"In the deep forest of grief,
The cicadas cry…

That day was a very sunny day, but I breathed in a cold wind
Time, in just a tiny instant, stopped its needle

One-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

People who change and people who wish so
Let me pass, and you come here

Someone cried; where is that sound?
Please try peeking quietly, quietly
Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands
Is the pale moonlight from one tree?
If you hear a lullaby on this path
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again
In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…"

-Nageki No Mori by Ayane

Dai Ni Wa:
Nageki No Mori

December of Showa 88
New York

My son,

If you are reading this, I hope you are. I just hope this message will come to you one day.

It is now Christmas. It is a time for family and thinking of others. You do not know what is happening here. April has forgiven us after you ran away. Timothy escaped and is after the mutagen before your brothers do so. We met a new friend...Casey Jones. He became Raphael's best friend. Yet, we never told him about you. The pain is just too unbearable.

My son, please come back. It has been three months since we ran away. Donatello would not leave the lab, Raphael is still stressed and Leonardo feels useless to this problem. He keeps blaming on himself after that incident. As for me, I feel useless like Leonardo. There is nothing I could do anymore. I am old. All I could do is meditate. All I can do is pray that you are safe. But in this month of December, I pray that you are safe from the cold.

Please...come back.

Your father

It was dark. Not ordinary dark. But gloomy. The alleys seemed to serene. Thugs nor gang members came. No cats begged for food. Yes. The only thing you can hear is the strong, cold breeze of December. It was normal at a time like this. In other seasons such as spring, summer and fall, streets at night would get noisy. Gangs would come as one and do mischief which would make the city go through confusion. But at winter, it was just...too serene. No gang came in. It was all peaceful.

The child, Michelangelo, flipped through the channels using a remote. He was wrapped with a blanket and had hot chocolate. He found hot chocolate really delicious. So everytime when the nights would get chillier, he would take a sip on the hot chocolate and flip through the channels. Last week, New York had a snow storm for two days. At first, he was afraid. But thanks to Mrs. Marigold, he felt safer. Now that they're cleaning up the snow, he could spend his days wrapped in a blanket, taking a sip on the hot chocolate and flip through the channels. Sometimes, he would help in the house like cleaning or cooking for Christmas Eve. In three days, her three sons would come back to her house from boarding school. Both are triplets but are actually fraternal triplets. Michelangelo seemed excited.

"Mikey?"

The boy turned to see Mrs. Marigold, smiling at him. She mixed the dough while walking in the living room. Michelangelo didn't want to ask what she was doing here so...he cleared his throat.

"Yes, Auntie Agatha?"

Recently, Mrs. Marigold wanted him to call her "Auntie Agatha" and so, it was settled. There were rare times when he would call her Mrs. Marigold. But he's getting used to Auntie Agatha.

"I will be going to Mr. O'Neil's house. Will you stay in for me?"

Mikey flinched at the name "Mr. O'Neil". Agatha noticed this.

"Mikey...do you know Mr. O'Neil?"

Mikey nodded. "He's...my friend's dad. Recently...there was a tragic thing."

This time, Agatha was worried. What does he mean by "tragic thing"? Was there something wrong with him?

"Mikey...please tell me."

Agatha sat with Mikey and rubbed his head. Mikey sighed.

"The canister you picked up yeasterday...was the canister that mutated my family. It's not the exact but the liquid is the same."

So that's how...Mrs. Marigold thought. "When we unleashed the mutagen althrough the city...it mutated him to a bat. Since then, April...never forgave us."

Agatha sighed. "Why won't I take you to April's house? We'll fix this and problem solved. April still has the heart to forgive you. She's at the bottom of the mountain called 'acceptance." She stood up. "You get me?"

Mikey smiled. "Alright, Auntie Agatha. I'll try to go with you."

"...Fearing those who are kind, and them giving screams
I wanted to cut away my hair and I closed my eyes

One-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place

Whose name does your eyes that dye red call for?
Let me pass; it'll be fun

The abandoned shadow casted on the shrine; surely, surely, that child doesn't exist anymore
The day also has a sunset face of a demon, and with a childish smile, I wriggled my wings
If you cry about not having a face, not having a face on your figure reflected in the opposing mirror
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again
In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…"

"April?"

April opened the door. She smiled at the sight of Mrs. Marigold.

"Auntie Agatha! Long time no see! Come inside."

Agatha sighed. "Actually...we have something to discuss regarding...Michelangelo Hamato."

That hit April. Agatha knew Mikey?! If she would have the chance, she would lock the door. But since she is her dad's friend, she had no choice.

"Is Mikey with you?"

Agatha nodded. Mikey came out behind Agatha's back.

Soon, both went in.

"Look, April. I know what Mikey did...was sort of wrong. But in some way, I think he was right."

This surprised April. Mikey sighed.

"Well, I thought that..."

"...hiding things from friends isn't what they do?"

Mikey looked at April. April smiled. "I think everyone has painful things, sorrowful things, failures and things they don't want to remember that they don't want to discuss. But if you can't consider yourself a true friend by not telling others these things, then you won't want me as your friend. Yes, there's a difference between things you don't have to tell people, and things you do. That mutation is one of the things you do. But since you're such a wonderful person now, what have you got to be ashamed of?"

"But..."

"Mikey, things won't change from how they always are; enjoying or spending time with one another by joking around. That's because we're friends. And since you were probably right in spilling the beans...I'll forgive you and I'm sorry. I just didn't know."

Mikey smiled. "How'd you know?"

"Some random show helped me. It was about this guy...telling them the truth about his past. Then, his friends started telling that. But your brothers...I think not now. I heard a few days ago that some kid ran away because of his siblings. That was you, wasn't it?"

Mikey blushed. April hugged him.

"There. I'll try to defend you. I promise."

Mikey smiled.

"Nee-nee..."

Three days has passed. Mikey baked a batch of cookies. Agatha decorated the house with streamers. It was the day. The day that the three boys will come home. Agatha was happy that her sons with come home. Mikey was excited. He might even have playmates.

Then, the door opened.

"Mom, we're home!"

Agatha ran up to them and hugged them. She kissed each child's forehead. Then, she turned to Mikey.

"Mikey, this is Leon, Raffaelo and Don."

Mikey gasped. "Nii-nii?"

"...Someone cried; where is that sound?
Please try peeking quietly, quietly
Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands
Is the pale moonlight from one tree?
If you hear a lullaby on this path
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again;
In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…"

My son,

It's near Christmas Eve. Don't you see our family. It is starting to break apart. I am close to giving up. But wherever you are...

...please come home.

Father.