Chapter 55 - Talk (1/2)

Setsura picked up the photograph of Akito kissing her forehead gently. Just holding up the picture made her want to cry. Why does this man treat her so well? It makes little sense to her. The entire time Setsura thought she already knew the extent of his feelings. But it turns out that he doesn't know anything at all. Why is he like this? Why her of all people? Setsura always thought that Akito liked her because she resembled his late wife. But now she can see it isn't like that at all.

”Sir Victor, you were abroad?”

Victor nodded, ”Yes, for the last few years.”

Last few years? ”You weren't here during...”

”That's right, but I did hear about it. I wanted to rush back. But Akito stopped me. He told me would be fine.”

'That moron,' Setsura thought. Why did he choose to bear with the pain alone? Akito clearly has a good friend who worries and cares about him. Setsura used to think that Akito didn't have anybody he was close with and that he had to bear with the pain alone. But after getting to know both Lyra and Victor, Setsura is starting to wonder. How many people did he push away when he closed off his heart? How many people out there still care for him?

”As you know, after the end of the Tokugawa rule. Things have rapidly changed in Japan. The government issued an order that those who want to study abroad can go ahead. While it did intrigue me, I held myself back for a bit. I have family here, and well there's Akito.”

”Akito?”

Victor smiled, ”Yes, were childhood friends. There's also another one too.”

”That's surprising,” it really was. Setsura didn't think Akito had any friends. He certainly didn't act like it. When she first met Akito, while he treated her with kindness. Setsura saw it, the lonely look on his face. ”I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to insult him or anything. He just an awkward person.”

Even though he's a friendly guy, once in a while, the atmosphere would turn tense. His expression, he's always smiling - but that's just him forcing himself to be cheerful.

”Indeed, he's always been an awkward guy. I was worried about him. He had a harsh childhood. When I met him, his adoptive father was on the verge of death, and he was covered in blood.”

At that comment, Setsura flinched. That's...isn't that...like... She felt her heart speed up at those words. That's the same as her, isn't it? Being covered in relatives' blood.

”Miss Setsura? Are you okay?”

Setsura snapped out of it and laughed awkwardly, ”Uh, yes.”

It didn't look like Victor believed her since he scanned her expression. But thankfully he didn't pursue the subject and continued with what he was talking about before. ”A few years back, I was amongst the students chosen for the practical test batch. Akito convinced me to go. I told him I didn't want to leave him behind but...”

”He told you to pursue your dreams?”

”For an inventor like myself, it was a good chance. The westerners were not only letting us in their lands, but they were even providing us free schooling until we got used to things...” Victor trailed off, ”At first their generosity came off as suspicious to me. Why would they offer us so much? Then again, it was probably due to the mindset I was raised in. While the government was formed after the end of the Tokugawa reign. And the past twenty-seven years there has been a move towards the modern age. It's still a bit rusty; people can't let go of tradition after all.”

He speaks like a scientist. A person like Victor would most likely be a scientist in the future. Akito... What would Akito be? Would he still work in the police? It was hard to picture Akito as a modern-day police officer, though. Unlike here, it wouldn't be easy to skip work... Then again, when it comes to work. Akito is very seriously; maybe he would fit in?

Sometimes when she is bored Setsura played around with the idea. What if these people were living in her time? How would they act? It was strangely amusing for her. Akito could potentially be a CEO too, somebody in charge of a big company. He has the talent and charisma to draw people towards him.

Now, if only he weren't a socially awkward person. Then again, isn't she the same? Even though she belongs to a powerful household, she isn't the type to flaunt wealth. She always did badly in social gatherings too. She could never hold a conversation.

”You said there was another person.”

”He actually came with your group today.”