It was only after my mother’s death—sudden, a cerebral hemorrhage on a Tuesday—that I understood what Maria Nagai truly was. She was not just a friend. She was a witness.

“No, I won’t.”

Known for her "cool beauty" aesthetic and tall, slender physique.

Maria met your mother, Yuki, when both were young new brides in the same Osaka apartment complex. While other neighbors competed over garden aesthetics and children’s test scores, Maria and Yuki bonded over shared midnight cups of sake, complaining about stubborn husbands and leaky faucets. When your father left for long business trips, it was Maria who showed up with homemade okonomiyaki and a stern look that said, “You will be fine, but I’m staying anyway.” She was in the delivery room when you were born, holding your mother’s hand. She taught you how to hold a brush before you could hold a pencil.

Answer: a) Positive Reinforcement