Within a day everything had changed. No noise. There was no sound of objects falling and no more screaming in this simple house. As Kenkyo remembers nothing has changed when she opened her eyes this morning. Everything seemed to return to the previous few months. Her very happy life with her father.
This morning, there was something strange with Mr. Akira. Unlike usual, he looks neat and handsome today. He was busy fixing his hairdo in front of the mirror. Admire his handsome face that still looks charming even though he is over 40 years old.
"Tou-chan? Where are you going?" said Kenkyo who had just entered Mr. Akira's room.
*Otou-san/Tou-chan = Daddy
Mr. Akira smoothed his bow tie. He posed like a model in front of his daughter.
"How? Does Tou-chan look 10 years younger, heum?"
"Ahahaha," Kenkyo couldn't help but laugh, "Tou-chan looks more like a cafe waitress then."
Mr. Akira frowned. He looked back at his reflection in the mirror.
"Does it really look like a maid?" he muttered.
Kenkyo noticed her father's changed expression, she felt guilty. She approached the man on whom he depended. She took off her father's coat, removed her bow tie and folded the white shirt up to her elbows.
"This is better, Tou-chan." Settings.
"Yosh! Tou-chan stay first, huh!" said Mr. Akira. Just a few steps, he walked back towards Kenkyo. He kissed his daughter's forehead lovingly.
"Forgive Tou-chan, nee? Tou-chan promised to change after this. Over the past few months, I've felt that I'm not a very good father. I hope you still forgive me."
Kenkyo's lips trembled. Is this reality? It felt like Kenkyo had rediscovered her father figure.
"No matter how often Tou-chan hurts Kenkyo, there will always be forgiveness for Tou-chan because Tou-chan is the only one Kenkyo has in this world." Kenkyo hugged her father's stomach. "I'm sorry too, if Kenkyo can't be a reliable child. Keep being the Tou-chan like this!"
*Otou-chan = father.
*Oba-chan = aunty
Mr. Akira gently stroked his daughter's head. He looked at the photo of a beautiful woman hanging on the wall of the room.
"Thank you, Kenkyo-chan."
Kenkyo hates all apologies. What's the point of saying sorry if in the end she was left alone like this? She prefers his father to be rude. At least she could still see her father every day.
Kenkyo hugs her father's photo frame. No matter how much she tried not to cry, the tears kept betraying her. She missed caress. The caress of her mother and father.
"Kaa-chan, Tou-chan... why are you guys being so mean to me?"
***
When the person you love changes, at that moment you lose something valuable. It's not enough that God took Kenkyo's only family, now Kenkyo has to see with her own eyes the betrayal of a loved one. She saw Yamada walking with his classmate, Himeka. In this world what Kenkyo hates the most is loneliness and betrayal. She will never forgive betrayal in any form.
Kenkyo roughly grabbed Yamada's arm who was walking with Himeka.
Yamada gasped in surprise when he saw his lover, Kenkyo. Is she really Kenkyo?
The girl's appearance was a complete mess. Her eyes were puffy, her lips were pale, walking barefoot in this scorching heat. I don't know what this girl is doing on the sidewalk at noon like this
"Ke-Kenkyo-chan?" Yamada stammered.
For a long time Kenkyo looked at the young man. No tears. Her tears were too precious to have to spend for a bastard like Yamada.
Yamada briefly saw Himeka who was still holding one of his arms. His gaze turned to Kenkyo again.
"I-I can explain."
Kenkyo pulled the right corner of her lips. If it was Kenkyo who was as unstable as she used to be, she would probably scream while cursing, "I WANT TO BREAK UP RIGHT NOW, FUJIWARA-SAN! YOU FUCK!"
However, Kenkyo restrained herself so that the harsh words didn't come out of his tiny lips. She let go of Yamada's arms, waved her palms as if to clean the dirty dust.
Kenkyo smirked again. She looked down and said, "May you live happily ever after!"
After that she turned and walked leisurely, leaving Yamada and Himeka still stunned.
Counted 3 days after the death of Mr. Akira. All Kenkyo did was contemplate all day. She doesn't want to eat, drink or work. All she did was sit contemplating in her room while inhaling the scent of his father's clothes.
Clang!
A sound of something falling. Kenkyo hastily stood up and ran towards her father's room. She stopped right at the brown door. Kenkyo was about to grab the doorknob. Her tears suddenly flowed.
"I know Tou-chan must be inside, right? Tou-chan is taking a nap, right?" For a moment Kenkyo wiped her tears. "Please! Please just once! Just once I want to meet Tou-chan, God huks huks.... I haven't even said I love him so much."
Kenkyo opened the door, and it was empty. This room is more so than the previous days. Kenkyo sat limply and leaned against the wall.
"I'm sorry, Tou-chan. I can never make you happy."
***
Minama's aunt, Kenkyo's neighbor, comes to visit Kenkyo's house. She brought some food. Kenkyo's house was never locked, she still hoped her father would come home as usual.
Aunt Minama stepped into Kenkyo's room. She knocked on the door first before finally opening the room slowly because there was no answer from inside. Kenkyo was seen still sitting pensively in the corner of the room. She hugged her father's photo tightly. Don't want to do anything. In the end all humans will die. So, why did he have to go through the trouble of living this difficult life? After all, eternal life is not here.
"If reincarnation really exists, I want to be reborn as your daughter, Tou-chan," Kenkyo muttered which Aunt Minama could still hear faintly.
Aunt Minama patted Kenkyo's shoulder. She really couldn't bear to see her down. Could it be that happiness is not in her destiny at all?
Realizing that she didn't get any response, Aunt Minama sat in front of the girl with her back. Kenkyo's eyes were blank. There was only emptiness in his haggard eyes. She didn't shed any more tears. Either tired, or the tears have dried.
Aunt Minama couldn't take it anymore, she gently shook Kenkyo's shoulder.
"Cry! Don't cry at least, Kenkyo-chan! Cry as hard as you can!"
Kenkyo looked at the neighbor who was like a relative for a moment. Her lips trembled, the next second she was sobbing. Aunt Minama took Kenkyo into her arms.
"Why did Tou-chan have the heart to leave me, Ba-chan? Does he no longer love me hu hu huks?"
"He loves you. Really loves you more than anything in the world."
"Then what about me, Ba-chan? What will I do after this sob??"
Aunt Minama pulled Kenkyo's chin to face her. "Live well, Kenkyo. That's what all parents want for their children."
Kenkyo no longer answered. She hugged Aunt Minama as if she didn't want to let her go. She needs a place to lean on now.
A few minutes passed, Aunt Minama still let Kenkyo hug her.
To be continued ....