The two of them walked across the sidewalk. Waited for the bus for a few minutes, before heading to a movie theater with Takoyaki in hand.
During the trip, Aki saw how much fun Fuyu had on his Takoyaki rather than the sight of the first snow falling outside..
Aki may not have noticed, but ever since Fuyu came into his life, his eyes rarely blinked just because he enjoyed looking at him.
Fuyu himself was naive. Either because he didn't know, or he didn't really care... What is certain is that he also let his best friend's habit. At most if you catch a protest with... "Hey, what the hell..." but that's about it and gives a small grin.
Fuyu suddenly coughed, Aki immediately gave a handkerchief to him by patting his shoulder lightly.
"Hey... Hey... Are you okay?" asked Aki.
"It's okay. It's fine... Cough! Everything's fine..." said Fuyu with a wave of her hand. Aki also caressed his right cheek which was red from the cold.
"So if you eat slowly, you basic," said Aki. "Oh, yeah. Shall we watch something fun or what? Do you have any ideas?"
Fuyu shook his head slowly and pulled the scarf that partially covered his lips. Want to breathe easier. "No really. It's up to you. Haha. I don't care what you watch. As long as it's not horror, okay?"
"Okay."
Arriving at the cinema, Aki said goodbye for a while so that Fuyu just waited near the entrance. Meanwhile he went to get some popcorn and some cold drinks.
Fuyu tapped his feet. Miraculously restless. He also rubbed his palms together before blowing them off as the air grew colder.
To be honest, Fuyu's head only grew heavier with time. But if you remember Fuyu who brought him here, things aren't so bad.
Everything around him seemed to be lost in his brain. So Fuyu didn't feel the helplessness like a few years ago. When he sees your friend out on a date, while you can only stay at home and play on your cellphone all day on vacation, now he can actually spend precious time with Aki.
Incredibly, the sound of laughter in the crowd actually made him forget everything.
Foreign laughter.
Laughter men and women.
Then suddenly there was a familiar laugh as well.
"Hahah... Gosh..."
DEG
It was to the point that Fuyu's heart seemed to stop for a moment when he heard that kind of sound.
"Father?" Fuyu thought. Reflex immediately turned left and right. Looking for the face of the man who had cared for him all this time until he left.
And sure enough. Kajima Fushimi, Fuyu's father was standing not far from the ticket booth. The handsome man in his 40s was looking at the face of another man next to him.
The man looked no less handsome than Fushimi. Looking like Hot Daddy models in high-end magazines, he held out his drinking straw for Fushimi to taste.
Fushimi did too, and the man smiled gently as they exchanged glances afterward.
"Hiro..." said Fushimi.
Hiro ruffled the top of his head affectionately. As if they were teenagers, they enjoyed the moment with laughter and random talk before Fushimi held out a cigarette for Hiro to taste.
And if you look at it from a distance, it looks like Hiro told Fushimi to light the cigarette for him, so Fushimi was confused looking for a lighter in his pants pocket.
Crazy sight. And imagine what if you were in Fuyu's position right now?
Confused? Worried? Want to run or just angry with Fushimi Why forget it?
"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Aki. I don't know since when his best friend came over to buy popcorn and soft drinks in his arms.
"Ahh..." Fuyu sighed. Shocked, then couldn't help but look at Fushimi and Hiro one more time. "Ugh, I just..."
Aki followed Fuyu's gaze.
One second.
Two seconds.
Aki immediately understood why Fuyu was like that.
"That's your father," Aki said. "The one holding the match isn't it?"
"Y-Yes..." said Fuyu.
"Don't want to see him?"
"No, don't," said Fuyu. Reflex answered quickly like a train. "Come on... Let's just go inside now, shall we?"
I looked at Fuyu's pale expression for a while. "Okay. How comfortable are you."
Fuyu also gave a faint smile. "Okay."
Damn… Just as they left the entrance, Fuyu was stopped by Fushimi's voice calling.
"Fuyu?"
DEG
Aki was also silent in place because of it. He turned his head. He let Fuyu be silent for a moment there and looked back into the eyes of Fushimi who was standing in front of Hiro.
"Ah, good night..." Aki greeted. Then turned to Fuyu. "Fuyu, it's already done. Why can't you just say something now?" he whispered rhetorically.
Fuyu turned around. But undeniably, he had a hard time looking back at Fushimi's two beads.
Do not care.
Even though Fushimi immediately left her place to run, chased, and bumped into Fuyu's arms so tightly.
"Fuyu!" exclaimed Fushimi.
Fuyu is up to date because of that. He blinked, then felt a different scent from Fushimi's jacket at that time.
Ahh... Fuyu's cheeks couldn't help but blush. Because maybe, Fushimi just stayed at Hiro's house and did a lot of things together so things are like this now.
"Father..." said Fuyu. "How's Dad been doing all this time? Mn, may I know?"
"Oh my... Fuyu!" exclaimed Fushimi. Still looking unbelievable to find Fuyu in a place like that. "I'm sorry, Dad. Okay? I've been trying to find you, but there's a lot going on at home. And your credit card. I didn't block it on purpose. Do you understand?" said the man. Then as soon as he let go of their embrace, he glanced at him and then back to Fuyu with almost watery eyes. "How did you get here? Are you all right? Come home after this, okay? I'll explain everything at home."
Believe it or not, Fuyu backed away from there back then. He let go of Fushimi's grip and embrace. Then took Aki's hand.
"Mn, haha..." Fuyu laughed. Clumsy. Moreover, Hiro started to catch up behind the two of them and accompanied Fushimi to stand next to him. "Sorry, Father... But I..."
"Fushimi, is he the boy you're looking for?" Hiro asked. Then exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke from his mouth before stepping on the rod under the sole of his shoe.
"Yeah, that's him," said Fushimi. Then looked at Hiro with a guilty look. "His name is Fuyu. And sorry, I didn't introduce the two of you properly. But, for now I'm grateful enough to see him still doing well."
Fushimi looked at Fuyu happily, Aki narrowed his eyes in disapproval.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Uncle... Your son had a big accident while he was away from you."
DEG
"What?"
Instantly Fushimi's face was as pale as a dead fish.
It's different with Aki who is half dark, and can't hide his anger.
"He was in a car accident. He had fractured his hand, his leg had difficulty walking for almost 3 weeks, and at that time the card he was carrying was blocked before breaking in two due to the accident. He also can't contact you," explained Aki. Without giving any heart. "So why don't you guys just talk now?"
***
NB: Don't forget to read "AUTHOR THOUGHT'S"!