Oniisan… Ohitori Desu Ka? 🆒 🔔

Would you like me to respond as the oniisan (older brother)?

I walked down the mountain that night. I called my mother from the train station payphone—old-fashioned, but my phone was still on the kitchen table. She picked up on the first ring. oniisan… ohitori desu ka?

“Yes,” I said. “I’m alone.”