,  which means you might take a whole day off from school." She handed over Mio's bowl, and the two started to begin eating as they conversed.

"Okaa-san, it's spring..." Mio pouted. "If this storm continues, my friends and I won't get to see the cherry blossoms bloom. It had also been a routine for me to take pictures of them so I can send them over to oto-san's (father) place..."

"Eto.. speaking of oto-san, wonder if he's been doing well in Irkutsk lately?" Mio continued, looking at her mother with a worried glint in her eyes.

"I hope there isn't a storm or anything.. like what we have here."

The look in Mio's mother changed, her facial expression went from smiling, to bowing her head down in sadness.

"Okaa-san, what's the matter?" Mio stopped for a second as she was already eating.

"N-Nothing. J-Just continue eating... Here.. have some more.." Okaa-san tried to hide the look in her face, handing over a bowl of soup. But the look in her face is just too obvious to hide and her daughter Mio was just too smart not to notice, moreover she isn't also the type who would shrug it off after she notices something wrong.

"Something's not right." Mio thought out loud.

"Okaa-san, tell me.. Doushite?.. (why) You shouldn't hide anything from me.."

Her okaa-san once more gave a worried look. "I'll tell you why.. After you mentioned about your father earlier, I figured this should be the right time to tell you after all.."

"You see.. Your oto-san is facing a storm right now... but not this kind of storm." She paused for a moment, leaving the sound of thunderstorm and rainfall being audible at that second.

"Mio, oto-san's business went down.. Our should I say, our family business in Irkutsk, has been bankrupt." Okaa-san bowed her head down.

"Well... It couldn't be that bad, right? I mean, money isn't everything.. I'm sure oto-san will find a way in no time." Mio answered hopefully in attempt to make her okaa-san feel better.

Okaa-san made a "no" gesture with her head.

"His supplier appeared to be that of a scammer.. all of oto-san's investments are all gone.. our family's broke.. And the only way he could think for a solution is.. i-is......" Okaa-san closed her eyes as she stuttered.

"Is what?.." Mio slammed her hands on the table.

"Is to have me to go to Irkutsk too and work with him side by side."

"W-What about me? So you're going with oto-san to work, leaving me alone here?" Mio bowed her head, her bangs overshadowing her eyes.

"E-Exactly. Demo.. (but) you'll be fine here even if you're alone right? After all, you have been taught to be independent.." Okaa-san's voice trembled.

"It's not about being independent. All I wanted was a happy family with you both. I had already endured years of not having oto-san here, isn't that fairly enough? Okaa-san, why do you have to leave me too?" Mio stood up hastily, tears streaming down from her cheeks.

"I-.. I'm sorry Mio.. please, please understand.. If only I and oto-san had another child aside from you, you don't have to be lonely and left alone.." Okaa-san stood up calmly, hugging her only daughter.

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"Akiyama-chan?.. Akiyama-chan!!.. Mio-chan!!!!" A loud shout was heard while the sound of the school bell continued to ring as well. Students who were preparing to go home darted a quick stare at Nodoka as she was shouting a while ago, calling Mio to snap out of it.

"You were totally spacing out.. you didn't even notice it's already dismissal.. It's unlike you, so what's the matter?" Nodoka patted Mio's shoulder.

"S-sorry.." Mio stood up, fixed herself by straightening her skirt and started to pack her things up.

"Our family's in a financial problem lately.. One week ago, okaa-san even went to Irkutsk to work with oto-san so I'm sort of.. alone." Mio finished packing her things up and grabbed her bag.

"Ah, I see.. it must be so hard on you.. but with the first term exams drawing to a close, you shouldn't be spacing out a lot, or else, your grades will go down. Remember, you're one of the top students in class back then.. Though this school year had barely started off, you shouldn't be caught off guard, or else, I might surpass you easily.." The student council president grinned jokingly, fixing her glasses.

Mio Akiyama just smiled at her shyly, her cheeks flushing a tint of red.

"So, are you off to the light music club room to practice?" Nodoka added as they were on front of the classroom and was about to part ways.

"..I guess not.. I mean, not now.. I'm kind of tired, so I'll head home.. I'll just send a text message to inform the girls why I won't make it." Mio said, reaching out for her cell phone in her pocket.

"Okay.. Have a safe trip home.." Nodoka tapped Mio's back gently then left.

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Mio was about to head home when she happened to pass by the sakura trees alongside Sakuragaoka High's school yard. A gentle breeze blew the tree's leaves which made it sway gracefully while shedding off its pink, vibrant-colored leaves. Leaves flew from one direction to another, and shining rays of sunlight lit up the trees like a spotlight. It was a stunning view from where she stood at.

"One of these days I have to take a picture of it.. though I won't be sending them to oto-san alone.. he's with okaa-san now, I wonder how my parents are doing?" She thought once again.

"Come to think of it, the storm's already over.. but when will mine end?" She left the place with that thing in mind.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter. She still has a long way to go. Amidst all the four seasons of Japan, how long can she endure being home.... alone?