Chapter 101 - Hinata-C POV Misjustice (1/2)

The stillness and silence of the next morning was disturbed by an abrupt banging on the door. Fortunately, most of the house was up and ready to brace the day. The women had finished laying out breakfast.

Shuu went to the answer the door. A while later, Kou's father entered the room.

”Ishikawa-san!” Mei hastily made room for him at the table.

The burly sweet-shop maker gratefully eased down at the choice spot, cleared for him.  He nodded his thanks to Aiyama-san when she placed a full bowl of food and drink before him.

”Father?” Kou called out to him from the other side of the room.

Rei-san wistfully stared at his son. He saw the kids hovering, tentatively from the far doorway behind him. Those kids he had given a sweet. That time seemed so long ago. They looked well despite their circumstances.

He sighed despondently.

”The village is taken.” Shuu commented from the other side of the table, next to Hinata.

Rei-san nodded. ”Of course Kou's mother refused to leave.”

He scrunched up his face with a frown. ”We aren't criminals! We didn't do anything wrong!”

Hinata's heart sunk. He moved from his place to bow in dogeza before the man. ”Please, Ishikawa-san! Would you tell me everything?”

Kou's father held his silence for a moment before he expelled a weary sigh and elaborated on events and the reason for his visit.

The kenpeitai had stormed into the village on the day Akira had warned Hinata to leave. They never left. As it seemed they were hunting a traitor who held documents pertaining to national security.  They questioned everyone. Drilling locals for anything that could be considered a lead.

Nothing was turning up.

”Then you were gone with all the kids.”  Rei-san's voice was firm.

Hinata gasped. Horrified to realize that by fleeing his home with his family, it gave confirmation to the kenpeitai's cause.

”Oh god.” His voice trembled. ”I'm sorry! I...”

”Father. Chikafuji-san has done nothing wrong! He's been protecting us. The secret police are chasing us for phantom reasons!”

”Phantom reasons.” Rei-san gritted his teeth. ”They've taken your mother, your parents Yuri-kun and Honda-san into custody.”

Hinata sat up to face Rei-san. ”Why?”

”Because of you.” The man bluntly answered.

Shock and aches attacked Hinata's body.  He held to the pain. He had to make this right.

He rose with a firm conviction of doing the right thing.

”Chikafuji-san!” Aiyama-san called out to him. ”Sit down!”