"Hoshi!? Hoshi!"
"Dad! Dad! Stay awake!"
Everything is slowing down.
The time is slowing down, and the actions are slowing down as we hurried him to the hospital.
My tears bursts. I couldn't stop my eyes...
I feel an ache in my chest, a feeling of guilt, a feeling of remorse.
'This is all my fault...'
I tried to wipe my tears, but my eyes continued to produce it.
'Why!?'
'Why do they have to involve him!?'
I gnashed, while also clenching my fists.
'Why!?'
I punched the wall.
Yuna on the other hand, sat in a chair, and cries.
She also tried to wipe her tears, but she fails.
It's her father after all...
After a while, she stood up and hugged me from behind.
My eyes grew big.
"Yu-Yuna?"
"I know you are blaming yourself right now, but you have to stop, it's not gonna help us..."
"But, this is all my fault. I should've been gone! I shouldn't have bothered your life. This is all on me..."
"No! It's not your fault! So please, stop blaming yourself..."
She cried, while hugging me tightly from behind.
I tried to wipe my tears, but I can't help it.
My eyes continued to produce tears.
"I'm sorry... It's just, I believe it all started on me."
"I said stop! I'm afraid!" She tightly hugs me once more.
"A-Afraid? Wha-What do you mean?"
"My father used to blame himself. He thought he was the reason why my mother died..."
I'm surprised. My eyes grew big. My tears suddenly stopped.
"Whenever he remembers her, and blames himself at the same time. He always attempts suicide.." She added.
"I.. I didn't know. I'm so-"
"So stop blaming yourself! Because I'm afraid you'd do the same. Ok?" She interrupts.
"I'm.. I'm sorry.."
She continued to hug me tightly, while I continued to cry. I just couldn't stop my tears.
After all, Hoshi, her father, is like a family to me.
My teeth grinds, as I began to feel anger from my chest.
'Those hoarders!'
Her father was stabbed in the alley.
He thought it was just a lost person, asking for directions, but only to find out that it is a hoarder.
As soon as I saw her father, lying on the ground. I quickly hurried and killed the running hoarder, the killer.
I can never forgive that killer. Even if he's in hell, I'd kill him if I have the chance.
We waited, and waited for hours.
Until finally, the doctor came out.
"We'll be performing an operation to him, but it is 50/50." The doctor said.
I gazed at the doctor.
"What do you mean 50/50?"
"He is in critical condition. He is already old, So I don't know if he can take the operation. We'll have to rely on faith..."
I gnashed.
I suddenly bursts out of anger and grabs his shirt,
"What do you mean rely on faith!? Can't you do something!? You're a doctor, right!? Can't you heal him!?"
Yuna tries to stop me,
"R-Ryu! Stop! He already said what he can do, and that's all he can do. Ok!?"
I continued to gnash, but I slowly let go of the doctor's shirt.
I feel so depressed, I don't know what to do. The doctor said 50/50, but what if he don't make it?
My eyes began to produce tears.
Yuna then hugged me.
'This is unacceptable.. If only I have 50 keychains. Maybe I'd be able to heal him.. But no! I don't! I don't even have enough...'
'How cruel this world is...'
"Yuna?"
"Hmm?"
"Let's leave town.."
She looked at me, so I looked back at her.
"I can't." She smiled.
"What? Why? I'm sure your father would've wish for us to leave too. So, why?"
"They worked for it, but in the end, only my father make it happen.."
I'm confused.
"The what?"
"The café" She smiled.
"It was their dream, her dream... My mother and father met at the café. That's where it all began..
They've been planning this, before I was even born. They said I'm their greatest gift, but it'll be more great if we'll also have our own café. So my father and mother worked hard for it. However, tragedy happened." She added.
I'm stunned, I'm dumbfounded, and I'm also speechless.
I gasped.
"Every time I remember their story, I also remember ours.. There's no difference.." She giggles.
I chuckled.
"But Yuna, we're not safe here. Didn't you even mentioned you wanna go to a beach?"
"I know, but abandoning the café is not part of my vacation plan. Besides, you're here. I trust we'd overcome this. I trust you.."
She looks closely into my eyes, and I looked back.
I gulped.
'I guess there is no choice. I should respect her wish.'
"Then how about we reinforce the café?"
"Reinforce?"
"Yes. Like adding barricades and traps to kill the attacking hoarders. 'Cause I don't have full confidence in myself. I just want your full safety."
"You mean 'Our' safety.."
"Ye-Yes.. Our safety. I want our full safety."
"Since leaving the café is out of the option, our only option now is to survive and be vigilant at all times." I added.
"That's fine, as long as we'll open the shop during the day."
"And I'll help you in the café too."
She giggled.
"Really? Can you handle being a barista?"
"Come on.. I've been watching you how you do it. It's literally just a piece of cake."
"Hahaha. Ok. Alright then."
"Ok? Alright! Let's head to the café now."
"What about my father?"
"The doctor said they will be performing an operation to him. So, It's risky if the hoarders comes here."
"True.. Well? Let's go?"
I nodded.
"Let's go. Let's just have faith for your father. I'm sure he'll make it. He's a tough man after all."
"Maybe... Maybe you're right... He attempted to kill himself several times, but he failed. I guess today is not his day as well. Let's believe in him..."
I smiled at her, and she smiles back.
I grabbed her hand, and then ran with her.
We left our phone number at the receptionist, to update us about the operation.
I'm sure, Hoshi, her father, will make it. And I believe it. I trust my guts.
After heading back to the café, we then start our reinforcing.
We prepared ropes, set traps, and even blocked the exits.
We mostly reinforced the café. 'Cause I'll try to draw their attention to me.
While Yuna will be staying upstairs.
"Yuna, you'll be staying upstairs. Ok?"
She shook her head.
"No! I wanna help!"
"No! It's too dangerous for you."
"And not for you? What if they got you? What if one enemy, sneaks behind your back? Aren't they gonna come to me after?"
"I.. Uh.."
"See? Look, the only way for us to survive this, is if we'll help each other. Ok?"
"Yeah.. But.."
"Ryu?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you trust me?"
I gulped.
I don't want her to do any work here. As in, all I want is for her to sit back, and run if things go sideways..
I then took a deep breath.
"Yes." I nodded.
She smiled.
"Good! Now let me tie these ropes on my own, I just have the perfect plan to trip them."
I sighed.
"Ok."
'This isn't part of the plan, but I'll make sure to take her upstairs, once this all starts.'
After reinforcing the shop, we then closed the lights, sat on a floor, and leans on the counter.
It's tiring. We had to complete it in an hour, for we don't have that much time.
While resting, I noticed the full moon.
It's so close, so big, yet so beautiful.
It shines from the dark sky, bringing moonlight in the night.
Yuna then held my hand. I guess she saw the beautiful moon too.
She was so amazed by its beauty.
Her eyes were sparkling, and it is reflecting from the moonlight.
I smiled as I admire her.
She's as beautiful as this moonlight.
It's like she's the light, and I'm the dark.
I couldn't believe.
That I fell in love to an ordinary person. A person who is beautiful not just physically, but also emotionally. A person who would sacrifice everything just for the sake of others. A person who is understanding, and a person who accepted me for who I am.
Her name, is Yuna. Yuna Arakaki...