So, looks like this place hasn't changed at all.
It's been 3 years since I've been here.
I hope she's inside.
Let's knock on the door.
Hmm, it's open.
I'm coming in.
Running water.
Faint Humming.
Why am I even here?
...
"Well, it looks like you're good to go."
"That's great. I'm sorry for the inconvenience I've caused you."
"Don't sweat it. And take care of yourself from now on."
"Yes, I will. I wouldn't want to trouble you again."
"You don't have to give me the cold shoulder Nao."
"Agh, no! It's not like that. You are a busy and well-sought doctor now. So I can't ask you to look after me all the time."
"Hmm...Well, that's quite pleasing to hear. I didn't think that you'd invest your time on these trivial matters."
"Well, you could see it's more like I'm keeping an eye out. You never know what may happen."
"Is that so? Either way, I'm happy. So, shall I call your parents?"
" Ahh! No, that wouldn't be necessary. I can go on my own. Besides I have a place to stop by."
"Oh, that's interesting. Shall I drop you off then?"
"I'd appreciate the offer, but I kind of need some personal time for myself and I was hoping that this visit would help me in that aspect. Besides, you have your work piling up here. I wouldn't want to trouble you any further, Doctor."
"Well, I certainly can't deny the latter part. I think we can wait on catching up with the current us in the given time. While we're at it, I'd recommend you to be vigilant, as you're treading into unchartered waters."
"I'm not sure what it is you're worried about, but I'll take that advice. I'll be taking my leave now. Thank you again, Doctor Harumi."
"Don't hesitate to show your face around again."
"Sure."
I shouldn't bother him any further. I've already severed my ties with his daughter, though it wouldn't be that simple, would it? And yet, while I'm trying to avoid being in contact with both of them, I'm going to meet her. What am I even doing?
I entered my room one last time, picked up my stuff, thanked the staff for taking care of me, and then started for my home. But before that, since I'm visiting her, do I need to buy something? What do I buy? Something edible or something decorative? Well, it's better that I give her something that she wouldn't be able to hold on to for a lengthy period.
I'm not being mean or insensitive, when I say that I owe the Harumi family a lot, I mean it. But that doesn't erase the past, and nor the feelings I hold towards them.
And on that note, when I say Yukiko Harumi is my first love, it doesn't mean that I love her. It's just, to phrase it simply, it's just I feel that my former self loved her, and that's why, every time I see her, even though I don't feel much, my body always reacts differently. Almost in a way that it wants to embrace her and never let her go.
I do wonder sometimes if that's the feeling my former self treasured the most. And sometimes I have a hard time fighting against that feeling. I still don't know why I made such a move on her on my first day at this school.
But I do know that if this goes on any further, then it would hurt the people who know about my former self and me, and the two people on top of the list are Harumi-senpai and Rinko-san. It would be too upon them.
I mean, how would they even react? Even if they would be happy that I ended up as a part of their family, deep down, there will always be the truth that it isn't that me that loved them both.
I don't know how things are gonna play out now, but I must make sure not to complicate things even further.
Anyway, let's play safe and get some fruits.
It sure is rough being a high schooler. Even though I barely spend my money, it still left a hole in my pocket. It's just amusing how a bowl of ramen costs less than a set of fruits. Must be rough being an adult with lots of friends or relatives.
Luckily, I wouldn't have to worry about it, as I barely have anyone to worry about. For now, that is. Lately, I've involved myself with more people than my entire middle school. Hmmm..., a mirror. Let's see, if I carefully use cover my head using this beanie and use my jacket to cover my arm...., ah, like this. No, no...it's the other way. Ouch! Ahh! Finally, got it right.
Luckily it's 11 AM, and there are not many people who had to see this silly act. I sure got some baggage for a discharged patient. Now time to board the subway.
5 stations later, and after making my way onto the streets once again.
Oh! This place has changed.
I thought to myself.
'It's really been 3 years.'
'Wow, how time flies by.'
Typical stuff. But that's how drastic the changes are.
As much as I would love to go on a tour, right now I have an important business to take care of, and then head back home and crash at my place.
Right! I'm getting close by now.
Normally I would go about on trivial matters and just go on a tangent about them, but I think because I'm still not at 100%, my brains on autopilot mode. So I'm not even clearly thinking anymore. Looks like it's like a pigeon's brain now.
Anyway, it would be right around this corner.
Ah, here it is!
Nostalgia.
I'm back again.
Let's see the nameplate to be sure.
Harumi.
Hmmm... Yep, that's the right place.
So, looks like this place hasn't changed at all.
It's been 3 years since I've been here.
I hope she's inside.
Let's knock on the door.
Hmm, it's open.
I'm coming in.
Running water.
Faint Humming.
Why am I here?
Ugh! I have a bad feeling about this.
Let's open the kitchen door.
Sweet Humming.
Again, my body's twitching strangely.
Looks like this is a familiar sight.
"Uhm!"
I cleared my throat.
"Rinko-san!"
I called out to her.
But she didn't respond.
"Rinko-san!!!"
This time I raised my voice a little.
Same response.
This woman. To think I'd have to dance to her tunes right from the get-go.
"Rinko!"
She turned off the running water and placed the dishes aside.
"Looks like you couldn't run away from me."
The malice in those words.
"You've left me alone for 3 years. How will you take responsibility for that?"
She faintly let out those words while turning her body towards me and sliding a strand of her hair behind her hair. Damn this old me, couldn't he have chosen some safer women!
I refuse to believe she's in her 40's. She could even me the high school girls of today feel very weak in front of her.
"Nao! I'm talking to you."
Ugh! Just let me breathe. What a scent!
"Yeah, I'm listening!"
I just replied to her in an arrogant tone. That's the only way to hold my ground.
"Hmm...So you're also in your rebellious phase now. Though, that doesn't bother me. I'm already used to it."
" Though I doubt anything bothers you anymore."
"How rude! I do think and worry about you. And here I see you're still that bold and honest kid. With a tad bit of emotions."
"What can I say? I had a good teacher! Though I wish I never met her."
Yep. That's how I must address this situation before it goes out of hand.
She was quiet for a moment and then responded.
"You can't change the past. That's just a waste of using your energy into thinking such abstract stuff. What has happened, has happened. You need to accept and move on."
That's what I expected of her. And she wasn't wrong. But she isn't right either.
I responded to her statement.
"But you can control the present and dictate the future. If you've been pondering on What if's, and in the foreseeable future, you were to find yourself in a similar situation, like deja vu, then, this time, you can prevent from making the same mistake twice."
"Nao, do you happen to regret what happened then?"
"Nope. Because that was my decision, to do what was needed to be done. I knew the outcome and I went ahead with it. But I often just question myself, if I were to find myself in that situation again, can I do the same thing again? Or is there an alternate option?
"Hmmm..."
She was quiet for a while.
She started moving in my direction.
"You know I've been wondering..."
She came close to me, and pulled out my beanie slowly, and removed my jacket.
"Hmm...You actually got beaten up pretty badly."
We were just having a serious conversation. Or was it not serious enough.
"You think so? Also can you not remove my stuff like that. I feel weird. Almost as if this feels like a cheating scene from those mystery stories you used to read out to me."
" Hehe! Don't mind such trivial stuff. It's fine. There's nothing to worry about. And besides, I've known you for a long time. We even used to bathe together every day until you moved out. But I'm surprised you're that self-conscious."
Cough.
"Would you please spare me those details. It's kind of mortifying, to think that I burdened you so much."
She pinched my abdomen and twisted it.
"Ouch! That hurts. Stop it."
She kept on it for a while and then stopped.
"What's your problem!"
I was in pain. I didn't know that it was that easy for me to be in pain. But it felt familiar.
Meanwhile, Rinko-san had a pouted face.
"Will you answer me?"
"Why did you say that? Why did you say that you were a burden to me?"
"It's the truth."
"Nonsense."
She grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer.
I could see the fury in her little teardrops.
"Don't just say like that. You don't know how much that hurts. You loved me and were always latched onto me ever since you were a kid, and then you disappeared and came back as a stranger, and took some time to get back on track. And after all, we've been through, you just phrase it as it's a painful lie."
She let go of me.
She cleared out her tears and took a moment to collect herself.
"Sorry, I just lost myself and lashed out at you."
"How does it feel? To let go of those pent-up emotions?"
"It feels good. I might get used to it if it's you on the other end."
"I'd prefer you rather not."
She chuckled.
"It was Yukiko, right? I bet she was the center of reason for this result. And for you to end up in such a state."
She just switched the conversation effortlessly.
And was spot on!
As expected of her.
A Housewife who is a voracious reader and specializes in the mystery genre. I am proud that I was her student.
"You're right, but partly. Though Harumi-senpai was involved in a way, I was the one who went ahead with it."
"Huh? Harumi-senpai? What's with this sudden formality!"
That did surprise her.
"Is what I would've like to say. But I think that's expected of you now."
Yeah, right! Like it did surprise her.
"Guessing she shed a few tears and you eavesdropped...I mean check on your daughter as you do regularly."
She raised an eyebrow towards me.
"I don't know what you're referring to, but sadly things have changed. I and my family are not on speaking terms. And I guess I still owe something to that person for giving me this."
"Yeah, no need to thank me for that."
"Well, wouldn't that be rude of me? I know...."
I don't like where this is going.
"How about this? Let's go on a date now."
I was dumbfounded at this point.
And what's with that enthusiasm. Please calm down. You're giving me the wrong idea.
"Wait a minute. You do realize that I'm still recovering, not to mention that it's an absurd idea."
"How is it absurd."
I put my palm on my face.
What spell did I unlock that every woman is just pouncing on me like I'm some prey?
Or was it just because I can't process this stuff and get hurt by it that I'm the perfect target?
Am I a safe option?
What am I even thinking?
"Ugh! Look, you're beautiful and smart, and kind, and generous, and a lovely woman. There's a lot I can't just say in words. I'll give you that. But how do I causing a stir and driving a wedge between your family and distancing them from you result in scoring a date with you?"
"You are dumb. I thought you would have changed a bit in that aspect."
"Huh? What do you imply?"
"As much as it hurts me, the one good thing to come out of that situation is, now I don't have to hold back anymore."
"Uh-huh!"
"Now I can chase you and never let you go, and there's nothing that I have to worry about."
No, no. Don't get fooled this is a lie.
She obviously loves Doctor Harumi.
As proof of that, she has it on her....she doesn't have it!
Don't panic. Calm down.
Take a deep breath.
"Haha! Nice joke. You had me there."
"What do you mean Nao? How can you just act like that? After you've just noticed it."
"Huh?...No... Notice what? I..I didn't see anything."
I was stuttering.
"Is that so? Then let me just show it to you."
She raised her hand and placed it in front of my eyes.
"See, I'm serious."
She was smiling wholeheartedly.
This lady, she's actually serious.
I couldn't believe it.
There was no sign of it.
HER WEDDING RING!