The current time was 6 pm. After confirming that most of the attendees had gathered around their assigned tables, the representative of the staff, Tomoo-senpai began her speech.
She began her speech by thanking the attendees for participating in the party, followed by a few words of encouragement for the third-years who'll be busy studying for exam season. Lastly, she briefly explained the schedule for the day and gave the attendees some precautions.
The speech was short enough that the attendees didn't get bored from hearing it. Seeing her like this, I realized that Tomoo-senpai is an amazing girl. Even though she was holding her speech in front of all these people, she didn't seem nervous at all.
"With that said, everyone, a toast for all of us!"
Following Tomoo-senpai's words, everyone bursted out in excitement.
I looked around to find Umi and Amami-san. The santa hats made them easily noticeable as expected.
Together with the two of them were Nitori-san and Houjou-san. All four of them were smiling, I guess they were happy that they could finally enjoy their time together for the first time in a long while.
Seeing this scene, I was convinced that Umi would be fine on her own, so I went to Tomoo-senpai's side.
"Good work, senpai."
"The party barely started, you know? …Also, is it time?"
"Yes. Sorry about this, senpai, I have to leave for now…"
"Don't worry, I'll take over your work at the reception desk. There's nothing big happening in the first hour anyway, you can take your time, just make sure to come back later."
She gave me an hour worth of time, that should be enough.
I gave her my armband and went outside.
There was a large tree in front of the civic hall, it was the place where I promised to meet both of my parents.
"Maki, I'm here."
"Mom…"
Mom waved at me when she saw me coming out of the hall. She seemed out of breath, she must have come in a hurry.
"Maki, is it really okay for you to leave the venue? The party just started, right?"
"Mhm, I got the president's permission. Sorry that you have to come all the way here, mom…"
"Well, I'm on break right now, so this much isn't a problem. Why did you call me here though?"
"Wait a second, mom. The other person should be here soon."
"The other person?"
"I got a call…"
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and answered the call.
The screen displayed the name 'Minato Kyouka'. I got her phone number from our exchange earlier this afternoon.
{Good evening, Maki-kun. As promised, I made some time for you.}
"Thank you very much. What about Dad?"
{I'm with him right now. Should I bring him there right now?}
"Yes, please."
I hung up the call and looked toward the entrance and found both of them dressed in their suits.
Mom followed my gaze and seemed to have guessed what was going on after she saw both of them.
"Thank you for coming, Dad. And sorry, I lied."
"Maki… I see how it is…"
Under the tree, for the first time in a long time, the members of the Maehara Family finally met again… Or rather, Mom and Dad finally met up with each other again.
"…It's been a while."
"…Right…"
""…""
After exchanging a few words, they looked away and fell into silence. Maybe they felt awkward because this was the first time they met each other ever since they signed the divorce papers .
"What's wrong, Mom? Dad? It's been a while since you've seen each other, no? Don't you have anything to say?"
"Even if you're telling me that… Is this lady over here Minato-san?"
"…Yes, ma'am, my name is Minato Kyouka, I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm Maehara Masaki. Don't worry, I'm not his wife anymore, you can boil him or whatever for all I care."
"…I don't think I'm good enough for him…"
"Is that so… You never change, huh? Always messing around with women's feelings like this…"
Seeing Minato-san's reaction, Mom glared at Dad.
In response, Dad let out a deep breath.
"…You don't understand…"
"Here you go again, 'You don't understand' you said. Why are you always like this? You never face your problems properly and keep running away from them. If I pissed you off, then at least try to bite back, you coward."
"Curse me all you want… Maki, if you have nothing to say, then I'm going back. I'm busy–"
"…No, please wait a minute, Itsuki-san."
Dad was about to turn around and leave but before he did, Minato-san grabbed his hand.
"Let go of me, Minato. Also, we're still in working hour, call me Chief."
"No. I will do neither of them."
"Minato–"
"Are you going to keep running away from your son like this?"
"…"
Hearing those words, Dad stopped trying to shake Minato-san off.
"Itsuki-san, please listen to what Maki-kun has to say first… After that, you could run away if you want to…"
"I see… So this is what you meant by having urgent business earlier… You lied and skipped your work for this? …Are you prepared to bear the consequences?"
"Yes. I'm prepared, Itsuki-san."
"You…"
Minato-san pulled out an envelope out of her pocket. That was enough to show her resolution.
She was a strong woman.
"…I'll give you ten minutes…"
"Thank you. Maki-kun, go ahead."
"Okay."
I thanked Minato-san and stood between my parents.
"Mom, Dad, can I hold your hands? …Who am I kidding? Why should I need your permission?"
"Eh?"
"A-Ah…"
I ignored my parents who looked confused and grabbed their hands.
This was the first time in a long time that I felt the warmth of both of their hands. I never thought that I would be able to do this ever again.
Both of their hands warmed my cold hands.
Once again I realized that both of them were precious to me…
"…Mom… Dad… Can you make up for me?…"
And so, I spoke out my selfish wish.
"Can you stop fighting and get back to normal? I don't want to choose between the two of you… I want to be together with you like before…"
"…Maki, you…"
"Maki…"
I poured more strength into my grip.
"I'll work harder than before… I'll study harder, I'll try to get into sports… I made friends recently and I'll continue to make more friends and get along with them…"
The emotions that I've been hiding poured out in the form of tears.
"I love you both… I can't choose between the two of you, I want to be with you both…"
I knew that this action was pointless. It was way too late to do this and I would only trouble them by doing this.
But if I didn't do this, I could never move on from my past. I needed this to leave the past behind me and make new memories with Umi and other people I cared about…
"Maki! Sorry, I'm late…"
"Umi… No, it's fine, it's just getting started… How's everything?"
"All done. I told them if they dare to do it again, I'll beat the living shit out of them."
"Is that so?"
I'm glad that everything was settled for her. Everything would be fine, she's Umi after all, she can take on anything.
Besides, I'll be there to support her.
"…Well, that's all, Mom, Dad… Sorry for saying something like this out of the blue…"
I only wanted to tell them that, I didn't intend to change anything. But it did make me feel better, I had to thank Daichi-san for his advice.
"Right, Dad, about the things we're talking over the phone…"
"…About whether or not you'll live with me?"
"Yes, that."
I nodded and let my parents' hands go. Then I went over to Umi and grabbed her hand.
"Dad… Actually, I fell in love with this girl here. I don't know why she also fell in love with me, but she has been by my side through my worst times…"
Asanagi Umi.
My first friend and my first love.
"Minato-san told me about your hardships and I understand. You can't even tell your family about it because of the nature of your work, but even so, you kept working for us and I appreciate that… But that, I don't want to be separated from this girl…"
That would be the end of this story.
Of course, I still had regrets about this matter. If I could turn back time, I would do it, but at the same time, I didn't want to be away from Umi.
"…I see… So you've found someone huh?"
"Yes. Though I think she's too good for someone like me."
"…You've changed, huh, Maki?"
"…I guess so…"
Three months ago, I would never spout cheesy lines like this.
Well, I guess I've changed after all.
Dad let out a sigh.
"…Got it… Then try not to be like me, okay? Who knows when we will meet each other again, but I'll always wish for your happiness, Maki…"
"Thank you, Dad… Good luck with your work…"
"Mhm… Well, now that you've decided this, I have to pay your mom for your custody money… Being an adult is such a pain in the ass."
Then, for the first time today, Dad smiled.
It might be painful for him because he might not be able to see me anymore, but he still smiled despite that fact.
I loved him so much.
"Mom, Dad, can I ask you something?"
"What? You've been toying with us and you're saying that you still have something in our mind? Hm?"
"Well yeah, I'm not done yet. I want us to take a picture under that tree."
Thanks to the decorations and the snow, the gigantic tree looked like a Christmas tree and it made a good background for a picture.
I wanted to take a picture there to fill the last page of the Maehara family album.
This was my last selfishness, the thing that I had planned out together with Umi.
"What do you think?"
"…I don't know… Having a family photo after we've divorced feels off, but… Well, since this is our son's wish, I guess I have to fulfill it, huh?"
"Hehe… I guess so…"
For a moment, I could see the shadow of them back when they were still together.
But I knew that I couldn't change the past. That was why I did all of this, to move on from the past and move toward the future.
"Umi, can you take a picture of us?"
"I can, but I'm bad at taking pictures… So, I brought some helpers~"
"Huh? Helpers?"
"Yeah. Oi, you guys, it's time!"
"Eh?"
Umi called out to the nearby garden and three figures appeared.
"It was cold~ But finally, it's my turn!"
"I came here without Sis' permission, so you'll have to go with me to apologize after this, Maki!"
"…Are you sure it's fine for me to be here? I feel so out of place…"
They were Amami-san, Nozomu and lastly, Nitta-san.
I thought Umi was the only one who came, but it seemed like she brought the whole gang over.
Well, I kind of expected this to happen. No way that Amami-san would let Umi wander around in the cold alone.
"Well, you can take the picture then, Nina. You're good at it, right?"
"Yeah, I'm better than most people at least… Well, I owe both Rep and Rep's dad something, so I'll gladly do it."
So I gave Nitta-san our phones and stood between my parents.
"Mom, Dad, are you having fun?…"
"…I guess so, yeah."
"…Mhm, I'm having fun alright."
"Haha, what's with that answer? You really haven't changed, 'Mom'."
"Okay, is everyone ready?~"
And so the pictures were saved in each of our phones.
Inside the pictures, there were happy smiles of Mom, Dad and I.
"Alright, since everything is done, we should join in too, Umi!"
"Yuu… Well, fine. Come here, Seki."
"'Kay. You too, Nitta."
"Eh? Me too? Then who'll be taking the pictures? …Ah, that Big Sis over there, can I ask you?…"
"Alright."
After giving Minato-san our phones, Nitta-san joined us.
There were seven of us here and it was hard to fit everyone, but we were having so much fun that it didn't matter.
"I'll start taking the pictures… Uh, what should I say on this occasion again?"
"Just say whatever you like, Big Sis! We'll go along with you, don't worry!"
"Alright, then–"
The lively voices of high school students echoed under the snowy Christmas night.