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Chapter 24: A Family Event – Part IITohru steps forward and says, "Kagura-san, how nice to see you."
They hug and chatter for a moment before silence once again returns.
Likely noticing the eerie quiet, Momiji says, "Everyone's here now, so let's start the Super Fantastic Sohma celebration!"
The group relaxes somewhat and Sohmas begin to start conversing with one another, but I am somewhat unnerved by comments that I overhear.
"It must be true, what Momiji said…"
"I'd thought it was possible, but here's the proof…"
"I didn't know he'd given up…"
I am considering saying something to Tohru about the situation, when I notice that she is deep in conversation with an excited Kagura. While I am deciding how to proceed, I sight Hatori headed outside, an unlit cigarette clasped in his hand. I remember about what important topic I wanted to speak with him, so I decide to address the situation inside after Tohru finishes speaking with Kagura, and follow him out onto the porch. I find him leaning against the railing. He lights his cigarette before bringing it up and deeply inhaling.
I move so that I am beside him and say, "Hatori."
Still looking away from me, he removes the cigarette before he says, "Things have worked out well."
"I did what I have done, hoping that all of the Sohmas can find happiness."
He remains quiet as the cigarette returns.
"Hatori, I need to talk with you about something."
Startling me, he turns slightly and looks towards me.
I continue, "Since the curse has been broken, I wondered if – possibly – your ability has changed."
He takes the cigarette out once again and looks away towards the trees as he says, "When the curse was lifted, that too, disappeared. I cannot erase, create, or restore memories, Yuki."
Disappointed but not surprised, I answer, "I – I see."
"I remember that day very clearly. Although it saddened me, I had to do it, it was the curse which we could not escape."
Realizing he is referring to the day he erased Tohru's memory, I listen intently.
"Kureno was the one who was responsible for bringing her to Shigure's. I believe Akito made that decision in case you had any suspicions about me. When I arrived at Shigure's house, I saw her seated in her room by herself, holding a framed picture of her mother and another of a group picture of the Sohmas. She heard me approaching and carefully placed them on the ground. She smiled towards me and said, 'Hello.' I approached her and knelt near her and said nothing. It was then that the smile upon her face disappeared and she said, 'I can see in your eyes the sorrow you feel, Hatori-san.' I listened, surprised, as she continued, her head drooped slightly, "As much as I desired to do so, I could not find a way to free the Sohmas of their great burden. Pitiful Akito-san, convinced that his choice is right. But, who am I to question? I am just an orphan that Akito-san was kind enough to let spend a wonderful few years with a family now so precious to me.' She lifted her head and her smile returned as she said, 'But even so, Hatori-san, please do not be filled with sadness and regret. I'm so happy to have been with the Sohmas, and I know that you do this because you accept that it is what needs to be done. Please, Hatori-san, try to believe.' With that, she fell silent and closed her eyes."
I do not find myself surprised to hear what Hatori had said, such kind and hopeful words would surely have come from Tohru. But still, a vital question remains.
"Hatori, why did you not erase all of her memories of me?"
The cigarette returns once again for a moment before his arm returns to rest at his side.
"A short time before graduation, as I had expected, Akito demanded that I meet with him about the subject. Filled with regret, but accepting of our destiny, I met with him. He stated outright that he wanted all of her memories of the Sohmas gone. I explained to him that this would be problematic because it would involve the erasure of many memories throughout all of her time in high school, leaving a wide and troubling gap. If, instead, her early memories of high school were to remain intact, it was much less likely that she would be greatly concerned about the incompleteness of her memory because she would consider, 'possibly that happened later in high school and I am mistaken in thinking it happened early on.' Akito wanted to ensure that Tohru fully believed that the life she had known before she befriended the Sohmas was that which she lived throughout high school, so agreed to allow her to keep her memories from the time when she knew you as a classmate."
"But that's not the real reason you did that, is it, Hatori?"
"It was a sufficient and well-reasoned justification, but, at that moment, it was not the real reason."
He looks to me and says, "When she spoke those words to me, and from that point on, I wanted to believe – to believe in all of the Sohmas, but especially in you and Tohru."
"Hatori-san believed that someday Yuki and I may find each other, and that Yuki would reunite me with the Sohma family."
Hearing this, I turn and see Tohru smiling in the porch doorway.