and pulled on his jacket. "It's late and I need to go home. Thanks for keeping an eye on things while I was gone. See you tomorrow." He headed towards the door.
Before he reached it, he suddenly stopped, turning back towards the young lady. "By the way, I don't appreciate being followed around." Then he quietly closed the door behind him.
Chapter 8
Daiki woke up early the next morning. He sat up in the bed and stretched, yawning widely. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes before standing up and heading for the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.
After washing up and putting his clothes on, he made his way downstairs. As soon as he arrived in the living room, he noticed his mother standing at the counter, making breakfast.
"Morning Mother," Daiki greeted, walking up to the refrigerator. He grabbed some orange juice and poured some into a glass before grabbing a piece of toast and taking a bite.
"Morning, sweetie," she replied without looking at him.
He sighed. "Mother. What's wrong? You barely look at me anymore."
"I guess I'm just feeling guilty is all.She lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry."
He sighed again. "What happened? Why so sad?"
She sighed. "I don't know. I just feel like I failed you."
"But you didn't fail me!" he exclaimed, exasperated. "Why are you saying that?"
She sighed again. "My dad died because of me, remember?" she began. "When we were driving, a truck came out of nowhere and hit us, killing both of our parents. Dad wasn't even able to drive anymore, so I had to take over the wheel."
"It was my fault, Mother. I should have driven faster and prevented us from hitting that truck."
"But I couldn't help you. I was completely paralyzed with fear. I didn't know what to do, so instead I decided to run."
"It's okay. I understand what you did."
"Really? But I feel bad. I mean, you were scared too. If I had known sooner what could happen, maybe I would have stayed calm and thought of something else. But it was too lateto stop, anyway. So instead, you ended up going through this."
"It's alright. I'm fine. Don't stress yourself out. Besides, this kind of thing isn't easy to accept. Just like how it takes me a lot of effort just to accept that Mommy has passed away."
She blinked in surprise. "Your father passed away? Is he still alive?"
"No."
"But he never mentioned it during the few times that I called him. I guess he must be doing fine now."
"Mmm, yes, definitely."
"Well then." She placed her palms together. "If there's nothing else, then I'll leave you to eat breakfast and get ready. Have fun."
"I will."
As soon as his mother left, Daiki headed upstairs to grab his phone, which laid on the table near the stairs. He immediately dialed the number of Yuuki.
"Hello?"
"Yuuki, where are you now? Are you still on your vacation? How was it?"
"Ah, it went well. I'I'm still on vacation, but my flight was delayed today. But I got back yesterday afternoon."
"Oh, so you're on your way to Japan?"
"Yes. I just arrived at the airport."
"Do you want to come visit?"
"That sounds great, actually. Do you mind?"
"Of course not. Come whenever you'd like."
"Thanks, Daiya. I'll see you soon."
"See you later."
Daiki hung up the phone, smiling. He glanced at his watch. Only two hours until school started. Time to find out how much longer he'll have to wait to hear about the letter.
CHAPTER TEN: THE PAPER ROOM
It had been almost two weeks since Mai had read the letter. Since the day of the funeral, he had kept the envelope hidden away safely in a drawer at the bottom of his closet. Occasionally, he'd pull it out and glance at it. Sometimes, he would simply stare at the envelope for hours at a time, lost in his own thoughts.
But most of the time, he would spend those two weeks sleeping or reading. At least, that'what he told himself. That was the case when he entered the classroom the first Monday in November after the funeral.
He didn't pay attention to anything that had been happening. He had only focused his gaze on the teacher in front of him who was talking about the assignment given to them. The boy's heart was heavy. He didn't know why. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't heard from anyone ever since their conversation. He hadn't seen any of his friends except for Minori and Riku and they were always busy with schoolwork.
His friends had tried to cheer him up by calling him every other day, but he would hang up after the second ring. The letters were still tucked securely away in his closet. He knew that they wouldn't reach him anytime soon, and that bothered him deeply. But somehow, he managed to smile and laugh whenever he remembered seeing Yuuki again. Even though he missed his friend, he didn't want to burden him with his problems. He couldn't bear to lose someone else.
A sudden knock on his locker startled him out of his thoughts. He frowned. Who could that possibly be? It was empty, right? No one was in his class anymore. He stood up and walked over to the door.Before opening it, he paused. He was really wondering who was knocking. He turned around and leaned against the door, peering down the hallway. There were no students in sight.
"Come in." He spoke softly.
The person quickly opened the door. Daiki stared in shock, unable to believe his eyes. His body froze as he stared wide eyed at Yuuki. They seemed to be staring at each other for quite a long time.
Finally, Yuuki broke the silence. "Hi…"
Daiki slowly exhaled. "Hey, Yuuki." He forced a small smile onto his face. It was hard to act natural around him now.
"I brought you lunch." Yuuki handed him a bento box with a smile. "I saw you weren't eating, so I made you something."
Daiki took the bento box and looked inside. The box contained some meat buns, rice balls, and fried rice. His mouth watered at the sight of it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They both stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of them knowing what to say. Eventually, Daiki decided to speak first.
"UmBefore opening it, he paused. He was really wondering who was knocking. He turned around and leaned against the door, peering down the hallway. There were no students in sight.
"Come in." He spoke softly.
The person quickly opened the door. Daiki stared in shock, unable to believe his eyes. His body froze as he stared wide eyed at Yuuki. They seemed to be staring at each other for quite a long time.
Finally, Yuuki broke the silence. "Hi…"
Daiki slowly exhaled. "Hey, Yuuki." He forced a small smile onto his face. It was hard to act natural around him now.
"I brought you lunch." Yuuki handed him a bento box with a smile. "I saw you weren't eating, so I made you something."
Daiki took the bento box and looked inside. The box contained some meat buns, rice balls, and fried rice. His mouth watered at the sight of it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They both stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of them knowing what to say. Eventually, Daiki decided to speak first.
"Um