Two years later.
As a long-running family variety show that has been on air for nearly twenty years, 'First Errand' focuses on the everyday scenario of a child's first solo shopping trip. The show secretly films children aged two to seven as they venture out alone to run errands for their families. Thanks to its heartwarming and relatable content, the show has maintained high popularity across the country.
[ Note: First Errand is a shows name, there is also a other name that is Old Enough!]
Seven-year-old Mem- Cho is one of the show's loyal viewers. From a young age, she had dreamed of becoming an idol or actress, even spending a long time coming up with a stage name. She eventually settled on "Mem- Cho" because she thought it sounded cute.
Mem- Cho had also fantasized about being chosen by the 'First Errand' production team, confident that she would perform exceptionally well and captivate the audience. But as she grew older, now almost eight, the chance seemed increasingly slim.
Since her mother was busy putting her two younger brothers to bed, Mem- Cho turned down the TV volume. Her family was also a single-parent household, with her mother raising her and her two brothers alone. From a young age, Mem- Cho had helped with household chores, and running errands like those on 'First Errand' was something she was already quite familiar with.
This was one reason she hoped the show would pick her family. To ensure the children's safety, the 'First Errand' team usually coordinated with nearby residents and deployed twenty to thirty staff members to act as passersby or police officers. Even with these precautions, most three- or four-year-olds would burst into tears or become overwhelmed on their journey.
That's why Mem- Cho believed she could do better than them.
Not only could she handle shopping, but she also picked up her brothers from kindergarten. She was used to holding their hands, weaving through the crowds of parents and cars, effortlessly bringing her little brothers home.
As Mem- Cho was lost in these thoughts, the commercials on TV finally ended, and the new episode of 'First Errand' began.
"Today's child might be a little different from those in the past."
The familiar voice of the narrator began, and the panelists on the commentary couch had already composed themselves, ready to exclaim "kawaii" (cute), "kakkoii" (cool), or "sugoi" (amazing) in exaggerated tones.
Accompanied by the cheerful theme song Do-Re-Mi-Fa No Problem, the camera finally zoomed in on an apartment, focusing on a little girl watching TV.
Beside her, her name and age quickly appeared on the screen:
[Kitagawa Ruby, 3 years and 2 months old.]
"Kawaii! (So cute!)"
As if prepared in advance, the panel erupted in exclamations of "kawaii." This time, however, Mem- Cho, watching at home, didn't find it annoying. The little girl on screen, tilting her head slightly, was indeed deserving of such praise.
Her slightly golden hair gave her a mixed-race appearance, though it only reached her shoulders due to her age. Her striking red eyes were large and bright, and her slightly chubby cheeks gave off an irresistible urge to pinch them.
But Mem- Cho couldn't shake the feeling that she had heard the name "Kitagawa Ruby" somewhere before.
With this curiosity, Mem- Cho propped her chin on her hand and watched intently.
"Hey, Ruby, we're out of soy sauce. Go buy some."
At this moment, a boy around eleven or twelve years old emerged from the kitchen. As Mem- Cho's jaw dropped, the show dramatically revealed his name with a fanfare:
[Kitagawa Ryo, Ruby's older brother, renowned theater and film actor.]
Below his name was a long list of his notable works.
The panelists immediately erupted in exclamations of "sugoi" (amazing), this time sounding much more genuine and less perfunctory.
As the camera zoomed in on Kitagawa Ryo, many female panelists couldn't help but exclaim "kakkoii" (so handsome), their tones sincere and not at all performative.
After all, objectively speaking, given his popularity and influence, even if you combined the fame of everyone on the panel, it would only be a fair match.
"Nooo!"
But the scene on TV quickly drew everyone, including Mem- Cho, back in. Kitagawa Ruby pouted and refused Kitagawa Ryo's request.
Here it comes.
Mem- Cho sat up straight. Having watched 'First Errand' for years, she knew that many children lacked the courage to go out alone. The next scene would likely involve the little girl throwing a tantrum, with the adults coaxing and persuading her—a classic segment.
"It's not that hard, Ruby. You're already three."
Just as Mem- Cho expected, Kitagawa Ryo looked a bit exasperated as he walked over to his sister, trying to persuade her:
"I really can't leave right now. Without soy sauce, we can't make dinner."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. You're about to start kindergarten soon."
He gently coaxed her while hugging her, mimicking the behavior of parents in past episodes.
But Mem- Cho couldn't shake the feeling that the expression on Ruby's face wasn't fear at all.
It was more like, "Ah—bliss—"
"But what if a bad guy takes me away?"
"Then wouldn't big brother be all alone?"
Ruby's childish remark elicited a round of good-natured laughter from the panelists.
"There aren't that many bad guys… Be good, okay?"
Although he wanted to point out that their upscale neighborhood had more security personnel than residents, Kitagawa Ryo held back and simply smiled, patting Ruby's head:
"Ruby, be good."
Ruby, clearly enjoying the attention, finally seemed to muster her courage:
"O-okay… I'll go buy the soy sauce."
"Be careful on the way."
After carefully placing a small wallet with money into Ruby's little bag, Kitagawa Ryo pointed out the store a few hundred meters away. It was actually a store within their gated community. He then watched uneasily as Ruby headed out.
For veteran viewers like Mem- Cho, the pre-departure segment was just the appetizer. The real show began now.
Based on Ruby's behavior at home, she seemed like a spoiled little girl doted on by her brother. Mem- Cho guessed she wouldn't make it two hundred meters before breaking down in tears on the roadside.
Or, worse, she might turn back as soon as she left the building. The show had seen many such cases before.
For three- or four-year-olds, suddenly leaving home alone to complete a task like buying something was a big challenge. Even if they didn't perform well, the audience was always encouraging.
But Kitagawa Ryo's affectionate smile had already won over tens of thousands of girls under ten across the country, including Mem- Cho. At this moment, many were probably imagining having such a gentle older brother themselves. Thinking this way, they might even feel like Ruby had stolen their ideal life.
Kitagawa Ruby lazily yawned.
Contrary to most people's expectations, Ruby showed no signs of fear after leaving the house. Instead, she skipped along cheerfully, greeting neighbors in the community with a bright smile, and walked straight into the store without hesitation.
Huh?
Where was the mental breakdown? The tears? The confusion? Who was going to make up for the missing drama?
"Hello, can I have a bottle of soy sauce, please?"
At just under a meter tall, Ruby couldn't quite reach the counter, so she raised her hand and called out to the clerk.
However, the clerk was actually a staff member from the show. At this moment, two other staff members, disguised as customers, entered the store and began asking the clerk questions.
Unable to help Ruby directly, the clerk gave an apologetic smile and pointed to a shelf:
"It's over there."
Here it comes.
Mem- Cho sat up again. As a loyal viewer, she knew this trick well. Many children could make it to the store but often couldn't articulate what they needed to buy. To add drama, the staff would sometimes point to an entire shelf or present two items, forcing the child to choose.
How could a three-year-old possibly distinguish soy sauce from other condiments…
Huh?
"Soy sauce~ soy sauce."
"Found it."
Ruby effortlessly picked out the soy sauce from the crowded shelf without hesitation and headed back to the checkout counter.
"Little one, we have a half-price sale on snacks today—chips, jelly, cookies, bread. They're cheap and delicious."
Here it comes.
Mem- Cho leaned forward, excitedly watching the screen.
This was the show's ultimate test. Many children who could make it to the store and buy the required item would often succumb to the temptation of snacks and toys. Some even forgot what they were supposed to buy after loading up on treats.
But Ruby walked right past them. The shiny jellies and beautifully packaged cookies seemed to hold no appeal for her.
With all their tricks failing, the staff could only watch as Ruby paid for the soy sauce and left the store, feeling a sense of defeat.
Even they would probably glance at the snacks if someone announced a half-price sale.
It felt like they'd been outclassed in self-control by a three-year-old.
Just like her uneventful trip to the store, Ruby's journey home was equally smooth.
The only slight challenge was carrying the soy sauce. Her hands were too small, so she had to hold the bottle with both hands to keep it steady.
She climbed the stairs effortlessly and reached her front door. Although Kitagawa Ryo had already opened the door, Ruby still called out cheerfully:
"Big brother—I'm back."
She even wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead, as if to emphasize how hard she had worked, and beamed with pride.
The panelists erupted in warm laughter again.
If they didn't know the show was filmed secretly, they might have suspected the little girl had seen a script. Her sense of timing was impeccable.
As with past episodes, the guardians would offer the most enthusiastic encouragement and praise when their child successfully completed their 'First Errand'. Some parents even broke down in tears seeing their little ones struggling home with bags of groceries.
"You did great, Ruby."
Kitagawa Ryo walked out from the living room and crouched in front of his sister, taking the soy sauce from her.
"Yeah, I worked really hard."
Ruby looked at her brother and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Ruby is the best!"
Kitagawa Ryo picked her up and nuzzled her nose with his forehead:
"I'm really happy."
For a moment, he even forgot he was filming a variety show. But perhaps 'First Errand' was precisely after this kind of genuine emotional moment.
Over two years ago, Kitagawa Ryo had thought he would never have any connection with this sister who shared no blood relation with him. But through a series of twists and turns, they had become a family of two.
Toshirou Kindaichi had initially been worried about whether Ryo, still a child himself, could take care of another child. He had even considered asking trusted friends to temporarily adopt Ruby. But in the end, the two of them made it through.
Thanks to Tanaka's sensational tabloid article, Ruby had become a hidden victim of a sham marriage. Being just a baby, she had largely flown under the radar, and most netizens had already forgotten her existence.
But as Ruby grew older, she would eventually enter school and society, where she might face judgment over her past.
That's why Kitagawa Ryo had chosen 'First Errand'. He hoped to further distance Ruby from the Kitagawa family and firmly establish her in people's minds as Kitagawa Ryo's well-behaved little sister, not the child of those two.
Kitagawa Ryo gently kissed Ruby's cheek.
Facing the camera again, this kiss was different from the performative one over two years ago.
It was soft, warm, and full of tenderness.
As a show that had been on air for nearly twenty years, 'First Errand' loved to revisit families who had participated in the show eight or ten years later.
At the end of this episode, the show left its usual open-ended question:
"I wonder what that brave, timid, walking, running, stumbling, or rising little one will be like ten years from now?"