To everyone who has stuck with me through this story: Thank You! This is the end. I think.
Kamiya couldn't help but to stare at Ren who was currently sitting in his kitchen and drinking coffee. Ren had just showed up at his door, after almost four years of avoidance, and apologized for the way he had treated all of them. Their conversation had been strained at first, but slowly it became more and more like it had been before.
Kamiya was startled by the doorbell.
Apparently Kura had forgotten his keys. Any other day Kamiya would have found the terrified look Kura got seeing Ren in the kitchen funny, but not at the moment.
" Ren..." Kura whispered.
" Hi, Kura." Ren smiled.
"Shunsuke... I... We.."
" I already knew." Ren simply said.
Kamiya and Kura exchanged a look.
" I know I've been avoiding talking to you guys, but I still know what's been going on. And I know you guys haven't been talking to Ichi and Honjo because of me."
" Not just you. There are other issues."
" Of course. Yamato too right?"
Kura stayed silent.
" We disagree on a lot more than our views about you and Yamato. And perhaps we've grown a part. We're all grown-ups now. And we've all changed."
" That's true, but without me and Yamato, and our drama, you would have had a lot more time to grow up. At least that's what I think."
They changed the subject and spent a day catching up with everything.
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Almost a week later Ren asked Yamato out to a cafe. Since he couldn't find a nanny so soon he took Aya with him. Ren and Aya chose a table outside, to enjoy the sunny day and so Aya could watch people walking by. She had a small sketchpad and a multitude of colored pencils she used to draw people-like scribble. Ren watched her with a mix of amusement and pride. Yamato showed up sharply on time. He sat at the table with a small smile.
Ren ordered coffee and juice while Aya busied herself drawing three people and big red hearts all over the white paper.
Neither said much, their time mostly filled by silence and shy smiles.
" I think we could start over." Ren said quietly almost half an hour later. " From the very beginning." he clarified.
Yamato nodded.
" I can do that. Hello, I'm Ogata Yamato."
" Hello, It's nice to meet you. I'm Kazama Ren, and this is Ayaka." Aya giggled quietly.
" It's nice to meet you, princess." Yamato smiled bowing to the little girl. Aya laughed. Yamato straightened out and met Ren's eyes. Slowly his hand rose to touch Ren's face.
A whirl of wind caught Aya's drawing and it took flight. Unnoticed by the two grownups Aya slipped out of her seat and ran after it. They noticed her seconds later when she was already in the middle of the road. Yamato ran after her and caught her effortlessly. However it was already to late. He managed to push her out of the way, but he himself didn't manage to avoid the truck speeding down the road.
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The sun was shining and you could hear birds singing somewhere.
Ren's voice echoed in the air.
" I can probably say Yamato was the one person who changed my life the most. He turned it upside down not once but twice in his short years. My dear friend, you gave me too much happiness to say anything bad, and too much pain to say anything good. But in the end you gave me peace of mind, and hope that someday I will see you again. I will miss you."
Ren finished lowering a single white rose and a small drawing on the grave.
With a small bow he walked away from the crowd and the grave of one Ogata Yamato.