They moved to the living room and shut the door, they sat together and a piece of paper on the table. It was clear that Chifuyu is about to tell a long story.
"To be clear, I'm not interested in retelling a second time; I'm going to tell this story once." Chifuyu told the two sitting in the room with him.
"Understood," Taylor responded, and Hannah added with a nod before Chifuyu took a deep breath.
"I remember that event like it was yesterday..." Chifuyu started to tell the story.
It was a similar dark night, Chifuyu has gone through both his parents' and his sister's murder. The rain pouring on his head made him shiver more, he was alone, cold, and vulnerable. He was caught off guard when two masked men approached him and placed a sack over his head, then hitting his stomach and taking him away while he was unconscious. When awake, he realized he was in a white room containing a desk and a small bed on two sides of the room. He took a moment to analyse himself, his own clothing was gone and he is now dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt and long pants in the same colour, as if a patient in a hospital. On the left-chest area of the shirt was a serial number, 004.
"Where am I?" He was only 12 at the time, confused, he began walking around the small room.
"Greetings, Subject 004." A middle-aged man in a lab coat appeared in Chifuyu's sight when the door of the room slid open, and Chifuyu took a few steps back.
"Who are you?!" Chifuyu was in a defensive stance.
"I see you come from a martial arts background, young one." The man had a suspiciously friendly smile on his face, "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Professor Claude Morgan, a scientist and you are currently in my research facility." The man introduced himself.
"A research facility?" Chifuyu wasn't expecting.
"Yes, I am currently creating a drug that could safe people from illnesses and I needed test subjects. I needed test subjects from a variety of countries to study results that may be produced by genetics from each country," the professor explained, "Don't worry, Subject 004, your sacrifice will save millions of people." He convinced Chifuyu to relax from his defensive stance.
Even so, Chifuyu was no fool, he soon discovered the professor was behind his parents' murder. The professor was originally planning to take him and his sister, but Chiyaki died before he could get a hold of them. Despite knowing that fact, Chifuyu remained silent and cooperated in the experiments. In the facility, it was not one of those experimental places where the guineapigs were treated horribly like in the books Chifuyu had read, the test subjects in Professor Morgan's facility were given proper meals and a comfortable environment. There is a daily schedule containing exercise, testing hours, suitable meal periods, and a very well night rest. The experiments and assesses contains a session of examinations, continued by vaccinations, and finally an aftermath examination and filling out data.
Chifuyu was the most cooperative test subject amongst the other 23 people in the facility. All others were young adults and middle-aged people from different countries, with the only language they could have a conversation with is English. Chifuyu stood out from his striking appearance and being the smallest in the group, he distanced himself from the other test subjects because of his trust issues. He spends most of his time expanding his knowledge by reading books he borrows frequently from the big library in the facility, quickly famous to be the geek in the group for always carrying a book and reading wherever he goes outside of experiment sessions. It was clear that he was an exceptionally intelligent kid, he stepped foot to Paris in lack of education and has become full of wisdom from independently studying in the method of reading.
"Hello, there." Yet, there was a Korean woman who approached him. "What's your name?" she asked him during lunch period.
"Tsuguha," Chifuyu couldn't care less to get along with the other test subjects, yet this one woman approached him unlike the others who decided to avoid him for being cold and boorish. This woman was 4 months pregnant with her first child when she was kidnapped to be a test subject in the facility, Chifuyu slowly became friendly with the woman, yet it was not long until the woman passed from overdose. From that moment on, Chifuyu is also known to be cursed, whoever befriended him will die. He felt remorse for her passing, but his lack of melancholy just made his cold image expand into a cold-hearted image.
But the main event of the story starts a year later; Chifuyu has been in the facility for a year when he finally received a roommate. His roommate was a newcomer to the facility, a middle-aged black man from America. Chifuyu was reading a book in his room when his roommate arrived, they both made eye contact and the man seemed surprised.
"A kid?! What is a kid doing here?!" the man pointed his finger to Chifuyu.
"Don't point your finger at me, don't you know that's rude?" Chifuyu doesn't seem to ever be in a good mood, "I have roommate now? What a pain," he grunted as he puts his book away.
"What an attitude..." the man was taken aback by Chifuyu's boorish demeanour, "I'm Adam Williams from America, what's your name?" he sat down on the second bed in the room.
"Why would I tell you?" Chifuyu grumbled.
"You're a Japanese, huh?" Adam decided to move on, "Why are you here anyways?" he was curious and confused still.
"Do I look like I went here voluntarily?" Chifuyu stood up as he responded coldly, then walked out of the room with a book.
"What's up with that kid...?" Adam was still marvelled, in his eyes, Chifuyu is such an intriguing person.
Chifuyu couldn't care less of his new roommate, his boorish demeanour just made Adam more hesitant to approach him. Chifuyu is always seen alone in an isolated place reading a book, Adam would curiously and concernedly stare at him from a distance before continuing what he was doing.
"Hey, can I eat with you?" It took Adam a few hours to gather courage to talk to him again, and he decided to try join Chifuyu for breakfast.
"Get lost," Chifuyu growled lightly, but it was enough for Adam to walk away.
"Here, come sit with us!" a group of middle-aged adults waved to Adam.
"Don't even try to approach him, he's so rude." A woman in the group told Adam.
"Moreover, the pregnant one who befriended him ended up dead, that kid's cursed." Another added.
"Wait, really?" Adam began eating his salad.
"004 might be the youngest one here, but he's the one who least got along with us."
"I really want to know him, but it's really hard to gain his trust..." Adam was curious the reason behind Chifuyu's cold attitude.
"Subject 004! Subject 024!" a staff called out from the entrance of the cafeteria, just when Chifuyu finished his morning meal. "Both of you are up for first session, let's get going." He continued.
"Yes, sir." Chifuyu and Adam stood up to follow the staff to the examination room.
"Subject 004~" Professor Morgan greeted Chifuyu with a smile, then Chifuyu approached the professor with a big smile on his face.
"Hello, professor." Chifuyu greeted him back and the professor patted his head.
"Today will be an eventful day, I'm expecting your wonderful cooperation as usual." The professor smiled to Chifuyu.
"Yes, sir." Chifuyu smiled.
"What...??!" Adam was internally shocked; it was from that moment where he discovered Chifuyu is a two-faced teenager. Adam wasn't told this, that Chifuyu is bitter and cold towards the other test subjects, but very polite and well-mannered towards the staff and professor. It was also clear that Chifuyu is treated differently by the professor, soon he was known to be the professor's favourite. Chifuyu and Adam were put in the same room, and Adam was filled with questions when listening to Chifuyu's casual conversation with the professor and staff while being injected by a variety of drugs, before finally being put to sleep for an aftermath examination.
After a few hours, the two finally left the examination room to continue their daily routine in the facility. Chifuyu quickly pulled out the book he was previously reading to continue it, ignoring Adam walking beside him.
"Um, do you maybe want to-"
"Forget it, old man." Chifuyu interrupted him with a bitter tone before he could finish.
"Old man?!" Adam was somewhat offended, "Hey, who raised you? How come you're so rude?" he complained lightly.
"I raise myself, get used to it already." Chifuyu didn't take his eyes off of the book he was reading as he walked.
"Are you an orphan?" Adam asked him again and Chifuyu abruptly closed his book, making a noise that surprised Adam.
"Stop it already, old man. I'm not interested in making associates, and you're not getting anything out of me." Chifuyu gave the man a cold stare as he spoke with a bitter tone, "Stop trying to pry into my life, it pisses me off." He hissed slightly before continuing his walk, leaving Adam hushed and still.
"H-How come you're so different towards the professor and the staff? Why?" Adam refused to give up, stopping Chifuyu's pace.
"Have you heard of doing or behaving a certain way to get what you want?" Chifuyu asked back without turning his head.
"Huh?"
"That's right, I have a reason for behaving that way towards the professor and staff." The 13-year-old finally turned his head, "Am I so good that you just couldn't tell that I was faking it and forcing myself?" he sneered.
"You were faking it...?" Adam was confused.
"Whatever, old man, whatever I'm doing doesn't concern you." Chifuyu rolled his eyes, "You're probably just too stupid to help me, or even understand what I'm trying to do." He added.
"W-What are you trying to do?"
"Can't you just leave me alone? You and everyone here are despicable, I would rather die than work together with any of you." Chifuyu's ocean-blue eyes were dull and cold, then he turned to walk away, leaving Adam in the empty hallway on his own.
"He's just 13, isn't he? But I heard he's really smart, what could someone like him possibly want?" Adam mumbled in marvelment.
A few weeks have passed, lunch period just ended, Adam was walking to the garden to start mowing the garden, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw a young Chinese man being beaten by a Russian man.
"Come on, pipsqueak. Do my chores for today already, will you?" the Russian grabbed the Chinese man's collar, "It's just cleaning the bathroom, do I need to shove your face in the toilet to make you do it?" this Russian has been bullying a few of the test subjects in the facility, without the staff and professor knowing.
"Hey, stop that!" Adam just couldn't stand and watch, he quickly marched to help the Chinese man.
"What's up with you, geezer? Stay out of this," the Russian threw the Chinese man aside.
"Why can't you just get along with others?!" Adam was unhappy.
"You're supposed to say that to the Japanese brat!" the Russian launched his fist and hits Adam in the abdomen, making him fall onto his knees for the Russian to kick his chin.
"There's a fight," Chifuyu was passing by with his book when he heard a fellow test subject say that, and he turned to see Adam getting beaten to protect the Chinese man. Adam's eyes met Chifuyu's, but Chifuyu just gave him an unfazed expression before turning back to his book and continuing his way.
"It's fine, it's fine... better leave a kid out of this," Adam thought, after being ignored by the 13-year-old and knowing nobody around them is brave enough to help him. Just after a few steps, Chifuyu stopped his pace to listen to the noises from the fight with a dull expression, then closing the book he was holding with his right hand.
"You hear me?! Do my chores already!" the Russian was repeatedly kicking Adam's back.
"Hey, geezer. Over here," Chifuyu made the Russian turn his head, from that close distance is where it became clear; the size difference between the two is massive.
"You! Get out of this!" Adam was surprised Chifuyu came to challenge the Russian.
"Be quiet already," Chifuyu groaned.
"What's this? I thought you couldn't care less of the others here, only playing nice with the professor." The Russian smirked confidently, "You were just reading a second ago, why won't you just scram and continue your reading?" he added.
"I just finished reading it, that's all." Chifuyu smirked, "It's pathetic, no? Picking on someone smaller than you, you would probably take a friend if you have one too, and that just shows how spineless you are." He told the Russian.
"What did you just say?" the Russian was visibly upset.
"Kid, stay out of this!" Adam was concerned.
"Don't fret, old man. This guy is just big, he has no brain." Chifuyu responded, mocking the Russian at the same time.
"Why you!" the Russian raised his fist.
"Watch out!" Adam panicked, but it all happened so quickly. In two seconds, the Russian was slammed onto the ground and Chifuyu was the one left standing; he had grabbed the man's wrist and threw him to the ground, it was effortless and fast.
"Look who's on the ground now," Chifuyu looked down to the Russian, who was in shock together with Adam and everyone else around them. "Humiliating, isn't it? Getting beaten effortlessly by a little brat like me," Chifuyu smirked.
"H-How?"
"Now shut up and mind your own business, if I can throw you down like this effortlessly, you can imagine what more I am capable of, right?" Chifuyu told him, then walked away with the book he didn't let go even once. "Alright, show's over, everyone." He waved his hand lazily, and the crowd dispersed.
"He's in our room, right?" Adam mumbled, an hour later after the fight and his injuries have been treated by the staff. The door slid open when Adam pressed the button and Chifuyu was nowhere in sight, but Adam's eyes widen in shock when he walked pass the opened bathroom next to the door, blood dripped to the sink and Chifuyu saw Adam from the reflective mirror in front of him.
"What are you doing?!" Adam grabbed Chifuyu's hand, he had pierced a small nail through his left earlobe to create a hole. "Where did you even get this from?!" Adam took the nail out of Chifuyu's earlobe and threw it in the sink, quickly grabbing tissue paper to soak the blood from Chifuyu's hole.
"Why are you panicking? I'm just piercing my earlobe," Chifuyu looked somewhat annoyed.
"That's still reckless, can't you wait to get it professionally done instead?!" Adam questioned him.
"Hush, old man." Chifuyu pushed Adam's hands away and began treating the hole on his own, "I already disinfect the nail with alcohol and I have the needed items to treat the piercing, all is planned, okay? So, calm down." Chifuyu rolled his eyes as he finished up covering the piercing.
"Still, that was unexpected..." Adam took a deep breath and walked out to sit down on his bed, followed by Chifuyu. "Why did you pierce your earlobe anyway?" he was curious.
"I want to wear this, that's all." Chifuyu showed Adam a silver chain earring pulled out from his pocket, "It's my father's, and I won't explain further." He added, knowing how nosy Adam is, then laid down on his own bed.
"What about the Chinese guy? Subject 017?" Adam asked him.
"He's fine, he went back to his usual routine." Chifuyu shrugged, indifferent.
"Looks like you came from a martial arts background, but was your mocking really necessary?" Adam was marvelled.
"I was taught to never engage in a fight unprepared; I know I couldn't overpower someone that size, so I decided to use his strength to my advantage. And to get the amount of strength I needed from him, I decided to fuel the fire. Anger equals power," Chifuyu explained to Adam.
"Whoa, he really is smart... It's no joke," Adam was amazed, "Where is the Russian now?" he asked curiously.
"He's given a warning, but he's not put into solitary confinement." Chifuyu replied, "I wasn't planning to step in, but being indifferent would might make me look suspicious, since I knew the truth behind the sudden beating." He added.
"The truth?" Adam was confused.
"I'm not just someone who cooperates and sit around do nothing, I enjoy eavesdropping." Chifuyu sneered at the end, "That beating was planned by the professor, it was another state of the human body he wants to test his drugs on. Subject 017 was supposed to be the only test subject to be tested in that way for the next few days, but because you stupidly went to defend him and got yourself beaten, I doubt the professor will leave you out of those specific tests." He told him.
"Either if I know or not, I can't just stand and watch." Adam said, "If this additional test can give my family more money, it's fine by me." He added.
"Give your family money?" Chifuyu furrowed a brow.
"Yeah, my wife and I are struggling financially to raise our young daughter. That's why I decided to volunteer here for the next few months," Adam told Chifuyu.
"Did you say volunteer?" Chifuyu seemed surprised, "Tell me, did you see an add or something?" he turned serious all of a sudden.
"That's right, it said they're offering 5 million euro for whoever wants to volunteer in this research facility." Adam responded.
"Did your family get the money?"
"They already received the 5 million euro, they told me through a call." Adam's responses made Chifuyu slump.
"You really are stupid, huh, old man?" Chifuyu clenched his fists, "I and everyone else here were forcibly taken away from our family, threatened with them to stay in this facility to become test subjects, and maybe only my family was murdered for me to be taken. Meanwhile, you, you voluntarily become a test subject here while you weren't targeted and you could've still lived normally if you ignored that add." He told Adam in a solemn tone.
"W-What are you saying?" Adam was confused.
"How could you believe an add like that in the first place? You're too stupid and trusting," Chifuyu was genuinely upset, "Were you that desperate?" he questioned him.
"P-Probably..."
"Your family received the money, the professor basically just bought you. Worst case scenario, your family was threatened to say they received the money, while in reality they didn't receive a penny at all. You're never going to get released, you're going to be kept here as a guineapig until the day you die. You're never going to see your family again," Chifuyu clenched his fists, "I've been here for a year, since this facility first started. I know the professor isn't planning to release any of us in the first place, we're guineapigs to him and nothing more." He gritted his teeth, while Adam is in shock.
"N-No way..." he was in disbelieve.
"That's just stupid, so stupid." Chifuyu growled, "Whatever, I won't bother to understand your stupidity." He turned to face the wall, his back facing Adam, leaving him depressed. Adam pulled out a picture from his pocket to hold it in his hands, then his hands begin to tremble as tears ran down his face.
"Hannah, Sara... I'm sorry..." Adam sobbed, "I'm such a horrible father, stupid and pathetic... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." he slumped, accepting his fate while Chifuyu was listening to his sobs before sitting down after a few moments.
"Hey, old man." Chifuyu stole Adam's attention, "Crying won't fix anything, quit it." He sighed.
"Sorry," Adam wiped his tears away, "This kid's mature for being 13..." he thought in slight embarrassment.
"Hear me out; I've been planning to escape this facility for a few months now, I'm yet to find a safe way to escape, but I'm continuing my study on the facility. My fake behaviour was part of it, I'm digging up information about the facility, including all of the security alarms and guards." Chifuyu lowered his voice, "Once my plan is finalized and able to put into action, I can get you out of here." He added.
"Y-You can??" Adam was surprised.
"I don't need you to help me, you can just keep an eye out and tell me if you gain any information about the facility. Investigating alone works best for me, I'll just update you each end of the day." Chifuyu continued, "Just stay put and let me work my magic, got it? If it works, you'll be able to see your family again." he returned to his normal volume, then smiled.
"I... I don't know how to thank you..." Adam was at a loss for words.
"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm just letting you tag along, okay?" Chifuyu looked away lazily.
"A-Anyway, y-you never told me your name." Adam remembered, and Chifuyu looked back to Adam from the corner of his eyes before laying back down, turning over with his back facing Adam.
"It's Chifuyu," Chifuyu responded in a low voice, filled with reluctance.
"Chifuyu, huh? That's a nice name," Adam smiled.
From that day forward, the two became close and grown to have a father-son relationship. Adam became a father figure to Chifuyu, despite the many times he refused to show or admit it. Even so, they kept their distance outside their room to avoid smidgeon, because Chifuyu suspected that the professor would get rid of anyone who became close to him. The security of the facility was so tight, Chifuyu took another year to complete his escape plan. His endless studies in the library and taking note of every single location of the security guards, then walking around as he secretly took notes of every security camera in the hallways.
"Aren't these just chemistry formulas?" Adam was confused when Chifuyu showed him the notebook he was carrying around when performing his security camera research, during lights out and when they were locked in their room.
"As I expected, a security guard asked for this notebook when I was done. But he flipped through the pages and gave it back to me, saying I was free to go." Chifuyu began to explain, "I need to pretend I was studying, so I used chemistry formulas to note all the cameras. It's one of those notes that only I will be able to understand, amazing if you could, but it's just as planned if you couldn't distinguish a thing." He smirked proudly.
"I couldn't notice anything other than the chemistry formulas..." Adam was amazed by him yet again, "Every now and then, I just couldn't believe you're just 14." He chuckled.
"Well, at least it's an honour to know I'm smarter than someone you at your age." Chifuyu sat down on Adam's bed.
"You're a smug one, aren't you?" Adam joined him and pulled out a photo from his pocket and Chifuyu leaned slightly to see the picture.
"Your family?"
"Yes, my wife Hannah and my daughter Sara." Adam smiled, "I'll get to see them again, right?" his smile turned melancholy.
"I'll make sure you will, old man." Chifuyu went to his own bed to get a book from under his pillow, then sitting down to start reading.
"Hey, Chifuyu. When we finally escape, where will you go?" Adam asked him.
"I'll go back home and maybe try to find a way to return to Japan," Chifuyu responded without taking his eyes off of the pages he was reading.
"You need a lot of money to do that, you're not planning to rob, are you?"
"Maybe, if I have no other option." Chifuyu shrugged, "Instead of being stuck here with a bunch of rot-hearted people, why not take from their sum for me to go home for good?" he grumbled.
"What if you join my family instead?" Adam's suggestion made Chifuyu stop midway from turning a page.
"What kind of suggestion is that?" Chifuyu stomached his annoyance, kept his eyes down.
"Come on, now. You can get along with Sara, she can be your little sister." Adam tried to convince him.
"Like I would agree to this just like that, I had a little sister before, and I would hate to make her feel replaced." Chifuyu eventually turned the page, as his voice progressively shows irritation.
"But you can't live on your own at 14, you won't be able to get a job." Adam was genuinely concerned for Chifuyu's future wellbeing.
"I'll manage somehow, it's none of your concern." Chifuyu closed his book.
"But I am worried about you, Chifuyu." Adam said firmly, "You know yourself, there's no guarantee you'll be treated equally outside this facility. I want to take care of you, you're already like a son to me." His words made Chifuyu's eyes widen slightly.
"A son, eh?" Chifuyu deflated, his head slumped. "Whatever, old man. I'm tired arguing with you," he laid down and turned his back to Adam.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Adam laid down on his bed to sleep, then silence took over the room.
"I'm getting out of this sick place, definitely!" Chifuyu reminded himself in his head before he rests for the night.
Just a week later, Chifuyu is satisfied with his escape plan that he discussed together with Adam. And it was finally the night when it all will play, the two were in their room when it was finally black out but they exchanged looks and nodded at each other after half-an-hour of silence. Chifuyu started by trying to open the lock of their room door from the inside, Chifuyu quietly tampered with the room's electricity box and managed to open the door. The two of them looked around before taking their steps, walking towards the exit. Leaving the other test subject behind, the rest who had unkempt the two for the longest time.
They reached the exit where Chifuyu tampered with the code box, opening the door to freedom. The cold wild instantly blew in and snow were covering the sight in front of them, but they could see the lights from the town not far away. They smiled to each other and was about to leave when unexpectedly, the lights flashed, lighting up the hallway for Chifuyu and Adam to see three security guards not far down the hallway. A bullet was instantly shot into Adam's leg, making him fall to the ground.
"Old man!" Chifuyu was still in shock.
"Where do you think you're going?" Professor Morgan was with the armed security, his geek smile was on his face.
"H-How??!! How did we get found out??!!" Chifuyu was questioning himself in his head.
"Why are you running away? I thought you loved it here?" the professor spoke with his dorky but ill-minded voice.
"This place is hell," Chifuyu responded coldly.
"Hmm? So, you were pretending all this time?" Professor Morgan tilted his head, his big googles slanted slightly. "Subject 004, you're my favourite subject. I forgive you; you can just go back to your room and I'll make sure everything goes on like nothing happened." He smiled.
"Do you really think I would listen to you?" Chifuyu was filled with hatred, visibly shown in his eyes.
"Why, you should. There's still so much I want to try on you, so much!" the professor had a broad smile on his face, "You cooperate so nicely and your body is one of a kind, very strong to bear many of my drugs~! I want to create a final serum with you, Subject 004." He added, making Chifuyu clench his fists.
"C-Chifuyu, run..." Adam was in pain, struggling to get up.
"I would rather die than be your guineapig, scum." Chifuyu gritted his teeth and a gunshot roared, but Adam jumped to protect Chifuyu and the bullet landed in Adam's chest.
"Old man??" Chifuyu didn't expect Adam to shield him.
"What are you doing??!! You almost killed my best subject!" the professor yelled at the security guard who fired, who apparently despises Chifuyu. "Why did you do that??! Don't you dare fire at him again!!" the professor took the security guard's collar and shook him violently.
"Old man, are you okay??" Chifuyu kneeled, but Adam pushed him away with the picture of his wife and daughter against Chifuyu's chest.
"Run, you still have a chance to be free." Adam pushed Chifuyu, the cold of the snow blowing inside.
"B-But I can't leave you behind," Chifuyu was hesitant and doubtful.
"I won't be able to go over the gate, I'll just slow you down. At least you will survive!" Adam told Chifuyu firmly, "Now get going! I want you to be free and live, Chifuyu." He added strongly, it took Chifuyu a few moments, but he finally stood up and took a few steps back.
"I'm sorry!" Chifuyu turned to start running towards the gate.
"He's getting away!" the security guards chanced after Chifuyu, but Chifuyu leaped over the tall metal gate.
"Shit!! Damn it!!" Chifuyu cursed as he continued to run towards the town, ran out of sight with his bare feet, holding the picture Adam gave him in his grip.
Chifuyu was overwhelmed and fatigues when he finally reached the town, walking wobbly under the street lights and on the snow in the freezing weather. He placed the picture in his pocket when he found a bench to sit on, then laid down in exhaustion as he huffs. He fell asleep shortly under the snow, not long until a woman found him asleep either.
Chifuyu woke up and found himself in an unknown room in the same night, he was scanning the room when a 10-year-old girl entered the room and gasped lightly.
"Mom! He's awake!" the little girl ran back out, her familiar face made Chifuyu pause.
"You're awake? Thank goodness," a middle-aged black woman entered the room, the little girl followed behind her as Chifuyu's eyes widen. "Are you alright? I found you outside in the cold, I was scared you might get sick." The woman touched Chifuyu's forehead gently.
"This woman... and this girl..."
"Um, are you okay?" the woman was confused by Chifuyu's stone-silence and gently tapped his shoulder.
"Can you talk? What's your name?" the little girl asked Chifuyu.
"He doesn't look like he's from here, Sara, he might not understand us." The woman told her daughter, knowing Chifuyu looks Asian.
"Sara...?" that name convinced Chifuyu, there was no mistake on who these two in front of him was. The image of the black middle-aged man's affectionate expression when admiring the picture glimpsed in Chifuyu's head, the man who had saved his life moments ago. Chifuyu clenched his fists as his head slumped, looking down as tears started to drip from his eyes, shaking and sobbing silently soon enough.
"S-Sweety? W-What's wrong...?" the woman Chifuyu know now as Adam's wife, Hannah was concerned.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Chifuyu gritted his teeth, apologizing with a low sorrowful voice. "I couldn't safe him... forgive me... I'm so sorry..." he hugged his knees, now in a foetal position as he sobbed and tremble.
"P-Pardon?" Hannah was glad Chifuyu could understand her, but now she's the one who couldn't understand the 14-year-old. "W-Why are you apologizing for, l' enfant? You couldn't safe who? Is everything okay?" she was very concerned for him, but she didn't get anything more than that from him.
The young Japanese was left to rest in the room for the night, his only words were apologetic, little did she know that those were the only words she would hear from him. He disappeared in the morning when Hannah went to see him, the window of the room was left open and the bed he had slept on was left neat. The mild morning wind blowing snow into the room, also the polaroid photograph of her and her daughter left on the bed together with a note with a grateful phrase written. From the picture left behind, where Hannah found out the young stray was talking about her husband, the man he claimed was futile to safe.
***