I saw that Zenkyo was still frozen. Maybe she's still in shock. I heard from Takeru that this morning she had just buried her father's body, that night her house was ransacked by loan sharks. What a poor girl.
"I want you to severely punish those who hurt my future daughter-in-law, Takeyuki!"
"WHAT??!" I and Zenkyo shouted at the same time. We looked at each other.
Mother patted me and Zenkyo on the shoulder.
"Yes, Son. Mother has been planning this matchmaking with Ryota, Zenkyo's father, for a long time. Yesterday we discussed it again, but I was so shocked to hear the news of his death this afternoon. I had no idea that yesterday was our last meeting."
Mother said. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered her first love, who would soon become a besan.
Zenkyo frowned. She was confused and shocked at the same time. So am I.
"Sir! How long are we going to watch this family drama, huh? Can we go home?" interrupted Ryohei in the middle of my and Zenkyo's confusion.
I kissed mother's forehead. It's really hard to argue with my parents' wishes, so I prefer to surrender.
"Mother, instead of making a fuss all night here, you'd better take this girl home first, okay?"
My mother agreed, she invited Zenkyo to go with her. My business with me, later later. I want to settle things with these three damn loan sharks.
Ryohei and his two companions left
"We have to go too!"
However, I immediately grabbed their shoulders. "Where are you guys going, huh? Sit down!" I pat Ryohei's shoulder roughly. "I need your data first."
***
Sitting in the conference room, leaning back and covering my eyes with my arms, I exhaled harshly several times. I really can't understand my mother's mindset. How can she set me up with a child? An innocent 18 year old girl? Oh, come on! At the age of 25, I don't want to play anymore. Especially playing brides with a child. It's really hard to understand my mother.
I gasped in surprise when I felt the cold air touch my skin. Immediately I woke up. It was true that the cold air signaled the arrival of an astral being, and now I felt it. My eyes stared intently at the creature that had just interrupted my daydreaming. Who else if not the cursed junior surnamed Kobayashi.
"Drink first, Brother! I think you've been working too hard lately so your face is dull like that," said Masaru, still pressing the cold can to my cheek. Really want him to die.
I immediately brushed off Masaru's hand, immediately the drink can fell. "If you have nothing else to do, you better go home! I want to spend the night here," I said lazily. I leaned back and closed my eyes.
"Aahh ... I really know your problem, Brother. Parents always choose the best for their children. So, you should respect Mother's decision."
I jumped again. He doesn't remember ever telling his junior about the matchmaking problem. Ah, maybe Masaru has overheard my conversation with mom.
"Masaru!"
"Hmm?"
"Have you been stalking me all this time?"
"Huh?!"
Oh, how stupid. I cursed myself in my heart. What's with that question? Who am I? Artist? idols? I think I need to see a psychiatrist once in a while, because I feel like I'm starting to experience unnatural narcissistic symptoms like this rancid kid.
"Brother?"
"Hmm?"
"It's okay, isn't it? If I started liking your wife someday, what would you do?"
I didn't answer, I just gave a sexy grin. Damn this kid! I'm not married yet, how dare he intend to take my wife.
***
A few days ago ... Nakagawa Zenkyo, usually called Zenkyo, was brought out by Aunt Minama from the room. She can still clearly hear the commotion from inside the room. The sound of falling objects and the sound of glass breaking.
Zenkyo's eyes filled with tears as she was right in front of her father's bedroom door. She slowly touched the door. Tears welled up in her eyes when she heard the words spoken by her father.
"YOU FUCK! WHY ARE YOU CLOCKING ME LIKE THIS, HUH? I'M NOT CRAZY! GIVE ME MY DRINK RIGHT NOW!"
There was chaos in Zenkyo's narrow house. Zenkyo's father shouted to immediately open the bedroom door.
Zenkyo's father even shouted obscenities and cursed as well.
It was suffocating to hear those words spoken from the only place where Zenkyo was hanging. Zenkyo realized this was all his fault. If only she was an adult. If only she had not been a burden to her father. If only her father didn't have an unreliable daughter like her.
"Zenkyo, are you all right? You can go to school now. Let your father calm down first!" said Aunt Minama softly. She was stroking the black mane of the girl in front of her.
Zenkyo nodded. She could not ignore his obligation to keep studying.
"Take Papa, Auntie! I'll be going straight home this afternoon after finishing my part-time job."
Zenkyo bowed to her neighbour, before walking out of the house.
Aunt Minama looked at Zenkyo's back which was getting further and further away.
"You shouldn't be going through all this, Kid!"
Aunt Minama sympathized with the girl. Zenkyo's mother had died while giving birth to Zenkyo. All this time, the little girl had only lived with her father, and in the past few months her father's attitude had changed.
It all started with the dismissal of Mr. Nakagawa Akira from work. He had an accident at work, so his leg is now limp. No one wants to hire because of their limitations. He often gets drunk and often takes all his anger out on his daughter, Nakagawa Zenkyo.
***
"I'm trapped in your eyes. Every time I see your beautiful eyes, there is only my reflection. May I wish if you were born for me, Zenkyo-chan?"
Silence for a moment. The young boy's words did not get any response from his interlocutor. The two teenagers were in the backyard of the school during recess like this.
"I will always be by your side. I hope you only see me. Can you do that, Zenkyo?" continued the teenage boy, named Kevin Hirano.
"I will always be by your side. I hope you only see me. Can you do that, Zenkyo?"
"Heh? If I saw Kevin-kun while walking, could I hit him?" Zenkyo replied, smiling seductively.
"Gosh! It's not like that. Seeing me means I want you to only see me as the only man for you. Got it?"
The teenager called Kevin exhaled roughly. He had to be extra patient with his friend who was too insensitive.
The young girl in front of him only nodded once. She seemed to be very full of all Kevin's jokes every day.
"Kevin?"
"Hmm?"
"You watched the drama 'Friends of Love' yesterday?"
"Ahahaha of course. What are you talking about, heh?"
"Hmm, that's okay. I remember there was a scene like that in the drama. You must have quoted it, right?" Zenkyo said while smiling mockingly.
Kevin flinched a little. He didn't think that his efforts to look romantic had to fail like this.
Kevin scratched the back of his neck.
"Hehehe ... found out, huh?"
Zenkyo laughed. At least, when she was with Kevin, she could forget for a moment about the problems she was facing. Even though her heart is actually fragile, he will try to be okay in front of the young man who has slowly stolen her heart.
"Zenkyo?"
"Hmm?"
"University entrance exams are coming up, what are you majoring in?" Kevin asked while holding Zenkyo's hand.
From earlier, Zenkyo saw the strangeness in her friend. Even though Zenkyo looks happy, her cold and sometimes shaking hands can't lie to Kevin. There must be something her lover is hiding.
"Zenkyo?"
Again, Kevin called his friend's name, when he got no response from earlier.
"Kyo-chan?"
silence. All that could be heard was Zenkyo's ragged breathing over and over again.
"Zenkyo Nakagawa?"
"Oh, yes?" Zenkyo half jumped when she heard her full name spoken by Hirano Kevin, her close friend.
Kevin just smiled softly. Maybe not the right time to interrogate his crush. Kevin pulled Zenkyo's head to rest on his chest.
Zenkyo looked up for a moment, looking at Kevin's face. For some reason, her eyes were sore now. No matter how much she tries to be strong, it can't be denied that right now she needs a place to lean on.
Zenkyo's shoulders started to shake. Soft sobs were heard. In the end Zenkyo sobbed into Kevin's chest.