The room was empty when I woke up. I opened the door to our hotel room, and searched the hall. Mom wasn't here...
All I could remember was... "I'll be back soon, Keiko. Wait for me here while I'm away." then she kissed my forehead. I reminisced the thought and touched the spot where Mom had kissed me goodbye, calming myself while closing the door shut. Mom didn't leave me...
For a second there I thought she left me here for good and went to her family. If I remember correctly, Mom never spoke of her parents. Didn't even mention any names about relatives. It was weird. Though, Father didn't know Mom and I were being bullied by HIS family, he still kept talking about his sisters and brothers.
"Enough of that, Keiko! I need to focus!" I shook my head twice and looked around. I needed to find out how I can help Mom financially. Unfortunately, I don't know much about her- I mean, our spending over the past week. But...
"Considering the hospital fees for two patients from China, one who was near death (and actually died...) and the other having psychological problems. The three airplane tickets which included Father since he was still... um... alive when we planned to come here. And the hotel room fit for four people when we got here." I thought out loud, pointing at fingers for every time Mom would use money.
"That would cost..." It felt like money was raining when I hypothesized the amount of cash that would take. "A lot of money!" my brain froze from that thought and sat down. "Are we... rich? Is Father's family rich? No... I mean, probably? Mom's family is a mystery but she dropped them for Father, so I guess?"
I scratched my head to ease the headache and looked over at the clock. "10 already?" I hummed in exhaustion, "I guess Mom was right about too much Anime..." I mumbled to myself as I stood up and walked towards the shower.
It was strange how I didn't notice the food serving when I got out of the shower with only towels covering me. 'I forgot to bring some clothes... how careless.'
Right then I suddenly remembered... "You're being careless again, Keiko." The voice of Dad.. scolding me. "Stop being lazy and do your homework."
"Yes, yes, baba. I'll do it after this."
"Be more responsible, Keiko! Honey!!" he called out to Mom for help. Meanwhile, Mom laid on the couch reading a magazine.
She waved her hand up and yelled back, "She knows what she'll get for being lazy! Your on your own!!"
Dad sighed and looked at me with tired eyes. I finally gave up and closed my nintendo switch. "Alright, I'll finish my homework." Dad smiled brilliantly again when I got out of bed and sat down on my study chair. He came close and patted the locks similar to his.
"That's my girl."
I stared blankly at the cold food Mom probably bought, and blinked. That was a year ago...
I took a deep breath in and exhaled. "No. Mom is being strong and so will I! We will get through this together!" I pumped myself up, got some clothes and ate the food clean from the plate.
By the time Mom came back, it was quarter to 11, which was right before I finished cleaning the room while watching Anime. She came in like the train. "Keiko! Grab your bags, we're going to your grandparents!!"
"Ah?"
That was my first reaction. The second one was the dumbfounded silence on the way to Gunma prefecture by train. Mom was smiling all the way. I was happy that she was cheerful after all... that. But something didn't felt right to me, it was like a feeling, a hunch that says something bad was about to happen.
I shook off the feeling and smiled at Mom. She was finally happy. Who cares about a little hunch or two? As long as it makes Mom happy, I'm fine with anything. Was it even possible to predict the future?
If it was, I wish we could've seen the tragedy before it happened. But, usually the protagonist with such trope, would always have the prediction as the cause of the tragedy. I think I'm fine with just having a hunch.
"We have arrived at... Gunma prefecture..." I couldn't understand the whole call of the lady.
Mom stood up with the bags and grabbed my hand and hurriedly ran through the doors. She was too excited that she couldn't stop talking about her hometown to me the whole ride. "Come on, Keiko-chan! Our family is right outside the station!"
For some reason, I heard gruffs and noticed glares from few of the passengers that we passed through. Weird... It got even weirder when Mom's parents hugged her tightly with a smile, but stared at me like trash.
Should I tell Mom about it? "Mom is finally happy." That quote had me choked and forgot the idea. The least I can do to repay Mom for her courage was to endure anything else, and make her happy.
"Mother, Father, this is your granddaughter, Keiko Hitoshi." their eyes upturned with "joy" when Mom introduced me. "We named her after her father... Kei Hitoshi." For a second their eyes looked disgusted. So that's what that bad feeling was about...
"Oh, how precious." the old woman approached and pinched my cheeks gently. "She looks just like... him." Her pinched got tighter with each passing second. Then the old man, who was supposedly my maternal "grandfather" was smiling wickedly. Did Mom notice it?
"Ow-"
"Oh! Sorry, deary. I got too excited." She lowered her head to my level then went back to Mom and hugged her. "Welcome home, Yui! We've missed you so much!"
"Mom... I missed you too." Mom said with such gentleness, that it seemed like she was a child. I observed the two engage in a conversation while I was left with the old man, my supposed maternal grandfather.
My cheeks still stung, making me subconsciously scratch my cheek. "Don't get too comfortable, child." harsh words struck the target.
It seems my tragedy...
"You are not welcome here." he glared with so much fierce that it felt like I was a squashed bug that stained his Kimono.
Is not over yet.