Thirteen Years Ago
"Feel free to stop by whenever you'd like. My wife's hot pot is quite the masterpiece, afterall!" Teruaki laughed raucously. "But promise me that you'll pick up your trash next time, okay?"
"Yes, Mr. Yuiga!" The three guests said simultaneously before bowing. Teruaki saw them out of the house and waved them goodbye. All the while, a seven year old Nariyuki stared with silent and observant eyes, both in awe and disbelief.
Being as young as he was, not many would have expected him to be able to understand the significance behind his father's actions, but he was well aware of the strangeness behind the interaction that had just occurred before him. Not too long ago, the three ruffian-looking men had been violently threatening his father at the storefront for 'stepping onto their turf', but in a matter of minutes, they had somehow ended up in their home, sharing food and jovial conversations with them as if they were close family friends. Nariyuki didn't understand exactly how it happened, but it was obvious that his father had been the one responsible for it.
"Dad…"
"Hm?"
"Why did you invite them to eat dinner with us?"
Teruaki blinked before smiling gently.
"Why not? It was an opportunity to make new friends. It's not always easy to see people eye to eye, but if you try to open up to them like this, they'll at least be willing to listen."
The man walked over to the dinner table and picked up a three year old Mizuki enthusiastically.
"And thanks to this, we now have three less litterers in our neighborhood! Isn't that right, Mizuki?"
The young girl simply stared back with a blank expression, oblivious to why her father was holding her nor what he was even talking about. Nariyuki however, demonstrated a much more visible reaction; a wide smile plastered onto his face, admiration shining brightly in his eyes.
His father was so cool.
"Aww, Yuiga Sensei, is this your son?"
"He sure is."
Nariyuki was starting to regret accompanying his dad to work on such a busy day. It was true that he had been excited to get to see more of the school that his father taught at, but he hadn't expected to receive this much attention from the students.
Teruaki nudged him from behind encouragingly.
"Go on Nariyuki, say hi."
With a tentative gaze, Nariyuki did his best to introduce himself.
"H-hello…n-nice to meet you..."
He had practically mumbled the words to himself, but it was enough to be heard, and the group of girls around him gushed in affection.
So much for keeping a low profile.
"Mr. Yuiga." One of the girls directed her attention back to his father. "We actually wanted to tell you how appreciative we are for your help the other day. We were really struggling with studying, but after your supplemental lessons we all did really well on the mock exam!"
"Oh? That's great to hear. If any of you ever need more help, feel free to always stop by my office." Teruaki replied with a smile.
"Thank you Sensei!"
The group bowed respectfully before heading back to their classroom, waving at the both of them as they went. Nariyuki waved back shyly, and as soon as they were out of sight, he looked up at Teruaki curiously.
"Are they your students, Dad?"
"Hmm…not really? They're not in my class specifically. I believe they're in class 2-B? Not too sure actually."
"You give them lessons even when they're not in your class?"
"Of course." The man answered resolutely. "A teacher should be willing to help out whenever they can, especially for those in need."
Nariyuki's eyes shot wide, taken aback by the straightforward answer.
Before he could say anything in response, another person approached his father, appearing much older than the girls of the last group.
"Teruaki! Thank you for filling in for me at the faculty meeting the other day! You really helped me out with my emergency." The man said gratefully. "I'll take you out for a drink sometime."
His father laughed heartily.
"It's no problem at all, Sensei. I'm glad you were able to make your daughter's recital."
The older man nodded appreciatively, but not before noticing him hiding behind Teruaki's legs.
"Ohh? This is your eldest, Nariyuki, right? He's grown up quite a bit compared to the picture you have in your office."
His father ruffled the top of his hair in response.
"Ten years strong now."
"You know…your dad is quite the famous person around these parts." The man said to Nariyuki matter-of-factly. "Almost all of the students and teachers here love him. They're saying that the most valuable teacher award for this year is basically already decided."
Teruaki sighed in exasperation.
"You're definitely exaggerating, Sensei."
The man laughed loudly in return and patted his father on the back in a friendly gesture. Nariyuki smiled happily, and he continued to watch the two converse with one another, sharing the merriment of a good-natured friendship.
No matter how young or old…
Everyone appeared to respect his dad.
The rest of the day had flown by quickly, and soon enough, the school hours concluded, and Nariyuki and Teruaki walked home together hand in hand.
The silence was comfortable and lasting, but eventually, Nariyuki spoke up to break it, unable to hold back the words at the forefront of his mind.
"Dad…"
"Hm?"
He paused.
And then looked up with a hopeful gaze.
"One day...I want to grow up to be just like you."
In a way, his words were tentative, uncertain, but there was undeniable emotion behind them. Could he ever be as loved and respected as his father?
He could only hope.
Teruaki laughed deeply. "Sure. Though first we're going to have to work on getting your math homework fixed when we get home."
"Geh…"
"Nariyuki…"
"Dad! You can't leave us!"
The foreboding sound of the heart monitor rang in his ears dreadfully as a twelve year old Nariyuki desperately held on to his father's hand. The words of the doctor remained unavoidable in his head. The operation chances were slim, and their time left together seemed all but running thin.
His life was falling apart before his very eyes.
"Sorry…"
Teruaki smiled weakly.
"But from now on…you're going to have to be the man of the house, okay?"
"I don't want to! Not without you!" He yelled with tears running freely down his face. "Don't you remember what I said? I want to be just like you! I…I…"
"I still need you…"
His heart clenched painfully.
"I still haven't caught up to you…" He whispered with a sob.
A pair of hands rested on his shoulders from behind, kindly but also intently pulling him away from his father.
"Sweetheart…I'm sorry…but the doctor has to perform the surgery now…" It was the nurse in charge of the room, and Nariyuki felt his stomach drop fully at her next words. "We have to ask you to leave his side."
A desperate attempt brought his eyes to meet Teruaki's gaze one last time. It was hard to see through his tears, but his father's sad smile brought forth a wave of sorrow that tore through his very soul.
A silent plea. He begged. He begged for some form of miracle.
"I'm sorry…"
It never came.
"DAD!"
With his tears falling even harder than before, he was dragged out of the room.
There was nothing left. Nothing but the anguish and pain of the helpless reality that settled into his heart.
'I'm sorry…'
Those were the last words his father had said to him.
~Present~
"Booooo…"
Mizuki was sulking, and Nariyuki was well aware of it.
"Mizuki, I know that you're still upset that Furuhashi couldn't make it, but we're already almost at the cemetery." He reasoned sensibly.
This only seemed to make the girl pout harder. She had been this way practically the whole morning, ever since she found out that Fumino wouldn't be attending their father's meinichi. It was an understandable response given how close the two of them had gotten over the years, but the girl's moping was beginning to stretch out far longer than it should have.
"I was really looking forward to seeing her…"
"I know, but I told you already…she has exams the whole day today." He reminded gently. "It isn't her fault that she can't be here."
"Of course I know it's not her fault…it's just…unfortunate. It was so nice of her to invite you to her mother's meinichi a few months ago. I just wished that you could have at least returned the favor today…" She finished sadly.
He nodded in agreement, his expression softening as he did so.
"Me too…"
It was unfortunate, but there truly was nothing they could do. Meinichi was a day of importance, but the day of the week it took place on was sadly beyond their control. It would've already been hard enough for Fumino to commute back normally on a weekday, but the fact that his father's meinichi also took place on an exam day for the girl was simply asking for too much.
Perhaps…it was better this way anyway.
Afterall…he still hadn't been able to tell his father that…
…
He shook his head firmly, clearing away the feelings of insecurity that had appeared in his mind briefly. He forced himself to smile and looked back to Mizuki encouragingly.
"Regardless…let's still enjoy ourselves. I think Furuhashi would be mad at us if we spent the whole time moping over her for not being here instead of spending quality time with Dad, no?"
Mizuki sighed before nodding in consensus.
"Yeah…I suppose you're right."
The cemetery was much smaller than the one he had accompanied Fumino to for her mother's meinichi. It was a local cemetery, primarily for those residing in the neighborhoods nearby, so it was no surprise it was as small as it was. Given that it was that small, it also meant that there was a less likely chance for other people to be visiting on the same day as them, which luckily for their family, gave them some semblance of privacy.
With that being said, after doing their initial offering and prayer in front of the grave, the five of them were now partaking in a form of family sharing for their meinichi visit. All families were different and not everyone necessarily celebrated the occasion in the same way. For the Yuiga household, this was their special custom, taking turns to share their favorite moment of the year with the entire family.
It was a particularly important event for Kazuki and Hazuki. Neither of them really held any significant memories of Teruaki given that they had been so young when he had passed away. And so…even though he couldn't respond back in kind, it was still a moment where they were able to share the details about their lives with their father, something that every child should have the pleasure to have.
Plus…it really was fun hearing everyone's favorite memory for the year.
"Can I go first?" Mizuki asked eagerly.
"Sure."
"Yes!" The girl clapped her hands together in excitement. "Well Dad…in case you forgot, I'm a third year now in highschool. It's been very busy with all the exam preparation going on, and honestly…I've been struggling a lot with Japanese and English…so…my favorite moment this year has to be when Fumino came back from university to help me study for my end of the year exam. She really didn't have to, but she decided to come back just so she could help me with some last minute preparation." Mizuki said fondly.
And then…
"I'm really happy that my sister in law is such a kind person."
Nariyuki nearly choked on his own spit at the labeling.
"M-Mizuki!" He chastised with a heavy blush. "I know that you two are close…but could you stop calling her that..?"
His younger sister simply smiled teasingly.
"Might as well get a head start if I know it's going to be true."
He put a hand over his eyes in embarrassment, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, Oh! Me next!" Hazuki said brightly.
"Go ahead, Hazuki..."
"My favorite moment this year is when big sis Fumino came over to play with us at the park when Mom was sick! She was really good at pushing us on the swing!"
"Oh, me too!" Kazuki added on just as energetically. "There was also the time that we followed you guys for your date, and she let us join afterward! That was really fun!"
"I'm starting to see a noticeable trend here…"
Mizuki giggled at Nariyuki's observation before turning to Hanae curiously. "What about you, Mom?"
"Hmmm…" The woman rested her chin onto her hand in contemplation, mulling over her memories.
Surely there was no way that all of them shared the same theme for their answers.
"Haha, I think it has to be when Fumi-chan took care of me when I was sick." Hanae answered finally.
"Mom!"
"Oh please, Nariyuki. She's such a sweetheart and you know it. It's not our fault that she warms our heart so much whenever we see her."
She had a fair point there, but despite the soundness of it all, Nariyuki couldn't stop the deep seated blush from forming on his face. They were all looking to him pointedly now, waiting for his answer to complete the sharing.
He sifted through his memories for a way out, but in the end, it was inevitable. He let out a sigh, accepting his defeat.
There was no denying it…all of his cherished memories this year undoubtedly had to do with her.
"My favorite moment this year…is when Furuhashi received her offer from the NAO." He answered honestly. "It's been her dream to be able to live a life next to the stars ever since she was a child…and she finally now has a chance to do so. She worked so hard to get there… and I never felt more proud and happy for someone in my entire life than in that moment."
He smiled affectionately and proudly.
"So yeah…that has to be my favorite."
The reaction was immediate, and the four listening to him all gushed simultaneously.
"Awwww…"
Nariyuki turned away with an even heavier blush than before, unable to avoid the embarrassment from his family's teasing. Thinking about it more deeply, it definitely was better that Fumino wasn't here…
There was no way he could live with the girl seeing him in such a flustered state like this.
"You guys are way too much, you know that..?"
Following their eventful family sharing, the five of them had proceeded into their individual prayers and heart-to-heart conversations with Teruaki's grave. Nariyuki had allowed Mizuki and Hanae to go first, knowing full well just how much time the girl tended to take with hers, and his mother even more so. Afterall, they were the only other two in the family who had spent enough time with the man to even be considered significant.
As for Kazuki and Hazuki, Nariyuki had always done his prayer together with them to help guide them through the formalities of the custom…and today was no different.
Although…
"Nariyuki."
"Hm?"
Hazuki and Kazuki looked up at him with wide eyes as the three of them sat together at the base of the grave.
"What was Dad like?" They asked simultaneously.
He blinked twice, surprised by the sudden inquiry. This was the first time that they had truly asked him for specific details about the man.
"L-like…as a person?"
They nodded in an affirmative.
He felt a certain nostalgia overtake him as he remembered that a certain someone had once asked him the same thing.
'I don't know…if it's okay to ask this, but…what kind of person was your dad?'
"Well…" Nariyuki began reminiscently. "He was a great dad, that's for sure. He always looked after Mom and us with a whole lot of care. He was a well respected teacher too. He had a lot of students who really looked up to him, even some teachers as well."
He smiled in a way that he hoped was encouraging.
"I'm sure you guys would have loved him."
It was true. One of his biggest wishes as an older sibling was that Kazuki and Hazuki could've spent enough time with their father to at least be able to remember the man. It truly was saddening…having only one parental figure to connect with emotionally. They might as well have not met him in the first place.
And for Nariyuki…
Maybe I'd have been better off that way too…
At the thought, his chest tightened with a strange sadness, surprising him, but before he had a chance to truly dwell on it…
Hazuki and Kazuki's next question made his heart go still.
"Do you miss him?"
…
Silence.
It was deathly quiet as Nariyuki took in the fateful question with wide eyes.
"I.."
His hesitation was there, strong and oppressive.
But even so…
'That day of the festival…why did you hold my hand?'
'Because…'
'I used to dream about my dad…and cry a lot too…'
He couldn't lie to himself.
"I do…" He said finally, doing his best to hold back the vulnerability threatening to seep into his voice.
Thankfully, the two twins were none the wiser, and they smiled together, happy with his answer.
"Nariyuki." Mizuki's voice rang out from behind them. "We should try to head back for lunch soon, don't you think?"
He blinked and took out his phone to check the time. Realizing that they had indeed stayed at the cemetery longer than originally planned, he nodded with a smile. He looked to his two youngest siblings, who were still staring up at him from their conversation from earlier.
"Hazuki, Kazuki. Why don't you two go on ahead and head back with Mizuki and Mom?"
Both of their brows furrowed in unison, and the question that he knew was coming made its way to his ears seamlessly.
"But what about you?"
He did his best to smile reassuringly.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit."
Reluctantly, Hazuki and Kazuki did as they were told and slowly but surely, his three siblings left the vicinity with Hanae, leaving him alone with his father's grave for the first time that day.
He was silent for a long moment, collecting his thoughts.
Hazuki and Kazuki's question from earlier…it had stirred up emotions that he hadn't felt in a while. If he was perfectly honest…ever since college…ever since he had been together with Fumino…his visits to his father's cemetery felt different as opposed to previous menichi. He felt more…detached. He was less emotional, and…to a certain extent, reserved. Like he was holding back. He did his prayers almost…professionally...as if he was actively avoiding opening himself up completely.
And deep down…he knew exactly why.
"Hey Dad…" he said, finally raising his eyes to look at the inscription on the stone. "I know I already prayed earlier with Hazuki and Kazuki…but…I wanted to talk to you one last time before I leave…if that's okay with you." He got onto his knees before the monument.
Yes…
He couldn't deny it.
The reason why…it felt so different…
Was because he was different now.
Before…being here always made him uncomfortable, reminded him of days of mourning, of sudden loneliness and tears. His father had been his idol, in many ways, and the exact person he had wanted to become. His passing ought to have been expected with his deteriorating health, but it had come as a surprise all the same, casting his younger self into a sudden and overwhelming sorrow.
He had been lost…unsure of what he wanted for himself anymore. All that had been left for him was the giant shadow of the person he had once looked up to the most. Years had gone by…and the feeling of being shackled down by an unreachable goal continued to weigh down on him heavily. He was chasing. For something. Something that he could never hope to eclipse.
But then…he had met her.
A shining light in his life that showed him what was true. Aspiration. Dreaming for oneself. Fumino had lifted him from the chains that had bore down on him for so long. She showed him what it meant to live a life full of purpose.
She was the first person to ever believe in him for who he really was.
It was from then on that he felt like he could finally move forward, looking past what felt like an inescapable inferiority. He had turned away from his father's shadow, and every day since he had been…happy. Truly happy.
But…
Deep down inside of him…
He wanted his father…to see him for himself too…to accept his change.
He was afraid…afraid of showing the man he had looked up to for so long who he truly was.
He still hadn't been able to tell him.
'For the kids who are scared…for the kids who are lost…'
'I want to be there for all of them.'
He still hadn't told his father of his dream.
"Dad…I'm sure you already know this…but I'm a senior in college now," he finally said, trying to start somewhere with his attempt at opening up. "The year really flew by…and I'll be graduating in just one more year. It's hard to believe that I'm going to be moving on to my career as a teacher so soon." He said with an awkward chuckle.
His face then turned pensive as he felt a knot form in his throat in anticipation.
"And…I haven't told you this yet…but…"
He tried to remain steady, but against his wishes, his eyes fell to the numerous offerings at the base of the grave. Bouquets of all arrangements. Letters and cards from all sorts of faculty and students.
He was reminded of his smile…and the smiles of those that had been around him.
The unfathomable respect.
"I…"
'I still need you…'
"..."
'I still haven't caught up to you…'
With a frustrated clench of his fist, Nariyuki ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.
"I hope you're doing well up there, Dad." He said instead, running away from the feelings that had welled up inside of him. Nothing else came from it, and the understanding that he hoped to bring to life between the two of them slipped through his fingertips all the same.
He stood from his kneeled position and bowed one last time, his heart aching steadily as he did so. Apparently it wasn't the time today. Whether that time would ever come…Nariyuki wasn't sure, but the disappointment settled heavily in his chest regardless. His eyes stared at the monument for another few moments before he finally forced himself to look away, taking his steps towards the exit of the cemetery.
Before he could fully leave the vicinity however…a distinct sound stopped him in his tracks
The sound of heavy running and heavy breathing.
Followed by a familiar voice.
"Nariyuki!"
His head turned like a whip.
And his eyes went wider than he thought was physically possible.
"F-Furuhashi?!"
The girl was panting, struggling to catch her breath. She was exhausted…as if she had just run the distance of a marathon.
Which from the way things seemed to appear…could have very well been true.
"S-Sorry…I tried to get here as fast as I could!" Fumino said apologetically.
Sorry? Why was she apologizing? And more importantly…
"W-What are you doing here?" He voiced the thought out loud, concern laced heavily into his voice. "What happened to your exams..?"
The girl smiled reassuringly before answering. "I finished my first one already. I still have two more hours until my next one, so I thought it'd be perfect for me to come back home to still make your dad's meinichi before heading back. I'm so glad I made it in time before you left…" She said with palpable relief.
"Furuhashi…"
He couldn't understand it. The girl had said it as if it was actually reasonable, but Nariyuki couldn't see it at all. She had taken a one hour commute back home in the middle of the day…on an exam day…in the middle of her exams…
He was afraid to truly believe it.
Not given a moment to settle on his disbelief, Fumino reached for his hand and pulled him along eagerly, taking them back to sit in front of his father's grave.
The very place he had just run away from.
"Did everyone else already leave?"
He nodded slowly in reply, avoiding eye contact.
"Y-yeah...I was just…finishing up talking to my dad alone before you came…"
Fumino smiled softly at the explanation, and somewhere in her inspecting gaze lied a sense of understanding…as if she had seen right through his attempt at hiding his diffidence. He wasn't given a chance to determine if she had, and afterwards, the girl put her hands together in prayer, respectfully following the traditions of a meinichi visit. Nariyuki's eyes set on her silently, taking in all the details that he still couldn't fully believe were there.
She was still breathing tiredly. Her outfit appeared wrinkled and creased. And her hair fell in front of her face messily.
She was the most beautiful thing that he had ever witnessed.
Eventually, Fumino finished her prayer, and her eyes met his with a smile. She then turned her attention to the gravestone.
And with heartfelt sincerity…
She introduced herself.
"Hello Mr. Yuiga…my name's Fumino Furuhashi. I hope you don't mind me coming in like this. I just came directly from my university after an exam, so I apologize if I seem so out of sorts. I just really didn't want to miss this chance to finally meet you...especially since Nariyuki invited me and all..." She said with a sheepish laugh.
The girl paused for a moment, silent to herself, and then her expression softened.
"I've thought a lot about what I wanted to say to you…how I wanted to introduce myself. There are plenty of things that I feel like I could talk about myself…things that would help you to get to know me better…but I realized…that's not truly what I want to say to you right now. In this very moment…there's one thing that I want to talk to you about the most. Someone very dear to my heart. Someone important to the both of us."
Nariyuki felt himself start at that, realizing exactly who the girl was speaking of. He listened on intently, curious….but also nervous as to what Fumino was planning to say.
"Ever since he was little...Nariyuki has always looked up to you." She continued softly. "You were his role model and you were his inspiration. The things that you were able to do for him as a father...the things that you were able to show him through your passion as a teacher...he has always treasured his feelings for you close to his heart. He loves you...so much...and I can't tell you how happy I am to know that he had such a wonderful example as a father...how honored I am to be able to meet the person he misses so much."
"But…"
"No matter how much he misses you...no matter how much of a role model you were to him…"
…
"Nariyuki is still his own person." She said firmly. "He's earnest…kind. He faces the people he meets with the utmost compassion, and no matter what it is that's in front of him, he always tries his very best. He's been there for me…since the very beginning…and I can't express just how special he is in my heart. I love him…just the way he is...and I'm so proud of him…for learning how to look forward. Seeing himself for who he is...and the person he wants to become…believing in himself and the wonderful things that only he'll be able to achieve…"
A fateful pause.
"I'm so proud of him...for being able to let go of you."
He was stone still. Speechless. A blush burning heavily on his cheeks as Nariyuki failed to contain his astonishment from the girl's words.
"Whether he lives up to your legacy as a teacher or not...whether more or less people will remember him for his accomplishments...I will always be proud of him. I don't mean to sound disrespectful...b-but this is how I truly feel." Her eyes looked directly towards the grave. "So…wherever his life takes him...whatever he chooses to become...I hope you'll continue to watch over him…and be happy for him with all your heart."
Then putting her hands over her chest…
Fumino smiled resolutely.
"And I'm sure...without a doubt…"
"That you already are."
It settled into him like a low ember, glowing warm, her words of assurance that made the painful reminiscence and longing into something hopeful.
So affected by the wondrous feeling, Nariyuki almost failed to notice Fumino's attention shift towards him.
She smiled at him encouragingly.
"Go on…tell him."
"..."
The understanding between them was unsaid.
It was honestly shocking…how the girl had been able to see right through him…to know just what it was that he was being turmoiled over…but in this moment…that didn't seem to matter.
Fumino understood him.
She believed in him.
His eyes stared resolutely at the gravestone, once again bringing his attention back to his father.
But this time…he was intent on speaking his heart fully.
"Dad…"
A pause.
"I'm going to apply to Kokusa High." He said finally. "I know I've been avoiding telling you for a while. And honestly…I wouldn't blame you for thinking less of me for it. This entire time…I've been afraid to face you. I had chased after your shadow for so long…that after finally letting go of you…I couldn't help but feel that you were disappointed in me for it. Afterall…since the very beginning…I had said that I wanted to be just like you…and in the end…I turned back on those words."
"But…"
His eyes hardened with resolve.
"I can't turn a blind eye for the feelings in my heart any longer."
"I'm going to teach at Kokusa High." He said again firmly. "One of the most competitive schools in all of Tokyo…I'm going to teach there, and meet all sorts of amazing people. I'm going to be someone that all the students can trust, someone they can confide in…and more than anything…I want to make sure that all of them know…that no matter how scary life can be…that it's always okay to be themselves."
"I'm going to be there for all of them...because that's the kind of person that I want to be."
He took a shaky breath before continuing.
"I miss you dad…I miss you so much that I can't help but cry sometimes..."
"But…"
Fumino's fingers fell on top of his hand in a timely manner, as if the girl knew that her touch was exactly what he needed to make the final push.
And she couldn't have been more right.
"I'm okay now." He said softly with a smile.
"I may not ever catch up to you…but that's just fine."
'You're great the way you are…Nariyuki!'
"I'm happy…"
"...with just being me."
He bowed his head.
And for the very first time since his passing…
Nariyuki smiled honestly at the man.
"Thank you, Dad…"
"I'll be going on ahead now."
The words left his lips with earnesty and immediately after, Nariyuki felt a heavy weight lifted from his chest. It was silent, but the feeling inside him was undeniably serene.
He turned his head towards Fumino, and with genuine appreciation, he looked into her golden eyes. The girl's smile had remained, but a new emotion on her face made her eyes glisten even more beautifully than before. She was looking at him with tenderness…a soft proudness, a look that he wanted to remember forever. She was close. Very close. And he confronted the urge that inevitably rose within when he was this close to her.
He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to reach for her and pull her in and kiss her lips and run his hands through her hair…He wanted to hold her, to feel her on him, to express the overflowing affection bursting in his heart without restraint.
It was unfortunate that at the moment he caved to the desire…four individuals hiding beneath his surveillance bursted from his peripherals to hug the girl simultaneously, beating him to the act.
"FUMINO!"
Mizuki, Hazuki, Kazuki, and Hanae had apparently been hiding in the shadows.
Listening in on their conversation the entire time…
"Eh? EHHHHHH?" Fumino said in shock, baffled by the unexpected company.
"That was so beautiful, Fumino!" Mizuki said with eyes filled with tears.
"You really are just such a wonderful person, Fumi-chan…" Hanae added on just as emotionally.
"Does this mean you guys are getting married now?" Hazuki and Kazuki asked together with hopeful beams.
"W-what are you guys doing here?! I thought I told y'all to go home!" Nariyuki yelled with a forceful blush, mortified by his family's forward displays of endearment towards Fumino, who herself seemed quite flustered over the attention.
"You lied to me, Nariyuki! You knew Fumino was coming back the entire time, didn't you?! You just wanted her all to yourself!" Mizuki exclaimed with a pout.
His blush deepened at the accusation.
"T-that is just absolutely false! I had no idea at all! And more importantly…you guys need to let go of her! Fumino needs to head back to school immediately if she wants to make it to her next exam!
"Ehhhhhh?!" The four of them all whined in unison, disappointed in the short-lived reunion.
Fumino could do nothing but rub the back of her head sheepishly.
"Thank you, Nariyuki. You really didn't have to see me all the way to the station, you know?"
Nariyuki shook his head, squeezing Fumino's hand as he did so. "Don't be silly. You came all the way back just for my Dad's Meinichi. If I didn't at least do this much, I would never have been able to live with myself."
A blush appeared on the girl's face, and her expression softened in response to his words.
"I wish I could've stayed longer…everyone looked really disappointed about me leaving so soon." She said somewhat sadly.
"Well…considering that they were already disappointed thinking that you wouldn't make it…I doubt they have any reason to feel that way anymore." He assured the girl with a smile. "Even if it was a mere minute, I'm sure being able to see you was more than enough to make them happy."
"Myself included…" He added on shyly.
Fumino blinked in surprise before a fond smile overtook her features. A comfortable silence fell over them as they remained hand-in-hand, but Nariyuki knew he couldn't allow it to settle.
Afterall…the girl was about to board the train…and he still hadn't said what he needed to say.
"Furuhashi…" He said to break the silence, and Fumino raised her head to meet his gaze. "Thank you for coming today…honestly I still can't believe you actually came in the middle of your exams…"
…
"It really made me happy…"
She was looking at him directly, unwavering, and in the next moment she smiled brightly.
"Of course I would come. You invited me, afterall."
"And besides…"
She moved closer to him, her hands reaching to clasp the both of his.
"It's the one time every year that I get a chance to tell your dad...how much I love you."
Her eyes met his firmly, and they shined in earnesty.
"I wouldn't miss that opportunity for the world."
Nariyuki stood there, his brown eyes open wide, unable to utter a single word.
The sound of her voice, the promise in her tone…it stirred something inside of him. His heart was full of emotion. He didn't know the name for the feeling, but it was undeniably there, and that singular emotion spurred him forward, faster than the speed of light, sooner than he could gather his thoughts.
And without warning…he embraced Fumino tightly.
"I love you…"
Tears formed at the corner of his eyes.
"I love you…" He repeated, his voice nearly cracking from the raw emotion.
"I love you so much, Fumino..."
"Nariyuki…"
Her eyes were deep pools of gold, full of splendidness, and as she rested her forehead against his, Nariyuki lost himself deeply in them, his own eyes still filled with tears.
"I love you too…"
"Always." She finished with a whisper.
Her words filled him with overwhelming comfort, and the hope inside him surged, more powerful than the sun.
Yes.
So long as they were together like this…so long as they had each other…
He would be happy.
Always.
With a joyful smile, Nariyuki leaned forward and captured the girl's lips.
And as she always had…as she always would continue to do…
Fumino kissed back assuredly.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading this chapter! Special thanks to anonymous user for the prompt idea. This is more or less a sequel to the last chapter. The idea was originally to put both meinichi visits in one chapter, but it ended up being pretty messy, so I decided to split it into two separate days. Hope you guys still enjoyed it!
I just finished finals so hopefully I'll be able to keep the update schedule consistent for the next month or so. This story finally hit 100000 words, and that's a big milestone for me. Really thankful for everyone who has support this story. You guys are the best!
As always, feel free to leave a review. Always happy to receive feedback.
Until Next Time!