Chapter 1: Eavesdrop
Chihaya
Still hopeful with the promise of meeting each other again as long as all three of them never stop playing karuta, Chihaya runs her way to their home. Even a few meters away from the gates, her ears catch the angry screams of her sister and the admonishing ones of her mother.
'Why does Onee-chan sound so upset? Did she not get in the audition for the commercial this time?'
Curious about the argument her mother and sister seems to be having, Chihaya runs faster and enters their home hurriedly.
"I'm home!" But no one answers her. The sound of argument continues and then the heavy stomps of her older sister.
"It's bad attitude to turn your back on your parents, Chitose!" Her mother screams.
"Maybe if you aren't being ridiculous then I wouldn't!" comes the answer and then the slamming of a door.
An aggravated sigh from her mom follows.
"Did we spoil Chitose too much, Dad? We don't have too much of a problem with Chihaya since she generally behaves well even if she is tomboyish. But Chitose? We support her in what she wants but she can't see things outside of herself…"
Chihaya feels a little happy to be called unproblematic, even if it was followed with the tone of being let down with her tomboyishness (she doesn't see anything wrong with that part of her, though!), but she is still curious with what upset her older sister a lot. She stays at her spot to listen to her parents' talk.
"But we do have some fault, Mom. Chitose is barely a teen, her whole life has been here in Tokyo. It's cruel of us to uproot her from it so suddenly. Her show business career is also dependent on her environment. Moving from Tokyo to Kyoto is such a big thing."
Chihaya's ears ring from the final sentence spoken by her father.
Move to Kyoto? What did her father mean by that?
"But Dad, it is such a great opportunity for you! The promotion itself is nothing short of a miracle. It will also secure the future of the whole family. I'm not unsatisfied with how we live right now but as a mother, I can't help but want the best shot at long-term happiness for my daughters. It will be hard but as long as they adjust to it, Chitose and Chihaya will be able to pursue whatever they want after high school. I don't wish to be wealthy but we can be secure financially."
"I'll talk to Chitose later," answers her Dad. He adds, "It will take a lot to get her out of her anger because this is such a big thing for her. At least, I know Chihaya will be alright. That girl adjusts and makes friends fast."
Chihaya's nails digs into her palms so hard she bleeds. She quickly puts her other hand to her mouth to stop the gasp of pain. Her shoulders shakes and her heart feels like it is being pin pricked in a dozen of different spots.
'Why Why Why? Why, Mom? Why, Dad? How could you think leaving won't hurt me?'
She remembers Arata saying he has to go back to his hometown for his grandfather. And then there is Taichi who is going to Kaimeisei, which is an hour and a half commute away.
Eventhough she won't be able see Arata when she wants, she would be able to see Taichi if they stay in Tokyo. She can meet and hang out with him on their free time or weekends. There is even Harada-sensei, Tsuboguchi-san, Hyoro, and the others from the Shiranami Society, whom she can learn from and play karuta with. She is not as close to them, but she also has other friends except for Taichi and Arata that she probably will be classmates with in middle school if only they stay here.
'Why Why Why? Would I be alright in Kyoto? Can I even make friends in there? Will I find someone to play karuta with me? To teach me? Why can't kids choose where they want to be?'
She couldn't look at her parents' eyes during dinner; Not that they notice, since they are too busy trying to appease her older sister's sulking. The Hamburg served is tasteless, the strawberry juice bland, the rare dessert served, in the form of an expensive chocolate cake, only made her stomach feel unsettled. They readily believe her when she says she is already full when she can't finish her share of the cake; Even if it is chocolate which is her all-time favorite.
When they announce after that they are going to move to Kyoto after her graduation, she acts like it is her first time hearing it and tries to stop the corner of her lips from dropping into a frown. Even when Chitose walks out on them and shuts herself on her room, she forces herself not to do the same and show her rejection.
"I'm relieved you aren't as unaccepting as your older sister, Chihaya. Seeing my two daughters unhappy hurts me more," her father sighs while looking at the door of her sister's room. He ruffles Chihaya's hair and beams at her.
"Please don't give me headaches like your older sister in the future as well," he says and kneels to kiss her forehead.
"Go to sleep," he orders.
Her eyes follows his father, who is walking to her older sister's door. She touches her forehead on her way to her room.
Even though the gesture was warm, his father's lips felt cold on her skin.