After Chifuyu-kun and Kazutora-kun left, I had a long, unpleasant conversation with Fuyuko. Her reaction to what I told her scared Peke J. Junior away. It sure was a tough evening for everyone involved... After she calmed down a bit, she got up to look for the cat. I found them both at the very place I was hoping they wouldn't go to... But it still made perfect sense the cat would be naturally drawn to go there.

Seeing her petting Peke J Junior in that room, made my chest feel tight for a moment. For years, I've avoided going into that room, whenever I could help it. Because each time I entered there, the overwhelming silence, emptiness, and cold, stale air would remind me that my son, my only son, was no longer there. I must have accumulated some horrible karma in my past lives, to have to experience this kind of punishment in this life. A parent who gets to bury their child. It's unnatural. Exasperating. Disgusting. It should never happen, to anyone!

I never openly showed it to him, but I was, and still to this day am, proud of my son. He was always a mischievous one, a troublemaker. Growing up, it was a daily occurrence that he'd come back home all muddy, bruised and bleeding. But his smile was always so bright, no matter what trouble he got himself into. Until that fateful August night, fifteen years ago. After that, he stopped smiling like he used to. He repeated a grade.

I couldn't be there for him as a mother should have been. This world is merciless towards single mothers. I had to work two jobs to somehow earn the basic living, just for the two of us. I never got to properly talk to him about what happened with Sano Shinichiro, and how his death affected his friendship with that kid Mikey. He must have suffered in silence, I know how much he used to look up to Shinichiro, and how close he was with all the Sano siblings. He used to love their family dojo more than our own home!

I kept blaming myself a lot, for leaving him on his own most of the time. But his face when he saw me crying reassured me. I knew I had nothing to worry about at that moment - as imperfect a mother as I've been, I still managed to bring up an amazing person, kind and dependable.

And yet, my son died. Stabbed in the back during a gang fight. And by none other than the kid he used to talk about so enthusiastically, the kid he considered his best friend, and the kid that was ultimately his downfall. Hanemiya Kazutora. I couldn't even put into words the anger, bitterness, and, I dare say, hate, I felt towards that boy for years. First he took away Keisuke's smile, and ruined his former friendships, then he even took away his life. That's what I thought for a very long time. But I've heard later on from Sano Mikey himself, when he came to offer his condolences and apology for letting his friend and gang member die, that Keisuke was fighting to protect their gang from a traitor, and to prevent Hanemiya and Sano from letting their grudges make them kill each other. That that was the reason he willingly sacrificed himself, because he thought of them both as of his best friends. And that once again made me realize just how proud I should be of my son!

Years went by. I don't even know how many times I wondered why I was still alive, when my child wasn't. How many times I thought about suicide. I don't know why or how I never brought myself to do it. Maybe it was the rare visits from relatives and some old friends that would every once in a while break the chains of loneliness and despair that have been surrounding me ever since Keisuke's passing. Talking to other people, even for a little bit, even when I didn't feel at all like being social, would temporarily numb my desire to die, and consequently postpone my thoughts about it.

And, quite honestly, the neighbor's kid, Matsuno Chifuyu, he's been a real sweetheart. He seemed to had had a great respect for Keisuke, and he used to regularly check up on me, until they moved away two years later. And even then, he'd show up every couple of months. I probably owe him the most for helping me maintain my sanity. He'd always speak of Keisuke with such admiration, that it never failed to move me to tears.

I heard it from the Sano boy first, and later on from Chifuyu-kun in detail, about how Keisuke lifted off the actual sin of killing from Hanemiya Kazutora, by officially committing a suicide. At the beginning it didn't make sense to me. Why would he do that? What was the point? I was still deeply furious with Hanemiya, often imagining what I'd say or do to him if I could, how I'd take revenge... But over the time, it became clear to me. When the shock and rage subsided, I was left with just never-ending pain of loss, but the pieces had fit together, and I came to realize what was really important to my son and why he did everything he did. And I learned to cherish his will.

However, I never imagined I'd meet that Hanemiya boy for real. And yet, his reaction upon seeing me was quite different than what I could imagine. He was hurt, much more than I could have expected him to be. His eyes were honestly repentant. He really wanted to honor Keisuke's will. He really wanted to make it up to me, as much as he possibly could. I realized at that moment that he was actually a good kid, deep down. No wonder Keisuke chose him to be his friend! Having heard everything he himself had gone through, it all suddenly made sense. There would never be a way to fill in the void left by losing my own child, but I decided to accept this boy as my son. I realized Keisuke would want that, too.

Fuyuko, on the other hand... I feel bad for her. She grew up looking up to Keisuke like he was the sun itself! And he, too, cared for her as if she was his real sister. Such a beautiful bond... But my brother moved overseas for work, together with his family, and we haven't kept in touch too often ever since. The next time I saw them was at the funeral. Seeing the little girl so devastated made everyone present cry openly.

It must have taken her a very long time to accept the loss of her "brother". And now that she's back here in Tokyo, she seems to have developed interest into none other than Hanemiya Kazutora. Who could blame her for reacting the way she did when I told her the truth?! Maybe it was my mistake. But she deserved to know. She needs to find a way to get over Keisuke's death.

. . . . .

Fuyuko turned to Mrs. Baji as she entered the room.

- Auntie... I found him asleep in that box. - She pointed to a big cardboard box at the corner of the room. Next to it stood an old, empty cat food bowl, turned over. A certain kitten must have checked it out, and tossed it over, upon realizing there were no treats inside. - He was purring, all cuddled up in Kei-nii's gang uniform! You still kept it... - she smiled sadly.

- I haven't thrown away any of his things. Even now, after all these years, I cannot bring myself to let go of any of it. The very thought makes me feel like I'd be throwing away pieces of who he was. It makes me sick to my stomach. I couldn't, ever... and besides, he'd be really angry with me if I touched his uniform! That Toman gang was the most important thing to him! - Mrs. Baji let out a small, reminiscent laugh, but her eyes were desperate to hold back the flood of tears, and eventually, a few escaped.

She sat on the bed next to her niece, and caressed the sleeping kitten's head.

- Auntie... Kei-nii... he really died in order to protect Hanemiya-san, didn't he? - Fuyuko asked in a defetead tone.

- He did.

A long silent pause was only broken by Fuyuko's deep sigh.

- I just can't accept it... - she half whispered. - I think I'm beginning to understand why things happened the way they happened. I guess I even understand Kei-nii's position in it, and why he did what he did. I understand why you did what you did, as well. But it still doesn't feel right. None of it! I just can't make peace with any of it! I can't find any excuse for Hanemiya-san! - her voice was getting shakier with each word, her chin trembling.

- You don't have to... - Mrs. Baji hugged her gently, leaning her niece's head against her own shoulder, and stroking her hair to comfort her. - My dear... it's alright to feel that way. I know this has all been really tough on you. Do take it easy, let the time do it's thing, don't rush it. What you end up thinking about it all, and about Kazutora-kun, is completely up to you. But whatever you do, just don't let yourself fall into the darkness of holding grudges and bearing hatred! Please... Keep an open mind, and an open heart. Forgiveness takes a lot of strength and willpower, I know. And you don't have to do it. Just make sure to free yourself from any negative and destructive feelings and impulses you might have in you. Those will only make you suffer...

Fuyuko was silently sobbing on her aunt's shoulder. For a while, the two of them sat there in silence, with the cat sleeping wedged in between them.

After she cried her frustrations out, she spoke.

- I wonder if Peke J Junior and Kei-nii would like each other... - her swollen, red face, still wet with tears, lit up with that beautiful smile that had swept Kazutora off his feet.

- I'm sure they would... - Mrs. Baji's expression turned softer and warmer. - He somehow reminds me of Keisuke! I don't know why...

- I know, right?! - Fuyuko exclaimed excitedly! - As soon as I spotted him in the shop, I knew he was the one I wanted for you!

- Maybe that's Keisuke's way of making us all make up... with ourselves, and with each others.

- Maybe... That really sounds like something Kei-nii would do. But I still... can't forgive Hanemiya-san! - she unconsciously clenched her fists.

- Remember, Fuyuko... - Mrs. Baji's voice was full of compassion and motherly concern. She gently cupped Fuyuko's face to have her meet her eye. - We all make mistakes in life. Some are bigger, some are smaller, but that's what it means to be a human. Kazutora-kun's aware of his mistakes. He's trying to make up for what he did. Nobody's a saint, so nobody's got a right to hate a sinner. Keep that in mind.