As the Bell Rings
- Chapter 14: December 23-
PART IV
How long has it been since I've seen her? Yamato tried to pry through his memories, but only one: a small one, really. He remembered her driving him to the airport on his last day in the country. She did not say a word during the entire ride. When it was finally time to say goodbye, she simply wished him a safe journey.
And that was all.
Seeing her was surreal. He surprised himself to even recognize her. Surprisingly, she looked fit despite the age Yamato thought she was. Her golden hair was not as bright as it used to be. Her skin sagged obviously from old age. She gazed at Yamato with those same eyes: the ones where Yamato had a hard time deciphering whether she was happy or pissed.
"Yamato-jisan!" Yamato heard Yuuto's voice from inside the apartment. The boy ran outside, zipping passed Natsuko and wrapping his arms around Yamato's thighs. "You're okay! Thank goodness!" He mumbled through Yamato's pants. "I thought you died."
"Hey, Kid." Yamato managed to say and ruffled the boy's hair. "About yesterday, I'm sorry for scaring you."
"I'm glad you're okay." Yuuto sighed. "You kept shaking and twitching. I had no idea what to do."
"You were great, Kid." Yamato sighed. Yuuto raised his head and beamed his brightest smile. Although Yuuto's cute expression made Yamato's heart grow larger, he could not believe how the weight of his mother's stare distracted him. He forced himself to look up at her without moving his head.
"Yamato," she said as if finally acknowledged his presence. "You did not tell me you were visiting Odaiba."
The way she spoke to him was annoyingly dignified. His eye twitched. "Well, Kaa-san, there's not much for us to talk about." Yamato replied, not intending to sound as snarky.
She turned her attention to the other surrounding adults. "Ah, Taichi, Sora, Mimi!" She smile warmly to the brunette. Looking at Mimi up and down, she continued, "You've grown to be a prettier woman." She made a light squeeze on Mimi's shoulder.
"Thank... you?" Mimi replied politely in a small voice and shifted her eyes at Yamato.
Natsuko made a quick glance at Yamato then brought her attention back to Mimi. "Were you with Yamato the whole day?"
"Ah... well..." Mimi paused in between words with her breath being pushed from the back of her throat.
"Ahh, Niichan!" Takeru gasped, pulling the door to open fully. "I thought you were going to have dinner with Taichi and Sora." Takeru nervously laughed as he tried not to state obviously why. Taichi hung his head in shame as Sora covered her face with her hands.
"Kind of wished I did." Yamato said under his breath.
"Ji-san!" Yamato heard Taichi's kids running to the door. Shunsuke jumped out with his big grin while Nanami clung to Yuuto with the plush bird in her hands.
"You're okay!" Shunsuke cheered with a toothy grin.
"We thought you were dead!" Nanami chirped.
"Nanami!" The older boy and his father scolded with a soft glare.
Yamato heard an unfamiliar voice from inside the apartment. "Why are we all outside?" A hand rested on Natsuko's shoulder. She turned her head and released a warm smile. A man stepped beside Natsuko with his arm still around her. The man was of average height and looked about the same age as Natsuko, plus or minus a year or two. He had a little facial hair on his face and peppered hair which complimented his peach skin color. He was neatly dressed, and —is that a ring?! Who is this guy?!
"Darling—" The hell?! 'Darling'?! "—this is my eldest son, Yamato." Natsuko brought her palm out.
His mouth gaped open. "Y-Yamato-kun?!" He turned to Yamato with a broad smile. "You're the famous Yamato-kun?!"
Yamato's nose and brows wrinkled. Please don't call me that.
He continued. "So nice to meet you!" He slipped into his shoes and walked up to Yamato eagerly.
I don't even know you.
The man bowed low respectfully. "I am Kazuo, Natsuko's husband."
H-husband?! Yamato's pupils shrunk. When did this happen?! Yamato breathed slowly as his eyes looked around sporadically. He looked at Takeru, lightly scratching his head, then sighing-loudly Hikari, to the awkward Yagami couple, then to Mimi, who just simply shrugged and shook her head.
Bewildered, Yamato tried to say something, but he was only able to open his mouth.
Mimi raised a fist and coughed, slightly cutting the awkward tension. "I think it's time for our dinner, ne, Yuu-chan?" She lightly fingered her hair as it flipped to the other side of her face. "It was nice seeing you again, Natsuko-san. Take care."
"Yeah, we should go home too." Taichi stretched. "Come on, kids. Grab your coats."
"Eh?" Shunsuke wailed. "We're leaving now?"
"What about Yuu-chan?" Nanami embraced Yuuto tight. "Can he come with us?"
"Mama said we have to go." Yuuto replied. Seeing that she continued to embrace him tightly, Yuuto rolled his eyes. Why bother telling her he couldn't if he knew well Nanami would not paying attention anyway.
"I better go too then." Yamato added and looked down. He scratched the back of his head. "I have to do… something." He quickly shoved his hands his pocket and turned to the opposite direction. He quietly grunted when he realized that he left the pack of cigarettes with his father. What a time to quit smoking...
"Now wait." Yamato's mother, Natsuko, interjected and raised her hands up. The remaining adults turned to her in response. "Yamato, Mimi, everyone," she said softly and followed by the five words Yamato hoped he could ignore, "Please join us for dinner."
"Eh?" They said in unison, including Kazuo, Takeru, and Hikari.
"Okaa-san," Takeru said with a worried laugh. "I can't fit everyone here at the table."
"We will have to make everyone fit." She replied putting on her placid smile. She faced the adults with a nod of assurance.
"Natsuko-san," Hikari cooed as her eyebrows slopped with worry. "Not everyone can—"
"—we will make everyone fit!" Natsuko yelled from the top of her voice. She made one lingering stern look before she turned on her heel and walked back inside the apartment. The adults and children stared at one another, unsure of what just happened.
Nanami looked up at Hikari. Coincidentally, Hikari glanced at her. "I thought Natsuko-san was nice." Nanami commented with a wrinkled brow and a skewed mouth.
"She is," Hikari sighed as she patted the small girl's copper blond hair, "but she's also a strict mom."
Kazuo was first to follow Natsuko, followed by Takeru and Hikari, then the Yagamis. Yamato looked at the door and scowled. He looked at the door frame as if it was the devil incarnate. Just as he took a step back, he felt a hand push him forward from his back.
"Go." Mimi commanded, putting force on her palm.
"No!" Yamato barked as he pushed back. He felt her grunt and put another hand on his back.
After another second of grunting, Mimi begged, "Yuu-chan, please...!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Yuuto cheered.
The boy used his shoulder and head to push Yamato in to the apartment. Feeling defeated, Yamato barked. "Traitor!"
Yamato leaned against the wall and watched the kids set the table. They argued among each other just as the last time they shared dinner together. He chuckled to himself when Shunsuke and Nanami argued about the seating arrangement. He picked himself off the wall to help the dispute. However, he froze when he noticed how close each set was from each other. Yamato knew it was going to be a close fit—a very close fit. His mother came into the room and frantically tried to maximize space on the small table. She rearranged the plates four times. She placed her fingers on the temples of her forehead and applied pressure. Her "husband" rested his hands on her shoulders. Watching them being lovey dovey made Yamato roll his eyes and lose his appetite.
Yamato slipped into the kitchen where Takeru, Hikari and Mimi instantly stopped talking. Choosing to ignore the obvious topic, Yamato asked giving Takeru a helping hand, "So this is why you did not pick me up from the hospital?"
"Niichan," Takeru sighed.
"And you two knew?" Yamato asked with a cocked brow.
"Of course." Hikari scoffed.
"Of course not." Mimi said in unison with Hikari.
"You," Yamato diverted his attention back to Takeru, "you could've told me sooner. I could handle it."
"Like how you're handling it now?" Takeru asking, looking at Yamato up and down.
Yamato's face pinched toward the center. There was no doubt that Takeru was right. Yamato knew that he was acting childish again, but...
Yamato felt his blood rising. He couldn't find a reason to justify his behavior, which irritated him more. I hate this. Yamato folded his arms over his chest forcefully. "So when did she remarry?" Yamato said somewhat casually as if the question was not lingering in his mind.
"You receive an invite, right?" Takeru mockingly laughed. "I am certain I sent you one."
Yamato scowled as the thought of a beige stationary came to mind. "No, I didn't." Yamato lied, knowing fully that he threw it away once he read it.
"Really?" Takeru looked up, thinking if the information he shared was correct or not. "Hmm... I believe they got married about eight years ago."
Yamato cupped his chin and leaned back to peek at the not-as-newly-as-he-thought couple helping the kids finish up. "There's something not right about him." Yamato commented with squinted eyes.
"You were able to deduct this from the twenty minutes of knowing him and the two-minute dialogue you had with him?" Hikari asked with a raised brow.
Yamato squarely looked at his future sister-in law. "Does engagement really make you this snarky?"
Mimi and Takeru chuckled. "Give him a chance. He's a really nice guy." Takeru excused himself and brought the last dish with him as Hikari followed. Before she left the room, Mimi leaned to Yamato and whispered, "She's happy with him, so be nice."
Yamato sharply turned his face. Be nice. Yamato repeated to himself. It's not that hard to be nice.
I spoke too soon...
The awkwardness of dinner was on record high in comparison to the whole duration of his stay in Odaiba. Not only did he have to sit between two of his ex-girlfriends at the table (practically shoulder to shoulder), but Yamato had a frontal view of his mother and her new husband. According to his point of view, they were the worst couple to sit across from. They were... cute with each other. They exchanged longing glances, noticeable longing glances. They whispered to each other, earning flirtatious giggles from the other. As the night progressed, Yamato's scowl became deeper and deeper. The worst is when Kazuo kept asking questions which Yamato found no point in answering.
"So, Yamato-kun, I heard you were studying astronomy." Kazuo said casually bringing up one topic.
"I dropped out of school." Yamato replied plainly, putting an end to the topic abruptly.
"Oh, I didn't know." Kazuo sighed with a small frown. "I'm sorry, Yamato-kun."
Please do not call me that.
Kazuo nibbled at the bit on the end of his chopsticks. "So what do you do now?"
"He's in a rock band!" Shunsuke spoke up with his excited tone.
"Oh," Natsuko responded. "What instrument do you play?" She asked with a smile and obviously happy that at least one topic was able to lift off the ground.
"Bass."
"Impressive." Kazuo praised. "Did you take lessons, or did it come naturally?" He ended with a laugh.
"My dad taught me." Yamato replied with venom in his voice. He noticed the silence in the room and looked up from his dinner. Looking around the table, everyone ('cept for Yuuto, who continued to finish his meal in silence, Nanami, who kept bobbing her head, and Shunsuke, who found no fault in the response) stared at Yamato with shock. He noted the look of disapproval on his mother's face, and of forlorn on Takeru's. The last one he saw was Mimi's, who looked away, signaling her response to the insensitive way he responded.
Yamato made his aggravated sigh and rested his chopsticks on his rice bowl forcefully with a clunk. He stood, looking at the corner, figuring it was better to look at a paint color than anyone in the eye. "Excuse me. I need to get more rice from the kitchen." He moved himself back and excused himself from the table.
Walking into the kitchen, Yamato silently cursed himself as he opened the rice cooker. I shouldn't be treated as the bad guy in this situation. Yamato pounded the wad of rice and then scraped the remains off the spoon with the edge of his bowl. If anything, how can she even marry another man. Yamato pushed the bowl on the surface and glared at the wall. I'm not the bad guy here...
Yamato's back stiffened when he heard the soft padding of slippers enter the kitchen. He sighed and said over his shoulder, "I don't need you to tell me how upset you are with my behavior, Mimi." He leaned forward, bracing himself for another lecture.
"She's not the only one." Yamato's head popped up and turned, not expecting Sora to be the one to go after him. Yamato rolled his eyes and leaned on the counter behind him.
"Are you purposely trying to make her and her husband feel bad?" Sora asked when she was close enough to Yamato.
"I don't know. It's them... together... argh." Yamato snarled through his teeth and gripped his hand tightly. The snapping sound of his chopsticks breaking in half thankfully brought him back to reality.
"Yamato," Sora sighed picking up the broken piece that fell to the floor, "I think you've held in a lot of emotions lately. Maybe it's time for you to... unmount them." Sora tilted her head sideways as her mind tried to find the right words.
"Unmount... them?" Yamato quirked his brow.
"You might feel a lot better." Sora offered.
"Trust me, you do not want to know what's going on in my life." Yamato chuckled.
Sora fisted her hands and rested them on her hips. "Really, what is so difficult about telling the truth?"
"Don't be a hypocrite." Yamato scoffed.
"When was I ever a hypocrite?" Sora pouted. "I never had the problem with telling the truth."
"Does Taichi know?" He asked, glancing towards her stomach.
Sora flushed and blocked her stomach from his eyes. "I-I was going to tell him. Eventually..."
"Eventually?" Yamato imitated, mocking the same tone.
"Yes, eventually." Sora said proudly. "I know I will miss opportunities to tell him, but they will keep appearing until I am ready. The universe will do that because he deserves to know." Sora said confidently and pushed Yamato out of the kitchen. "Now, get back in there." After they reentered the room, Yamato moved aside seating Sora first. Yamato watch Sora smile lovingly to Taichi.
He remembered what Sora said when he was in the hospital: To me, it could be the universe's way of giving us many chances until we get it right.
Yamato's eyes wandered to his mother who dipped her chin to her chest with hunched shoulders. He could not see his mother's eyes, but hearing her long drawn breath made him feel some remorse. Seeing her upset did not make him feel any better about himself as he hoped. Rather, he felt his stomach twisting and his chest tightening.
The universe's way of giving us many chances… until we get it right. Yamato said to himself making another look at his mother. Maybe, I keep running in to her because I haven't done the right thing. He silently brushed his hand over his forehead. I hate it when women are right.
Yamato caught sight of Taichi's cold stare before breaking contact and placing his bowl of rice on the table. Taichi's narrowed eyes and thinly pressed lips made Yamato gulp. Yamato could not think of a reason why his best friend sent glaring eyes towards him. Maybe it had to involve Sora since Taichi possessively placed his hand over hers, seconds after she sat down.
Kazuo asked, with a smile, "Yamato-kun, what happened to your chopsticks?"
Yamato eyed the bowl. Remembering that he left the broken pair on the counter, Yamato said rather coldly, "I broke them."
"Yamato!" Natsuko barked.
"Darling, it's okay. I'm sure it was an accident." Kazuo cooed. "Right, Yamato—" Don't say it! "—kun?"
"Alright!" Yamato snapped immediately as he stood from his seat. "Everyone here has to listen. I have something to say. " He glanced at Sora. She looked at him back with a now-is-not-the-time glare. He took hold of her upper arm and forced her to stand with him. "We have something to say."
"What are you doing?" Sora whispered aggressively.
"Opportunities, right?" Yamato whispered back.
"Eh?"
"It could be the universe's way of giving us many chances until we get it right." He quoted her with a smile. He bit back a chuckle seeing Sora's flushed face. While still facing Sora, Yamato continued to speak as if addressing everyone at the table, "Sora will have to tell Taichi first."
"Tell Papa what?" Nanami asked now fully intrigued.
"Yes, what?" Taichi stood with furrowed brows. "What's going on with you two?"
"Yamato, no. I'm not ready." Sora looked at Yamato with a pleading look.
"Unmount it, right?" He replied with a small smirk. "He'll want to hear it."
"What? Hear what? What are you talking about?" Taichi gabbed, forcing himself into their conversation. "Lately, you two are acting very chummy for two friends who— I think —haven't seen each other for so long."
Hikari covered her face with her hand. "I knew this was going to happen." She mumbled.
"I do not understand." Kazuo asked Natsuko while eyeing the three adults across the table, "What is going on?"
"Do you know why Otou-san is really mad?" Shunsuke leaned over to Yuuto. "I've seen him this mad only when the referee makes a bad call in the game he's watching."
"The three of them attended the same high school. Yamato used to date Sora during their first year. Their relationship lasted about five months before they mutually broke up." Natsuko explained to Kazuo after taking a sip of water. "As you recall, Taichi is also Sora's childhood friend."
"I'm not sure." Yuuto shrugged. "If Taichi-jisan is mad, it must be for a good reason."
Yamato looked around and noticed how out of hand the situation became. Everyone started conducting theories and making side comments when the information was right in front of them. Yamato raised his hands. "Okay, okay," he said trying to pacify the talking, "everyone, this is an important announcement! I need for everyone to calm down and listen!"
After a minute of dead silence, one voice spoke up. "Does it involve Jisan and Mama and why they were together all day yesterday?" Nanami asked aloud, looking rather bored at the progress of events.
Yamato immediately turned to Taichi for his reaction. He did not see the impact of Taichi's fist to his face. He just felt the hard knuckles impact on the area between his cheekbone and nose. The feeling lasted seconds before he fell to the floor.
He groaned in pain and covered his face. Taichi only hit him like that once. During high school, Yamato mentioned some foreign Russian exchange student—Yuri, was it?—flirting with her and how she could've easily fallen for him. Taichi, being "Sora sensitive" as he is, knocked Yamato to the ground with one hit. Taichi explained, "Sora is not easy! When she falls for someone, it's someone worth it. And I don't deserve her yet." Or something like that...
At the moment, Yamato had a hard time deciphering which was the harder punch.
It would've been better if he had just shoved me to the wall like the first time we met.
He heard Sora gasp his name and everyone's voices murmuring their shock. Rolling over, Yamato felt dainty fingers brush his bangs from his forehead. The fingers turned into hands as they cupped his face and turned it to where it needed to be. Slowly opening his eyes, he was surprised to see Mimi gingerly inspecting his wounds, still her hands on his cheeks.
It was probably a concussion (or Jou playing tricks again), but Yamato did not see the interior of Takeru's home. He saw cream colored walls, large open windows with flowing curtains, and long green chalkboard behind Mimi. He tried to recognize where he was, but thoughts and images were spinning in his mind.
"Are you okay?" Mimi's voice echoed quietly with a second delay from her mouth.
Yamato responded with slow blinking and a hanging mouth.
Mimi lightly tapped his cheek. "Are you okay?" She asked again. This time, reality was slowly syncing with his head.
He smirked. "Am I still handsome?" His voice croaked.
Mimi scoffed. "Idiot." She made a small relieved smile and brushed her thumb across his cheek. She lowered her head as if all worry lifted from her neck.
"Taichi! Why did you hit him?" Sora asked pushing Taichi away from Yamato and adding distance between the two men.
"If he's going to break my family, I'm going to break his pretty boy face first." He yelled as a threat. His glare targeted Yamato. "How long have you been seeing her?" He yelled.
"Taichi, the children!" Sora said with furrowed brows.
"You missed your chance with Mimi years ago, and you think you can go after Sora now? She's my wife!" Taichi yelled aggressively. "I've been nothing but nice to you!"
"Stop it, Taichi!" Sora cried.
"Pretty boy needs a rude awakening!" Taichi threatened. He cracked his knuckles and advanced towards Yamato. Mimi shielded Yamato while Sora blocked Taichi's path, which he did not take too lightly. "Move aside, Sora."
"No." She stood her ground. "You have to listen to me."
Taichi shook his head. "You've hurt me enough, Sora." He hissed bitterly. "Move."
"Taichi, Yamato and I are not together." Sora shook her head. "He wanted me to tell you that we're having a baby."
A pacified moment went by before Taichi rubbed his knuckle with the palm of his other hand. "I'mma kill you for impregnating my wife, you son of a bitch." He seethed through gritted teeth.
"No!" Sora raised her hands and pushed Taichi back. "Not Yamato and I! We!" She pointed to herself then Taichi. "You and I—we are having a baby. Another child! I. Am. Carrying. Your. Baby!" Sora syllabicated each word, showing Taichi how much he misunderstood.
Dumbfounded, Taichi gasped his mouth.
"S... Sora-basan is having another baby...?" Yuuto asked aloud.
"Does that mean the egg is going to hatch soon?" Nanami said quizzically to Hikari, who responded with a smile and a light rub on her niece's back.
"Otou-san," Shunsuke stood on his seat and rested his hands on the table for leverage, "I hope it's not another girl!"
"Another... baby?" Taichi mumbled to himself before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed on the floor.
After they woke up Taichi from his fainting spell, Taichi apologized to Yamato profusely. Judging from his big smile, Yamato knew that the soon-to-be-father-of-three could not hold his excitement. As everyone congratulated the mother, Yamato finally understood the "glow" that many talked about. Sora beamed a certain aura around her. All the worries and concerns she expressed yesterday vanished instantly. If anything, she seemed more prepared to bring another child into the world, and Yamato could not be any more proud of her.
"Thank you very much for the evening." Taichi and Sora said in unison as they bowed in front of Hikari.
"Oh no, thank you for staying." Hikari bowed in return.
"See ya, Hikari-bachan!" Shunsuke gleamed at his aunt as his sister waved Piyomon's wing.
"I will see you tomorrow, kids." Hikari smiled as she bent her knees and placed her hands on their heads. She casted a glance at Sora and smirked, "And future Yagami kid."
Taichi scowled and turned away with red cheeks as Hikari and Sora giggled. The kids laughed heartily at their father's response.
"Yamato," Sora sighed, as Taichi placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."
"Yes," Taichi smiled. "Thank you for not taking the credit of my future child."
"I would never want to take that away from you." Yamato extended his hand to Taichi. "You deserve to be with her."
It took a second for Taichi to respond. He accepted Yamato's hand and shook it one, two, then pulled in for a hug. Yamato's smile softened and returned the embrace.
As the Yagami family began walking away from the apartment door (and Nanami's burning baby-related questions started pouring in), Mimi picked herself up and announced her departure as well. "I have to get ready for work."
"Aww, Mimi." Natsuko rested her hands on Mimi's biceps. "Do you have to go?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Mimi made her usual soothing smile. "I have an appointment tonight."
"I see." Natsuko replied with a dejected look on her face. "Have a good night at work, Mimi."
"Thank you." Mimi bowed slightly.
As she gathered her things, she caught sight of Yuuto standing next to Yamato. Her glimpse caught Yamato's momentarily, but focused itself back to her son. She crouched to her son's eye level and braced her knees. "Yuu-chan," she started with a sweet yet stern tone, "behave. Please do not go out on your own again, okay?"
The boy nodded and ended by looking down on his feet.
Mimi's lips curved to smile, hands touched her son's cheeks, and lightly kissed his forehead. "I will be back as soon as I can." She whispered.
She stood up and found Yamato's gaze. Based on Yamato's recent experiences with her, he expected her to avert her eyes and quickly leave to avoid any dialogue between them. Instead, she looked at him (and dare he say it) with a twinkle in her eye and said, "good night, Yamato." She picked up her shoulder bag and casually walked to the front door.
At that moment, something sparked from within. It was like a small burning ember but only as big as a candle flame. Yamato was unable to describe the feeling, but it was an odd sensation. Something fluttered in his stomach, but felt empty. His heart beating rapidly, but he could not move. He felt weak but daring...
"Mimi," he called out again and went through the front door, just as she exited and waved to Hikari. He placed his forearm on the frame, "Let me walk you home."
Mimi raised her brow. "Eh?" She looked around momentarily. "I live only two doors down."
"Please." Yamato pleaded. Mimi nodded slowly.
The sky turned into a midnight blue hue as Yamato escorted his ex-girlfriend to her home. They remained quiet during that five-minute-journey. Yamato oddly enough felt the time drag. He felt jumbled; his insides mismatched; and his body was light and airy. Very much similar to when they went on their first date: he had no idea what to say to her or even why he decided to do it in the first place. Looking at her, Yamato smiled. Maybe I want to be with her just a little longer.
"So here it is." Mimi sing-songed her last step standing next to the frame. "My door." She added.
"Yeah," Yamato laughed it off, "your door." No matter how many times he found himself in an awkward situation with her, Yamato never found an easy way to overcome it.
"Well," Mimi said, "goodnight—"
"—wait!" Yamato grabbed her shoulder. He released it immediately when Mimi's curious gaze focused on his hand. Yamato had to admit it was an odd place to touch her. "I… I want to talk about tomorrow."
"Yamato…" She groaned with a not-this-again tone.
"I do not understand why you won't spend Christmas Eve with me. The Yagami family will be together. Takeru will be with Hikari." He reasoned. "Koushiro has his family."
Mimi hid her face in her hands. Muffled by her fingers, Yamato heard her chuckle. Yamato did not know if it was either out of amusement or frustration. When she raised her face and released a deep breath, she said quietly, "I'm going to be late for work." She turned and took out her key.
"Why are you going to work anyway? Isn't it a national holiday today?"
"Goodnight, Yamato." She said as if rehearsed.
"And it's late. It's too late in the evening for you to go."
"Goodnight, Yamato."
"Mimi, just tell me why—"
The door clicked open. In silence, Mimi entered the dark apartment and turned to face Yamato. Standing at opposite sides of the door, the old pair stared at each other. Yamato tried to read her face. Her expressive eyes usually glistened with every thought she had, even with the ones she was not aware of. However tonight, he found nothing in them, but a mysterious spark. A spark that fueled his curiosity.
Her hands slid against the door frame. "Goodnight," she affirmed with a nod, "Yamato." Then she closed the door.
The door closing on his face was a shock. Of all the time they spent together that day, he expected her to at least be honest with him. Frustrated, Yamato banged on her door. "Mimi." He said with a low voice. "Talk to me." No answer. "Mimi?" One more bang. "Why can't you just tell me?" Still no answer.
Yamato made one last thump on her door before his forehead touched the top of his fist. He wished he knew what he was doing. He closed his eyes tight as his mind searched for something to say. "Sorry?" No. "You've been heartbroken several times and"—no, don't go there. The more he tried to pry in his index of how to talk to women, the more he realized that Mimi was different and unlike any woman he knew.
She was the one he couldn't win again.
He whispered dejectedly, "Goodnight."
Yamato closed the door behind him with his head hung low. He never welcomed the hollow feeling inside. Knowing that he placed himself there made him feel smaller.
He caught sight of Hikari and the man who his mother remarried clearing the table. Yamato groaned. Shit, they're still here. Yamato continued cursing mentally as he walked in. Wanting to avoid any conversation or awkward silence with his mother or her husband, Yamato snatched the bowls out of Hikari's hands.
"What are you doing?" Hikari asked skeptically laughed.
"I will wash the dishes." said Yamato confidently.
"Oh, do not worry, Yamato-kun!" Kazuo flashed a cheerful grin. "We can handle it." Hikari brought her hands forward.
Yamato quickly retorted, "No!" The brunette only managed to touch the bowls before Yamato took a step backwards. It took a minute of silence for Yamato to recollect himself. "Sit. You're a guest." He looked at Kazuo then Hikari. "Let me do it." He took another step back.
Hikari and Kazuo's shocked faces relaxed then faced each other. They nodded and quietly walked back into the living room, leaving the responsibility of cleaning to Yamato. Yamato sighed as his tense muscles relaxed. He drew a deep breath then made his way to the kitchen. After one foot in, Yamato almost dropped the bowls and serving dishes thanks to the sight of his mother already scrubbing pots in the sink.
The bowls and chopsticks in his hands clinked against each other as Yamato nervously looked around scanning a place to put the said dishes and exit before Natsuko could notice his presence. As if hearing all his loud mental thoughts, she turned and made a small smile. "Yamato, perfect timing. I need someone to help me clean this up."
Yamato's voice cracked several times as words failed to form in his mouth. In the back of his head, he wished he took Hikari's advice and not volunteer at all.
"Yamato, please do not just stare at me." Natsuko said sternly. "Come. I do not want to wash dishes all night."
I wouldn't want you to stay here either.Yamato said to himself and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Yamato nonchalantly dragged his feet to the sink as he placed the items on his hands in the sink. He stood with a blank expression as Natsuko casted a small smile.
"Thank you." She said sweetly as she scrubbed the sponge against the glassy surface.
Yamato nodded quietly in return.
"Dry those dishes," said Natsuko in a tone that Yamato regarded as "dangerously sweet". He knew she spoke in that tone to his father a lot, when his father was standing too idle for her. Yamato grabbed the dish rag in a whipping motion and abraded one of the dishes until the surface squeaked with every rub.
"So…" she said in a singing tone as water dribbled from the faucet, "you never told me that you were back. I assumed you were never coming back with you being famous and all—"
Just ignore her, Yamato. He found himself saying as he rubbed the plate aggressively. She's just criticizing you, that's all.
"—and seeing that you've been with doing very well, I—"
Yamato sighed. Why is she even talking to me in the first place? She forewent any notion for being with Oyaji ever again. Every time they were in the same room, she would always be so quiet and have that condescending look on her face.
"—though your choice in musical genre," she commented as she raised one side of her nose, "really baffles me—"
That!Yamato sneered. He proceeded to roll his eyes. She's always talking down the old man. It's no surprise that she's doing the same for me. Yamato placed one dish down and picked up another. Maybe that's why she's always so critical of me. All she sees in me are the bad things she saw in the old man. From the corner of his eye, he glanced his mother, still scrubbing dish after dish. If that's how she thinks, it's probably well off that my parents didn't even get back together.
"—which makes me wonder why—"
"Kaa-san." Yamato interjected, not really caring what topic she was on now. "Why are you trying to talk to me as if we have a great relationship?"
Natsuko froze. Yamato noticed her breath hitch then her mouth release a bitter-like laugh.
"Yamato, do you always feel like I'm antagonizing you?" She asked as her eyes shifted to his.
Yes. Yamato deflected her gaze. "No."
"Yamato," She sighed as she twisted the valve of the sink closed, "every time we see each other, you ignore me. If you are upset with me, please be honest with me."
"So that you can seem like the martyr of the situation?"
"Yamato," Natsuko sighed.
"No," Yamato whisked his arms away. "You have to listen. You were the one who wanted Oyaji to leave. He tried to change, and you still refused to make amends." Yamato paused. He shifted his eyes and saw his mother looking down at the still unclean dishes in the sink. "He tried his best, but you never acknowledged that.
"So you are still mad at me?" Natsuko said quietly. "Is that why you always sided with your father?"
"I was the one thing he had left from that relationship." Yamato scoffed. "I'm not going to betray him when you stripped him of everything else." Yamato gripped his fist until his knuckles turned white.
Natsuko sighed. "I… You and Takeru were never involved in the decision that Hiroaki and I made. We did not separate because we were mad at each other or wanted to intentionally hurt the other. We were not happy, and we did not want you or Takeru to be unhappy too. Despite what you think," she placed a hand on her son's arm, "Yamato, I loved Hiroaki. You, Takeru, Hiroaki are the ones I love most."
Yamato ran a hand through his hair. "Since you want to be honest," Yamato sighed, "tell me honestly why you wanted to divorce him. None of this happiness crap. Just tell me the truth."
Yamato heard her sniffle. From the corner of his eye, he saw her brush the under of her eye. "He was always at work, Yamato." She sighed, "He was rarely home. I honestly thought he wasn't in love with me any more."
Yamato said darkly. "He never stopped, you know. In spite of having nothing left to give, he still wanted to be with you."
"I hoped he did." She made a sad smile.
"So why didn't you go back to him?"
Natsuko's bitter smile stayed for a second before she released her breath. She wiped under her eyes again then looked straight into Yamato's eyes. "Because I wanted him to tell me first."
Yamato shook his head. "He would not have known that unless you told him."
"You're right. However, I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell him. " She shrugged. "Now, it's too late."
"Because you married someone else?"
Natsuko was quiet for a second. "When Kazuo asked me to marry him, it took nearly a week to respond."
Yamato blinked. "A week?!"
Natsuko chuckled. "During that time, I visited your father's grave everyday—"
His grave? Yamato thought. Was she the one maintaining it?
"—hoping he would give me some guidance. Nothing happened until six days later," She cooed as she curled a finger to her lips. "I found a small flower blooming beside the tombstone. I thought it was a weed growing, but it was a small white flower bud. The next day, it bloomed. It was small and dainty, but able to bloom. And then I thought, 'maybe, Hiroaki was trying to tell me something.' Maybe, he wanted to tell me that despite the cold and harsh conditions, something beautiful can grow." She sighed. "I think he was telling me to move on. "
Yamato looked away and recalled a time while his father was in the hospital. Yamato just came from home and brought the item his father requested.
"Here." Yamato said taking the photo frame from his bag. As Hiroaki accepted the item and looked at it lovingly, Yamato sat on the chair near the bed. He could not understand why his father requested a very old family picture of the formerly whole Ishida family. Yamato shook his head and flipped open his textbook and began to read to himself.
"Yamato," Hiroaki called.
"Hmm?" Yamato asked, still keeping his attention on the book.
"If anything happens to me, I—"
"—you're not going to die, Oyaji." Yamato commented with his eyes still fixated on the book.
"—shut yer trap." Hiroaki barked with a small smile. "If anything happens to me, I want you to forgive any anger you have towards your mother. She deserves to be happy."
Yamato lowered the book and peered at his father. "What?" He voice glowered.
Yamato did not know this was going to haunt him years later. He did not know this was the catalyst of one of their worst arguments ever. He did not know this was the last day he would see his father breathing ever again.
"Yamato?" Natsuko asked.
"Yes, sorry." Yamato shook his head. "I was thinkin' about him. Just now." Yamato added with a small smile. "Oyaji."
"Natsuko! " Kazuo's voice rang as he popped his head in the kitchen. "We should start heading home soon. Yamato-kun, it was nice meeting you." With that, he disappeared.
Yamato shook his head with his mouth slightly hung open. "Why does he call me that?"
"He wants you to like him because he knows how important you are to me too. He makes the effort even though my eldest son is an adult." Natsuko smiled and comforted Yamato by rubbing his arm. "Out of all the things your father taught me, he taught me it's okay to love again, even it's an old girlfriend."
Yamato narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing."
"Why are you bringing her up?" Yamato shrugged his mother's touch.
"Who? I did not mentioned anyone specifically." Natsuko shrugged as she turned the faucet open again. She ran her hands through, pretending to wash her already-clean hands.
Yamato reached over and closed the water flow again. He kept his hand still and faced her, narrowed eyes in tact. "She doesn't want to be with me, Kaa-san." He scoffed. "So. Stop. It."
Natsuko smirked then nodded. "Okay, fine." She wiped her hands with a nearby dish rag. "Tell Mimi I will see her soon." She quipped.
"I'm not going to see her!" Yamato fumed.
Natsuko bowed slightly as if she knew what his next action would be. She walked backwards towards the hall as Kazuo held Natsuko's jacket out.
"I'm not going to… see her." Yamato repeated over his shoulder. Looking over, Yamato watched Kazuo drape his mother's coat over her shoulders. He noticed the glimmer of happiness in his mother's eyes. She smiled warmly as she thanked her husband for the kind gesture. It was genuine, her smile, and her cheeks were rosy too. This expression was something that Yamato has not seen on his mother for a long time.
And this man made her this way.
"Hey, Kazuo-san," He added, earning a glance from Kazuo and his mother. "Please make her happy. She… she deserves to be happy."
Natsuko cooed while Kazuo's shock melted into a smile. "Yamato-kun…"
Natsuko brought herself up and wrapped her arms around Yamato's neck. She embraced him tighter and whispered in his ear, "Thank you."
Though initially shocked, Yamato encircled his arms around his mother and embraced her. He was thankful she couldn't see his face and the smile that was on it.
Yamato scowled as his mother's last words just before she left echoed in his head: "Go after her, Yamato. She needs you." Yamato growled. He thought that he and his mother were in good terms now, so why would she suddenly spring something that would make him so frustrated. Mothers…
Yamato could not understand why she would say something so bold. He knew he told her that Mimi clearly stated she did not want to be with him, so why did she push for it?
Could it be because Mimi possibly wanted to be with him, and she was just pushing him away? Yamato's nose wrinkled. As far as he knew, Mimi was the type to "wear her heart on her sleeve". She rarely kept things to herself. So why would this be any different?
"This is very confusing." Yamato wagged his head.
"Talking to yourself is often not a good sign." Yuuto's voice broke Yamato's concentration again. "You should really pay attention to what you are doing."
Yamato looked to his side and found the big-eyed brunette looking up at him. Yamato made a smirk. "What makes you think I was not paying attention, Kid?"
"The sink is empty, but you keep putting your hands under the faucet." Yuuto visually pointed to the said-empty sink.
Yamato lightly groaned then turned the knob. "Okay, Kid. You caught me." He sighed then looked at him. "So what do you want?" Yamato asked wiping his hands with a nearby towel.
"Are you going after her?" Yuuto followed Yamato as he moved to the living room.
"Who?"
"Mama."
Yamato crouched down and looked directly into Yuuto's eyes with narrowed eyes. "Did my mom make you do this?"
"Maybe." Yuuto said with shrugged shoulders.
Punk. Yamato laughed in his head. He lightly licked his lips. After one huffed breath Yamato asked, "What do you think I should do?"
"What do you want to do?" Yuuto quipped with a smirk.
Yamato snorted thanks to the boy's response. "You know, Kid, you don't have to be the adult all the time. You should take time being the kid too… by telling me what you want."
"So are you going to find her or not?" Yuuto said with a big smile, which Yamato responded with a smile of his own.
Yamato chuckled. He raised his hand and ruffled Yuuto's hair. After erupting a giggle from the boy, Yamato smiled and made a small wink to his mini-partner-in-crime. "Hikari, I am going out." He picked himself up and headed towards the closet.
"I'm going with him!" Yuuto called afterwards.
"No, you're not, Kid." Yamato commanded giving Yuuto a soft glare. "I thought you were on my side." He alluded to the fact that every time he went out with Yuuto at a late hour, Mimi was everything but pleased. "Do me a favor, and do not get me in trouble." Yamato pointed directly to Yuuto.
Whoo, this took a long time to write. Busy, busy, busy.
My favorite part to write was when Taichi found out about his newest baby. I imagined the proud Taichi (who a soft spot for his family and those he holds dear) would not know how to handle anger and happiness at the same time, so he would just collapse.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter is going to have a big shocker. I hope it will be a big shocker for you! (shrug)
As always, feedback is much appreciated.
Till next time…!