Chapter 49

Even though it was strange, I found the stay on the yacht calming. Here, I finally had the chance to find some peace. It was just me, the captain, and a chef on board. Diamond, or more likely Masaru, had thought of everything. The wardrobe was filled with plenty of clothing, enough for a world cruise. The chef had apparently been instructed to prepare only my favorite dishes, and there was also a laptop on the small desk.

With some distance, I now looked at all my notes from yesterday, which I had made for Seiya's funeral. Then I turned on the laptop and started to put it all together. I made some improvements here and there, but the main points were already there. I was about to start writing my speech for Seiya when a new window popped up. Video call from Taiki. We had exchanged some messages yesterday, and he said he would get in touch when he had time. I took a deep breath and clicked "Accept."

Taiki was sitting in a modernly furnished office with shelves full of books. His preference for order and knowledge was evident, quite different from his chaotic brothers. His gaze was to the side, as if lost in thought, while Yaten's voice sounded softly from the background. So, he was there too.

Then they seemed to notice that I had answered the call. "Hello, Usagi," Taiki greeted me politely as usual. "Hello, both of you," I said, and Yaten also appeared in the frame, nodding briefly at me. "Before you start, Yaten wants to say something to you," Taiki began and looked expectantly at his younger brother. "Sorry," Yaten mumbled softly. "What Yaten means to say is that he once again didn't think about the possible consequences. He let his emotions guide him and didn't expect it to cause such a stir," Taiki tried to explain his brother. "It's okay, Taiki. For now, I've left Tokyo until the commotion outside my house calms down." Yaten's eyes widened in disbelief. "What was happening outside your house?" I ran my hand through my hair. "Paparazzi, fans, onlookers... lots of flowers and candles. Luckily, Haruka secured the door downstairs," I explained, the image reappearing in my mind. Yaten's face took on a guilty expression. I didn't want to dwell on it any further; there were more important things to focus on. "Taiki, please check your inbox. I've worked out a possible concept for the funeral... I'm just struggling to find suitable songs," I redirected the conversation to the essentials.

Taiki opened the file, and I saw him attentively skim through my notes. "Usagi, the first problem is that we don't know when Seiya will be released. Since it's a murder case, the police have confiscated him. The lawyer is working on it, but he believes it won't be possible until after Christmas," Taiki explained, exhausted, rubbing his temples before he immersed himself in the text again. Christmas, I had completely forgotten about that. A quick look at the calendar made me realize that there were only 10 days left.

Suddenly, Yaten interrupted my thoughts. "Usagi?" he asked softly. I shook myself slightly to awaken from my trance. "Yes?" "I said that Taiki and I will take care of the songs if that's okay with you." "Yes, of course. Music is your domain anyway. I think he would like that." "When will you be back?" Taiki inquired further. "I don't know yet, but certainly before Christmas." I felt that Taiki wanted to discuss something with me alone, away from Yaten's ears. "Okay, then keep in touch."

We said goodbye, and I closed the laptop. I put on a warm jacket and went up on deck. Some fresh air would do me good, for sure. Oh, damn, it was cold, but it cleared my mind a bit. Slowly, I started to comprehend everything. It was sinking further into my consciousness. Seiya wouldn't come back, never again. The cool breeze blew against my face.

For the first time, I thought of him without crying. Of course, there was still pain and emptiness, but now something new was mingling with it: gratitude. I was grateful to have had him by my side. I leaned against the railing of the yacht and gazed at the endless sea before me. The waves danced in the gentle glow of the sun, and the soothing sound of the water filled my ears. It was a moment of silence and peace that I desperately needed.

I returned below deck to continue writing my speech. As I typed the words on the screen, I felt Seiya's presence in my heart, his voice in my mind. It was as if he was helping me find the right words and keeping his memory alive. It wouldn't be easy, but I would be strong to do justice to him. I looked out the window and saw the sunset over the ocean. The golden rays reflected on the waves, and I could almost see Seiya's smile in front of me. He would always be a part of me, and even though he was no longer physically with us...

The next few days on the yacht passed, and I used the time to prepare for the funeral. I was fortunate to be mostly cut off from the outside world and able to focus entirely on this important task.

After six days at sea, I had actually managed it; everything was prepared. I went through my speech over and over again until I knew it by heart. I decided it was time to return.

I picked up my phone and pondered for a moment. Mamoru was probably at work, Minako too, and Motoki wouldn't leave the Crown either. That left Diamond, who said I should contact Haruka if anything happened... Alright then, call Haruka. I dialed her number, and after a few rings, she answered on the other end:

"Hello, Moonface. What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to ask how things look outside the house. Do you think I can come back now?"

"Yes, I think so. I still have two men stationed at the door, but so far, it's quiet. Fans are still coming and leaving flowers or lighting candles, but since yesterday, there have been significantly fewer. Especially the journalists have finally withdrawn. When and where should I pick you up?" Haruka replied in her usual pragmatic manner.

"I'll talk to the captain briefly and then text you. Thank you," I said relieved and ended the call. I was glad that the situation outside the house had calmed down somewhat.

Almost four hours later, I finally had solid ground beneath my feet again. Apart from my purse and the laptop, I hadn't taken anything else with me. Haruka was already leaning against her car on the side of the road, waiting patiently for me.

Amused, her lips twitched upwards when she spotted me. "Is that all? You've been gone for almost a week and only brought a purse?"

"Yes, I'm sure Masaru will take care of the rest. He brought everything here anyway," I replied curtly and got into the passenger seat.

"Haruka, can you please give me an update on what happened here in the last few days? How is Diamond? Is Saphir in prison now? What about all the media?" I paused for a moment, and then panic set in. "And what about my job?" The last question suddenly came to my mind. I realized that I hadn't gone to work since the events at the winter gala and hadn't contacted Sato in any way.

Haruka smiled over at me. "Take it easy. You're on leave until the end of the year. I took care of that. The boss is currently swamped, especially because of the turmoil caused by the little troublemaker. Saphir was taken into custody by the police from the estate yesterday. There were some complications, but don't worry, nothing that should concern you further."

"Haruka, what kind of complications?" I asked uncertainly. Haruka sighed heavily and replied with a serious expression, "The police initially didn't see the need to give Saphir his medication to calm him down. It was a mistake, but it was quickly rectified thanks to the senior's intervention. However, I advise you to stay away from him for the time being." "Why?" Haruka burst out laughing heavily. "Just do it. You know the boss, especially when he's angry. His father is even worse."

Haruka started the car, and we drove off. The closer we got to my apartment, the more nervous I became. As we passed my house and turned into the underground parking lot, I saw the numerous flowers and candles covering almost the entire sidewalk. It was an overwhelming display of sympathy from his fans. I pushed the large sunglasses onto my nose and pulled the cap low over my face to shield myself from the people's stares.

"What are you planning to do?" Haruka asked surprised when she noticed my determination.

"I want to see what's going on out there," I replied composedly.

Haruka nodded and was already at my side. Together, we walked up the stairs to the ground floor. As we strolled along the footpath, I was overwhelmed by the sight. Countless candles were set up along the entire length of the house, bathing the path in a gentle light. Various types of flowers were everywhere. Among the flowers and candles, numerous pictures of Seiya were placed, looking at me with a warm smile. It almost took my breath away as I walked slowly along here. Some of the flowers had little notes attached, expressing people's thoughts and feelings. With trembling fingers, I picked up one of the notes and carefully unfolded it.

Even though you're no longer here, your songs will live forever -

Goosebumps covered my body as I read the words on the next notes. I didn't know if I wanted to read more or if my body needed a break. I bent down to pick up another note.

No one truly goes away; your songs will remain forever. You were the greatest -

A deep sigh escaped my throat, and I sank to my knees, pressing the notes tightly to my chest. He truly was the greatest, and I felt infinitely proud and grateful to have had him in my life. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks, and I was overwhelmed by grief once again. It was as if I had been thrown back to the beginning of the wave of pain that had washed over me after Seiya's death. Haruka noticed that I was unable to move. She leaned down to me, lifted me up as if I were as light as a feather, and carried me into the house.

In front of the elevator, she gently put me back on my feet and regarded me with a watchful gaze. "Are you okay now?" she asked.

I sniffed once more and wiped the tears from my face before nodding. "Good. Do yourself a favor and don't go out alone. Take someone with you or call someone." I had finally gathered myself again and regained control of my body. Slowly, I entered the elevator and pressed the floor where the apartment was located. As I opened the front door, a strange silence awaited me. It was unusually quiet and empty, as if the whole world was holding its breath.

For the first time, I entered his office, placed Diamond's laptop on the desk, and let my gaze wander around the room. His guitar leaned against the wall, his music stand stood in the corner, and his laughter seemed to still linger in the air. Deep down, I knew he was with me. But then something caught my attention, something different from usual – a stack of towels on the small sofa. I picked them up to tidy them away neatly when my eyes spotted a shoebox-sized wooden box hidden underneath.

On a green Post-it stuck to the box, it said: Don't be so curious, darling :-P

I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. He was so unpredictable and creative – it almost felt like he was still communicating with me. Tears welled up in my eyes. He really managed to emotionally overwhelm me every time. I tried to open the box, but it was securely locked. A key was needed. My eyes wandered through his room again, searching for clues about the whereabouts of the key. In this chaos, it would take forever to find the little treasure, if it was even in here.