"Tohru, I've talked to Ha-san…" Shigure said that morning. "He will give you one month, before your memory will be … erased. Until that time, you can be prepared for everything. And one more thing…" he paused and look to her. "You are not allowed to keep even a single thing that will remind you of the Sohma family."
Tohru gasped. Not even a single thing that will remind me of him…?
"I understand." She looked down to her feet, lost in her own thoughts.
At school…
"Tohru, is anything wrong?" Hanajima asked, seeing Tohru unusually quiet today. Then, she turned her eyes to Kyo whom was staring blindly at the sky near the window. What is this dark emotion surrounding them? It is so suffocating.
"Tohru, come on. Tell. Share with us." Uotani wrapped her arm around Tohru shoulder, trying to give her comfort. Tohru looked at her. Uotani gave her an affirming nod.
"Uo-chan, Hana-chan… There is something I need to tell both of you."
Hanajima and Uotani looked into each other. For Tohru to sound this solemn, there must be something serious happening.
"Hana-chan, Uo-chan, actually, there has been a secret about the Sohma family that I has been keeping this all along. And, it was because I kept it that I was allowed to stay with them. However…" she paused.
"However?" Both Uotani and Hanajima asked.
"The secret was a curse that has been binding the family for generations."
"A curse?" Hanajima was shocked.
"Apparently, there is no way to break the curse. However, recently they seemed to have found the cure to the curse. And… it is to have my memories of the Sohma family being erased."
"What!" Both of them couldn't believe their ears. How could a person do that? Erasing a person's memory… the Sohma made it sounded too simple.
"Even your memory of Kyo…?" Uotani finally asked after a long silence.
"Yes…" Tohru nodded weakly.
"Oh!" Uotani put both her hands to her mouth. How shocking and… painful must it be to Tohru.
"Tohru…" Uotani and Hanajima reached for each of Tohru's hands, gently touched them to calm her down. They swore they could felt her hands trembling. She was really broken.
"No… I'm okay. Really. You guys don't need to worry about me. But, Uo-chan, I would like to ask for your help." Tohru looked up into Uotani's eyes.
"Tell me."
"Could you let me stay together with you after they… erased my memories? I can't live with the Sohma anymore after this. I promise, it will only be until I could find myself a new place to stay."
Uotani faced at her and nodded. "You can stay with me until how long you want to. My dad moved away already. He has found a new job in the city. Stay with me forever if you wish."
Tohru looked into both of her friends' face and smiled. But Uotani and Hanajima only saw the drop of tears clung near the edge of her eyes.
They let out a long sigh. How could this happen to her?