"Tell me once again."
Aiko gives me a worrisome look before continuing to describe in the same way she did before, adding a little more to the story. Anger and grief washed over me in an instant, and I realized why he had to fake for so long, just to make up his mind. We stepped inside my parents' house to join the two families just as she was about finished.
Mr. Hosoki says, "There she is-" before being cut off by Marie.
"Hana- I'm sorry if I'm seeing things incorrectly, but you need to look in the mirror, sweetheart, you looked like you'd been sobbing…" Marie says this while pointing to my face.
I wipe anything off of my face quickly and force a smile, "It's just perspiration, no one's been crying here," I say with a strange chuckle, offering to hold my brother afterwards. My brother has cheered me up for a few minutes with his small little smile, as I caress his tiny little body and smile at his cutoff coos, that is until I'm interrupted by chikashi.
"I'm not interested in listening to whatever you want to talk about." I'm about to go with my brother in my arms when I feel a hand on my shoulder as I whirl around to question, "Mum?" She smiles softly and gently takes my younger sibling from my arms, saying, "I'll go put him to sleep so you two can speak."
"You can't expect me to let you explain everything Aiko said before!" Outside, where we were meant to be civilized, but instead I yell at Chikashi. Chikashi is taken aback, as though he didn't expect me to discover the reality he's been avoiding. "She told you.."
I rubbed my temples and spoke in a shaky tone. " Why would you toy with me the way you did that one night if you never wanted to talk to me? or even acknowledge me... chikashi, I'm tired of being used! This is entirely your fault!" I clutch my shirt hard, attempting to keep back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes, while Chikashi just stands there, speechless.
"I wasn't expecting anything to go this far," Chikashi admitted nervously. "Years ago, I wanted to give you a response, but I was too ignorant to realize your feelings, so I kept them hidden from you....I genuinely like you..that night meant everything to me," he says, pinching his nose while sighing. I value you tremendously." How can you say that now? I think to myself.
"Do you think I'm going to fall to my knees in desperation after you didn't bother to say how you felt!?" He approaches me and, to my astonishment, grips my shoulder firmly. " Right now, I'm not expecting anything from you! Yes, I made a mistake by not expressing my feelings towards you, but I'm telling you now. I adore you—no, I happen to admire you. " He stares me in the eyes, and the firm grasp he used to have on my shoulders has softened into a gentle touch.
"It doesn't matter anymore... it was completely worthless from the start." I hear footsteps approaching me and realize it's Yuika. "Hana! How can you abandon him after he delivered the news you've been waiting for who knows how long!? And, chikashi, you're a moron; how did you miss the fact that she had feelings for you?! And don't use that as an excuse 'I had no idea she shared my sentiments' "If you truly love someone, you will tell them right away! Defeat the dissenting voices!" Chikashi and I exchange glances unsure on what to do, so we awkwardly remain where we are for awhile.
When I take a step back from Chikashi I rub my arm awkwardly. " I'm going inside… "I'll see you later," I say. As I begin to walk away, Chikashi appears to want to say something, but instead I hear him kick the trash can outside, which causes me to turn around and exclaim, "Don't kick my parent's trashcan, I can't believe that you finally stated you like me, but truly, what you've done is-."My sentence gets cut off as I turn to look at my mother standing before me, she sighs "Hana spend the night at his house until you both get along. I forbid you to come home until you two get over your little argument."
I glance at Chikashi, frustrated, and send him a death stare. I then start moving down the sidewalk without saying anything. "Hana! "Where are you going?" I jog down the sidewalk angrily, picking up my pace. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew if I stayed with him, I'd go insane or ask too many questions, not because I didn't deserve them, because I knew I did. A little further down the road, I'm walking through a run-down area known as a doya-gai. Fixing my clothes and walking into a small inn, I notice no one at the front desk and patiently sit on one of the chairs, which appeared to be a little worn but not completely useless.
I am startled awake by someone softly patting my leg, and I immediately stand up.
"Are you okay, miss?" a young lady asks
"I'm fine, I'm sorry... do you have any rooms available?" I say
The lady in her twenties returns behind the desk and pulls out a key. "Because no one comes here to stay, we have plenty of space, I'll give you a discount today," she smiles as she places the keys on the desk. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly stay in a room at a reduced rate." "I'll pay the full price." I smile back weakly. "You can even pay me in the morning, you look like you've had a rough day, so please take the room and rest," the young lady says with a shake of her head. I reluctantly take the keys and walk down the hall to the final door.
As I walk through the worn-out room, I take in the surroundings. Aside from a few broken chairs in the corners, the room looks great. The lady appeared to have kept it neat and tidy. I notice the blankets already spread out on the floor and fall asleep almost immediately.