“I really can’t cope with you three. There’s a limit to letting you go. How many times did mom tell you not to scratch this? Huh? Don’t turn away and look at mom properly.”

His wife’s voice could be heard from the living room.

Maru stroked down his face and got out of bed. He had such a deep sleep for a mid-day nap.

“Again! Again!”

Hearing his wife’s angry voice, he smiled and opened the door of the bedroom. A dog and two cats were being rebuked. It seemed the mischievous duo had scratched the new sofa they just got.

“They’re kids. Just let them be,” Maru said as he sat down at the table. 

The Shiba-inu with a limp leg hurriedly came over to him. The cats went up the sofa and started licking their fur.

“They won’t listen to me.”

“It’d be strange if they did.”

He stroked the head of the dog sitting by his feet. His wife sighed softly before opening the refrigerator.

“How’s your stomach?” his wife asked.

“Somewhat okay,” he said as he received the cup of barley tea that his wife gave him.

“If you of all people can’t pull yourself together, just how much did you drink?”

“I went around all the tables and accepted everything they were giving me.”

Maru grinned before drinking...