Vol 10 Chapter 8 (1/2)

[Hikaru V10] Chapter 8

It has been a month since Yū returned home.

Hikaru continued to remain with Koremitsu, leisurely dousing the latter with floral language.

For example, In the pure white color of Winter, the pa.s.sionate red decorates it after all, or the sight of the Camellia fluttering really is riveting’, ‘do you know the 10 graces of the Camellia’, ‘the red color of the Nandina is wondering, but the bell-like red fruits hanging on the fiery, thick branches really make this a hard decision for me’, ‘The Winterberry is as adorable as a girl’s little lips, and I really cannot help but kiss it’..

Is this guy intending to haunt me for the rest of my life’ Koremitsu began to worry.

Due to that, he never did kiss Honoka ever since that moment at the riverbank.

They were officially dating, but there was no way they could become pa.s.sionate lovers so suddenly.

However, whenever they were headed home together after school, or alone in the j.a.panese Dance clubroom, or out together during the holidays, or whenever they were to bid farewell, Honoka would shyly lift her head at Koremitsu, fidgeting, looking as though she had something to say. This would be the moment when Koremitsu would be worried about Hikaru, and play dumb, averting the topic by saying ‘Ahh, I’m hungry’. ‘I just saw a fly. There’re flies in winter?’.

Koremitsu knew that Honoka was frustrated because of his att.i.tude, and in some sense, he too was feeling angsty.

Also, there has been lots of ‘such an atmosphere’ brewing recently, and this further tormented Koremitsu to no end.

(Speaking of which, did that s.h.i.+kibu became so s.e.xy looking out of a sudden…she would hold my hand when we’re going home together, blus.h.i.+ng hard. She’ll peek at me from time to time when we’re in cla.s.s, and that’s making me tense. The way she puffs her cheeks and look up at me causes my heart and head to heat up. Back then, I just wondered whether she wants to use the toilet whenever she was blus.h.i.+ng and fidgeting. Now I’m having trouble holding it in.)

Once he realized his feelings for Honoka and began dating her, Koremitsu found that those legs were long and pretty, her light brown hair silky, and nice to touch, her lips looking tender and glossy, and he was getting jumpy.

He had the feeling that they could take a further step.

I might as well ignore Hikaru.

No, I don’t have any interest in exhibitionist play.

And with Hikaru being his brake, Koremitsu was able to hold in his feelings for Honoka. Without Hikaru around, he had the feeling that it would not be just a little development, and that would be a problem too—

He was seated on the tatami with his legs folded, looking glum. Hikaru floated to Koremitsu’s side asking with a dazzling face,

“This is the first time that I am spending Christmas with a friend. Do you celebrate it every year with your family, Koremitsu?”

“We’re Buddhists, so we don’t really celebrate Christmas.”

“Eh, that is a rarity. But what about this year? We do need to get s.h.i.+ko a Santa Claus.”

“Uu…I guess.”

It would be too cruel to tell the 4th grader s.h.i.+oriko we won’t have Santa visiting us’. Surely his grandpa, who dotes on s.h.i.+oriko so much, would be willing to cosplay as Santa for her sake.

“Got to make this Christmas a pleasant one though. The living room has to be decorated. Ah, you have to prepare the Christmas Tree too. Order a cake, and get Miss Koharu to bake a stuffed turkey. And get a Christmas ring on the corridor too.”

Upon seeing Hikaru come up with Christmas plans with a grin, Koremitsu lamented, He’s getting so excited while ignoring how busy I’ll be However, he got up,

“Wait, I’ll take notes.”

That was because the words Hikaru confessed before lingered in his heart,

—At that moment, will someone be welcoming me like what happened to Princess Kaguya? I will have to leave in any case, so I do wish to stay till Christmas.

Once Christmas pa.s.sed, would Hikaru really vanish from this Earth? Would this end up being the first Christmas they spent together—and the last?

Koremitsu had such a feeling, so he followed Hikaru’s wishes to spend a wonderful Christmas together.

And so, it was a morning, a week before Christmas Day, when Mikoto notified Koremitsu that Fujino gave birth.

The labor process was long and arduous.

The one born was a boy, named Kaoru.

That was the name Hikaru thought for his child during the commotion involving Sora—one had to wonder if it was a coincidence, or that Hikaru mentioned to Fujino or his father to name his child as Kaoru.

But when Mikoto mentioned the name, Hikaru seemed to be overwhelmed by some emotions, narrowing his eyes sadly as he raised his lips, showing an elated smile.

At this moment, he smiled silently, staring at the photos Mikoto took with her cellphone, the photos of Fujino smiling amicably, cradling her baby.

The DNA test results proved that the child was not Hikaru’s.

Mikoto noted with a stoic tone, devoid of any emotion, stating that It was undoubtedly the child of Hikaru’s father.

Hikaru did not leave anything behind on this world.

But those ethereal, precious things would surely live on in the ones Hikaru loved, and the ones who loved Hikaru.

Hikaru will continue to live on within Fujino.

But one would hope that it was not a curse, but a blessing.

Fujino’s face was tender as she cradled the baby. It was the same as when she was beaming with Hikaru under the Wisteria flowers, back when she was still a young girl, a satiated, blissful face.

One would hope for it to continue living.

And also, hope that she would use those warmth, adorable memories to reminisce Hikaru.

“Hey, Ono, you don’t have say it now, but can you tell me about the story of Fujino and Hikaru that you know of one of these days?”

He asked, and with those refres.h.i.+ng eyes of hers, Mikoto stared right at Koremitsu,

“Sorry, I refuse.”

She answered.

“Miss Fujino only told me of her secret…when I was little, she enthusiastically told me ‘I finally met Hikaru today’. That was the start of it all, and after that, she would tell me all the stories of her with Hikaru, including all her sins. Those are important presents to me. They were startling, heavy, filled with anguish, yet filled with glitter—they are like gemstones to me, leaving me frenetic. I intend to keep them within me forever.”

Mikoto raised her hands to her chest.

“I see.”

Koremitsu sounded relived as he muttered.

What kind of stories did Fujino tell Mikoto?

When did she begin to realize her love for Hikaru, tormented herself, and yet continued to love him?

What sort of feelings did she have when she married Hikaru’s father?

Surely she would have suffered and despaired. Surely she would have envied and betrayed.

But surely, those were sparkling, gemstone-like stories to Mikoto, who concluded with the wise-looking eyes.

A few days later, Koremitsu received Aoi’s confession on the school rooftop during lunch break.

“I should have chosen the season better.”

Aoi was wearing a uniform, not even a coat or a scarf as she cuddled herself, s.h.i.+vering as she waited for Koremitsu.

The sky was exceptionally clear, and though the air remained stagnant, it was frosty. Aoi’s lips began to purple, her face slightly reddened. Koremitsu got up here once his lessons ended, but one had to wonder how long Aoi waited.

“Do you want to talk inside?”

The moment Koremitsu asked, “No, we can do so here.” Aoi looked on stubbornly, saying,

“I decided to come to the roof a month back.”

She noted adamantly.

Then, she lowered her hands, and straightened her back, lifting her large black eyes at Koremitsu, saying,

“I like you, Mr Akagi. Please go out with me.”

Koremitsu lowered his head.

“Sorry. I got a girlfriend.”

Two seconds later,

“I understand.”

Aoi answered calmly.

“Thank you for giving me a clear answer.”

She too lowered her head as Koremitsu did, and lowered eye eyes, looking a little distraught, saying,

“…Mr Akagi, a.s.suming that I was not Hikaru’s fiancee, would you be willing to have me be your girlfriend?”

“I got s.h.i.+kibu now, so no. And if you weren’t Hikaru’s fiancee, I suppose we won’t be talking like this.”

“I guess. There will not be a chance after all.”

Aoi’s face showed a clear smile.

“It really is wonderful that Hikaru has you as his friend, Mr Akagi. I know of Hikaru’s feelings thanks to you, and that I can still continue to fall in love again. I am rejected, but from now on, I still love you, just as I did for Hikaru. I will continue to love you, and I will love the one who recreate these feelings in me.”

The clear, sparkling eyes filled Koremitsu’s heart.

Hikaru, watching the duo from the side, must be feeling the same thing as well.

He was probably beaming away, watching Aoi being so energetic.

It was Aoi who taught Koremitsu that girls are cute creatures. Aoi would greet him bashfully whenever they met on the corridor, looking gaudy. It was Aoi who held his hand when he met his mother, was left at a loss, and shed tears. Back then, he once embraced Aoi on the roof when the latter acted out of impulse.

Aoi really was the good girl whom Hikaru said would be too good for him, a cute girl, a pure white Hollyhock blooming in the Sacred lands, a demure girl that would soothe others. Thus, one day, she would surely find the most wonderful love for herself.

“Yeah, do your best.”

Aoi mustered the most brilliant smile she could, and answered Koremitsu’s cheer,

“Leave it to me!”

(I was dumped…)

After Koremitsu left, Aoi stared into the sky for quite a while, and forgot how cold she was.

The blue, cloudless sky became hazy, and a trail of tears trickled down both sides of Aoi’s faces.

(I do know that Mr Akagi is different from Hikaru. Once he chose a woman, he will not philander on anyone other than that woman.)

Thus, while Aoi felt really depressed, it was wonderful that she was able to continue moving forward.

She wiped her tears away, voicing out to the one behind the door Koremitsu stepped through.

“I know you are there, Asa.”

The door that was slightly ajar swung open, and Asai, wearing a coat, scowled as she walked out.

“I brought a coat for you.”

Asai coldly noted, putting the coat in her hand on Aoi’s shoulder.

A warm, fuzzy feeling engulfed Aoi’s icy body, and she tugged at the coat—

“Haha, it feels warm.”

She beamed,

“Asa, my romance failed.”

“…”

“I do feel relieved now though. How about you confess to Mr Akagi too, Asa?”

Asai, standing silently beside Aoi, widened her eyes immediately, and immediately frowned, scowling.

“I will not act impulsively based on love. Besides, there is no use loving a man with a girlfriend.”

Asai seemed to indicate that she had no reason why Aoi would mention the name Koremitsu Akagi, and she snorted with disdain, turning her head away.

Upon seeing Asai act this way, Aoi snuck her neck into the warm coat, looking a little blissful as she beamed.

“You really are a tough one to deal with, huh? I will comfort you when you are rejected in your love though, Asa.”

(I’m definitely spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with big brother Koremitsu this year. I won’t let him be alone with Miss s.h.i.+kibu!)

s.h.i.+oriko made up her mind as she tied the children boots and socks on the Akagis’ corridor.

Once she knew that Koremitsu was dating Honoka, s.h.i.+oriko was so shocked that she could not swallow the Baumkuchen that was her tea.

Koremitsu never did view Honoka as one of the opposite gender, so when did they have such a relations.h.i.+p going on?

And from the moment they first began dating Koremitsu would anxiously pull out his phone to check anxiously. Whenever s.h.i.+oriko mentioned Honoka’s name, he would blush.

What is going on!? Why is he so lovestruck for Miss s.h.i.+kibu!? s.h.i.+oriko was very displeased as a result.

And even when she voiced her complaints to the chameleon that took Lapis’ role, the chameleon merely stuck its tongue out with a stoic face, further incensing s.h.i.+oriko.

(I won’t lose! The match begins now! In another 4 years, I’ll be a beauty even Miss s.h.i.+kibu isn’t a match for.)

In any case, she was headed to Tôjô’s place. She wanted to embrace the cute kittens Lapis gave birth to and heal her soul.

The hatred s.h.i.+oriko had for Tôjô s.n.a.t.c.hing Lapis had yet to vanish.

But whenever s.h.i.+oriko went to look for Lapis and the kittens, Tôjô would line up a batch of animal cookies he personally baked, doused with an a.s.sortment of b.u.t.ter pancakes, and apple pies with homemade ice cream dabbed on them, trying to appease s.h.i.+oriko.

s.h.i.+oriko never was ensnared by the sweets, but she started to have a feeling that Tôjô was not as bad as she first thought. Once she finished all the sweets he made, his handsome face would relax slightly, looking very delighted.

(He may be a lolicon. I will eat the sweets, but I got to make sure not to let my guard down. I got big brother Koremitsu.)

She tied her shoelaces, and got out from the house. Once she stood right the doors, her eyes met a boy’s who was of her age.

(Ah! He’s!)

It was the boy who came to spy on the Akagis, and was chased away by s.h.i.+oriko with a broom. Back then, Koharu came out to say ‘stop it, s.h.i.+ko’, and the boy scampered away.

Koharu said that she did not know the boy, but looking at her response and her stammer when she spoke to Koremitsu and Masakaze, the sharp-witted s.h.i.+oriko realized it.

This boy was Koharu’s son.

It was said that he was still a baby when Koharu divorced. He was taken by the paternal family, and Koharu never did meet him.

(But aunt Koharu definitely wants to meet him. I can tell from her expression.)

Koharu was very languid after that incident. Surely she was thinking of the boy.

The boy probably a.s.sumed that he would be whacked by s.h.i.+oriko with the broom again, and he stared at her warily, backing away little by little. s.h.i.+oriko too stared at him intently, pointing her thumb to the door, and stated coldly,

“…Come in.”

“It’s almost time for Christmas Eve. Big Brother, who are you having it with?”

s.h.i.+oriko sent a message stating that she could not making, so Shungo was having tea together at the fireplace. He was giving a call to Hiina, asking if she was available, and the latter responded by saying to meet at the fireplace.

Hiina got there first, saying, “Bogged down by the family, huh?’. She deliberately changed her mannerism to disguise her birthplace and accent, but at this moment, she reverted back to her usual mannerism.

Shungo showed no intention of blaming her.

“I do not have any plans for Christmas Eve.”

He answered formally, maintaining his poised tone as he laid out a piece of paper on the table, and turned to Hiina.

“I wanted to find a chance to give this to you. Since I have the time now, I wish to end this quickly for you.”

Hiina’s face looked a little glum; perhaps she had a.s.sumed it to be cash. However, a look of surprise slowly spread on her face, and the tears in the eyes continued to twirl.

Her hands were holding onto the piece of paper, and she reread the contents over and over again, her fingers and shoulders quivered, her face gradually contorted, before she finally burst into tears.

“Brother…this is, a copy of the family registration, right…? It has my name on it. Am I recognized now? Did you request for it, brother?”

“…”

A lot of realization and tactical planning was required of Shungo when he requested for Hiina to be officially recognized, knowing that his father thought of him as a hapless lad. After lots of arduous negotiations, his father finally recognized Hiina as his own daughter, and he finally felt somewhat vindicated, his entire body quivering.

“You may not reveal to the public that you are a daughter of the Tôjôs…but I shall do my best to help you out.”

“It is okay. This is fine enough for me. I am as happy as when you got me out from s.h.i.+ga, big brother.”

—Are you my big brother? I have a family?

Hiina widened her eyes and stared at Shungo when they first met at an orphanage in rural s.h.i.+ga, and beamed.

I am elated.

Truly, it is a wonderful thing to be born into this world.

I will do anything for the sake of my family.

While he recognized Hiina, it was not merely just out of pity of this little sister without a given name; Hiina could not call Shungo ‘big brother’ in front of everyone else.

But for Hiina, she was utterly elated, and Shungo too thought of her as a family member with the same blood flowing in him.

“Do you have any plans for Christmas Eve, Hiina?”

It was the first time Shungo called his little sister ‘Hiina’ .

Hiina’s face grew increasingly contorted.

“No.”

She sobbed.

“Then, let us spend the day together. Christmas is supposed to be spent with family.”

Hiina’s lips were quivering, perhaps unable to say anything, and she nodded over and over again.

3 days before Christmas, it was the closing ceremony.

Michiru was discharged from the hospital, tampering both her genial voice and spiteful tongue as she conveyed her intents to her cla.s.sroom, and as the cla.s.s representative, she trained them well.

She would bicker with Honoka from time to time, but they were on good terms. The next day was the 23rd, and they intended to play at a theme park until their legs jellied.

“I have a date with you on the Eve…Akagi, so I spared some time.”

Honoka shyly explained, and reached her hand out to hold Koremitsu’s causing the latter’s heart to pound, his face red.

Tsuyako had been performing overseas all year long. The media had been paying much attention to her.

“I will continue to work hard to show everyone the red weeping cherry blossom of j.a.pan that is highly regarded.”

She cheerfully declared.

Her alluring, riveting dance were as graceful as the red flower petals swaying, and surely, it could allur all the people of the world.

The closing ceremony ended, and Koremitsu was on the way home.

“Mr Akagi! Will you like a ride?”

A handsome bespectacled youth got out from the driver seat of a small blue car, beaming.

“:Ack, Kazuaki.”

“There is no need to be courteous. How about a trip around? Or to the airport so that we can head off to my family resort in Hawaii and enjoy the winter break? Maybe a curise touring the Mediterranean Sea?”

“No, that’s too kind of you. My family’s tradition is that we’re to spend Christmas Eve and Day together.”

In Kazuaki’s case, it would be terrifying if Koremitsu was to get on the car with him and actually get deported overseas.

“Is that so? That is a pity~”

Kazuaki frowned a little, and shut off his car engine.

“Well then, let us have a conversation about my mother…”

He parked the car by the side, and approached Koremitsu, speaking of the ex-wife of Hikaru’s father, Hiroka.

“Mother was not that kind of a fiery person from the moment she was born. She may appear this way, but when she was young, she would write on pink slips ‘I love you, I hope that we will hurry and grow up so that I can marry you’, and personally went to the door of her first love to deliver the letter in the postbox; that was really cute of her. That person she first loved however never did choose Mother, but another woman.”

“Wait…is that Hikaru’s…”

“Yes. Mother’s first love was father, and yet the latter was so devoted to Hikaru’s mother. It was because of family reasons that Mother was able to be the main wife, but father kept clinging onto Hikaru’s mother, loving her so much, and even bore a child. Because of that, Mother was envious, and went insane.”

Koremitsu recalled meeting Hiroka at the resort.

She looked younger than she was, and had a face similar to that of Tsuyako’s; She was a beauty with red rose-like long hair.

That violent-tempered woman lashed out furiously at Fujino, stuffed the envelop in her hands to Fujino’s face, and turned around to stormed off—

That letter contained the Will filled with the feelings of Hikaru’s father.

The way Hiroka handed the letter over to Fujino was akin to her younger days, when she delivered her handwritten letter to the postbox outside the house of her first love.

“Mother still loves father, just as she did when she was young~”

Kazuaki noted with melancholy.

“So when Fujino gave birth to father’s child, I suppose the one most relieved was Mother. I saw Mother sit on the bed alone when the DNA results came out, embracing the Bible on her chest with both hands, thanking away with tears ‘Thank you, G.o.d’.”

Kazuaki again lifted the bridge of his gla.s.ses, still maintaining that melancholic figure.

Koremitsu too felt his chest tighten once he heard those words.

When he was at the resort, Hiroka admonished Fujino thoroughly for not returning even though her husband was in critical health.

Hiroka knew that she was incapable of being a replacement for the beloved to Hikaru’s father, Kiriyo, and perhaps, she was hoping for Fujino to be by the side of Hikaru’s father.

“I really cannot deal with my mother. She has an eccentric personality, and irascible in personality she is; she probably thinks of me as a tool to leash father down. But even so, when I look at her, I feel a little itchy within. This is why I came here to talk with this about you~. This is all. I shall prepare for a lonely vacation to refresh myself.”

Kazuaki ended this conclusion briefly, and adjusted his gla.s.ses, lowering his head.

His mother was still a woman after all. Koremitsu began to think of his own mother, how this woman, a conflicted person, was someone Koremitsu had a tough time dealing with. Perhaps he was grasping an inexplicable sense of forgiveness however…

Kazuaki might have been feeling spiteful yet forgiving at the same time.

“…Sorry for being unable to go on vacation with you.”

Once Koremitsu muttered this,

“Well, that is fine. I just need you to accompany me and see the Tulips in spring after all.”

He said as he got into the car, poking his head out from the window, and finally,

“But personally, I do find it a tragedy that the child that was born was not Hikaru’s.”

After ending this with a tragic note, he left.

Koremitsu looked back, and found Hikaru too to have an anguished face.

“Miss Hiroka probably wished to be with Father all this time, I suppose…”

He muttered.

Koremitsu too gave a frown.

“Let’s go. We got to get a present for s.h.i.+ko. In the meantime, help me choose a present for s.h.i.+kibu too. Without you around, I don’t know what sort of things girls will like.”

While Koremitsu noted this anxiously, Hikaru’s face too beamed as he followed.

“Yes. Let us choose presents that will delight both s.h.i.+ko and Miss s.h.i.+kibu.”

His voice clearly benign, Hikaru’s eyes began to sparkle, and Koremitsu felt a shrill feeling in his chest.

“There is still 3 days till Christmas. I thought it will take some time, but time really pa.s.ses by quickly.”

“I guess…”

“We have the Christmas tree decorated, and we ordered the cake and turkey; we are going to buy gifts today, so I will say we are completely done with the preparations.”

Why was there an abrupt forlorn feeling when he heard Hikaru’s voice?

Hikaru was supposedly chatting away excitedly.

Was it because Christmas was approaching?

(Once Christmas is over, will this guy…?)

Koremitsu felt his chest gripped, and Hikaru cheerfully spoke,

“Hey, Koremitsu, do you mind accompanying me tomorrow for the entire day?”

It was 2 days before Christmas Day.

The morning sky of the 23rd was a clear blue.

The weather report noted that it was likely to snow in the afternoon, and that the white Christmas might come early.

The place Koremitsu got to early was the Church he visited with Hikaru.

Once the sermon was over, he found Sora, who was serving at the Church as a volunteer.

“Yo.”

He called out, and Sora’s face immediately glowed.

“Mr Akagi! It has been a while!”

Her hair was cut short, and she looked prettier than before. Most importantly, her face was vibrant.

“I’m going to Italy for studies next year, taking theology, and at the same time, visiting the Churches and the art galleries! I will send you some picture postcards too, Mr Akagi.”

She began to talk about some things that will happen in the future.

Hikaru too listened cheerfully as he waited beside Koremitsu, and when they went their seperate ways.

“Farewell, Sora.”

He spoke with a tender voice.

The duo then went to the cafe where Aoi worked at.