It's Like Being Slapped Over and Over Again

Her refusal to call Mio by her name went beyond simple rudeness. It was a calculated act of psychological cruelty.

She used a dismissive, non-specific form of address to actively deny Mio the basic dignity of her identity and reminded her that she was nothing more than a nameless creature—an unacknowledged shadow unworthy of a human name.

But what if her purpose was far more sinister than just blatant disrespect?

Given Rikka’s reputed connection to otherworldly practices, could she have feared that speaking Mio's name might inadvertently direct her projected curse or hex intended for Mio onto Sumio?

When Mio received a new baptismal name and expressed her wish to be addressed by it, Rikka's refusal became even more absurd.

The same woman who, for years, had refused to use the name Mio—which was nearly identical to her son's—now offered the flimsy excuse that her names both old and new, one-syllable names was hard to pronounce.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Mio couldn't even bring up Rikka's behavior without being accused of being petty by overly calculative with the elderly. It was as if Rikka's status as a senior entitled her to a license for rudeness.

Sumio, meanwhile, insisted that Mio be permissive and not take Rikka's actions to heart.

This was not a situation Mio would have chosen for herself, but their circumstantial connections meant she couldn't outright cut Rikka out of her life.

Rikka was a recorded trigger for Mio, so her only recourse was avoidance.

This was a cruel irony, as Mio herself had gone to great lengths to learn the family’s names in their native language out of politeness, yet that same basic courtesy was never extended to her.

Rikka had no regard for Mio's humanity or her efforts. To Rikka, Mio was just a creature, unworthy of existing in the same vicinity as her family—nothing more than a disposable piece of lettuce to be discarded.

She was someone to be erased from existence by any means—whether by mortal hand or arcane force—with no one batting an eye.

This was Rikka’s established power dynamic: Mio’s identity was hers to give and hers to stomp on.

©Britt H.

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