"It's father."
Swallowing her saliva felt like she was swallowing her soul back, as her finger was going back and forth to take the call.
"What's wrong with you, old lady? You don't want to answer?"
The mere voice of Usui gave her a jumpscare.
"No. Not like that."
You could hear the sound of the answering bottom being pressed.
"Hello, fathe_"
☏"Listen. I don't want to talk much, I'll say this and I won't say it twice. Your useless complaints and that nonsense about being unable to touch people and making a scene out of your ass. THAT, I don't want to hear about it. Not at tomorrow's representation, never again in the future. Understood."
Every breath she took was great heavy, but the pain in her chest felt greater.
Every heartbeat lasted eternity. Late was it, again, that she noticed her nail bleeding.
☏"The cat bite your tong_?"
"No. I understand."
Usui looked at Aoi, perplexed. He felt how hard she had pushed those words.
☏"You dare speak before I finish. Huff... I've always known you were so, so slow witted. But failing to hide that fact stabs me with a hell of disappointment."
Clearly, the shadows of hatred and resentment had broken her eyes' colour and clenched around her heart with cursed strings of distress. As she was listening to her father's words, eye to eye, she gave Usui the fright with that look. Noticing his joyful expression collapse gradually, she quickly closed her eyes and tilted her head to wipe away that scary glare of hers.
☏"Mormor~! Just leave her alone for God's sake!!"
It was Natishia yelling not too far besides Mori. She snatched away his phone and started consoling Aoi with her loudest voice. Even Usui could hear her.
☏"My daughter, fighting~! Don't worry about this old man. You know he's always been like this. The most important matter is you giving it your all. Whatever it is the result, be happy for your hard work!"
"Y,Yes. Um. I'll do my best."
☏"Ye~ye~ye~! My daughter is gonna appear on TV!!"
"Hah, seriously." Aoi pressed her eyes with her fingers, chasing away the cursed phantom that fell upon her a moment ago.
"Yeah, I don't know which channel, though. I'll ask about it."
☏"It's fine, Aoi. Today, clear your mind and think positive! Okay?"
"Yeah, got it."
☏"Oki~, nighty~!"
"Good night, Mom."
Aoi let the largest sigh as her mother hung up.
"I'm going to my office."
"Why? It's Sunday. Don't you have the day off?"
"My work doesn't depend on my days off."
"Old lady, you alright?"
Worried, Usui stepped towards Aoi. She quickly stopped and turned his way but didn't look at the slightest part of him.
"Step away. Don't touch me."
"Old lady, if there is anything y_"
"Nothing. Just get away from me."
Even though he knew that something was off concerning her sudden change, he couldn't help but feel furious about what she said. Still, he held back and remained silent, sitting still, looking at Aoi as she went to the bedroom.
*****
"Whoa! That looks delicious!"
"Really? Then wait until you try them." said Ahmed, flattered indeed.
The food was still warm, and the smell was mouth-dripping. They both took their chopsticks as quick as thunder.
"頂きます{=Itadakimasu}"
("بسم الله{=Bismillah}")
"What's that you said?"
"Ah! It's what you say before you eat or drink anything. Nope. Rather, we say it whenever we're about to do anything in Islam."
"I see. And what for?"
"Umm... it's like wishing for blessing for whatever thing you're willing to do. When we eat, it's to protect us from whatever evil is planned to us when we start eating."
"Like poison?"
"Yeah, maybe. As long as that's what was planned for our fate."
Amane looked at the food for a considerable moment. "If that's how it is. Then..."
Her palms met as she crossed her fingers. She closed her eyes. "Bismillah."
Ahmed laughed in whispers.
"What?" Annoyed, Amane asked.
"No, it's just... It's funny to see you trying something you just learnt, just for the idea of poison. There is no poison in the food, though."
"I know, I know. It just felt good to do something with ease of mind."
Amane took the first bite.
"Oh my! So good! What's this?"
"It's a famous Turkish dish called Kofta with Pilav. My favourite."
"Bro, you've got some hands!"
"Haha! Nah, it's nothing. I can teach you if you want."
"Yeah, I need to learn that as soon as possible." said Amane with excitement as her mouth was completely full."
"Haha, slow it, girl! It won't run away!"
"It's just so good!" Swallowed with difficulty the big bite.
She stayed silent briefly. Even Ahmed was questioning if the food was to her liking.
"Actually, my mum died poisoned. Thus, I've always doubted what I eat." She sighed. "Even though I'm sure she was poisoned, they decided her death as an overdose suicide. To think that such a nice and hard-working woman would just kill herself without a reason... she was trying hard. Like really, really hard to survive, to feed us, to warm us! We were so little, but still we helped..."
Amane couldn't lift her head. She knew she said a lot, but she wanted to say more. She took another bite.
"She gave it her all. Her body weakened, running here and there to catch the bread of the day. And her eyes lost their sparkle all along. Her bleu-ciel shining hair... she cut it all... sniff..."
Everything became blurry as she noticed her tears dripping heavy. But still, she filled her mouth the fullest with every food she got near.
"...She cut it and sold it for us to not starve. And that man calling himself father or whatever bullshit... sniff... sniff. All... all the time gambling and drinking. Hurting mum over, and over, and over again... sniff. I, I swear to God I'll find him and make him pay!!"
Finally, she raised her eyes to meet Ahmed's.
"Oh God! Why are you crying?"
Ahmed hurried his hand to his cheeks to wipe his tears. "A, am not!"
"Oh shit, I should be the one crying. Why are you so fragile?"
"Am not fragile... I... sniff, just..." He couldn't stop his tears as he started to cry nonstop.
"Don't worry! Am sure God will grant you justice. Still, your mother was a good woman. it's just unfair!"
"I know, right?"
She stood up and hugged his head to her chest, then laid her head on his.
"Stop crying now. You're making me cry more." She patted on his back.
"Oh god, don't talk while you're eating! And not on top of my head, sniff!"
"Yeah, sniff... you're right!" She closed her mouth and began to chew the food. "Nom, Nom, Nom~, sniff."
Ahmed could feel her cheeks moving on his head.
"Hey! Haha, sniff... seriously." The sudden laughter broke completely his crying at once.
She swallowed with her food. "Hahaha! Seriously, you're so sensitive."
"Am not! Hey, stop teasing me. That's my completely normal reaction. I doubt anyone can stay still hearing such a heart tearing story!"
"Haha! Unbelievable."
She held his head in both hands and started caressing his cheeks with both her thumbs.
"Look at your face, all puffy!"
"My face gets puffy easily." grinned Ahmed finally at her, lightening up his face once again.
*****
You could hear the sound of the car breaker as they were being hit aggressively. She parked in front of an enormous suitshop.
With the rise of her chin, she took a deep breath.
"I shouldn't have said that to the kid." Murmured Aoi with a strangled voice.
With a single look from her, the suitshop's gigantic entry opened like how the heavenly doors would do. All the doormen bowed at once. The manager was running all the hallway to the door, as the assistants were racing each other right behind her.
"Greetings! Aoi-sama!"
She bowed once, then stood up straight. Her right hand was going awkwardly back and forth, hesitant for whether Aoi would like to shake hands or not.
Aoi gave her hand to shake.
"It's really nice having you here, Miss! I will represent you a set of our best seller dresses. Recommended by our head personally, in no time!"
Aoi nodded once, then looked away. It was crystal obvious that she didn't hear a single word from what she said.
"Huff~, I really shouldn't have said that."
"What did you say, Miss?"
"Um?" She came to her senses. "A! I mean... I actually came here to pick a man's suit. Show me your most recommended."
"Ah...ahaha!" The manager laughed awkwardly. "Yes, miss! Please follow me to your room. Until the collection gets ready, do you want me to get you someone to try the suits on?"
Aoi took a minute to think. "That's actually a good idea. I'll go with that."
Going through the hallway to her designated room, Aoi sneaked a quick peak to the chamber she was passing by. It wasn't empty. But what grabbed her curiosity was that the figure of the man inside felt somehow familiar through her eye side. that was a remarkable quality that few people know about Aoi. The fact that she has a sharp attentiveness, and she has always led a good eye to details.
And she was right.
"Mamoru-kun?"
Hearing her voice, Mamoru's ear tangled in fright. As he wasn't expecting that.
Meeting her gaze, his ears got unwillingly heated up.
"Aoi-san!"