13k reads...it's insane, thank you guys so much. I haven't been able to write much in this book and still you guys read it. I'm glad I was able to write these chapters. They've been fun.

So..

It's the holiday season. And...I'm feeling mean.

Enjoy!

I wobbled a little as Monkie laughed atop my shoulders. Seems he was really enjoying the comic I'd bought him last week. But the kid was getting heavier. His moving about was harder to handle, or perhaps it was my fault. Tang warned me about taking care of a kid on top of my study habits.

"I know it can seem like a break from school, but kids are exhausting." Tang said from his reading chair.

I smirked as Monkie scribbled a monkey on his coloring book.

"Says the man who reads to the kid any chance you get." I snorted.

"I'm sitting down while I do it."

"Tang is such a worry wart." I shook my head with a smile. Monkie leaned forward, looking at me upside down. Which in turn made me stumble.

"He is. Yesterday he told me not to lick the egg beater cause of some Manila."

I smiled sheepishly. "Ah..well I doubt you would have enjoyed the taste of raw eggs." Monkie sat up and went back to his comic with a scoff. Leaving me to go back to focusing on walking.

Perhaps I should spend less time with Monkie. Exams were coming up, and if I fell asleep during one, that could end badly. But my heart hurt to think I wouldn't be able to hang out with the kid. He was the highlight of my week!

No, I could handle it. I just needed to adjust my schedule around. I'm sure there's something else I could do without.

When we reached Pigsy's, Monkie hopped off my shoulders all by himself, tumbling to the ground with a laugh. I smiled before handing over the Gameboy I'd bought him. He took it and stuffed it in his shirt like I'd taught him.

"Hey, your back, How was the comic store?" Pigsy asked as Monkie got up.

"Meh, nothing new came in." The kid shrugged nonchalantly before running up the stairs.

Pigsy took notice and arched a brow at me. "He seems awfully excited anyway. What happened?"

I tried to think of an excuse. But nothing came to mind. So I simply shrugged, climbing onto a bar stool. Pigsy watched me before squaring his shoulders.

"You don't look so good, (y/n). Have you been getting enough sleep?" He asked, grabbing a bowl.

"I'm fine, Pigsy." I waved a dismissive hand. Though my attitude didn't lift his frown.

"Look, I appreciate you lookin after the kid. But you don't have to keep this up. I've got more free time now, and I'm getting used to his high energy."

"But I like hanging out with Monkie." I pouted, watching him set a bowl of noodles in front of me.

"That doesn't mean you need to stretch yourself so thin. Just until you finish school, you don't have much farther to go."

I bit my lip, staring at the noodles in front of me. My stomach swirled at the thought of studying. I'd come to hate it so much, tempted to cut it out instead of time with Monkie, but Pigsy was right.

"Can't I have one more week end?" I asked. Pigsy seemed about to answer negatively, so I gave him my most sad 'please' face. His eyebrows softened and he cracked.

"Alright. One more weekend. But then it's cold turkey for you. You really can't afford to fail those exams (Y/n)."

"Ah! Thanks Pigsy!" I leaned across the counter, squeezing him in a hug.

He chuckled before pushing me back into my stool. "You'll spill your soup."

~Next Weekend!~

"So this is our last weekend?" Monkie pouted at me as we walked side by side. I'd worked my butt off to get this weekend homework free, and felt too tired to hold Monkie on my shoulders.

"For a while. Once I'm done with school, we'll be back to spending each weekend together." I told him. Though I wasn't sure if that would be true. After all, I'd have to start looking for more permanent work. Nothing would be certain once I was out of school. But I didn't want to think like that. "Which is why we're gonna have some extra fun today! To make up for the times we can't hang out together." I told him, and he threw his little fists in the air.

"Yeah! Let's go!" He shouted. Feeling a surge of energy from his excitement, I scooped him up on my shoulders and ran in to the theme park I'd bought us tickets for.

We rode rides that spun, dipped, and tossed us into the air. Ate all the candy we wanted, which was amazingly one sided. Monkie seemed to have a hole in his stomach, while I barely felt like eating anything sugary. Then we went through a maze of mirrors that the kid could navigate surprisingly well. Too well...he ended up having to guide me out, cause I got lost.

"You're terrible with directions (n/n), how do you get back to Pigsy's?" Monkie laughed as I got him some ice cream.

"Well, I've been walking to Pigsy's since he was in school with Tang and I." Monkie eagerly licked at his cup of ice cream as I explained. "Any path that's new is difficult. But once I've traveled it a few times, I know the way." As I spoke however, it seemed Monkie had lost interest in the conversation. Too enthralled by his icy treat. I smiled before ruffling his hair. He giggled.

"Alright. I'd say we had plenty of fun. Wanna head back?" I asked, looking at the darkening sky. Monkie pouted.

"What about the comic store?"

"Well, it's getting a bit late." I began when he pouted while showing his big eyes, sniffling a little to top it off. His puppy face made me melt.

"Oh you are good." I smiled before picking him up and setting him on my shoulders. "Alright, a quick stop by the comic shop." I caved, laughing at Monkie's cheer.

On the way, my stomach cramped and I felt my vision slide just before crossing the street. I stumbled to the side before catching myself and shaking my head.

"Aw, my cup!" Monkie whined as my vision refocused, and I saw that my stumble had caused the kid to drop his ice cream.

"Sorry Monkie. I tripped." I looked up at him, but he gave a sad smile.

"It's ok. Food isn't allowed in the comic shop anyway." He said with a nod, and I smiled.

"How smart of you to remember." I praised, while mentally kicking myself. If he hadn't dropped his ice cream, we'd have had to wait outside for him to finish it before going in. Pigsy would kill me if we got back so late.

We entered through the front door and I let Monkie run off through the shelves. I wouldn't have time to read anything other than text books for the next few weeks, so I didn't bother looking, and simply waited at the cash register.

A girl stood behind it, reading a magazine. She wasn't who I was used to seeing when Monkie and I came here, but that was most likely due to our time being so much later today.

"Need something?" The lady asked, looking over at me, but I shook my head.

"Just waiting for the kid to pick something out."

"You his aunt?" She asked, peeking over at Monkie, who was peering up at one of the comics on a higher shelf.

"Yup." I nodded. No need to give details.

"It's always fun to spoil them. You don't have to deal with the consequences." She smiled, I glanced at her quietly, before settling back against the counter with my arms folded. My legs were shaking a little. I needed to get Monkie home soon and get back home. I'd probably be sleeping till noon, but I didn't care. If I missed a class for one day, it would have been well worth the time spent with Monkie today.

The kid took more time than I would have liked. But he eventually came back with a single comic and handed it to me to pay for.

"Have a great day." The lady said as I tried to lift Monkie. But my arms were trembling. He looked up at me confused, but I smiled.

"Jump up, Monkie. One, Two, Three!"
He jumped, giving me the boost I needed to get him over my head and settled on my shoulders.

We then head out, while Monkie read his comic. Or so I thought. But as we crossed a street to head to Pigsy's, Monkie tapped my head.

"(N/n), are you tired?" He asked, and I sighed, trying to focus on walking. To be honest, I wasn't just tired. I was sweating, and shaky. I didn't feel too good either. Was it because of a lack of water? Had I eaten too little?

"A bit." I confessed, readjusting him. "But I'll be fine once I get home and get some sleep." I assured him, barely looking up at him with a smile before continuing forward.

Monkie closed his comic and set it on my head. I didn't mean to worry the kid, but it seems my act didn't fool him.
As soon as I spotted Pigsy's, Monkie started squirming.

"I want down." He said, and I weakly let him climb down. He then put a hand on his hip and pointed at me with his comic. "I can go from here, you head home." He said, before running ahead before I could say otherwise.

"Monkie, wait!" I ran after him as he started crossing the street without looking. I spotted the car before he did, and dove, managing to shove him just that bit of distance, so he was out of the way.

I blacked out after that. Opening my eyes, I saw Pigsy, I think he was cradling my head, talking to me. Monkie was staring at me with tear streaked cheeks, and wide eyes. I wanted to hug him, tell him everything was gonna be ok. But my arms wouldn't move, my mouth wouldn't open. My lips would only curl, so I gave him the biggest smile I could muster.

I don't regret this day. Not one bit. So don't be sad Monkie..please.

Link for the Song: https://youtu.be/7ifyPIoevKM?si=qQoytZezP0lK4rA0