CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT – NATSUKI'S TALE (NatSuke)

Daisuke stared over the two new manga books that he had picked out from the shelves of the mall's bookstore – new arrivals, having been delivered only a day before according to a friend who had scouted things out for him. They were shoujoworks, of course, both bound to capture Natsuki's interest. He wondered whether or not she would like to read something, though, given that they were also a bit more serious than most of the usual shoujofare that she loved to read. Natsuki liked cute and pretty characters in equally cute situations and settings, though Daisuke knew that asking her about such things would earn someone an earful on a good day and a bruised arm on worse times.

In all aspects, the choices he was perusing reminded him of certain famed anime movies that he liked so much, and he sensed that perhaps Natsuki liked them as well – after all, her interest in anime and manga didn't fall under only those in published form. The first one was Seiko's Calling, which told the story of a young woman who runs away from the city life and her home in search for happiness and success in the countryside; the second choice was Pursuit of My Heart, which documented a teen girl on a daunting mission to find her pen pal when his last letter telling her about his departure to a new home fails to reach her.

With some thinking, Daisuke realized that the protagonists in both stories reminded him of Natsuki in a way; a quick peek at both stories told him of the determination and grit that both girls possessed, traits which Natsuki undoubtedly had. Perhaps that was why he had picked them out for his planned gift to her. Friends would ask what the occasion was for him to give her a gift, but there was none. It was simply an idea he got after Naoki told him and Kenta of how Yuri was giving him novels as gifts.

In the end, Daisuke decided on buying Natsuki Seiko's Calling instead, as it seemed to have a potentially happier ending compared to Pursuit of the Heart. As he walked out of the bookstore and the mall on his way home, he wrapped the white jacket that he wore over his school uniform tighter around him to ward off the autumn chill outside. Amid the urban cadence of passing vehicles, jumbled voices and the flutters of autumnal winds, Daisuke walked silently, contemplating the week that had just passed.

Sharing what happened between his parents to Natsuki had been unexpected on his part. Granted, he did trust Natsuki enough to tell her about it, just not almost immediately after a happy occasion like his mother's birthday. It had made for a sobering experience after the joy their little get-together had brought, but somehow, it also made his relationship with Natsuki even stronger. Ever since that night, she had been keen on asking about how his mother and his sister Hiroko were doing, and she was always glad to hear that they were doing well. In a way, Daisuke sensed just how much Natsuki appreciated being part of the small party they held, and how she now considered his mother and sister as good acquaintances.

When he arrived home later that evening, his mother had already finished preparing dinner. "You're just in time," she said as he entered their diner's kitchen. "Your sister should be coming downstairs any minute now."

"Good, because I'm starving," said Daisuke excitedly; indeed, the smell of freshly cooked pork shogayaki and stir-fried veggies had jumpstarted his appetite the moment he caught wind of it.

"I thought you'd eaten at the mall already," his mother stated.

"Mom, you know I wouldn't miss your cooking for the world," Daisuke told her.

His mother laughed. "Flattery won't get you another allowance increase."

As Daisuke laughed with her, Hiroko entered the kitchen. "Alright, time to chow down," she muttered. "Where've you been, Dai?"

"Mall," said Daisuke in reply as the three of them sat down at the table. "Just bought some stuff."

"You mean a gift for your girlfriend?" said Hiroko with a smirk.

Of course, it was a guess made in humor, but it couldn't have been truer. Their mother looked at him eagerly. "Oh, what did you get her?" she asked.

"Really? Are we gonna do this right now, guys?" asked Daisuke.

"Oh, come on, Dai!" said Hiroko, laughing. "I'm sure Mom has already given her blessing for you two. You can be sure that you've got mine!"

Knowing it was better to admit the truth than to prolong the discussion, Daisuke let out a sigh. "Alright, I bought some school stuff and a little something for her."

"Did you get her flowers? Candy?" asked their mother as Hiroko giggled some more. "I'm certain that a girl like her would appreciate nice little gifts like that."

"Not really," replied Daisuke a bit nervously. "I bought her a new manga book."

"Oh, more of that anime stuff, huh?" said Hiroko. "Good to hear that she shares interests with you, little bro. Just makes you that much cuter of a couple!"

Since their mother's birthday celebration, Hiroko had been unrelenting in teasing Daisuke, joking about how he and Natsuki made a very cute couple in certain aspects now that she had seen them together at last. Daisuke chuckled to himself, wondering how Natsuki would react to both the idea of being called cute by Hiroko and the idea of being paired with him. As he saw earlier, even his mother would occasionally join in, stating how happy she was about Daisuke going out with a girl like Natsuki when he had spent the entirety of his school years having no girlfriend. That Daisuke always reiterated that Natsuki was not his girlfriend yet didn't seem to bother his mother in the slightest.

Their banter continued throughout dinner, with Daisuke going with the flow even as he felt embarrassed at some of the questions and statements that his sister made. Somehow, every time he tried to explain how manga had been the main binding force in his friendship with Natsuki, things became a bit more difficult to piece together – his mother, of course, didn't know much about manga, while Hiroko suggested that Daisuke started crushing on Natsuki because she reminded him of the anime girls that he drew during his free time. For Daisuke, his attraction towards Natsuki was brought by a lot of things, and not just her interest in manga: her tenacity and frankness, the kind and genuine heart she hid underneath her rough exterior, her passion for the things that she liked, and her loveliness. All these notions were cheesier than his favorite hamburger at Big Tom's, and yet they couldn't be any truer.

Later that night, as he sat on his bed staring at his gift for Natsuki tomorrow, Daisuke wondered where things were heading for the two of them. He knew that Natsuki would rather break a thousand legs than admit that she was reciprocating his feelings, but he sensed it all nonetheless. It made him happy and hopeful at the same time, though admittedly it also made him think what was in store for the future.

He shook his head. It won't do to think about the future just yet. For now, it felt best to enjoy the present instead, and Monika's planned jaunt seemed a good way to do just that.


When Natsuki arrived at school the next day, Daisuke was surprised to see her wearing a black face mask. It reminded him of the ones worn by commuters that he passed by on the streets, usually to ward off pollution. Many students wore them, though they usually took them off indoors. "Why are you wearing that?" he asked her as she sat down next to him.

Natsuki looked at him, her eyes looking dead serious. "I've got fall allergy," she muttered, her voice sounding rather hoarse.

"Oh, that explains it," said Daisuke. "Runny nose and all?"

"Yeah," said Natsuki. "I guess I'll be wearing this thing for quite a while. Autumn just sucks sometimes."

Daisuke smiled comfortingly at her. "Don't worry, I know how that feels," he told her. "Spring is hay fever season for me. Anyway, I got you something at the mall yesterday."

Natsuki looked at him again. Given that half of her face was covered by her mask, Daisuke found it rather interesting to gauge her expressions and reactions through only her eyes. "What is it?" she asked.

He took out Seiko's Calling from his bag. "New arrival," he said brightly.

Natsuki's pink eyes widened in surprise as she took the book from him. She opened it and scanned a few pages, and Daisuke felt happy as he felt excitement and wonder emanate from her, as it always did whenever she read a new manga series. It would seem that this one was no different.

"It might not be the same as most of the shoujoworks that I know you like, but it looks like a good one, don't you think?" he said.

For a few quiet moments, Natsuki continued looking through the book's pages, never dwelling for too long on a single page lest she accidentally read something about the plot halfway through. Daisuke knew that she was taking in the book's art style, characters and general feel. "Thank you," she said tentatively, "b-but . . ."

To Daisuke's surprise, she handed the book back to him. "I can't take this."

"Why not?" he asked. "Don't you like it? I mean, if you don't, I understand. I just thought-"

Natsuki let out a sigh. "No, I really like it," she assured him. "It's just that . . ."

"What is it?"

"The thing is . . . I lost the book you gave me last time. Bubblegum Rocket Club."

Natsuki sounded so embarrassed as she said the words out loud, but Daisuke, who was expecting something more serious, merely laughed lightly. "Oh, that? Well, that's okay."

"No, it's not!" Natsuki cried out. "I mean, I'm always harsh to you whenever you borrow my manga, and yet here I am losing the ones you lend me. I don't think I can accept this one, even if it's a gift."

"Natsuki, it's alright," Daisuke said in a reassuring tone. He could tell that Natsuki really wanted to keep his present in spite of her guilt. "I can always buy a replacement once I save up some allowance. Besides, it's not like this is the first time I've lost a book in my collection."

"B-But . . . I'm sure that this is the first time you lost one because of someone else!"

"Yeah, but I'm telling you, it's fine, okay?" he said kindly. "Don't worry about it! Um, if you don't mind me asking, though, how did you lose it?"

Natsuki sighed again. "I don't know," she murmured. "I think I lost it when I was downtown a couple of days ago. I must've misplaced it in one of the stores I went into. . ."

For the better part of the morning, Natsuki seemed so dejected about losing his manga copy that Daisuke decided to double down on helping her feel better. After all, having allergies and losing manga in the same week were things that he could relate to, and he didn't want Natsuki's day to end on a sullen note if he could help it. Even high marks on their latest Science quiz did little to brighten up her mood, and she barely raised her hand to participate in class recitations. Sensing that she wanted to be left alone, Daisuke agreed to her request to let her eat alone for lunch, musing that it would be good to give her some space. On the other hand, he did his best to coax her into accepting Seiko's Calling so that she could have something to read after lunch. When he greeted her with the book after she returned from eating, Natsuki looked at him with petulance, her eyes showing just how self-conscious she was at the thought, but Daisuke would have none of it.

Though Natsuki still didn't accept the book, she did open it again and read the first few pages with him when he gave it to her again. "Looks really good," she admitted quietly. "Reminds me a lot of those Makoto Shinkai movies."

"I know what you mean," said Daisuke. "So, do you like it?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but . . . is it really okay if I keep this?" asked Natsuki.

"Of course, Natsuki," replied Daisuke. "Like I said, it's a gift, okay?"

Natsuki stared at the book one more time. "Alright, fine, I'll keep it. T-Thank you so much."

Though he was a bit surprised at how easy that was, Daisuke took it in stride. "You're very much welcome," he said cheerfully.

"But is it . . . is it okay if I ask you to keep it safe for me in your locker?"

"Sure thing! But why not store it in your locker?"

Natsuki fidgeted anxiously. "Well, the thing is that . . . I've started keeping most of the manga I have in my locker, so there's not much space left in there. I've been doing that to make sure that I don't lose any more of them – at least I'll be able to keep track of them here in school. Is t-that okay with you?"

"Oh, well, that's fine," he told her. "Just ask me when you wanna read it, okay?"

"Yes, thanks," said Natsuki gratefully.

Even though she accepted the book, Natsuki still didn't seem to feel better, as she continued most of the day in a subdued mood. Daisuke noticed that she also frequently went to the restrooms, though he sensed that it was because she was washing her face and nose to relieve her autumn allergies, like he would whenever hay fever struck him. All the same, she never took off her face mask, and given that they didn't eat together for today, Daisuke didn't see her without it all day. When their other classmates had asked her about it, she merely brushed them off with her characteristic brusqueness, and knowing how Natsuki tended to snap when prodded some more, no one bothered to ask further. Daisuke knew that it was the stress of having allergies that was giving Natsuki such a cranky mood. Because of this, he decided to take things one step further by asking her out and keeping her company.

Natsuki looked anxious at the thought when he asked her later that day. "Why?"

Where Natsuki was concerned, Daisuke knew it was good to be honest. "I want to help you feel better. I know allergies can be a real pain for a week or so, and with everything school's throwing at us, it's gonna be a bit stressful, right? So let's just go out tonight, have some fun, eat out and stuff!"

"Um, you're r-right." Natsuki cast her gaze down, avoiding his eyes. "Well, I . . . I d-don't know. . . I mean, it's just that m-my dad might get mad if I don't come home early."

"Oh, are your parents gonna be expecting you to go home early?"

"Well, only my dad," said Natsuki. "He usually comes home late during Tuesdays, but I'm just scared that he might come back home and I'm not around. . ."

"How about your mom?"

Natsuki sighed. "D-Don't worry about her. Anyway, I'm still not sure. . ."

Daisuke placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Well, I wouldn't want your dad to get mad, so . . . if you're not free, I understand."

"No, w-wait!" Natsuki closed her eyes tightly, as if the stress of being unable to decide was causing her physical pain that Daisuke could sense beneath her face mask. She wrung her hands tightly together.

"Alright, fine. Let's go."

Daisuke knew that it was characteristic of her to hesitate whenever she was asked out like this, but the thought that her father might get angry at her for it made him anxious. "Are you sure about that?" he asked her.

"Y-Yeah. I'd rather be anywhere b-but home right now anyway. . ."

Before he could ask anything else, she slung her bag onto her shoulder and started walking out of the classroom. Having no other option than to get on with things, Daisuke took his bag and followed hurriedly, catching up to her at the school doors. It seemed rather odd for Natsuki to change her mind rather quickly considering how worried she sounded when she mentioned the possibility of getting into trouble with her father, but he decided to ignore that for now.

"We can just eat out if you want," he told her as the two of them left the school. "That'd give you enough time to get home before your dad does. It'd be also nice if you could get some rest from your allergies."

"Oh, I'm not really that hungry today," she told him. "If you're gonna eat, go ahead. I'll just hang around with you while you do. I didn't even manage to eat everything that your mom prepared for me. I'm s-sorry about that."

"No, it's okay," said Daisuke. "I just want to ask, though. Are you feeling well? How are your allergies doing? Are you taking any medications for them?"

Natsuki looked away. "N-No, not really. . ."

Daisuke stared at her intently. "Alright, maybe we should just call this off and go out some other time instead so you can go home and get some rest."

"I told you before, I don't want to go home yet, okay?!" Natsuki snapped. Her irritation, however, ebbed away as quickly as it appeared. "I'm sorry. I didn't m-mean to shout like that," she added in a more remorseful tone.

Knowing now that something more than simple autumn allergies was bothering Natsuki, Daisuke decided to put his foot down. "Let's find a place we can go to, and let's talk there for a bit, okay?" he asked in a calm but firm voice.

Natsuki bowed her head. "Okay, f-fine."

In about ten minutes, the two of them made their way to one of the parks close to the night market downtown. Because the bulk of the people in the area were converging at the night market to buy food and other things, the park was left with little to no people, giving the two of them some privacy. Daisuke led the way towards a nearby stone bench that sat beneath a large, beautiful maple tree, away from the park's main pathway of paved brick. The tree's fallen leaves seemed to glow red against the park's green grass, offering a contrast of colors that was pleasing to the eyes.

In spite of this lovely sight, Daisuke remembered Natsuki's allergies. "Is it okay if we sit here? The trees and grass might, er, you know. . ."

He waved his hand across his nose to signify what he meant. Natsuki, however, seemed unmoved. "I'll be fine," she replied. As if to prove her point, she adjusted her face mask and took a deep breath.

"Well, if you say so," said Daisuke.

At that, the two of them sat down on the bench. There was a bit of space between them, something that Natsuki seemed keen on maintaining – perhaps she was trying to stop her allergies from affecting him, Daisuke mused. For a while, only silence prevailed. True enough, Daisuke wanted to talk about her current state as his worry started mounting, but now that the time for it had actually come, he felt hesitant. As he struggled to think of what to say, Natsuki didn't say anything as well.

Daisuke looked at her. Somehow, he felt that looking into her vividly pink eyes would give him the courage he needed to start speaking, and it did.

"Natsuki, I know there's something bothering you," he began. "Allergies can make anyone feel stressed out, but . . . I think there might be other reasons why you're like this today."

"What?" asked Natsuki defensively. "W-What do you mean, 'like this?'"

"I can tell that you're not yourself today," said Daisuke. "I've been observing you all day, and with the way you're acting and the things you said about not eating properly . . . Well, the thing is that this happened before, right? Remember what I said about helping you whenever you're having a rough day?"

Natsuki looked away. "You really like making me feel awkward, don't you, dummy?" she muttered.

Daisuke blushed. "I'm sorry about that, but . . . ever since that day when you nearly collapsed, I had to start being more alert, you know? I . . . I don't w-want that or anything similar to happen anymore. For a while now, I've been thinking about . . . about what's happening at your home."

Natsuki's face seemed expressionless, but Daisuke could sense something building up beneath her face mask. He went on. "I know it's something that I shouldn't really be poking into because it's a personal thing, but if it makes you feel bad or down like this, I don't think I can ignore it for too long anymore. Ever since that day when you went to school hungry, I haven't been able to keep my mind off of what might be happening at your home. After the party we had for Mom, you told me about how things got a bit hairy at your place as well, and earlier, you told me about how you didn't want to go home just yet even if your dad's expecting you to. Right now, I can't help but try to ask about it all, just so I'll know if what I'm thinking about is justified or not. Natsuki, I care about you, so if there's anything that's bothering you, I wanna make good on my promise to help you with it."

At times, the burden of speaking too much felt just as bad as the thought of speaking too little. Daisuke wondered what the consequences of his words would be, and he tried for a moment to think of what else he could say – and whether he should keep quiet instead.

After a few moments of silence, Natsuki stood up and turned away from him. Daisuke saw that she was trembling, and when she spoke, her voice shook as well. "I knew this day might come, b-but . . . why, Daisuke? Why did you have to be so nice to me?"

Daisuke stood up from the bench as well. "Natsuki?"

When Natsuki turned back to face him, her eyes were sparkling with tears. The sight of them broke Daisuke's heart for some reason. "Darn it, fine. I never thought of m-myself as a good liar anyway. I'm . . . I'm gonna try telling you everything, s-starting with your manga book that I lost."

A creeping feeling of trepidation gripped Daisuke's heart, as if something horrible was about to happen. "O-Okay, go ahead," he said cautiously.

Natsuki took a deep breath, as if she was preparing to deliver a speech in front of a massive crowd. "I didn't actually lose the book somewhere. The thing is that . . . m-my dad found it in my room. He hates it when I read manga b-because he thinks that I'm just spending my allowance on it. We're not that well-off, so money is hard to come by, and if I spend my allowance on anything other than the most important stuff that I really need, he gets mad. Really mad. That's the reason I started keeping my manga at school, b-because this kind of thing happened b-before. . ."

Daisuke felt shaken as he stood there, digesting what Natsuki was saying. "W-Why? What happened before? What did he do?" he asked quietly.

"I told him that I didn't actually buy the book. I told him that I borrowed it from someone, but he . . . h-he didn't believe a word of it. He thought I was lying, and he said that this m-might be the reason I asked for some money a while back – r-remember the group project we had back then, and those cupcakes I baked for your mom? Anyway, h-he started yelling all sorts of things at me, like how I was just stealing money from him just to buy manga, how I was a no-good liar, and that I was making everything more difficult for us. . . He got so mad that he . . . h-he took the copy and just ripped it to pieces."

Natsuki's words painted a terrible image in Daisuke's head as he imagined the scene. "And t-then?"

Wringing her hands painfully together, Natsuki bit back a sob. "I'm sorry, Daisuke. I t-tried to stop him, I did, but he just kept going at it until the book was completely ruined. He went downstairs and threw what was left of it in the trash. I got so frustrated at him, because he didn't have to do something like that, so I followed him and repeated what I told him, that the book wasn't mine. That's when he . . . w-when he . . ."

His ruined manga being the least of his worries right now, Daisuke felt dread well up in him, dread that he never thought he'd feel.

"When he what . . . ?" he asked.

With a trembling hand, Natsuki took a hold of one of her face mask's straps and pulled it off of her ear. At the back of his mind, Daisuke was expecting to see Natsuki's nose getting runnier from both her allergies and the fact that she was crying in front of him. Of course, at this point in their conversation, it was foolish to expect anything as innocent as that. After all, he should've guessed that somehow, Natsuki had lied about having allergies even before they had arrived at the park.

But he never would have guessed that it would be as serious as what was coming.

Natsuki's face would've looked normal as usual if it weren't for the unmistakable bruise on her right cheek, or the dried-up cut on her bottom lip near it, or the way both areas of her face seemed to swell slightly. The sight of them gave Daisuke a surreal feeling, as if he was looking at something that was too foreign to be true, like a scene ripped straight from a movie or an excerpt from a compelling narrative of fiction. It was the last thing he expected to see, least of all on a face as innocent and familiar as Natsuki's, and it made him feel lightheaded. This disbelief soon gave way to a wave of overwhelming shock and horror as Daisuke pieced everything together: Natsuki's days of hunger, her defensive attitude, the way she never mentioned much about her home situation – and now, her statement earlier about not wanting to go home just yet in spite of the risk that lay before her.

When he tried to speak, all that came out were gasps and stammers as he tried to put into words a reply to everything he had heard. Before he could speak properly, however, Natsuki cut across him.

"I'm not trying t-to make you feel sorry f-for me. I just w-wanted you to know because . . . b-because I trust you, Daisuke. When I'm with you, I feel secure and safe, and that makes m-me really, really happy. . . When you stay w-with me at school, when you keep me company even d-during the times when I'm really stubborn or cranky or harsh, it helps me g-get through the day, even if I might come home and get scolded or hurt b-by my dad again. I'm used to all that n-now, but this, all this comfort and happiness that I'm experiencing whenever I'm w-with you . . . the only other time I felt so happy and secure was w-when my mom was s-still . . ."

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Natsuki took another deep breath. "She died w-when I was ten. She and Dad got into a car accident on their way to school for a play that I was p-part of. . . Dad pulled through, but his injuries caused him to be laid off from work. Since then, everything just went from bad to worse. Dad can't find any decent work because his body doesn't work like it used to, so we have to rely on our relatives so that we can get by and so I can keep going to school. In the meantime, he is just getting worse – he drinks and smokes, and sometimes he just . . . forgets about me, but if y-you ask me, those are the times when I feel like I'm s-safe from him, you know?

"Somehow, I can tell that he's blaming me for w-what happened to Mom because they were coming to watch me perform at school, and I think that that's the reason he takes his anger out on me most of the t-time . . . And not just that, there are times when I think that . . . t-that it really is my fault that Mom died. . ."

She looked at him, smiling in spite of her tears. "When your mom was being really nice to me, it made me really happy, because it made me remember . . . w-what it's like to have a mother. When you invited me over to your place, I wanted to just s-stay there forever with y-you and your mom and your sister. I didn't want to go home anymore. I'm sorry if that sounds c-crazy or whatever, it's just . . . j-just . . ."

Unable to continue, Natsuki sat back down on the stone bench. Her head was bowed, and the face mask she wore to hide her hurt face still dangled uselessly from her ear. Daisuke watched her cry, still paralyzed with shock from everything she had narrated. It was already emotionally taxing to listen to it all and process it, so he wondered how utterly devastating it was for Natsuki to narrate it.

When he finally felt compelled to move, he went towards her slowly. His own hands were trembling badly, and his chest felt like it was being torn apart. And then, much like the day when Natsuki had almost collapsed from hunger, he knelt beside her and stared resolutely into her face, trying to muster up the courage to not look away. The bruise on Natsuki's cheek seemed more pronounced now that he was this close to her, and it made his heart break.

Daisuke reached out and cupped his hand on Natsuki's face, bruise and all. With his other hand, he took off her face mask and placed it down next to her. Her tears felt hot as they ran down his fingers. Natsuki looked at him for a moment, her lip quivering as she sniffled and hiccupped, trying to steady her breathing. He sensed that she was trying – and failing – to calm herself now that he was looking at her intently.

In response, Natsuki held her hand out and cupped his face. Her touch felt warm and comforting, even if she was the one in dire need of such sensations. As he felt her fingers graze the skin of his face softly, as he continued to watch Natsuki cry in front of him, Daisuke felt tears form on his own eyes, blurring his vision increasingly as they welled up.

He shifted closer and caught Natsuki in a tight embrace, stroking the back of her head gently. Natsuki answered by wrapping her arms just as tightly around him, burying her face into his shoulder, crying as she did so. For a long while, all Daisuke could say was her name, as if it offered him the strength he was looking for. His voice was hoarse, almost like he had forgotten how to speak temporarily. He stared ahead, at nothing and at everything around them, as his mind began comprehending the gravity of Natsuki's home situation. For some reason, it made him feel fearful for her as he imagined everything else that she had left unspoken.

"I'm sorry. . ." Natsuki whispered, still sobbing. "I'm s-sorry for telling you all this. . ."

Somehow, that steeled Daisuke's resolve. He broke away from her and grasped her shoulders firmly, staring once again into her face. "Natsuki . . . does no one else in your family know about this? Like, y-your relatives or something?"

Natsuki shook her head dejectedly. "They might not believe m-me, and if my dad finds out, he might just . . . g-go crazy, you know?"

In Daisuke's mind, horrible scenes rushed past – Natsuki being yelled at, Natsuki being forced to watch her manga being torn to pieces before her eyes, Natsuki trying to sleep on an empty stomach, Natsuki being slapped and beaten. He imagined her crying in her bed, her face worse for wear than it was now, her sobs going unheard by no one except a . . . a monster who ignored them. He imagined the days that Natsuki came to school looking like nothing was wrong, and how much was actually hidden underneath that façade, and who was the cause of all of it. It fueled him with an awful anger, one that he never expected to feel in his life, not even against someone he'd consider his enemy.

"I hope I never run into your dad on the street," he stated silently, even if he had no idea what Natsuki's father looked like. "I seriously hope that never happens. B-Because if I do . . . I don't know what I might end up d-doing."

His touch hardened as he let his anger course through him. Natsuki must have felt it as well as the dangerous tone in his voice, because she grasped his arms just as tightly. "No, don't say that, okay? I'll b-be fine. There are always days like this for me. I'll just have to wait them out."

"But it's been years since your mom d-died, Natsuki. Years. You're telling me that your dad's been like this for that long? What if he does something worse? W-What if he ends up hurting you so badly t-that . . ."

Daisuke's words failed him as his brain flashed worse scenes than the ones he had just imagined before. "H-How about your friends and classmates before? Didn't y-you tell anyone about . . . about t-this?" he asked.

Natsuki looked away. "There w-was no one to tell them to. . . But don't worry about it, Daisuke. I've been through this before, like I said. Once my dad calms down, I know that things will g-go back to normal."

"Normal?" asked Daisuke imploringly. "No sane dad would hurt their daughter like this! I don't want you to go through something like this ever again! D-Don't you think that you should leave when he becomes t-too much?"

"And go where?" asked Natsuki despairingly. "I can't go anywhere. I'm scared of my dad, Daisuke, but I'm also s-scared of what might happen if I lose him. I've lost Mom already, and . . . I'm scared of losing Dad as well. My family's broken enough, I don't w-want it completely destroyed. If he goes, I'll . . . I'll have no one."

Daisuke held her hands. "You have me."

It was a bit of a foolhardy statement, to be sure, especially given how young the two of them were and how tremendous the severity of the problem they were facing was, but Daisuke didn't care at that moment. All that mattered to him was Natsuki's wellbeing. He had promised to help her with any problem she might have, and he would never let any obstacle or doubt or daunting parent get in his way.

Natsuki pressed her face into his chest as she began crying again. With a sigh, Daisuke slowly stood up, never letting go of her. Once again, he pulled her into a hug as his words faltered. His emotions had been riled up to the point where any logical answer seemed like the best one, but of course it was easier said than done for someone in Natsuki's situation. All around them, the sunset crept in and cast its glow upon the city, evoking an urbane beauty that belied the dismal stupor they were lost in.

"We'll figure something out, Natsuki," he whispered. "We'll figure something out, I promise. I'll help you no matter what happens."

Natsuki hugged him tighter. "Just d-don't do anything rash, okay? I don't w-want anything to happen to you. . ."

The horrifying scenes flashed again in Daisuke's mind, and he knew that there were no promises to that. Still, for Natsuki's sake, he tried to simmer down. "I won't. I'll just be here for you. I won't let you go through this alone."


Twenty minutes later, Daisuke only vaguely realized that he had arrived back home. Truth be told, he wanted to stay with Natsuki for a little while longer at the park, to keep her company and dry her tears and make sure that she would be alright. However, Natsuki had told him that simply opening up to him like that helped give her a bit of relief, and that she was going to be alright once she got home. As she put her face mask back on and made her way home, he had watched her go with a heavy heart.

Feeling too emotionally exhausted to eat dinner, Daisuke excused himself from the kitchen and made his way up to his room. He stared around at the walls, which were decorated with both anime posters and a number of his favorite anime sketches, and at his bookshelf where his prized manga collection and some of his anime action figures were. He sat down on his bed and took off his shoes, still observing his room as if he was seeing everything in it in a whole new light.

A home was meant to make a person feel safe and secure. It was, after all, the place that one grew up in, and was more familiar than any other place that they might encounter. It was a place where families bonded as they lived together through thick and thin, sharing burdens but also looking for ways to optimistically manage through them. Daisuke knew that it didn't take riches or creature comforts to make a good home – sometimes, even one's family members were more than enough to make a home a truly safe and joyful place.

Of course, such an idyllic scenario was a luxury that not all people could afford to have. Natsuki's tale had certainly told him that. As he stared at the anime posters and his favorite sketches on the walls, as he glanced at his prized manga collection on a nearby bookshelf, as he felt the comfort of his bed beneath him, Daisuke knew that these were the simple but meaningful things that Natsuki deserved to have as much as he did. She deserved to eat properly every day and go home without worrying about what was in store for her. She deserved to do whatever she wanted to do without someone judging or outright punishing her for it. Most of all, she deserved to have good parents that would take care of her and make sure that she got all of these things.

Once again, anger formed inside Daisuke's mind. He picked up his shoes and threw them aside rashly, imagining what Natsuki's father looked like and wishing that he could at least have one run-in with the man so that he could give him a piece of his mind. Somehow, he reminded him of his own father, but then again, he wasn't as horrible as Natsuki's father was. True enough, he had his lapses by being with another woman while he was married, but at least he never raised his hand to hurt Daisuke or Hiroko, nor did he end things in an uncivil manner with their mother by being bitter or vengeful. For a long time, Daisuke imagined that others were luckier than he was for being able to grow up without coming from a broken family. Little did he realize that one of the people who meant a lot to him would have it much worse than he did.

His cellphone's beeping forestalled his grim mood for a moment. Daisuke took a look at it and saw a message from Natsuki.

"JGH, dad's not here yet... sorry abt 2day. i hope ur doing ok. i'm feeling a bit better. tnx 4 being here f4or me, daisuke. i'm rly gr8ful for that... take care, see u 2morrow"

As he read her text, Daisuke once again felt tears form on his eyes. He blinked them back and typed out a reply.

"ur welcome. i'll see u 2morrow as well. thank u 4 trusting me. u take care of urself, ok?"

After hitting "Send," he held his phone close to his heart, wondering what was in store for him and Natsuki from now on. The ominous feeling that something horrible would happen still lingered at the back of his mind, giving him a creeping sense of dread.

But amid that dread was determination, a spark in the darkness that Natsuki was wallowing in. No matter what happens, Daisuke knew that he must stand firm and do what he can.