Ayuna

Things had moved very quickly once they were found, judging by what I was watching on the hotel room television. There, Superintendent Onoe stood at a podium, leading a press conference. She looked severe, yet at the same time satisfied. I'd kept the volume down low, because I was on the phone, but from the banners across the screen I knew that she was telling the world what Takaaki was telling me. That it looked as if Kazutaka Oomori was the one who had captured us twenty years ago, and now he was dead.

"They have to do surgery on Mai's boy and Friede's boy, but then they're going to transfer them all back here, and that's where they're going to be collected."

It was noisy on Takaaki's end, but I'd gathered that that was because they were being helicoptered away. Mai had messaged me something similar when she'd been told that her son had been found. Hurt by Kazutaka Oomori, but found safe and well.

"What about you?" I asked. "Do you want to be collected?"

"I'm the adult. I was meant to be the adult."

"Is that why you ran away?" I asked. "To try and be their adult?"

"No. Well, not at first. But then I bumped into Kamiya's dad. He was going to rescue them."

"Tetsuji Kamiya? How'd he know?"

"No idea. Something to do with one of the kids. I think he was in contact with them."

Otsuka Jihara. I didn't know whether to smile or sigh at that. In the end, I did both. I wondered where Tetsuji was and if he knew that Kazutaka Oomori had been the culprit. If Tetsuji had been the one to kill Oomori. If he did, that would make him a hero, and I'd have to thank him. I supposed I could find all of that out in due time, though. For now, I asked:

"Anyway, where will you be, do you know? Is it the same hospital we were taken over to?"

"I think so, yes."

I didn't respond immediately, instead watching the screen. I didn't understand all that was happening, but it seemed like the Superintendent was saying something about multiple police forces cooperating, which made sense considering that that was had happened with us twenty years ago. I suppose that was also why things had had to move pretty fast. With the re-opened investigation, so many things had been in motion and now they had all finally come together.

It was what I had wanted, and yet I couldn't let myself celebrate. Not just yet.

"Alright. Let me know once you're sure, and I'll come and get you."

"Why?"

"Why? I mean, someone should be there for you. It may as well be one of us. Hanamura's going to be there, but it's not going to be for you. Likewise with Mai."

"Hanamura is? Why?"

Takaaki's confusion was genuine, which made me realise:

"Oh, yeah, you don't know, do you? It turns out one of those kids is actually his cousin. But his uncle divorced the girl's mother when she was little and didn't tell him. Well, that's what I gathered anyway. But now he knows, so he's been asked to look after her until they can get her back home."

"Huh. I think I know which kid you're talking about. I thought she'd reminded me of someone."

"Huh, really? Well, anyway, let me know when you're good to go and I'll be there soon."

"Sure."

Takaaki hung up, and I put my phone down for a moment. Before I got ready, or even did anything else, there was one more phone call I needed to make. I wished I had Seiko's script here with me to give me strength, but it was evidence now.

Seiko, what do you think of all this? Are you surprised that the truth has come out? Do you think I should have said something earlier? I could not ask her these questions, but there was somebody else I could ask instead. Someone else whose forgiveness mattered more in this moment.

I picked up my phone, and though it was in my contacts I slowly dialled out the number, using each carefully tapped number as an extra moment to compose myself. Then, I waited for the call to connect. And all the while, I stared at the television.

"Ayuna."

"Ryo," I said. "Ryo."

"Are you alright?" Ryoko asked, concern colouring her voice.

"Yeah, but are you working? I don't want to disturb you if you're at work."

"I'm working from home today, actually. "

"Oh, that's nice. I wish I could be there with you."

"I wish that too-though how much work I'd get done, I don't know."

Ryoko laughed, and I laughed with her before remembering why I was calling.

"I'll be home soon, anyway."

"Oh, is it all over then?"

"Yes, it is. Though in a lot of ways, it is just beginning. Ryo…"

"What is it, Ayuna?"

I gulped.

"It must have been so much to have to put up with the walls I had to put up when I didn't tell anybody about the truth but now, now it's everywhere. I won't tell you to not watch the news, I'm not going to become that sort of controlling spouse, but I hate the thought of how galling it will be for you, having to see my deepest secrets splashed all over the news at long last when you don't even know them."

"You had good reasons for keeping those secrets. There are equally good reasons for it being out now. Why would I begrudge you that?"

"Ryo. Oh, Ryo. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be, honey, you don't need to be at all."

"But you've always accepted me, and loved me far beyond anything I would have ever expected or hope, and I love you so much too. I don't say it enough, but I do. And I feel, sometimes, that I have taken that for granted. Even so, I have to ask you to do one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Will you wait for me?" I asked. "When I get home, I will explain all of it to you, every last horror of it. I think, no matter what, you deserve the full explanation from me."

Ryoko made a thoughtful noise. I imagined her pushing her glasses higher up her nose, and perhaps gazing out of our vast windows briefly. I smiled wistfully at the image. I wished I was there beside her to hold her hand, twirl a lock of her hair around my fingers.

After a pause, she eventually said:

"Alright. I won't go out of my way to avoid the news, but I won't seek it out either. I'll wait for you to tell me first. I'll let your words colour the news, not the other way around."

"Ryo-"

"I can't deny that I am sure that this is going to be upsetting, and a terrible shock too. Nonetheless, I know you. I know how hard this has been for you. Maybe once you're back, and you've shared it with me, then whatever else happens we'll both be able to rest easier. You certainly deserve it."

"Thank you, Ryo."

"That's alright. Do what you need to do and come back quickly. I miss you."

"I miss you too."

We said our goodbyes, and then I reluctantly hung up. The press conference had ended, and something else was on screen. I had no idea what, and I did not particularly care as I made sure to turn it off. Now I missed Ryoko more than ever, and Seiko more than ever too. But at least one of them would be waiting for me, so it was fine.

It was fine.

…

Mai

When Akio started to stir, it was all I could do to keep myself from crying. Next to me, Juro squeezed my hand reassuringly as Akio blinked a few times and then tried to get up.

"Woah, woah, hold on."

I got Akio his glasses, and though he could put them on himself, I did it for him. Then Juro adjusted his bed, as he'd observed the nurses doing to others, so that he was sitting up.

"Are you thirsty?" I asked.

"Y-yeah."

I poured him a glass of water and handed it to him and watched him as he drank from it and then put it down. I never wanted to take my eyes off of him, ever again.

"Mum, I'm sorry, please don't cry."

I hadn't realised I was, but when I lifted my hands to my eyes they came away wet, and then the tears wouldn't stop coming. I reached over and hugged Akio tightly as I'd so badly wanted to do. Akio's arms came around me, and I felt Juro's hands on my shoulders too.

After a few moments I sat back down and looked at Akio.

"I was so worried about you," I said. "We were worried about you. You'd just went off and didn't tell us?"

"I know," Akio said, shamefaced. "I'm really sorry. But you wouldn't have let me if I'd said I wanted to go and find out what had happened."

"With good reason!" Juro exclaimed.

"I just wanted to help, though. It was something so bad that you couldn't even handle being around mentions of it, right? I thought…maybe we wouldn't crack the case because we're all just kids but if we could have found something to help…"

Akio sighed, and looked at his leg, bandaged up and elevated.

"I'm sorry, Mum, Dad. I didn't want to scare you again."

"Akio," I said, taking his hand. "I didn't want anything bad to happen to you, that's all. I…all I ever wanted to do was be a good mother and protect you and Sachi from everything awful in this world and I couldn't even manage that. I should be sorry."

"No, Mai, that's not true." Juro said.

Both Akio and I looked at him. He took off his glasses briefly, rubbed his eyes and then put the glasses back on again.

"We were all trying to help and protect each other, weren't we? I know I messed that up a little bit."

"And so did I." Akio said, smiling faintly.

I looked at them both. My husband, my son. Once Sachi was back with us, everything would be complete, as it should be.

"I think I messed up too. But…it will be alright, won't it? No, actually, I'm the one who should know that. So, it will be alright. You'll be alright, Akio. I'm still so sorry though, so sorry that that man came after you and he hurt you."

Akio nodded and smiled, but then winced slightly.

"Are you in pain, Akio?" Juro asked.

"A little," he admitted. "But I'm more hungry than anything else."

"Then, I'll go and get the doctor. He's already talked to us, of course, but he should explain your prognosis directly to you. On the way, I'll get you something to eat."

"Oh, Dad, wait! Can I…can I ask a couple of things?"

Juro, halfway out of his seat, paused.

"My friends…are they alright?"

I reached over and took Akio's hands.

"Akagi-kun got hurt too, like you, but he'll be alright. His uncle and father are with him."

I hoped, too, that Friede would be with him eventually, or at least visit. I couldn't believe that she wouldn't want to see him after all this. No matter what had happened, Akagi was still her son, and that was what mattered. Wasn't it? Nonetheless, I couldn't judge her pain, not one little bit. My own had made me insular too, even if in a different way.

"What about Koizumi-chan?"

"She's been found, too, alongside Ritsuka-chan who went back for her."

The relief that flooded Akio's face was visceral, but then he sunk back slightly into his pillow, still tired. He closed his eyes, but remained awake, saying:

"When I've had more rest, bring Sachi here. I miss her too."

"She's coming home to us tonight, and we'll bring her tomorrow." Juro promised. "Now, the doctor, and food."

Juro got up this time, and left the room. When he did, I searched for something to say but in the end, found nothing. Instead, I just gave Akio another hug, holding on as tightly as I could without making him more uncomfortable than he already was with his poor injured leg. We had a long road ahead of us, not just in terms of his physical recovery but grappling with all the emotions that came with his ordeal and everything it had uncovered. I, of all people, knew what that was like.

This time though, I would be open about it. It would be hard for me, and I knew I would have to look after myself too. But I knew that this time it was different. I wasn't alone and vulnerable anymore, I wasn't a child. I could do it. We would get through this, one way or another, and we would be okay.

…

Rieka

"You should probably get back," Ayuna said. "Your parents will be arriving soon, I'm sure."

"Yeah, probably." I said.

Still, I made no move to go back, just as Takaaki made no move to go back with Ayuna, who'd come to get him. Eikichi and his fiancée were also there, alongside Ritsuka. They had met on the way apparently, and now they were all going back together. I was kind of jealous of Ritsuka, for she was getting to meet three survivors for the price of one. Of course, she wasn't going to really be finding anything out from them. I suppose she'd perhaps be asking Eikichi things, but that would just be about her family. Nothing about what had happened to them, and how it related to what had happened to us. I had been looking up the news since we'd gotten here, and I knew that they had finally told the truth, after a fashion. That truth still hadn't been revealed but it would be in time, once they'd gone through Kazutaka Oomori's life with a fine-toothed comb and had enough corroborating evidence to show that he had been responsible.

I wondered what the point was now, though.

"Are you alright?" Takaaki asked.

"Yeah, just peachy." I snarked.

I was so angry with them, but I didn't want any of them to leave.

I took a moment to try and collect myself. The others waited, and as they did a harried looking couple walked past us, glancing curiously but otherwise not really stopping. Something about them made something ping in the back of my mind but I ignored that, and addressed them all again.

"I'll be talking about this, you know. Sharing my story. You can't stop me from doing that just because it connects to yours. It's mine as well now, you know."

"That's exactly what you should do."

"I-I'm sorry?"

I had been gearing up to spew out all my bottled-up rage, and suddenly it had vapourised. My hands unclenched from their fists, and I waggled the fingers, not sure what to do with them, let alone with the rest of my body. Ayuna smiled at me, but tiredly.

"We should have told in the first place. If we had, perhaps this would have all ended with us. Not with you."

"I-I mean," I stammered, still wrong-footed. "It sho-shouldn't have happened to you, either."

"No, but, nonetheless. I accept my responsibility in all of this."

"As do I." Takaaki said.

Eikichi didn't say anything, but he looked like he agreed. Well, I thought he did. It seemed like impassive facial expressions were apparently hereditary amongst the Hanamura/Nishimiya family.

"We're sorry," Ayuna said. "I'm sorry."

I had no idea what to say to that, so I turned on my heel and ran away. In the back of my mind I felt a little bad that I hadn't said goodbye to Ritsuka properly, but I couldn't care about that too much. As I headed back to the waiting room, we had all been deposited in while waiting for our parents to collect us, I realised that now it was me and Mitsuhide. Otsuka had already left with her father (she had complained about having to be collected, but I could tell she was pleased to see him), and obviously Akio and Akagi weren't going anywhere anytime soon. For that matter, I wasn't sure Akemi would be either. She was sitting with us waiting, but she seemed so fragile. I still had no idea what that bastard Kazutaka Oomori had done to her. She hadn't told us, and apparently hadn't told the detectives who'd come down to see us.

They should have apologised to her instead, I thought. I should drag them back and make them apologise to her, too. I didn't turn back though. I just kept going and when I got to the waiting room I flung open the door, ready to find something to pick an argument over. It was Mitsuhide, after all, there'd always be something to pick an argument over. There had to be, because surely something had to stay the same, didn't it? We couldn't all be so damaged beyond recognition over this, could we?

Except, the room was empty, so that idea fell flat pretty fast. I sighed, and then wondered if maybe Mitsuhide had gone to one of the vending machines. It'd surprise me if he'd decided that he could feed himself. On the other hand, I knew he wouldn't harass Akemi over it. No, it'd be me that would get that privilege. Ugh. That didn't explain why Akemi had gone though. But staring into an empty room wasn't going to get me any answers so I decided to go look for them.

Since I'd thought of the vending machines, I went to where I vaguely remembered the nearest ones to be, but stopped in my tracks when a door opened and a doctor stepped out of what I assumed was his own office, or a consulting room of some kind. The harried couple I had seen earlier were at the doorway.

"Well then, Mr and Mrs Koizumi, I'll give you and your daughter time to get yourselves together."

"Thank you very much for looking after our daughter, and we apologise for the trouble." The woman said.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the doctor closed the door to the room partway and walked down the corridor in the opposite direction to me. He walked past Mitsuhide, who was a great deal closer to the door than I was and immediately stopped to stare. I tried to catch his eye but he'd tilted his head, frowning as if he were listening in. Suddenly, his expression became one of worry, and he went to peer through the crack in the door.

I strode over, and elbowed him. He turned and glared at me, but just as I was about to ask him to shove over and let me see, there was a resounding crack that made us both jump, and then stare at each other. That crack was the unmistakeable sound of someone slapping someone else's face. Without a word, we arranged ourselves so that I was crouching and Mitsuhide was standing, and we were both peering into the room.

"Do you have nothing to say for yourself, you little slut?"

This was said by the woman, who was quite clearly Akemi's mother. She and Akemi's father were practically looming over Akemi, standing there clutching her cheek, blinking at them. After a moment of loaded silence she lowered her hand and her head, and her hair only partially concealed the large red mark across her face.

"Did you see how that doctor looked at us? Judging us for being the type of parents who would let their daughter run off and perform sex acts with an older married man!" Akemi's mother demanded.

"That doctor even had the gall to say that you were 'assaulted'. Like that really holds water when you willingly went with him! If we tried to say that, we'd be laughed off! No way is anybody going to have any sympathy for you!" her father added.

"You are a young woman, Akemi," her mother continued. "That means that even though you're a genius, you cannot just act as you like. You have to be proper and virtuous and noble. More importantly you have to be pure. I thought I'd taught you how to conduct yourself properly!"

Fucking hell, were these people transplanted from the 1950s or something? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was like watching a car-crash: couldn't look, but couldn't look away. Mitsuhide was still staring at the scene like I was, but I assumed he was having much the same reaction.

"Look how upset you've made your mother." Akemi's father raged. "How could you do this to us? After all we have done to ensure that you've made the most of your gifts, putting everything into ensuring you are set up for success the way any parent does, this is how you repay us? By throwing it all away like this?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Sorry!" Akemi's father mocked. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. You sound like a parrot. Well, let me tell you, from now on you won't be saying more than what we tell you to, when we tell you to. Things are going to be a lot different. We'll have to work very hard to salvage your reputation but you aren't having the freedoms that you clearly don't deserve. When you get home, you won't so much as open the front door without our say-so."

Akemi looked up at this, fear flashing in her eyes. She tried to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat. Her parents appeared un-moved, her mother almost triumphant:

"Should've thought of that before you went gallivanting around throwing yourself at men like that then. You should be pleased that we're trying to salvage your life instead of just kicking you out on the streets. Maybe we should."

"Mum, that's-"

"Do you know, we once had a troll suggest that your next episode should train you to be a call girl and I was so offended on your behalf? My beautiful daughter, degrade herself like that? They were talking nonsense! Or so I thought. Maybe I should see if their offer was serious? Honestly, I'd be happy to wash my hands off of you. You've caused me nothing but misery, you ungrateful little slut."

Suddenly, her mother's hand whipped out to slap Akemi again, which was the point at which Mitsuhide pushed the door aside (nearly knocking me over) and charged into the room, grabbing Akemi's mother's hand.

"Let go of me!" she screeched.

Mitsuhide did so, but positioned himself to stand in front of Akemi, drawing himself up to his full height. When I had steadied myself, holding onto the doorframe, he looked actively furious in I had never seen before. I didn't even think that his facial features could make such an expression.

"I would have intervened from the first time you slapped her except I couldn't believe what I was hearing."

"You had the audacity to eavesdrop on a private conversation?" her father roared.

"That wasn't a conversation, that was harassment!" Mitsuhide responded with equal heat.

"I am a parent-a hardworking, beleaguered parent-disciplining an unruly, dirty child! Something clearly your parents have failed to do."

"Did you know that Koizumi-chan could have died?"

"Ex-excuse me?"

"That 'married older man' was going to kidnap us. He would have definitely murdered us eventually, and likely would have tortured us before that point. He most likely has form for doing things like that, and at the least for being a predator to young girls! But faced with that threat, your daughter sacrificed herself for the rest of us. Yes, she went with him willingly, but she went assuming that she was going to die. She assumed that she was going to die in a horrible painful way, and she accepted that so that we wouldn't have to go through that! Noble, virtuous. Do you really think that the only way to be those things is to be some sort of vestal virgin? Please, what do you know? Your daughter was noble and virtuous. More noble than anybody I have ever known, including myself."

Mitsuhide was panting heavily at this point, but he wasn't finished.

"I have no idea how much you know about what happened to her. I'm guessing not much more than us but still more considering you're her parents. Yet you look at that and still think all the horrible, horrible things you just said to her and I can't believe it. 'Parent' is not a title you deserve, frankly."

"I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not having this. Akemi, come here!"

Akemi's father tried to reach past Mitsuhide, and Akemi shrunk back.

"Akemi. Come. Here."

"N-no."

"Excuse me?!"

"I don't…I don't…"

Even when she had been stammering, or keeping her head low, Akemi had still had the most beautiful posture. She had been still been somewhat composed but now she shook and trembled, wrapping her arms around herself. I opened my mouth to tell them to back off, but then after a few false starts Akemi gasped:

"I don't want to go home. "

She shivered, wrapped her arms around herself even tighter, and then said:

"Please, I don't want to go home."

Both her parents' faces twisted, becoming more crazed than they had been already, and both pushed for Mitsuhide while grabbing Akemi. She struggled to get free from them, while Mitsuhide sprung up to try and pull her away from them. I darted forward and yelled at them all to stop. Akemi started to cry, and then suddenly retched.

"Koizumi-chan?" Mitsuhide asked. "Are you alright?"

"Stop making a fuss!" Akemi's mother said. "Stop making that noise and just come with us! You've caused enough trou-"

Akemi's mother shrieked as Akemi suddenly vomited violently over the floor and her parents' shoes. Some of it splattered Mitsuhide too, but rather than recoil and gag like I expected him too, Mitsuhide instead held onto her while she vomited and then, once she was done and lapsed into noisy, hysterical sobs he embraced her tightly, and didn't even flinch when she pressed her face into his shoulder and kept crying. He just patted her back and glared at her parents.

"My parents would say that you're right about one thing," Mitsuhide said, seething. "They'd say that they'd failed with me, since I'm not the shining star they raised me to be. And to be honest, if I had died it wouldn't be that much of a loss to them. In truth, they'd probably be a little bit relieved that I wasn't dragging down the family name anymore. But do you know something else? Despite all that, they would never have actively wished me harm. So you don't have the right to call yourself parents. And I think you should leave."

"How dare you-?"

"He's right."

Mitsuhide flinched, and I spun around to face the door. as another couple appeared at the door. With their well-groomed appearances and elaborate, stylish clothes I knew that these had to be Mitsuhide's parents. Behind them, there were other people, but I could only recognise one of the detectives and the doctor who had just left. Apart from Akemi's crying, everything suddenly quietened until the doctor asked:

"What on earth is going on here?"

…

My parents had also arrived at some point in the chaos, so while Akemi's parents were being dealt with, I had a tearful reunion with them. Lots of hugs and kisses and my mum asking me just how I could be so stupid. Apparently, Uncle Matsuo, Aunt Chihomi and my siblings were all waiting at home for me. But we couldn't go home just yet, as now a detective had to take a statement from me and them about what we had seen. The detective that I recognised, Detective Matsu, had gone with Mitsuhide, his parents and Akemi somewhere and now they came back, minus Akemi.

I also noticed that Mitsuhide had changed out of his clothes, and I assumed his parents had bought along the spare clothes. Now he looked a lot like his usual, smarmy self in a light grey silk dress shirt and a dark purple blazer. He had a striped tie too, but he'd left it loose, though the shirt was tucked in. His parents had also thought to bring along some jewellery for him, including a necklace with a glittering book-shaped pendant that I was somewhat jealous of. He still looked somewhat casual compared to his parents though, which probably had something to do with the fact that his blazer was unadorned and he had no hat to speak of. That, and rather than the carefully-cultivated type of messy, his hair was just messy. Wild and haunted, like the look on his face. It still didn't look right, and it made him look like a stranger.

He didn't say anything to me, barely acknowledged that there were other people around. Instead, he stared at his parents. His mother was on the phone, speaking in clipped tones, something about 'unprecedented situations' and 'unfit parents' but eventually she hung up and snapped her phone shut.

"Yoriyoshi, we really should have bought along Hata-san with us."

"I'm inclined to agree, but I trust he'll have the situation in hand back at his office."

Mitsuhide's mother nodded briskly, and then turned to Detective Matsu.

"Hata-san is our lawyer. He will be sorting out the legal ends of this, but that girl will be coming with us once she's in a better condition."

"Akemi Koizumi's coming with you?" I squawked.

Mitsuhide's mother raised an eyebrow at me.

"Well, of course she is. Her parents aren't fit for purpose. They have clearly let fame go to their heads at the expense of their daughter and look where that's left the poor girl."

That's rich, coming from the likes of you. I did not think now was the time to say that though, though I badly wanted to.

"Where is she now?" my mother asked. "She seemed ever so distressed."

"She is extremely disturbed, but that's not a surprise considering both the nature of her trauma and the uncouth behaviour of those people." Mitsuhide's father sniffed.

"They've sedated her," Mitsuhide murmured. "But it still took her ages to fall asleep. She threw up again. "

Surprisingly, he didn't shudder at this, simply wringing his hands.

"She'll be fine," Detective Matsu assured him. "She's in safe hands now, and the doctors will take care of her."

"Her parents can't come back to take her away, right? She doesn't want to go home, she kept saying that. We can't let her go home."

I stared at him, not knowing how to interpret that pleading, desperate tone in his voice. His mother looked at him with some irritation, but then her expression softened. Her tone when she spoke again, however, was still very haughty:

"There is no way they're coming anywhere near this hospital, not if they don't want trouble to be rained down upon their heads. Isn't that right, Detective?"

Detective Matsu nodded at that. He and the other detective talked a little more with our parents, mostly explaining what was going to be happening now. While they conferred, Mitsuhide and I stood off to the side, watching them. Well, Mitsuhide was watching them, wringing his hands, still looking both far away and so much more immediate than I had ever seen him. I thought of how he had been, barely noticing the sick as he'd held onto her unflinchingly. He hadn't been playing at being a dashing, gallant romantic hero. Not the way he was always trying to be. No charm or swagger, no sophistication or smoothly-spoken words, none of his stupid smarminess and yet. And yet.

"What's up with you? You're acting way too concerned. It's not as if she's your girlfriend."

Mitsuhide's lip curled, but he didn't look at me. Look at me, dammit. Look at me!

"Why's it matter to you? It's not like you're my girlfriend either."

"Good! I'd shrivel up and die if I had to date you!"

"Likewise, sweetheart. Likewise."

There it was now: a little bit of that usual manufactured charm as he looked at me long enough to wink infuriatingly before turning back. But he was still very far away. I wondered if I would ever recognise him again.

The detectives had left, and now it seemed like my parents and his were introducing themselves to each other. My dad shook Mitsuhide's dad's hand firmly, and they seemed like they were coming to some sort of agreement, but then both of Mitsuhide's parents turned and saw us looking. They exchanged a look with each other.

"Go on, Yoriyoshi-san and Nayumi-san." My mother said encouragingly.

I gave my very best huh look at my mother, who made a show of pretending to ignore me. She instead drew me into another hug, and started asking me what I would like for dinner: whether we should eat out or get a takeaway, that kind of thing. I played along a little bit, but I found myself half-eavesdropping on the conversation that Mitsuhide was having with his parents.

"Mitsuhide, did you really think that?"

"Think what?"

"When you took those good for nothing people to task, you said that you thought we would not particularly grieve for your death because you are mediocre. Is that something you really believe?"

This seemed to be one of the rare incidences where Mitsuhide was lost for words, but I couldn't relish it. Still, I badly wanted to know what he'd eventually say, which turned out to be:

"Well, I do bring down the family name, don't I? I suppose I have bought it down even further now."

Mitsuhide's father made a strangled noise, and out of the corner of my eye I saw his mother clap her hands to her mouth as if to supress whatever noise she wanted to make. But then Mitsuhide's father straightened his back, and very carefully placed his hands on Mitsuhide's shoulders.

"We push you to be the best you can be," he began. "Because that is how we honour our lineage, and we have sometimes felt that you don't realise that. That doesn't mean- "

Here, Mitsuhide's father started to choke up, and his stoic expression started to twitch. In some consternation, Mitsuhide's mother put an elegant hand on his impeccably-suited shoulder.

"Perhaps we should continue this in private, dear."

"And we shall. But we need to be held accountable to begin with."

"Accountable? What do you mean by that, father?" Mitsuhide asked with curiosity.

"What he means is that though you were right to call out that poor girl's horrible parents you were utterly wrong about us." His mother said.

Mitsuhide flinched, and then bowed.

"I am very sorry for causing such disrepu-"

"No, no, that is not what we meant!"

Both Mitsuhide and his mother jumped, and his father noticed. He took a deep breath and readjusted the collar of his shirt before saying:

"Your mother claims that you smiled at her when she first held you once you were born. I have no way of knowing, because you had eventually gone to sleep by the time I arrived at the hospital with your older siblings and their nanny. But after that, it seemed like every single time you were awake, you looked for somebody, everyone and ever single time you managed to catch somebody's eyes you'd smile, or wave your tiny baby hands at them. When you were old enough to start picking things up, you used to hand them over. Even worms, much to the consternation of your nanny. If something made the adults laugh or smile, you'd keep doing it. You rarely slept, yes, but you did not cry very much either. You watched and you smiled. I remember it well. "

The thought of a young Mitsuhide voluntarily picking up a worm almost made me snigger, but I pressed a fist to my mouth to prevent myself from doing so. Mitsuhide, for his part, was baffled and it was clear his father could see it because he sighed heavily.

"You are our son, Mitsuhide. Our son."

"Mother, Father, I-"

Mitsuhide swallowed.

"We will always expect the best from you, and push you to achieve it. But if you spent your worst moments believing that we'd rejoice at your death then well, we've failed to follow our own advice and absolutely failed you as parents. It will not happen again." His mother declared.

"Things will be changing in our household." Mitsuhide's father added. "Oh, and one more thing."

He paused, and swallowed again. When he spoke, he sounded as if he were about to cry. Of course, he did not cry, because clearly he was still far too proper to do anything as unbecoming as blub in public. Nonetheless, he didn't even try to hide the emotion in the words he spoke:

"Well done, son. We're so proud of you."

Mitsuhide's mouth dropped open, and he spluttered and stammered. Again, his father placed a hand on his shoulder, while his mother reached for his hand. They all turned to us, and Mum stopped rambling about dinner. Stiffly, Mitsuhide's father said:

"Well, it was very good to meet you, but we must get going."

"Oh yes, it was very nice to meet you all as well." My dad said hurriedly.

"Wait! He still has things at our place! In Nii-chan's room. Remember, Mum?"

"That's true, but I'm sure they must be very tired, as you must be."

"I suppose we can come by very briefly for Mitsuhide to get his luggage, as we would not want to impose unnecessarily. We shall have our driver follow you, if that suits, Miya-san."

"Yes, yes, sure."

…

When I got home, I was immediately tackle-hugged by Nicky, with my other two siblings following close behind.

"Well," Emi said. "It's like you ended up in the plot of one of your books, huh? You've always been the family daredevil but sure wasn't expecting this-right Yusuke?"

"Nope, but I'm not surprised that she was the one to do something like that. Still, little sis, don't go haring off like that again, okay?"

"I won't." I said with a sigh.

"You promise, Riri-nee-chan?"

I looked down at Nicky, who still had his arms wrapped tightly around my middle as he peered up at me. I felt a lump in my throat and swallowed it, smiling at him.

"Yeah, I promise."

I then heard someone clearing his throat, and looked up to see Uncle Matsuo.

"Rieka," he said. "What did I tell you about not doing anything stupid?"

"But I had a team with me!" I protested. "And, besides, we were alright in the end!"

Matsuo nodded soberly.

"From what I gathered, 'okay' might be stretching it."

I swallowed thinking of Akio and Akagi. And of Akemi, of course. Especially Akemi, now. Matsuo softened slightly.

"Nonetheless, your ordeal is over and you are safe. I also gather that you may have helped to finally lay this case to rest."

"I told you I would, didn't I, Uncle Matsuo?" I said, puffing up slightly.

"Come now, let Rieka get her friend's stuff so that his family can go home. Then, once Rieka's washed and changed we'll sit down to eat and she can tell us whatever she feels comfortable telling us, alright?"

"Yes, of course. Go, Rieka. You must be exhausted." My uncle said.

Uncle Matsuo, Emi and Yusuke then followed my mother away, but Nicky was a bit reluctant to leave me. Eventually, Dad managed to persuade him to let go, getting him to help welcome in Mitsuhide's parents into our living room. Without a word, I led Mitsuhide upstairs and back over to Yusuke's room. A holdall that belonged to Yusuke sat in the corner of the room, but Mitsuhide's belongings remained untouched.

Without a word, Mitsuhide began to gather his things and put them in his suitcase while I sat on Yusuke's bed and waited. After a few moments, he looked at me.

"What's up with you?"

"What's up with me? What's up with you? You're acting really…weird."

"No I'm not! You are! In fact, you're acting even weirder!"

"Well, excuse me for coming out of a life-or-death situation!"

"I know. I was there, remember?"

I opened my mouth to retort, and then snapped it shut. Mitsuhide pointedly turned his back to me, carrying on sorting out his suitcase. He zipped it up and then stopped. Leaning against the suitcase slightly, though he didn't turn to look at me, he sighed.

"I don't think either of us are the same people we were when we started out on this trip, are we?"

"How can we be?" I asked. "How can we be? Doesn't it frighten you? No, wait, forget I said that, don't you dare use-"

"Rieka Amasaki, I'm not going to forget that."

Now Mitsuhide turned, shifting to a more comfortable sitting position to regard me.

"I'm not going to forget it, but I'm not going to use it against you. Why would I? It happened to me, too, didn't it? It happened to all of us. We're all marked by it now."

I sagged.

"Yeah, it did. We are."

I had seen the way he had been with Akemi just now. I had seen him offer uncomplainingly to carry Akio back up the hill. I had seen how, when we were trapped in that room, he'd still sat with me when I was unravelling. Likewise, he had seen me. I hoped that what he had seen hadn't been too awful.

"We're bonded now, right?" I asked.

Mitsuhide tilted his head, which I took as agreement, so I ploughed on before I could get embarrassed.

"So, let's bury anything sour between us. You're clearly so much more than a smarmy, flirty idiot and I'll accept that if you accept that I'm more than some nosy bitch who just rages and rants about books."

Mitsuhide's mouth twitched, eventually settling into a smirk.

"Such sweet words coming from you, I'm positively flattered. How can I possibly refuse such a generous offer?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Don't think that lets you off though. If your head gets too swelled up and you become a pompous git again I will call you out on it."

Mitsuhide simply smiled, and chuckled a perfectly-pitched chuckle designed to be charming. I stared at him, at his slightly-neater hair and the too-white teeth and the ridiculous clothes. And then I couldn't help but join in with the laughter.

After all, it was reassuring to know that some things wouldn't change.

…

Friede

I listened outside the door for a moment, and then looked up and down the corridor before gathering the courage to go in. Despite the things I clutched in my hand, I was ready to turn and flee. But when I saw that Akagi was fast asleep, I felt myself deflate and that, oddly, gave me the courage to step forward.

The hospital-issue blanket wasn't covering him properly, but that didn't matter. I put my bag down, and carefully stripped it away, cringing at the uncomforting feel of it. It wasn't as scratchy as the hospital blankets of my adolescence, but it wasn't much better. I folded it, staring down at my sleeping boy all the while. Then, I placed it on the bedside table and crouched down to my bag. I pulled out the first gift and shook it out. Knitted in the softest wools in blue and yellow and pink, it looked something like a slice of a sunrise. On its label, I had written from Mum, and I had sprayed with the same spray that I had used on Akagi's and Lucius's bedsheets when they had still been small.

I had been a bad mother, but I still remembered these things, just as I remembered how to tuck in a child without waking them up. I did that now with this newly-brought blanket, making sure it was arranged just right. His face still looked troubled, but I hoped that maybe a softer, more soothing blanket would do something for him.

I was sure that it could do a great deal more than I ever could.

Akagi should never had been born. But neither should Lucius, the one I'd tried to turn into my golden boy. Neither of them should have been born but that wasn't their sin, that was mine. I shouldn't ever have conceived them in the first place. Then they wouldn't ever have been hurt, over and over and over. It was one thing to punish me, but my boys…my boys hadn't deserved any of it. They didn't deserve a mother like me, and yet I was what they had had.

Looking down at Akagi now, for the first time I had the thought that maybe it was better that Lucius had died. I would still always be so angry at Akagi for it, even as I knew it wasn't really his fault. Yet, Lucius was far, far away now and he was safe from any more damage that my past could do to him. Akagi wasn't so lucky. I'd lost all interest in archery once Lucius had left me, yet seeing the parts of Akagi's bandage that weren't covered by the blanket, I realised that part of his future was ruined for him.

Please, let Taiki remain by your side. And now that Tsubasa will leave me too, please let him stay as close to you as possible too. None of this was your fault, it was all mine, as your mother and I know that there is no way to fix it. Still, Taiki loves you. Tsubasa loves you. The universe saw fit to listen to my pleading and save you and I will ask no more of it. Still, I hope that you can forgive me for giving birth to you and making you suffer. Please ask the universe to help you heal, to find you a new future to thrive in. It's the least it can do to make up for all that I did to you.

If I was a different mother, if I was a better one, I would have been able to tell Akagi these things myself. I could have knelt low to the ground and begged forgiveness but I did not deserve it. With the news of Kazutaka Oomori's death and the unveiling of our statement came a sense of jubilation for all the other survivors. For them, it was over, it was going to be alright now. It was not like that for me. So what if he was dead, and he was exposed? He had still hurt Akagi and whichever way you looked at me, some of the blame for that rested with me. Things ending did not change that.

I took out the other two gifts. I hadn't known if we were allowed to bring patients real flowers, so I'd found silk ones instead and sprayed them with the same fabric spray used for the blankets. I hoped that when he smelled them, he'd remember better times (surely, surely, there had been some?). I rested them on top of the hospital blanket, hoping Taiki or Tsubasa would come in and put them in a vase. Akagi wouldn't know that they looked like roses, anymore than he'd know the colours of the blanket or the words on the label but I hoped one of them would tell him. If he knew, then that was enough.

Then, there was the final gift. The sweets in this box were part of a range that came in all sorts of flavours and colours, but the ones that I had chosen were swirled cream and pale brown, individually wrapped and nestled in their pretty box. Caramel and vanilla. Those, too, went on the bedside table.

I gazed down at Akagi again. This aching in my heart, the heaviness in my bones. I knew that these things were love, as much as my indulgence of Lucius had been love. But if I stayed by his side, it would all sour. Nothing was Akagi's fault but everything would always be tangled, and he would always cause me pain. And as much I needed to atone, I was still a bad mother. I still needed to be selfish for myself. So I bent down, brushed the hair from his forehead and briefly kissed it.

My boy, my beautiful boy. I'm sorry.

I straightened and listened out for the sounds of footsteps. Hearing nothing, I carefully picked up my bag and left the room, ensuring the door was shut properly. Then, I walked back the way I came as fast as I could, keeping an eye out for anyone who might recognise or confront me. I kept my head held high as I did so, and yet I wanted to do nothing more than crumple into a small ball.

Because I knew that I would never see my son again.

In some ways, writing this chapter was more emotional than the previous ones, even though now everybody is alright. Though perhaps that's why-because now they all have to deal with their experiences and all that comes after. And though the chapter's title does mainly apply to Mitsuhide's parents in a lot of ways it applies to almost everyone here. I wanted to cram a few more scenes in here, actually, of various reunions and recovery-beginnings but this ended up rather long!

But anyway, we're getting close to the end! The vague idea is I'll do the final set of main-story chapters, then the last of the recollection chapters, and then the epilogue. I don't quite know how many main-story chapters are left though, it really depends on how long scenes end up when I write them! But I am still hoping that I'll finish by the end of 2023 lol. Anyway, though, I hope you liked this chapter and you'll enjoy what's still to come.