"I'm busy and won't be home until the fall, Takumi-kun. Please understand!" Takumi's father immediately cut off his son's words.
Takumi knows that his father won't come home unless he finishes his work outside the city, that's normal.
However, why was Takumi stupidly still asking. Why is he still pinning his hopes on the only parent for him? Why did he still hope for something that would never return to the way it used to be? Why did he still hope that his father would pay attention to Takumi like he used to?
Takumi started blaming himself for all of this. Takumi hates himself. Hate fragile souls that hang on to the wrong people. Although ... even though his father was the only one he had now. Even though he is Takumi's own father.
"Pa, is papa...."
"Papa! Papa! Look, Mikki got a hundred at school. What will Papa give Mikki a gift? A toy car? Or ...."
Takumi heard a child's voice on the other end of the phone, Takumi stopped talking for a moment. Could he ....
"Mitsuki-kun, don't disturb papa! Papa is on the phone again. Come here! Just ask for the gift!"
Takumi also heard a woman's voice.
Takumi then heard his father's laughter for a moment and it seemed he was talking to the little boy who called himself 'Mikki' earlier. However, the woman earlier called the child 'Mitsuki'.
'Mitsuki's name became Mikki? Kheh! Disgusting!' Takumi grumbled inwardly. He seemed disapproved when his father spoke softly to the child, while his father seemed reluctant to speak to Takumi, who was clearly his own biological son.
"Let's play with your mama first, Mitsu-kun! Soon papa will catch up. Ok?"
When Takumi heard a father's gentle voice like that and it was not meant for Takumi, his heart became uncertain. Is it his father's new family at this time. Takumi was so shocked that it was hard for him to speak right now.
"Wh...w-who...they?"
"If there's nothing important, papa's phone is closed. Papa is busy and will come home when you are on vacation."
Takumi immediately smiled sadly. Where had his father's soft and warm voice just moments ago gone when he was talking to the boy earlier? Takumi was just about to open the voices of the people he heard, but the phone was quickly hung up by his own father.
Kinda weird. Takumi's father said that he had business out of town for a few months, but why didn't Takumi feel that way? Could it be true that it was just his father's excuse? Takumi thought. His mind was getting more and more confused thinking about who the people around his father were.
The rain was getting heavier and Takumi started to shiver from the cold because he was still lying on the floor, near Gakken.
Takumi dragged his feet, entering a wide space that was as quiet as a graveyard. I've reached my room which is on the second floor by now. Just as Takumi was about to touch the doorknob, his cell phone rang again. Did his father change his mind and tell him he was coming home? Takumi thought.
"Papa," said Takumi, excitedly.
"Takumi Akazawa … are you home yet?" It was Itsuki's voice asking if Takumi had arrived home before the heavy rain.
Takumi had to swallow his disappointment because it wasn't his father's call.
***
It was still raining outside and Takumi was sitting huddled in the living room of the house. He couldn't sleep and went back to the living room.
No matter how cold Takimi was right now, he had absolutely no intention of lining his clothes with thicker and warmer clothes.
Takumi's gaze was still on the small, light purple bag lying near the television shelf. Takumi didn't know who the bag belonged to, but he was sure it wasn't his sister's bag.
Actually, it was Sakurako's bag. It was a small gift from Takumi when Sakurako did a great job during her stay in the house. Of course. Takumi did treat Sakurako like a maid back then.
But unfortunately, Takumi doesn't have any memory of who the owner of the light purple small bag is. Takumi, who is experiencing insomnia, has nothing else to do but stare in front of the television. All the shows on television are nothing interesting to see for Takumi. So, he took the initiative to find out what was inside the small bag. Takumi was so curious.
Takumi opened the bag and he found a wallet inside.
Takumi is increasingly curious to know more about the contents of the wallet. Even though he was a little hesitant and pounding, Takumi still decided to open the wallet. His eyes widened when he saw the photo on it. It was as if he had a strange feeling in his heart. His heart was pounding, he didn't know why.
It was a photo of a girl with indigo hair. Then, Takumi also saw the tiny plastic flower inside. Takumi felt familiar with all these items, but suddenly his head became dizzy. Takumi immediately put the wallet back in the bag. He sat back down on the sofa in the living room.
Takumi then thought maybe it was a bag belonging to his sister's friend. So, he wouldn't think about it any further. It made Takumi's head throb in pain. Takumi tried to ignore the bag.
The glass windows squeaked in the wind. The trees outside also seemed to be blown away by the wind. The rain was so heavy that it made a loud noise. Then, a sense of loneliness and emptiness enveloped Takumi's heart again.
***
Sakurako was still in her hiding place, a hut in the middle of the forest. Sakurako just remembered that she forgot her belongings. It was left at Takumi's house.
If it's just clothes, it doesn't matter, because while living with Takumi, Sakurako always wears Yui's clothes. However, Sakurako has not erased the traces left in Takumi's house, such as the plastic bag and flowers inside. The plastic bag holds a story for Sakurako and Takumi.
Sakurako clearly remembers how upset she was when Takumi only gave her a plastic flower. In fact, from the drama scenes that Sakurako usually watches, the male lead will give roses to the female lead as a sign of love. However, Takumi instead gave Sakurako a plastic flower at that time. Looking back at that moment, Sakurako smiled.
"Even though Edelweiss is an eternal flower, but over time it will still wither, Rako-chan. That's why I gave you this plastic flower. Guaranteed even if our hair turns white later, this flower will still be the same. The flower will never wither like my love for you, Rako-chan," Takumi said at the time, arguing.
Sakurako is annoyed when Takumi says goodbye he won't be home for 2 days. Takumi reasoned that he took part in hiking activities, so he didn't come home for 2 days. The real story is that Takumi is staying at a friend's house to finish the anime batch.
Takumi is annoyed because at that house, Sakurako always watches romance dramas.