FANFIC[MC]~~ 志 (KOKOROZASHI)

“I would like to accept your proposal,” Hikaru informed Yamamoto-san on the other line. “I have decided on that.”

“That’s great,” Teruyoshi answered after a short pause. “Would it be possible for you to meet my daughter this afternoon?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright. Nakamaru-san will pick you up at around twelve noon for lunch. Bring Sho-kun, ne? Jaa.” Teruyoshi casually said and ended the call after hearing Hikaru’s ‘yes’.

Hikaru sighed.

“Aniki?”

---

Kei wasn’t able to sleep so well the previous night. It was an hour till midday when he went out of his room. Already in his change of clothes, he headed down the stairs with his dogs. His father was on the meal table reading the newspaper, and his mother was preparing coffee. Tatsuya on the other hand was browsing different channels on the television in their living room while munching on toast. They must have gotten up late, too.

“Hello, dear,” his mom said as she noticed Kei come down from the stairs. “Would it be cereals for you today?”

“I’m not hungry,” he lied. His father glanced at him and went back to the paper. “I’ll walk Jam and An to the park.”

His parents exchanged looks. Mr. Izumi nodded to his wife.

“It says on the news that it’s gonna rain, Kei,” Tatsuya informed as a concerned brother.

Kei grabbed an umbrella after he placed Jam and An’s leashes. He gave a silent ‘ittekimasu’ and headed out before anyone could reply to him an ‘itterasshai.’

Otou-san had a sip of coffee. “He would need some more space to think,” he said with a light sigh.

---

Hikaru removed his usual white apron at Koyama’s ramen restaurant. He packed his things in a hurry. “Otsukaresamadeshita, Koyama-san!”

“Hai, hai! Otsukare!”

Hikaru ran as fast as he can. He checked his watch. It was thirty minutes past eleven and Nakamaru-san would be picking him and his brother up soon.

---

“Airi?” Teruyoshi knocked at his daughter’s room and welcomed himself in. He saw her sitting on her desk, brushing her hair.

She turned around as his father walked closer. “Hi, dad,” she said with a smile.

“Their car had arrived.” Teruyoshi sat down on the bed beside her desk. “Are you sure that you want to do this? I’m sorry that I’ve been a very selfish father.”

Airi carefully placed down her brush and stood up. She sat down beside him and gave him a hug. “Otou-san,” she said with a chuckle, “You’ve been a very generous father. I could never have a better dad.”

Teruyoshi smiled as his eyes slowly become watery.

“I’m your only child and you’re giving me away just like this,” she joked.

Teruyoshi hugged his precious daughter back. “I love you no matter what, my dear.”

---

‘Hikaru-kun, please pick up,’ Yuuna thought to herself as she continued to phone him. She knows Hikaru wouldn’t break their promise. He should have been with her at the movie theater an hour ago.

‘Kami-sama, if he really doesn’t answer, I’ll turn back and head home,’ she prayed.

True enough, kami-sama wanted her to get back home. He must be telling her that they’re not to be together that day.

She sighed with mixed feelings. “I was looking forward to this day, Hikaru-kun,” she whispered under her breath.

---

“Yamamoto-sama and the young mistress would be here shortly,” the butler, Yamashita-san said. “Fukazawa Sho-sama, I was asked if you would like to be transferred on a wheelchair—”

“It’s best for me to walk, thank you,” Sho answered kindly. “I would need it for my rehabilitation.”

“Of course, sir. Please don’t hesitate to request for one if you feel exhausted.”

The three were interrupted when they heard steps from the stairs. It was Teruyoshi-san and his daughter Airi walking at his back.

“Sho-kun, Hikaru-kun, I’m sorry for having you wait,” Teruyoshi said. He was wearing his usual outfit; a suit, grayish in color matched with a faded blue tie. His daughter on the other hand was wearing a white sleeveless polo, the V-ed neckline extending just below her collar bones. Her cerulean-tinted skirt that pulled out until her knees swayed as she walked down the stairs. There was simplicity on how they both carried themselves.

“Ah no, we’re very grateful to be here,” Sho replied as he shook hands with Teruyoshi-san. “Hello there, Airi,” he greeted as he and his little brother bowed.

---

Koyama rang the doorbell of the Fukazawa residence.

“Hello? Is anyone home? Hikaru-kun?”

Flashback…

Koyama was staggered when he saw the trash can in the kitchen full. “Ah, I forgot that Fukazawa-kun left early today,” he told himself. There was no one to take it out but him, of course.

As he took the garbage out, he saw a mobile phone on the ground. He picked it up. It was Hikaru’s. ‘He must have dropped it when he was in a hurry this morning.’ He pressed some buttons. It was off. The impact of the fall caused Hikaru’s phone to blackout. “Maa, I guess I should return this.”

End of Flashback.

He tried knocking but even after almost ten minutes, nobody answered. He sighed.

“I guess I’ll just return it tonight,” he said as he turned back to leave.

---

The four were lead to a veranda by Yamashita-san where they were to have their lunch. Teruyoshi and Sho conversed as the other two walked side-by-side quietly, an awkward wall separating them. The end-of-summer breeze brushed their faces as they stepped on the balcony.

“Go ahead,” Hikaru motioned with his hand, letting Airi walk in first.

“Thank you,” she replied, receiving a feeling of a fine start.

They shared stories as their meals were served. Most were about Hikaru’s and Airi’s interests and embarrassing events from the past. They exchanged remarks of laughter and comments that led to ‘for real?!’ responses.

Teruyoshi wiped a tear that originated from Hikaru’s amusing story, “I haven’t laughed like this since I don’t remember when!” he exclaimed.

“It’s been long since I’ve seen my dad this happy,” Airi whispered to Hikaru who was sitting next to her. “Thanks.”

Hikaru chuckled, “Nah. We should thank you for having us.”

“Ah. By the way, Hikaru-kun, what course are you taking?” Teruyoshi all of a sudden asked after having a glass of water.

“Hikaru decided to quit school and work to earn a living for the both of us,” Sho answered before his little brother could. “I’ve been saying that I’m always a burden to him, but I realized it’s because he’s a very bighearted person.”

The sounds of their spoons and forks stopped. Airi looked at Hikaru who was looking down on his food. She smiled.

“The Fukazawas have always been bighearted,” Teruyoshi said, recalling that they would never be that fortunate without the said family. “Would you like to go to college, Hikaru-kun?”

Hikaru looked at his future father-in-law. “If it is so that I can find a stable job, I would be delighted.”

“I can introduce you to Okada Junichi-sensei. He was Airi’s teacher when she was home-schooled in Senior High School. Unless, you would like to go to Keio with Airi-chan?”

Hikaru froze. Keio. A bell rang in his head and got louder every second. Keio. Keio?

…

‘YUUNA!’ he thought and let out a loud gasp. He forgot about their date. He forgot that he was supposed to be with her that day after his work.

“Is something the matter, ‘Karu?” his aniki asked.

Airi looked at Sho and then to Hikaru, “Fukazawa-kun?”

But he couldn’t hear them. Yuuna was a special friend to him, but he forgot all about her. Where could she be now? She must hate him already. No, she must loathe him already. If she sees him, she won’t bear to talk to him. She won’t talk to him ever. He may not be able to look at himself either or he might just barf with disgust.

Wait. What could he do? He was going to be engaged. If he ran out right now to look for Yuuna, then what? Will anything change? Maybe this was for the better.

He felt a hand on his knee, a warm touch passing through his jeans. “Fukazawa-kun?” Airi called as she welcomed him back to the world.

“I… I’m sorry.” Hikaru said with a small bow.

“Would it be Keio, my son?” Teruyoshi once again asked.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I would like to consider learning from Okada-san who you mentioned earlier.” Hikaru replied. Keio would mean seeing Takeda Yuuna-san. Breaking her heart once would be enough. “I might not be able to catch up as fast as Airi-san in Keio.”

“Very well,” Teruyoshi said. “Maybe in your second year you will be confident enough, ne?”

Hikaru uncertainly nodded and just continued with his food. Sho looked at him and noticed his troubled face. ‘I’m still sorry, Hikaru,’ he thought to himself.

---

As she walked the busy streets of the city, she felt a drop of rain on her cheek.

“Yabai,” she mouthed as it started drizzling. To where she was walking, there weren’t any nearby shops or any bus stop she could wait at. Even if there was though, she wouldn’t have the strength to run anymore. The rain doesn’t hurt as much as what just happened.

‘Why, Hikaru? Why? I want to know. What did I do wrong?’

The thought of Hikaru not showing up suddenly made her cry. She couldn’t carry on walking. She covered her mouth as her sobs started to get louder. Her tears joined the intensifying rain. She couldn’t stop. She never felt her heart hurt that way before. It was like some kind of disease. He must hate her that’s why. Maybe Hikaru just wanted to get rid of her for good. A wonderful guy like him doesn’t deserve a girl like her.

A shadow was growing nearer from her back. An umbrella hovered over her.

“Yuuna?” A familiar voice called.

---

ittekimasu – “off I/we go”
itterasshai – “off you go” / “be careful on your way” (respond to ‘ittekimasu’ ; vice-versa)
otsukare – or ‘otsukaresama’ usually said at the start or after a day’s work (‘otsukaresamadeshita’ is in past tense)
kami-sama – ‘god’
yabai – “this is bad” / “oh no”
…desu – in the story was used as “Izumi desu.” meaning “It’s Izumi.” ~n desu is often used in the end of the sentence but it’s different from ~masu. XD [See: http://japanese.about.com/blqow24.htm