Satsuki was a young girl, aged eight. Friends with nearly everyone at school, she would often be invited out to play or to attend events long into the evening. She always found some way to be present for every invitation, that ambitious girl, and if you ever asked her if she grew tired of it, she would respond with a resounding ‘no.’
She lived a quiet, happy life with her two adoptive parents, Mr. and Ms. Kazawa. Mr. and Ms. Kazawa were great, friendly, hardworking people—a perfect match for our dear Satsuki. However, we must put emphasis on ‘hardworking,’ for they often worked terribly long shifts, and were hardly home. Satsuki understood, of course, that they were both simply trying their hardest to provide for each other and for her. What must be understood, now, is that Satsuki had a rough early childhood—in which her biological parents often ignored her feelings and presence, in favor of each other, addiction, or excitement—all of which Satsuki could not provide for them. This caused her to be, for better or worse, a bit of a special case in which she nearly constantly desired attention and affection. This trait of hers had never caused any problems before, thankfully, however it often left her very, very lonely.
This evening was one of those lonelier times. Our Satsuki sat on the porch of her home, watching the setting sun with her head propped on her hands as she waited for the Kazawas to return. It was the middle of summer, and school was well out for the season. All of her neighborhood friends had returned to the countryside to visit family, and, as our Satsuki had no real family of hers to visit, she was left without anyone to play with. This did not brew any feelings of resentment within her, though she had to admit that she was quite sad. She knew not when her parents might return home, however she decided in her mind that she would have them play with her upon their immediate return. She hoped they would provide her at least that much, for being a good girl and waiting for them.
After some time passed, she suddenly sprang to life from the porch and wandered into her room, grabbing her small purse. She checked the contents cheekily, seeing that she still had a little bit of her allowance left. An idea to quell her boredom came to her, and with happy steps did she leave her home, sure to close the door behind her.
She took an open, non-secluded path, just as the Kazawas had taught her. Occasionally, she would pass an old couple or returning grown-ups, and they all greeted her kindly. She was nearly always outside, and her bond with her close neighbors had grown considerably. They all wished for her safe travels, reminding her to be careful. Satsuki nodded happily in response, wishing them a good day.
A short walk later, she opened the door to the local candy shop that was situated in the far corner of the neighborhood. The overhead bell rang merrily as Satsuki strutted inside. “Obaa-san!” she cried, her hand high in the air, waving frantically. At her noise, the older lady at the counter, who was reading a magazine with her back to the door, turned around with a wide smile. “Satsuki-chan! For a moment, I thought I’d be unlucky enough to not see you today! I thought the boogie monster had gobbled you up!”
Satsuki chuckled at the older woman’s remarks and grabbed multiple packs of rock candy, all of them different flavors. She stood on her tiptoes to place them on the counter, and the older woman counted them with playful dramatization. “One… Two… Three… Oh, seven! Seven rock candies for little Satsuki-chan! If each is fifty yen, then how much yen do you owe me?”
Satsuki brought up her fingers and thought aloud, humming an inquisitive tune. Then, finally arriving at her conclusion, she announced “350 yen! 350 yen!”
The older woman clapped cheerfully in applause. Satsuki bowed left and right, accepting praise.
“That’s quite a large number, Satsuki-chan, so I’ll count out the money for you, okay, dear?” the older woman offered. Satsuki made a small chirp in approval and handed over her purse, and the older woman counted out 350 yen exactly. Then, she put all of Satsuki’s newly owned rock candies into her purse and handed it back to her.
“Satsuki-chan, have any of your friends returned yet?” the older woman asked. In reply, Satsuki shook her head.
“Ah, how sad! I wish I could be more entertaining for you, but I’m not as quick on my feet as you are, as I’m sure you can guess…”
Satsuki chuckled at the older woman’s remark, though she couldn’t help but frown a bit and scrunch her nose. The older woman noticed this behavior, and, leaving her stool behind the counter, came over to the side of Satsuki and placed her hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“I’ll tell you a secret, Satsuki-chan,” the older woman began. “Not too far from here—a small path only so deep into the woods. There’s a small lake.” She then leaned in close, checking over her left and right shoulder. “I heard that, if a good girl like Satsuki-chan were to show up, the koi-fish in that lake would show themselves. They have all different types of colors, why, even more colors than the rainbow!”
Satsuki, with her child-like imagination, was blown away by what she had been told. Her mouth was wide open, and she quivered in excitement.
“Ah, but no visiting that lake without your parents, okay? Safety first, even if we both know the lord would protect an angel like you with all his heart. Understood?”
The older woman rubbed the top of Satsuki’s head. “Understood!” Satsuki cried, giggling.
She went home quite excited, skipping all the way home. She couldn’t wait to tell the Kazawas about what she had been told. Arriving home, she went inside and quickly opened a comic book to pass the time, chewing happily on her newly bought rock candy.
A few hours later, the Kazawas finally arrived home. Satsuki, with a jolt, stood to attention and greeted them, jumping up and down with her hands waving in the air. The Kazawas greeted her with as much energy as they could, though it was apparent that they were quite tired. It was a fleeting thought for Satsuki, though, as she quickly told them about the koi fish that the older woman had told her about. She asked if the three of them could go visit the lake tomorrow afternoon, since she had figured out by routine that the two of them usually didn’t work that day.
“Ah, Satsuki-chan…” Mr. Kazawa began, looking somewhat embarrassed and apologetic. “Well, you see, Ms. Kazawa and I actually picked up a shift tomorrow. We’d love to see it with you, of course, but it might have to wait for another day…”
Satsuki understood the extent of adult affairs, however she could not help but whine and huff in disappointment.
Ms. Kazawa, with a quickness our Satsuki could not perceive, suddenly picked the girl up and began spinning her around. “We’ll definitely see it another time, Satsuki-chan!” exclaimed Ms. Kazawa. “I super, duper, whooper, trooper promise!”
Satsuki had no other choice but to laugh merrily, as being spun around so high in the air tickled her quite a bit. She made the two Kazawas promise this to her, and then, after dinner was made and the three of them ate, went to bed.
The next day came, and again it was a slow, lonely afternoon. The whole time her mind had been focused on the thought of the koi fish and the lake. She imagined them swimming around energetically, making all types of patterns and shapes with their colors. This excited her very much, and the deeper she sank into her fantasies, the deeper her impatience grew. However, she knew she must wait, for she could not possibly go without her parents, as the older woman had said. Wanting to distract herself, she again grabbed her purse and walked out of the house.
She arrived at the candy shop again, though this time, unexpectedly, the sign that was normally flipped to ‘open’ now read ‘closed.’ She tried to turn the doorknob regardless; however, it only budged slightly, and even with her greatest push she could not enter. Her disappointment was profound, and tears welled up in her eyes. In sadness, she withdrew a pack of rock candy from her purse and munched on it slowly. She was deeply hoping to ask the older woman more about the koi fish, and her plans had been foiled.
As she leaned against the shop’s exterior, thinking of heading back home, she heard the sound of splashing water. It seemed close, and she looked towards the sky and held out her hand for rain. However, there was no rain, and not a single dark cloud was in the sky. Another, softer splash followed. Her curiosity decided for her; she cupped her ear with her hand and closed her eyes, focusing. Led by her inquisitiveness, she began to follow the sound.
She slowly walked past the candy shop, turning left and right at various corners. She was led to the playground she frequented, reminded of her loneliness by its lack of friends. Another louder splash sounded in her ears, and the sound directed her gaze to a small collection of trees just beyond the playground, hidden just to the side of an old factory. She had never noticed it before. Another splash sounded, and she hurried toward the woods, before she could be seen by anyone. She knew that if any adults were to see her going in the woods alone, they would stop her and bring her back home, and she would never get the chance to unveil the mystery of the splashing.
Cautiously, though devoid of fear, she entered the woods. She always saw the woods and forests as mythical places in which fairies and talking creatures were born, and those thoughts existed even now. She continued to follow the splashing, following a small, pre-trodden trail. It led her to an old wooden bridge—its entirety covered in moss and vines. Under it, was a small collection of water. She could not quite get a good look into the water from where she stood, and so she quickly crossed the bridge and centered herself in the middle, leaning over its guard rail. She peered deep into the water, its green color showing her reflection. As she made a small, teasing face at herself, another splash was heard, though this time it sounded like it was right next to her. She looked left and right, and, seeing no one, returned her attention to the water. Looking back at her, was a lone koi fish. Its orange spots and shimmering white scales beckoned our Satsuki to gasp audibly and exclaim the words: “Pretty!”
The fish gazed at her a while before opening its mouth. “Pretty? If I may be so kind, Darling, I believe you are the pretty one.”
Satsuki couldn’t help but squeal upon seeing the koi fish bubble those words to her. It was just like the fairy tales and folklore stories she had read.
“Ah, Mr. Koi fish!” She exclaimed in great excitement. “You’re talking, you’re talking! This must be the lake Obaa-san was talking about!”
She jumped up and down in a fever, laughing loudly and with great amusement. The koi fish followed her frame for a while, before opening its mouth again.
“All Koi Fish can talk, dear. You see, we Koi Fish normally hide our abilities so as not to get caught by humans. We must keep our relationship a secret. If I were to be caught, well… I would be putting all of my friends in danger. We would be caught and grilled; maybe even with a side of lemon. Can you keep a secret, Darling?”
Satsuki nodded her head with great vigor.
The fish dove under water for a moment, and then frantically swam around in circles, splashing water all over. Some small droplets managed to land on Satsuki’s cheek, which brought a small fit of laughter to her. “How glad I am to have found such a wonderful friend.”
The fish then situated itself right in front of her again, blowing a small bubble in its mouth. “I must admit, Darling, you are the first human I have talked to my whole life. Normally, I would not dare venture out to talk to a human, but… there are not many of us in this lake, and I grew quite lonely. I assume you heard splashing, and that led you here, yes?”
“Yup! I was at the candy shop, sad about missing Obaa-san! That’s when I heard it! How were you able to do that? I was so far away!”
The fish sat quiet for a moment; its beady eyes set steadily upon our Satsuki. “Fish magic.” He said at once. “Yes, fish magic. We have all sorts of powers, you see. I made those noises in hopes someone like you would come, to be my friend… I told you was quite lonely, yes? Why, I called you hear in hopes of making a friend.”
Satsuki could hardly contain her excitement. She was blushing with fidgets and shimmers at the thought of a secretive, magic, talking fish friend. She leaned over the guard rail with nearly half of her body. “Me too! I’m lonely, too! Let’s be friends!”
The fish again dove underwater, though this time it leapt into the air with great ferocity. It came up and managed to grab some of Satsuki hair in its mouth, and it tugged lightly on her before letting go and coming back down to the water with a resounding splash. It caused Satsuki to lose her balance just a bit, though she caught herself before any sort of accident could happen. The entire scene made Satsuki erupt in laughter.
“Tricks! You can do tricks, too!” She giggled.
The fish returned to its earlier position. It dipped its head halfway into the water, and for a few moments said nothing. It blinked, just once, before blowing a bubble in its mouth. “Ah… but there’s a problem, Darling. My friends happen to be away right now, but if they caught me talking to a human, they would be sure to punish me, for I am risking their life. I don’t know how often I can get lucky like this… It might be several days before I get another chance to talk with you, and even then, I would have no way of letting you know when it is safe to arrive.”
Satsuki’s heart sank, and an idea began to form in her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a frown formed on her face. “Are you saying… that I won’t be able to be your friend, Mr. Koi Fish?”
The fish dove underwater for a moment before resurfacing. His body now faced the other direction, and a sound akin to a sigh came from him. “There is nothing I would want less, Darling. Surely, there is something we could do…”
There was silence between the two of them for a moment, and the fish seemed to hum in thought. Suddenly, the fish turned back around, facing our Satsuki. With a furrowed brow and a scrunched nose, her lips quivered in anticipation.
“Well, there is only one solution, yes. For us to keep being friends, you must come speak to me at night. Yes, at night.”
Satsuki thought for a moment. She knew very well that children had no place outside during the nighttime—she was taught very explicitly so by the Kazawas. Knowing this, the frown on her face only deepened, and she clutched onto the side rail very tightly. “Won’t I get in trouble?” She asked, great concern apparent in her voice. “And, its dangerous outside! Ms. Kazawa told me that monsters like to roam at night!”
“It does not have to be for long.” The fish bargained. “Even just coming by and saying ‘hello’ would suffice… Though, oh, I suppose it cannot be helped. If you absolutely cannot, then I suppose it was a mistake calling you here…”
With that, the fish began to sink back underwater. Satsuki gasped at seeing her magical friend begin to disappear, and with a squeaking voice did she yell: ‘Wait!’.
The fish paused, only half of its head above the water.
“O-only for a little bit?” Satsuki asked, quivering in her voice. Tears were forming in her eyes. The fish rose again, allowing its head to be seen. It gulped some water into its mouth, before squirting the water onto Satsuki’s face. At this sudden motion, Satsuki couldn’t help yelp in surprise. The fish did it again and again, and laughter was soon brought out of her.
“Yes, only for a moment.” The fish replied finally. “I would love to continue being your friend. Unless… you don’t feel the same?”
Satsuki gasped and shook her head. “No! I want to be your friend, too!”
“Anyhow, just think about it, Miss. Princess.” The fish conceded. “Ah… but you must have an actual name. If you wouldn’t mind… could I hear it?”
Satsuki nodded, and in a small voice did she say her name.
“Ms. Satsuki… what a beautiful, cute name. You see, us fish don’t have proper names… That gives me an idea. If we meet again, could you promise to give me a name? One I can be really, really proud of. One that would solidify our bond, as friends.”
Satsuki gasped, and with a nodding head did she promised to give her friend Mr. Koi Fish a name. With that, the fish silently dipped under the water and did not show itself again. Satsuki waited a few minutes, unsure if he would return. A few more minutes later, and the fish returned, only sticking its mouth out of the water.
“I don’t want to get caught, Darling.” The fish was announced. “You may leave now. I hope to see you again.”
The fish disappeared again, and Satsuki, with a somewhat embarrassed gasp, began skipping away. Thankfully, the lake in which Mr. Koi Fish resided was not too deep within the forest, and she was able to leave without incident. She went home that afternoon in song, and the moment she arrived home, she ripped out a page from her school notebook and began thinking up all sorts of names for her new friend. By the time her parents had arrived home, she had filled out nearly five pages of potential names. During dinner, as the three of them sat together at the table, she placed all the papers on the table, and asked the Kazawas for their opinion.
“So many names, Satsuki-chan!” Ms. Kazawa voiced in awe. “Scaley, Glubberton, KoiKoi… Why, who could you possibly be trying to name…?”
Mr. Kazawa, with a sudden look of inspiration, leaned towards his Miss and whispered into her ear. Ms. Kazawa nodded in understanding, and, after gathering all the papers together, handed them back to Satsuki.
“Satsuki-chan… Is it possible… you want a pet fish?”
Though that wasn’t the intention Satsuki had, she was very captivated and enchanted with the idea of a pet fish. She wondered if other fish could speak like her friend, Mr. Koi Fish. After some thought, she nodded her head, and the Kazawas began planning a date for them to acquire Satsuki’s new pet. After some light planning, they agreed that they would set out to get one the next day.
Now knowing about the potential of yet another fish friend, Satsuki decided she would focus on naming her pet first, in consideration of its feelings. After much discussion with her parents, she decided on the name ‘Gilligan’.
Tommorow quickly came, and after a quick trip to the supermarket, Satsuki acquired her new fish friend. It was an orange goldfish. She greeted the fish and introduced herself; however, she got no response in return. She was disappointed for a small time, before remembering Mr. Koi Fish had told her that they could not be seen or heard talking to humans. With that, Satsuki brought the fish into her bedroom, and, closing the door when her parents weren’t looking, began talking to the fish again, informing him of his new name. However, Gilligan would still not speak, and only slowly opened and closed its mouth. Satsuki could not help but wonder if Gilligan didn’t like her enough to be her friend, and, crestfallen, left it alone for the day. Luckily, her parents were home today, and she was able to be distracted for the time being with their presence.
The day after came. This afternoon, Satsuki was left alone with her thoughts and Gilligan, as her parents returned to work. She held the fishbowl close to her body as she sat on the porch, looking left and right to make sure nobody could hear the two of them, and began speaking to him again. Again, no words came from Gilligan.
Satsuki returned the fishbowl to her bedroom and grabbed her purse. It was another lonely day today. She wished with all her heart to see Mr. Koi Fish; however, she knew that it would be wrong for her to sneak out at night, and despite her promise, a great hesitation was brought upon her. Disappointment after disappointment, she found herself again at the candy store, where the older woman was happy to see her. However, at seeing Satsuki’s sad face, she could not help but wonder what was wrong.
“Satsuki-chan, why, what’s raining on your parade?” she asked, coming from behind the counter and attending to the child’s side. Satsuki was going to inform of the older woman of her situation surrounding Mr. Koi Fish, then remembered that she could not have him grilled. Then, another idea came to her head.
“Obaa-san?” Satsuki began, “Did you ever stay out late at night as a kid?”
“Hm… Well, to be honest, when I was your age, I used to sneak out all the time, to play on the playground with a boy I liked! A troublemaker he was, convincing me to do such a thing, but I never had more fun in my little life…”
Satsuki was greatly entertained by such a story and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Though, excuse me,” the older woman continued, “It’s a big risk going out at night, even I must admit. Especially for a little boy… How foolish I was! Anyhow, why do you ask, dear?”
Satsuki quickly made up the story that one her friends told her about how he would sneak out at night and catch fireflies in the countryside. The older woman sighed and began to scold his behavior, though by then Satsuki’s mind was elsewhere, as she had spotted a new flavor of rock candy.
She soon went home and attended Gilligan, waiting for her parents to arrive home. She asked them if they could play horsey together, however, the Kazawas seemed a bit more tired than usual today, and they declined her offer with many apologies. Of course, Satsuki understood, though she was so overwhelmed by the day’s realities that she could not help but skip dinner and claim that she was going to bed early. Mr. Kazawa showed some concern, but Ms. Kazawa, having been her age at one point, asked him to leave her be for the moment, and that they would talk to her tomorrow. In her room, she thought back on the older woman’s story. She didn’t want to cause trouble, of course, but… The older woman had snuck out herself in her childhood, and she said she had never had more fun. Satsuki thought about the fun Mr. Koi Fish and herself would have… she brought over the fishbowl containing Gilligan to her bed, and, in a hushed whisper, asked him what she should do. Gilligan said nothing and instead swam around the fishbowl slowly.
An idea came to Satsuki’s head at that moment. She wondered if Mr. Koi Fish could perhaps tell her the reason Gilligan wasn’t speaking. The more she thought about the idea, the more convinced that her friend Mr. Koi Fish absolutely must know the reason why. The excitement settled deep within her, and she was unable to sleep well into the night. She listened quietly until the soft snores of the Kazawas could be heard, and slipping into her slippers, quickly left the house, closing the door softly behind her. She carried the fishbowl in her hands as she did so, determined to have Mr. Koi Fish meet Gilligan.
She walked very carefully, light on her feet. She was sure to avoid any oncoming cars—which often led her sneaking down alleys and back paths. It took quite some time, and her arms were quite tired at having to carry Gilligan. The movements she performed while trying to achieve her goal inevitably caused some water to spill out of the fishbowl, and it was now well under a quarter empty.
After much effort, she finally reached the woods. The trees were sparse, and plenty of the night skylight was able to be seen throughout the towering trees. With careful steps, Satsuki made her way back to the direction of the lake, carefully following the path. Finally, arriving at the bridge, she peered into the water below. Seeing nothing yet, Satsuki called:
“Mr. Koi Fish!” She whispered in a hurry. “I’m here! I came back!”
There was nothing for a minute, and even after repeated calls, Mr. Koi Fish did not show himself. Satsuki began to worry, and she thought that she had lost her friend. A deep sadness within her, she began to softly cry. Suddenly, a splash was heard, and Satsuki opened her eyes to Mr. Koi Fish.
“Mr. Koi Fish!” she exclaimed. “I thought you weren’t going to come!”
“Princess,” he began. “I should be saying that to you. You left me all alone, yearning for you, yesterday. Do you know how much that hurts a lone Koi’s heart?”
Satsuki, feeling guilty, explained that she had gotten another fish friend, and had been busy most of the day. At her reveal, she brought the fishbowl closer to the water, the goldfish swimming every which way with increasing intensity the closer Satsuki brought the fishbowl to the water.
“…I see,” Mr. Koi Fish said softly. “Well, I suppose I can forgive you then. Though you will have to make it up to me. That reminds me, Miss. Satsuki darling, did you manage to come up with a name for me?”
There was not much Satsuki could do besides let out a long “Uh…”
Mr. Koi Fish turned around, his splashing tail facing Satsuki. “And you prioritized another fish over me, as well… You cheated on me, Satsuki.”
“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Koi Fish!” Satsuki cried in a panic. “I didn’t mean to! I just figured Gilligan would be sad if I didn’t have a name for him by the time I got him at the store! Even now, he doesn’t talk to me…”
Mr. Koi Fish turned back around, facing Satsuki. He gazed at her for a long while before blowing a bubble in his mouth. “He doesn’t talk to you, you say?”
Satsuki nodded. “I was hoping you knew, Mr. Koi Fish…”
Mr. Koi Fish hummed. “Well, fish are quite… shy, when surrounded by humans—even if said human is a pretty, wonderful girl such as yourself. I was quite lonely when I called for you, so I had talked to you without so much as a second thought, though… Gilligan may be a bit more reluctant…”
Mr. Koi Fish swam around the lake for a while, before returning to its previous position. Again, he blew bubbles from his mouth.
“I tell you what, Princess,” he began. “Dump… Gilligan, into the lake. I believe he is feeling a bit homesick. I have a small fish home under the bridge. I’ll take him there, and after letting him calm down, see if he is finally up for conversation with you. How does that sound?”
Our Satsuki, satisfied with such an explanation, slowly poured the contents of the fishbowl into the lake. Upon hitting the water, Gilligan swam away very quickly, as though he was darting off. This brought a gasp from Satsuki, and Mr. Koi Fish swam after him. Once he had caught up to him, he took his tail into his mouth and the two of them disappeared into the water. There was silence, and Satsuki waited anxiously for Mr. Koi Fish’s return. Five minutes passed, and our Satsuki began to pace back and forth along the bridge, wondering if Gilligan truly did not wish to speak to her. A splash sounded, and she ran back to the guard rail. Mr. Koi Fish had returned.
“Mr. Koi Fish!” Satsuki exclaimed in relief. “I thought you wouldn’t come back! Why did Gilligan run away? Did he want to play?”
Mr. Koi Fish was silent for a time, and then, after blowing a small bubble, swam around in circles. He returned to face Satsuki.
“Such a troublemaker…” he began with a huff. “Why, yes, he did want to play. He was quite young, that Gilligan. I had to… settle him down a bit. Good news, though, Princess. He settled down quite well in our fish home, and said that he wishes to speak with you now.”
Satsuki frowned and began to lean over the rail guard a bit more. “So, how could I get Gilligan to talk to me? Does he need me to make him a home like his?”
Mr. Koi Fish shook his body left and right, with some splashes. “No, in fact, he said he would be happy to speak to you this instant. You just have to get in the water, that way you could come and see him.”
Our Satsuki was very excited at the idea of talking to both of her fish friends at once. However, looking deep into the water, anxiety began to well up within her. She had no clue how to swim.
“Ah, don’t worry, Darling Satsuki. It is perfectly safe to come in. If you can’t swim, my magical fish powers will make you able to swim in an instant. It will keep your clothes dry, and you will even be able to breathe underwater. Gilligan is very, very excited to speak with you.”
Satsuki looked at her friend Mr. Koi Fish. He was blowing bubbles nearly nonstop now. She leaned over the guard rail, a great nervousness welling up within her. “…Do you promise?”
Her voice quivered, and some sweat was forming on her face in anticipation and in the humidity of the summer forest night. Mr. Koi Fish gazed at our Satsuki, as well, his body twitching slightly. Finally, his mouth began moving.
“I super, duper, whooper, trooper promise.”
Satsuki laughed heartily at her friend’s remark, and, taking off her slippers, climbed up the edge of the guardrail. She sat on its edge, and, preparing herself, exclaimed, “Catch me, Mr. Koi Fish!”
She let herself fall into the lake, her body sinking deep into the water. She tried to breathe, as Mr. Koi Fish had told her she would be able to, but water filled her lungs in an instant. She choked immediately. She tried to swim, as Mr. Koi Fish had told her she would be able to, but she only flailed her arms frantically, the weight of her soaked pajamas pulling her down. She opened her eyes, looking for the support of her friend. She found herself surrounded by koi fish, in many different shades and colors. They began to nibble and pick at her, bit by bit, taking small bites from her feet, her skin, her face, her hair. Satsuki could not help but scream in pain, though nothing could be heard as her lungs filled further. Eventually, she saw Mr. Koi Fish swimming toward her. She was relieved, as though she were being saved. Mr. Koi Fish came close to her face and gazed at her for a moment before beginning to nibble at her lips.
The next morning came. The Kazawas had discussed last night that Satsuki had acted strangely earlier due to the fact that she wanted to see the Koi Fish, and that she was growing impatient. They knew it had been some time since they all had time to play together, and decided that this morning they would finally fulfill their promise. They awoke early, silently made breakfast, and after all was done and prepared, knocked softly on Satsuki’s closed door.
“Satsuki-chan!” Ms. Kazawa announced. “We made breakfast!”
No sound came from Satsuki’s bedroom. Ms. Kazawa looked to her Mister, who opened his mouth next.
“Dear, we’re going to go see the Koi Fish today!” he announced, a big smile on his face. “You better wake up, or we’re going to leave you behind!”
Still, no sound. The Kazawas knew Satsuki wasn’t a deep sleeper, nor did she like to sleep in. Curious, they opened the door to Satsuki’s bedroom at last. They searched. First her bedroom, then the bathroom, then the backyard. They could not find our Satsuki.
Comments