~ Chapter 16 ~
Yes … It's Worth It.
A lot had happened in the last hour. I, well, made a complete idiot of myself, and right in front of complete strangers! But they say they forgive me for that … even though I still think they see me as a very strange child. Chichiri and Mitsukake had a tough time explaining this whole ordeal with his family. They would look at us strangely, and ask us what we were talking about. Quite frankly, I had a little bit of a hint that Mitsukake didn't really know what he was talking about either.
Mitsukake seemed very excited about going … as he said; he wanted some change. He'd like to do something new, even though he would have to leave his family and village … and world … behind. As much as he wanted to come, I knew it would be hard for him, and everyone else. But there was going to be benefits out of this … believe me. He was really working hard at convincing his parents that this would be good for them as well. Having one less mouth to feed, one less child to support … he says it would help the family's financial status a little bit. He does have a point. Even though in his heart he doesn't want to leave where he was born and grew up, he knows it'll be better for him and his family … and he'll be with his two old friends again. Maybe meet someone new … Heh, other than me … I laugh. How's he gonna take Mits the first time he sees her? I really hope she doesn't scare him like I did …
Now that I look, Shôka looks quite a bit older than him. Maybe in or around her twenties, if I'm not mistaken. This would be a weight lifted from Mitsukake's shoulders, because if Shôka be as young as myself, or younger, she would take the pain of "onii-chan leaving" a great deal harder.
We had to explain to Mitsukake that if he came along with us, he would never come back. Time flows slower where we live, and much, much faster in this world, so even if he spent a couple years in our world, his parents would be very elderly, or passed on … and his sister would be about the same age as his parents. That would come as a huge shock and heartbreaker, so it was either stay here, or come with us. You can guess what he chose.
Mitsukake is saying goodbye now … goodbye forever. His parents are crying as they hug him one last time. It's hard to watch, especially when I keep hearing Joanna talking and making more-than-audible sniffling noises through the bracelet. It looks like he's crying a little bit too.
Shôka walks up to him and embraces him hard, and through her tears, tells him to be safe … and not to worry about them. I was really having second thoughts about having him leave and come with us, but I guess it was too late now.
Tasuki and Chichiri aren't in their seats anymore, I notice, when I feel a lit tap on the shoulder from Tasuki, silently telling me to follow. We stood by the door and waited patiently, letting them take as long as they needed.
Shôka reluctantly let go, as she knew her "aniki" was never coming back. Mitsukake walked over to us near the door and opened it, letting us go step outside first. Still holding the doorknob, he turned around and smiled past his tears.
"I'm going to miss you …"
And he stepped out, the door making a small creak as it closed.