Minoru rolled the three circles between his fingers with a soft smile. Isamu was right, as far as literal things went, that was his favorite. He couldn’t picture himself without it, couldn’t bear to part with it.

“It was Mama’s necklace. Her mom gave it to her not long before she died. And Mama… she gave it to me when she thought, well… when we were four, she got really really sick. Nobody knew if she was going to get better.” He relayed softly. “I was terrified, and she gave me this… so I wouldn’t be scared if she wasn’t there.”

“She did get better.” Isamu inserted, for Cookie’s benefit. “She and Papa are both in good health.”

“But that’s why I never take it off.” Minoru added, thoughtfully. “The people I care most about are always here, even if we’re far apart.”