Kazuha was very, if not overly, surprised, so much so that her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with one hand.
If one thing was certain, it was that she was negatively surprised.
Her expression of astonishment was not very happy, quite the opposite.
Her hands were trembling slightly.
"Ema... Hayashi?" Kazuha whispered, incredulously.
"Why are you apologizing?" She asked.
Ema immediately raised her head and said, with a determined tone: "I apologize for the last time, my jealousy got the better of me... It wasn't a good period for me but now it's all over... Fumihiro and I would be happy to reconnect with you!!" She said, with a somewhat strange tone, as if she were forcing herself to say those things.
I was very puzzled by Ema's behavior.
That was a gesture of true maturity.
She was trying to make me notice that she had changed her attitude and that she really wanted to mend things with me.
My reaction was to smile and approach her.
I was pleasantly surprised, Ema was really trying to improve herself for me.
Or at least that's what I thought.
I lowered my guard a bit more and put a hand on Ema's back to reassure and calm her.
I could feel her body trembling slightly.
She had shown a lot of courage to say those things.
Her body relaxed at my touch.
Kazuha, on the other hand, was not very pleased with Ema's behavior.
She didn't perceive it as a nice gesture, but rather as something false.
I immediately understood that there was a bit of tension in the air.
I pretended not to notice it.
She didn't perceive it as a nice gesture, but rather as something false.
I immediately understood that there was a bit of tension in the air.
I pretended not to notice it.
For a moment, it seemed to me that Kazuha had clenched her fists tightly and was getting nervous, but perhaps I was mistaken, it was just my impression.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Kazuha glanced at me and then looked Ema in the eyes.
"Ema, right? I accept your apologies.
But you didn't need to apologize. I understand you.
I know what it feels like in such situations. I know that feeling... too well... where you're afraid that someone will steal your partner," Kazuha sighed, with a passive-aggressive tone.
"Don't worry about what happened at the supermarket, we can exchange contacts if you want," she added, smiling.
Ema's eyes widened, perhaps out of uncertainty.
It seemed like she didn't understand if Kazuha had truly accepted her apologies or not.
She simply replied without thinking too much.
"Yes! I would be happy if we became friends!!" Ema replied with a joyful yet somewhat fake tone.
Kazuha nodded curtly. It seemed like the two of them hated each other but were forcing themselves to talk and get along.
Ema showed great maturity with those apologies, wanting to prove to me that she wanted to change for me, to make things work better.
"Okay, now that this whole situation is resolved, why don't you two become friends for real?" I said, joining the conversation.
Kazuha didn't speak but took something out of her pocket. She pulled out what seemed to be a business card and handed it to Ema, smiling.
"This is my contact, Ema. Whenever you want to write to me and maybe hang out, don't hesitate to do so."
Ema took the card and returned the smile.
"O-Of course, Kazuha. Thank you so much. I'll write to you tonight," Ema replied, with a slightly nervous tone.
"You're welcome, Ema. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to rush to work, today's a full day... goodbye, Ema, Fumihiro!!!" Kazuha exclaimed, then bowing and walking away.
As she turned around, she winked at me with a smile.
I didn't quite understand that gesture, so I didn't dwell on it.
Ema and I both looked at each other.
Perhaps we were thinking the same thing: that Kazuha was not at all happy about this.
After Kazuha left,silence enveloped us, broken only by the distant murmur of the surrounding cityscape.
Then, Ema spoke up, her voice laced with uncertainty yet determination.
"I... I really hope Kazuha meant what she said," Ema confessed, her gaze fixed on the ground as if searching for reassurance.
I smiled at her and softly patted her back.
"Don't worry about that, you've done well." I said with a very loving tone.
Ema smiled back at me.
"T-Thanks... Fumihiro." She replied, while her hand grabbed mine.
Her soft squeeze was a really pleasant sensation.
Then, a question came into my mind.
By observing the interactions of Ema and Kazuha, i saw some familiarity between them.
It felt like they already knew each other.
Kazuha wasn't feeling happy after seeing Ema, and i could say the same for my girlfriend.
"Do they know each other...? Should i ask her?" That's what i was thinking.
"So... are we gonna go to your place now?" Ema asked while still squeezing my hand.
She interrupted my thinking session.
"E-eh? Yes."
I nodded in agreement and started to walk towards my home with her hand holding mine.
Our steps felt really lighter than usual.
The cityscapes surrounding us seemed more colorful and happy.
Ema was smiling joyfully and me too.
Her change of behavior was like a light at the end of the tunnel.
Maybe she was really changing to make me happy but...
For some strange reasons, it still didn't feel "natural".
I didn't want Ema to change herself for me, i loved everything of her, but at the same time, some things that happened actually hurt me.
I didn't want her to change herself, i wanted to change the situation instead.
The lack of trust, the fact that she tried to control my life... but she was scared, fragile, alone.
You shouldn't blame her... But on the other part, she could've speak to me.
There were no secrets between us...
She even said sorry to Kazuha.
"Maybe my plan was too harsh... but despite all of that i cannot lower my guard... i've been manipulated so many times..." I thought.
Suddenly, Ema started to sing a familiar melody with some words.
Then she started singing.
"♪What is happiness and peace?
but walking with you
Every day is the answer
I feel this love.♪"
My eyes widened after hearing htis melodi.
Her words touched my heart.
This was the first song i wrote when i was 15 years old.
She remembered all the words.
I wasn't expecting something like that.
I looked at her with a very happy and loving expression.
"Ema is doing way too much today... i don't know what to think..." i thought.
She then looked me into the eyes and asked : "Was i good? I still remember this song that you wrote for me."
Then she clung on my arm and her grip was very strong.
"Ahaha! You done amazing. Your voice has always been beautiful, unlike mine." I replied while scratching the back of my head.
"Hehe... I trained hard." She giggled.
"I see... and you trained so well." I replied while giving her a headpat.
"Hehe~I love you~." She whispered with a blush print upon her face.
We kept walking for another while and then, after 20 minutes of walking and sharing dreams, we arrived at home.
We both rang the bell of the door and my mother opened the door after 0,5 seconds.
After she saw me, she bursted in tears and hugged me tightly.
"MY BABY... MY PRECIOUS LITTLE BABY... MAMA IS HERE NOW...!" She said while i was in her arms.
She kept squeezing me really hard.
I was happy to see her again but her force was brutal.
I could barely breath.
"O-Okay... Mom! I'm okay!" I said.
"My precious little baby... *sob*" She said, while releasing me from the hug.
She then noticed Ema's presence.
"Ema-Chan! You're here too!" She said while smiling.
"Yes, Anzu-San, i'm here too. I just had a date with Fumihiro. That's why we were late." Ema replied with a very "professional" tone.
"Come in!! We'll celebrate Fumihiro's return!" She then looked at me. "Oh ! And there's your friend here!!" My mother said.
Me and Ema both raised our eyebrows in a curious way.
"Uhm... Who's there?" I gently asked.
"Oh! Just come in and see!" My mother replied.
Me and Ema nodded and headed inside my house.
Takibi ran towards me.
"BIG BRO!" He shouted joyfully, before clinging to me.
I picked him up and hugged him.
He even cried a little.
My little brother was really happy to see me again.
Ema lovingly smiled while seeing my interaction with Takibi.
I then put him down and patted his head.
"You'll be a very beautiful father, Fumihiro..." Ema whispered.
My eyes widened and i blushed a little after hearing her statement.
"D-Don't say that!" I replied, while scratching my head.
Ema giggled after that.
After that little scene, we went into my dining room and... i saw the "friend".
"Welcome back Fumi!" A gentle voice said.
Beside my eyes, there was nothing more than Haruka Suzuki.
She was even wearing a outfit for cleaning.
Suzuki actually smiled warmly at me, but after seeing Ema, her beautiful smile dropped in an instant.
She didn't expect to see her.
"What an embarassing situation, all of that because i'm an idiot... And why am i feeling so embarassed after seeing Suzuki?!" That's what i was thinking.
"E-Ema...?" Suzuki whispered with a "broken" voice and a blush all across her face.
My girlfriend didn't expect for Suzuki to be here and her eyes widened at her sight.
"Suzu...ki?" Ema said while tilting her head to the side.
There wasn't any particular problem, but i felt a little tension in the air...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Suzuki's Diary-Part 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear diary,
It's me , Haruka Suzuki.
Yes, me.
This time i'm writing you for a question.
What should i do now? I mean...
What should i do in this specific situation?
Did the destiny actually give me a real chance to make Fumihiro happy?
A lots of times... i saw him actually standing alone in the classroom, without anyone getting closer to him.
When he used to argue with his girlfriend for the dumbest reason...
Even a small argument could actually break him in two...
He thought that i wouldn't have noticed all of these little things.
Fumihiro actually always isolates himself whenever he's sad for something.
Literally... he always done everythig alone, without the help of anyone.
He told me multiple times about some basic problems between him and Ema.
He was always the one who couldn't do or say anything that she didn't like...
It seemed like she was the one in control...
Don't get me wrong, diary.
Ema and Fumi were so happy together... but now they are one inch from breaking up...
I just want to see his beautiful smile again...
Please...
I want to be held by him , i want to be loved...
I crave for a touch of affection from him...
I don't know... What should i do? Should i try to make him happy?
I love him so much... so much that is hurting me.
Watching from distance is not good anymore...
I feel sorry for Ema... despite everything that she's done to him...
He deserves someone better. Someone who can love him equally...
And this is what i'm going to do... at least...
I will fix him , even if he's never going to love me back, i promise to you that i'm gonna do everything in my power just to see him smiling...
I can't bear the thought of him staying with Ema again... not after what she has done.
He should delete her from his life... But... but...
If she's the one who makes him happy, who am i to say something in the first place?
Am i even allowed to love someone as special and kind as him?
Do i actually have the right of being jealous?
Right now, tears are falling from my face.
These are... Tears of Love.
A nostalgic feeling of something that i'm never gonna have... but that's okay...
I don't care... I'm used to it.
I'm an hypocrite, am i not?
Promising to myself to never fall in love with someone and then, without knowing, falling in love with someone who can never love me back?
He doesn't know how much his smiles warm my heart... how important it was when he called me by name...
He doesn't know how much i love him...
If only... if only he knew ho many tears i shed for this...
I hate my self.
I need some help. I just want to be loved by him. Nothing more.
~With love, Haruka Suzuki