Chapter 25 – A Special Final Goodbye
Azusa's POV
"Papa! Tu m'as vraiment vraiment manqué, Papa! Je suis tellement contente de te revoir!"
"Hahaha. I missed you too, Miharu. But…you're kinda squeezing me a bit hard there."
Mugi-senpai and I watched as Miharu-senpai was hugging her father (who is surprisingly here) like there was no tomorrow. It was truly a shock for us to run into him. As this, along with me explaining my newly discovered citrus fruit allergy, distracted us from what we originally came down here for in the first place.
I would make a Yuru Yuri joke. But since they're here, too…there isn't really much of a point.
"So, uh…this is truly a surprise." I said. "None of us expected to find you here in Okinawa, Neroni-san."
"Yeah. What are you doing here, Papa?" Miharu-senpai asked her father. " I thought you were in Sceaux working."
"Well, I was. But work unexpectedly brought me down here for a few weeks. Apparently, there's a newly discovered fossil around here."
"Fossil?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah. Papa's an archaeologist. He sometimes travels the world to find old boney thingies of dead people from the past or something like that."
"Miharu, dear…that's not a very good explanation." Neroni-san gained a sweatdrop.
"Well, I was close right, Papa?"
"Sure, Miharu. You were close."
"Oui, je gagne!" Miharu-senpai then hugged her dad again. As if she didn't do it enough literally a few seconds ago.
And yet, she gets on Mugi-senpai's case for being a daddy's girl…
…
Speaking of which…
I looked over a Mugi-senpai, who was trying extremely hard to not be involved in this conversation. Her face was blushed hard and she was sweating rapidly. I also saw her shake a little. All of which were rare to come out of this 17-year-old rich girl.
Don't tell me she's still…
"Mugi-senpai? Are you okay?"
"H-Huh? O-Oh, yeah. I-I'm fine, Azusa-chan." She stuttered.
"You don't sound fine."
"Wh-What do you mean? I-I'm just…r-really happy that…M-Miharu got to see her father again. Th-That's all."
"Senpai…"
"Hey, Mugi…" Miharu-senpai said to her. "…Are you still uncomfortable around my dad?"
"Wh-What?! N-No! Of course, not! D-Don't be ridiculous, Miharu!"
"Mugi…"
…
…
…
"*sigh* O-Okay, fine. I am. N-Nothing against you personally, Neroni-san. It's just…how your daughter and I became half-sisters still bothers me a little."
"I see. That's understandable." Neroni-san said.
You know…I said once before that it's best that we didn't know how these two became half-sisters. But the more it's brought up, the more I actually want to know.
Maybe I'll ask later…
"Well, I do admit that what took place back then was highly irresponsible of us all. And what the end result being was not ever planned. But you shouldn't let it get to you so much, Mugi-san."
"Papa's right, Mugi." Miharu-senpai said. "I mean…I'm honestly scared as hell to meet your parents down the road. And I can't really prevent that from happening, as much as I want to. But I'm pushing through. All for my one and only half-sister. So, cheer up already, please? For me?"
"Miharu…" Mugi-senpai went silent for a bit. Then she started giggling as she hugged her half-sister with pure gratefulness. "Geez…you're always cheering me up whenever I feel down. You're so sappy, Miharu."
"I get that from Mio. She's the sappiest person we know."
It's true. Mio-senpai is EXTREMELY sappy.
"And, um…I'm sorry for trying to ignore you, Neroni-san. I hope you truly forgive me for my behavior."
"It's okay, Mugi-san." Neroni-san said. "By the way…you two don't have to be so formal towards me."
"W-We don't?" We both asked.
"Not at all. After all, you are my daughter's half-sister and girlfriend respectfully."
"S-So, she told you, huh?" I started to blush.
"Yes. She did. To be quite honest, I'm surprised she's actually had a relationship for this long. Miharu's bisexuality has always made her jump around from relationship to relationship because she can never make up her mind on…"
"PAPA!" Miharu yelled with a huge blush on her face.
Holy crap! That's the first time I've ever seen her blush! It's too cute!
"*chuckle* Sorry, sorry. My point is, "Neroni-san" is too formal. Just call me Raphael."
"S-Seriously?!" We both yelled in shock.
"That is my name."
"Come on, you guys. You do it to me." Miharu-senpai added.
Mugi-senpai and I looked at each other for a bit as we thought this over in our heads. Then we turned back to the Neroni duo with averagely confident looks on our faces.
"Very well, then. Raphael-san." Mugi-senpai said.
"It's nice to meet you in person, Raphael-san." I added. "And you can call me Azusa if you want."
"If that is your request, then I shall abide by it. Azusa-san."
A-Azusa-san…geez, even though I said it was okay, it still gave me goosebumps. But why, though? Is it because this is my girlfriend's dad calling me that?
…
Or is it because…I finally have a father-like figure to call me by my first name?
…
And treat me like a human being…
"Well, now. With that out of the way…what are you girls doing all the way out here?" Raphael-san asked.
"Oh, right. Our club advisor got us a spot in a music festival that's happening in a few days."
"Our bandmates are here and we even brought a few friends with us." Mugi-senpai said. "On top of the fact that there are even more that we ran into just recently."
"I see. That's sounds interesting."
"Yeah…I guess." Both sisters said with a depressed sigh.
"You don't sound so excited about it, though."
"W-Well, Raphael-san." I said. "Coming here actually brought us some problems."
"Problems?"
*ONE EXPLANATION LATER…*
"Oh. I see now. Mugi-san is estranged from her farther and…you're still grieving over your mother huh, Miharu?"
"Yes. That is the case." Mugi-senpai said.
"It wasn't that much of a problem before." Miharu-senpai said. "But then I heard that song…the song Mom would sing to me often. Hearing that, plus with Mother's Day almost here…I just can't stop thinking about her. *sniff* Elle me manque vraiment, Papa. Je fais vraiment." She then began to cry as she couldn't hold in her grief anymore. With Mugi-senpai comforting her like the many times she's comforted her before.
*sigh* Poor Miharu-senpai. Even though it's been a while since her mom died, it still hurts her heart that she's truly gone.
I want to help her. I mean…as her girlfriend, it's my duty to make her happy.
But…I honestly don't know how to do such a thing. I've never had someone who I was close to die of anything. If there was an easy way to start off, then I would take it in a heartbeat.
But such a thing can't be that easy, can it?
"Miharu, dear…do you want to see your mother's grave?"
…
…
…
"H-Huh?" We all looked at Raphael-san with mild confusion.
"Your mother…her grave is on this island. Do you want to see it?"
"W-Wait, hold on! Mom's grave is HERE?!" Miharu-senpai yelled in shock.
"I'm not sure if she told you this already, but your mom was born here in Okinawa. And she wanted her resting place to be in the same area she was born in. It was one of her many last requests. Along with you experiencing life in Japan."
"No way…So, I can truly go see her?" Miharu-senpai then went silent again.
…
"Let's do it." Mugi-senpai and I both said.
"Wh-What?"
"Miharu, I really think you should do it." Mugi said. "It's a great opportunity to finally release your feelings about your mother."
"B-But can I truly do such a thing? Just thinking of her makes me tear up inside. Actually going to her grave and talking to her is just…"
"You don't know if you don't try, Senpai." I said. "This may be your only chance to give your mother that one final goodbye. I wouldn't waste this for the world."
"Mugi…Azusa…"
"Your friends seem to care for you a lot, Miharu. I think you should listen to them."
"Papa…" Miharu-senpai went silent again. Thinking hard of what to do next. "…Okay. Okay, I'll go. I'll go…see my mother one last time."
"There you go, Senpai." I said.
"And we'll all go with you, too." Mugi-senpai added.
"Unfortunately, I can't tag along. I have to get back to work." Raphael-san said as he took out a pen and paper. "But…here are the directions to the cemetery Akiyo is buried in. I'm sure you girls can find it on your own."
"Yay! Merci beaucoup, Papa!" Miharu-senpai cheered as she gave her dad a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you so much, Sir." Mugi-senpai and I said with a bow before we followed Miharu-senpai out of the café.
"Good luck, girls." Raphael-san said as he waved us goodbye.
Miharu's POV
Finding the cemetery didn't take long nor was it that difficult. We were about to get there in about an hour or so. And it was by bus, too.
Although…I am starting to have second thoughts about coming here so randomly.
"Uh…hey, guys. Was this really a good idea?"
"Senpai…if you don't do this now, you're going to regret it hard later." Azusa said to me.
"Azusa-chan's right, Miharu." Mugi said. "We don't want you hurting more than you are now."
"B-But…"
"Miharu." Mugi then suddenly grabbed both of my hard and held them together with hers. Staring at me deep in the eyes with a serious and determined look. "Miharu, please. We already have one of us having a lost relationship with one of our parents. We don't need the other one with the same problem."
"One depressed sister is enough." Azusa said. "A-And besides…I-I want…m-my girlfriend to be happy, too. Y-You know." She then started to blush from saying that last sentence.
"Guys…" I honestly almost teared up from hearing those pleas. Other than my parents, I rarely had people who cared for my well-being this much. And the fact that this support was coming from my half-sister and my girlfriend…two people I thought I'd NEVER have when coming to this country…It was truly the best feeling in the world.
And I'd be a damn fool if I were to just throw it all away like this.
"A…Alright. Let's go." I said with a smile. "My mother's grave should be around here somewhere."
And so, the three of us started looking. The gravestones were (oddly) in alphabetical order. So, it took us a VERY long while to get to the N's. To the point where it was flat out ridiculous.
Why the hell are there so many people with last names starting with A, H, I, K, and M?! Don't these Japanese people that there are 21 other letters?!
It wasn't until we passed by someone named Naka-whatever for the nth time that we finally found it. The gravesite of the one person I cared about the most in this whole entire world.
And I get to see her once more.
""Here lies Neroni Akiyo. Loving wife. Beloved mother. Brought smiles to all who knew her. Gone but not forgotten." Well, here it is." Azusa said after reading the tombstone.
"Do you want us to give you some privacy?" Mugi asked me.
"No. I want you guys with me for this. It's a special moment for me, after all."
I then stepped forward towards the grave and kneeled in front of it. mentally preparing myself for what to say to my now-dead mother.
"H-Hey, Mom. I-It's me. Betcha shocked to see me all the way out here, huh? To be quite honest, I'm surprised myself.
S-So, um…I'm keeping that promise I made to you before you passed. I'm living my life as a Japanese girl. And I'm really enjoying it. I've made tons of new friends and the school you went to is pretty interesting on its own right.
Speaking of those friends…I have two of them with me right now. My girlfriend, Azusa Nakano. And my half-sister, Tsumugi Kotobuki."
"Nice to meet you, Neroni-san." Mugi said. "Your daughter has been a pleasant person to have around."
"It's true." Azusa said. "Although, her personality can be a bit questionable at times. And this is coming from the two people who are with her the most."
"Can't deny that."
"Hey…" I grew insulted.
"*giggle* Sorry, sorry." They both grew a small smile.
"*sigh* Anyway…I'm really having fun here. Because of these girls, I'm playing music again. I also learned a little Japanese. Although, I'm still not good at it.
Japan is as wonderful and amazing as you said it was in your stories. Coming here is almost like a dream come true. I just wish you were here with me.
*sniff* I miss you, Mama. I really really do."
After saying such an emotional line, I finally started crying. My tears of grief ran down my face and dripped down to the grass we were sitting on. It felt so good to finally release my full emotions all at once. And with both Mugi and Azusa comforting me throughout the whole thing…it only made the entire experience better than I originally thought it would be.
So much so, that I…
"I wish deatta kono basho de
Go fight inochi ga moeru made"
…
"S-Sorry. Th-That just came out." I said with a small blush of embarrassment.
Aw, geez. I'm so emotional that I ended up singing the song right in front of them. So embarrassing.
"I don't forget hateshinai tabi e"
M-Mugi…
"Promise to you chikai wa hitotsu ni"
A-Azusa…
Both girls looked at me with huge smiles on their faces as they each grabbed hold of my hands. Feeling the tight grip they were both giving me…I returned the same force back. Not wanting to let go for a damn good while.
"Kanashimi no kazu dake kizuna ga musuba reru
Megami-sama ga oshiete kureta
Everybody now kioku no sora
Happiness? Lucky? Your smile?
Darenimo makenai egao ni aitai
Everybody know akiramenai
Happiness? Lucky? Your smile?
Mirai o tsukamou...Love & Peace"
We ended up singing the whole song together. A triple harmony of peaceful singing as I spoke to my mom one last time. Giving her the final goodbye that she truly deserved. So that I can finally move on. And continue to keep my promise to her.
"Are you feeling better now, Miharu?" Mugi asked me.
"Yeah. I am. Thank you both for making me do this. Passing this up would've been the biggest mistake of my life."
"We're glad you're happy again, Miharu-senpai." Azusa said. "Personally, I like this side of you the best."
"*giggle* Of course, you do. Coming from my girlfriend and all." I then did something I haven't done in a while: gave my girlfriend a kiss on her lips. Making her giggle like a derpy idiot as she recovered from the surprise kiss.
"I'm glad you're feeling better, Miharu." Mugi said.
"Thanks, Mugi." I said before clasping her hands together with mine. "And don't worry. I'm gonna do everything in my power to help and protect you. You're my half-sister and I never want to lose you. I promised my mom…and now I'm promising you. All the way."
Mugi didn't say much at first. She did instantly hugged me tight and I returned it right back. Her soft tears running down my neck as I felt her deep love for me.
As her half-sister…and her best friend.
"Miharu…thank you."
"You're welcome, Mugi. You truly are."
*RINGTONE CHIME*
*RINGTONE CHIME*
"Hey, Mugi-senpai. Your phone's ringing." Azusa said.
"So, you're done being derpy, huh?" I teased.
"Sh-Shut up!"
"Oh, it's Ricchan." Mugi said before answering her phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Mugi! Where the heck are you guys?! You've been gone all day and we're all getting worried."
"Is Miharu-chan okay? She seemed pretty sad earlier." We heard Yui on the background.
"Don't worry. We're okay. We're actually on our way back now."
"Please hurry. It gets dark faster in Okinawa." We heard Mio say.
"We will." We all said before Mugi hung up.
"Well, that was an experience. Shall we head back now?" Mugi asked.
"Yeah, I'm tired." Azusa said. "No doubt Mio-senpai's gonna make us practice most of the day."
"Yeah…that does sound like something she would do."
"H-Hey, guys." I said. "D-Do you think we can…you know…keep this a secret from the others? At least for now."
Mugi and Azusa both looked at each other for a bit before returning to me. Suddenly hugging me as I tried not to cry again.
"Sure thing, Miharu." Mugi said.
"You're secret's safe with me, Senpai." Azusa said.
"*sigh* Thanks, you guys. Now, come on! I haven't eaten a damn thing all day and I'm STARVING!"
"What's the difference? You're always starving." Mugi said.
"I-I'm not always starving! I just eat a lot."
"If that the case, then it's surprising that you still have such a slim figure." Azusa said.
"Au moins j'ai de plus gros seins…"
(At least I have bigger titties…)
"Don't make me punch you!" Azusa yelled while tightening her fists at me.
"*giggle* You two are like the perfect couple." Mugi said.
We continued talking about whatever came to mind as we made our way back to the hotel. My mind and heart completely refreshed after saying goodbye to the person who gave me this new life, to begin with.
Thank you, Mama. I will never forget you.
Author's Note: Thanks to the sudden appearance of her dad, Miharu was able to say one last farewell to her mom. And be at peace with her emotions.
So…remember back in chapter 21 that I said that these were the final ten chapters of the story? Well, after doing some thinking…I've decided to retract that announcement. The New Band Mate is continuing after the Okinawa trip! I still have more planned for the 6 girls of Tea Time (In fact, there's a clue to a later event somewhere in this chapter. Hint, hint).
Thanks for reading. Later.
