It was certainly a shock to Tetsuya when Seijuuro had pointed out his father's car.

"It seems that you're not the only one getting a ride home today, Tetsuya." The male directed his gaze to the white car driving towards them. "I'm glad, though. I was very unwilling to allow you to walk home by yourself in this condition."

The young teen with blue hair looked up, and surely the darkening gray of the clouds were trying to tell them that it was going to pour soon. A buzzing in her left hand brought her attention to her phone screen, where her father's once wrinkle-free face was illuminated across it. But now, Tetsuya thought that it was no longer the sky that represented their family. Rather, it was the same darkening gray that lay itself above her head from a distance.

A distance, huh.

"...listening Tetsuya?"

The light colored eyes shifted to Seijuuro, who smiled reservedly. "I thought that you were gone for a minute. I think it's best that you head to your father's car now," He cocked his head in a secretive manner toward Katashi's white car. "It seems to me that he's in a rush."

Much to Tetsuya's surprise once again, it turned out that he and his father were not heading home. Instead, his father suggested that they spend their lunchtime at Satoko's business. An uncomfortable silence settled between the father and son, save for the occasional unsuccessful conversation starter. One question, however, was able to maintain the interest of the two.

"So, it seems to me that Seiko-kun didn't plan on walking home today either, hm?" The car made a stop at the red light, allowing the pair to look at each other in the eye through the mirror.

The other nodded meekly. "Your assumption is correct, father."

"Is he attending another shogi event today? Violin performance, perhaps?"

"No, I think that the importance of the today's event is even greater than anything he's done. Seiko-kun's father is actually back. He told me that it's been two years since he's seen him in person because he had to go out of the country to take care of some business-related things."

"Two years out of the country for business-related things? He must be a very successful man."

"That's what I told Seiko-kun, too," the teen agreed, "But he responded by telling me that his father's achievements are nothing compared to his grandfather's."

"Really? Wow... But shouldn't we have been able to recognize the surname 'Seiko' by now, if his family is so successful?"

"I actually discovered that Seiko isn't actually his real last name. Rather, it's his mother's last name. His family just agreed to use her surname to protect them. But are you familiar with the Akashi Corporation? The one across from your buildi-"

His father's alabaster hands, which were already considerably pale, turned even whiter as he gripped on the wheel, Tetsuya had noticed. The reason why, though, he was not so sure. Yet, his expression was still identical to his own son's - void of much emotion. If anger had been the reason why his knuckles had turned so white, the heir of the business could only note a slight tinge of it. "I am. The old man that stepped down a few years ago is... very accomplished. Sometimes not even with things concerning his business," he muttered. "Are you telling me that Seiko-kun is really Akashi-kun?"

"Yes."

The man driving no longer responded after that, and only stayed tight-lipped during the duration of the rest of their travel. The reason why, though, Tetsuya was not sure.

Two days after their conversation, the boy's parents suddenly announced that they had to move up North. And seven months after they had boarded an airplane and moved into the heart of Japan, Tokyo itself, the reason still would not have had itself revealed to him.

A few hours short of the nearing end of December 20th, Seijuuro placed a slice of cake on his mother's altar cabinet as he knelt in front of her picture, eyes closing as he thought of the words that he wanted to say to his mother. And he hoped that wherever she was, his thoughts would relay to her.

I hope you like the cake, Mother. It's dark chocolate, made by the Murasakibara family in Akita. It's so kind of them to remember our favorite flavor, isn't it? He opened his eyes as a small, shaky smile appeared on his lips. And as if she were really there, he nudged the small plate closer, imagining that his mom were refusing to take it, as she always did. Always, she claimed that she was on a diet - when she didn't really need to. But always, she would accept it in the end, feigning reluctance. It was only until she was diagnosed with cancer that he started to fail to persuade her to give herself a small break, however. He and his father had thought that moving to Kanagawa to get treated at the Midorima Medical Institute would give her a better chance of survival, but-

"Seijuuro." His father stood next to him, frowning at the sight before him. "It's hard, but you need to get over her. You're only adding to the distractions that are preventing you from-"

"Mother is not a distraction." The boy hastily wiped his tears from his eyes, clearing the blurriness away from his eyesight.

The latter only hummed. Was that irritation? Indifference, even?

"I kindly request that you leave. I'm trying to pay her some respect right now, unlike you."

"Is this how I raised you to speak to me?" Masaomi gave his son a moment's stare of disapproval before he turned around to head to his room. "I kindly request, my son, that you learn to acknowledge your place around your father."

Once he was certain that the CEO of the family company was out of sight, he held onto both sides of the cabinet, releasing the bite he held on his lower lip to prevent it from quivering. If only the structure's material were something softer than wood, his fingernails may have already sunk into it, creating crescents.

Mother, since I gave you a bigger slice of cake to make up for the two years that you had to miss out because of your "diet"... please, help me. His chest heaved as his lungs desperately yearned for air, and his heart ached as painfully as it had two years ago, when his mother comforted him after they discovered of the silent disappearance of their neighbors from across the street,

and his closest friend.

When the grandfather clock in the corner of the wall reminded him yet again to go back to sleep once it had reached the eleventh hour, Seijuuro bid a good night to his mother, wishing her a peaceful rest wherever she was, and head to his room.

In front of his door lay an envelope.

So it seems that he really had forgotten. The young man's lips turned downwards in disappointment, although he had already been preparing for and expecting it. At least his father still had the heart to attempt to give him something, although it was probably half-hearted. Birthday money, huh. Whenever you forgot to look for a present to give one of your coworkers' children for their birthday, this is what you usually got.

Am I now so forgettable?

In appreciation for the fact that his father even got him anything anyway, he opened the envelope once he stepped into his room.

The contents were not in the form of yen, but a handwritten letter that read:

This year was not an easy one, but one day I know that we will get through it.

My American business partners say that once a boy turns eighteen, they are considered a young man.

Therefore, I expect no less from you. Study hard and prepare yourself well

to take over what I and our whole family lineage have been working on. Here is a number

I have found that I believe you will appreciate: 0XX-XXX-XXXX

Although it is one of a friend, I hope that it will not become a distraction, nor a decision

that I will regret making in the future.

Happy birthday, son.

-Father

He cocked his head to the side in wonder of who the number's owner may be, for the ten digits were not familiar to him in any way. But, if his father permitted it, he guessed that he could give it a try.

To: 0XX-XXX-XXXX

Message:

Good evening.

Sent 11:06

It did not take long for the recipient to respond.

From: 0XX-XXX-XXXX

Message:

Good evening. May I ask who this is?

Sent 11:09

Hello everyone! I apologize for taking quite a while to update! Things in this chapter took quite a turn that even I did not expect, but I still do hope that you enjoy!

I've been considering having my works(the new and old) read over and edited, so if you're someone who'd be willing to put up with my grammatical errors and super-late updates, feel free to let me know if you're interested by commenting or shooting me a message through my Tumblr ask! The link to it should be in my bio :-) Hope you're having a great day!