The Happy Yellow Sphere

A certain day in June.

I caught wind that a certain popular character was coming to the local shopping mall.
I just had to go! 🔥


While I glanced at my excited sons,


it was actually their mother who was the most hyped.
ZIP! in the morning, news every. in the evening.


For a Channel 4 fanatic like me,
that yellow sphere is practically a celebrity.
And then, the day arrived.


I stood in line from the morning to get a numbered ticket.


(Wait, I have to stand in line with two kids...? This is going to be quite the trial.)

Just as I was thinking that,

my eldest son said,

“Mom! Today is the release date for the My Hero Academia lottery! I’m going to the convenience store!”
My second son said,

“I’m going too!”
I said,

“Then I’ll go wait for the numbered ticket!”
(Yes!!!)

We became a rather unusual parent-child duo,

lining up in separate queues from the morning.
Even though our destinations were different,

we were all doing our own version of 'fan activities'.
And successfully, I got the ticket.



When I headed to the convenience store to check on my sons...


It was already over.


Both of them were standing there,

holding more prizes than they could carry.
My eldest son said,


“Mom! I’m so glad you came! 💦”
(...How many times did you draw?)


I want to ask.


I really want to ask.

But for now, there’s just too much stuff.


I carried half of it home.

Once we got home, I asked him.

“By the way, eldest son, how many times did you draw?”

“.........”


I understood everything from that silence.


Apparently.


The allowance he had been saving up.


All of it.


He had spent it.


Yes.


All of it.


......All of it?!



(It’s his allowance, so he should be able to spend it however he likes.)



(Even so, all of it...)

(But it’s his favorite anime, so I understand the feeling.)

(Still, all of it...)

Inside my head,


the whispers of an angel and a devil kept repeating.
But he himself had the biggest smile of his life.


In the end,


all I could say was,


“Nice one! 😎”


Even though I didn't really think it was 'nice' at all...

And, my eldest son is quick to switch gears.


His mind was 100% on the yellow sphere.

We were supposed to meet at 3:00 PM.

I thought we’d eat lunch,

relax for a bit, and then head out,
but just then—
......Huh.


Wait.

He’s asleep.

My second son is asleep—!!!


Lately, he’s been hopelessly grumpy when he wakes up.


But I didn't want to give up.


“Second son.”



......


“Time to wake up.”


......


No response.


Trying not to put him in a bad mood,

I was calling out to him
very gently,
when my eldest son panicked and shouted,

“Second son!!! Wake up!!!”

(Eek! 😱 Big voice!!)

As expected,


“Shut up!! I’m sleepy!!”

Yeah, I figured.

I prepared myself for the end.

Then my eldest son said one thing.

“You won’t be able to meet Sora-jiro!”

My second son said,

“No!!! I’m waking up!!!”
That was fast.

The Sleeping Beauty from a moment ago revived in 0.5 seconds.

He stood up vigorously and headed straight for the entrance.

(You did it! Eldest son! 👏)

Wait, where did that sleepiness from a moment ago go?

After a few minor scuffles along the way,


we finally met him.

To wake up even a grumpy 4-year-old in an instant,


as expected of a national celebrity, Sora-jiro.

Thank you for making the kids smile,


you happy yellow sphere. 🟡

Do you all have any 'magic words' that make your children


'wake up in an instant'?

By the way, for my eldest son,

he would jump right out of bed if I played the Thomas the Tank Engine opening theme. lol