"It's only natural for her not to show up. She can't just go out like that without telling anyone.", says Kaigara while he takes a bite off a biscuit he brought from home. "Why aren't you even going home? You could just stay at home and not worry about anything."
"Yea, right! I went to my home before you showed up. Looked like dad left with his stuffs. He didn't even leave a note. What would I even do staying there?"
"I see. Maybe he is late for the traffic?"
"No, he won't even pick up his phone."
Kaigara starts staring at me.
"What's up with the stare!?"
"Nothing, I didn't know you would have your dad's phone number. I mean, you two don't even talk that much."
"Of course I'll have his number! I'm his son." I suddenly feel a li'l sad, " And he just left me, all alone."
"Don't be sad. You still have me around."
"Uhuh! How long will you be with me?! I mean my parents left me, Tachibana left me, you'll also leave at some point."
"So, she is Tachibana, huh!"
"Stop smirking. You didn't answer my question. Answer it fast!"
"What question?"
"About you leaving me."
"You can answer it yourself. I'm not the type of person who leaves a story without an ending."
I smile hearing him say that.
"I see. I forgot that you are a novelist"
"You really think I can be a novelist?", He laughs.
"No, you can't."
"Come on! Don't take the complement back like that!"
"It's really late. You should go home."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You don't have any place to stay. Come to my house. We have a spare room, you know."
"Thanks I guess"
I don't want to argue with him. Not at this point anyway. He is the only person I have left now. Besides, the biscuits he brought made me more hungry.
"I'm back!"
"Why are you late this much?! Your dad and I thought you left to join the war or something!"
"Me and war? Yeah, right!" You make me laugh mom." Kaigara laughs whole heatedly for a few moments.
"Ow, you brought densetsu too."
"Umm, Hello auntie. My dad...I mean.. uh.. umm..."
"It's ok, dear. You can stay here as long as you want to. You are family afterall.", Kaigara's mom says with a kind smile only a mom can make.
Suddenly, I feel at ease looking at her smile like that. It feels like I'm finally at home, after 13 years of harsh journey. Honestly, I felt this whenever I came to visit Kaigara's. I just never had the chance to notice these feelings.
"Umm, auntie?"
"Yes?"
"Can I umm... call you mother?"
Kaigara's mom becomes stunned for a moment, just a slight moment of shock was seen on her face. But she hides it really fast and says while smiling,
"I'd prefer mom more."